01-05-2016, 13:44
Three Games from the PL
An easy afternoon, a predictable afternoon, an exhilarating afternoon and a satisfying afternoon.
CC went for the formation & team that most of us have been calling for and the result was probably our best league performance of the season. The atmosphere was crackling well before kick off.
Initially, he set up as a 4411 with Hooper behind Joao with FF & Bannan playing wide. It took less than ten minutes before FF had tucked in behind Joao as well and Bannan was tucked in in a 4321 formation. We were just so fluid and Cardiff struggled to know how to cope with the potential of Joao's pace, ending up dropping deep which created oceans of space for Hooper & FF to exploit between the lines.
We totally dominated the first half but didn't test the keeper with Hooper hitting the post and Pudil, Loovens & Lees all missing half chances.
It just seemed a matter of time before we scored and it duly came when Marshall fumbled Pudil's shot & Hooper followed in to flick it home. The second was another keeper error. Marshall tried to run it out of play but Hooper ran him down to steal the ball and his shot deflected in. We had several other half chances but Hooper sealed it in stoppage time by lobbing the keeper from Nuhiu's flick on.
FF picked up a first half yellow card for a stupid & unnecessary challenge just minutes after a Cardiff player had been carded for a similar tackle. Cardiff were lucky not to get a red card when a defender tripped FF as he burst clear 20 yards out but the referee was keeping clear of controversy. The referee controlled the match well and picked up on most things. CC wisely subbed FF once we were in front as he was spoiling for a fight & needed Loovens to get him off the pitch quickly.
Westwood - 7
Hunt - 7
Lees - 8
Loovens - 8
Pudil - 8
Bannan - 8
Lopez - 9
Lee - 9
Hooper - 9
FF - 8
Joao - 7
...................................
Nuhiu - 7
Helan - 7
Matias - 6
CC got the starting line up right from the start & it made a big difference. Joao made a massive difference because the threat of pace changed Cardiff's mindset. Joao forsaked personal glory to do a great job for the team and his inclusion again coincided with us dominating CM and Hooper looking back to his best.
Stat Attack:
Goals: 2 - Hooper, 1 - Own Goal
Assists: 1 - Hooper, Pudil, Nuhiu
Touches: 70 - Bannan, 56 - Hooper, Lee, 54 - Lees, 51 - Lopez, 48 - Hunt, 47 - Westwood, FF, 45 - Loovens, Pudil, 41 - Joao, 20 - Nuhiu, 5 - Matias, 3 - Helan
Tackles: 2 - Lee, FF, 1 - Hunt, Pudil, Lopez,
Interceptions: 4 - Lees, Pudil, 2 - Hunt, Loovens, Lee, FF, 1 - Lopez, Helan
Clearances: 6 - Loovens, Lees, 3 - Westwood, 2 - Pudil, Hooper, 1 - Hunt, Lee, Bannan, Joao
Attempts: 3 - Pudil, Hooper, Joao, 2 - Nuhiu, Matias, 1 - Loovens, Lees, Bannan, FF
Attempts On Target: 2 - Hooper, 1 - Pudil, Joao, Nuhiu
Key Passes: 4 - Bannan, Hooper, 2 - Lopez, Lee, 1 - Joao, Nuhiu
Dribbles: 2 - Hunt, Lee, Nuhiu, 1 - Joao, FF, Matias
Dispossessed: 4 - Nuhiu, 3 - Joao, FF, 2 - Hooper, 1 - Hunt, Lopez, Lee
Bad Control: 6 - Joao, 2 - Hooper, 1 - Hunt, Lopez, Lee, FF, Nuhiu
Crosses (Accurate in brackets): 4 - Bannan (1), 3 - Lopez (2), Pudil (1), 2 - Hunt (0), 1 - Lee (0), Hooper (0), FF (0)
Passing Accuracy (Total Passes in Brackets):
Helan - 100% (2), Lees - 91% (42), Lee - 89% (46), FF - 85% (33), Hooper - 84% (45), Loovens - 84% (32), Lopez - 84% (43), Hunt - 83% (36), Bannan - 83% (64), Pudil - 73% (30), Joao - 67% (27), Nuhiu - 67% (9), Westwoood - 58% (33), Matias - 50% (2)
CC had two tasks yesterday - to reach the Playoffs and to get us into good shape to win them. Yesterday, he succeeded in one and made big strides in the other. I highlighted last week the importance of getting Hooper back into form and by going 4321, we saw Hooper at his best. It is no coincidence that Hooper's best performances have come when Joao or Nuhiu are on the pitch and he can play that bit deeper.
He said in his post match interview that he believes that his players are coming into their best form now. It is important to keep the momentum going at Wolves next Saturday and certainly several players need game time to keep them at the top of their game, most noticeably Hooper, Joao, FF, Bannan & Lee. Maybe Hutchinson gets a run out next week but teams that rest players in the game before the Playoffs, rarely win the Playoffs.
Finally, credit to the fans for keeping off the pitch. While United fans had a full scale pitch invasion because they reached the Playoffs, we showed greater class knowing that all we have achieved is entry into a competition which could give us promotion. It has been the best and most entertaining season for 20 years and it isn't over yet.
An easy afternoon, a predictable afternoon, an exhilarating afternoon and a satisfying afternoon.
CC went for the formation & team that most of us have been calling for and the result was probably our best league performance of the season. The atmosphere was crackling well before kick off.
Initially, he set up as a 4411 with Hooper behind Joao with FF & Bannan playing wide. It took less than ten minutes before FF had tucked in behind Joao as well and Bannan was tucked in in a 4321 formation. We were just so fluid and Cardiff struggled to know how to cope with the potential of Joao's pace, ending up dropping deep which created oceans of space for Hooper & FF to exploit between the lines.
We totally dominated the first half but didn't test the keeper with Hooper hitting the post and Pudil, Loovens & Lees all missing half chances.
It just seemed a matter of time before we scored and it duly came when Marshall fumbled Pudil's shot & Hooper followed in to flick it home. The second was another keeper error. Marshall tried to run it out of play but Hooper ran him down to steal the ball and his shot deflected in. We had several other half chances but Hooper sealed it in stoppage time by lobbing the keeper from Nuhiu's flick on.
FF picked up a first half yellow card for a stupid & unnecessary challenge just minutes after a Cardiff player had been carded for a similar tackle. Cardiff were lucky not to get a red card when a defender tripped FF as he burst clear 20 yards out but the referee was keeping clear of controversy. The referee controlled the match well and picked up on most things. CC wisely subbed FF once we were in front as he was spoiling for a fight & needed Loovens to get him off the pitch quickly.
Westwood - 7
Hunt - 7
Lees - 8
Loovens - 8
Pudil - 8
Bannan - 8
Lopez - 9
Lee - 9
Hooper - 9
FF - 8
Joao - 7
...................................
Nuhiu - 7
Helan - 7
Matias - 6
CC got the starting line up right from the start & it made a big difference. Joao made a massive difference because the threat of pace changed Cardiff's mindset. Joao forsaked personal glory to do a great job for the team and his inclusion again coincided with us dominating CM and Hooper looking back to his best.
Stat Attack:
Goals: 2 - Hooper, 1 - Own Goal
Assists: 1 - Hooper, Pudil, Nuhiu
Touches: 70 - Bannan, 56 - Hooper, Lee, 54 - Lees, 51 - Lopez, 48 - Hunt, 47 - Westwood, FF, 45 - Loovens, Pudil, 41 - Joao, 20 - Nuhiu, 5 - Matias, 3 - Helan
Tackles: 2 - Lee, FF, 1 - Hunt, Pudil, Lopez,
Interceptions: 4 - Lees, Pudil, 2 - Hunt, Loovens, Lee, FF, 1 - Lopez, Helan
Clearances: 6 - Loovens, Lees, 3 - Westwood, 2 - Pudil, Hooper, 1 - Hunt, Lee, Bannan, Joao
Attempts: 3 - Pudil, Hooper, Joao, 2 - Nuhiu, Matias, 1 - Loovens, Lees, Bannan, FF
Attempts On Target: 2 - Hooper, 1 - Pudil, Joao, Nuhiu
Key Passes: 4 - Bannan, Hooper, 2 - Lopez, Lee, 1 - Joao, Nuhiu
Dribbles: 2 - Hunt, Lee, Nuhiu, 1 - Joao, FF, Matias
Dispossessed: 4 - Nuhiu, 3 - Joao, FF, 2 - Hooper, 1 - Hunt, Lopez, Lee
Bad Control: 6 - Joao, 2 - Hooper, 1 - Hunt, Lopez, Lee, FF, Nuhiu
Crosses (Accurate in brackets): 4 - Bannan (1), 3 - Lopez (2), Pudil (1), 2 - Hunt (0), 1 - Lee (0), Hooper (0), FF (0)
Passing Accuracy (Total Passes in Brackets):
Helan - 100% (2), Lees - 91% (42), Lee - 89% (46), FF - 85% (33), Hooper - 84% (45), Loovens - 84% (32), Lopez - 84% (43), Hunt - 83% (36), Bannan - 83% (64), Pudil - 73% (30), Joao - 67% (27), Nuhiu - 67% (9), Westwoood - 58% (33), Matias - 50% (2)
CC had two tasks yesterday - to reach the Playoffs and to get us into good shape to win them. Yesterday, he succeeded in one and made big strides in the other. I highlighted last week the importance of getting Hooper back into form and by going 4321, we saw Hooper at his best. It is no coincidence that Hooper's best performances have come when Joao or Nuhiu are on the pitch and he can play that bit deeper.
He said in his post match interview that he believes that his players are coming into their best form now. It is important to keep the momentum going at Wolves next Saturday and certainly several players need game time to keep them at the top of their game, most noticeably Hooper, Joao, FF, Bannan & Lee. Maybe Hutchinson gets a run out next week but teams that rest players in the game before the Playoffs, rarely win the Playoffs.
Finally, credit to the fans for keeping off the pitch. While United fans had a full scale pitch invasion because they reached the Playoffs, we showed greater class knowing that all we have achieved is entry into a competition which could give us promotion. It has been the best and most entertaining season for 20 years and it isn't over yet.
The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.