I doubt anybody is suggesting that the loss last night to Hull was an Armageddon moment - it was just a clear indication of the limitations that we have at the club both managerially and playing staff level. It wasn't the end of the world but likewise beating Huddersfield on the weekend wasn't clear evidence that we're guaranteed anything out of this season. Some rational has to be drawn from the results so far. Far better than most feared for those first 6 games but the 7th must be seen as a wake up call if one was needed. We are probably better equipped that the majority of teams in this division to compete toward the top of the table. The secret is going to be how do we get the better of teams like Hull (and probably Middlesbrough, Burnley, Ipswich and Brum for me) to ensure at least a top 6 finish. The complete answer would be worth a mint, but some pace and guile through midfield would be a start. The wins will undoubtedly come from a law of averages point of view, but we need to be well above average for top 6 let alone autos - and I don't think we are at the moment.
It's the first time in 7 games we haven't scored. We had 2 very strong penalty shouts and looped a ball onto a post that somehow threaded both our strikers. We kept and moved the ball as well as we have in the last 2 years. Hull have a PL class spine to their side and turned up looking for a 0-0, 0-1 result, bus parked (which worked and isn't a dig at them). I stood at the end a clapped the side off with the majority of the fans left in the ground. Plenty of fans (imo) saw a performance that showed real progress. Few sides will defend that well and take their only 2 chances that effectively. That's why Hull might well be one of 3 celebrating in May. Call me deluded/over optimistic or whatever else but I didn't get any kind of wake up call from that last night. I actually only saw 2 negatives. Manga was a serious step back from Connolly (hopefully he'll sharpen up) and slightly more worryingly Mason was found out by the better defenders. TBH though I never expected Mason to be a 20 goal + striker. I'd expect about 15 off him and 3 from 7 puts him well on course for that. It's the reason I'd go after Wilson from Utd but with their striker issues he might well not be available anyway.
Stevo - the third negative is in your first sentence - we didn't score. If we go another 6 games before the 7th throws up a nil scoreline, I'll be more than happy. It's a no brainer that we've made progress on the pitch - anyone who can't accept that is just being pedantic. The question is to what extent and how will it pan out against the "better" opposition teams where you need something extra to get a result. Organised teams like Hull need to be broken down and the fact that we were unable to do so is worrying if your aiming to do well this year. By doing well, I mean at least a top 6 finish with a serious intent to get an auto spot. With the present setup in management and players, the first is a possibility but the second very unlikely - just my opinion of course.
I agree that if we were serious about being 1 or 2 we shouldn't be getting done like last night. I think Slade would take playoffs now. I wouldn't but that's only because I believe these players can improve a lot as a unit. If we do end up in the playoffs we'll have to be better against sides of a similar quality to Hull, but we've got an entire season and another transfer window to work on that. Compared to the bottom half but probably safe predictions things look good though
In hindsight I was a bit harsh of the City after the Hull game; probably needed time to reflect and watch the highlights again. It was a hard working effort but it showed up painfully our limitations. I still deem our manager could have changed it about earlier, even from the start knowing the way Hull would set up. OS is spot on; how can we beat the better equipped teams both in terms of players and manager? Relying on referees to give decisions our way, and hopeful punts into the box will just not cut it. Slade and his staff have to work out a way to take each opposition and not as he did for Hull, play the same team as against a different team in Huddersfield.
Nin - I suppose it's question of balance between continuity and the "horses for courses" principle when it comes to team selection. Chopping and changing trying to counter the oppostion can sometimes give the impression of showing more respect for them than his own players. Ole did that on a whim and it cost us big time. The core players in the side are probably guaranteed to play, but it's as much about the system Slade adopts as the actual players he sends out. You could say that the one dictates the other but not necessarily so. He's got enough decent players to choose from to do well this season and if used correctly, the top 6 does beckon. The point I was trying to make is that we are a couple of bob short of a pound in the squad to make the difference at the very top. I'm a bit worried that there is a latent fear that newcomers can disrupt what he's trying to build and as a result we'll ignore the chance to "buy" our way out the division if the opportunity came along.
As you say Sparkey, a fine line. DJ was largely, fcuk what they do, let them worry about us. 442, we'll attack and see what they can do. MM was pretty rigid but seemed to be able to counter what the opposition did. A classic example was against Man City when he was happy to let them have the ball in the wide channels and we defended narrow. They were never going to beat us in the air but he didn't want them to play through us. Slade needs to be able to set us up in a standard format but vary things enough depending on how the opposition sets up. 3CBs, 451, 433. Easier said than done, but it's what he and Trollope are paid for.
In fairness to Slade though, I don't think we've played poorly in a single game. A performance as dominant possession wise as Hull should see Rotherham dispatched (not saying we will, just that it would/will). Why change?
Steve Tucker thinks we need to change the team. http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/four-changes-cardiff-city-boss-10075695
"DJ was largely, fck what they do,let them worry about us". He's been gone a while now. Do you miss him? Would you welcome him back?
not sure why you would think that from my post. Just comparing our last two managers with winning records to our current manager. Different approaches that brought results.
Sorry Libertarian. No, DJ did a good job for us in a different time. I'm sure he would have loved the resources MM and OGS were afforded, even Slade I suppose. I thank him for what he did, but wouldn't go back.
