You have a point aber. Weird how your players played above themselves against us but looked gash yesterday.
I think you're wrong Aussie - we did play badly, very badly in fact compared to so far this season. We were far too slow on the ball, and when harried by the Palace players, had no idea what to do with it. The quick passing that's kept far better sides than yesterday's opposition guessing was gone. We gave away the ball so many times it was embarrassing. So pedestrian was our approach that it gave an "up for it" Palace side the edge they needed. In truth, player for player they're a poor side by Premier standards that deservedly put one over on us through their sheer hard work and drive. I didn't think Pulis would make THAT much difference to be honest, and all credit to him. From the back where we were pressed high up the pitch by an enthusiastic Palace front line, through the midfield where they seemed always quicker to the second ball, we were outplayed. Up front we have no invention through lack of width and pace - this is a big big problem. The most worrying factor was that we (Malky) seemed to have no answer amongst the squad to change it. I'm not sure if he'll ever criticise his players, which is all very laudable, but that performance yesterday was truly sub Championship stuff.
We had this from Toon fans last week. Apparently they played badly too. Fact is they were outplayed. End of. That's football. But it is natural to look at your own team's failings after a loss. You passed the ball around better than the opposition yesterday but were second best to every 50 50 ball. They showed desire and commitment whereas yours didn't. I said here last week that your trip up there would be tough because Pulis, as much as I dislike his teams would have them organised and tough to beat. Like I said, sometimes you just have to say well played.
Well chaps, I said last year that MM isnt the man for us. Even more so now. How much more of this negative rubbish we have to put up with is anyones guess, but i for one wouldnt be sorry to see him go. Although what we would get as a replacement would be entirely in the lap of the gods.
You had the greater procession but not the end product .I can see Tan buying big in January which is not good if that doesn't work out , with a bigger wage bill etc could put you in deeper trouble IF you were to go down .
Aussie - sometimes you need to accept other people's take on games as well. I've not said Palace didn't play well, only that we didn't contrary to your posted opinion. Palace thoroughly deserved the win and no doubt as you say you did against Newcastle. You seem to suggest that the Newcastle fans said similar things as me after their game with you as an excuse rather than praising Swansea. I really haven't read anything they've said, but maybe they just know their team better than you and posted accordingly?
"sometimes you need to accept other people's take on games as well" Where have I said I don't? The fact that others have a different opinion to me makes a forum a forum. As for Newscastle fans I was simply making the observation that when teams lose there is rarely any credit given to the opposition. They used the same line that you are now, as do our fans when we lose: "we never turned up" ; "we were poor" yadda yadda yadda. On the day they deserved to lose as did you. That was mainly due to the fact you were outplayed by a better team on the day.
Try the highlighted bit - as good as saying they were wrong in what they said as opposed to your views. I also agree that differing opinions make a forum what it is - but no one poster is right all the time even though they may think they are. EDIT: - just noticed you've edited your post about the Newcastle posters since I wrote this - more evidence of your opinion being right I see
They didnt play above themselves. We played ok against you. Teams like Swansea and Fulham with no real steel suit our players down to the ground. The worrying thing about yesterday is Malkys teams have relied on fitness , and passion thats never been lacking. Flair , skill and attractive football it hasnt been. Theres something clearly wrong. I dont believe the owner wants the manager. If its now affecting the manager and the players then he has to change now. I dont want Malky sacked and dont believe he deserves the sack. I think he should be given the opportunity to get us back up even if we go down. IF the owner gives him 100% backing. However that doesnt look to be the case. I dont expect Malky to be our manager when the window opens. If we are in the relegation zone on January 1 then I also hope we dont throw the cheque book at survival. Id rather bring back Mason and Ralls , give them a go and prepare to bounce back.
Too many spaces to be bothered to read. Sparks: I've given up trying to follow your logic. You seem to love picking up on each and every word I say for some reason but it's good to see you're still infatuated with me. Fulham playing well and are two up at the mo. Looks like my predictions about their new coach are coming true.
Tan might want to buy big in January but what sort of choice will he have? With respect, very few players of any proven quality would choose to sign up for a relegation battle. If MM wants to attract some decent signings it is imperative that he moves his team up the table between now and January and get them looking like they will survive. Failure to do that will mean that only players of modest ability at this level would be interested in moving to the club. January signings are notoriously expensive and you tend to get less value for money. So, if the signings don't work, you face relegation with an increased wage bill and heavy capital expenditure burdened with players who will never realise their transfer cost when sold on. Catch 22. I have only seen Cardiff twice this season, so I'm not the best equipped to discuss their prospects. They played well against us but, in all honesty, they were abysmal at Palace. There was nothing there and the obvious reliance on the long ball into the box and the odd set piece will not be enough at this level. It might well have been a bad day at the office but the business end of the season is fast approaching and MM needs to start climbing the table now. The honeymoon period is over and teams at both ends of the table are going to be scrapping for their lives... or European places. There will be no easy games and experience is going to count. This applies equally to Swansea. Laudrup has already admitted that the EC has impacted on our league performances. The further we go in the competition, the more it will affect us, so whilst I would love a good run in the Europa, I'll not be shedding any tears if we bow out early. Premier League survival is everything.
Funny comment about the spaces in Hilt's post there Aussie - I thought you loved reading between the lines.......... I also wouldn't go as far as using the word "infatuation" over my answers to your posts. I just feel an overriding need to reply to your constant crap.
See, Sparkley? I set 'em up and bang! You deliver the punchline on cue. "an overriding need to reply to your constant crap" = infatuation. I know, I'm hard to resist.
Agree , look at e.g. Carrol and Torres a couple of seasons ago, ridiculous money and that was one of the factors in getting Dalglish the sack, I think there is an agenda regarding cardiff's current form ,maybe the pressure from outside (although some may say Tan's influence is not now limited to sound bites outside )is affecting the squad , fire and passion can only take you so far at this level , quality is what's needed and a back to what made them difficult to break down , experienced teams suss out the opposition quickly and looking at the return fixtures I don't believe they're not going to be as successful results wise the next time round.
Leaving out the fact that Pullis out-thought Malky by simply bypassing our midfield (he usually does that anyway), the most worrying thing following our most abject team performance for years is this: Malky is becoming deluded. He said that he was not worried by our lack of goals, but would be worrried if we were not creating chances. We created ONE chance on Saturday, and that was in the second minute, after that we never looked like scoring and Speroni had nothing to do. With that sort of attitude he is not going to change from the current 'play around a little bit but then hoof it to Campbell approach'. Ben Turner has become our playmaker. I feel as sorry for Campbell now as I felt for poor Kenny Miller, who reduced his life expectancy by running for every lost cause over the top and down the flanks for an entire season (and then people started criticising him for not scoring enough goals!). IT'S THE STYLE OF PLAY!!!! We weren't great last season, but we got the job done. But at the moment we are so negative. We are doomed to be last on Match of the Day till May, and could become a bit of a joke for our neighbours down west. It's the last away game I will be going to this season, it's just too painful to watch. Following on from the negative showing at Stoke, it was truly dreadful. If we'd drawn at Stoke 2-2, and lost 3-2 at Palace then I would not have felt as depressed as I do now. For God's sake Malky, we get three points for a win! Song at Half-time on Saturday: If you sack Mackay, Malky Mackay Then we'll score a ......ing goal, If you sack Mackay, Malky Mackay Then we'll score a .....ing goal.
If your manager doesn't respond against WBA then I believe he's gone , not wumming but at the moment WBA are low on confidence but they have Long who can either be unplayable or anonymous during a game. They had Lukka past season and that for me is the difference this season for them.Win your home games and a draw away (Stoke wasn't a bad result by any means even if the performance was) Nothing is a given at this level as I'm sure you've found out
