I get the sense I might not be in tune with most others today.
So much frustrated me. Not least fans near me. Screeching that "there's one man in the middle pass it to him" when we have two men being marked by all four of Cardiff's defence.
I didn't enjoy most of the first half because I thought the football was terrible. Header tennis, the ball pinging all over the place, no one putting a foot on it and showing composure, long cross field ball to no one, after long cross field ball. Late in the second half it felt a bit 'you have a go, we'll have a go' which isn't football I like, even if their attempts mostly broke down easily in the final third.
I thought March was terrible in the first half, the Fabio booking aside. In the second half he was much more dangerous, but he still has no idea what to do once he beat his man/men. In previous games he has had one on ones where he just never passed when the pass was on and instead side-footed straight at keeper. Today, he never even got the shot away. That run late in the game was so infuriating. He gets into the box and has a couple of players in the box to pass to before the defenders close him down. Instead he takes on the first man, pass is on, no, take on second man, pass is on, nope, take on the third. Fall over. The Cardiff defence was pretty poor with him, not just the bookings, but he is clearly so one footed, and yet they constantly pushed him onto that foot.
Their keeper made a few good saves in the first half, but after we scored, I don't recall us really testing him. This is the third game in a row that our inability to finish has cost us. We're fortunate that this year seems to be trending the complete opposite to last - it felt like last season every keeper we faced was having the game of his life, every team were on form. This season, on the whole, opposition keepers have been average, opponents have wasted their own opportunities.
I thought we were poor overall (albeit better in the second half, for a change), but fortunately Cardiff were much much worse.
Stockdale 7 - No chance with the first goal, not a lot else to do, was alert, stayed up as long as possible and delayed Cardiff in their only other chance, giving Dunk the chance to cover and clear
Bruno 6 - Too easily beaten for the Cardiff goal, then was a bit up and down, before eventually settling and putting in a strong performance with several great challenges
Greer 6 - How did he miss that?!
Dunk 6.5
Bong 6.5
Kayal 6 - Took a while to get into the game and contribute, set up the goal, but why did he hesitate so much late on?
Stephens 8 - Strongest performance of the bunch, well taken goal.
Rosenior 6.5
March - I really can't decide. First half and final product would be a low rating, his runs, and the way he drew fouls and cards would get a high rating...
Baldock 6 - His work rate is great, and I don't think we should understate his general contribution, but he needs to start scoring more. Wasted too many chances.
Temed 6 - Still recovering from injury?
Zamora 5.5 - This is lower in part because his time on the pitch was limited, but that was not a typical Zamora performance.
Manu - Felt like any time he looked dangerous and fast he was offside, but wasn't on that long.
I think I'm going to split the difference and give March 6, which right now feels generous to me. Though I may change my mind later.
So much frustrated me. Not least fans near me. Screeching that "there's one man in the middle pass it to him" when we have two men being marked by all four of Cardiff's defence.
I didn't enjoy most of the first half because I thought the football was terrible. Header tennis, the ball pinging all over the place, no one putting a foot on it and showing composure, long cross field ball to no one, after long cross field ball. Late in the second half it felt a bit 'you have a go, we'll have a go' which isn't football I like, even if their attempts mostly broke down easily in the final third.
I thought March was terrible in the first half, the Fabio booking aside. In the second half he was much more dangerous, but he still has no idea what to do once he beat his man/men. In previous games he has had one on ones where he just never passed when the pass was on and instead side-footed straight at keeper. Today, he never even got the shot away. That run late in the game was so infuriating. He gets into the box and has a couple of players in the box to pass to before the defenders close him down. Instead he takes on the first man, pass is on, no, take on second man, pass is on, nope, take on the third. Fall over. The Cardiff defence was pretty poor with him, not just the bookings, but he is clearly so one footed, and yet they constantly pushed him onto that foot.
Their keeper made a few good saves in the first half, but after we scored, I don't recall us really testing him. This is the third game in a row that our inability to finish has cost us. We're fortunate that this year seems to be trending the complete opposite to last - it felt like last season every keeper we faced was having the game of his life, every team were on form. This season, on the whole, opposition keepers have been average, opponents have wasted their own opportunities.
I thought we were poor overall (albeit better in the second half, for a change), but fortunately Cardiff were much much worse.
Stockdale 7 - No chance with the first goal, not a lot else to do, was alert, stayed up as long as possible and delayed Cardiff in their only other chance, giving Dunk the chance to cover and clear
Bruno 6 - Too easily beaten for the Cardiff goal, then was a bit up and down, before eventually settling and putting in a strong performance with several great challenges
Greer 6 - How did he miss that?!
Dunk 6.5
Bong 6.5
Kayal 6 - Took a while to get into the game and contribute, set up the goal, but why did he hesitate so much late on?
Stephens 8 - Strongest performance of the bunch, well taken goal.
Rosenior 6.5
March - I really can't decide. First half and final product would be a low rating, his runs, and the way he drew fouls and cards would get a high rating...
Baldock 6 - His work rate is great, and I don't think we should understate his general contribution, but he needs to start scoring more. Wasted too many chances.
Temed 6 - Still recovering from injury?
Zamora 5.5 - This is lower in part because his time on the pitch was limited, but that was not a typical Zamora performance.
Manu - Felt like any time he looked dangerous and fast he was offside, but wasn't on that long.
I think I'm going to split the difference and give March 6, which right now feels generous to me. Though I may change my mind later.
