Why were Noone, Jones and Ameobi all left out again?

Cardiff City Team Selection: Why were Craig Noone, Kenwyne Jones and Sammy Ameobi all left out - again?

19 August 2015


By Steve Tucker

In the face of increasing calls to involve attackers Craig Noone, Kenwyne Jones and / or Sammy Ameobi in his starting XI Russell Slade kept his team the same but Steve Tucker asks why?

Craig Noone was used as an 86th minute substitute at Blackburn Craig Noone was used as an 86th minute substitute at Blackburn

On a night when two average Championship sides expended plenty of energy but lacked cutting edge, questions have to be asked of Russell Slade's team selection.

Slade is sure to face criticism, once more, for what are proving to be highly-controversial starting choices.

Catch Up: The 90 minutes explained in 90 seconds

With many baying for the inclusion of the likes of Craig Noone, Kenwyne Jones and Sammy Ameobi, Slade stuck to his own path and made just one change to the side which drew at QPR last time out.

That was David Marshall coming back into the side and back as skipper too following suspension although if his inclusion has any real relevance on his proposed move to West Brom remains to be seen.

Noone and Jones had to be content again with coming off the bench whilst Ameobi this time could not get on the pitch at all.

Neither Kenwyne Jones or Craig Noone have started a league game yet this seasonKenwyne Jones and Craig Noone changed the game at QPR

Slade once more persisted with Alex Revell up front and was again rewarded with a stuttering, ineffective showing from his frontman.

The question, of course, is can the Bluebirds under Slade confound expectation and force their way back into the promised land?

On the evidence of the of this performance there is probably still going to have to be a big improvement all-round if they are to trouble the top-six this term.

Jones finally came off the bench for Revell on 65 minutes and it sort of coincided with the Bluebirds seeming to have weathered the storm although that may have been pure coincidence.

Noone was only used at the very end with precious little time to replicate his heroics of the opening day while Ameobi's ability still remains a mystery to most Cardiff City fans.

Sammy Ameobi shows his skills in League Cup action
Again more questions than answers then from the Bluebirds in a flawed, fractured, but inevitably enthusiastic showing.

When it comes Slade himself and his team selection, well, it just seems the less things change, the more they stay the same.

This is where Slades shocking decisions come into play.

Only Slade knows the answer.

The guy infuriates me

Slade is entitled to make mistakes,after all he is human, but it is quite unforgivable if you don't learn by them,its quite obvious to most people on here that his team selection is simply wrong but it doesn't appear to be wrong to Slade, which is extremely worrying

Why can't Slade see that Revell is not the answer for this level of football. His work rate can't be faulted but we need a more cutting edge to win games and not keep drawing. Slade will argue that we haven't lost yet but with a bit of ambition,we could have had 7 points out of 9 possibly and not just 3. The decision to bring Marshall in,is one of the easiest decisions Slade will make this season.

Why can't Slade see that Revell is not the answer for this level of football. His work rate can't be faulted but we need a more cutting edge to win games and not keep drawing. Slade will argue that we haven't lost yet but with a bit of ambition,we could have had 7 points out of 9 possibly and not just 3. The decision to bring Marshall in,is one of the easiest decisions Slade will make this season.

I agree. Ravell is simply not in the same league as Jones (no matter what Jones' faults are) and it has been patently obvious in each of the 3 league games that we aren't carrying enough of a threat in and around the opposition box.

I don't blame Slade for trying out Mason and Ravell but it now has to change.

Jones/Mason, Jones/Doyle, Jones/Macheda, Doyle/Mason, Macheda/Doyle, etc just try something different

What would be even more attractive would be a 4-5-1 or 3-5-2 but I think I'd collapse with shock if that happened

Because they are 2nd rate, only put 50% effort in and a are shite!

Having said that - pretty much the same as the rest of non entity available to Slade!

That's why Slade gets tagged with the 'clueless' brush is because he makes bizarre decisions. Even though Noone is on form he is ignored whilst Jones & Doyle are also ignored for Ravell who is clearly out of his depth and contributes nothing.

You can excuse Slade for trying Mason and Ravell for a game but surely then Ravell has to be dropped and Noone must start. Amoebic should also be getting more game time. Whites & Ralls are the same type of player and Ralls should not be playing out wide.

This is where Slades shocking decisions come into play.

Only Slade knows the answer.

The guy infuriates me

and this is why people call Slade clueless take note Troobloo waiting for your part 2

Manga apart, Kennedy is out best outfield player.

Where is he?.

Manga apart, Kennedy is out best outfield player.

Where is he?.

"Injured", apparently, just like that mystery injury Daeli had last season but yet he played for his national team

Manga apart, Kennedy is out best outfield player.

Where is he?.

I believe he had a run out Monday night. So hopefully should be considered soon.

Would we have scored after 5 mins if they were in team? Would we have won? Would Jones last 90mins?(no) most questions about selection are ifs & maybes, except Jones playing 90mins! Any point away in champ regardless of team we are playing is good point, anyone says we should beat xy&z are not being fair on our team or the other team !

Would we have scored after 5 mins if they were in team? Would we have won? Would Jones last 90mins?(no) most questions about selection are ifs & maybes, except Jones playing 90mins! Any point away in champ regardless of team we are playing is good point, anyone says we should beat xy&z are not being fair on our team or the other team !

Allan, we are not saying we should beat xy&z but what I'm saying is that 1 point away last night was definitely not good enough, we should have won that game but crumbled in the 2nd half. Before the game I would have taken a point but on our first half performance I say we should have won it.
If they were in the team would we have conceded a late goal and played shit in the 2nd half, it's all ifs and buts mate

Would we have scored after 5 mins if they were in team? Would we have won? Would Jones last 90mins?(no) most questions about selection are ifs & maybes, except Jones playing 90mins! Any point away in champ regardless of team we are playing is good point, anyone says we should beat xy&z are not being fair on our team or the other team !

Agree with you Allan. Slade is limited, our players are limited and it's going to be a long uneventful season.

don't forget until Noone and Jones came off the bench we were winning?

This is where Slades shocking decisions come into play.

Only Slade knows the answer.

The guy infuriates me

and this is why people call Slade clueless take note Troobloo waiting for your part 2

Very true he infuriates a lot of people with his selections but changes must come Saturday.

The clown that is Troobloo only has one opinion and that's his own. He called my opinion 'rubbish' the other day when I said I believe that Marshall should start ahead of Moore.
And who started Troobloo?
Pompous prick.

We drew away in the championship and nearly won ........

Win most of your home games and draw most of your away games and you are in the mix....

I am no Slade fan, but some of the comments on here and the Echo are one step from clinical madness.

Noone is an impact player, not a starter.
Jones is fat and everything that is wrong with modern football.
Ameobi has just got here.

If and i know its a big if Moore hadn't made his clanger would we still be moaning ? Yes because the sense of entitlement stems from the local rag and is supped here in gulps.

Would we have scored after 5 mins if they were in team? Would we have won? Would Jones last 90mins?(no) most questions about selection are ifs & maybes, except Jones playing 90mins! Any point away in champ regardless of team we are playing is good point, anyone says we should beat xy&z are not being fair on our team or the other team !

We might have or we might not have. We might of scored during the remaining 85 minutes if they'd been in the team, we might not have - it's all mights and maybes.

As for Jones lasting 90 minutes - at the moment Slade is selecting Dikgacoi to start every game knowing that he cannot play more than 75 minutes. This means that one substitution has to be held back every game so that the fat boy can be subbed no later than the 75th minute.

I will agree that any point away in the Championship is a good point if you agree that any point dropped at home in the Championship is a bad point.

Very true he infuriates a lot of people with his selections but changes must come Saturday.

The clown that is Troobloo only has one opinion and that's his own. He called my opinion 'rubbish' the other day when I said I believe that Marshall should start ahead of Moore.
And who started Troobloo?
Pompous prick.

In fairness Troobloo is not unique by having one opinion which is his own. Much prefer that than those who simply follow what is trending. As for goalkeeping choices it comes down the personal preference and a case can be made for either Marshall or Moore to start and if someone has a different view then again it is not unusual to believe the other view is 'rubbish'. I have seen opinions described a lot worse than that before now.

It would appear that our best side is not starting ATM. However, as pointed out there are mitigating circumstances why Revel is getting a start ahead of others. We are 3 games into a 46 league game season and it is hard to think at some point Noone, Jones and especially Ameobi will not get there chance, although like most supporters I hope that is sooner rather than later.

Noone played he whole of last season and was shit...........

Noone played he whole of last season and was shit...........

On that basis no-one would get a game..

Noone played he whole of last season and was shit...........

On that basis no-one would get a game..

Well Whittingham still plays

Noone played he whole of last season and was shit...........

On that basis no-one would get a game..

Well Whittingham still plays

Well that's sort of what I was getting at.

Noone played he whole of last season and was shit...........

On that basis no-one would get a game..

Well Whittingham still plays

Well that's sort of what I was getting at.

Agree totally, good post Tony

Its all about continuity we have been playing well with the same team its only the weakest links in the team are Morrison and Revell but we are hard to beat and that's important we just need a couple of tweaks but we 3 draws is a platform to build on.

Very true he infuriates a lot of people with his selections but changes must come Saturday.

The clown that is Troobloo only has one opinion and that's his own. He called my opinion 'rubbish' the other day when I said I believe that Marshall should start ahead of Moore.
And who started Troobloo?
Pompous prick.

In fairness Troobloo is not unique by having one opinion which is his own. Much prefer that than those who simply follow what is trending. As for goalkeeping choices it comes down the personal preference and a case can be made for either Marshall or Moore to start and if someone has a different view then again it is not unusual to believe the other view is 'rubbish'. I have seen opinions described a lot worse than that before now.

It would appear that our best side is not starting ATM. However, as pointed out there are mitigating circumstances why Revel is getting a start ahead of others. We are 3 games into a 46 league game season and it is hard to think at some point Noone, Jones and especially Ameobi will not get there chance, although like most supporters I hope that is sooner rather than later.

I agree with you mate that he has his views which is fine but he doesn't listen to other views unlike yourself.
Marshall and Moore were both valid choices but when I called for Marshall (and was proved right, not that it matters) he rubbished it.

I'm not too concerned at the starting eleven at the moment. Everybody has a different one! However, I think the more skilful players should come in soon as long as Slade can see it.
As you say - it's a long season but we do need to start winning to build up a momentum.

Would we have scored after 5 mins if they were in team? Would we have won? Would Jones last 90mins?(no) most questions about selection are ifs & maybes, except Jones playing 90mins! Any point away in champ regardless of team we are playing is good point, anyone says we should beat xy&z are not being fair on our team or the other team !

We might have or we might not have. We might of scored during the remaining 85 minutes if they'd been in the team, we might not have - it's all mights and maybes.

As for Jones lasting 90 minutes - at the moment Slade is selecting Dikgacoi to start every game knowing that he cannot play more than 75 minutes. This means that one substitution has to be held back every game so that the fat boy can be subbed no later than the 75th minute.

I will agree that any point away in the Championship is a good point if you agree that any point dropped at home in the Championship is a bad point.

Mmm dropping points at home can happen it's against what opposition that counts! Blburn expected to beat us I'm sure they see it as point dropped Same as qpr, do you think we should have expected win over Fulham? Not really especially so early in season, particularly going on last seasons performances!

Would we have scored after 5 mins if they were in team? Would we have won? Would Jones last 90mins?(no) most questions about selection are ifs & maybes, except Jones playing 90mins! Any point away in champ regardless of team we are playing is good point, anyone says we should beat xy&z are not being fair on our team or the other team !

We might have or we might not have. We might of scored during the remaining 85 minutes if they'd been in the team, we might not have - it's all mights and maybes.

As for Jones lasting 90 minutes - at the moment Slade is selecting Dikgacoi to start every game knowing that he cannot play more than 75 minutes. This means that one substitution has to be held back every game so that the fat boy can be subbed no later than the 75th minute.

I will agree that any point away in the Championship is a good point if you agree that any point dropped at home in the Championship is a bad point.

Mmm dropping points at home can happen it's against what opposition that counts! Blburn expected to beat us I'm sure they see it as point dropped Same as qpr, do you think we should have expected win over Fulham? Not really especially so early in season, particularly going on last seasons performances!

I was hoping for a win over Fulham yes - "expecting" is too strong a word perhaps after last season's performances as you say.

What I'm getting at is that an away point is indeed a good result IF you can win the majority of your home matches. If we had won the Fulham game and drawn the next two then 5 points out of 9 would have been a great start. As it is, we only have 3 points out of 9. The fact that we dropped 2 points at home to Fulham means that the 2 points gained at QPR and Blackburn (not bad results in themselves) have not been as useful as if they would have been had we got 3 points against Fulham.

Look at the promotion season - the 10 straight wins at home at the start of the season meant that the large amount of away draws did not become an issue later in the season.

Noone played he whole of last season and was shit...........

On that basis no-one would get a game..

Well Whittingham still plays

I was waiting for that and so does the other 10 still play in that case
besides, that was last season, if we go on that assumption then Malone shouldn't start coz he was shite last season but look at what he has done thus far

Its all about continuity we have been playing well with the same team its only the weakest links in the team are Morrison and Revell but we are hard to beat and that's important we just need a couple of tweaks but we 3 draws is a platform to build on.

Rydo, I do agree with your weakest links