Cardiff Post Match

[Callabinho]

Fanntastic result, cant fault any one out there today! fist half we lacked penetration, but we were always in control, second half we upped the tempo and bang... the King of Wales pops us with two sublime goals! all in all a tidy win i'd say we looks good out there tonight and could have won by 3 or 4! let the Sousa effect continue!

[lcfc_jme]

Superb result to come back against a team flying as high as Cardiff and finally get the old monkey off our backs, sounds like it was a performance full of real energy, desire and enthusiasm as well. Just got to make sure we now take at least a point on Saturday against another team that's flying if we want to keep the confidence flowing through the players.

[breadandcheese]

Brilliant game. It was a pleasure to watch Leicester pass the ball like that and play with such composure. Our second goal was one of the best passing moves I've seen Leicester do in ages. The sheer simplicity of the goal, yet the skill and vision required to made it.

Credit to Oakley and Neilson this season. Two players who have got tremendous stick in the past are playing brilliantly.

I'm still not sure of the keeper on loan. He had nothing really to do, apart from pick the ball out of the net but I think he looks suspect. I've still not seen the goals again, but I'd like to see his positioning. I also don't like the fact that he's very poor at dealing with the ball in the air. They only had a handful of corners, but he didn't once win the ball in the air.

Also, whilst we played tremendously, let's not get carried away. Cardiff looked a shadow of themselves without Bellamy, Bothroyd and Chopra, offering very little in the way of an attacking threat. QPR will be a different proposition, especially if they stick a marker on King. I worry that if King is shackled by an opposing team, we will struggle to score goals.

[1964FOX]

sorry about quality of video but for those who weren't there here is FB message to waggy

[stix]

Great game lastnight. Oakley played well, getting right in with some bone-breaking winning tackles, Neilson played well again as did bruno finally and the partnership of hobbs and morro looks like it is starting to gel again. Wellens made some decent runs through the middle of the park and andy king seemed to be everywhere!

I think howard was possibly the weakest link lastnight, in the first half especially. As mentioned before i just dont think his legs can take sousas style anymore. Did improve in the 2nd half and did hold the ball up well a few times though. Waggy's home coming was a decent one and i love the way he automatically tries to skip past his marker rather than look for a sideways pass. And dyer was on fire yet again-truly deserved a goal lastnight. We passed them off the park for the majority and looked really good with it too.

Had a quick look on a cardiff forum and a few of them said there was a good atmosphere lastnight and although disappointed with the result still enjoyed the night so well done everyone lets keep it going for qpr!

[colbo68]

The football in the first half was pretty, but not particularly effective.

Add the missing ingredient...

PACE

...and in the second half we were all over them.

Pace is what it's all about and if we can find consistency with the pace, movement and passing no-one in this league will fancy playing us.

Superb second half performance and a deserved win.

And one more thing - am I the only one who still rates Robbie Neilson?

Ha! Top quality he was tonight.

couldnt agree with you more...the passing is good currently but too pedestrian at times...its good we've got Waggy cos he's quick, but only him and Lloyd have any real pace in the side - I'd love to see a quick striker to slot the passes through to - we DO miss pace in the side, and a lethal striker

[Stig the Lawnmower]

great result and performance after a bit of a slow start. cardiffs goal was definately meant to be a cross - unlucky.

king was unlucky not to score a second within minutes of his first, and how dyer missed the one on one with their goalie I'll never know! but he made up for it with his general performance.

finally, I thought Cardiff looked knackered towards the end, was it because they were forever chasing the ball?

[MrSpaM]

finally, I thought Cardiff looked knackered towards the end, was it because they were forever chasing the ball?

Cardiff looked knackered from the kick off, their fitness levels are terrible. Without their key players they looked below average at best.

[Fosse Boy]

Enjoyable evening. I love King.

Fosse Boys standing all match. Wonder what will happen at QPR.

We did sit for periods when it was choreographed into our songs. Besides, we had people standing in front of us. I wouldn't have been able to se the game if I had sat down.

[Babylon]

Besides, we had people standing in front of us. I wouldn't have been able to se the game if I had sat down.

How much did you pay them?

[1964FOX]

How much did you pay them?

Upholding with footballing tradition it was an undisclosed sum, the deal sees them moving to us from SK2. Their qualities up front will be beneficial to the group. Their age does leave them prone to injury and some might say it's a gamble that they will go the whole season without injury.

[SOCCERROO FOX]

Bout time we had a win

[dandannieldanok]

Thoroughly enjoyed last night's game, obviously the end result is the major reason why but it was still a good display from Leicester regardless. Hopefully all these bollocks rumours about Sousa losing the dressing room and the players not being fit can finally disappear now, because the Leicester players gave absolutely everything in that second half and got the reward. Moving King up as a second forward almost after half-time worked a treat because Howard was far too isolated in the first half. Also pleased to see Sousa be brave enough to tell the players to go more direct and hit Howard earlier on. Not one of our players had a bad game, and it's nice to see the Morrison of last season back in commanding form. Also good to see us close out a game pretty comfortably too, but a lot of that was down to the feeble opposition. All in all a good night for us, bring on QPR!

Cardiff were turd. Deserved absolutely sod all from the game. Their goal was a complete fluke, but not surprising given our luck recently.

[Babylon]

If we had lost this thread would be up to 30 pages by now.

[Iwan is a Welshman]

Absolutely fantastic result, ripped 'em to shreds and a lucky goal couldn't stop us. Cracking atmosphere inside the ground for a week night and it was absolutely luvverly to send those Taffs on a long journey home miserable.

Who's this new right-back we've got? What's happened to Robbie Neillson? I've always been a big critic of him, but on Saturday and today he's been a different man.

Really, really happy now. Let's hope the season starts here. Just want to get the strikers amongst the goals.

Bring on Colin willy puller.

BLUE ARMY!

[Trav Le Bleu]

Last night was the first time I got to see us this season and I was hugely impressed.

I'd heard all the talk of passing, fluid football and also how we should have ripped Coventry apart, but until last night I was wondering if people might just be getting a little carried away. Turns out they weren't.

Apart from the first 5 minutes of the game we bossed the match. 53% possession you say? Bollocks! It was much closer to 60% or more, especially if you were talking quality possession. We kept the ball and when we lost the ball we tried to win it back immediately. Brilliant!

Whatismore we moved as a team en masse, which meant everyone back for corners and free kicks in our half, and everyone up when it was at the other end. When our first attack didn't succeed, there was always someone to back up with a second attempt if the ball went loose and 90% of the time we were first to the loose ball. Steve Howard was immense up front and the work he does is so frequently unrecognised, or more astonishingly, criticised, it beggars belief.

I also liked that we defended as a team. Behind me there were a couple of dolts complaining that we didn't leave a man up front for defensive corners to give "an out". But what's the point in that? How many times have we seen, time and again, the ball gets punted out to the lone striker, who either has to take it on solo, or hold it up for other players to join them. Usually it results in the player losing the ball and a swift return to defending the goal. defending the way we did, everyone was supporting each other and some of the en masses breaks we made must surely have put the wind up Cardiff's defence.

Not sure about Waggy out wide though and not sure we have that cutting edge in front of goal, that if we had, we could have won 3 or 4-1 last night. A minor criticism though and against one of the better teams in the division, this was an outstanding result brought about by superb team play. Probably the best I've ever seen us play (take into account that I only usually get to 4-5 games a season) in a VERY long time.

More please!

[Guest Bilo]

Now that my hangover has finally subsided, I can finally express an opinion without feeling like I'm going to chuck my chips halfway through.

I have to say that that was one of the best performances I've seen from a City team at the Walkers in a long time. The passing, movement and organisation from back to front was all absolutely sublime and the football a genuine pleasure to watch. Cardiff were completely unable to deal with the flowing football, and it was very much against the run of play when they scored a goal that was either an absolute cracker or a complete fluke brought about by a mishit cross. Knowing our luck of late, I'm going for the latter. Nevertheless, it didn't take the gloss off the first half performance where we looked solid at the back, performed well as a unit in the middle but just couldn't quite get it together in the final third, much like the Coventry game.

The second half was a different story. Waghorn and Dyer scared Cardiff to death with their pace and movement, Cardiff's much vaunted midfield playmakers were rendered anonymous by the far superior King and Wellens and the back four had perhaps the quietest 45 minutes they're likely to see all season. This wasn't just passing football for its own sake, it had a real cutting edge to it that Cardiff had absolutely no answer to. Anybody watching the game unaware of the team's respective league positions may very well have concluded that the league was indeed 'upside down' as City created chance after chance. It was no surprise when King scored the equaliser as he was the man of the match up to that point, followed closely by Dyer and Wellens. What turned out to be the decisive goal looked for all the world to be the first of a few, on another night with chances converted, such as Dyer's inexplicably missed one-on-one, it could very easily have been a hugely morale boosting pasting.

As for the Swansea fans protestations that Sousa's regimes don't bring about good fitness, they need only look at the team last night, particularly Dyer. Formerly the archetypal 70 minute player, he was like the Energizer bunny running constantly for the entirety of the game but seemingly not losing any energy. The same could be said for Waghorn, who had an absolute stormer and will undoubtedly bag a few for us this season. The quality of the performance was such that a player who was massively effective in the middle of the park, even excepting his brace, can't be guaranteed the MOTM prize. Wellens, Dyer and Waghorn would all have a very good shout for that honour, along with the hugely impressive Neilson, who has become a different player since Sousa's arrival.

The atmosphere created by us Fosse Boys was excellent too, from the Welcome Home Waggy banner at kick-off to the final whistle, we never stopped singing for a minute and won the respect of many in the Kop. The atmosphere in general was excellent last night and the levels of noise generated were very welcome indeed, good few standing in the Kop as well.

All in all, a most enjoyable night and I stand by what I've said before. We won by the odd goal last night and may do so again over the next couple of weeks, but before long somebody is going to line up against us and take an absolute hammering, a hammering that may well see us establish ourselves as genuine play-off contenders again.

Then after the game a few of us went into town and got pissed.

[Trav Le Bleu]

As for the Swansea fans protestations that Sousa's regimes don't bring about good fitness, they need only look at the team last night, particularly Dyer. Formerly the archetypal 70 minute player, he was like the Energizer bunny running constantly for the entirety of the game but seemingly not losing any energy. The same could be said for Waghorn, who had an absolute stormer and will undoubtedly bag a few for us this season. The quality of the performance was such that a player who was massively effective in the middle of the park, even excepting his brace, can't be guaranteed the MOTM prize. Wellens, Dyer and Waghorn would all have a very good shout for that honour, along with the hugely impressive Neilson, who has become a different player since Sousa's arrival.

Good point about the fitness Bilo. Playing as we did (frenetic would be the word I think best describes it), I was worried about our fitness about 3/4 of the way through the game, but Sousa had the confidence not to change anything until about the last 15 mins. We should have tired if we weren't fit, especially after a similar game on Saturday.

My fitness worries are allayed.

[STUHILL]

All my concerns before the International break about players fitness and transfer requests have been quashed! There were all sorts of rumours flying around and although some may have had some truth, the evidence in the last two games suggests different. We are playing at a higher temp than ever before, and the players are coping fitness wise! Also, there is no sign of player unrest, as every player looks up for a real battle and have that desire to win, which and unhappy player wouldn't necessarily show.

Sousa begged for patience, and we all saw the signs of attractive football, but without the end product. We seem to take a big step each time we play now, and at this rate, some team is going to get a thrashing!!

If Sousa and the players can keep this kind of standard up, which will not be easy I admit, but if they do..... Then we should be right up there at the end of the season

[Koke]

Cardiff were missing a lot of their big boys. But nonetheless, can't take away the effort and display produced by our lads.

[Austin]

Anyone got highlights of the goals? .. Apoligies if it's been posted elsewhere, just don't have skysports so couldn't see last night .. cheers

[WE ARE GOING UP]

Fair play, a well deserved win for you lot.

I thought the first half was pretty even, and we looked the better side after Naylors screamer (cue the cries of 'fluke') and half time came at a bad time for us.

Second half we were outplayed and out-witted. Burke was ineffective, Whitts was anonymous. Gavin Rae shouldnt be allowed 90 seconds nevermind 90 minutes. Keogh can't play as a lone striker.

Two good goals from King, best player on the park by a mile.

But anyone who thinks you would have got 3 points if even 2 of our 5 players missing had played is seriously deluded.

4 of those 5 players are our best players.

Drinkwater will be one for the future, Olofinjana is a beast and everytime ive watched him its clear he's too good for this division. Head and shoulders above anyone else in midfield. Then we have Bellamy, Bothroyd and Chopra who would've run your team ragged last night.

Every team has injuries so im not making excuses. The best team on the night won. But lets see where we are come May...

WE ARE GOING UP

[dandannieldanok]

Fair play, a well deserved win for you lot.

I thought the first half was pretty even, and we looked the better side after Naylors screamer (cue the cries of 'fluke') and half time came at a bad time for us.

Second half we were outplayed and out-witted. Burke was ineffective, Whitts was anonymous. Gavin Rae shouldnt be allowed 90 seconds nevermind 90 minutes. Keogh can't play as a lone striker.

Two good goals from King, best player on the park by a mile.

But anyone who thinks you would have got 3 points if even 2 of our 5 players missing had played is seriously deluded.

4 of those 5 players are our best players.

Drinkwater will be one for the future, Olofinjana is a beast and everytime ive watched him its clear he's too good for this division. Head and shoulders above anyone else in midfield. Then we have Bellamy, Bothroyd and Chopra who would've run your team ragged last night.

Every team has injuries so im not making excuses. The best team on the night won. But lets see where we are come May...

WE ARE GOING UP

You're not? You're basically saying we wouldn't have won if you didn't have injuries, seems like an excuse to me. Hope those sour grapes aren't tasting too bad this lunchtime.

[Ric Flair]

Fair play, a well deserved win for you lot.

I thought the first half was pretty even, and we looked the better side after Naylors screamer (cue the cries of 'fluke') and half time came at a bad time for us.

Second half we were outplayed and out-witted. Burke was ineffective, Whitts was anonymous. Gavin Rae shouldnt be allowed 90 seconds nevermind 90 minutes. Keogh can't play as a lone striker.

Two good goals from King, best player on the park by a mile.

But anyone who thinks you would have got 3 points if even 2 of our 5 players missing had played is seriously deluded.

4 of those 5 players are our best players.

Drinkwater will be one for the future, Olofinjana is a beast and everytime ive watched him its clear he's too good for this division. Head and shoulders above anyone else in midfield. Then we have Bellamy, Bothroyd and Chopra who would've run your team ragged last night.

Every team has injuries so im not making excuses. The best team on the night won. But lets see where we are come May...

WE ARE GOING UP

There's absolutely no doubting the quality you have. We'd probably have been murdered last night if you had everyone available as our confidence has been shot, but we are also capable of playing some devastating football and thankfully we got some luck with you turning up with half a side. I expect you to walk this league with the players you have, if you don't then i'll be surprised.

[matty2702]

an absolute pleasure to watch last night. I admire the job that steve howard does at this level, holds the ball up well and does bring other players into the game, however I honestly believe if we could find a striker with equally good ball retention skills but with a little more pace and goal instinct we would have destroyed Cardiff last night! I worry for us slightly that in some games we may well dominate teams posession wise but then fail to score those scrappy winners a natural goal scorer gets you! but I am delighted for Sousa and the boys and if they can play witht the same flair and determination most weeks hopefully we can push towards the right end of the table! UP THE CITY! p.s where did we find this new right back!? credit to neilson he's obviously kept his head down and worked hard on his game.