Cardiff City 3 Charlton Athletic 1
Massively disappointing today, Not just the result but the fact that we played with no heart. We were passive, weak and laid down a big fat doormat and winless Cardiff walked over it from about the 8th minute.
It was also massively disappointing because I was actually at the game.
I flew into Gatwick yesterday, holed myself up at Paddington and jumped the train early this morning with my brother and met a few mates in the Weatherspoon’s by Cardiff Central Station for a breakfast pint.
Sadly not long after that my football team got involved in my day and it was pretty much ruined, and that’s being polite.
Backed by a couple of thousand of noisy Addicks we started the game well, at least until minute 8.
A rare Lloyd Jones mistake saw Moylan, who was excellent throughout, collect the ball in an acre of space and he finished with aplomb.
Plenty of time left we said to each other. Hmm, in hindsight we probably should have got the 12.44 train back to Paddington.
Akonkwo made a good save before Salech received an unchallenged pass into the box and he was too smart and strong for Binden and he fired home.
Our midfield was getting dragged all over the shop, when we got on the ball, we turned it over, and Cardiff were playing the ball along our box like it was a attack v defence practice match.
Yet, out of nothing – it was a good ball from Binden – TC stayed onside, collected the ball and with still plenty to do, slotted home and we were back in it. Although we weren’t really.
Cardiff should’ve, could’ve had another two before the break. Akwonko made a great save and then they missed a sitter.
Weirdly at the break, the really quiet home crowd seemed pretty anxious. For us, we were hoping that Jones would make changes and we couldn’t be as bad again as you sensed in the ground that the home fans were not confident.
Alli was removed, he was poor, Binden was really struggling and he was off too. The calming influence of Bell joined, and perhaps strangely Ouma was also on at the break.
I wasn’t really sure of the formation at that point, but it was a big call by Jones to bring on Ouma ahead of Carey, Knibbs and JRC.
However again out of really nothing Grant found himself charging down on goal and he really should have scored, but hit the side netting. It was Grant’s worst game today since returning.
He wasn’t alone. Coventry, Leaburn played their worst games of the season and as for Ouma, I’m starting to think he might be the next Ali Dia.
Akonkwo made another save, before Ouma gave it away, one pass to Moylan and he hit an unstoppable shot to make it 3.
Kelman with his first touch had a really good chance, but it was more of a good save than a bad miss, but the locals started to relax and even sung a couple of songs as they realized they will not find a more welcoming opponent all season.
A dismal day out in Wales, and a very worrying performance.
🎙️ “I just didn’t recognise some of the players out there. I take full responsibility because I prepared the team. But the stuff that we prepare and do on a regular basis, I didn’t see today. You can’t build a performance if you don’t work hard, you don’t press with aggression and do the basics well. Then when you do eventually get on the ball you keep giving it away.”
⭐️ Arthur Akonkwo
🏟️ 21,108
📸 Chicago Addick
⏭️ A welcome 3 week break
Sooner or later the club are going to have to acknowledge the problem…..
I know. I can see it now.
Man who saved club from relegation, got them promoted, kept them up with 2nd lowest budget, lie 8th in the table sacked.
Have to say I’m massively disappointed in the performance and result today. Cardiff haven’t won a Championship game this season and we didn’t turn up. I think NJ was as honest as he could be in his post match interview but we are kind of following the same pattern as last season in our performances. I’m certainly not looking for NJ to be sacked but it does worry me how our performances are so up and down. Hopefully the international break will be a reset and performances will improve. On a positive note how good was it to see Josh Edwards back.
I was at a wedding today so happy to say I didn’t watch the game but why are we always so poor in the early kick offs?
I’m wondering how many times NJ and our board can use the word evolve ?? Evolve to what £10 million last year on dud players can someone tell me different ? Apter Knibbs Kelman Olafe ?? Board don’t want to invest so we get bargain basement has beens ! Do you think we will finish 8th CA ?
Just like everyone else, this was massively disappointing for me too.
Apart from the keeper, no one had a good performance, TC about the best of the rest. Alli was awful and many, as CA said, had their worst performances of the season – though you forgot to include Skipp.
It was three and could have easily been 5 or 6. Though what on earth Grant was doing aiming for a non existent near post gap when clear through on goal is beyond me. Had he made it 2-2 the whole outcome may have been vastly different.
I am not one of those negative against Nathan Jones but not starting Bell? And Ouma ahead of all those that CA mentioned?
I have a Kenyan friend so we have studied him intently together every minute he has played. I read with amazement a couple of replies in a previous post that they saw something in him. Ouma sadly is not anywhere near Championship quality. He came in place of Karoy Anderson or Docherty somehow – not that I am saying we should have kept either, just that Ouma is a downgrade.
We are joint lowest scorers in the division and the lowest XG and lowest shots on goal.
Today we were totally outfought and outplayed. We might be missing Chalobah and Koumetio more than I realised.
This was very poor I watched the game in disbelief only 2 players worth talking about the keeper and TC who literally plays like a lion every game I m afraid it will be the same again as last year all ranting and looking over our shoulders Nathan is no Curbishley but he is better than the likes of Appleton Garner and others. We desperately need another playmaker in midfield like Claus Jensen or Kinsella how we miss players like those. Last thing when is is M Leaburn gonna start scoring like his old man used to Onwards and upwards..COYR