My take on last night

[Spiros]

While I agree that the first half was not great from an entertainment viewpoint Cardiff do deserve some credit for the hard work and discipline that stopped us from getting anything out of our play. We're on a run of good form and they're on a bad one - of course they're not going to come here and play wide open expansive attacking football, they're going to look first and foremost for a point. I certainly wouldn't agree that they were 'there for the taking' - this is a team that made it to a domestic cup final and are only a point below us in the table. In the first half they made it difficult for Greer to use his long passes as they made sure all our forward and wide players were closely marked.

 

[Mellotron]

While I agree that the first half was not great from an entertainment viewpoint Cardiff do deserve some credit for the hard work and discipline that stopped us from getting anything out of our play. We're on a run of good form and they're on a bad one - of course they're not going to come here and play wide open expansive attacking football, they're going to look first and foremost for a point. I certainly wouldn't agree that they were 'there for the taking' - this is a team that made it to a domestic cup final and are only a point below us in the table. In the first half they made it difficult for Greer to use his long passes as they made sure all our forward and wide players were closely marked.

Spot on. How can people not see that Greer needs an OPTION to pass to? He passes back to El Abd time and again because it's that or GIVE THE BALL AWAY. You can't have it both ways.

Cardiff were closing us down very, very well. LuaLua wouldn't have made a difference, he's not much use with his back to goal, which is how he would have had to play.

 

[m20gull]

First half, we played some lovely football down the right hand side, but unfortunately it didn't really go anywhere.

I like the possession style of our play, but the safety first aspect of it can be incredibly frustrating and i think the biggest frustration is watching CMS, Barnes and others move into space or point to where they want the ball and then just not getting the ball played to them.

I thought that Cardiff worked very hard covering the runs and passes. A lot of the time there just was no one to move the ball forward to, which was bound to be a feature with their five man midfield.

 

[Dorset Seagull]

It looks to me like Gus is trying to gradually build the style of play over time. We need to learn to play the passing game at a slower pace to start with in order to get good at it. When we have successfully accomplished that we can start to inject a bit of pace and move onto the next level and so on. Not all our players are technically gifted like Barcelona's so you need to get each bit right before you move onto the next bit. It's no good keeping possession and then injecting pace at some point in the move and lose the ball back to the opposition. All the time we have the ball we won't concede goals....we just need to get this bit right first...then we can start creating openings and score a few when we become more technically proficient at pace.

 

[JCL666]

I thought that Cardiff worked very hard covering the runs and passes. A lot of the time there just was no one to move the ball forward to, which was bound to be a feature with their five man midfield.

But I do think there were times when hesitation in our midfield and a reluctance to take a risk meant that the option disappeared.

And I'm not one to slate people for taking risk as I think the stick for Reyes on other threads is a bit unwarranted IMO as he was trying to play the ball in, but Cardiff covered well.

 

[Parson Henry]

But I do think there were times when hesitation in our midfield and a reluctance to take a risk meant that the option disappeared.

And I'm not one to slate people for taking risk as I think the stick for Reyes on other threads is a bit unwarranted IMO as he was trying to play the ball in, but Cardiff covered well.

Cardiff and Millwall. Two games which left me thinking 'if only'.

 

[JCL666]

Cardiff and Millwall. Two games which left me thinking 'if only'.

100% agree

 

[Discodoktor]

some share too much

Personally I think it is you who should ssshh instead of you telling others too it's a forum

 

[ditchy]

While I agree that the first half was not great from an entertainment viewpoint Cardiff do deserve some credit for the hard work and discipline that stopped us from getting anything out of our play. We're on a run of good form and they're on a bad one - of course they're not going to come here and play wide open expansive attacking football, they're going to look first and foremost for a point. I certainly wouldn't agree that they were 'there for the taking' - this is a team that made it to a domestic cup final and are only a point below us in the table. In the first half they made it difficult for Greer to use his long passes as they made sure all our forward and wide players were closely marked.

They played a similar game to West Ham wholet us play in our half and closed down anything after that, making it extremely difficult to beat.

I am more encouraged by the fact that we no longer crumble when we go a goal down .

 

[empire]

My take,if we played that team away,wouldnt have a problem,
at home,too negative and gus got it wrong
PLEASE GET ALAN HANSEN TO A TRAINING SESSSION TO TEACH OUR CENTERBACKS TO DRIVE INTO THE 20 YARDS INFRONT OF THEM,THEN DELIVER.

 

[kevo]

Couldn't disagree with the OP more really. Thoroughly enjoyed the game last night, except for the fact we didn't win, obviously.

Cardiff 'parked the bus' in the first half and were very difficult to break down. They're a good side who clearly set out to frustrate us. Having said that, their keeper produced a point blank save from CMS and we also hit the post. Second half, they score with virtually their first chance of the game and immediately Poyet makes a triple substitution. Brilliant, positive tactics. We deservedly equalise after piling on the pressure only to see them score a fluke second when Brez punched the ball directly to Whittingham. This is obviously a huge blow after we'd just pulled things back, but we didn't wilt and managed to grab another thoroughly deserved equaliser.

As Gus said after the game, it would have been a huge injustice if we hadn't got something out of it as we were clearly the better side throughout.

We had 15 shots (7 on target) in that game compared to just 6 against Ipswich (3 on target) - a match some people are saying was our best performance of 2012. On another day, we would have won fairly comfortably. We were just unlucky. It was a very good performance against a decent Championship team. Onwards and upwards.

 

[Mellotron]

Couldn't disagree with the OP more really. Thoroughly enjoyed the game last night, except for the fact we didn't win, obviously.

Cardiff 'parked the bus' in the first half and were very difficult to break down. They're a good side who clearly set out to frustrate us. Having said that, their keeper produced a point blank save from CMS and we also hit the post. Second half, they score with virtually their first chance of the game and immediately Poyet makes a triple substitution. Brilliant, positive tactics. We deservedly equalise after piling on the pressure only to see them score a fluke second when Brez punched the ball directly to Whittingham. This is obviously a huge blow after we'd just pulled things back, but we didn't wilt and managed to grab another thoroughly deserved equaliser.

As Gus said after the game, it would have been a huge injustice if we hadn't got something out of it as we were clearly the better side throughout.

We had 15 shots (7 on target) in that game compared to just 6 against Ipswich (3 on target) - a match some people are saying was our best performance of 2012. On another day, we would have won fairly comfortably. We were just unlucky. It was a very good performance against a decent Championship team. Onwards and upwards.

Agreed. Same on Saturday and we will MULLER Pompey. Cardiff are a VERY good team, a lot of people are choosing to ignore this.

 

[Dave the OAP]

Couldn't disagree with the OP more really. Thoroughly enjoyed the game last night, except for the fact we didn't win, obviously.

Cardiff 'parked the bus' in the first half and were very difficult to break down. They're a good side who clearly set out to frustrate us. Having said that, their keeper produced a point blank save from CMS and we also hit the post. Second half, they score with virtually their first chance of the game and immediately Poyet makes a triple substitution. Brilliant, positive tactics. We deservedly equalise after piling on the pressure only to see them score a fluke second when Brez punched the ball directly to Whittingham. This is obviously a huge blow after we'd just pulled things back, but we didn't wilt and managed to grab another thoroughly deserved equaliser.

As Gus said after the game, it would have been a huge injustice if we hadn't got something out of it as we were clearly the better side throughout.

We had 15 shots (7 on target) in that game compared to just 6 against Ipswich (3 on target) - a match some people are saying was our best performance of 2012. On another day, we would have won fairly comfortably. We were just unlucky. It was a very good performance against a decent Championship team. Onwards and upwards.

good post

Its all about opinions

 

[Dave the OAP]

Agreed. Same on Saturday and we will MULLER Pompey. Cardiff are a VERY good team, a lot of people are choosing to ignore this.

if that was a side swipe at me, where di I say that cardiff weere not a good team?

 

[Seagulltonian]

Cardiff and Millwall. Two games which left me thinking 'if only'.

Add Blackpool from earlier in the season too! We dominated that game, until the "Triple-Sub"!

 

[kevo]

Cardiff are a VERY good team, a lot of people are choosing to ignore this.

And let's not forget they managed to frustrate Liverpool for long spells during the Carling Cup final, so not exactly surprising they were able to do the same against us.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

PLEASE GET ALAN HANSEN TO A TRAINING SESSSION TO TEACH OUR CENTERBACKS TO DRIVE INTO THE 20 YARDS INFRONT OF THEM,THEN DELIVER.

Or play Dunk, who always looks to do that anyway?

 

[Mellotron]

if that was a side swipe at me, where di I say that cardiff weere not a good team?

Not a sideswipe at anyone in particular. Anyone saying they were "there for the taking" first half is talking nonsense though, IMO. Cardiff executed their game plan PERFECTLY first half.

 

[shaolinpunk]

I enjoy our possession football, but we should be looking to play possession with a purpose. As soon as there is a slight opening, bang quick passing and running at people to create space and a shooting chance. If the defence shuts the gap, switch the play and/or go backwards and start again

 

[Dave the OAP]

Not a sideswipe at anyone in particular. Anyone saying they were "there for the taking" first half is talking nonsense though, IMO. Cardiff executed their game plan PERFECTLY first half.

yes and my point was that we totally failed to break them down when having out what I took Gus saw as his best team...and at time the pass it along the back whilst forawrds like CMS were running their socks off trying to make space and been totally ignored bored the pants off me.

Any reason to shout btw? Did you get your point over better?