Cardiff City vs Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[SteveD]

Polishing a turd, some from last season, some from the summer. Only Baker worth his place in the back four, Chester hopeless as a leader and underperforming but should work long term. Midfield shambolic - Grealish and Mccormack as a No 10 and work from there, clear out all the others, too poor even for Championship level, it's obvious now. Up front a head scratcher during the African Nations but Gabby (drinking the dregs in the last chance saloon) H-murphy and a new signing (please, if Gestede has gone, there must be surely). But watching the last few games, we're lucky still to be mid table. Bruce now must earn his money.

[Clampy]

We stood off them and let them physically bully us. We were so slow in moving the ball, it was just frustrating beyond belief against a dire side.

Clampy has, a few times on this thread, suggested that he didn't really have the options to do anything different.  I disagree.  He's had nearly 3 months to give tish and lyden a chance but he's chosen to stick with 'tried and tested' Westwood and Gardner.  He's had all that time to get the players working on looking like they train as a group and trust each enough to play and receive the ball, he's chosen to not do it.  The first half today, both Leeds games, Norwich, Burton, Blues all games where he's sent us out to try to not concede rather than to try to win.  All of you slag off managers who've done this in the past so why is it fine when Bruce does it?

I haven't mentioned it a few times tonight at all, I've mentioned it once and it was valid point and a few others have agreed but if you feel the need to single me out then err...fine. A bit creepy but fine.

Tshibola has been nowhere near the squad and should have been. Someone mentioned the possibility of Lyden being injured as he's not played for the U23's but not too many others have been clamouring for his inclusion anyway.

[passitsideways]

That's twice now this season that Westwood has been brought off at half time.  I just cannot understand how his game has deteriorated so much over the last couple of seasons.  When you look at his stats this season, they are embarrassing for a player with his experience.  He has lost all confidence in himself and looks as though he is hiding in games.  People said that he played fairly well against Leeds but even in that game I thought he was a passenger in the 1st half and it was only when Jedinak went off that he started to get into the game.

It's like he's slowly but steadily completely forgotten how to play football over three years - he had 6(!) assists in his first season with us, and the season after he averaged as many key passes per game as Milner had in his final season with us. Outside of Barry and Milner, I don't think we've had anyone with that sort of creative output from centre midfield in the past decade or so (Stan was superb obviously, but never a creative player), but that side of the game has completely and utterly deserted him, when that was really the key to him being a useful player given the limitations he has elsewhere.

[four fornicholl]

What if Tshib and Jordan are worse though?

[dave shelley]

What if Tshib and Jordan are worse though?

That's hard to both believe and achieve.

[paul_e]

What if Tshib and Jordan are worse though?

They might be but based on today I think that's a tough ask.  However that still doesn't address the fact that he hasn't even tried them and only 1 of our midfielders has looked worthy of the title since Bruce came in (and he's the one who is effectively a central defender playing 10 yards further forward)

I haven't mentioned it a few times tonight at all, I've mentioned it once and it was valid point and a few others have agreed but if you feel the need to single me out then err...fine. A bit creepy but fine.

Yep, once sorry, still a pretty strange thing to say (although you did at least hint that you think he made a mistake).  I singled you out because when I made some criticism after the Leeds game you singled me out for it so don't act like it's some massive surprise that I paid attention to what you h\ad to say today.  I quoted ads as well because he was arguing about it just as much only to today make a similar observation to one I've made a few times int he last few months which is that we play the ball through midfield very slowly.  The other day I suggested that a big problem was that we backed off and let them dominate, today we didn't even start well and just let them dominate from the off.

The midfield options aren't perfect but we're worse than the sum of our parts in there and he has to be held responsible for that as the guy who sets the tactics and runs the training.

[SoccerHQ]

What a joke goal that was to concede....exactly like the one v Leeds. Not good we're suddenly looking weak again from corners defensively.

Very much an off day from the defence looking at the highlights.

Gabby unlucky not to score.

[BC54 VFC]

Christ, is that correct?

Westwood touched the ball three times and Gardner six?

Afraid so, and one of Westwood's (three) was a shot that ended up in Row ZZ of the home end!

[devilla]

How weak is their goal - why was nobody on the post?

As for that midfield, has there been a worse one in our recent history?

That's exactly what I said when Leeds scored. Kodjia was supposed to be on the post but wandered off. If he had stayed there, he would have cleared the ball off the line. Same today. McCormack was supposed to be there but he wandered too. Result - another goal that could have been prevented.

This to me is pretty basic stuff so why in McGrath's name has it happened in two consecutive games?

[Jimbo]

Christ, is that correct?

Westwood touched the ball three times and Gardner six?

Afraid so, and one of Westwood's (three) was a shot that ended up in Row ZZ of the home end!

... at Swansea.

[PaulWinch again]

What a joke goal that was to concede....exactly like the one v Leeds. Not good we're suddenly looking weak again from corners defensively.

Very much an off day from the defence looking at the highlights.

Gabby unlucky not to score.

Bunn's just not a very good goalkeeper and he should never be starting for us.

[dl9]

I was lucky enough to be invited to the match today from the chairman and owner of Cardiff, really hospitable guys. Even when I rocked up wearing a Villa tie and sat in between them they were cool and accommodating.
They were mega surprised and delighted to have won the match and were being as polite as they could towards Villa but it was easy to see that even they were expecting a better side to show up against them.
The Villa table next to me with Wyness, Little, Round and Tayls on it were ashen faced from the off. I commented after the match that we'd be bloody lucky to get anywhere near the plays offs playing like that at the end at to a man they all looked down at their shoes.
Bad day at the office.

[passport1]

I've said it before and I'll say it again.This is the worst squad of players I can recall at Villa. Quite how SB can address this in a mid season window eludes me.

We are very fortunate to be in a relatively safe position in the league.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Someone mentioned the possibility of Lyden being injured as he's not played for the U23's but not too many others have been clamouring for his inclusion anyway.

A couple of games for the U21s, new 2 year contract in September and still further problems with his injury keeping him out 'until Christmas'. Considering the lack of news about him anywhere on the net, it's hardly a surprise not too many were 'clamouring for his inclusion'.

I'm hoping that the stories I read about Bruce having no faith in the kids at all his previous clubs is just BS. From what he said post-match, if you're willing to put in a shift he'd consider anybody from the U11s upwards.

Doubt it will sort out our lack of height though. It will be interesting how he now approaches the problem. No point hoofing it up front for the big lads anymore.

[Bad English]

Can the away fans explain why they gave Agbonlahor a burst of his song? Did he deserve such an honour?