I think despite scoreline and going 2 down, we could have won that easy with a bit more organisation and a few more regulars left.

Big question for me is who we keep hold of, currently Summerville, Gnonto, Sinisterra, Harrison and Bamford when he comes back we should be scoring for fun.

Hope Cooper is back soon.

comment by Wetherby White (U6810)
posted 31 seconds ago
I think despite scoreline and going 2 down, we could have won that easy with a bit more organisation and a few more regulars left.

Big question for me is who we keep hold of, currently Summerville, Gnonto, Sinisterra, Harrison and Bamford when he comes back we should be scoring for fun.

Hope Cooper is back soon.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I agree, I think we needed to equalise sooner and that would have come from subs sooner although it was starting player who scored.

We really missed a target man, it meant our attacks were slow, facing a packed defence.

Can't create any proper chances, goals coming from set piece and rebound from speculative shot, Cardiff coped comfortably with our huffing and puffing.

comment by Lowfields73 (U21886)
posted 3 minutes ago
Can't create any proper chances, goals coming from set piece and rebound from speculative shot, Cardiff coped comfortably with our huffing and puffing.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It certainly didn't feel like we created much clear cut, dont know if Cardiff were comfortable though, they did after all conceded 2 goals.

I was hoping for more from today, but great spirit second half, heads didnt drop and fitness was there.

Let's build on that.

Positives:
Coming back from 2 down. Should have battered them
Ampadu looks reassuring. A big fan
Gray also impressive. We should score plenty with our attacking options
Byram also looked good. Cresswell will score a few from corners

Negatives
Not quite sure what Aylings position was. Seemed be too advanced
Defensively still a shambles. Every time they attacked they looked like scoring
No striker. Same issues as last season.

The need for a commanding centre half and a striker who can give us shape remain essential

Obviously despite the embargo Cardiff have been able to bring free transfers in because their squad on paper should mean they survive easily and yes if we'd had a recognised target man even Bamford or Joseph I think would have definitely made the difference in turning today's draw into a comfortable victory.

Ayling I'm sorry but for me needs to be replaced with Byram filling in there until Drameh is fit or keep his place if he keeps playing as well as he seems to have done in the 2nd half which I didn't watch and I really wish the club would just pay for a new recognised left back, a new centre back, a new midfielder and of course a new striker... If that means selling Adams and Gnonto so be it

If that’s an opening premier league game, I’m happy. Great comeback. Learn from your mistakes and move on we’ll be alright.

In the championship you have to be ruthless. Cannot give away 2 gifted goals and the manner of both of them was dreadful. Got to grind out wins. You know teams will hit us on counter then defend in numbers and waste time.

Definitely 2 points lost.

comment by Jonty (U4614)
posted 18 minutes ago
comment by Wetherby White (U6810)
posted 31 seconds ago
I think despite scoreline and going 2 down, we could have won that easy with a bit more organisation and a few more regulars left.

Big question for me is who we keep hold of, currently Summerville, Gnonto, Sinisterra, Harrison and Bamford when he comes back we should be scoring for fun.

Hope Cooper is back soon.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I agree, I think we needed to equalise sooner and that would have come from subs sooner although it was starting player who scored.

We really missed a target man, it meant our attacks were slow, facing a packed defence.


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I think a fully fit Bamford plays and our wingers have more joy, cause more havoc, can’t argue there. It’s too easy for all those defenders without a target man.

Farke - reminds everyone of the importance of staying financially viable.

Biggest club in this division by a mile.
Huge season ticket sales
Huge shirt sales
Parachute payments
49ers saved 230m on asking price.
8 players out the door, wages saved

It's really starting to sound like excuses from teh club, cut the crap, only talking about 20/30 mill spend on 2, 3 players (Farke says we need more).

A positive although should be a given is our fitness levels are back to where they were before Marsch.

comment by Earl * * Not available in N.I. (U9333)
posted 53 seconds ago
A positive although should be a given is our fitness levels are back to where they were before Marsch.

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Yes, kept going right to end, great to see.

Gulf in class was huge, and I mean huge.

But the squad is so imbalanced.

Should walk promotion if next three weeks transfers are well

We were miles better than them throughout the game, it’s that weak underbelly at the back that concedes from every shot on target continuing from the last two seasons costing us. 2 shots on target, 2 goals, it’s ridiculous how often the same story repeats itself. I agree with the comments above about bamford and a proper striker, it didn’t stick enough upfront but we caused them problems all games and scored 2, it’s just so easy for teams to score against our defenders.

I thought Ayling might be better again in the champ but he looks done, caught out of position again with lower quality players. Hopefully Drameh is good enough to step in there. Cresswell looked decent, Cooper was good as usual but injury prone, I would love us to sign Nat Phillips and have that position sorted.

If they sign a centreback and a leftback, and no one else leaves, then I think we have the quality to go back up. If they faff around and sell Gnonto or Sini last minute then we struggle.

Interesting that you highlight corners Jonty, thought our corners were awful in the first half and I have no idea why Archie was taking them. I think it was either the first or the second was probably the worst corner I have ever seen, seemed to trickle along the ground and I really think I couldn't have done any worse.
The one after was a high lofted effort which went to the back of the area where I think Dan James was standing. much to his surprise.
Second half with Cree taking them they had direction and posed a threat.
Most bizarre.

comment by Best fans - Leeds Carajo (U2196)
posted 3 minutes ago
We were miles better than them throughout the game, it’s that weak underbelly at the back that concedes from every shot on target continuing from the last two seasons costing us. 2 shots on target, 2 goals, it’s ridiculous how often the same story repeats itself. I agree with the comments above about bamford and a proper striker, it didn’t stick enough upfront but we caused them problems all games and scored 2, it’s just so easy for teams to score against our defenders.

I thought Ayling might be better again in the champ but he looks done, caught out of position again with lower quality players. Hopefully Drameh is good enough to step in there. Cresswell looked decent, Cooper was good as usual but injury prone, I would love us to sign Nat Phillips and have that position sorted.

If they sign a centreback and a leftback, and no one else leaves, then I think we have the quality to go back up. If they faff around and sell Gnonto or Sini last minute then we struggle.
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Sinistere will have better games. Thought he was poor.

comment by Elsbels - El Mago (U21658)
posted 2 minutes ago
Interesting that you highlight corners Jonty, thought our corners were awful in the first half and I have no idea why Archie was taking them. I think it was either the first or the second was probably the worst corner I have ever seen, seemed to trickle along the ground and I really think I couldn't have done any worse.
The one after was a high lofted effort which went to the back of the area where I think Dan James was standing. much to his surprise.
Second half with Cree taking them they had direction and posed a threat.
Most bizarre.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes, forgot to mention Gray's corners weren't great, I think not seeing the wierd head patting any more made me lose my memory for those!

comment by LIW Rad a %#@% and so is Orta (U8453)
posted 34 minutes ago
Gulf in class was huge, and I mean huge.

But the squad is so imbalanced.

Should walk promotion if next three weeks transfers are well
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I agree that looked like a performance in a prem of a newly promoted team against Man city. Like if that happened frequently you would be worried but in a one off game you got to accept that these things can happen. Hoping Drameh has the ability to replace Ayling and need a number 10 and a striker urgently. Probably another cb as well. Think gnonto done okay upfront but need an option to cross to when teams sit deep. James looked like the weak link

Mixed bag. Wouldn't have taken a point if offered at the start. Leicester and Saints won harder games than us. Still showed spirit and dug out a point. Defence is poor and needs a couple of fresh faces. Midfield is weak and lacks depth. Thought Ampadu looked quiet, Gray was hot and cold but did well for a kid, need another steely midfielder in there. Attack was a handful but Cardiff sat deeper and deeper and let us come on to them. Can't see Sini and/or Willy staying.

Need 5 new signings in before close, no excuses

We are MILES away from the side that Bielsa had in his 2 season's, miles off. Hopefully the league aint as strong as was back then.

Can bash Ayling for the first goal - well behind play but Ampadu has to defend the penalty spot rather than getting sucked towards the goal.

Not sure what Ayling could have done for the second. Unlucky how the ball squirms there and he’s also been left 2 on 1. It’s Hjelde who failed against the winger and then I have no idea why Struijk gets attracted to the ball completely leaving his man. When the guy shoots Struijk is marking Cooper ffs.

comment by Kebablegs (U17699)
posted 7 minutes ago
Can bash Ayling for the first goal - well behind play but Ampadu has to defend the penalty spot rather than getting sucked towards the goal.

Not sure what Ayling could have done for the second. Unlucky how the ball squirms there and he’s also been left 2 on 1. It’s Hjelde who failed against the winger and then I have no idea why Struijk gets attracted to the ball completely leaving his man. When the guy shoots Struijk is marking Cooper ffs.
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I've come to the conclusion that being likeable isn't enough – Sorry Bill, it's time to go.

comment by Kebablegs (U17699)
posted 17 minutes ago
Can bash Ayling for the first goal - well behind play but Ampadu has to defend the penalty spot rather than getting sucked towards the goal.

Not sure what Ayling could have done for the second. Unlucky how the ball squirms there and he’s also been left 2 on 1. It’s Hjelde who failed against the winger and then I have no idea why Struijk gets attracted to the ball completely leaving his man. When the guy shoots Struijk is marking Cooper ffs.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Ayling is instructed to bomb on, so the question is who is meant to be covering. Struijk has no positional sense and is an accident waiting to happen every game. This team has been devoid of defenders/keepers fit for purpose for years and it’s why we find ourselves in the division we do, lamenting the inability to put away pub sides like Cardiff

Soft under belly has done us again. Defensive players sucked towards danger rather than hold their positions. Saw it time and time again last season. That first goal I must have watched 30 times before in the last 2 seasons. Do your job! Sick of seeing our defenders trying to do someone else’s job leaving players unmarked or massive holes to exploit. If Struijk holds his position for the second goal he’s there to clear the squirmed shot. If Ampadu defends the penalty spot he’s there to make a proper block that clears the ball from red danger.

Cooper was terrible. Got completely bullied in the first half. Barely won a single tackle or header. Ayling absent for the first and stuttering in attack. Hjelde offered no attacking threat and was poor for the second. Gray and Ampadu drifted through the first half playing 5 yard passes and offering no defensive screen.

Second half much better.
Cresswell was miles better than Cooper. Won everything, carried the ball with confidence and good crisp passing with purpose.
Byram was miles better than Hjelde offering support up front and better defensively.
Ampadu and Gray grew into the game and looked more confident to try and create.
Difficult for the front guys without a striker. Not like you can lump cross in and hope your striker makes something of it when it’s 5foot James Summerville and gnonto on the end of crosses. They tried and tried to create and get behind the bus like defence and overall created a fair bit - enough to win most championship games.

We have got to sort out this defence. Either with better coaching or different players.

comment by Kebablegs (U17699)
posted 1 hour, 8 minutes ago

We have got to sort out this defence. Either with better coaching or different players.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

…. That’s 6 managers if you include Skoobs who couldn’t sort the defence out, so I’m sticking with my original theory that we need different players. It’s largely been individual errors not system issues.

My thoughts:

Meslier had hardly anything to do.
But conceded two. Not his fault. Think he'll be
shop windowed and sold.

Darlow won't be a drop -off.

Cooper & Struijk are too unbalanced. Doesn't work.
Love Coops but, this might be the end. Got the goal.
Great leader. But, like Bamford and Dallas, he's
made of glass.

Buy a fecking CB 49ers. Two while you're at it.

Hjelde not good enough.

Byram damn. Knows Farke's system better than
anyone at the club. Which is why we looked miles
better with him on. Hope he stays fit. LCB is his to lose.

Ayling downright awful. Can't defend. And he gets
away with it week in, week out due to the
sentimentality toward the Bielsa players. He's
30+ and getting worse. As soon as Drameh's fit,
he has to start. I'd rather find out what he has
than persevere with the aging guy who is liable.

Cresswell looked good at RCB. Him and Struijk at
LCB looked much better second half.

Ampadu. Good solid signing. Will be big for us.

Archie. Good god he's 17 and was so composed.

Dan James must wear cement boots. Touch of an
elephant. Speed of a cheater. Football IQ of a gnat.

Poveda. He might threaten James for a starting spot.

Gnonto. Love him. Did his best. But not a true #9.
Think he'll leave before the window shuts. Best wishes.
Take that money and buy a position of need.

Cree. Excellent. MOM for me. Sell him. We need
that money to build a better team. Best wishes.

Sini. Love this player. Makes it all look so easy.
Hope we hang on to him.

Joffy. Like him too. Just not sure where he fits?

49ers. Please buy a proper, goal scoring striker.
Bamford's the daintiest porcelain doll on the shelf.
Relying on him is criminal. Squad player, fine.
Keep him as a sub when he's fit for those 12 games.

Buy a creative mid, striker, RCB, LCB at least.

Lot of work to be done before the window shuts.
49ers need to back Farke with whatever he wants
and needs.

Overall, shocking first half. Brilliant second.

Hope lives.

And as I said on the match day thread, this division
will be a lot tougher to get out of than some reckon.