Player ratings V N Forest

Well pre-match I seen the teamsheet and wasn't thrilled, Whitts and Gunnar together, no Fabio or Morrison in the squad (well was one ), I didn't have a good feeling going into the game but just hoped we could have some structure, baring in mind we were playing Forest who have started the season well.

But I have to say I haven't enjoyed a game this much for a long time, team used the ball well, lots of structure to the team, used the players in the wide areas and everyone knew their jobs. While Slade wouldn't have been my first choice he has come in an done what I hope and that's getting us back to doing the basics very well. I wouldn't have made my mind up on him whatever the results today but im delighted for him getting a good start.


Marshall 7 - Not a lot to do to be fair

Brayford 7 - Very solid and good going forward
Manga 8 - Classy player, will be a great player for us if we can keep him.
Morrison 7 - Not a fan but thought he was solid today
Ralls 6 - Struggled a little bit but we lack options at left back. He gave it a go though.

Pilkington 6 - Im not really a he fan but works hard and tidy on the ball.
Gunnar 7 - Thought he did well, the system and structure suited him. Deserved his place.
Whitts 8 - Excellent again the structure around him suited him and allowed him to get on the ball.
Noone 8 - Thought he was excellent, defensively he made some excellent tackles and cleared one off the line. Got tired and sloppy towards the end but he is still building up Match fitness

Le Fondre 6 - Ran himself into the ground and no doubt Slade would have liked to have taken him off if he had the subs. Not really getting into the right positions to get on the scoresheet though.
Macheda 6 - Good goal and some good play but to many flicks that weren't needed. As his fitness gets better I think he has the potential to be a key player

SUBS
ADEYMI N/A - Good pass and tackle
DAEHLI 6 - Worked hard
JONES 2 - Im not one who generally goes on about him being lazy but he just didn't look interested.

We were always going to get overrun towards the end with Gunnar off and unfortunately Tom going off injured, we basically had a load of wide players across midfield and Noone at fullback but they all dug in and I think we fully deserved the win.

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO LEAVE YOUR RATINGS BELOW

Agree with most of those, feel Pilkington is getting better with each game and was good first half. Hope Gunner is fit for Tues feel he's having a good season and will be pivotal if we play 4-4-2

I would not say Marshall had little to do. He made a great save just after our first chance.

I though ALF work rate helped Macheda who reminded me of Jay at his worse

I would not say Marshall had little to do. He made a great save just after our first chance.

He did but not much else really.

Brayford and Antonio had some good battles today!

Marshall: 6. Did nothing wrong, but nothing great either. Not his fault though, as there was no saves he needed to make that not any keeper could have done after him.

Brayford: 6. A good game defensively, and good runs forward, but without much end product. Could be a bit more tidy on his passings.

Morisson: 7. His best game for Cardiff so far? Looked very safe and solid throughout the game.

Manga:8. Man of the match. A rock in defense and uncompromising in all his tackles. A tidy passer as well.

Ralls: 6. Was quite anonymous today, but as long as nothing was created on his site, I guess he did his job.

Whittingham: 7. His best match of the season. Looks a lot sharper when he´s allowed to push forward, and today, I think he did his job also defensively. Every pass comes with an address.

Gunnarsson: 5. Unfortunately, Gunnarsson´s weaknesses in keeping possession again became evident. He had some good passes out wide, but in general gives away the ball far too easily. As always, he goes into the war without hesitation, but today I think he lost as many duels as he won. Was second last on the first goal, although his pass was not really meant for Macheda..

Pilkington: 7. Had a very good first half when he looked like a real treat taking on players one on one down his flank. A bit more anonymous the second half, but this is the best I have seen of him so far.

Noone: 5. While Pilkington was able to create openings with his quick movements with the ball, Noone seemed unable to do the same from his side. Worked hard, but not much end product. Expect more from him when he´s back at his fittest.

LeFondre: 5. Tried hard, but was not able to make much impact in this game. Was taken well care of by Forest´s defenders.

Macheda. 5. One extra point for his goal. Except from that, he never looked like a treat. Slow and not much involved.

Jones. 5. Showed that he´s a better option than Macheda when playing hoofball. Stong enough to keep up the ball, although I have seen him sharper.

Dæhli: 5. Hard to give him a score, as he was hardly involved at all the 25 minutes he got. Came into the match at the time when Cardiff started playing long balls from defense. Not his type of game.

Adeyemi: ?. Had a very promising start. Looks stronger than Gunnarsson, and I hope his injure is not serious. Would like to see him paired up with Whitts against Ipswich.

ECHOS RATINGS

DAVID MARSHALL: Important save from Matty Fryatt early on but was then kept quiet aside from Forest's disallowed goal and the late strike he could do little with. Strong at set-piece. 7

JOHN BRAYFORD: Did well to bring a presence to Cardiff counters although his touch did let him down at times in good areas and he struggled when Assombalonga drifted. 6

BRUNO MANGA: Won some important balls in the air as he coped well with Assombalonga threat as well as tiredness from international duty. A commanding presence. 8

SEAN MORRISON: Looked comfortable alongside Manga and faced no real problems. Distribution could have been better but stayed strong to impress. 8

JOE RALLS: Brought in late for sickness victim Fabio and struggled with Burke's direct threat out wide. Pushed into midfield to strengthen after Gunnarsson and Adeyemi's withdrawals and steadied ship. 6

CRAIG NOONE: Back in the starting side after injury and pace and trickery aided Cardiff's eagerness to attack at speed but careless with possession at times. Strangely moved to left-back to cope with Burke to limited success but clearance off line early on key. 6

PETER WHITTINGHAM: Far more like the Whittingham of old as he added a greater sense of purpose to his presence in the centre of the park. Took goal well but did find life tougher after break and influence waned. 7

ARON GUNNARSSON: Carried on his international high with a busy performance and worked well to give Cardiff upper hand in midfield before midweek exploits took toil. 7

ANTHONY PILKINGTON: Impressed in first-half on the front foot as individual ability boosted Bluebirds hopes of getting at Forest. Faded in and out but caught eye with quality at significant times. 7

ADAM LE FONDRE: Some great selfless running to open up space for others without really getting sniff of goal, movement paving way for Macheda opener. Pushed into midfield in second-half shuffle. 7

FEDERICO MACHEDA: Revelled in responsibility handed to him by Slade with clever build-up and a superbly taken opener before tiring and making way for Jones. 7

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/foot ... st-7957063

Just copied and pasted from blue above as I agree with the comments and have just added one or two amendments as I see them. To be fair, we caught forest on a good day for us, they were well below par. (Don't care tho, just gets one back over on them for 1984/85)
Marshall 7 - Did what he had to do, some hood saves but not put under any pressure from forest
Brayford 7 - Very solid and good going forward, would not like to play against him as he is a handful
Manga 8 - Classy player, will be a great player for us if we can keep him, man of the match
Morrison 7 - Not a fan but thought he was solid today
Ralls 5 - Struggled a little bit but we lack options at left back. He gave it a go though.
Pilkington 6 - Im not really a he fan but works hard and tidy on the ball.
Gunnar 7 - Thought he did well, the system and structure suited him. Deserved his place.
Whitts 6 - Whitts is too far off the pace and when Russell Slade talked about players being unfit, he must have meant Whitts. Gave the ball away too easy in parts.
Noone 7 - Thought he was good again today but still frustrates me a lot.
Le Fondre 7 - Ran himself into the ground and no doubt Slade would have liked to have taken him off if he had the subs. Macheda 6 - Good goal and some good play but to many flicks that weren't needed. As his fitness gets better I think he has the potential to be a key player

SUBS
ADEYMI N/A - Good pass and tackle
DAEHLI 3 - Was embarrassing watching him and burke together, looked more like a pantomime!!!
JONES 2 - Im not one who generally goes on about him being lazy but he just didn't look interested.

3 points tho and we are moving up.

Marshall-7

Brayford-7
Manga-8
Morrison-7
Ralls-6

Noone-7
Gunnarson-8
Whittingham-9
Pilkington-6

Le Fondre-6
Macheda-7

....................

Daehli-6
Adeyemi-10
Jones-6

Marshall 8 faultless

Brayford 8 consistent and solid again
Manga 8 you wouldn't have thought he'd just got off the plane
Morrison 7 - shaky start, but covered well and had excellent 2nd half
Ralls 6 had a tough time out of position

Pilkington 7 - decent again today, one piece of superb skill alomost got us an early goal

Gunnar 8 Worked his nuts off again and dominated the middle -

Whitts 8 - Lovely ball skills again
Noone 6 - first one I really disagree with, tired quickly after a bright start. Much more tocome when he gets fit

Le Fondre 7 - excellent link up work, always available and his movement helped people like Whits and Pilkington have options to pass to

Macheda 6 - Looked a bit sluggish at times, but pretty decent overall. Good work for his goal and created a few problems for them.

Bit harsh on picking on I thought he was a big threat and very involved in the first half especially

Marshall-7

Brayford-7
Manga-9
Morrison-7
Ralls-7

Noone-7
Gunnarson-6
Whittingham-9
Pilkington-7

Le Fondre-8
Macheda-6

....................

Daehli-6
Adeyemi-
Jones-5

What was pleasing for me was the players that were below par at blackpool upped their game
Pilkington and morrison best games in a city shirt,manga man of the match and looks class, whitts played well and showed he still should be amongt the first names on the teamsheet

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