[madsteve]

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.

[Statesideowl]

Great day out ,MS! Glad so many of you turned out.

The only thing I'd disagree about is the consistency of the referee, he did try to keep it calm without unnecessary carding. However, being able to watch a live feed I was able to see a lot of the decisions very closely.
Fessi's yellow was soft, Cardiff had a similar challenge that went unpunished, I didn't see the booking you say they got for a similar challenge though If you're referring to that Thug O'Keefes challenges he was an absolute disgrace the entire game and his yellow was nothing like Forestieri's. The tackle on Fessi as he burst towards the box was a red all day, if you're going to let red card challenges go unpunished, yet book someone for a soft challenge then you're affecting the shape of the game. Peltier had already got away with using his elbow/forearm to shove Fessi down in the back, so should have been carded twice!!
If people still aren't seeing the malice towards Fessi then no amount of leading to the water will help. CC needs to take this through whatever channels he can. Essentially it will lead nowhere as a self-regulating group of crooks aren't going to admit wrong doing are they?

[madsteve]

Great day out ,MS! Glad so many of you turned out.

The only thing I'd disagree about is the consistency of the referee, he did try to keep it calm without unnecessary carding. However, being able to watch a live feed I was able to see a lot of the decisions very closely.
Fessi's yellow was soft, Cardiff had a similar challenge that went unpunished, I didn't see the booking you say they got for a similar challenge though If you're referring to that Thug O'Keefes challenges he was an absolute disgrace the entire game and his yellow was nothing like Forestieri's. The tackle on Fessi as he burst towards the box was a red all day, if you're going to let red card challenges go unpunished, yet book someone for a soft challenge then you're affecting the shape of the game. Peltier had already got away with using his elbow/forearm to shove Fessi down in the back, so should have been carded twice!!
If people still aren't seeing the malice towards Fessi then no amount of leading to the water will help. CC needs to take this through whatever channels he can. Essentially it will lead nowhere as a self-regulating group of crooks aren't going to admit wrong doing are they?

I thought it was a red card when Fessi was brought down when through but having seen it again since, there are two defenders back goal side & the yellow card was correct.

I have seen several forums & this is the only one criticising the referee really. In fact he has come in for a lot of praise from Wednesday fans and the media for the way he controlled the game.

[Statesideowl]

I think much of that comes down to the fact we played well and won the game. Had we lost there'd be a different tune I reckon.

It seems I might have been wrong about the straight red. But it also seems I saw quite a few other things people either didn't or just let go for the aforementioned reason.

As I said in the first post he did try to keep frivolous carding out, I appreciate that. I still think he made some poor decisions, gave yellows then let yellow card challenges go. I find it hard to believe I'm the only one of this opinion.

---

O'Keefe should have gone, he committed more than one yellow offense. It's unbelievable to me Peltier didn't even pick up a single Yellow either.

[madsteve]

I think much of that comes down to the fact we played well and won the game. Had we lost there'd be a different tune I reckon.

It seems I  might have been wrong about the straight red. But it also seems I saw quite a few other things people either didn't or just let go for the aforementioned reason.

As I said in the first post he did try to keep frivolous carding out, I appreciate that. I still think he made some poor decisions, gave yellows then let yellow card challenges go. I find it hard to believe I'm the only one of this opinion.

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O'Keefe should have gone, he committed more than one yellow offense. It's unbelievable to me Peltier didn't even pick up a single Yellow either.

Not saying you are the only one, there are a couple of others on here made similar comments during the game. Just that there have been positive referee comments on most forums this week.

[Statesideowl]

Sorry, MS. I wasn't implying you'd singled me out in your post. I just wanted to clarify I'm not in no mans land with this belief, I couldn't possibly be, even outside the forums.

Aside from what I believe the ref got wrong yesterday. I will give him a butt pat for how he kept the game fluid which allowed us to play our style.

That's over with now though, I can only hope the RA realise there are many scrutinising them at the moment, they would be smart to send their best men (or women) next month. Those games are incredibly important, and every decision matters.

I'm a critic's critic

[Imre varadi]

good news peiowl !! im Back on line !!

[madsteve]

Sorry, MS. I wasn't implying you'd singled me out in your post. I just wanted to clarify I'm not in no mans land with this belief, I couldn't possibly be, even outside the forums.

Aside from what I believe the ref got wrong yesterday. I will give him a butt pat for how he kept the game fluid which allowed us to play our style.

That's over with now though, I can only hope the RA realise there are many scrutinising them at the moment, they would be smart to send their best men (or women) next month. Those games are incredibly important, and every decision matters.

I'm a critic's critic

I think "You Are the Ref" is a good site where they analyse referees performances each week. Usually Keith Hackett or Mark Halsey plus a retired footballer go through all the incidents of the weekend.

[Owlkev71]

I thought the ref did alright from my vantage point on the Kop.

The main thing is that we won and are in the playoffs.

Tickets only cost £20 so should be a huge crowd, probably the biggest of the season depending on away support.

[Imre varadi]

again we shouldnt give the away fans shit  xxxx em   xxxx Brighton shit fans and definatley xxxx the kiddie fiddlers   give em the crows nest and xxxx timpsom after    fill the ground up with proper fans and lets take a 3-0 advantage to there place 

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my team for the wolves game


Wildsmith
palmer
Sasso
turner
helan
semedo captain and give him a heroes send off 
hutch for the first half only 
Matiass
mcgeady wankbag and hopefully hell get injured 
barry the shit one 
nuhui


there you go even this lot could get a draw at wolves