ronny - Results or entertaiment was the question a few weeks back, and as ascending into the Prem is the ultimate goal, obviously results are the most important. However, there appears to be some sort of a myth established by some that you can't have both. I've gone over the top on Helguson (deliberately) to evoke some responses, but surprisingly to me, I haven't been thrashed for my comments (yet)............ We have the tools in the box to win games by skilful play and entertain as well as grind it out. I've always had the feeling that most managers, Malky included run scared of defeat rather than go for it on times. Perhaps it's just me and you, but I'd like to be entertained - and who says you can't do that AND win the games?
Sparkey, I was going to start with HH......................... ...............in the stands. It's a point I made on the 'best team in the league' thread on the Leicester. We can lose a player and not really notice as we have goals from all over. Some teams lose a striker and can't find the back of the net.
Remote - looking at the current top 5 scorers proves the point. Take Murray, Austin, Rhodes, Vydra and Ince out of their respective sides and I doubt any of them would figure in the equation this year at all. Having said that, I'd have taken Wood in a heartbeat and still think he would have been the right fit for us at the time. Fraizer is a different sort of player and very much in the mould of Maynard as a like for like replacement - I truly believe he could prove to be a promotion clinching signing.
Sparky, the reason for my inability to watch the 2nd half is complements of Deutsche Telekom who are the German equivalent of an organisation run by Basil Fawlty. From the little that I saw of the game and having read the comments above I have also come to the conclusion MM is now playing it safe. He's been tasked with getting us to the next level this season and we are in the strongest position we have ever been in my memory. So it stands to reason that MM wants to protect the cushion we have. The danger is other managers will see this and try and exploit it as they all scramble for points. From what I have seen of HH is he is, as stated, a spoiler and can break up play but can also get the odd goal. From MMs team selection I think there is no future for Rudi or Velonikja and they will possibley been shown the door once we make the step up. Is Harris ever going to see league action with the bluebirds? I think not. These three were brought in because of their exciting play and potential, thus far no evidence of either due to lack of 1st team action.
When was the last time we scored more than 2 goals? And who was instrumental in that win, with flick ons to Bellers & Mason ? Answers on a postcard to. Heidar Helguson c/o Cardiff City Stadium CF11
Heidar Helguson c/o Cardiff City Stadium CF11 Dear Heidar, Thanks for all your efforts this season. Your head is wonderful, unfortunately your feet don't work. Goodbye and best wishes for the future. Best regards, The supporters who can see what Malky wont admit.
Dear supporters who can see what Malky won't admit, it's been an arduous season and I am looking to take some time out and return to the alps to see Alm-Ohi and spend some time with Clara and Peter. Heidi
Look guys, it's not about liking or disliking any player. For me, Helguson is a100% trier and team/squad member who was brought in to do a job and did it. He was exactly what we needed at the start of the season. Someone to put his body on the line whilst the other new boys gelled together to build a winning formula - it's just that the side has moved on now in a relatively short time. It's all very well having someone out there who when he headbutts a goalpost, the goalpost comes off worse, but they also need to contribute to the style of plat that's evolved. At 35, Heidar looks tired and has no pace to merit a starting spot. To be honest, he's looked a little lost and out of place out there even when he's been brought on as a sub recently. By the end of last November, he'd scored 8 goals and there were posters saying he was on for 20 at least this season. Some others including me said he would get tired run out of steam after Christmas and we'd desperately need someone in January. We didn't get the type of player I thought we needed (a replacement for Heidur), but we got a player who maybe better fits our evolving style of play instead. A fully fit Fraizer Campbell will close this season out for us as Champions. We have the quality in the squad to play the ball at pace on the floor, and that's where Heidar will never fit in. Many thanks Heidar - you have been instrumental in getting us where we are now, but things have changed it's time to move forward.
Sparkey, It's all down to opinions, and in my opinion HH can still do a job for us, he wins more balls in the air than Rudy so he’s a must if we are to use plan B.
Of course it's all about opinions DJ. Heidar winning more balls than Rudy in the air is hardly a compliment though - Rudy has proved worse than usless this season and I doubt he has a future with the club even at his relatively young age. When the ball is on the floor, both have no touch at all let alone pace. Unfortunately, we often tend to play Plan B before we play Plan bloody A. Lumping it up to small players like Bellers and Smithy frustrates the hell out of me when we've got quality in the likes of Whitts, Gunnar, Conway, Kimbo and Noone to play the ball through on the floor. The pace we've got in the squad now is frightening and something we've lacked so badly in the past. I'd back Bellers and Fraizer to turn most Championship defenders inside out given the chance. If lifting the ball rather than a floor pass is required, the targeted quick ball over the top is way different from Marshall and the back 4 lumping it from the deep. This is what Whitts can do, and with the others around him (particularly Gunnar who would run through a brick wall), we have the skills to unlock most, if not all of what we'll face the rest of this season.
Whitts has been not at his best over a few weeks now, I'm not sure the Kim, Whitts, Gunnar, Conway mid field works with Bellers & Smith up front. To me Kim has been one of our best players over the last month, Smith didn't put a foot wrong before his injury and Conway has come on well since his transfer request add Noone and Bellers and we have 5 players and only 2/3 places. Agreed that a fit Fraizer up front with Bellers would scare the life out of most championship defenders but until Fraizer is fit I'd play HH. My team v BCFC would be, Marshall. Connolly, Hudson, Turner, Taylor. Kim, Whitts, Gunnar, Smith. Bellers, HH. With the hope that Fraizer to get over 30 mins
It will be interesting to see how we play on a good quality pitch on Saturday. Hopefully we will trust the surface and pass the ball more.
Like this selection but would start with Noone and bring Kim on for the last 30 minutes, at the same time as Frazier coming on for HH.
I think MM has moved away from Hh already. He knows what Hh can do and very much what he can't. In Mm's post match comments he said it was the worst pitch we'd played on this season. I just think he was trying to be practical and thought Hh was more likely to work than flair players running through a bog. For the Bristol formation is a difficult one. I'd start Kim but they were worrying about the pace of Bellers so may play deep to restrict the space behind. For that reason I'd be tempted to play hh as a target for crossing not pumping the ball at. I think I'd go with DJ's but I might swap smith for noone.
I would also slot Noone in instead of Smith. We need to go at the Wurzels from the gun, get an early goal and then after we have worn them out bring on FC for 30 minutes and take them to the cleaners. Smith on for Noone at the same time as Frazier.
I admit to being slightly harsh on HH in this post with some flipant comments. However, would we be where we are now without the contribution HH made in the first half of the season? Probably not. Do we need him for the rest of the season? Possibly as an option. Will we need him if we get promoted? No. As I said elsewhere, he probably fitted into MM's plans at the start of the season, but the team and squad has evolved to the point that he doesn't fit. We've had a number of players down the years that have done a job for us but have outlived their usefulness. HH has done a job for us and helped get us to the position where someone else needs to get us over the line. Let him celebrate being part of a promotion winning side (anyone who has played any minute of any league game this season has been part of that and no one can take it away from them) and as with many players in many teams over the years, move them on as we need to move on.
I'm inclined to agree with Noone starting and going for the all important first goal at home. He is better suited to a decent playing surface. We also need to see Whitts further forward pushing for the free kicks outside the box that we have lacked in recent games. Who scores first will dictate the style we adapt too. We must score the early goal and I think it will come from a set piece.
I don't think we will see Whitts playing in the opposition half for the rest of the season. Malky seems to like him sitting very deep then playing the pass that allows others to do the damage. I would like to see him further forward but I don't think it's going to happen.
Great comments guys. I wouldn't drop Conway the way he's playing - him instead of HH would be my choice. I'll admit, and it must be pretty obvious from my previous posts, that I think the team has moved on and left Heidar behind. If Conway plays, Noone instead of Smith would be a big gamble leaving Bellers on his own up there and having effectively 5 in "midfield" - but would it? The pace that we'd have on the pitch to turn their defence would be awesome, and pace wins games. We're tending to forget Mason in all this. I'd even start him up with Bellers than Helguson. At least he can use both feet and can sniff a goal chance like no ther player we've got. Fraizer at the ready for a 30 minute runout against a tiring defence is something we all agree on.
