Vince Alm:

VINCE ALM:


It is Approximately a 12 minute read if you have the time and are interested in my opinion if not no offence taken

I have been trying to avoid posting anything about last Sunday South wales derby defeat, but feel I need to make a few points counteracting some of the things I have read. I have left it a couple of days for some of the anger and frustration to subside, but we need to put it behind us and move on not dwelling on it to much we have a chance to put it right in January, and need to get back to supporting the team.

Last weekend was the first time we have played Swansea since 2014 when we had that 2nd half collapse under Ole Gunnar Solsker losing 3.0. Swansea had been on a terrible run prior to us playing them and had sacked their manager replacing him with a former fans favourite Gary Monk who knew what that current Swansea team and club were about.

There are similarities to the build up of both games which I will go into a bit more detail further on but on a personal level taking into consideration what has happened during 2019 the result didn’t come as a complete shock to me, but the performance of the team did.

I have been quite surprised by some of the reaction from many of the fans and even some of my mates over Cardiff poor result last weekend. Many of the older generation saying it is the worst performance would have witnessed far more lack lustre performances than last Sunday years ago at the Vetch and Ninian Park. Some former poor results and performances I recall 1986 and 1987 both terrible displays away at the vetch. The 4.1 hammering 1995 when away fans were banned, the 3.1 home defeat in 1996 under the Russel Osman/Kenny Hibbit partnership and that 2.1 loss in 1998 under Frank burrows when we took the lead but were totally out played finally losing the match. They are a couple of previous clashes I personally remember that were either on a par or worse than Sunday performance.

20 years plus ago football was in a totally different place to what it is today. We now have a society that is live in a goldfish bowl which I believe in 1000 years this era will be known as the media era. There wasn’t a forum where thousands of supporters could vent frustrations that could lead into a frenzy group barracking. There also wasn’t a forum for fans to wind each other and set expectations to a level that a team would never achieve. Supporters back in the day would be a bit wound up and upset after a loss, but life would turn back to normal for everyone quickly. There was no forum to poke away at a festering wound days and weeks after a loss but now we have the internet and social media. It is instant and people overall will believe what is written so media can be very dangerous and counterproductive.

Football players, football clubs, football managers are scrutinised through many media streams to the smallest detail. One-week players and managers are Demi Gods, and the following week villains such is the power of media to sway opinions of supporters in a drop of a hat. Expectations are high with big pressure on footballers and mangers to deliver points and in style, but when they fall short of those expectations, they are can be pulverised from their own supporters and the press.
The rise in the popularity of social media has brought both good and bad aspects to football and sport in general. The good points are; it allows every person/fan to have their own opinion and share it with the world; It can also mobilise support very quickly and spread the word, and it also allows healthy debate to get a point across. Bad aspects are the overreaction to a loss, poor team performance, an individual error, team selection, abuse at fellow fans who may have a different opinion, threats, an overreaction to a win, perceived good team performance etc. So, one week negative the following week positive, rationale is dispensed with and what is happening now becomes the most important factor.

Reading some of our supporters’ comments on social media this week from the defeat on Sunday, a larger than normal proportion posts have been vile, rude, and over the top with some making it personal towards the players and the manger. I accept it was a very frustrating day and performance for those of us who attended or watched on TV with the team not showing up for a local derby. However, you can still make a point passionately without it being vile and personal toward players and families who play for your club.

Sean Morrison has been the subject of much criticism which is unbelievable really considering the effort he puts in every week playing through the pain barrier. He will never be a Van Dyke but he will always give 100 per cent leaving it all on the pitch. This is a player on Sunday who was playing with a broken wrist and then took a knock on the other wrist early on. When he came over at the end there was a fair bit of nasty abuse shouted at him from our supporters who were clearly frustrated by the performance and result. I shouted to him “the performance wasn’t good enough, just not good enough Sean” However Sean Morrison was one of two players who deserved some credit for his effort and the other in my opinion was Lee Peltier. So, I didn’t really get why the supporters were giving him such personal abuse? Yes, he can’t pass the ball more than a couple of yards or run the ball out of defence (although occasionally he does have a go) but Sunday I could not criticize his effort levels or determination putting in last ditch tackles and blocks. It is disappointing that Sean and his girlfriend were subjected to some poor messages.

On many occasions I have praised our support both home and away, but I thought our support on Sunday was probably worse than the team performance on the pitch. We went one behind and we very rarely got any singing going after that just when the team needed a lift to try and raise their game we shut up like a load of church mice. It has been proven on many occasions football teams can turn poor performances around from poor starts if they have the support of their fans improving their energy levels, lifting confidence when the supporters stick with them. Yes, they are professional footballers, but they are human beings if they got the opposition fans and their own fans on their backs many players will get anxious and nervous as proved on Sunday. They can disappear into their shell and start hiding afraid in case they make a mistake and get hammered. In the past I have been impressed with the Leeds United supporters who travel away, no matter how poor their team has played they have never stopped singing and getting behind them.

I’m not making excuses for the performance Sunday it was poor with very few positives to come out of the game which we were clearly 2nd best and deserved what we got. It has been interesting reading some supporter’s opinions actually praising Dave Jones team performances which I felt were always lack lustre being outplayed very much like Sunday using dinosaur tactics. There were individuals who could win games for us with a moment of magic in the team, and some local lads who cared about the club like Bellamy, Ramsey, Chopra, Mc Naughton along with the odd nutter like Paul Quinn. Players like that could scrape you a draw or win it for you, but on many occasions, we were outplayed and out fought under Dave Jones leadership.
For me I think the biggest problem a lot of managers from outside underestimate the size South wales derby and they do not get the intense rivalry. I thought Dave jones was one that fell into that bracket, a very good manager but arrogant in his approach to the derby often saying it is just another 3 points.

The only Cardiff manager in recent years in my opinion who fully got the enormity of the South wales’ derby was Malky Mackay. During the build up of that game in 2013 he took the squad away to an army camp for a couple of days. This ensured the players knew they were taking part in a game that was different, the importance of the fixture, and what it meant to the fans. The players turned up focused and galvanised as a team to take on a side who were superior than them in both quality and established at the top level of football in the English pyramid system. As good a manager as Neil Warnock is and has been, I really don’t think he knew how intense Sunday would be and the deep importance of the fixture. Yes, he has had plenty of experience of derbies, plenty of experience of motivating players and teams for big games getting the best out of them. However, I seen very little of that motivation and intensity I have seen on many occasions from his side over the last two years. The never say die attitude, what you lack in quality you make up in energy and effort, the team looked ill prepared and couldn’t get going to turn it around.

Going back to the 3.0 defeat to Swansea in 2014 at the liberty during the build-up Laudrup the Swansea manager had lost his job and was replaced with former fans favourite player Gary Monk. I said at the time in the press I thought his appointment was a master stroke by the Swansea board derby week. We had Ole who didn’t have a clue in relation to the Derby and they had Monk who had played in a few himself. His first selection was to bring back some players who knew what it was all about, Leon Brittan I recall, and the full back Rangel along with Dyer, Routledge, and Bonny sprinkling of local lads like Ben Davies they appeared far more equipped than us to approach a fierce South wales derby. There are some similarities from Sunday game to this fixture in 2014; Both teams struggling to find form; A manager and group of players who know what to expect and what is expected at a South wales derby; The other manager and group of players untested and not sure what to expect; One team with a football identity with both young and experienced players with a sprinkling of locals throughout the side; the other struggling to establish a football identity with a lot of older experienced players.

Swansea continue to produce good youngster through their academy Matt Jones the ex-Leeds player is in charge of the u16 and what I see of it he and his coaching staff are doing a fantastic job, while at Cardiff none are given a chance and nothing appears to be coming through. Swansea started with Grimes and Byers both coming through the academy and U23 set up and also Sam Surridge who came on for Dyer. If not injured they probably would have started with Rodon and Roberts. All those players will have had the Cardiff Swansea rivalry drummed into them even though Byers and grimes are from outside the area their loyalty would be fierce. Steve Cooper selecting Dyer and Routledge was a master stroke the two most experienced South wales derby players from each squad. So there you have it, a game plan, South wales derby experience, fiercely loyal youngsters, and a manager who gets the importance, the intensity, and the savagery of the fixture.

Cardiff on the other hand had two enforced changes but totally changed their tactics and formation from what we had been playing all season, choosing a 442 formation for almost the first time this season. We have 4 wingers in the club we do not have right side or left side midfielders to play a disciplined 4 across the middle? Yes, right and side midfielders do get up and down the flanks putting crosses in, but they are also disciplined in defence and understand general midfield positional play. Our wingers are wingers and not midfielders so in my opinion it was a strange decision after 2 years of never really playing 442 formation to go with it with two out and out wingers leaving us short in the centre when an attack broke down. This proved a disaster as Swansea manged to outnumber us all over the pitch catching us short of numbers on numerous occasions. If we had changed to 433 I could see the logic in that if he wanted to get Ward and Glatzel playing together. Warnock could have played Whyte right Glatzel Centre, and ward left with Ward and whyte dropping when we didn’t have the ball to help a midfield three of Pack, Ralls, and Bacuna giving us more numbers and protecting the back four. The season we got promoted we played that formation a lot away from home with Ward, Bryson, and Hoilett being the front three. However, I would have stuck with one up top and played Bacuna instead of Glatzel. The obsession of man marking is alao a tactic I do not understand and is catching us out all the time with players out of position. Surly we should be thinking of posing the oppositions problems rather than just worrying about them Yes defence is important but you win games by scoring goals.

I don’t agree with comments like gutless, and they wasn’t trying nobody who has played sport has ever gone out there not to try or lose a game especially professionals. I agree with comments like Swansea wanted it more and were up for it. We have had two midday Sunday kick off games this season and been outplayed, out fought in both of them appearing to be undercooked. Again, I refer to the 2017 2018 season where Cardiff city squad although lacking in quality in comparison to many of its rivals, had a group of players who wanted it more than their opponents. Had that desire to drive them to success hungry to succeed and play in the premier league. Sunday, we lost headers to players 4 inches smaller than us, always 2nd to the knock down balls, tackled and robbed of the ball on many occasions, the opposition stretched every sinew, gave every inch in their desire to get the ball. I’m not saying our players were not trying but they were second best on the day lacking the energy and desire. That is what came as a complete shock to me that our players did not match them for energy and desire. If I was to choose any manager based on experience to get a team motivated for a derby Warnock would be on my list but we fell short of what we can and should produce. I watched the Man Utd v Liverpool game the previous week not a great spectacle to be honest, but you could see Man Utd had raised their game for that fixture. Ole gets that derby which for many Man Utd supporters is bigger than the Man city one, and so do the players. I am told that is the best United have played all season but they are armchair supporters

The loss was not unexpected to be honest given our squad and key players out injured. Unless we get Tomlin and Hoilett on the pitch together we cannot play football. Tomlin can make us tick he brings the best out of the players around him who up their game and we play some good stuff, but he is the only creative midfielder at the club and is injury prone. Considering the senior players on show there was lack of communication the goal was a good example of that nobody talking and everyone ball watching. I think the return of Bamba may help with that and gives us a bit of pace we have been lacking since Manga departure in the centre. Joe Bennett looks to me as if he is going through some kind of personal hell and is out of sorts on the pitch. A quality player but not producing anything like he has in the past just wonder if the death of his father a year ago is having an effect on his game, but him and Flint are all over the place down the left both lacking in confidence, but not sure who you could put in Bennett place to give him a much needed break to get himself together?



I’m not in the Warnock out brigade I believe he is the best manager that is available to us to get the best out of this current squad. He has lots of experience and if we are to have any slim outside chance of being anywhere near the play offs, but realistically mid table stabilisation after a relegation he is the manager. A few of his signings have not hit the mark and the expectations perhaps they should have but they are our players.
It has been a tough year for the team, the club, the manager and the supporters with the Sala tragedy and the ramification the legal case is having on the club. The relegation from the premier league after a fight to stay in with decisions costing crucial points. The retirement and transfers of some of our key squad players. A tough transfer window where wages and transfer fees are spiralling out of control. The indifferent start of the season with the spine of the team out injured for much of it.




However now is not the time to panic as I keep saying I do not take much interest unless we are a couple of points adrift from safety of the league table until January. We need to show unity and support to the players who are wearing the shirt on Saturday however they play. If we want them to improve getting on their backs will not make them play better. You are entitled to your opinion but please leave any negatives until the final whistle if you can, and support them.

One team one love Cardiff City The Bluebirds

Great read.

Neither Grimes or Byers came through the academy.

Grimes was signed for almost 2m from Exeter after playing almost 60 matches for them. Byers was signed from Watford as a 21 year old.

One of the best missives I've ever read.
The money in football is obscene. Warnock is old school but does have several of our players who would walk through walls for him, the old days. Unfortunately those days are gone and I for one are losing my love for football as it's become a money grabbing exercise cos no one in Europe gives a f**k about American football. A few here pushed it, same guy of Mikes board (Roathy paid shrill, although his name is M** G**) as they did in mid eighties with Ice Hockey, I dumped a few cases of Labatt's sponsorship stuff into a skip earlier this week from 85?
Anyway I've managed to buy three raffle ticket books for Baku, I'm open as the Plaid Cymru candidate for bribery.
Only ladies over 45 years old, 46 at push, with nice panties and properly shaven havens may apply

Essentially, Vince loves Cardiff City, he loves Wales.

Great read, now Vince see what you can do to help remove the only real bubble trip left in British football so that instead of being treated worse than a convoy of ISIS we can actually make our own way to our local derby and once again have our freedom back.

Great read, now Vince see what you can do to help remove the only real bubble trip left in British football so that instead of being treated worse than a convoy of ISIS we can actually make our own way to our local derby and once again have our freedom back.

I'm back in Wales, SA9 postcode, the Jacks. I haven't met anyone that gives a shit, rugby world cup and Halloween, yes. They genuinely don't care or give a f**k, Swansea means nothing to them, apart from some rugby team which they're always pissed off about.

So how come people are attending"modern football" in record numbers?.

Great read, now Vince see what you can do to help remove the only real bubble trip left in British football so that instead of being treated worse than a convoy of ISIS we can actually make our own way to our local derby and once again have our freedom back.

I'm back in Wales, SA9 postcode, the Jacks. I haven't met anyone that gives a shit, rugby world cup and Halloween, yes. They genuinely don't care or give a f**k, Swansea means nothing to them, apart from some rugby team which they're always pissed off about.

bit silly.
the Liberty was sold out last Sunday and although they do not fill it every week their crowds are at an all time high...{ive seen so many derbies played to small crowds } ..so they clearly give a f@@k more than they did 20,30,40 years ago.

Fans are in meltdown after this latest derby defeat. I don’t think I have seen so many ridiculous comments and bitter nonsense in all my life. This includes Warnocks comments.

Wonder why this one has been taken so hard, seems a far worse reaction than any before. This one is worse than the last 3-0 one.

It’s a small minority of the more vocal element only.
The silent majority are just bored shitless of watching dross every week.. that’s it.

Fans are in meltdown after this latest derby defeat. I don’t think I have seen so many ridiculous comments and bitter nonsense in all my life. This includes Warnocks comments.

Wonder why this one has been taken so hard, seems a far worse reaction than any before. This one is worse than the last 3-0 one.

Personally I think it’s the manner of defeat rather than the defeat. We were dreadful you were good.

Fans are in meltdown after this latest derby defeat. I don’t think I have seen so many ridiculous comments and bitter nonsense in all my life. This includes Warnocks comments.

Wonder why this one has been taken so hard, seems a far worse reaction than any before. This one is worse than the last 3-0 one.

Personally I think it’s the manner of defeat rather than the defeat. We were dreadful you were good.

People seem afraid of saying that though mate. Just interested as to why that is.

You are in the minority.

Fans are in meltdown after this latest derby defeat. I don’t think I have seen so many ridiculous comments and bitter nonsense in all my life. This includes Warnocks comments.

Wonder why this one has been taken so hard, seems a far worse reaction than any before. This one is worse than the last 3-0 one.

You obviously didnt see game or you know why in melt down! Can lose 6 nil and wont have same reaction? it's not scoreline its manner of defeat that is being taken so hard and that is the overwhelming majority of fans are reacting to......and like I said if you saw game you would understand that.

You obviously didnt see game or you know why in melt down! Can lose 6 nil and wont have same reaction? it's not scoreline its manner of defeat that is being taken so hard and that is the overwhelming majority of fans are reacting to......and like I said if you saw game you would understand that.

I saw the game. I saw one team completely outplay and dominate the other. But nobody on this forum seems to be saying that apart from a few clear minded individuals.

It is one thing being p*ssed off with the performance, it is completely another pretending the game was there for the taking baring a few minor adjustments

Losing a match like that is call for anger, it isn't call for bitter and transparent revisionism, people seem afraid to say it like it is.

You obviously didnt see game or you know why in melt down! Can lose 6 nil and wont have same reaction? it's not scoreline its manner of defeat that is being taken so hard and that is the overwhelming majority of fans are reacting to......and like I said if you saw game you would understand that.

I saw the game. I saw one team completely outplay and dominate the other. But nobody on this forum seems to be saying that apart from a few clear minded individuals.

It is one thing being p*ssed off with the performance, it is completely another pretending the game was there for the taking baring a few minor adjustments

Losing a match like that is call for anger, it isn't call for bitter and transparent revisionism, people seem afraid to say it like it is.

Yawn off again

Great read, now Vince see what you can do to help remove the only real bubble trip left in British football so that instead of being treated worse than a convoy of ISIS we can actually make our own way to our local derby and once again have our freedom back.

I'm back in Wales, SA9 postcode, the Jacks. I haven't met anyone that gives a shit, rugby world cup and Halloween, yes. They genuinely don't care or give a f**k, Swansea means nothing to them, apart from some rugby team which they're always pissed off about.

bit silly.
the Liberty was sold out last Sunday and although they do not fill it every week their crowds are at an all time high...{ive seen so many derbies played to small crowds } ..so they clearly give a f@@k more than they did 20,30,40 years ago.

The rugby perhaps? The Osprey eggers more or less give the tickets away for free, I'm not sure what the deal is but if one does pay for egg ticket yer get "x" scfc tickets included. I'm not knocking the jack bacterised (got to lurve the sanitisation) but, from living 10 miles away, no one seems to care. No offence meant, just the way it seems to be and yes I could probably, more or less definitely within 10 miles of our ground find the same.

Great read, now Vince see what you can do to help remove the only real bubble trip left in British football so that instead of being treated worse than a convoy of ISIS we can actually make our own way to our local derby and once again have our freedom back.

I'm back in Wales, SA9 postcode, the Jacks. I haven't met anyone that gives a shit, rugby world cup and Halloween, yes. They genuinely don't care or give a f**k, Swansea means nothing to them, apart from some rugby team which they're always pissed off about.

bit silly.
the Liberty was sold out last Sunday and although they do not fill it every week their crowds are at an all time high...{ive seen so many derbies played to small crowds } ..so they clearly give a f@@k more than they did 20,30,40 years ago.

The rugby perhaps? The Osprey eggers more or less give the tickets away for free, I'm not sure what the deal is but if one does pay for egg ticket yer get "x" scfc tickets included. I'm not knocking the jack bacterised (got to lurve the sanitisation) but, from living 10 miles away, no one seems to care. No offence meant, just the way it seems to be and yes I could probably, more or less definitely within 10 miles of our ground find the same.

knocker them all you like , but knock them for real things..