' LATEST CARDIFF CITY DEBRIEFING '

Where do the Bluebirds go next in the wake of dreadful Watford defeat?


Monday Dec 29, 2014

By Terry Phillips

There was booing from the stands and abuse shouted at Russell Slade and his players as Cardiff City went down 4-2 at home to Watford. Here Terry Phillips tries to unpick some of the mess.


" How did Cardiff set up? "

Russell Slade tweaked his usual 4-4-2/4-4-1-1 systems and went with a midfield diamond.

Craig Noone was at the point of the diamond, Aron Gunnarsson at the base with Tom Adeyemi and Peter Whittingham playing together in a narrow midfield.

For 30 minutes it went well, Cardiff City were on top and looked comfortable.

Then it all went badly wrong and Cardiff have now conceded 13 goals in their last four matches.

Having gone ahead, City slipped off the pace because they could not retain possession as well as their opponents.

That has happened far too often this season.

Manager Slade tried to rescue a situation which was being taken out of Cardiff’s hands when he sent on Joe

Ralls for the injured Aron Gunnarsson and Kadeem Harris for the tiring Tom Adeyemi. Then he switched to more of a 4-4-2 with Harris and Craig Noone either side with Ralls and Whittingham in deep-lying central roles.

But Cardiff scarcely used either winger and kept going far too direct down the middle where Kenwyne Jones and sub Federico Macheda needed service.




" City are trying to survive on scraps."

Opposing teams regularly have far more possession, over the 90 minutes Watford had 68 per cent of the ball, leaving City with a miserly portion.

It’s happening far too often. Why can’t City keep the ball?

There were times when neat passing moves took them deep into Watford territory, but all too often a lack of composure let them down.

At one stage against Watford the Bluebirds broke fast and had a threeon- two situation.

But it was all too much for City and they lost the ball just as a promising move was developing.

They have to stay calm and composed in tight situations but there is an edgy nervousness to almost everything Cardiff do.






" Is there any battle left? "

Time and again Aron Gunnarsson broke up Watford attacks just as they were looking dangerous, when Bruno Manga charged forward and lost the ball it was Gunnars who tracked back spotting the problem and got in a decisive challenge.

That sort of scenario happened time and again. Gunnarsson has come in for stick at times this season, but he was man of the match against Watford.

When Gunnarsson limped off, having been hit by two poor challenges, Cardiff were 2-1 down and still in the fight, soon after he departed

City were caught out. They failed to cover around the edge of their penalty area, something the Icelandic captain had been doing all afternoon, and Guedioura smashed a shot in off the underside of the bar.

David Marshall looked furious that nobody had spotted the danger.

Adlene Guedioura wheels away to celebrate with Juan Carlos Paredes after scoring Watford's third goal




" What's happened in defence? "

Not too long ago City kept three clean sheets in four matches. They looked solid, even winning 1-0 at Watford.

Since then they have gone five matches without a win and conceded 13 goals in the last four fixtures.

What has happened? Bruno Manga, so cool and assured when he first came, and Sean Morrison struggled badly at the heart of defence. Watford’s second goal saw Ighalo get between the two central defenders and score.

Manga and Morrison, looked all over the place at times. In the closing stages Manga made a hash of dealing with an attack and the ball was played in and Ighalo had a one-on-one with keeper David Marshall. Only a superb save by Scotland’s number one rescued the situation and stopped a fifth goal.

Slade has until January 10 before the next Championship match, against Fulham at home, to find the right defensive unit.

By that time Manga will be with the Gabon national team at the Africa Cup of Nations finals with Morrison and Ben Turner surely linking up. A lot of work on defence at the training ground is needed.

Personally, I don't think Morrison and Manga is a centre back partnership that is working. I saw one suggestion from a poster that Manga might work as a DM. One thing is certain, we need a defensive midfielder. Guedioura is exactly the sort of player we need but unfortunately he's busy bossing it for the opposition.

There is so much wrong with our squad right now but the trouble is that a lot of it is stuff that us fans are not 100% informed about. Player attitude, potential January departures, training methods etc. In my opinion, one thing is for certain and that is that Slade is the wrong man. I thought he was but was willing to back him because he was our manager. I don't see things improving, even if he was allowed to bring in his own staff.

Will Tan bring in the right manager? I think we all know that's a big no.

Personally, I don't think Morrison and Manga is a centre back partnership that is working. I saw one suggestion from a poster that Manga might work as a DM. One thing is certain, we need a defensive midfielder. Guedioura is exactly the sort of player we need but unfortunately he's busy bossing it for the opposition.

There is so much wrong with our squad right now but the trouble is that a lot of it is stuff that us fans are not 100% informed about. Player attitude, potential January departures, training methods etc. In my opinion, one thing is for certain and that is that Slade is the wrong man. I thought he was but was willing to back him because he was our manager. I don't see things improving, even if he was allowed to bring in his own staff.

Will Tan bring in the right manager? I think we all know that's a big no.

Manu Style with three at the back, Manga, Turner and Morrison and wingbacks would work far better............

Desperately disappointed yesterday no commitment passion or disire.tactically slade has no clue I fear for us it was awful and has been for a while.