.. but last night was the worse. Up until this season I've never really thought that we could get to the Promised Land. Yes we've had good teams but always had a weak link or no cover for injury that always made me think not this year. Last night there were players who had little or no interest in the game, Leicester were there for the taking but out played and out thought us. This is the best squad I've seen at Cardiff so IMO it's time to use it. Whitts like last season has gone downhill after Christmas, is he playing too much or not as good as we think ? I've been told he lacks confidence but if youâre not confident playing in a team top of the league when will you be? I'm sorry but when we get up I don't think that Whitts is good enough for the prem we need a better play maker. Thoughts?
Agreed DJ, but getting that point again last night like the one we stole against Derby convinces me more than ever that we'll make it this year. Having said that, there is something seriously adrift with the lads at the moment. We're a shadow of the cohesive side we were, and seem to have lost all belief in our ability. As much as we shout at him, it's a difficult call for Malky to change the philophy that's got us top of the table, but he really needs to try something fresh. The problem is clearly in midfield. We're losing the battle with Whitts strolling around and Gunnar trying too hard. Conway and Noone were little help, and it looked like Fraizer was being isolated up front although Smithy did his best to link up. Radical change or just a tweak? Whitts and Conway out for me - Ralls and Kimbo to forge a new partnership. Gunnar would definitely benefit, but it may be time to stick Mutch into the fray, but why wasn't he even on the bench last night? Disappointing last month for me since the Bristol City game - we're going to have to change it around.
Whitts is well out of form and needs to be dropped. However he is good enough for the step up. Kim Cowie and Mutch should come in. Time to drop Gunnarsson and probably Smith as well. We need someone in the centre of the park who can bring it forward. Ralls if Mutch isnt fit. Gunnarsson and Cowie talent wise is very even. Cowie at least will give 100% and run all day. The Gunnarsson/Whitts - 2 man midfield is near useless at the moment. Cmon Malky change it - Now. Also use the loan system. Nugent is a young talent. With Hudson and Turner both out we badly need experience at the back. If he doesnt drop Whitts then its time for the 3 man central midfield on Saturday. Cowie/Mutch/Whitts or Ralls Conway if we were home id axe him - but I think we need him Saturday to support the full back. And its time for Joe Mason.
I don't know if it's high expectations this year or what it is but I am getting bored with watching games like that last night. We survived a game that for me Leicester should have won. Whitts has lost form in previous seasons, he's either brilliant or awful. In all honesty would McPhail be a worse option? I thought at the start of the season Whitts was key to promotion but it's Hudson who is key, of that there is no doubt. Time for Malky to give Mason and Rudy more opportunity to prove their worth to this squad, and what is the point in Verronica is my overriding question? Thank god for the Canton and naughty boys corner for keeping me awake last night. Best chant in a while, "Your just a **** Peter Schmiechael" (spell) Glad all the early leavers missed the goal. Justice!
We need to pass quicker and we need someone to bring it forward. Ideally add pace in the middle. Also to look up and pass it forward. We dont need Mcphail. He d actually make us slower and the ball would go back even more than it is now. Hed be behind Kiss as an option for me.
Our mid field is playing too close to the defence so every time we win the defensive header it goes beyond our mid field and easy for opponents to pick up. Last night we had Whitts trying 50 yard passes when his 10 yard passes didn't find our players, what’s that about? If fit and that's a big if, Macca could to a job for us, he will find space to receive the ball and move it on. Some of the best passes to open up opponents are less than 5 yards. I’d love to see Kim get a full game, his all round game has improved.
'.. but last night was the worse.' what?? a drawer against a good team when we werent playing well doesnt go down as a shocking performance for me. there are tonnes of games in the past where we have been **** and played without any fight. preston 6-0, reading 3-0, i can think of loads of games where we have been pathetic and gone down without a whimper. if that game was the worst then you wouldnt have thought we've been knocking about the lower leagues for the past x amount of years!
Swamp, Read it again, my point was that this is our best squad in those 44 years, not arguing about the result but the way we played, with this squad we should score for fun not getting lucky draws and 1-0 wins.
We need to go back to five in midfield i think. If he's not going to drop Whitts then get someone else in the middle with him and gunner and allow whitts to get forward more. Personally i would put whitts, gunner and mutch in the middle with noone/conway and bellamy outwide and campbell up front. We need to start playing football and start creating chances because at the moment its pretty much hit and hope.
From now to the end of the season is the business end and where teams show their bottle or not. you need to up your game if you want to stop dropping points as you cant afford to let the others get level with you or it will all come down to the lottery of who holds their nerve, every game now until the end of the season is a cup final and must be treated as such and you must stop the rot and make your game in hand count because from 11 points ahead down to just 4 at this stage of the season is a cause for concern. this is where MM must show what he is made of and you wont get a better chance of joining us in the premiership than you have this season.....i hope you can do it (all banter aside) but i am getting worried about the loss of form....
I'm with you on 5 in the middle Nat. We've got enough pace to get forward to support the lone striker. 4141, 451, 433, but not the 442 we currently seem to be playing. Bellamy Campbell and Smith as a front 3 as Bellamy and Smith both deliver on defensive duties. We've plenty of options off the bench with Noone, Kimbo and Mason. In the middle, Cowie, Gunnar and Whitts/ Ralls? MM has rotated his front 6 for most of the season and apart from Whitts should be relatively fresh. Is now the time to do something we criticised DJ for and settle on 11 to see us through the last 10 games?
just a bit of advice from a team that's done it to a team with a reputation of going to pieces at this point of the season...
Not sure guys what your problems are, as I've not seen much of your games this season, but you shouldn't be struggling with the talent you have for scoring! I would be looking to Whittingham and Bellamy to pull out all the stops in front of goal, didn't Whittingham score about 24 goals 2009/10 season? And Bellamy should be hitting double figures, how is he stuck on 4 goals? Clearly to me looking in, MM is not getting the best out of these two!...............
