TEAMWATCH : Cardiff City (a)

[Sutekh]

Going to be more fiddling I think, plenty of options for SC to think about after the farce of Tuesday. Reckon on a side closer to that that finished Tuesday than started.

Al-Habsi
Gunter
McShane
Ferdinand
Obita
Hector
Norwood
John
Blackman
Sa
Vydra

Subs

Bond
Williams
Cooper
Fernandez
Taylor
McLeary
Hurtado

[CountryRoyal]

4-3-3

Bond
Gunter
McShane
Ferdinand
Taylor
Williams
Norwood
Fernandez
Blackman
Sa
Vydra

[genome]

Al-Habsi, Gunter, Ferdinand, Hector, Taylor, Williams, Norwood, Fernandez, John, Blackman, Vydra

[Snowball136]

I tend to forget that both Taylor and Hector are loanees, and always-start Vydra
which is always going to make team selection have an extra twist.

It hadn't occurred to me that SC not only has to worry about his starting 11
and loanees on the bench, but also what to do in case of injuries in-game
or tactics. That is, his ideal team or subs might go over the loanee limit, so
his hands are somewhat tied.



Al-Habsi has the No 1 jersey until he really cocks up


Gunter (who is fit?)(who is fit?) Obita
Norwood Fernando (L)
Williams
Blackman Vydra (L) John (L)
Sa

(That three off Sa looks a tad lightweight...)


I don't think McCleary deserves a place ATM. Overall Hector does but will SC play Ferdinand again or say he screwed up? We need him fit. Cooper is solid and IMO is unlikely to let us down

[Ian Royal]

Al-Habsi
Gunter
Taylor
Hector
Ferdinand*
Norwood
Fernandez
Williams
Sa
Blackman
Vydra


*assuming McShane is out.

[Ian Royal]

I tend to forget that both Taylor and Hector are loanees, and always-start Vydra
which is always going to make team selection have an extra twist.

It hadn't occurred to me that SC not only has to worry about his starting 11
and loanees on the bench, but also what to do in case of injuries in-game
or tactics. That is, his ideal team or subs might go over the loanee limit, so
his hands are somewhat tied.



Al-Habsi has the No 1 jersey until he really cocks up


Gunter (who is fit?)(who is fit?) Obita
Norwood Fernando (L)
Williams
Blackman Vydra (L) John (L)
Sa

(That three off Sa looks a tad lightweight...)


I don't think McCleary deserves a place ATM. Overall Hector does but will SC play Ferdinand again or say he screwed up? We need him fit. Cooper is solid and IMO is unlikely to let us down

4-2-1-3-1 is 11 outfield players so you're either losing 3 points by cheating or you're playing without a keeper and losing three points.

[Stranded]

With 4 unnamed players in the treatment room alongside those we know about, god knows what the team will be like!

[RustyRoyal]

I'd play -
Al Habsi
Günter Hector McShane/Cooper/Ferdinand(Whoever's fit) Taylor
Williams Norwood Fernandez
Blackman Sa John

Subs - Bond, Hurtado, McCleary, 1 CB, Obita, Vydra & Liburd

[bishmanbosh92]

Al-Habsi
Gunter
McShane
Ferdinand
Taylor (please )
Fernandez
Norwood
John
Blackman
Sa
Vydra

Subs

Bond
Williams
Piazon
Obita
Taylor
McLeary
Hurtado

[Doolittle]

Subject to injuries..

Al Habsi

Gunter----------------------Ferdinand-----------------------Cooper-------------------------Taylor
----------------------Norwood-----------------------------------------Hector--------------------------
---------------------------------------------Fernandez--------------------------------------------------
-------Blackman-------------------------------Sa--------------------------------John----------------

The thinking being that we've seemed at our most solid when Tshibola was there to provide some proper muscle in CM, so maybe Hector could temporarily provide that for now. Plus I think Cooper might be a better complement for Ferdinand at CB (one big and strong, one more mobile). I'm assuming McShane is injured. Plus I'm not convinced by Danny Williams just now - not really enough end product for an attacking midfield role, and doing a holding role not his game. Perhaps he needs a rest. Finally, I think John deserves a start, and would provide an option to turn the defence with pace, which we've lacked so far.

In practice I doubt Clarke would make as many changes as that. So maybe he will start Vydra, play Norwood-Fernandez-Williams in CM, and use John as an impact sub. Back four - who knows !

[Vision]

Subject to injuries..

Al Habsi

Gunter----------------------Ferdinand-----------------------Cooper-------------------------Taylor
----------------------Norwood-----------------------------------------Hector--------------------------
---------------------------------------------Fernandez--------------------------------------------------
-------Blackman-------------------------------Sa--------------------------------John----------------

!

I see Al-Habsi's positioning is as shit as ever.

[genome]

I was gonna go with "he's leaving his goal wide open there" but yours is better, Vision.

[Royal Ginger]

Al-Habsi
Gunter
Taylor
Hector
Ferdinand*
Norwood
Fernandez
Williams
Sa
Blackman
Vydra


*assuming McShane is out.

Ferdinand was down for a lengthy stoppage with his hip on Tuesday too. Add this to Clarke saying that Sweeny would be fine if needed, I think Anton may be out. I recon Cooper and Hector to start with Sweeny on the bench.

[Sutekh]

Al-Habsi
Gunter
Taylor
Hector
Ferdinand*
Norwood
Fernandez
Williams
Sa
Blackman
Vydra


*assuming McShane is out.

Ferdinand was down for a lengthy stoppage with his hip on Tuesday too. Add this to Clarke saying that Sweeny would be fine if needed, I think Anton may be out. I recon Cooper and Hector to start with Sweeny on the bench.

Thinking back to the end of the game I think you could well be right on that front and if that is the case it may be better to play Taylor at left back and Williams as a sweeper right in front of them both to give the defence a more steady and experienced feel.

Wondering who the other two injuries are......

[Ian Royal]

Al-Habsi
Gunter
Taylor
Hector
Ferdinand*
Norwood
Fernandez
Williams
Sa
Blackman
Vydra


*assuming McShane is out.

Ferdinand was down for a lengthy stoppage with his hip on Tuesday too. Add this to Clarke saying that Sweeny would be fine if needed, I think Anton may be out. I recon Cooper and Hector to start with Sweeny on the bench.

Thinking back to the end of the game I think you could well be right on that front and if that is the case it may be better to play Taylor at left back and Williams as a sweeper right in front of them both to give the defence a more steady and experienced feel.

Wondering who the other two injuries are......

I'd be happy with Cooper and Hector... though it's not exactly ideal, lacking a little in experience and reliability. Plenty of scope for playing out of defence though, which you'd hope would create space elsewhere and push Norwood further forward where he can do a bit more damage.

I'd quite like to see Sweeney get a chance to see what he's like as well, though not at the expense of tried and (semi) trusted players when there's still everything to play for. He can also play defensive midfield to a certain extent iirc, so could be a useful sub to have.

[SCIAG]

Sweeney in midfield for this team is terrifying... and if he's to play in defence, I would really be more comfortable with him alongside McShane or ideally Ferdinand.

I take it Hector only missed out on Tuesday because of the loan player rule, not an injury?

Assuming Hector is fit, and McShane and Ferdinand both aren't, here's my team:

-------------------Al-Habsi-----------------
Gunter---Hector---Cooper---Taylor
-----Williams---Norwood--Alex-------
Blackman-------Sa----------------Vydra

Subs: Bond, Sweeney, Obita, Kelly, McCleary, John, Liburd

[moonwalklikebas]

Sweeney in midfield for this team is terrifying... and if he's to play in defence, I would really be more comfortable with him alongside McShane or ideally Ferdinand.

I take it Hector only missed out on Tuesday because of the loan player rule, not an injury?

Assuming Hector is fit, and McShane and Ferdinand both aren't, here's my team:

-------------------Al-Habsi-----------------
Gunter---Hector---Cooper---Taylor
-----Williams---Norwood--Alex-------
Blackman-------Sa----------------Vydra

Subs: Bond, Sweeney, Obita, Kelly, McCleary, John, Liburd

If we are that short on options I think you are more likely to see someone like Fosu on the bench who has at least played a couple of games at this level - instead of Kelly - who with his height, build and inexperience at this level would find it very difficult. (Not doubting is obvious talent)

[SCIAG]

Sweeney in midfield for this team is terrifying... and if he's to play in defence, I would really be more comfortable with him alongside McShane or ideally Ferdinand.

I take it Hector only missed out on Tuesday because of the loan player rule, not an injury?

Assuming Hector is fit, and McShane and Ferdinand both aren't, here's my team:

-------------------Al-Habsi-----------------
Gunter---Hector---Cooper---Taylor
-----Williams---Norwood--Alex-------
Blackman-------Sa----------------Vydra

Subs: Bond, Sweeney, Obita, Kelly, McCleary, John, Liburd

If we are that short on options I think you are more likely to see someone like Fosu on the bench who has at least played a couple of games at this level - instead of Kelly - who with his height, build and inexperience at this level would find it very difficult. (Not doubting is obvious talent)

Fosu's only played 60 minutes at this level, and he isn't a central midfielder. We're not short of wingers.

Whilst Kelly's combined height and build makes things difficult for him, Jay Tabb's had a perfectly respectable career.

[moonwalklikebas]

At present, looks like he might make the bench after all!

[Nameless]

Agree that Sweeney in midfield would be a worry. If you want a chance to see what he's like then go to an U21 game, don't expect the club to make odds electoral decisions ! He's a decent lower division centre back but he is not a Championship midfielder.
I'd have Kelly on the bench. At some point we need to decide if his size makes him unselectable. I don't think it does, he is not a lightweight just because he is small, he still puts in a tackle.