Match Report Bluebirds taught harsh lesson in Premier Opener
Sat Aug 17, 2013 4:41 pm
West Ham 2 - 0 Cardiff City:
" Bluebirds taught harsh lesson in Premier League opener "
Saturday 17th Aug 2013.
Goals from Joe Cole and Kevin Nolan gave the Hammers a 2-0 win at Upton Park as Malky Mackay's men came off second best on the opening day
Cardiff City suffered defeat on their return to the top-flight as goals from Joe Cole and Kevin Nolan condemned Malky Mackay's side to opening day defeat.
The Bluebirds were outplayed during the first-half as they went behind to Cole's turn and shot inside 15 minutes, and the visitors couldn't claw their way back despite an improved second-half display.
Cardiff were found wanting at the back for both goals, while the attacking trio of Fraizer Campbell, Kim Bo-Kyung and Craig Bellamy failed to spark for much of the encounter.
It was a tough opening to Cardiff’s first appearance in the top flight since 1962, but there was enough fight on display to suggest they have a chance of avoiding an immediate return to the Championship.
The Premier League newcomers have spent close to £30million over the summer and they paraded record £9.5million signing Gary Medel at Upton Park, but he was relatively quiet, as was his fellow new recruit Steven Caulker.
Stewart Downing, West Ham’s £5million recruit from Liverpool, made his debut in the final 20 minutes and his introduction gave West Ham an extra gear in a more finely-balanced second half.
The Hammers were coasting until the interval after creating several good chances that were wasted by Cole, Matt Jarvis and Mohamed Diame.
Two of them were heavily involved early on, Jarvis floating a clever cross to the far post only for Cole to produce a poor header as West Ham failed to make the most of a promising start that saw the trickery of Modibo Maiga cause problems.
Maiga helped set up a chance for Jarvis that was spoilt by the winger’s poor first touch and Cardiff staged a counter attack that ended with Kim Bo-kyung driving high and wide over the crossbar.
Kim had Craig Bellamy in support and the South Korean was scalded by his captain for declining to pass.
Play quickly swept to the other end as West Ham plundered their first goal by capitalising on some indecisive defending.
Jarvis, who was proving a handful down the right, sent a pass across the face of goal to Cole who controlled the ball, turned and stabbed it into the bottom right corner.
With just goalkeeper David Marshall to beat, Cole would have had a second after being played in by a beautiful pass but his control deserted him.
Diame was becoming increasing influential and Cardiff were relieved when his shot, which deflected off struggling full-back Matt Connolly, crept around the right post.
Cardiff made a bright start to the second half with Fraizer Campbell prominent and a frantic goalmouth scramble ensued with West Ham prevailing through sheer weight of numbers.
The match was evenly balanced now as it swept from end to end, Cole again undermined by his control as he took sight of goal.
Once more Cardiff were skating on thin ice as Marshall almost pushed a pass to Maiga into the path of Nolan.
Downing arrived with 20 minutes left and he soon injected life into an increasingly lethargic West Ham by dashing forward with the ball.
He then teed up Nolan at the far post only for Ben Turner to intervene at the critical moment.
The Hammers finally produced their second with 15 minutes remaining when Mark Noble launched a crafty run along the edge of the area before finding Nolan who expertly swept the ball into the net.
Cardiff substitute Nicky Maynard almost pulled a late goal back for the visitors, but he scooped his shot over the bar from close range after coming under pressure from Collins.
" Bluebirds taught harsh lesson in Premier League opener "
Saturday 17th Aug 2013.
Goals from Joe Cole and Kevin Nolan gave the Hammers a 2-0 win at Upton Park as Malky Mackay's men came off second best on the opening day
Cardiff City suffered defeat on their return to the top-flight as goals from Joe Cole and Kevin Nolan condemned Malky Mackay's side to opening day defeat.
The Bluebirds were outplayed during the first-half as they went behind to Cole's turn and shot inside 15 minutes, and the visitors couldn't claw their way back despite an improved second-half display.
Cardiff were found wanting at the back for both goals, while the attacking trio of Fraizer Campbell, Kim Bo-Kyung and Craig Bellamy failed to spark for much of the encounter.
It was a tough opening to Cardiff’s first appearance in the top flight since 1962, but there was enough fight on display to suggest they have a chance of avoiding an immediate return to the Championship.
The Premier League newcomers have spent close to £30million over the summer and they paraded record £9.5million signing Gary Medel at Upton Park, but he was relatively quiet, as was his fellow new recruit Steven Caulker.
Stewart Downing, West Ham’s £5million recruit from Liverpool, made his debut in the final 20 minutes and his introduction gave West Ham an extra gear in a more finely-balanced second half.
The Hammers were coasting until the interval after creating several good chances that were wasted by Cole, Matt Jarvis and Mohamed Diame.
Two of them were heavily involved early on, Jarvis floating a clever cross to the far post only for Cole to produce a poor header as West Ham failed to make the most of a promising start that saw the trickery of Modibo Maiga cause problems.
Maiga helped set up a chance for Jarvis that was spoilt by the winger’s poor first touch and Cardiff staged a counter attack that ended with Kim Bo-kyung driving high and wide over the crossbar.
Kim had Craig Bellamy in support and the South Korean was scalded by his captain for declining to pass.
Play quickly swept to the other end as West Ham plundered their first goal by capitalising on some indecisive defending.
Jarvis, who was proving a handful down the right, sent a pass across the face of goal to Cole who controlled the ball, turned and stabbed it into the bottom right corner.
With just goalkeeper David Marshall to beat, Cole would have had a second after being played in by a beautiful pass but his control deserted him.
Diame was becoming increasing influential and Cardiff were relieved when his shot, which deflected off struggling full-back Matt Connolly, crept around the right post.
Cardiff made a bright start to the second half with Fraizer Campbell prominent and a frantic goalmouth scramble ensued with West Ham prevailing through sheer weight of numbers.
The match was evenly balanced now as it swept from end to end, Cole again undermined by his control as he took sight of goal.
Once more Cardiff were skating on thin ice as Marshall almost pushed a pass to Maiga into the path of Nolan.
Downing arrived with 20 minutes left and he soon injected life into an increasingly lethargic West Ham by dashing forward with the ball.
He then teed up Nolan at the far post only for Ben Turner to intervene at the critical moment.
The Hammers finally produced their second with 15 minutes remaining when Mark Noble launched a crafty run along the edge of the area before finding Nolan who expertly swept the ball into the net.
Cardiff substitute Nicky Maynard almost pulled a late goal back for the visitors, but he scooped his shot over the bar from close range after coming under pressure from Collins.
Re: Match Report Bluebirds taught harsh lesson in Premier Op
Sat Aug 17, 2013 8:03 pm
Er yes as expected .
It's an unforgiving league
It's an unforgiving league
Re: Match Report Bluebirds taught harsh lesson in Premier Op
Sat Aug 17, 2013 10:39 pm
Malky is idiotic for playing Connolly at RB. I'm fed up of it, He's clearly not a RB and the reason we signed Brayford was to be our number 2 with McNaughton as back up. We shouldn't be playing that shite at RB.
We badly need a winger. Whittingham shouldn't havestarted and we clearly needed a LB. Once again, Malky should have done better, because he knew we wouldn't have Taylor. That John kid is terrible, and not exactly the Shaw or Davies Malky clearly wants him to be.
Not the ideal start, but it could've been worse. Had Malky and the staff bothered preparing things properly and choose the right team, we could've got a better result.
We badly need a winger. Whittingham shouldn't havestarted and we clearly needed a LB. Once again, Malky should have done better, because he knew we wouldn't have Taylor. That John kid is terrible, and not exactly the Shaw or Davies Malky clearly wants him to be.
Not the ideal start, but it could've been worse. Had Malky and the staff bothered preparing things properly and choose the right team, we could've got a better result.
Re: Match Report Bluebirds taught harsh lesson in Premier Op
Sat Aug 17, 2013 11:34 pm
Malky is idiotic for playing Connolly at RB. I'm fed up of it, He's clearly not a RB and the reason we signed Brayford was to be our number 2 with McNaughton as back up. We shouldn't be playing that shite at RB.
We badly need a winger. Whittingham shouldn't havestarted and we clearly needed a LB. Once again, Malky should have done better, because he knew we wouldn't have Taylor. That John kid is terrible, and not exactly the Shaw or Davies Malky clearly wants him to be.
Not the ideal start, but it could've been worse. Had Malky and the staff bothered preparing things properly and choose the right team, we could've got a better result.
We badly need a winger. Whittingham shouldn't havestarted and we clearly needed a LB. Once again, Malky should have done better, because he knew we wouldn't have Taylor. That John kid is terrible, and not exactly the Shaw or Davies Malky clearly wants him to be.
Not the ideal start, but it could've been worse. Had Malky and the staff bothered preparing things properly and choose the right team, we could've got a better result.
Re: Match Report Bluebirds taught harsh lesson in Premier Op
Sun Aug 18, 2013 9:52 am
The kid is terrible
What a stupid comment
He was one of the few yesterday to come away from yesterdays game with any credit
Makes me wonder if you actually went to the game
And if you did maybe you were too pissed to watch the game properly
Not sure what your expected this season ffs
Its not going to be like last year winning most games we are going to lose more than we win
Give malky and the staff the time to get us compedative one game dont make a season
What a stupid comment
He was one of the few yesterday to come away from yesterdays game with any credit
Makes me wonder if you actually went to the game
And if you did maybe you were too pissed to watch the game properly
Not sure what your expected this season ffs
Its not going to be like last year winning most games we are going to lose more than we win
Give malky and the staff the time to get us compedative one game dont make a season
Re: Match Report Bluebirds taught harsh lesson in Premier Op
Sun Aug 18, 2013 1:05 pm
troobloo3339 wrote:The kid is terrible
What a stupid comment
He was one of the few yesterday to come away from yesterdays game with any credit
Makes me wonder if you actually went to the game
And if you did maybe you were too pissed to watch the game properly
Not sure what your expected this season ffs
Its not going to be like last year winning most games we are going to lose more than we win
Give malky and the staff the time to get us compedative one game dont make a season
It's nothing to do with the result, I'm fine with it. It's what I expected from a strong west Ham side. The problem is his selection was poor, and the LB solution should already be sorted, but it clearly isn't. We have Man City next then Everton, and we're going to need more than home advantage to get points from those games.
Re: Match Report Bluebirds taught harsh lesson in Premier Op
Sun Aug 18, 2013 1:48 pm
troobloo3339 wrote:The kid is terrible
What a stupid comment
He was one of the few yesterday to come away from yesterdays game with any credit
Makes me wonder if you actually went to the game
And if you did maybe you were too pissed to watch the game properly
Not sure what your expected this season ffs
Its not going to be like last year winning most games we are going to lose more than we win
Give malky and the staff the time to get us compedative one game dont make a season
It's nothing to do with the result, I'm fine with it. It's what I expected from a strong west Ham side. The problem is his selection was poor, and the LB solution should already be sorted, but it clearly isn't. We have Man City next then Everton, and we're going to need more than home advantage to get points from those games.
Oh, and to add insult to injury, it says something when we have to bring on Rudy f*cking Gestede to help the attack. He isn't good enough, and we lack quality in depth. We have the depth upfront, about 5 first team attackers, but only 2 (arguably 3) of them actually have quality to remain at this level. I'm hoping this loss makes Malky get his head into gear and actually sign players we need, and not for such overvaluated prices like we saw with Cornelius. Tan said we have around £5m left, when in reality we need much more than that, unless we get some smart cheap signings or some free transfers. Maybe even some loans if we were smart.