With Cardiff City struggling for form and goals and being hit by weekend home defeat, Dave Jones has openly pondered about some players not in prime form while others have been blamed for errors so what, if anything, does he have in mind - especially in a group of players, his signings, that give him few - if any - credible alternatives in key areas?
Speculation is that there are two certain changes for tonight's home game with Coventry City, the kind of clash that already feels vital and must win for the Bluebirds.
- Steve McPhail will return after his one game suspension for an altogether silly red card at Swansea. Surely McPhail is one of those "certain players" which Darren Purse had in mind when he said others never get criticised.
- Paul Parry is also due to be an absentee through injury. So poor have his recent displays been that it's hardly a miss anyway and will be accommodated by Joe Ledley reverting to his usual role and a stop gap show in central midfield against Birmingham City last weekend.
The biggest question is will Darren Purse be dropped for Gabor Gypes who has been unable to get a game since signing last month? One national daily paper - The Mirror - says he will be but that can only be speculation. However, as well as he has played, Purse errors have contributed to the opener conceded against Birmingham and also Derby's goal last week and I'm sure Dave Jones had this in mind when making his comments. It will be interesting to see what does unfold this evening.
Other options could be Heaton for Enckleman. The Finnish keeper did well at Swansea last week, Heaton has had little to do yet not truly convinced and some feel Enks would have saved at least one of Birmingham's goals.
It is up front where Dave Jones has his biggest problems though closely followed by midfield. However with Parry injured and Eddie Johnson looking clueless, the Bothroyd-McCormack partnership where neither appears to want to play as a striker, will surely continue.
In midfield, Darcy Blake has jst returned from injury, Riccy Scimeca is still injured and Gavin Rae is playing while possibly not fully fit yet Dave Jones thinks we are ok here until January!! Again, his options for change are near non-existent.
Maybe one final question is will our "Plan A, no Plan B" manager actually change the system? 4-5-1 may be more suited to the personnel currently at his disposal. It's a negative system but Swansea showed its effectiveness last Tuesday. It's also a shocking admission of the flaws in Dave Jones' squad if we do it but City ultimately have to perform better and play to the strengths and it's hard top justify 4-4-2 with the way City are set up.
All the answers will unravel this evening? Just hoping City get a boost and result. Somehow though, I'm expecting a dour and cagey, few thrills, occasion. That's how it's been lately.
Speculation is that there are two certain changes for tonight's home game with Coventry City, the kind of clash that already feels vital and must win for the Bluebirds.
- Steve McPhail will return after his one game suspension for an altogether silly red card at Swansea. Surely McPhail is one of those "certain players" which Darren Purse had in mind when he said others never get criticised.
- Paul Parry is also due to be an absentee through injury. So poor have his recent displays been that it's hardly a miss anyway and will be accommodated by Joe Ledley reverting to his usual role and a stop gap show in central midfield against Birmingham City last weekend.
The biggest question is will Darren Purse be dropped for Gabor Gypes who has been unable to get a game since signing last month? One national daily paper - The Mirror - says he will be but that can only be speculation. However, as well as he has played, Purse errors have contributed to the opener conceded against Birmingham and also Derby's goal last week and I'm sure Dave Jones had this in mind when making his comments. It will be interesting to see what does unfold this evening.
Other options could be Heaton for Enckleman. The Finnish keeper did well at Swansea last week, Heaton has had little to do yet not truly convinced and some feel Enks would have saved at least one of Birmingham's goals.
It is up front where Dave Jones has his biggest problems though closely followed by midfield. However with Parry injured and Eddie Johnson looking clueless, the Bothroyd-McCormack partnership where neither appears to want to play as a striker, will surely continue.
In midfield, Darcy Blake has jst returned from injury, Riccy Scimeca is still injured and Gavin Rae is playing while possibly not fully fit yet Dave Jones thinks we are ok here until January!! Again, his options for change are near non-existent.
Maybe one final question is will our "Plan A, no Plan B" manager actually change the system? 4-5-1 may be more suited to the personnel currently at his disposal. It's a negative system but Swansea showed its effectiveness last Tuesday. It's also a shocking admission of the flaws in Dave Jones' squad if we do it but City ultimately have to perform better and play to the strengths and it's hard top justify 4-4-2 with the way City are set up.
All the answers will unravel this evening? Just hoping City get a boost and result. Somehow though, I'm expecting a dour and cagey, few thrills, occasion. That's how it's been lately.
3 comments:
i think cov city stand a pretty good chance of winning that one
Cardiff are vulnerable right now and it doesn't seem a happy mood in the camp either - so I guess they'll be meek and fold or fierce and get a result.
There's no reason why they shouldn't get at least a point though, it's well withing them to do that.
cheers
i like......
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