Bristol City
- Thread starter ivoralljack
- Start date
We need a DEDICATED striker of experience and quality. As hard as Lowe tries he's not the answer - nowhere near. Ariolla will need time to get up to speed and we don't have it. The more I think of Wilf Bony the more I think he could help. He'd easily fit into the slow-paced game we play and he's still capable of hurting Championship defences - literally at times.
Lowe isn't on the same planet in terms of ability. Bony is strong enough to hold the ball up long enough for even our midfield to get to him and he's equally capable of getting the goals we so badly need. Long range or in the box it's all the same to him. Championship defenders won't like playing against him and this will create space for others. Lowe can be used either wide or off the bench to use his speed when Boby's softened up the defenders. Might sound a very left field suggestion but I'd far sooner go with it than watch our pathetic lot trying to score a goal.
CroJack
Key Player
Well, well, well...
This is the first time this season we were not able to protect the lead. And it's all on Cooper who didn't see the signs of us dropping guards in the beginning of the second half. What was he thinking? That an old fox Nigel Pearson wouldn't change their formation and kicked his players in the ass in the dressing room at half time?
Like so many times recently we continued to play high risk 3-1-4-2 even when we stopped running and pressing. Instead of changing to 3-5-2 or even 5-3-2, and introducing Fulton and Smith to protect the lead, Cooper waited and waited until it was too late.
3 points can be the difference between the 6th and 7th at the end of the season.
This is the first time this season we were not able to protect the lead. And it's all on Cooper who didn't see the signs of us dropping guards in the beginning of the second half. What was he thinking? That an old fox Nigel Pearson wouldn't change their formation and kicked his players in the ass in the dressing room at half time?
Like so many times recently we continued to play high risk 3-1-4-2 even when we stopped running and pressing. Instead of changing to 3-5-2 or even 5-3-2, and introducing Fulton and Smith to protect the lead, Cooper waited and waited until it was too late.
3 points can be the difference between the 6th and 7th at the end of the season.
Yankee_Jack
Key Player
The moment we got the lead we should have changed Dhanda and Hourihane for Smith and Fulton, then Lowe for Whittaker. We would have been more solid in midfield, had more of a threat up front, and retained 3 at the back with everything flexing as needed.
We were posting on here from the get go. Is it really that tough to see. Notice - Tate wasn't front and center today.
We were posting on here from the get go. Is it really that tough to see. Notice - Tate wasn't front and center today.
I'll probably get a few pelters for this, but the form over the last four games rests with one man, the manager, his inability to assess the opposition prior to a game, his inability to counteract things when the game is on. makes substitutions that don't make sense. He is seemingly blind to everything that is wrong on the pitch. A noticeable point is when there's an injury taking some time, opposition players go to there manager and talk tactics, Cooper stands there alone, no players go to him, does he have nothing to say to them, or do they ask themselves is it worth it.
CroJack
Key Player
Poor game management. Too slow to react and unable to anticipate. Too stubborn. Not inovative.
Behindthegoal
Key Player
But he has been lucky, except for these last 2 Saturdays.
I just don’t understand why PL managers would want to send their youngsters hare to develop.
Perhaps they only read WOL.
KVetch
Key Player
I would get Lowe and Ayew rest if that means starting Whittaker and Arriola up front then so be it. Finishing is our biggest issue we played well, our defending became too complacent because of possession against Bristol. We should have got a goal in the first half. Could have been a different game.
CroJack
Key Player
Two or three. And we shouldn't have conceded three.
Question ??
We are well situated at the moment for promotion, but having dropped six valuable points recently, has the bubble burst. the squad has become very unpredictably hot and cold over the passed few months. We have the cushion of two games in hand providing we can capitalise on them.
What are your thoughts on the remaining games, can we accumulate enough points to get us over the edge, or are we beginning to see the rot setting in.?
We are well situated at the moment for promotion, but having dropped six valuable points recently, has the bubble burst. the squad has become very unpredictably hot and cold over the passed few months. We have the cushion of two games in hand providing we can capitalise on them.
What are your thoughts on the remaining games, can we accumulate enough points to get us over the edge, or are we beginning to see the rot setting in.?
CroJack
Key Player
If "the edge" means automatic promotion places, then my answer is no. We have 15 games left, and to secure automatic promotion we should win 11 of them, which means we can tolerate 4 more defeats, and no draws. Higly unlikely. Had we beaten Bristol I would've been more optimistic.
I don't think it's a rot. We played good football against Bristol, but we didn't converted our chances and we got punished for the lack of focus in the second half. In the end the quality of the two goalkeepers decided the game. One of them made some excellent saves, and the other one gave two goals away.
If we can dominate other teams like we did in the first half against Bristol, and if we can create as many chances, then I am sure we'll score plenty of goals, and win the vast majority of our games. Of course, we need to keep focus, we need to be better at protecting the lead, and our goalie has to do much better.
I agree CJ, Woodman needs some time out , if only to wake him up, scoring was our negative point, but conceding is now becoming a problem also.
If as you say our target is possibly winning 11 of our fifteen remaining games, our goal scoring ratio is relatively low so conceding is a major factor.
If as you say our target is possibly winning 11 of our fifteen remaining games, our goal scoring ratio is relatively low so conceding is a major factor.
Yankee_Jack
Key Player
Our play in the first half was first class, or as close to it as we've come all season. We were denied by some scintillating saves by their keeper ... his entire squad should pass a cap around for a bonus. Whatever happened at half time in both locker rooms set the stage for the debacle that followed.
I can't wait to see how @CroJack analyzes the disintegration after minute 63.
I can't wait to see how @CroJack analyzes the disintegration after minute 63.
Couldn't believe my eyes when I read today that Cooper thinks that the fatigue the team will experience during the hectic run-in to the end of the season is IRRELEVANT!! Is this man for real? (WOL article) Of course it's relevant. Why bring on fresh legs during a game if fatigue wasn't relevant to a team's performance. He's talking through his arse.
Those of us who've played the game at any level will know from personal experience just how tiredness affects your game. You just can't make the runs or perform anything like your best when your legs are like jelly and your lungs are burning. At pro level it doesn't manifest itself in quite the same way because these guys are trained, fit athletes. But what it does do is rob you of that vital 10% or so of your optimum physical performance. This can be crucial when you're playing a team which is that little bit fresher.
We have an added load in terms of our games in hand and if Cooper thinks that he can flog the same players in game after game then he's living in cloud cuckoo land. After reading what I did, it seems he is.
PS: Unlike us, Cardiff are going great guns with another convincing win in thumping Derby tonight 4-0. The way things are going we could meet them in the play-offs and, if present form is a guide, there'd only be one winner I'm sorry to say.
Those of us who've played the game at any level will know from personal experience just how tiredness affects your game. You just can't make the runs or perform anything like your best when your legs are like jelly and your lungs are burning. At pro level it doesn't manifest itself in quite the same way because these guys are trained, fit athletes. But what it does do is rob you of that vital 10% or so of your optimum physical performance. This can be crucial when you're playing a team which is that little bit fresher.
We have an added load in terms of our games in hand and if Cooper thinks that he can flog the same players in game after game then he's living in cloud cuckoo land. After reading what I did, it seems he is.
PS: Unlike us, Cardiff are going great guns with another convincing win in thumping Derby tonight 4-0. The way things are going we could meet them in the play-offs and, if present form is a guide, there'd only be one winner I'm sorry to say.
CroJack
Key Player
@ivoralljack
Against Bristol, our players played exactly 29 minutes in the first half, and 27 in the second. And they had a 15 minutes break at half time. It's not like they are running for 45 minutes in each half. Every throw-in, offside, goal-kick, free-kick, corner-kick, fouls etc. gives the players a mini break. And most of the time they are not sprinting. When we play every three or four days, then we don't have normal training sessions, they are more recovery session.
Woodman, and our back three, whoever they are, don't need any rest for obvious reasons. Defenders don't run as much as midfielders, wing-backs and attackers.
Manning has shown he is a worthy sub for Bidwell, so no problems at the left wing-back position. Hourihane didn't played much for Villa in the first half of the season, so he is now warming up. He is fresh.
Lowe and Dhanda have recently played approx. 70 minutes per game, which means we have Ayew, Grimes and Roberts for whom fatigue could become an issue. All three are fantastic athletes, and frankly, I don't think they want to be rested. But if they show any signs of fatigue we have Fulton, Smith, Arriola, Naughton and Whittaker.
An example:
Cardiff 4:0 Preston
1. Cardiff awarded a soft penalty and they score.
2. Then in the second half one of the Preston players makes a sloppy backward pass and Cardiff score from counter-attack.
3. Then Preston miss two penalties !!!
4. Then Preston goalkeeper makes an error, Preston defence fall asleep, and Cardiff score.
5. Then one of the Preston defenders makes a sloppy backward pass towards his goalkeeper, and Cardiff score.
Against Bristol, our players played exactly 29 minutes in the first half, and 27 in the second. And they had a 15 minutes break at half time. It's not like they are running for 45 minutes in each half. Every throw-in, offside, goal-kick, free-kick, corner-kick, fouls etc. gives the players a mini break. And most of the time they are not sprinting. When we play every three or four days, then we don't have normal training sessions, they are more recovery session.
Woodman, and our back three, whoever they are, don't need any rest for obvious reasons. Defenders don't run as much as midfielders, wing-backs and attackers.
Manning has shown he is a worthy sub for Bidwell, so no problems at the left wing-back position. Hourihane didn't played much for Villa in the first half of the season, so he is now warming up. He is fresh.
Lowe and Dhanda have recently played approx. 70 minutes per game, which means we have Ayew, Grimes and Roberts for whom fatigue could become an issue. All three are fantastic athletes, and frankly, I don't think they want to be rested. But if they show any signs of fatigue we have Fulton, Smith, Arriola, Naughton and Whittaker.
Cardiff have been extremely lucky recently. They have scored many goals from long range shots (a low xG), and opposition gifted them a lot of penalties and goals. Cardiff average 33 % possession no matter whether they play at home or away. But, yes, they are extremely clinical, just like Reading in the beginning of the season. Reading were the league leaders up til late October, and I remember when I said that their results were unsustainable. The same with the current Cardiff's results. Cardiff are neither Norwich nor Brentford.
An example:
Cardiff 4:0 Preston
1. Cardiff awarded a soft penalty and they score.
2. Then in the second half one of the Preston players makes a sloppy backward pass and Cardiff score from counter-attack.
3. Then Preston miss two penalties !!!
4. Then Preston goalkeeper makes an error, Preston defence fall asleep, and Cardiff score.
5. Then one of the Preston defenders makes a sloppy backward pass towards his goalkeeper, and Cardiff score.
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I have tried to explain these things to them on their forum in a nice enough way. But when I tried to log on to their forum earlier a message came up in bold letters 'YOU HAVE BEEN PERMANENTLY BANNED'.