Cardiff City - Nottingham Forest

[Sniffer Dog (Admin)]

Looking at the above stats - does anyone think that it may be that we have 3 very competent strikers and that the lack of good chances is the problem?

Not in my opinion Ozzy.

Have you seen some of the glaring chances that we have missed this season.

I think clinical is the word. We need to be more clinical.

[optimistic_red]

Sorry Sniff - but I believe that CH will stick with Grabban.

Other than that I agree with the likely starting X1.

Agree, Grabban will play.

God I hope not.

I hear you Sniff - Grabbs has not ‘fired’ this season as he did last.

But let’s take a look at the recent stats:

Grabban: 13 games ( 10 starts ) 3 goals
Taylor: 27 games ( 12 starts ) 4 goals
Murray: 12 games ( 8 starts ) 2 goals

Given his historical record ( especially last season ) I would suggest that Grabban has earned the confidence of the manager for an extended run.

Stats would be fairer if it's time on pitch rather than appearances

[tugger2018]

Sorry sniffer I think grabban and mighten will start for Murray and Sammy

[wassy04]

Looking at the above stats - does anyone think that it may be that we have 3 very competent strikers and that the lack of good chances is the problem?

Not in my opinion Ozzy.

Have you seen some of the glaring chances that we have missed this season.

I think clinical is the word. We need to be more clinical.

Yeah I reckon shot conversion rating or clear cut chances missed stats will not be favourable compared to other teams.

Last year grabban was second only to Bamford in absilute chances missed

[Sniffer Dog (Admin)]

Sorry sniffer I think grabban and mighten will start for Murray and Sammy

I hope Mighten does play, thought he was really good at Brentford.

However with him being away with the England under 19's I have a feeling Ameobi and Knockaert will start at Cardiff.

[tugger2018]

Yes it is maybe a little strange that sow has not got near the pitch I think he has been fit for a long while and is arguably our best midfielder. I am sure he will be leaving at the seasons end

[Strawberry Avenger]

Yes it is maybe a little strange that sow has not got near the pitch I think he has been fit for a long while and is arguably our best midfielder. I am sure he will be leaving at the seasons end

For me, he's our best midfielder. But does he fit in with Chris's overall picture for the 1st team?

Is he fully fit?  He got a bit of a 'whack' on that ankle of his. And post the Jan' window. (Where there were rumours of him being sold on. But Hughton denied that saying Sow was part of his plans.). We do know if you're not fully fit you can be on the sidelines. We've seen that alot with players. Or if you put in clumsy performances.

I think our results show we've been missing Talismanic Sow's power in DCM.  If he's fit, I think he should play. He and Yates were proving to be quite a robust DCM partnership. But some might say was it progressive enough? To be fair. Sow and Yates didn't have Krov' ahead of them. (But under our current formation, that would break up the Garner and Cafu partnership which has been reasonably effective. And Cafu is a durable player who is part of that progressive trinity of Garner (himself) and Krov'. We'd have to put Sow alongside Garner and push Cafu further up in Krov's position, unless we went 4-3-3. And I'm not sure Hughton thinks our fullbacks are strong enough to do that.)

If he could stay injury free he'd be worth keeping.  All our best runs have coincided with his return to the side.  Last season and this.

SA.

[tugger2018]

We could try Garner alongside Sow with Kronko further forward
Personally next season I would like us to try 3-5-2
I think we have a few the players that can do it maybe just not the wing backs unless we use llanou or lolley

[ThePromisedLand]

Yes it is maybe a little strange that sow has not got near the pitch I think he has been fit for a long while and is arguably our best midfielder. I am sure he will be leaving at the seasons end

For me, he's our best midfielder.  But does he fit in with Chris's overall picture for the 1st team? 

Is he fully fit?  He got a bit of a 'whack' on that ankle of his.  And post the Jan' window.  (Where there were rumours of him being sold on.  But Hughton denied that saying Sow was part of his plans.). We do know if you're not fully fit you can be on the sidelines.  We've seen that alot with players.  Or if you put in clumsy performances.

I think our results show we've been missing Talismanic Sow's power in DCM.  If he's fit, I think he should play.  He and Yates were proving to be quite a robust DCM partnership.  But some might say was it progressive enough?  To be fair.  Sow and Yates didn't have Krov' ahead of them.  (But under our current formation, that would break up the Garner and Cafu partnership which has been reasonably effective.  And Cafu is a durable player who is part of that progressive trinity of Garner (himself) and Krov'.  We'd have to put Sow alongside Garner and push Cafu further up in Krov's position, unless we went 4-3-3.  And I'm not sure Hughton thinks our fullbacks are strong enough to do that.)

If he could stay injury free he'd be worth keeping.  All our best runs have coincided with his return to the side.  Last season and this.

SA.

His absence from the squad tells a thousand words.

But then again - so does the reluctance to utilise Colback?

I suspect - subject to acceptable deals being tabled - we may have seen the last of both in the garibaldi red.

[Strawberry Avenger]

Yes it is maybe a little strange that sow has not got near the pitch I think he has been fit for a long while and is arguably our best midfielder. I am sure he will be leaving at the seasons end

For me, he's our best midfielder.  But does he fit in with Chris's overall picture for the 1st team? 

Is he fully fit?  He got a bit of a 'whack' on that ankle of his.  And post the Jan' window.  (Where there were rumours of him being sold on.  But Hughton denied that saying Sow was part of his plans.). We do know if you're not fully fit you can be on the sidelines.  We've seen that alot with players.  Or if you put in clumsy performances.

I think our results show we've been missing Talismanic Sow's power in DCM.  If he's fit, I think he should play.  He and Yates were proving to be quite a robust DCM partnership.  But some might say was it progressive enough?  To be fair.  Sow and Yates didn't have Krov' ahead of them.  (But under our current formation, that would break up the Garner and Cafu partnership which has been reasonably effective.  And Cafu is a durable player who is part of that progressive trinity of Garner (himself) and Krov'.  We'd have to put Sow alongside Garner and push Cafu further up in Krov's position, unless we went 4-3-3.  And I'm not sure Hughton thinks our fullbacks are strong enough to do that.)

If he could stay injury free he'd be worth keeping.  All our best runs have coincided with his return to the side.  Last season and this.

SA.

His absence from the squad tells a thousand words.

But then again - so does the reluctance to utilise Colback?

I suspect - subject to acceptable deals being tabled - we may have seen the last of both in the garibaldi red.

Hmmm.  There is a reason for it.  I suspect?

Some managers don't tolerate clumsiness.  And Colback and Sow do have it in them to give away free kicks and pick up yellows.  Ie.  Invite pressure on.  We're not as fluid, footballing wise with them.  Some may argue Colback and Sow aren't that progressive or having a passing game.  Pure destroyers?  In the latter regard, I feel Sow is the best we have.  And?  He does galvanise the side and drive it forward.  I think he's a miss in terms of his power.  And how are results with him in and out the side? Points wise.

The big picture?  Is Hughton looking at life beyond a player who can't stay fit a whole season ie the Summer when he could use the wages on somebody that can get a tackle in and destroy or even bury the odd free kick.  I have no doubt a fully fit Sow is a top 6 player and Forest were top 6 with him in the side. Both Sow included runs last season spoke for themselves results wise. A powerful wrecking ball. However. When Cafu is improving rapidly (and is now keeping his feet and getting tackles in, even naughty ones) with a permanent deal and can pass.  And has forged a creative partnership with Garner.

Yes.  We have to weigh Sow's destroyer capabilities vs the chemistry Cafu and Garner have.  Both are decent with the ball at their feet.  And if you include Krov' in that triangle, we're a far more footballing oriented and progressive side.

Some may criticise Hughton.  But he does play with wingers.  (Chiefly born outside of his recruitment.). A no.10 (which he brought in and has made a large difference.). And an old school forward who is ahead of Grabban and Taylor who have played more games in a Forest shirt.  We're more progressive than previous to the Jan' window.  You can see where Hughton is trying to go.  We don't just sit back.  We do try to create chances.  (Delivery isn't great.). And we've misfired enough in front of goal to have turn our recent poor run into better results.  But if you don't score.  You don't get wins when you draw and you get losses when you should draw.

Before Sow's latest injury, Forest with he and Yates in DCM were doing ok.  We were picking up results.  We currently without a win in our last 6 without Sow.

But how would we describe the football before and after Sow's injury.  (Critics may say the same.  But to me, it's clear the ever improving and now mixing it Cafu alongside the outstandingly mature deep passing of Garner and the incisive Krov (who yes, scored his first goal vs Brentford!) have improved our football.  And we bossed a Brentford side in possession on their patch.  If not in the final delivery into the box.  We are improving.  It's taking time.)

Musingly.

SA.

[Salvatore Matrecano]

His absence from the squad tells a thousand words.

But then again - so does the reluctance to utilise Colback?

I suspect - subject to acceptable deals being tabled - we may have seen the last of both in the garibaldi red.

Sow maybe so he is out of contract regardless. Although as has been said I would play him in certain games until we are 100% safe and Cardiff for me is one of those games.

Colback hmmm. We are stuck with him for another 2 seasons on 20k per week. He had form at Newcastle for not caring if he sits around not playing whilst on a lucrative contract. I hate to say I told you so last summer.

[tugger2018]

Yes added to sow and colback can be fred(Bachourou) and arter that is a lot of personnel to shift on