Another week, another defeat and despite 2 penalty claims being turned down, we really only have ourselves to blame. For once, chances were created – not that you’d know it judging from match reports I’ve read which completely disregard the fact anyone but Cardiff City got a kick. Dawson missed a sitter, arriving at the back post for an inch perfect cross, only to be taken by surprise and slice it wide. I’m sorry, but if you’re gonna make the run, DON’T be surprised when the ball actually reaches you! Then there was Tudgay’s miss before half time. Being at the away end, I got the impression most Reds’ fans weren’t quite aware of how bad a miss it was. A free kick was curled in and Tudgay looked 2 or 3 yards offside and flicked a header wide as if…he was offside and it didn’t matter. But he wasn’t and it did. 2nd half and Davies whipped in 2 balls across the box, the like of which he can only dream of being supplied himself. As it was, no-one was there for one, and Tudgay only moved once it had gone passed him for the other. Again, I know there’s a world of difference between a world class finisher like Lineker and a journeyman centre forward like Tudgay, but even I could teach Marcus something about gambling on the ball going into the right area and being there. Or b) you could hide behind the defender like every other Barnsley FC centre forward has done in the last 20 years.
Then there were the goals conceded. I’m sorry, Keith Hill, but I’ve seen enough of the Championship this season to see Cardiff scoring off corners. The 2nd was CRIMINAL. I kid you not, I have seen Cardiff score this goal at least 3 times this season. Whittingham bangs over a corner with his left, and while everyone goes with the Cardiff players in and around the 6 yard box, one guy peels off at the back post to nod home. As for the 1st, a simple header direct from the corner, Cardiff take advantage of the fact we don’t have a commanding centre half. As much as I would like to blame the goalkeeper when a team scores from close range off a corner, Cardiff EVERY TIME put 4 (FOUR) players in and around the keeper. Together with defenders, this means the keeper simply cannot come out and claim. Fair play to Cardiff. Every team (except us!) puts one player on the keeper, but this lot put half their team there. PLus 3 others in the box.
As the manager did say though, the players let Steele down badly. Both goals came from corners conceded from WORLD CLASS saves from Steele. The 1st one, their bloke turns our defender (McNulty? Wiseman?) like he’s not there before Steele tips the shot wide. The 2nd was even better. Crainie, (having a nightmare at right back), tries to be clever and wants to rob their player of the ball rather than boot it into the stands. Instead, he’s left looking like a fool as he himself has the ball robbed off him and their player strolls into the box. It’s 2 on 1, them v us, their forwards v Steele. The ball is squared to Helgusson who hits it firmly enough, but Steele somehow beats it away. Helgusson’s reaction tells you what an unbelieveable save it is, cos he looks stunned. To make up for his feelings, we let them score off the resulting corner.
*** Davies. Big, strong, direct, gets shots off, even held the ball sometimes. It was interesting that even with 2 men up front, it STILL felt like it was only Davies. And Cardiff agreed, often putting 2, even 3, men on him when he had the ball.
** Greening. Class act. As Hill said, he has the discipline to keep his position and hold the team together. Can also kick a ball 40 odd yards to a Reds player with EITHER foot, not the sort of ability I’m used to of a professional footballer at BFC. Sponsors MOTM.
* Steele. What can I say? Made a few saves and not at fault with the goals. Tho maybe my highlight, and a sad indictment of our style of play, was the 2nd half kick off. 4 backward passes then Steele slices the ball into the Main Stand. Start as you mean to go on and all.
Despatches:
I love Keith Hill. He listens to the fans. And after 2 months of me telling him we can’t afford to have a stroller like Mellis in central midfield, he drops him…to left midfield. Oh well, at least he can’t do any harm out there. To them OR us. But at least he bags a tap-in as a multitude of defenders track the run of Davies and ignore our Jacob. Who does FA else in the match, tho manages to get the ‘Football League Paper’ MOTM for us (6/10 since you ask).
On a Hill note, I read in last week’s Chronicle that Hassell has probably had his last game in defence for us, but is ‘still in the manager’s plans’ tho’ as a central midfield player. So Hill blows that one apart by replacing an injured Perkins and out of form Mellis with on-loan Greening. Can’t Sir Bobby take Hill to court on grounds of constructive dismissal? Cos nothing, simply NOTHING will have Hill pick this bloke. Wiseman could have his legs amputated and still get a game ahead of him.
As said, Crainie was appalling at right back. Wiseman was dreadful too, tho I thought he improved once he and Crainie swapped positions halfway through the 2nd half (the others disagreed – they thought Wiseman was the worst player on the pitch). However, for me, the worst of the worst, whether was trying to defend, or pass the ball, or bring the ball out, was McNulty. I thought he was outstanding for the most part of last season, and I’ll forgive him cos he’s just come back from injury. (Tho’ someone said it was his 4th game, so I take back that sympathy).
Despite the negativity of all the above, it was a pretty promising performance, much better than the Hudds and Forest games. We got stuck into Cardiff in that last 20 mins and could’ve (should’ve?) got an equaliser. 2 penalty appeals at the Ponty were turned down. The 1st looked nailed on to me, as Mellis shepherded the ball out of play and 2 of their guys just ran into the back of him. Corner (of course). The 2nd one, when Golbourne looked like he was clipped, I wasn’t so sure about (maybe he slipped), but the Ponty and East Lower were in no doubt. But my decision of the day was the ref booking their keeper for timewasting with TWO minutes left. This keeper was at it from the minute Cardiff went in front. (Note to Football League refs: a keeper may only hold onto the ball for a maximum of SIX seconds, otherwise it becomes an indirect free kick to the opposition from where the offence took place). So, for a second home game in a row we have seen the opposition take the lead then timewaste their way to victory. How depressing must the thought be that some teams must actually practice these tactics???
Other players:
Noble-Lazarus again looked keen when he came on. Hill has noted an improvement in his attitude in training and it shows. Rumour has it that it’s finally dawning on young Reuben that being a professional footballer is a far better option than the alternative – stacking shelves.
Buzaky – I’ve high hopes but he looked poor when he came on (central midfield). Lack of match practice? Anyway, he’ll come good by the time January comes round, allowing him to sign for a much better team than us.
Tudgay – I spoke to a Washday fan in the Old Number 7, who said that Tudgay doesn’t have much pace. So don’t worry about him being slow, cos he isn’t going to get any faster.
The crowd was 8,200 with ‘669 Cardiff fans’. There were NEVER 669 Cardiff fans. I presume 200 of them bought tickets and never bothered. I don’t know whether 500 is an appalling effort from a side at the top end of the division from a large urban conurbation, or a sad reflection on the state of the economy in this country. Either way, I don’t suppose 28 quid to get in helps.
Drink du jour: vodka and orange. Despite it being a favourite of mine, it tasted a bit bland after the spiced rum exploits. As ever, I fell asleep on my bus home and was woken up at the last stop by the driver. I blame the extra pints in the Euston Flyer with Andy, watching Real Betis beat Real Madrid.
Oh, and for a 2nd match in a row, I arrange to meet someone outside Oakwell after the game and I stand in the cold and wet while they don't turn up. Fair play to Hicksy tho, he sent me a text. I might have even read it if my battery hadn't ran out!
Onwards and upwards!
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