" Cardiff City fans wake up to a rude awakening "
Mon Oct 27, 2014 7:24 am
Cardiff City headed to Millwall back among the contenders for Premier League promotion but were licking their wounds all the way home after suffering at the hands of the Lions.
Monday 27th Oct 2014.
Steve Tucker.
Few Cardiff City fans enjoyed their 90 minutes at the New Den
So there we have it, Russell Slade is not the Messiah after all.
Those who thought the new Cardiff City boss would simply walk into the club, wave his magic wand and all would be solved got a rude awakening in the inhospitable environs of South London.
For all the joy and exaltation of the wins over Nottingham Forest and Ipswich, against Millwall the Bluebirds put in as incoherent a showing as they have all season irrespective of who has been in charge.
It has grown tiresome to have it continually pointed out that Cardiff have the best and most talented squad in the Championship.
Great, that’s all well and good, but it’s like having the shiniest, most brilliant trumpet in the world, it makes no difference at all unless you are going to blow into the thing occasionally.
Following this reverse Slade himself was putting on a brave face insisting he was not down-heartened and insisting he had learned a lot about his players thanks to witnessing the poorest performance he has coaxed from them yet.
That was most certainly true, but what Slade will have learned here will not be too pleasing and will certainly have put into perspective the size of the job which lies ahead.
The Cardiff boss significantly identified the most disappointing aspect of the Bluebirds’ performance here as his side’s inability to put up even the semblance of a fight-back after falling behind.
The winning goal itself was the kind you could hold an inquest over. As Shaun Williams’ corner came in, was David Marshall impeded or merely weak-willed? And why was Federico Macheda marking the brutish Danny Shittu anyway if marking is not a slightly over generous description of what was actually occurring?
What cannot be doubted though is that after conceding on 54 minutes the Bluebirds attempts at getting level were not poor, they were virtually nonexistent. OK, there was a long-range shot from Anthony Pilkington and appeals for a penalty when the ball struck Shittu’s hand in the box, but the visitors really allowed a Millwall side, which hadn’t won in its last eight matches, to have way too easy a ride to the final whistle.
Contrast that with the Bluebirds home clash with Ipswich four days earlier in the Welsh capital when after falling behind they rolled up their sleeves and steamrollered their guests into submission.
Why the big difference against Millwall? The answer really is quite simple, too many of Cardiff’s ‘big’ players had an off-day at the New Den.
He maybe the go to ‘whipping boy’ of late, but Peter Whittingham was a prime example.
After a boisterous start to the match, Whittingham set the tone of his own personal afternoon with a series of poor deliveries from set-pieces and from there he simply grew into anonymity. But it was not just him, Pilkington on the wing was ineffectual and the loss of Aron Gunnarsson to an unfortunate head injury not long after the half hour highlighted what an important player he has become for Cardiff right now.
Of that Bluebirds midfield department only Craig Noone showed any real signs of life and looked the most likely to conjure something up for his attackers.
Of those, Adam Le Fondre was bustling and busy, but he should have scored in the first-half and in doing most likely have transformed the course of the game. The Lions were vulnerable after all. Under Ian Holloway they have been prone to bemoan their bad luck and Le Fondre really should have added to their bad karma.
When Noone’s original shot was pushed away by home goalkeeper David Forde it fell perfectly for Le Fondre just yards out. He saw his effort well saved again by Forde, who had an inauspicious period at Cardiff himself once, but really the Lions’ goalkeeper had no business being allowed to perform heroics. Le Fondre should have buried it.
Adam Le Fondre missed a gilt-edged chance
But if Le Fondre’s all round showing more than justified his selection the case seems harder to make for Federico Macheda despite the former Manchester United youngster’s two goals in two games prior to this.
No one could question Macheda’s commitment to the cause, but his hold-up play in particular is incredibly frustrating.
Instead of keeping things simple, the striker often indulges in flicks or attempted passes only he can see, you can’t knock his ambition, but it leads to Cardiff conceding possession way too often and way too cheaply.
There has to be a case made for the reintroduction of Kenwyne Jones when the big man is fit again. He grabbed four goals in the Bluebirds’ opening five games operating as a lone striker so with, say, Le Fondre beside him he might prosper further.
These are all decisions for Slade to make of course and despite this reverse it has been a good solid start for the new manager at his new club. It is just that after encounters like this the Bluebirds boss’ stated ambition of a play-off finish seems wildly optimistic.
Cardiff looked like what they are right now, a mid-table Championship side against Millwall whereas against Ipswich and Nottingham Forest they showed signs of real class.
It is up to Slade now to meld that Jekyll and Hyde personality into a whole and also to improve on the fact that despite November is on the way the Bluebirds are yet to win away from the Welsh capital this term. If the new man can do all that then maybe the Bluebirds do have a realistic chance of troubling the top places.
It’s a tall order for sure and if Slade can achieve it, well, perhaps people will start to believe he really can walk on water.
Monday 27th Oct 2014.
Steve Tucker.
Few Cardiff City fans enjoyed their 90 minutes at the New Den
So there we have it, Russell Slade is not the Messiah after all.
Those who thought the new Cardiff City boss would simply walk into the club, wave his magic wand and all would be solved got a rude awakening in the inhospitable environs of South London.
For all the joy and exaltation of the wins over Nottingham Forest and Ipswich, against Millwall the Bluebirds put in as incoherent a showing as they have all season irrespective of who has been in charge.
It has grown tiresome to have it continually pointed out that Cardiff have the best and most talented squad in the Championship.
Great, that’s all well and good, but it’s like having the shiniest, most brilliant trumpet in the world, it makes no difference at all unless you are going to blow into the thing occasionally.
Following this reverse Slade himself was putting on a brave face insisting he was not down-heartened and insisting he had learned a lot about his players thanks to witnessing the poorest performance he has coaxed from them yet.
That was most certainly true, but what Slade will have learned here will not be too pleasing and will certainly have put into perspective the size of the job which lies ahead.
The Cardiff boss significantly identified the most disappointing aspect of the Bluebirds’ performance here as his side’s inability to put up even the semblance of a fight-back after falling behind.
The winning goal itself was the kind you could hold an inquest over. As Shaun Williams’ corner came in, was David Marshall impeded or merely weak-willed? And why was Federico Macheda marking the brutish Danny Shittu anyway if marking is not a slightly over generous description of what was actually occurring?
What cannot be doubted though is that after conceding on 54 minutes the Bluebirds attempts at getting level were not poor, they were virtually nonexistent. OK, there was a long-range shot from Anthony Pilkington and appeals for a penalty when the ball struck Shittu’s hand in the box, but the visitors really allowed a Millwall side, which hadn’t won in its last eight matches, to have way too easy a ride to the final whistle.
Contrast that with the Bluebirds home clash with Ipswich four days earlier in the Welsh capital when after falling behind they rolled up their sleeves and steamrollered their guests into submission.
Why the big difference against Millwall? The answer really is quite simple, too many of Cardiff’s ‘big’ players had an off-day at the New Den.
He maybe the go to ‘whipping boy’ of late, but Peter Whittingham was a prime example.
After a boisterous start to the match, Whittingham set the tone of his own personal afternoon with a series of poor deliveries from set-pieces and from there he simply grew into anonymity. But it was not just him, Pilkington on the wing was ineffectual and the loss of Aron Gunnarsson to an unfortunate head injury not long after the half hour highlighted what an important player he has become for Cardiff right now.
Of that Bluebirds midfield department only Craig Noone showed any real signs of life and looked the most likely to conjure something up for his attackers.
Of those, Adam Le Fondre was bustling and busy, but he should have scored in the first-half and in doing most likely have transformed the course of the game. The Lions were vulnerable after all. Under Ian Holloway they have been prone to bemoan their bad luck and Le Fondre really should have added to their bad karma.
When Noone’s original shot was pushed away by home goalkeeper David Forde it fell perfectly for Le Fondre just yards out. He saw his effort well saved again by Forde, who had an inauspicious period at Cardiff himself once, but really the Lions’ goalkeeper had no business being allowed to perform heroics. Le Fondre should have buried it.
Adam Le Fondre missed a gilt-edged chance
But if Le Fondre’s all round showing more than justified his selection the case seems harder to make for Federico Macheda despite the former Manchester United youngster’s two goals in two games prior to this.
No one could question Macheda’s commitment to the cause, but his hold-up play in particular is incredibly frustrating.
Instead of keeping things simple, the striker often indulges in flicks or attempted passes only he can see, you can’t knock his ambition, but it leads to Cardiff conceding possession way too often and way too cheaply.
There has to be a case made for the reintroduction of Kenwyne Jones when the big man is fit again. He grabbed four goals in the Bluebirds’ opening five games operating as a lone striker so with, say, Le Fondre beside him he might prosper further.
These are all decisions for Slade to make of course and despite this reverse it has been a good solid start for the new manager at his new club. It is just that after encounters like this the Bluebirds boss’ stated ambition of a play-off finish seems wildly optimistic.
Cardiff looked like what they are right now, a mid-table Championship side against Millwall whereas against Ipswich and Nottingham Forest they showed signs of real class.
It is up to Slade now to meld that Jekyll and Hyde personality into a whole and also to improve on the fact that despite November is on the way the Bluebirds are yet to win away from the Welsh capital this term. If the new man can do all that then maybe the Bluebirds do have a realistic chance of troubling the top places.
It’s a tall order for sure and if Slade can achieve it, well, perhaps people will start to believe he really can walk on water.
Re: " Cardiff City fans wake up to a rude awakening "
Mon Oct 27, 2014 9:55 am
Agree with most of that but it is clear that the loss was Kenwyne's fault. Lazy b*stard.... 
Re: " Cardiff City fans wake up to a rude awakening "
Mon Oct 27, 2014 11:38 am
At least the home form has improved. If a club wins every home game, that puts them on 69 points. Obviously we've squandered a few of these but from now on, home form has to be tight.
The away games are, by and large, no different to the home fixtures. The only real advantage a club has over visitors is mostly psychological. This starts with the travelling, being away from family, the poorer facilities in the dressing room, the condition of the pitch and of course, the atmosphere created by the superior numbers of supporters.
Most of this can be overcome by the management team. The players need to block out all negatives and focus on what the boss wants. The Fergie factor was by fear, but The Special One uses mind games effectively. The players don't suddenly lose skills, rather they lose focus and confidence.
That's the job ahead for Slade IMHO.
The away games are, by and large, no different to the home fixtures. The only real advantage a club has over visitors is mostly psychological. This starts with the travelling, being away from family, the poorer facilities in the dressing room, the condition of the pitch and of course, the atmosphere created by the superior numbers of supporters.
Most of this can be overcome by the management team. The players need to block out all negatives and focus on what the boss wants. The Fergie factor was by fear, but The Special One uses mind games effectively. The players don't suddenly lose skills, rather they lose focus and confidence.
That's the job ahead for Slade IMHO.
Re: " Cardiff City fans wake up to a rude awakening "
Mon Oct 27, 2014 12:36 pm
I watched it twice and I thought Noone hid more than Pilkington. Taking the ball turning inside and then trying to play a beckenbaur 30 yard ball to Macheda all first half.