Bring on Ipswich on Saturday, I Can’t Wait! - Notes for Cardiff Friday, 11th Mar 2016 10:00 by HarryFromBath HarryfromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Saturday’s game at the Cardiff City Stadium by delving into their forums. “Typical Leeds, all those years we have beaten them and when it really matters they up their game and win”, “We need to come back stronger as one on Saturday and batter Ipswich. Leave them gasping for air”, “It’s win or nothing against Ipswich”, “Saturday is a six-pointer. We have to win.” “The bastards, how did Leeds pull that off? We didn’t deserve that.” Tuesday’s night of missed opportunities saw the Bluebirds lose at home to the Whites for the first time in 32 years. It was also City’s first home reverse since September and it came after a run of nine games with one defeat. Fans want the team to bounce back immediately. Many see our game as pivotal in getting a strong campaign back on track. “Attractive football and winning games, what more could you ask?”, “Things appear to be heading in the right direction and who would have said that a season or so ago?” “The football we are playing now is a world away from where we were last autumn.” Wins at home to Preston and last Saturday at Ashton Gate in the Severnside derby have typified their more recent form. “I didn’t think we would be in this position a few months ago”, “I’m starting to believe now.” “It does worry me that we might fail at the final hurdle.” With one recent poll showing 47 per cent of fans forecasting a top-six place, they are taking nothing for granted despite the optimistic mood. “I feel that we are unfortunately going to fall short this season but there is definite hope for next year.” Russell Slade“We were in the wilderness before Russell Slade came”, “A manager with no money has kept us on the verge of the play-offs all season and we might even make the top six. He has been forced to sell player after player and his football has improved beyond measure this season.”  “What a job Russell Slade is doing”, “I am glad to say he has proved me and many others wrong.” Many fans are happy to eat humble pie after writing the former Orient boss off for much of his tenure since his arrival in October 2014. “Who would do a better job on the same money as him?” “Slade has changed his playing style and is getting results”, “He now appears to be let off the leash a little and improved the team’s style of play”, “The football isn’t great but you can’t say we haven’t been better lately”, “He has earned my respect for the way he has done a good job with no money.” “He has sorted the mess he inherited”, “The work he has done has been above our expectations. He can be proud of his 18 months or so with us whether we make the play-offs or not”, “My issue with him was always his style of play as he was shoehorning 4-3-3 players into a rigid 4-4-2 system.” “Russell has an excellent relationship with [owner] Vincent Tan”, “Slade is a nice guy and he probably won’t get us promoted, but people who accuse him of being a yes man need to think. Do you honestly think we will ever have a manager under Tan who is not?” Vincent Tan“I can honestly say that I trust Tan and the future is looking very bright for us. People trying to drive him out of the club are putting its future at risk”, “He has stopped paying transfer fees and is clearing out the high earners and anyone we can get a reasonable offer for”, “The past is like spilt milk now.”  “While supporters shouldn’t forget what went on before, most can appreciate that the club are stabilising financially.” The club were placed under a FFP transfer embargo in mid-January but the owner is converting debt into equity in a move which has reassured many Bluebirds. “We have got our identity and heritage back”, “A lot of people are thankful for the efforts made by protestors in getting our blue back but the worst is over. It’s painfully obvious that it is. Tan won’t do it again, he’s clearly being genuine and has a lot of good people around him now, not like before.” Formation“Why change a system which is working?”, “Great to see us playing some good football”, “The basis of a team is there”, “We seem to be playing a formation to suit our strengths now the players are responding”, “Slade not having any strikers has forced him into making changes and it has worked.” With frontmen Kenwyne Jones and Joe Mason having departed in January, Russell Slade moved ex-Norwich winger Anthony Pilkington into a striker’s role. His energy and mobility are a contrast to the more static Jones and Mason, allowing midfielders to exploit the space he has created. Marshall (c)FabioMangaConnollyMaloneLawrenceO'KeefeWhittinghamRallsImmersPilkington
The shape of City’s starting XI on Tuesday night (above) has been unchanged in recent games and alterations have usually been injury related. Central and wide players exploit the space created not only by Pilkington’s movement but also the industry and work-rate of new arrival Lex Immers. Peter Whittingham has benefited operating on the left flank to attack space and with his passing range and vision. Russell Slade has switched wide men to their wrong flanks, such as late on against Leeds when Craig Noone operated on the right side with right-footed Tom Lawrence on the left. “Not signing a proven striker at this level in January may unfortunately cost us.” Much as fans have welcomed Pilkington’s efforts, they fear that the lack of an out-and-out finisher in the team may catch up with them. The number of chances missed against Leeds did little to quell this anxiety. Cardiff 0 - 2 Leeds“One of those nights by the looks of things”, “The Leeds keeper played the game of his life”, “Our players were deservedly applauded off. They gave everything in the second half”, “If we play against Ipswich like we did tonight, we should win”, “Ipswich will be much better than Leeds.” “Leeds’ keeper is having a blinder and we go and get done on the break”, “I can’t recall such a spirited and skilful City performance for a long time.” The visitors opened the scoring against the run of play on Tuesday night when Souleymane Doukara finished off a counter attack on 37 minutes. There was no let-up in the City attacks despite having Fabio sent off on 64 minutes for a second yellow card after a rash challenge but Leeds rubbed salt into Bluebirds’ wounds by adding a second goal deep into stoppage time from Mirco Antenucci. “It was a smash and sodding grab by a poor team.” “I don’t mind losing but there must be a law against losing to Leeds”, “At the final whistle the players’ heads went down, but when they heard the fans’ reaction you could visibly see their heads rise again”, “We gave our all but it was just not meant to be”, “Sometimes you are just fated not to win.” Bristol City 0 - 2 Cardiff“Just on my way back now, we were good value for the one-goal lead in the first half and looked good going forward with good movement and passing. The difference in league positions showed. The second half was the total opposite. Their keeper’s only job was to pick the ball from the net.” Lex Immers stroked home a low cross from Joe Ralls to give the visitors the lead on 21 minutes and Stuart O’Keefe added a second seven minutes from time following up on a rebound to head home after Robins’ keeper Richard O’Donnell parried Tom Lawrence’s shot on to the crossbar. “What a great win. I had a dodgy feeling about today but it was a great resilient solid performance. I believe we can make the top six after this and we still carried a threat going forward”, “The three points is what counts but we were terrible, losing every ball in the middle especially after the break.” Cardiff 2 - 1 Preston“Two penalties”, “We deserved the win and were always on top but we did lack a bit of composure”, “Preston offered very little but we lacked the width to take advantage”, “It was a good afternoon’s work against very awkward opponents. It will take me all evening to thaw out now.” “It should have been three or four-nil but we almost blew it.” Two spot-kicks from Pilkington, one just before half-time and a second 10 minutes before the final whistle gave City the points in a hard-fought game. Callum Robinson pulled a consolation goal back for the Lilywhites three minutes before time. Goalkeepers and Defenders“If we don’t go up, which let’s face it is likely, I can’t see David Marshall sticking around. We have done well keeping him as long as we have. No-one could blame him if he does go”, “He has stayed with us as long as he dared, maintained his professionalism and has been a great servant.”  The 31-year-old ex-Canary “is without doubt the best keeper in the league and we are lucky to still have him here”, “If we lose Marshall in the summer that’s a minimum of 10 points we have to pick up elsewhere. We would have only made the play-offs in our title-winning season without him.” “Marshall is our most saleable asset,” The Scotland international and former Celtic man “is excellent and often brave on the ground. His judgement is faultless and he takes pressure off defenders at critical moments”, “If only he could kick out”, “His ability with his feet is less than fantastic.” “We have a solid defender in Lee Peltier.” The former Huddersfield and Leeds right-back was taken off at half-time at Bristol with a foot injury and is a massive doubt for Saturday. “He is our best defender and should have started in our [3-1] defeat at Middlesbrough last month.”  With Lee Peltier a huge doubt, many expect 25-year-old ex-Reading centre-back Sean Morrison to feature. “He does give us an attacking threat from corners”, “When he came on at Bristol at half-time, playing out from the back seemed to disappear and that’s why they had more of the ball.” “Scott Malone is the best of the three full-backs going forward but is an inconsistent player and the weakest of the three defensively.” The 24-year-old ex-Millwall man “seems to forget he’s a left-back at times and his crossing is shocking”, “His touch and passing can be poor and not the quickest.” “Malone never looks up and whenever he has space to attack and passes the ball. When there is a brick wall of defenders he runs into them and gives the ball away”, “With Connolly, Peltier and Manga in the back four, we have three reliable defenders and can cover Scott’s inconsistency.” “A hot-head of a footballer.” Bluebirds were angry with Fabio over his dismissal on Tuesday. “When you look around the squad and pick out players you can rely on Fabio isn’t one of them.” The former Manchester United man “is impulsive, immature and can be a terrible liability”.  “We need steady heads at the back and Matthew Connolly has seen and done it several times. He will be valuable against Ipswich on Saturday.” The 28-year-old ex-QPR man “is solid and dependable as we well know and has formed quite a good partnership in central defence with Manga”. Bruno Ecuele Manga“Thank God for Manga, head and shoulders above any other Cardiff player today at Bristol”, “His closing down and tackling in and around the box is top drawer”, “He is an excellent player but you always feel like he has a mistake in him at any point”, “He looks good on the ball but error prone.”  The 27-year-old Gabon international and ex-Lorient centre-half “won everything in the air and there were times when he was the only one putting in tackles. The only criticism is that he hoofed every ball back to Bristol when we were under pressure and he was turned a couple of times in the box”. “Bruno looks solid in certain situations such as making good interceptions. He often looks like an accident waiting to happen and his timing can be quite bizarre”, “He would be in a higher league if he had pace. He found Bristol’s Jonathan Kodjia hard to cope with for long stretches of the game.” Central Midfielders“It is a good tactic by Slade near the end of a game to put Kagisho Dikgacoi on as a sweeper.” The 31-year-old ex-Palace holding midfielder has been used from the bench to help see out recent wins over Huddersfield, Preston and last Saturday at Ashton Gate. “He goes on to shore things up.” “For a midfielder, Aron Gunnarsson’s basic passing ability is horrendous”, “He has lost his touch a bit.” The 26-year-old ex-Coventry man “has always been incapable of controlling the ball and passing it like a proper central player”, “He has plenty of fight and will come good like he has done before.”  The Iceland international “has never been good with the ball”, “He tried to pass the ball to me in the Preston game and I sit at one of the highest points in the stadium”, “I’m not sure what Gunnarsson brings to the party. He is not a hard man or a midfield general now his passing has disappeared.” “Stuart O’Keefe is becoming a good player for us.” The 25-year-old ex-Palace man and former Town youth player “is a good, honest, hard-working energetic professional”, “He is a hugely influential cog in our midfield”, “Great to see him get the shirt and it looks like he never wants to lose it.” “Anything is possible when you get a good midfield engine room working”, “O’Keefe has developed lately as an important player in Slade’s midfield”, “He does his best work pressing opposition in their half, limiting their time on the ball. In the past he has had to play a withdrawn role on the back foot.” Joe Ralls“Ralls gives us energy and wants the ball, looks to take it from the keeper, tackles well and supports both the attack and defence. He’s big part of why we are so improved”, “True, but he gives the ball away and gives us real problems with his poor distribution. He’s not the finished article at all yet.”  “Joe adds some extra quality over Gunnarsson and O’Keefe”, “He loses the ball and someone needs to tell him he doesn’t have Whittingham’s passing ability.” The 22-year-old left-sided youth product “was at fault for Leeds’s first goal, not tracking back when he should have been ahead of Doukara.” Wide Midfielders“If Sammy Ameobi is out of the team, who is going to miss our open goals from four yards?” The 23-year-old Newcastle loanee “is an ostrich with football boots on”, “A one-cell, one-trick player who has been a waste of space since his first day here”, “I don’t know why we keep trying the clown.” “If they give out points for step-overs and tricks that ultimately get us nowhere further than if he just dribbles past his man, then we would be clear at the top. It appears to be the Ameobi show in his head. He beats his man, but his crosses do little but threaten somebody’s Bovril behind the goal.” “I can’t believe we would even consider starting without Tom Lawrence.” The 22-year-old arrived on loan last month from Leicester having played for Blackburn in the first half of the campaign. “Pacy and nimble, he has clever feet and is happiest committing defenders while dribbling with the ball.” “Lawrence has that ability to change a game and loves taking on opposing defenders”, “Much better out wide or as a playmaker than a lone striker”, “He isn’t afraid to lose the ball trying to create things and just needs to work on adding some goals”, “A very talented lad who just needs a run of games.” “Noone was quality tonight. He must start against Ipswich.” Former Brighton wideman Craig Noone has appeared off the bench in the last two games having recovered from a back injury and the 28-year old has impressed fans. “He had a massive impact against Leeds and nearly got us back in it.”  “Craig put in some excellent crosses from the right and was really unlucky with one freekick”, “He absolutely terrified Leeds”, “We need to work out how to get him in the side”, “Noone was quality tonight”, “He has to start on Saturday. He has been our best player this season.” Peter Whittingham“I am 33 and if I live to be 103 I don’t think any Bluebird will surpass Whittingham for me. He is my favourite player ever to pull on our jersey”, “He have missed his quality and composure on the ball and his movement off the wing into the little parcels of space which he has been picking up.”  “It is no coincidence that his form has improved since he moved out of central midfield. Playing on the left allows him to get forward into positions where he can hurt the opposition”, “He uses the space created by Immers productively, along with the industry and pressing of O’Keefe and Ralls.” “A true City legend”, the 31-year-old ex-Villa man “is cool, calm and connected with such a quality first touch and unbelievable movement”, “Play him in the right position and he is brilliant”, “You don’t get many footballers like him in modern football, no fuss, no ego, he just plays football.” Strikers“Putting Federico Macheda on really does reduce our team to 10 men.” News reports last night were linking the 24-year-old ex-Manchester United man with a loan move to Forest. “The laziest player I have ever seen in a City shirt”, “I can think of no reason why he should even be on the bench." “Kenneth Zohore is huge. I hope his apparent timidity in the challenge can be coached out of him as he does seem to be quite mobile. There could be something special there is he has the ability to learn.” The 23-year-old loan arrival from Belgian side Kortrijk “has had a few months here but offered very little”. “Every time Zohore plays I sense that Slade is playing the fluid football under duress. He can’t wait to get the big lump on and launch it”, “He looked more dangerous than Pilkington did all game in his 12 minutes against Leeds”, “He has been a substitute but could work against Ipswich’s big defenders.” Lex Immers“Immers is non-stop, linking play well and tackling”, “He chases everything down all night long. Even in the 95th minute against Leeds he was still going. He wins balls he has no right to win and he puts so much pressure on the opposition defence”, “He has been a game-changer since joining us.”  “A breath of fresh air compared to Kenwyne Jones who stood around waiting for the ball to arrive”, the 29-year-old arrived on loan from Feyenoord in January. “He has a neat first touch and plays it nice and simple but his work-rate is excellent as well”, “I hope a deal will be done to keep him here.” “I like the effective way Immers plays although he doesn’t always chase a tackle that’s more than a yard or two from him”, “He never gives up and will keep running when other players stop”, “He adds calmness in midfield and he seems so natural on the ball”, “The Immerman struck again at Bristol.” Anthony Pilkington“I know Pilkington isn’t an out-and-out striker but he’s effective and is doing the business.” The 27-year old former Canaries winger “has shown enough physical presence and pace up front to worry defenders”, “He has been excellent so far and been a revelation leading the line up front”.  “We have been transformed since he has gone up front. Playing centrally allows him to get on the ball more while he stretches defenders more with the runs in behind and working his backside off. He has a good partnership with Immers and his goal return has been decent since going up top.” “Pilkington has been brilliant. His movement has been outstanding and he could have got in behind the Leeds defence many times”, “We were aiming the ball at his head and Sol Bamba was winning every ball”, “Works hard and moves well but I don’t think he’s clinical enough to get us promoted.” Some Bluebirds are nervous that he will be worked out. “He lacks a killer instinct in and around the area. An experienced striker is used to playing off defenders’ shoulders and with his back to goal”, “He can’t pick up stuff over a few games that an out-and-out striker has been doing for years.” Bluebirds’ Views on ITFC and the Game“Beware, the dour Yorkshireman is managing Ipswich on Saturday so we will need a bit of steel about us”, “Don’t discount Ipswich. They have an easy run-in and it could go down to the wire”, “We rarely do well against them and I’ll be happy with a draw. They are among the sides I fear and hate.” “It will not be an easy game.” Attention switched instantly to Saturday’s game and the importance of picking up momentum again immediately after the full-time whistle on Tuesday. “We need a good result on Saturday to get back on track. Let’s get behind our club and beat Ipswich on Saturday.” “We need to win this one against a rival”, “Despite the Leeds result, we can still put ourselves in a great position this weekend”, “It looks a good bet for a score draw to me, although whatever the result nothing will be decided this weekend”, “It’s a must-win game on Saturday.” With Fabio suspended and Peltier a major injury doubt, Bluebirds are nervous about going into an important game without two frontline full-backs. Most have forecast a home win or score draw and one indication of their defensive anxieties is that very few expect their team to keep a clean sheet. “It will be interesting for the rest of the season to see whether our lack of recognised strikers will continue to work, or whether other sides have now found us out now for the rest of the season. Ipswich will be particularly interesting as Mick McCarthy knows how to shut a game out.” “A lot of fans will choose rugby over this one game.” Saturday’s Six Nations England-Wales match at Twickenham kicks off at 4pm and some fear it will affect the turnout. “Someone in my local said they were coming to watch the first half and leaving at half-time to watch the rugby on television.” WebsitesThere are two active Bluebirds’ forums with lively and informative discussion. The Cardiff City Forum is knowledgeable and carries threads linking to daily news stories and press releases.
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