Brief belated thoughts on Saturday

[Jim Smith 2,608]

1. Important game not to lose in the end as a point was the least we deserved. That late goal keeps momentum up going into a couple of tricky away games.

2. Thought we started poorly. Conversely Cardiff started very well and the first 10 minutes was ominous. Very well taken goal by them. parkin will probably not hit another ball as sweetly in his entire career. I thought at the time our CBs could have done a bit better and if being ultra critical you could say that barnett was not close enough to Chopra but to be honest just have to hold your hands up and say it was a great strike.

3. After that though i thought we were superb. We completely dominated and at time outclassed Cardiff (although they remained a threat on the break). At times these days we are simply a joy to watch with the technical ability of most of our team and the way we ping the ball about and play ourselves out of tight situations. In particular R Martin, David Fox and Wes should take a bow. Wes is in top form right now, Martin has been all season (as one of his harshest critics last season i have to hold my hands up here he has stepped it up many notches this season) and when on song Fox is the player who makes us tick and dictates the tempo. That is why lambo likes to have him in the holding role although the flip side is that it makes Crofts less effective as he also seems most comfortable in that position.

4. I like the CB pairing of Whitbread and Barnett. Importantly Whitbread is also good on the ball and can bring it out of defence. Ward may have to fight to get his place back.

5. Lansbury I thought was a bit disappointing. Although i will be pleased if we keep him i won''t be worried if we don''t because I think Wes is better at the tip of the diamond and Martin can also play there.

6. Definite pen for the foul on Holt.

7. My only real criticism with the performance 9and some other recently) is that we really, really need to work the keeper more. As has been commented in other threads we are like the "arsenal of the championship" in the sense that at times we try and walk the ball in the net. We get into some really great positions at the top of the box and nearly every time try and pick an intricate pass when on some occasions we just need to put our foot through it. For the amount of the possession and the number of times we had the ball in great areas on saturday I don''t think their keeper made enough saves.

All in all though very encouraging. i have seeen us play cardiff twice now and think they are very fortunate to have taken 4 points off us. We are at least as good as them and given the resources Lambo has at his disposal that it is to his massive credit. I really hope we can add this kid from brighton because their fans are saying he is utter class and if thats the case it could make all the difference!

 

[Block Y Seat 176 80]

Cardiff were a well organized side and going through the middle in the congested final third was difficult, it screamed for a wide player to come on to create a chance. Which is what happened, another good sub from Lambo.

HRH

[canaryfan68 0]

Good post Jim Smith,would agree on most points.

I would however disagree with your comment about Cardiff being fortunate to have taken 4 points from us this season.

I feel Cardiff have more potency going forward and more of a cutting edge and defensively were very streetwise, especially the game at Cardiff where they took their chances clinically and threw themselves at the ball. We controlled the midfield but had no final product that day, to the point where 2nd half we never troubled their keeper.

I believe a little more invention on saturday and if we had got an earlier leveller, then there would have only been one winner...us.

We have had too many games this season where we have over run teams only to come away with none of the spoils but we are a team thats very much going in the right direction.

You make a great point about Barnett where he was too far back to challenge Chopra and then left Ruddy unsighted but I am being very picky.

Lastly, the passing on saturday was great. A few stray passes but at times it was just one way traffic, just need a little more end product which will come.

[JKUIL 0]

Enjoyable and interesting post. I thought we should have had two pens, the second not given because not deliberate handball was ironic because of the penalty awared against us at Cardiff when we had just got one back to make it 2-1. It killed off the game.

[The Butler 0]

[quote user="Al Catraz"]Enjoyable and interesting post. I thought we should have had two pens, the second not given because not deliberate handball was ironic because of the penalty awared against us at Cardiff when we had just got one back to make it 2-1. It killed off the game.[/quote]

No body seems to mention that The beast was holding  Zak when he played the flick on. Watch the replay, he is holding him down by the arm. Should have been our fee kick not his goal.

[paul moy 235]

I made the same point about Barnett during the game on Saturday, and still believe that Nelson would have been more decisive in putting in blocks and tackles. Barnett backed off on many occasions and in some cases it is the thing to do, but not just as a player is about to shoot, such as the incident with the goal, and the time when he allowed Bellamy a shot which Ruddy saved well. Nelson is also a goal-threat so I would have gone for him instead of Barnett.

[paul moy 235]

[quote user="The Butler"]

[quote user="Al Catraz"]Enjoyable and interesting post. I thought we should have had two pens, the second not given because not deliberate handball was ironic because of the penalty awared against us at Cardiff when we had just got one back to make it 2-1. It killed off the game.[/quote]

No body seems to mention that The beast was holding  Zak when he played the flick on. Watch the replay, he is holding him down by the arm. Should have been our fee kick not his goal.

[/quote]

My view of the incident was that Zak was holding Parkin until he released him to score the goal.

[Yorkshire Canary 118]

At HTi thought we were very unlucky to be losing. I did not think we played as well in the second half and i was very relieved when we scored at it looked as if Cardiff had done enough by then