I think the outcome of City’s game against L’pool is going to galvanize us further: win or lose. Win and we have to win! Lose and we want the points gap to widen (City looks to be winning this one comfortably). Obviously, Xhaka is always a concern particularly against mobile opposition. I’d start Partey on the bench, as without him at Anfield is not worth contemplating. I imagine Arteta will go with a 433, but I’d prefer a 352 to keep winning the lost ball retention in the middle of the park. I think the 352 suits our available players better ands shores up our midfield.
Leeds have their 3 top players out, so moving the ball with one and two touch football to the final third is essential. Leeds like to play frantic or chaotic football when they get the time and room. Flooding the midfield makes that type of pacey football very difficult for Leeds to navigate.
Our lads will be up for it as the countdown to the Wolves’ game commences again today. Beat Leeds today and we’ll be 8 points clear again today. We need to be at our best at defending in their final third and if we can’t rob the ball there, then upset the Leeds balance enough to be dispossessed in mid field.
Partey looks fit and injury free with him not playing in Ghana’s last game. However, I’d still play him from the bench if need be. Obviously, Tomi, Elneny and Eddie are short with Tomi out for the season. I’d like to see some invention from Arteta for the Leeds game:
Ramsdale
Holding Gabs KT
White Kiwior Jorginho Trossard Zinchenko
Saka & Martinelli
Apart from KT, all our players are playing their preferred positions with Kiwior dropping to 6. KT is the fastest defender in the league, so should keep the high line in tact. Kiwior is no slouch either and can keep Jorginho covered.
I don’t see a Leeds Midfield being more pacey or as technical as the five we would be putting out whether attacking or defensively. Gabs is a powerhouse at the back in the air and Holdinho generally is good aerially and defending if pace isn’t used against him. Kiwior will be a good sweeper in front of the back three. Jorginho can do what he does best and be the midfield general using his experience over his lack of pace with a minder looking after him.
This is what I think we’ll see:
Ramsdale
White Holding Gabs Zinchenko
Ode Jorginho Xhaka
Saka Jesus Martinelli
Xhaka walk about free role the opposition doesn’t care about. Zinchenko inverting and Jorginho getting caught out being speed challenged with Xhaka. Arteta’s main hope is our front three finding the net several times. Leeds are likely to win the MF battles more with this tactical set up giving our defense too much work to do and I’d see a silly goal against at some stage.
Saliba is the biggest concern. It’s too risky to play him against Leeds, but should be saved for the City, BHA and Pool games. Partey is probably ok for today, but again Arteta should manage Partey’s involvements in all the remaining games to keep him as fit as possible by reducing Partey’s minutes per game.
I’ll predict 3:0 if we play 353 or 3:2 if we play our rigid system with keep players missing.
See you at the game.
Morning all.
Massively mixed feelings on tomorrow. On the one hand us and results at Anfield really don’t go together in fact usually the type of bad result that could derail a season would be the norm on the other Liverpool have been woeful this season and if Chelsea had someone who could finish Liverpool could easily have lost by 3 midweek. Their recent from is lost 2 and drawn one so they should be there for the taking.
Let’s hope we can do it – a win tomorrow or a draw away at City keeps it in our hands.
Apologies for the rambling comment!
Hi Marc
Rambling? That’s perfectly succinct and clear stood next to the meandering streams of consciousness and bullshit that I put on here.
I think this game tomorrow is all down to what’s going on in the players’ heads when they take to the field. In the past we’ve lost games like this before we’ve even stepped out of the changing rooms evidenced by the multitudes of avoidable early goals we’ve conceded and thinking that tough away wins are not part of what we do. This year we’ve won away against Chelsea, Brighton and Spuds. We arguably should have won at Old Trafford but can we get points in big games up north at Anfield, Etihad and St James’s park? This is the ultimate challenge and the measure by which legohead should now be judged. If we pass these tests, then I think we win the title (and Arteta can bugger off with Edu to Madrid).
Mick McCarthy has just been sacked by Blackpool so upgrades and therefore technical on field improvements are waiting in the wings!
I agree that Liverpool were really poor against Chelsea, whose finishing was woeful. And the team Liverpool picked was mystifying. More of the same please Herr Klopp.
The tension is getting to us which is a good thing. It underlines that we’re relevant for the first time in nearly a decade. I’m getting in the garden this afternoon to kill a few hours.
KP – I normally look for Cardiff’s fortunes at the weekend. Really happy for you and Junior. A late kick start perhaps?
Right time for Dyche to work his dark arts on Manure 🙂
Blackpool away yesterday was almost perfect despite the drive, easter traffic chaos and young lads diving everywhere over seats when Cardiff scored 3 in 20 minutes. Junior and I had a lively discussion on the way up about football rivalries and disagreed on almost every question along the lines of, if you lived in Sheffield/south London/between Blackpool and Preston which team would you support? We sang Hi Ho silver lining (badly) on the way up, substituting the s.l. bit for Wolverhampton and Aston villa according to where we were on our saga.
Weather was perfect, a prematch pint in the away end. And then the game started. Cardiff looked shaky at first but then scored three hard earned goals and the packed away end erupted. Didn’t stop singing the whole game. Our loan signing Sory Kaba was terrific, as was the young kid borrowed from Villa, Jaden Philogene. I hate to say it but Charlie P was awful for the seasides (the second underwhelming display I’ve seen from him this season). His weight of passing and ability to control and influence the mf was badly lacking). Fuck knows what Arsenal were doing keeping him in the northwest when the almost extinct McCarthysaurus took over at Blackpool.
A fully deserved win. All the sweeter for being away. As Cardiff fans love singing to the sloop John B tune, ‘how shit must you be? We’re winning away!’ So still in the championship relegation swamp but showing signs of being slightly better than the other struggles. The main thing is the new deposit in my and junior’s memory banks.
Marc
Now that’s rambling mate!
Hi Tony
Hmmm! It might be like a solar eclipse for me, ie a once in a lifetime event, but I wouldn’t be unhappy if Manure beat the Toffees today in an injury ravaged kickathon where the ref has to get a replacement red card because he’s worn the other one out.
Enjoy mate. Hold pumpkin back though for the big ‘un tomorrow.
By the way, Junior himself is not averse to a bit of seat jumping and pseudo mosh pit diving on the rare occasions that goals rain in for Cardiff. I picked him and various skinny little geezers up from under pikes of bodies yesterday and nearly did my back in in the process.
Old firm derby today too Tony (which I always enjoy unless Rangers are winning). Do you have any allegiances given your family roots? My Scottish friends are Hibees so I’ve always favoured them.
Brilliantly written, KP, sounds well worth the trip.
Scotland born but not bred, so no allegiances to any team north of the border.
Manure 1 up is justified but Everton have had their good chances, too. The Toffees should have had a penalty when McGuire pushed an Everton player to the floor without touching the ball in the box.
How long before Spuds are Spursy?
Dunk gets Xhaka’s lack of marking to score unspoiled.
Xhaka must be renting out his invisible cloak.
Spuds in full Spursy flow. So good to watch.
Brighton should be gutted having 2 good goals disallowed and a cast iron penalty on Mitoma.
Yet Spuds are winning 2:1.
Tony
I think there’s almost no chance of spurs qualifying for the CL this year. They’re lagging behind manure and the barcodes and their entire club culture works against them fighting to recover an apparently lost cause. I couldn’t watch it but it sounds like Brighton were unlucky to lose the battle of the birds.
Kroenke
No way the Spud’s get CL this season – there’s more chance of Villa finishing above them on current form. Even with the Spud’s winning today (from the sounds on things on Soccer Saturday they were really lucky) Emery’s doing a really good job at Villa.
He wasn’t the right fit at Arsenal but he’ll be a major nuisance next season with even the top teams having to put in good performances to get the 3 points.
Tony
The Spud’s are completely fucked – Kane wants out and it’ll take a miracle for him to stay this time, Son is 31 and not the player he was, their Keeper desperately needs replacing and everyone at the club or anyone who supports them is a cunt.
It’s all highly amusing.
Hi Marc
I’m hoping forlornly that Scumpton can get something from their utter mismatch against City. But with Feo leading their line, it’ll be a nil nil at best.
Marc
Another sound example of your non-rambling writing style!
The Spud’s are completely fucked – Kane wants out and it’ll take a miracle for him to stay this time, Son is 31 and not the player he was, their Keeper desperately needs replacing and everyone at the club or anyone who supports them is a cunt.
Music to my ears!
Fair dos to that Scumpton manager. He’s perfected the pep/tets/potter/lamps managerial look and designer dogshit uniform. 23 minutes gone and scoreless
Come on Wally!