WM report
Mon Jul 19, 2010 7:04 am
Western Mail report of Portugal game.
DJ actualy did change his beloved 442 !
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... -26879443/
Bluebirds boss Dave Jones considers his options
Jul 19 2010 by Terry Phillips, Western Mail
MANAGER Dave Jones sat in the main stand making notes on the performance of his Cardiff City team.
His assistant, Terry Burton, was a few rows behind the gaffer, watching how the Bluebirds players coped with new tactics in the heat of Portugal.
This below-par performance, at the end of a week in which the players endured double sessions day after day, left plenty for Jones to jot down and a lot to talk about, but little to worry about at this stage.
There is plenty of work ahead on the training ground and the big test for Jones’ Bluebirds will come on Saturday week when they face Spanish La Liga club Deportivo La Coruna at Cardiff City Stadium.
By then, Jones badly needs to have strengthened his squad and worked out the exact formation and tactics City will work with this season.
He tinkered and fiddled with City’s set-up against Portimonense and will work hard with his players on the changes this week.
Ideally, Jones would have wanted his team to play two matches during their 10-day trip to the Algarve, but the pre-season tour was hurriedly arranged after Cardiff’s planned stay in Malaysia was called off at the last minute.
“We could have done with another game and we arranged one, but it was called off,” said Jones after making notes on Cardiff’s 3-0 defeat against Portimonense.
“It was a hard game and the players looked a bit jaded after a hard week of training. It’s been double sessions every day and some of them looked a bit leggy.
“Our passing looked short and there was a lack of penetration, but that can be down to that touch of legginess.
“We gave the ball away too easily. Portimonense looked fitter and more organised.
“Our players are running at around 80 per cent right now, but they’ll be spot on for the opening league game.
“We are trying different things, different formations.
“There were good moments and there were poor moments, but it’s best to get it wrong at this time than when the season starts.”
Cardiff City are now less than three weeks from their opening Championship match, against Sheffield United at home on Sunday, August 8, and they have two more pre-season matches.
Stephen McPhail wore the captain’s armband for the match at Estadio da Nora, five miles outside Albufeira.
Cardiff wore their new Puma kit for the first time, but were outplayed by Portuguese opposition who looked fitter and sharper. Jones decided not to throw his young players, Jonathan Meades and Nat Jarvis, into the action against opposition who changed their entire team at half-time.
Cardiff restricted their changes and Jones did not use Paul Quinn either.
Kevin McNaughton, McPhail, Peter Whittingham and Michael Chopra all played the whole 90 minutes.
The Bluebirds were 2-0 down by half-time, Daniel Candeias and Pedro Moita scoring, while Brazilian Anderson made it 3-0 late in the match.
City only really looked like scoring once, but Ross McCormack spurned what was a glorious chance, superbly created by McPhail and new boy Danny Drinkwater, when his shot was deflected wide.
Jones has been left frustrated by a transfer embargo which has stopped him strengthening his squad significantly.
Goalkeeper Tom Heaton was snapped up from Manchester United before the embargo was imposed, while Drinkwater has arrived on a season-long loan from Old Trafford.
Jones insists Drinkwater has signed on a season-long loan – and he looks a quality player on the evidence so far – but cannot be registered to play Championship football until the embargo is lifted.
Hopefully, that will be next week.
Cardiff, who wore their new blue and white kit for the first time, have been working on a new way of playing in 2010-11.
Jones is looking past his tried-and-trusted 4-4-2 formation and used a far more fluid system in the heat of Portugal.
During the first half, when Portimonense had possession, captain McPhail played in front of the back four with McCormack and Chris Burke wide, Whittingham and Drinkwater through the middle.
McPhail is the key man, able to link with defenders and set attacks flowing. All four midfield players were encouraged to get forward when Cardiff had the ball.
After the break, when Jay Bothroyd joined the fray, Jones shuffled things round a little again and Chopra joined the big man in attack.
Portimonense, newly promoted to the Portuguese top flight for the new season, opened up their visitors after only three minutes.
Darcy Blake failed to cut out an attack and Ivanildo sped down the right, running at Anthony Gerrard before slipping a pass inside for Candeias to shoot low into the net from 20 yards.
Worse was to come for the Bluebirds when Moita’s free-kick from 25 yards flew straight at goalkeeper David Marshall, who failed to catch cleanly and the ball spun from his grasp and over his shoulder into the net.
Portimonense changed their entire team at half-time, while Cardiff sent on Heaton, Bothroyd, Gabor Gyepes and Adam Matthews, who played on the right with McNaughton going left.
The arrival of Bothroyd, playing alongside Chopra, did change the style a little.
Jones even took the opportunity to have a look at trialist Kevin LeRoux, who has been with the squad in Portugal and did well enough to earn another chance.
“Kevin did well, I was pleased with him,” said Jones.
Cardiff City’s evening finished on a low note when Anderson made it 3-0, firing past goal-keeper Heaton at the second attempt.
Portimonense: Pedro Silver, Di Fabio, Joao Paulo, Ricardo Pessoa (capt), Pedro Moita, Elias, Ivanildo, Nilson, Pires, Pena, Candeias. Subs (all used, 45): Aragoney, Lito, Sapateiro, Alhassan, Vandi, Pedro Moreira, Nuno Santos, Ruben Fernandes, Soares, Bruninho
Cardiff City: D Marshall (T Heaton 45), K McNaughton, M Kennedy (A Matthews 45), D Blake (G Gyepes 45), A Gerrard (M Hudson 70), S McPhail, D Drinkwater (Kevin Leroux 58), P Whittingham, M Chopra, C Burke (J Bothroyd 45), R McCormack (G Rae 58). Subs not used: P Quinn, J Meades, N Jarvis
DJ actualy did change his beloved 442 !
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... -26879443/
Bluebirds boss Dave Jones considers his options
Jul 19 2010 by Terry Phillips, Western Mail
MANAGER Dave Jones sat in the main stand making notes on the performance of his Cardiff City team.
His assistant, Terry Burton, was a few rows behind the gaffer, watching how the Bluebirds players coped with new tactics in the heat of Portugal.
This below-par performance, at the end of a week in which the players endured double sessions day after day, left plenty for Jones to jot down and a lot to talk about, but little to worry about at this stage.
There is plenty of work ahead on the training ground and the big test for Jones’ Bluebirds will come on Saturday week when they face Spanish La Liga club Deportivo La Coruna at Cardiff City Stadium.
By then, Jones badly needs to have strengthened his squad and worked out the exact formation and tactics City will work with this season.
He tinkered and fiddled with City’s set-up against Portimonense and will work hard with his players on the changes this week.
Ideally, Jones would have wanted his team to play two matches during their 10-day trip to the Algarve, but the pre-season tour was hurriedly arranged after Cardiff’s planned stay in Malaysia was called off at the last minute.
“We could have done with another game and we arranged one, but it was called off,” said Jones after making notes on Cardiff’s 3-0 defeat against Portimonense.
“It was a hard game and the players looked a bit jaded after a hard week of training. It’s been double sessions every day and some of them looked a bit leggy.
“Our passing looked short and there was a lack of penetration, but that can be down to that touch of legginess.
“We gave the ball away too easily. Portimonense looked fitter and more organised.
“Our players are running at around 80 per cent right now, but they’ll be spot on for the opening league game.
“We are trying different things, different formations.
“There were good moments and there were poor moments, but it’s best to get it wrong at this time than when the season starts.”
Cardiff City are now less than three weeks from their opening Championship match, against Sheffield United at home on Sunday, August 8, and they have two more pre-season matches.
Stephen McPhail wore the captain’s armband for the match at Estadio da Nora, five miles outside Albufeira.
Cardiff wore their new Puma kit for the first time, but were outplayed by Portuguese opposition who looked fitter and sharper. Jones decided not to throw his young players, Jonathan Meades and Nat Jarvis, into the action against opposition who changed their entire team at half-time.
Cardiff restricted their changes and Jones did not use Paul Quinn either.
Kevin McNaughton, McPhail, Peter Whittingham and Michael Chopra all played the whole 90 minutes.
The Bluebirds were 2-0 down by half-time, Daniel Candeias and Pedro Moita scoring, while Brazilian Anderson made it 3-0 late in the match.
City only really looked like scoring once, but Ross McCormack spurned what was a glorious chance, superbly created by McPhail and new boy Danny Drinkwater, when his shot was deflected wide.
Jones has been left frustrated by a transfer embargo which has stopped him strengthening his squad significantly.
Goalkeeper Tom Heaton was snapped up from Manchester United before the embargo was imposed, while Drinkwater has arrived on a season-long loan from Old Trafford.
Jones insists Drinkwater has signed on a season-long loan – and he looks a quality player on the evidence so far – but cannot be registered to play Championship football until the embargo is lifted.
Hopefully, that will be next week.
Cardiff, who wore their new blue and white kit for the first time, have been working on a new way of playing in 2010-11.
Jones is looking past his tried-and-trusted 4-4-2 formation and used a far more fluid system in the heat of Portugal.
During the first half, when Portimonense had possession, captain McPhail played in front of the back four with McCormack and Chris Burke wide, Whittingham and Drinkwater through the middle.
McPhail is the key man, able to link with defenders and set attacks flowing. All four midfield players were encouraged to get forward when Cardiff had the ball.
After the break, when Jay Bothroyd joined the fray, Jones shuffled things round a little again and Chopra joined the big man in attack.
Portimonense, newly promoted to the Portuguese top flight for the new season, opened up their visitors after only three minutes.
Darcy Blake failed to cut out an attack and Ivanildo sped down the right, running at Anthony Gerrard before slipping a pass inside for Candeias to shoot low into the net from 20 yards.
Worse was to come for the Bluebirds when Moita’s free-kick from 25 yards flew straight at goalkeeper David Marshall, who failed to catch cleanly and the ball spun from his grasp and over his shoulder into the net.
Portimonense changed their entire team at half-time, while Cardiff sent on Heaton, Bothroyd, Gabor Gyepes and Adam Matthews, who played on the right with McNaughton going left.
The arrival of Bothroyd, playing alongside Chopra, did change the style a little.
Jones even took the opportunity to have a look at trialist Kevin LeRoux, who has been with the squad in Portugal and did well enough to earn another chance.
“Kevin did well, I was pleased with him,” said Jones.
Cardiff City’s evening finished on a low note when Anderson made it 3-0, firing past goal-keeper Heaton at the second attempt.
Portimonense: Pedro Silver, Di Fabio, Joao Paulo, Ricardo Pessoa (capt), Pedro Moita, Elias, Ivanildo, Nilson, Pires, Pena, Candeias. Subs (all used, 45): Aragoney, Lito, Sapateiro, Alhassan, Vandi, Pedro Moreira, Nuno Santos, Ruben Fernandes, Soares, Bruninho
Cardiff City: D Marshall (T Heaton 45), K McNaughton, M Kennedy (A Matthews 45), D Blake (G Gyepes 45), A Gerrard (M Hudson 70), S McPhail, D Drinkwater (Kevin Leroux 58), P Whittingham, M Chopra, C Burke (J Bothroyd 45), R McCormack (G Rae 58). Subs not used: P Quinn, J Meades, N Jarvis