Here's Ole's lineup........... Cardiff City: Marshall, Brayford, Fabio, Morrison, Connolly, Whittingham, Daehli, Dikgacoi, Pilkington, Le Fondre, Jones. Substitutions: Moore, Cala, Ralls, Eikrem, Adeyemi, Guerra, Macheda.
Must say I like that subs bench - Ralls, Adeyemi, Guerra and Macheda on there certainly gives Ole some options to change things.
I've thought that Whitts and Daehli starting together would be a bit of a luxury in this division, but if I were to pick any side to try it against, this would be it. They have the skills between them to open up a young team like Fulham. Playing in Pilks down the flanks, medium distance angular balls for Kenwyne to feed Le Fondre, or even providing the channel balls for the runs of Le Fondre (and maybe Guerra later on) are all on the cards. Plus the fact that they can both score themselves. Add to that the overlapping runs of Brayford and Fabio, and we could cause them all sorts of problems. Dikgacoi to hold the fort in front of the back 4 might also be enough to keep them out. No doubt we're about to find out.
With 30 minutes gone, we haven't got a clue how to keep the ball. Playing far too deep and letting Fulham run the show.
Daehli and Pilks have swapped sides and Fabio is being tormented by their right side bloke. If we get in at half time just the one goal down, it'll be the best we could hope for.
Only time we got in the last third was with Daehli & Fabio. Whitts & Dikgacoi no where to be seen. I honestly think Whitts is slower than a slug trail. EDIT Maybe I'm being a bit harsh on the slug trail.
Whitts is playing behind Dikgacoi FFS! He seems to want to pick up every ball off Morrison and Connolly and ambles forward with it as if this is 5 day cricket test match not a bloody 90 minute game of football. There is something seriously lacking here and we all can see it. No pace at all either moving the ball at your feet or quick passing. We've touched on this before, and with the exception of Daehli who's fighting a losing battle, it looks like no one wants the ball. Dikgacoi looks seriously overwieght to me. The support off the ball is non existent - players are not moving to receive, just waiting for it to come to them. Fabio having a bit of a torrid time but at least he's having a go at them. No chance in this one unless Ole can find a magic bullet or two off the bench.
Much better second half from City, a point would have seemed optimistic at half time. with few minutes to go at 1-1, anyone could win it.
