" CHANGES ARE NEEDED AND IF WE DO THEN . . . ."
Sat Jan 17, 2015 6:41 pm
" CHANGES ARE NEEDED AND IF WE DO THEN . . . ."
The long journey started in Neath at 5am this morning, I didn't expect much from this game to be honest but we still go to support the team in the hope we can pull off a result.
We arrived at our pub stop at 10.45am and had 3 hours of refreshments and refills before making the short journey of just 4 miles to the ground.
The team was announced and it was what we expected.
The first ten minutes was a good start by Norwich and if weren't for a brilliant save by Simon Moore we would have been 1-0 down.
Just three minutes later Whittingham forced John Ruddy into a good save from a direct free kick.
But just another few minutes later Gary Hooper scored to put Norwich into a deserved lead.
Our best efforts were coming from set pieces, on 19:27 the 450 City fans sang loud and the majority were showing their blue scarves, at this time our best chance of the first quarter was a Turner header but he managed to miss the target from 8 yards after a clever back heel from Le Fondre.
Another superb save from Moore, who was having a good game, stopped the canaries taking a two goal lead but just a minute later and a shot from Kyle Lafferty did extend their lead with a strike from the edge of the box. At this point it was difficult to see a City comeback but straight after they scored their second, we had a chance with a penalty but it was a poor shot from Whittingham that Ruddy saved.
For the remainder of the first half the game was all Norwich and we were getting battered down the flanks, we weren't stopping the crosses and it was just a matter of time and it eventually happened Norwich got their third, it was dubious as I thought Jerome handled the ball before smashing home a goal just before half time.
Half time Norwich 3-0 Cardiff City
Second half started and it was more of the same, Redmond was killing us down the right hand side, it looked like we heading for a heavy defeat.
Jerome and Redmond both went close to adding a fourth.
After an hour City managed to get one back, we finally had a decent cross from wide and Revell got his first City goal.
Slade brought on Harris for Le Fondre and all of a sudden City had pace and looked a threat.
City then got a second after a neat finish from Kadeem Harris and with a quarter of the game to go, we were back in the game and there was genuine optimism we could get something from it.
We had one real chance with a header from Revell on 80 mins that beat Ruddy but went wide of the far post.
Full time Norwich 3-2 Cardiff City
My summary of the game would be that Norwich could have scored six and City could have got 5, if it weren't for a lacklustre first half and City creating nothing from open play in that first 45 mins then maybe it could have been different.
We need to use more of the width of the pitch, Harris must be a real contender to start the next game.
Our midfield was too narrow and it is not helping our defence.
Changes need to be made, I would take Le Fondre out of the line up as soon as possible and give Harris the start.
I am looking forward to going to Middlesbrough on Tuesday evening hoping that our second half display will provide a platform for the players to build from.
The long journey started in Neath at 5am this morning, I didn't expect much from this game to be honest but we still go to support the team in the hope we can pull off a result.
We arrived at our pub stop at 10.45am and had 3 hours of refreshments and refills before making the short journey of just 4 miles to the ground.
The team was announced and it was what we expected.
The first ten minutes was a good start by Norwich and if weren't for a brilliant save by Simon Moore we would have been 1-0 down.
Just three minutes later Whittingham forced John Ruddy into a good save from a direct free kick.
But just another few minutes later Gary Hooper scored to put Norwich into a deserved lead.
Our best efforts were coming from set pieces, on 19:27 the 450 City fans sang loud and the majority were showing their blue scarves, at this time our best chance of the first quarter was a Turner header but he managed to miss the target from 8 yards after a clever back heel from Le Fondre.
Another superb save from Moore, who was having a good game, stopped the canaries taking a two goal lead but just a minute later and a shot from Kyle Lafferty did extend their lead with a strike from the edge of the box. At this point it was difficult to see a City comeback but straight after they scored their second, we had a chance with a penalty but it was a poor shot from Whittingham that Ruddy saved.
For the remainder of the first half the game was all Norwich and we were getting battered down the flanks, we weren't stopping the crosses and it was just a matter of time and it eventually happened Norwich got their third, it was dubious as I thought Jerome handled the ball before smashing home a goal just before half time.
Half time Norwich 3-0 Cardiff City
Second half started and it was more of the same, Redmond was killing us down the right hand side, it looked like we heading for a heavy defeat.
Jerome and Redmond both went close to adding a fourth.
After an hour City managed to get one back, we finally had a decent cross from wide and Revell got his first City goal.
Slade brought on Harris for Le Fondre and all of a sudden City had pace and looked a threat.
City then got a second after a neat finish from Kadeem Harris and with a quarter of the game to go, we were back in the game and there was genuine optimism we could get something from it.
We had one real chance with a header from Revell on 80 mins that beat Ruddy but went wide of the far post.
Full time Norwich 3-2 Cardiff City
My summary of the game would be that Norwich could have scored six and City could have got 5, if it weren't for a lacklustre first half and City creating nothing from open play in that first 45 mins then maybe it could have been different.
We need to use more of the width of the pitch, Harris must be a real contender to start the next game.
Our midfield was too narrow and it is not helping our defence.
Changes need to be made, I would take Le Fondre out of the line up as soon as possible and give Harris the start.
I am looking forward to going to Middlesbrough on Tuesday evening hoping that our second half display will provide a platform for the players to build from.
Re: " CHANGES ARE NEEDED AND IF WE DO THEN . . . ."
Sat Jan 17, 2015 10:46 pm
carl, i think from top to bottom the club is badley run? and nobody at the club knows what the hells going on, 
Re: " CHANGES ARE NEEDED AND IF WE DO THEN . . . ."
Sun Jan 18, 2015 9:44 am
Carl...its frustrating to watch...by playing 4 in midfield we are getting overrun and hence the possession stats..if he starts with 5 in away matches and we close then down quickly and stop giving the ball away we ,ay peform better ...Slade hasn't banged it into them to close the opposition down quickly ..Whitts is wandering around...I m afraid that ralls isn t the answer he has no pace. Noone seems to have given up and lost confidence.
I just don t see Slade and Young as the confidence boosters we need...I think the players have sussed those two out hence the lack if confidence
I just don t see Slade and Young as the confidence boosters we need...I think the players have sussed those two out hence the lack if confidence
Re: " CHANGES ARE NEEDED AND IF WE DO THEN . . . ."
Sun Jan 18, 2015 6:58 pm
i think slade needs to adapt his usual 4-4-2 and try something a bit different. he tried it against colchester with 5 in midfield and we controlled the game albeit against league 1 opposition.
if we have 35% possession in each game we will always find it difficult and will never really impose ourselves on the opposition.
if we have 35% possession in each game we will always find it difficult and will never really impose ourselves on the opposition.