Proudlock 83
CARDIFF CITY fell to late defeat in the first home pre-season friendly of the season to Premier Division chasing Wolves.
Whilst the result doesn't really matter and City looked solid against higher division opponents who are far ahead of the type of sides they will face in league action, most supporters will have departed Ninian Park disappointed at the lack of entertainment and very concerned at Cardiff's inability going
forward. For the second successive game, City failed to produce a single shot on target. Questions will be asked about whether City's current formation and tactics are good enough - on current viewing, they may well get us results in Division Two but it's going to be low on thrills and, dare I say, goals.
The first viewing of Ninian Park this season saw a few cosmetic changes. The Canton Stand has a roof redecorated by Redrow Homes featuring a huge Welsh flag and also a St Davids Cross with a Bluebird in the middle of it. The Grange End is now sponsored by John Smiths and its fascia is adorned with their logo. The away section has seating in the front third with old terracing behind it and huge black netting between that and the Lower
Grandstand.
Beer and cider has gone up 30p (to £2.30) with rumours that match programmes will be the same price this season whilst lager is now £2.10 - everyone needing change makes it longer to get served.
And then there's City's new kit which, from a distance, hardly looks any different to any number of recent City shirts apart from two thick stripes running along the shoulders and arms. The annoying Ken Thorne Globe has disappeared though in favour of a simple Ken Thorne Group strapline.
Biggest interest at kick-off was Nathan Blake playing for Wolves who had the biggest ovation of the night as he ayatollahed to all and regaled with "he's black, he's mean, he robs a fruit machine". The other 89 minutes had hardly any atmosphere as a tedious game unfolded before us apart from a chant of "what the ****ing hell was that?" as Blakey later blazed a shot into the
Grange End.
City fielded a 4-3-3 formation but it's more like 4-3-1-2 with a back line with Alexander in goal, a back line of Weston, Young, Gabbidon and Barker. Midfield was Whalley, Boland, Maxwell and Kavanagh playing in front of them but behind Thorne and Campbell.
City created their best chance of the whole night in the opening 5 minutes as a neat move on the left with Barker and Whalley linking saw Gareth Whalley loop a ball across goal which looked a certain goal for Kav as it fell but his volley was blocked.
City's had 2 other noteworthy efforts as Kav broke forward through the middle and Rhys Weston ran 70 yards into space outside him but Kav greedily tried to shoot from 35 yards, a terrible waste. The other saw Weston break forward again, a tackle sent the ball crashing into his ... erm ... gonads ... and he looped an effort over the bar before collapsing in agony!. Wolves were no better and only had 2 efforts all which sailed into the Grange End.
The biggest entertainment of the half came when Danny Gabbidon smashed a ball away under pressure and as it landed on the centre of the Grange End roof, it punched a ball sized hole out of it. Ninian Park is falling down, falling down, falling down! Luckily, the falling portion of the roof didn't cause injury but those underneath it also got soaked second half as torrential rain
took hold after an overcast, humid first half.
Half-time: CITY 0 WOLVES 0
City's problems should have been painfully obvious for anyone to see. No width, nobody pushed forward. Cardiff failed to get around the back of Wolves defence all night and hardly attempted to either. Every time Kav, Maxwell or Boland moved on, nobody was available outside them so their sole options were to play ahead or dink a ball over the defence. City's first cross of the night, no lie, came in the 85th minute!! So shocked were our forwards that nobody moved in anticipation of it. The only other balls forward were lofted in from 30 yards away, too easy for Wolves.
Chris Barker and Rhys Weston hardly pushed forward at all, it is hard to tell whether that was down to them or the system they were told to play. Barker is looking like an expensive version of Michael Simpkins at present but he has excellent pace.
For all the signings, all the big money players, we still seem incomplete. No wideman is going to give us real problems. Lawrence may have to consider whether the current formation is the answer, it definitely doesn't seem to be getting the best out of hardly any of our players.
The only things to commend were that City looked a much better passing side and showed some lovely touches. They played football and get the ball on the ground most of the night but you then realise most of that happened around halfway which doesn't cause any hurt to opponents. There should be some inquest into the performance and you have to ask whether 4-4-2 will serve us
better.
The second half got little better. Neil Alexander made the first save from either keeper all night as he stopped a snap shot from 15 yards from Kenny Miller whilst even less was seen of City. The large crowd of 8,064 including 200 Wolves fans and the Bob Bankers now covered in plastic sheets must have been wondering if they'd have been better served watching Crown Green bowling at the Commonwealth Games, it would have been more riveting.
Cardiff had a flurry of second half subs as Gary Croft, Prior, Hamilton, Legg, Earnie and Leo all appeared in the last 25 minutes but the tactics didn't alter. Earnie sparked more life into the game, Andy Campbell was especially disappointing beforehand, but it was going nowhere.
Wolves had a couple of long range efforts but nothing to send the pulses racing when a goal arrived from nothing on 83 minutes. A challenge about 30 yards out saw the ball break towards City's goal which caught Danny Gabbidon half asleep as he missed a challenge, Proudlock broke clear and slotted wide of Alexander. A bit rough on Gabby who was City's best player, he looks far more commanding in the air especially. Nobody played badly though, it was just that, with hardly an exception, every City player produced an average performance.
City nearly grasped a late equaliser as Leo met a ball and knocked down towards Peter Thorne but Oakes was out smartly to cover. Wolves are a good team so it shouldn't be disheartening - they fielded Dennis Irwin (playing right instead of his customary left back role), Ingmarsson, Alex Rae, Shaun Newton, Dean Sturridge and are about to sign Paul Ince too.
However for a team with such exciting attacking players and plenty who love to score, it rings alarm bells they not one of them had a shot in anger at goal. There's clearly work to be done.