MICK SPKS OUT:”I MADE THE RIGHT DECISION / WE ACTUALLY IMPRO

Cardiff City boss Mick McCarthy explains why he played five centre-backs and benched Kieffer Moore for West Brom shambles

McCarthy: “I don’t regret my decision and we actually improved, so I never made the wrong decision.”



The Bluebirds were picked apart once again despite having five centre-backs and two holding midfield players on the pitch as the Baggies ran riot in the Welsh capital


Wednesday 29th September 2021


Cardiff City boss Mick McCarthy said he opted to play five centre-backs against West Brom because his side were in desperate need of a clean sheet following their 5-1 drubbing up at Blackburn Rovers last weekend.


When the team news dropped one hour before kick-off on Tuesday night, they was a collective jaw drop from the Bluebirds fan base, both in the stadium and the vocal contingent on social media.

It was clear McCarthy had set his stall out with that selection. He had gone all out to try to stop the Baggies from scoring - opting for Mark McGuinness, Sean Morrison, Aden Flint, Curtis Nelson and Ciaron Brown in the back line - at the expense of offering an attacking threat further up the pitch.

For many, the team selection was baffling. While Cardiff have shipped too many goals, they have been nowhere near effective enough at the top end of the pitch this season and there was a hope that McCarthy might rip up the playbook and stop employing a back five and go with something more exciting and progressive.



Instead, he doubled down and opted for an even more defensive team, at home, for the visit of West Brom, and this was what he said when asked if it had backfired on him.


MICK McCARTHY:


"I don't think it backfired in terms of the performances of Ciaron Brown and Mark McGuinness, because I thought they were very good to be quite honest with you," McCarthy said.

"But we weren't going to shore it up or make a difference... we needed a clean sheet [after Saturday].

"It was just a bad start, within five minutes, it's an unbelievable strike five minutes in. Could we have got a block? Probably.

"But Mark McGuinness and Ciaron Brown have done themselves proud. I was delighted with their performances."

“Over all we improved and our football was better, so I think it was the right decision.”


The other concern was that Kieffer Moore, Cardiff's focal point and most potent goal threat, was benched for the clash.

Moore has looked a little out of sorts, having scored only one goal so far this term, but the service he has been getting has been nothing short of abysmal, Ryan Giles apart.

And when asked whether Moore's omission was down to giving him a rest or whether it was a tactical decision to select James Collins, McCarthy replied: "Mainly the first bit, to be honest with you.

"He's not been the Kieffer Moore of last season, for whatever reason. The time he has missed and the Covid he has had.

"It was to give James a game, that was the reason."



McCarthy was probed on team selection, fans' booing, jeering and chanting, the mounting pressure and just how he plans to get his side out of this run of woeful results.

As ever, he answered with measured responses, vowing to put in all the graft he possibly can ahead of what is now a crucial match against Reading at home again on Saturday.

But the players, too, must take responsibility. They have not been good enough these last few weeks and while the buck ultimately stops with the manager, there have been too many woeful team displays.

McCarthy, however, said that, behind closed doors at least, the players are taking some of the responsibility.

"I've just been asked what I've said to them, I'll share some of what was said in there, that it's not good enough and that they are responsible," he said.

"I come here and I take the responsibility for it and I always will because it's my team and my tactics, the way we do it, but they are very aware and very honest about it as well.

"Quite a few of them are saying the same things, that they need to take the responsibility or certainly a part of it, that's for sure."

You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

WOW:

Conceded 9 goals in two games, lost 6 of our last 7 games and the only win v bottom club Forest and he still believes he is right

WOW:

Conceded 9 goals in two games, lost 6 of our last 7 games and the only win v bottom club Forest and he still believes he is right

well he is right, we have improved. We only let 4 in.

That's ridiculous statement up make when you've let in 4 goals is he talking about fact we let 4 in as apposed to 5 weekend? Guess its an improvement if that floats his boat! Shame fans see it for what it was a dismal failure.

WOW:

Conceded 9 goals in two games, lost 6 of our last 7 games and the only win v bottom club Forest and he still believes he is right

well he is right, we have improved. We only let 4 in.

Absolute joke. It's plain to see that even with 3 centre backs on the pitch they're getting in each others way - let alone with 5! Most teams these days play 1 up top. 3 aren't even needed, 2 would be fine!

With my limited tactical knowledge I would say the 'best' way to stop a team scoring is NOT to put more defenders on the pitch but to match them man for man. Is he that inept or is it stubbornness?!

Our problems really are obvious, how can a man paid millions not see what everyone else can?!

That's ridiculous statement up make when you've let in 4 goals is he talking about fact we let 4 in as apposed to 5 weekend? Guess its an improvement if that floats his boat! Shame fans see it for what it was a dismal failure.

Allan,

Mick is exactly sounding like Neil Harris now.

“Over all we improved and our football was better, so I think it was the right decision.”

I didn't watch the Blackburn game other than the highlights so I can't imagine how bad that was if last night was an improvement. Some of the worst football I've seen us play.

The guy is totally deluded...conceded 9 goals in 2 games....get a grip of reality mick...

Is he actually for real? We currently play the worst brand of football within the 92 football league clubs ffs

shiiiit he sounds like boris johnson

i bet dalman/choo write his comms

Reply FB:

You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

Whats he watching? Does he actually get paid to train a squad that,
Defenders that cant defend
Midfield non exsitant
No width no crosses
Set pieces with no quality crosses
And kieffer working his socks off on scraps
Why do cardiff never play to their strenghts ??
Its going to be a long............................ season

Whats he watching? Does he actually get paid to train a squad that,
Defenders that cant defend
Midfield non exsitant
No width no crosses
Set pieces with no quality crosses
And kieffer working his socks off on scraps
Why do cardiff never play to their strenghts ??
Its going to be a long............................ season

So many similarities with Harris’ final few games.

Both managers tried changing the team to stop the rot and make us more resilient. The plan would go out the window immediately by conceding early and then gifting a goal through individual errors. It was far (very far) from pretty but up until Nelsons OG, we were at least hanging in there and starting to cause a few problems. Alarming how quickly we fell apart.

So many problems that things sent going to get better quickly. The team is weaker than it has been in years. Youngsters not quite playing consistently. Senior Players injured and out of form. Team unbalanced.

We need to scrap a few draws or sneak a win somehow. Needs to happen Quickly.

McCarthy: “I don’t regret my decision and we actually improved, so I never made the wrong decision.”
In all the years i have been supporting the club- more than 50- this is without doubt the most outrageously pigheaded not to say stupid statement ever made by a Cardiff manager.

That's ridiculous statement up make when you've let in 4 goals is he talking about fact we let 4 in as apposed to 5 weekend? Guess its an improvement if that floats his boat! Shame fans see it for what it was a dismal failure.

Allan,

Mick is exactly sounding like Neil Harris now.

Just cannot believe he would say such an obvious lie? I no u say hes tans yes man but must wonder if tan told him to say it as it's so ludicrous?

WOW:

Conceded 9 goals in two games, lost 6 of our last 7 games and the only win v bottom club Forest and he still believes he is right

Well, if you ignore (like he does) the 4 goals WBA scored and maybe the 5 at Coventry in Mick Talk we have had 2 clean sheets in a row...

It all makes sense now...! Hmmmm...!

There is having the courage of your convictions and then there is just plain stupidity. Mick falls into the later.

How he can possibly stand by that decision or suggest we have improved beggars belief - can only assume he is trying to get himself sacked with comments like that.

That's ridiculous statement up make when you've let in 4 goals is he talking about fact we let 4 in as apposed to 5 weekend? Guess its an improvement if that floats his boat! Shame fans see it for what it was a dismal failure.

In that case, in 4 games time we'll scrape a 0-0 based on that level of "improvement"

That's ridiculous statement up make when you've let in 4 goals is he talking about fact we let 4 in as apposed to 5 weekend? Guess its an improvement if that floats his boat! Shame fans see it for what it was a dismal failure.

In that case, in 4 games time we'll scrape a 0-0 based on that level of "improvement"

Never thought of that? so by end season we will be top by 20 points...

Is he actually for real? We currently play the worst brand of football within the 92 football league clubs ffs

That in itself is some achivement. To beat 91 other clubs in being the worst footballing team in the league whilst still somehow retaining your job is no mean feat.

If mcGuniess and Brown did well (and compared to the rest, I wouldn’t disagree) let’s see if they keep their place Saturday. I doubt it. They’ll be dropped and the underperforming Morrison will no doubt keep his place. Shocking statement.

He’s not doing himself any favors by talking crap like that. An improvement would have been a draw, which he was obviously going for with so many defensive players on the pitch.

It worked lol

We lost 4-0 and he looked a bellend to everyone lose but himself playing 5 CBs is absolute nonsense not manager in any league that would do this unless all there wing backs were out injured

Get this moron out of the club

Replies FB:

You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

Improvement

It leaves me speechless.......

WOW:

Conceded 9 goals in two games, lost 6 of our last 7 games and the only win v bottom club Forest and he still believes he is right

I’m dreading seeing what happens when he admits he’s wrong .
Afraid I’ve lost respect for MM when he tries bs is way out of holding his hands up and taking responsibility for selecting a team no one else would have picked .
Didn’t he say that if you can’t win then don’t lose!!!!!!!

Delluded. Time to go.