Cardiff City pre match chat

[Cjay]

We return to Saturday 3pm kick-offs this weekend as we welcome traditional bogey side Cardiff to Elland Road.

A snooze inducing game vs Burnley on Monday may not have been one to remember, but the point does mean it's as you were for the top 4, nothing lost and nothing gained.

In terms of our opponents on Saturday history is with them, they have the h2h advantage by quite a distance in terms of wins.

But very recent games have gone our way, 3 wins from last 5 including a 2-0 win in Cardiff earlier this season.

In terms of tactics, like basically everyone these days it seems, they play a 4-2-3-1.

Very physical side, 2nd most tackles in the league this season.

They rank relatively high for crosses and long balls (but not the highest few in the league.

Very much a middle of the road side in most things, they don't have many obvious indicators of tactics from the analysis stuff.

Not a possession side as you'd expect, counter attacks and physical play I'd assume.

But they aren't easy to beat, especially recently.

Unbeaten in 8 games in all competitions, and some decent results.

Draw away at Millwall
3-0 win in a derby vs Swansea
1-0 win vs Sheffield United in the cup
1-1 vs Middlesbrough
And a win vs Watford in Watford which has only been done by 2 other teams this season.

They've really improved under Omar Riza.

Mid table form basically since he took over, lose less, win more, score more and concede less.

However as always its not perfect.

Not long ago it was 9 games without a win, defeats to fellow strugglers like Luton and at the time QPR showed the inconsistency.

The defensive frailties do appear again from time to time (2 goals per game conceded in that 9 game run).

And whilst they aren't losing much recently it is only 3 league wins in 16.

In terms of key players.

Championship journeyman Callum Robinson is experiencing a renaissance of sorts as he nears 30. Before this season his best Championship season was 12 goals, he's got 10 this season.

Attacking midfielder Rubin Colwell is one of the shining lights for Cardiff, a hard working and skillful creative attacking midfielder with 4 assists.

So an improving physical side proving hard to beat at the moment.

But one plagued by inconsistency.

In terms of ourselves then.

I'm his biggest fan and he certainly wasn't alone vs Burnley and wasn't helped by the totally ineffective creative players behind him, but Piroe was poor, is it time for a rest and Joseph to get another chance to stake a claim?

Speaking of the aforementioned ineffective creative players, in tight games against the stronger teams that is where you'd expect your £25mil number 10 to stand up and shine, Aaronson didn't, is it time for Rama?

Whether he is fit for Cardiff who knows and Rothwell isn't much of an improvement but he passes the ball forward occasionally, should Rothwell come back in?

[Jammy 07]

Some rotation of players is going to be required over the next 2 weeks as we have consecutive midweek games coming up do to the rearranged Coventry (a) fixture.

Cardiff (h) 3pm Saturday
Coventry (a) 19.45pm Wednesday
Millwall FA Cup (h) 12-15pm Saturday
Watford (a) 19-45pm Tuesday

Hoping to see Joseph, Rothwell & Firpo come in against Cardiff.

[weasel]

Some rotation of players is going to be required over the next 2 weeks as we have consecutive midweek games coming up do to the rearranged Coventry (a) fixture.

Cardiff (h) 3pm Saturday
Coventry (a) 19.45pm Wednesday
Millwall FA Cup (h) 12-15pm Saturday
Watford (a) 19-45pm Tuesday

Hoping to see Joseph, Rothwell & Firpo come in against Cardiff.

i reckon 1 or 2 changes per league match and then quite a few for the cup match

[The Subhuman]

My team

Meslier
Bogle
Firpo
Tanaka
Rodon
Ampadu
James
Arronson
Joseph
Solomon
Ramazani

[pjm2019]

My team

Meslier
Bogle
Firpo
Tanaka
Rodon
Ampadu
James
Arronson
Joseph
Solomon
Ramazani

so change of formation then or who is in midfield with Tanaka

[The Subhuman]

so change of formation then or who is in midfield with Tanaka

Aaronson (8) and Solomon (10)

[1964white]

Rothwell back please!

[pjm2019]

Aaronson (8) and Solomon (10)

You are joking - Aaronson is just too lightweight to play at 8.

[Irish Ian]

Rama deserves a start methinks. And I still suggest that he could play at 9 as well. ( as Wee Willy has in the past)

Solomon has been our best player of late but its another three games in a week so perhaps bench him for freshness sake?
Same could be said regarding James so Wee Willy surely could benefit from more than late run outs...

Rotation too needed elsewhere and hopefuly Junior will feature more now for Byram.


Is Wober still at the club?

[The Subhuman]

You are joking - Aaronson is just too lightweight to play at 8.

No, not joking.

[Cjay]

Farke on transfers

The news is that I have to survive one mor epress conference! I spoke quite open with the whole situation - I'm not a big friend of the January window. Options are limited or overpriced.

You always need to do someting if you have injuries. If you are top of the league and have a really good season. To improve a team playing should a good season, bringing someone in could be risly.

We will stay awake for the last hour of the windiow. We will do something if all boxes are ticked. This group is top of the league after 29 games. We need players who have the right quality, character and is affordable. If not, then we stick with what we've got.




Anyone leave the club?

No. No player wants to leave the grpup. As it stands, I say no-one leaves.

Could a player leave amid interest from other club? No I don;t think so. We have allowed a couple of loans for them to ahve game time. But the group is not too big, but right now at this stage - I have spoken openly about the positions [we are looking at].

The number 10 is an option is something that would be interesting. There are two positions where we will stay awake - the striker with ongoing problems with Bamford and also the centre-back position. I trust my groupp.



Struijk

He is back in team training since Tueday. If he handles the load in the next couple of days, then he is [in contention]. Patrick Bamford is another cocnern.

Max Wober was not able to train on Tuesday so these are two concerns. Apart from that all are back in training.



Cardiff

Really impressive performancess. They will come with confidece and freedom given their goos past couple of results.

Burnley was a good result. Now, back to Elland Road - we can't afford to be 2 per cent less, we have to be honest. Cardiff play with intensity and are active. Really good team spirit so we have to move the ball really quick.

They will try to be there on the counter attack. Many expereinced players who have played many games. We have to be on it and respectful and in game mode.



Transfers

How close would be a bit too much. I like to be honest about it. I take the decision if I feel there is a player who can fit into our group. The the fnancial aspect is for others to make, The if all boxes are ticked then we will do something.

When we are in this posotion it is easier to track players. if its a loan then to be there not just a few mnths but for the future. If a player is just looking for game time then it's not that easy. You can;t guarantee that. There is lots of competition. Some can be reluctant because we have really good players. It;s always a bit tricky on loans because they know they are only coming for three months.




Aaronson back up

I'm not concerned [about current back ups to Aaronson]. If Brenden is not available, thn we have a few other options.

It is fair to say there is no natural in this position but [we stay open]




Back up to Piroe

I trust my players. I don't think its necessary to have six or seven options there. Strikers need backing and confidence and rhythm. It's a long season and cup competitions.

We also stay awake for the striker position if we are one injury away from being unable to use in a game. I'm struggling to see clubs with five atatcking options . I look at Bayern Munich, if Harry Kane scores he plays, If he doesn't the team are not successful.

I look at Man City, if Haaland scores they are successful, if not, they are not. Due to the situation, we will [consider options]




Defensive efforts

We have some really good clean sheets. Even the Sunderland game where strange things happened, we were rock solid. Otherwise we wouldn't be there top of the league.

[Irish Ian]

So no one coming in......

It would be interesting to see what DF has in mind Aaronson is unavailable.

Would it be the fluid system we saw in the Cup game ( which is something I like but potentially would take a few games for it to bed in.) Or has he someone in mind to take over?

Glad to hear that Pascal is back in training too.

Rock solid v Sunderland perhaps he for forgets they ripped us open when 1-0 up and missed an open goal..

The last game against Cardiff was a cracker and If they have the same approach against us then it may go a bit to erasing Mondays non event from our minds.

[1964white]

So no one coming in......

That's the impression Farke gives, obviously keeping his cards close to his chest.

Farke's comments are what the majority of us think, he is more or less repeating himself once again.

[andrewjohnsmith]

Back up to Piroe

I trust my players. I don't think its necessary to have six or seven options there. Strikers need backing and confidence and rhythm. It's a long season and cup competitions.

We also stay awake for the striker position if we are one injury away from being unable to use in a game. I'm struggling to see clubs with five atatcking options . I look at Bayern Munich, if Harry Kane scores he plays, If he doesn't the team are not successful.

I look at Man City, if Haaland scores they are successful, if not, they are not. Due to the situation, we will [consider options]

So he's saying: If Piroe gets injured, we won't be successful?