Post
by Andym » Sun Dec 11, 2016 1:16 pm
Maybe I'm in a minority of 1, but I actually quite enjoyed the game. We dominated possession throughout and our passing was the most accurate I can remember. However, despite that, Cardiff probably had as many shots as we did, and Bart had to make significantly more good saves than his Cardiff counterpart.
So despite what I thought was an enjoyable performance, these were the failings in me eyes:
1. Bart's error for the goal. Apart from that, and a poor punch shortly afterwards, he had a decent game.
2. Defensively, not too bad, although Chambers and Knudsen fail to provide anything useful if and when they get forward. Their distribution remains poor. Webster was again solid and brought the ball out of defence very well. My man of the match.
3. Midfield. Ward was largely invisible. Did very little of note. Skuse... had a decent enough game by his standards, but it's not enough. 2 examples. In the first half, he dared to venture forward, the crowd urged him to shoot. he looked embarrassed to be caught that high up the pitch and didn't know what to do in such an advanced position. Second half, played a 10 yard pass to someone slightly forward of him. Stood still rather than moving forward to support. Douglas is just too old and slow now. He gets about the pitch but lacks pace as well as a decisive pass. The foul that led to the sending off was crude and unfortunately typical of an ageing player who is off the pace, like the 40-year-old playing Sunday league. Also, many of Cardiff's better efforts seemed to come from positions in front of the defence where you would hope a midfieder might be closing down. The bright spot was undoubtedly Lawrence, but his insistence on running with the ball until he loses it adds excitement but produces nothing. He needs to learn to release the ball more quickly (the same criticism I levelled at Bishop last season).
4. Strikers. I was pleased to see Varney start as I think we need someone as a target man. Unfortunately he was beaten in the air all afternoon. Still ran about, causing problems by pressurising defenders, and a nice goal. McGoldrick showed his class, but seemed determined to shoot at every opportunity, often from 30 yards when there were players in front of him.
5. Subs. Pitman is not a target man in my eyes and struggled to do anything. Sears offered nothing but again was played wide where we know he is ineffective. I disagree with Bluemike about Bishop; the second he came on he ran into space, demanded the ball from the throw in, played a pass and demanded it back. Later on he picked up the ball deep in his own half and moved forward with the ball until he won a free kick on the edge of the box for McGoldrick to blast over. I his 10 minutes he contributed more than Skuse, Douglas or Ward all game.
Despite all the above, I enjoyed our possession and passing. We lack the ability to create chances. This is because our fullbacks can't get forward and cross a decent ball, Ward was not in the game, central midfield too ponderous and unadventurous, and McGoldrick and Lawrence, for all their good play, not bringing others into the game.
