Match Day Thread Cardiff City v Norwich City, Sat July 30th. ko 1500hrs

AO our best player, but a pretty ponderous performance otherwise. Sorensen ok but not great. Until he got subbed I was not aware that Sargent was on the pitch. Our usual start to a season. A non event of a match imo. We probably did not deserve to lose, but give players, even average ones, space 30 yards from goal and .... can happen.

 

Cleanse the pallet with Liverpool Man City.

Hope they both lose

 

Our usual slow start, beaten by a rare screamer as Krul was partially unsighted.

Minus factors: gave the ball away too much and our passing too often failed to progress the ball quickly and seriously penetrate their well organised defence, though we gave them too much time to organise. It looked like an opening day game and I can't wait to see Sara on against Wigan - he would have made a difference today.

Plus factors: Cantwell was committed and played well. Sørensen looked the part at DM and was only subbed to make us more attacking. McLean had an ok game and had our best chance to score. The subs made a difference, especially Onel and Sinani, but we didn't play enough to Hugill's strengths by getting the ball to Onel and Sinani to provide the crosses.

 

Just to put this result into perspective, Norwich haven't won an opening day fixture since beating Grimsby 4-0 at home in 2002

 

Can we appeal against a yellow/ red sending off?

 

At Huddersfield two years ago: 0-1 I think.

 

I thought Omobamidele did well, Aarons was his usual self but needs to improve his delivery. Hanley didn’t look comfortable on the left. Gianoulis was poor but not given a huge amount of support. I have to say Rashica escapes a lot of flack but he has been my biggest disappointment, he was so weak on the ball and must have lost it 90% of the time, the other 10% is when Cardiff tugged him to the ground. Sorensens forward movement wasn’t great but he was ok on the ball and actually put his foot in to tackles. McLean was just average Mclean, no lack of effort but he’s wasteful and always too far away from the opposition. Sargent seems to be the scape goat at the moment, I think his touch has improved a lot and he did some good things today, nothing outstanding but certainly not our worst player. Cantwell played well, busy pressing - the only player I saw actually sprinting, tried to spark moves, got some good tackles in and had our only shot on target. Pukki was kicked all game but his touch was really not good and he looked a yard off everything, if I remember rightly he has always been a bit of a slow starter so I hope he will pick up in the next few weeks - providing his injury isn’t a bad one.

Cardiff had 8 new signings starting and they looked like they each wanted to prove a point and impress at their new club, the left back was particularly good.

Overall, the best way I can describe the performance is lethargic (baring Cantwell), it was almost as if they felt they would coast through the game and bring home 3 points.
What we do have to hold onto is that this is clearly not the midfield we are hoping to play with this season with Hayden, Sara and hopefully Nunez coming in which should make a difference to how we play.

 

EFL highlights on ITV4 tonight @ 9 o clock

 

https://www.worldfootball.net/teams/norwich-city/21/

 

I don’t think so and there was enough contact that I doubt we would be successful. The fact that the first yellow should have gone to Omobamidele instead is a little bit hard to take as well

 

Correct

 

I have a more appealing dental appointment

 

Can somebody tell me when we last won a match?

 

Watford ? Lol

 

Burnley?

 

I have tickets next week so hopefully Sara starts

 

At least @Robbie BB was proven right Handley & McLean had stinkers .
Kenny slightly unfortunate

 

Please remind me of the date of last win. A mate of mine tells me it was on the 10th April we beat Burnley 2-0.After the preseason wins, especially the success against Marseille, I was hopeful that we might have a decent start to the season in EFL. This was another poor performance from a team lacking any ideas in the last third.

 

Someone please explain to me why Hanley is being highlighted as having a stinker. AO was at fault for the goal and he also should have got Hanley's first yellow. Cardiff were hardly all over our defence. They had very few chances and really they had no right to score from the shot that resulted in their goal. Yes we lost but it was only by 1 goal. It was our attack and midfield that mainly let us down not our defence.

 

Sorensen wasn't good, but he was OK, and to single him out for comment when there were players who were much, much worse - e.g. Rashica and Sargent, and even the usual stalwarts, Pukki and Hanley - is really not fair IMO. Although Smith will probably drop him next game, along with Giannoulis, while continuing to play Rashica and Sargent.