Town 0 Cardiff City 4
Picture from Mark’s Mobile Phone
Mark Harrison, Writer.
Twitter: @MarkHarrison15
In October 1982, Town played Cardiff at Leeds Road and won the game 4-0 with Mark Lillis scoring all 4. A game that has lasted a long time in my faltering memory.
Unfortunately, almost exactly 41 years on, just off Leeds Road, we were very much second best to the Blue Birds, who walked away with a 4-0 score line of their own. I hope to banish this one from my memory as soon as possible.
It was a tale of defensive mishaps, a familiar mental fragility to going a goal down and a team that wasn’t at it.
By all accounts we started the game on Saturday on the front foot before hitting the pause button. On Tuesday night that button was still being firmly pressed at the start. Within 2 minutes, Bowler, who always impresses against Town, got in too easily on our left, was able to cross with little resistance and the defence resembled statues as Robinson’s speculative back heel struck one in Matty Pearson and trundled into the net. Oh, what a start! As we have seen before, if we aren’t at it, we get punished and that is exactly what happened.
What followed was a performance that lacked a clear to the eye plan. It wasn’t evident what the game plan was, and we kept on making mistakes. Was this down to the coach or the players or a bit of both?
When I saw the team sheet before the match, I was happy to see Nakayama and Headley in the starting eleven. But they both had a torrid first half. Yuta was lucky to avoid the half time hook but performed much better in the second half in what I believe is his best position of left back. Oddly enough, Japan plays him there too which is a bit of a clue!
Boo To Be A Terrier
A section of fans does not need much invitation to start with the booing. Infact, I am sure a few started at it before the game kicked off as they walked through the turnstiles! I don’t believe it is particularly helpful if the intention is to support the team in game and get a good response. But you pay your money and you’re entitled to vent and boy did the team give ample opportunity for a good fume during and after the game.
Post-game, Kevin Nagle donned his tin hat, made for Twitter and almost copied and pasted his infamous post Norwich 0-4 tweet. This time he adjusted it to deflect a little from Moore and made himself the target of the venters!
It was clear to see that Moore has already lost the faith of many who replied. Others focussed on the weaknesses in the squad and the dreadful transfer window. It was brave of him to poke his head above the parapet with emotions so raw, so fair play to him.
My take is that there are glaring weaknesses in the squad which anyone with eyes in their head can see. Warnock got a tune out of them eventually, but also experienced three 0-4 defeats in his time. Moore needs time to work with the squad and I fall into the show a bit more patience camp. Was I hoping for a better start from Moore? Yes. Am I confident he can eventually achieve Warnock results with the same squad, no.
Simon where are you?
I was intrigued to see that Darren Moore brought with him a set piece coach in former player Simon Ireland. So, the fact we have since gone from one of the best teams at defending set pieces to one of the worst is problematic. QPR’s goal on Saturday and two further first half goals from corners by Cardiff leaves a lot of questions to be answered as to how this strength has become an obvious weakness?
4 at the back?
So, on we go to the next one. Who is it that we are playing?
Is it time to give 4 at the back a go? This could liberate and clarify positions further up the pitch with Thomas and Koroma playing with less defensive responsibility and give Rudoni a freer role as an attacking midfielder. I thought Rudoni (apart from his finishing) and Thomas were our best players against Cardiff. One question is can Harratt play on his own up front? Burgzorg and Hudlin can’t. We are missing Danny Ward more than I and many others thought.
One thing is for certain we need to defend much better or it could get messy!
IMatt’s ratings
In this section Matt will rate the players on a scale of 1-10 with 6 being used as an average to passable performance. TRIGGER WARNING! half marks will also be used if a player is between scores.
Lee Nicholls -5- Part of a defence which seemed lack communication and organisation.
Matty Pearson -4.5- Unlucky with the own goal but part of the disorganised mess at the back.
Michal Helik -6- Did I mention the disorganised mess? That aside, I don’t really remember Helik doing too much wrong.
Yuta Nakayama -4- Oh boy. Yuta struggled massively with Josh Bowler in that first half playing at left centre back. A lack of physicality again his achilles heel. His first half was probably his worst half in a Town shirt, but a better 2nd half performance stops me from scoring him lower.
Sorba Thomas -6- Industrious and created 4 opportunities for his team mates. Not a perfect performance by any stretch but created enough for Town to get a point (in theory).
Jack Rudoni -6- I’m struggling to know how to score Rudoni. On one hand he worked hard, tried to make things happen and got into good positions yet on the other he missed 3 or 4 really presentable chances that he should really have scored from.
Jonathan Hogg -4- Part of the set piece disarray and struggled to get to grips with the midfield runners in the first half.
Ben Wiles -4.5- I thought Wiles made a fair start to the game and looked to be positively trying to influence proceedings down the right with Sorba Thomas before fading badly shortly after the 2nd Cardiff goal.
Jaheim Headley -3.5- Oh Jaheim. That wasn’t good, let’s leave it at that.
Dr Burgzorg -3.5- The life of a maverick is to be unplayable one week and completely shit for the next 2 or 3. Hopefully due a big performance very soon as he’s overdue.
Kian Harratt -4- We need to see a little more from him outside of the box, particularly if he isn’t scoring inside it. Harratt is young and inexperienced though so games like this are key to his learning curve.
Tom Lees -6- Did nothing wrong and helped improve the defensive organisation.
‘Jurassic’ Kyle Hudlin -4- It took Hudlin around 26 minutes to touch the ball after coming on. One snapshot and layoff but didn’t offer the impetus required.
Josh Koroma -6- I’ve given him a 6 as I felt that he added a tiny spark on a very dim evening. The final ball/shot lacked but his endeavour rarely did.
Tom Edwards -4.5- Won a few headers and made a few interceptions but he’s too easily beaten and slow in a foot race. He’s got a lot to do to not get sent back to Stoke in January.
