Fabio love-in

Malone is 6" taller than Fabio but doesn't win anywhere near as many headers as Fabio and in terms of blocks, shots, passes or crosses Fabio has made 5 so far this season whilst Malone has yet to make a single block. Fabio has also made nearly double the number of interceptions compared to Malone, in fact he has made more interceptions than any other Cardiff player, this despite having fewer minutes on the pitch than any other outfield defender so far this season.

In my opinion this clearly shows Fabio has a good footballing brain and he reads the game well and whilst he may not be the best tackler in the team he has the all important recovery pace to get back and block crosses, as he did a few time when Scannell went past him Saturday.

On Saturday he also made an excellent clearance when Scannell tore a new arsehole in Malone before sending over a cross which would have been a tap in for the Huddersfield player at the far post. Thankfully Fabio was there to cover. Malone has done OK so far this season but Scannell lost him time and again in that first half and he, unlike Fabio, doesn't have the recovery pace to get back and block or clear the danger.

I'm very much in the Fabio camp and for now, in my opinion, he is a shoe in to the left back position.

Stats can easily be manipulated and not tell the whole picture.


Id rather use my eyes

How many of you have played for Brazil or in a Champions League final for Man Utd.

well if your going to go down that route, how many of us have played professional football at all? and in that case none of us can have an opinion on anything

Or you could take the view that as non pros we wouldn't get in the Cardiff team. By the same token the shit fullback that people describe on here wouldn't get in the Utd or Brazilian team. Fabio did though!

Yeah years ago, and was deemed not good enough after given the chance.

Same reason hes not in the premier league now

Possibly but we're not in the Premier League either!

Stats can easily be manipulated and not tell the whole picture.


Id rather use my eyes

Come on!

If you were really using your eyes you'd surely have spotted that you've got your head stuck up your arse.

Stats can easily be manipulated and not tell the whole picture.


Id rather use my eyes

Come on!

If you were really using your eyes you'd surely have spotted that you've got your head stuck up your arse.

Nope. I would have spotted someone who is constantly out of position defensively

Being a full back these days, is all about having a good all round game, in that you must be able to acquit yourself well defensively and be able to bomb on offensively, to assist the more forward players in your team!

Malone has been one of our best players during the start we made to this season, until he picked up a virus and he even scored a screamer at QPR. However, having been out for a few weeks, he didn't have the best of games when he came against Huddersfield on Saturday!

Fabio in contrast, was superb in making many an interception on Saturday and in winning umpteen balls in the air, that somebody his height, should have no right to do so against far taller opponents and the one thing which I love about Fabio, is his 100% total commitment!

However, I did say that you have to have to have a good all round game as a full back these days and Fabio has shown throughout his time at Cardiff City, that he has a propensity to dive in to challenges and commit himself, when he has no chance of winning the ball. He did this on far too many occasions on Saturday, diving in and spending too much time on his arse, allowing Scannell to skip round him and make inroads towards our goal, which dragged at least one of the centre backs out of position, leaving us depleted in front of goal!

In short, Fabio has had some absolutely outstanding games for us, making himself look like he should be on far more money than we pay him and playing for a far bigger team than Cardiff City. Fabio is nothing if not consistently inconsistent however and if he was able to judge more accurately, when not to dive in and when to jockey his opponent more often, then perhaps he'd still be playing for one of the biggest clubs in Europe and not little old Cardiff City!

Stats can easily be manipulated and not tell the whole picture.


Id rather use my eyes

Come on!

If you were really using your eyes you'd surely have spotted that you've got your head stuck up your arse.

Nope. I would have spotted someone who is constantly out of position defensively

So was Terry Cooper who was often like an additional winger. He was still one of the best and most exciting full backs I've ever seen, and Alf Ramsey obviously thought so as well, and he was'nt exactly a bad manager.

Stats can easily be manipulated and not tell the whole picture.


Id rather use my eyes

Come on!

If you were really using your eyes you'd surely have spotted that you've got your head stuck up your arse.

Nope. I would have spotted someone who is constantly out of position defensively

So was Terry Cooper who was often like an additional winger. He was still one of the best and most exciting full backs I've ever seen, and Alf Ramsey obviously thought so as well, and he was'nt exactly a bad manager.

Terry Cooper had a team full of compact hard men and seasoned International players around him and never shirked his defensive duties, not that I'm saying Fabio shirks his, but whilst we all like to see offensive and exciting football, it's about having a sensible balance, in that you have got to try and score at one end, whilst keeping the door shut at the other end!

Stats can easily be manipulated and not tell the whole picture.


Id rather use my eyes

Come on!

If you were really using your eyes you'd surely have spotted that you've got your head stuck up your arse.

Nope. I would have spotted someone who is constantly out of position defensively

Ok I respect your view on Fabio but please take some time to watch Malone closely when he plays next. He plays his football right in front of me and I know you'll see him playing over the half way line for a big part of his game and I'm talking about when we do and don't have the ball. Did you remember his shot against Huddersfield in the first half, he was exactly central just outside the penalty area.

Don't get me wrong I think full back should be showing enthusiasm going forward and god knows we need every ounce of entertainment right now. What gets me though is that people are slating Fabio for exactly the same thing. I don't think those people can have paid much attention to Fabios positional competitors.

Stats can easily be manipulated and not tell the whole picture.


Id rather use my eyes

Come on!

If you were really using your eyes you'd surely have spotted that you've got your head stuck up your arse.

Nope. I would have spotted someone who is constantly out of position defensively

So was Terry Cooper who was often like an additional winger. He was still one of the best and most exciting full backs I've ever seen, and Alf Ramsey obviously thought so as well, and he was'nt exactly a bad manager.

Terry Cooper had a team full of compact hard men and seasoned International players around him and never shirked his defensive duties, not that I'm saying Fabio shirks his, but whilst we all like to see offensive and exciting football, it's about having a sensible balance, in that you have got to try and score at one end, whilst keeping the door shut at the other end!

I agree, and when Cooper was making his forages deep into the opposing half, someone else would provide cover in his position if the ball was lost. That's why when people say that other City players are making Fabio look good, surely they are talking about teamwork. If any full back as a habit of bombing forward and getting away from his natural position, good teamwork ensures someone else provides cover while he is getting back. Seems to be working ok so far this season, and hopefully at this level of football will work nine times out of ten.

Stats can easily be manipulated and not tell the whole picture.


Id rather use my eyes

Come on!

If you were really using your eyes you'd surely have spotted that you've got your head stuck up your arse.

Nope. I would have spotted someone who is constantly out of position defensively

So was Terry Cooper who was often like an additional winger. He was still one of the best and most exciting full backs I've ever seen, and Alf Ramsey obviously thought so as well, and he was'nt exactly a bad manager.

Terry Cooper had a team full of compact hard men and seasoned International players around him and never shirked his defensive duties, not that I'm saying Fabio shirks his, but whilst we all like to see offensive and exciting football, it's about having a sensible balance, in that you have got to try and score at one end, whilst keeping the door shut at the other end!

I agree, and when Cooper was making his forages deep into the opposing half, someone else would provide cover in his position if the ball was lost. That's why when people say that other City players are making Fabio look good, surely they are talking about teamwork. If any full back as a habit of bombing forward and getting away from his natural position, good teamwork ensures someone else provides cover while he is getting back. Seems to be working ok so far this season, and hopefully at this level of football will work nine times out of ten.

Fair reply, but I don't agree with the others who say that some of our other players make Fabio look good, because IMO, he makes himself look good in many instances and like a world beater in the interceptions he makes and winning of headers against opponents, he surely has no right to win!

If he was able to cut out his diving in on the occasions however, when he has no chance of winning the ball and jockey his opponent, until an opportunity rises to get an effective tackle in instead, we'd have the big clubs lining up to take him off our hands!

I didn't think he had his best game but Malone and Fabio give us much needed width.

people like him because although he makes mistakes, he has a go and always wants the ball, unlike many of his team mates who hide when the going gets tough.

i prefer him over malone who i think is a very poor footballer.

people like him because although he makes mistakes, he has a go and always wants the ball, unlike many of his team mates who hide when the going gets tough.

i prefer him over malone who i think is a very poor footballer.

You must have been some player in your day then Butty!

FABIO once again tonight giving everything, the fans love him

I'm really excited about our start to the season, but the Hudds game confirmed my suspicions about Fabio' s defending. He's a good passer and great going forward, but from the whistle Scannell beat him regularly. Malone was also exposed, but dealt well with Scannell second half. In the second half their only real threat came (surprise, surprise) down the left from sub Carayol. Imagine what players of class like Downing and Russell will do to him. He isn't tight enough in his marking and loses concentration too often. I know these boards are a Fabio love-in, but Peltier is far more sound defensively.

You look even more stupid tonight than you did before.

people like him because although he makes mistakes, he has a go and always wants the ball, unlike many of his team mates who hide when the going gets tough.

i prefer him over malone who i think is a very poor footballer.

You must have been some player in your day then Butty!

have you ever criticised a footballer then sunshine? were you a professional?

jog on.

BOTH are good. It's Peltier that's shite. Malone and Fabio at full back please

people like him because although he makes mistakes, he has a go and always wants the ball, unlike many of his team mates who hide when the going gets tough.

i prefer him over malone who i think is a very poor footballer.

You must have been some player in your day then Butty!

have you ever criticised a footballer then sunshine? were you a professional?

jog on.

I've criticised plenty of footballers over the years, but unlike some people, I've always been able to qualify my criticism by being specific and not by making stupid sweeping statements and lazily labelling players as very poor!

I did play a decent standard as you've asked and as it was predominantly as a full back, I feel fairly qualified to level criticism at some players, especially defenders, but I also give praise when it's due and Fabio certainly falls into the latter category after tonight's performance!

So come on then, what level did you play at? I suspect that you must have been at least Champions League level!

Can somebody please upload a middle finger Emoji?

people like him because although he makes mistakes, he has a go and always wants the ball, unlike many of his team mates who hide when the going gets tough.

i prefer him over malone who i think is a very poor footballer.

You must have been some player in your day then Butty!

have you ever criticised a footballer then sunshine? were you a professional?

jog on.

I've criticised plenty of footballers over the years, but unlike some people, I've always been able to qualify my criticism by being specific and not by making stupid sweeping statements and lazily labelling players as very poor!

I did play a decent standard as you've asked and as it was predominantly as a full back, I feel fairly qualified to level criticism at some players, especially defenders, but I also give praise when it's due and Fabio certainly falls into the latter category after tonight's performance!

So come on then, what level did you play at? I suspect that you must have been at least Champions League level!

Can somebody please upload a middle finger Emoji?

Middle finger Emoji??

Oh dear!!

FABIO once again tonight giving everything, the fans love him

And he 'took one for the team' with his booking, Annis!

Lucky to stay on at one point and all because he had 'passion'!

people like him because although he makes mistakes, he has a go and always wants the ball, unlike many of his team mates who hide when the going gets tough.

i prefer him over malone who i think is a very poor footballer.

You must have been some player in your day then Butty!

have you ever criticised a footballer then sunshine? were you a professional?

jog on.

I've criticised plenty of footballers over the years, but unlike some people, I've always been able to qualify my criticism by being specific and not by making stupid sweeping statements and lazily labelling players as very poor!

I did play a decent standard as you've asked and as it was predominantly as a full back, I feel fairly qualified to level criticism at some players, especially defenders, but I also give praise when it's due and Fabio certainly falls into the latter category after tonight's performance!

So come on then, what level did you play at? I suspect that you must have been at least Champions League level!

Can somebody please upload a middle finger Emoji?

Middle finger Emoji??

Oh dear!!

Don't tell me you've never been tempted, when you've been got at? Or are you always laid back and cool?

I'm really excited about our start to the season, but the Hudds game confirmed my suspicions about Fabio' s defending. He's a good passer and great going forward, but from the whistle Scannell beat him regularly. Malone was also exposed, but dealt well with Scannell second half. In the second half their only real threat came (surprise, surprise) down the left from sub Carayol. Imagine what players of class like Downing and Russell will do to him. He isn't tight enough in his marking and loses concentration too often. I know these boards are a Fabio love-in, but Peltier is far more sound defensively.

You look even more stupid tonight than you did before.

Exactly what I was thinking.
Fabio played a blinder last night so how some can say what they say about him is beyond me.