Not quite sure how we stole a point as so many players had poor games in a horrible scrappy and frankly infuriating game but 2 goals in injury time in both half’s earned a vital point. El Ghazi did really well and Salech can sleep easier tonight after that horror miss.
A couple decent interviews after last night. Ramasut spoke well after the Swans game and Riza again last night. Both are grounded, level headed and focussed. Omer seems quite a modest man. You do feel there is a steely edge behind it though. Riza post-Millwall | Proud of our character | Cardiff Good to hear Salech speak. Not sure what I was expecting given his mixed heritage and the countries he's grown up in, but good clear English. Again spoke intelligently and recognises he has a couple of gears to go through to come up to speed with the championship. He's shown in his two cameos that he works hard and can get into good positions. The finish lived up to his highlights reel. Early days, but hopefully less of a dud than some of our previous signings. He's earned us one point. A few more and he'll justify the fee, which might turn out to be quite modest in the greater scheme of things Nice to see a picture of the Ayatollah as well. MILLWALL REACTION | CHAMBERS & SALECH | Cardiff
Shopish as the commentator called him had a bit of a mare. Chambers also wasn’t at his best. City missed Robertson more than Ralls. What was baffling was not only Meite starting but him still being on the pitch until 70th minute. He was simply hopeless and unless there’s an injury crisis he shouldn’t be starting.
I feel Meite started out of necessity listening to Omer's interview. Their managing Ashford's workload, he's played a lot of minutes of late. Tanner has a foot injury after the Swans game. O'Dowda is injured, Robinson sick. Given those absentees, we're a bit thin on the ground in some positions. As for game time, February doesn't look any better.
Hopefully Tanner, Robertson and Ashford will be fully fit for Saturday. Collectively they give us a lot more going forward. So that's Meite and Colwill benched at least. I guess Salech will be a sub again unless Robinson is not fully fit. Salech will probably get a start at Stoke. Siopis had a bit of a mare last night, skinned twice for their second, so Ralls may start again. El Ghazi had his best showing all season so while I don't advocate him starting our bench will be much stronger. With any luck no room for Meite.
Held back until now. As said, Meite is a passenger and offered nothing and Siopis had a mare. Easy to say in hindsight, but I certainly think the thinking behind the starting lineup was wrong. Accepting that we were limited in options through apparent injury and sickness, WTF does Colwill bring to the game? All this talk of how he does "amazing things" in training is pointless - FFS this is the real thing against one of the most robust Championship sides not a frigging training session. He lolloped around the pitch getting bullied as we waited for that "moment of magic" - it never came nor did it look like it would. I was relieved when he went off but annoyed he was allowed 70 minutes to display his ineffectiveness - he should have been hooked at half time. The rest fought like heroes but the lack of an effective midfield meant Robbo needed to drop deep to collect the ball. That was an error - his place is to stay up top and take the chances like against the jacks. In the end a point gained and as realists, probably we'd have taken that before KO. On to the Snow Queens and I hope everyone is fit and firing with Colwiil on the bench.
As you know we have agreed to disagree on Colwill. I thought he was our most effective player in the first half - that’s not saying a lot granted given the performances of others but he had a part in our first goal. Second half after a bright start by Willock it was only the late introduction of El Ghazi and Salech which gave us late momentum with admittedly little impact by Colwill prior to him being subbed.
Agreed - we agree to disagree. No probs. Colwill wont gear up for the better within our "hard graft" existing squad which rightly or wrongly is based on effort. Ralls, Robertson, Rinomohta, Chambers and although he had a mare last night Siopis personify that in the engine room - they all have the right attitude. He needs to find another level and approach (if he can) because where he is right now, he's not going to help matters on the pitch no matter what he does down the Vale. It's such a shame Turnbull got that hamstring tear that's keeping him out because he could just make the difference in the No. 10 spot right now.
Will - with the exception of Fish for Daland, those second half subs were all substantially better than those they replaced.
Colwill seems to perform or not, depending who is around him. He seems to be better when Tanner is playing certainly. As you've said before, he a luxury player, something we can't afford at the moment. With others to be his foil and yet others to do some of the heavy lifting, he can play well. What we need is consistency. I'd take someone playing at a level below Colwill in his pomp but above his 'lazy days' week in week out rather than wait for the 1 in 3 or 4 performances we get. I don't know how up to speed Salech is, but if Robertson isn't available Saturday, Salech at 9 and Robinson at 10 might be the way to go. Turnbull being injured isn't doing us any favours at the moment.
I'm catching up with you now Sparkey. I was typing and didn't see your Turnbull post before I posted.
Turnbull and Robertson were gelling well together in midfield on a one goes, one stays basis. However Robinson as an advanced 10 with Salech at 9 gives us other options.
Salech/Robinson as a 9/10 combo sounds good to me. Salech could feed Robbo in front of goal as much as the other way around.
Excellent debate chaps and it clearly demonstrates the size of the job for Omer. With the games coming thick and fast, trying to field a competitive team for every game while not adding to the injury list, it's a tough gig. If course, that's what he's paid for. I find myself sometimes disappointed at team selection but given that he's a lot closer to all the considerations, I won't be critical. Like those playing for him, he's a work in progress and on the whole, he's doing fine.
I totally disagree on Colwill. A superb bit of play to put Robinson through 1st half. There was also another through ball which was quality. I'm not saying he was great but there were moments of quality and remember he was playing with a dreadfull midfield partnership and 2 completely ineffective (until 1st half injury time) wingers. I dont think he should have been subbed at all.
Robertson is likely to be the 10. Though maybe at home he may risk Robertson alongside Chambers or Ralls. Saturday I'd play the same team v Swansea but maybe Ng for Rino and Fish for Dalaand.
