MATCHWATCH : Cardiff City (h)

[Hound]

Good work, thanks Ian

Yes don’t think that surprises anyone

I recall a few games ago that the Sky graphic came up with us conceding the most from crosses from any side in the division. I know we conceded a few (Blackpool, Millwall) in early ince games but it does feel we’ve got to grips with it

Really does reflect very very poorly on Pauno - I don’t think for one minute Ince is a tactical genius but I think he picked up on this from the very first game, immediately bringing the wingers much closer to the Fbs

[Snowflake Royal]

I mean, if twats like us with no managerial or coaching experience can spot it and make easy suggestions for solutions...

It's like Gomes pushing the fbs right up field and being constantly surprised that we got destroyed down the flanks on counter attacks.

Well dur.

[tmesis]

I think the single thing Ince has done above all else is getting the players looking like they want to win.

Under Paunovic, all too often, we'd play like we'd already lost.

[Snowflake Royal]

Since Stam, we regularly look like we think if we just keep possession and pass at a pedestrian pace all game, somehow a goal will materialise and we'll win.

So often we've only actually upped our tempo and driven at the opposition once we're already losing, like we finally realise if we don't score now we will lose.

As part of that, if a goal does materialise, its why we just seem to stop. Because of course we'll win, we've scored and taken the lead.... oh.

Paunovic's side were very guilty of this too. Ince has done a lot to fix it. But still further to go.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Since Stam, we regularly look like we think if we just keep possession and pass at a pedestrian pace all game, somehow a goal will materialise and we'll win.

So often we've only actually upped our tempo and driven at the opposition once we're already losing, like we finally realise if we don't score now we will lose.

As part of that, if a goal does materialise, its why we just seem to stop. Because of course we'll win, we've scored and taken the lead.... oh.

Paunovic's side were very guilty of this too. Ince has done a lot to fix it. But still further to go.

Some of the things mentioned there are just natural reactions in football though. Yes, if you're a goal down with 10 minutes to go, players will up the tempo. Yes, if you score to go in front with 10 minutes left, naturally players will drop off and look to protect their lead. That's nothing abnormal, we can't just be going for goals all of the time in games.

I don't disagree with the underlying principle, but we can't just have it all ways all the time. Yes, it would have been nice against Stoke if we still pushed to get a third goal as there was a lot of time left in the game, but we didn't because we were in front anyway and then, naturally, we will defend what we've got the later the game goes on.

In defence of Pauno, the actual strategy of defending a lead wasn't necessarily a bad principle to follow, but it's just a shame that we as fans and even likely players lost faith in that strategy actually working. It seemed to be more of a detriment than a help.

[Stranded]

Since Stam, we regularly look like we think if we just keep possession and pass at a pedestrian pace all game, somehow a goal will materialise and we'll win.

So often we've only actually upped our tempo and driven at the opposition once we're already losing, like we finally realise if we don't score now we will lose.

As part of that, if a goal does materialise, its why we just seem to stop. Because of course we'll win, we've scored and taken the lead.... oh.

Paunovic's side were very guilty of this too. Ince has done a lot to fix it. But still further to go.

Some of the things mentioned there are just natural reactions in football though. Yes, if you're a goal down with 10 minutes to go, players will up the tempo. Yes, if you score to go in front with 10 minutes left, naturally players will drop off and look to protect their lead. That's nothing abnormal, we can't just be going for goals all of the time in games.

I don't disagree with the underlying principle, but we can't just have it all ways all the time. Yes, it would have been nice against Stoke if we still pushed to get a third goal as there was a lot of time left in the game, but we didn't because we were in front anyway and then, naturally, we will defend what we've got the later the game goes on.

In defence of Pauno, the actual strategy of defending a lead wasn't necessarily a bad principle to follow, but it's just a shame that we as fans and even likely players lost faith in that strategy actually working. It seemed to be more of a detriment than a help.

TBF as well, we probably should have got a 3rd on Tuesday. Thinking of Azeez's miskicked pull back for Joao, which would have likely been a goal and TDB blazing over from 5 yards with the last kick of the game - so can't argue that we didn't get in the position to get a 3rd just poor execution at the last but that probably just balances out the shocking miss by Brown at the other end.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Since Stam, we regularly look like we think if we just keep possession and pass at a pedestrian pace all game, somehow a goal will materialise and we'll win.

So often we've only actually upped our tempo and driven at the opposition once we're already losing, like we finally realise if we don't score now we will lose.

As part of that, if a goal does materialise, its why we just seem to stop. Because of course we'll win, we've scored and taken the lead.... oh.

Paunovic's side were very guilty of this too. Ince has done a lot to fix it. But still further to go.

Some of the things mentioned there are just natural reactions in football though. Yes, if you're a goal down with 10 minutes to go, players will up the tempo. Yes, if you score to go in front with 10 minutes left, naturally players will drop off and look to protect their lead. That's nothing abnormal, we can't just be going for goals all of the time in games.

I don't disagree with the underlying principle, but we can't just have it all ways all the time. Yes, it would have been nice against Stoke if we still pushed to get a third goal as there was a lot of time left in the game, but we didn't because we were in front anyway and then, naturally, we will defend what we've got the later the game goes on.

In defence of Pauno, the actual strategy of defending a lead wasn't necessarily a bad principle to follow, but it's just a shame that we as fans and even likely players lost faith in that strategy actually working. It seemed to be more of a detriment than a help.

TBF as well, we probably should have got a 3rd on Tuesday. Thinking of Azeez's miskicked pull back for Joao, which would have likely been a goal and TDB blazing over from 5 yards with the last kick of the game - so can't argue that we didn't get in the position to get a 3rd just poor execution at the last but that probably just balances out the shocking miss by Brown at the other end.

Yeah that's also true. I don't think it's a case of we stop trying to score more goals, but the game is different when the other team are chasing the game, especially when the team is better than us, like it was the case on Tuesday. If we were a team near the top of the league, then yes, I'd probably expect us to press on for a bigger advantage, but when we are at the bottom, I'm happy to take every point and win we can get.

[John Madejski's Wallet]

Have they pre-booked (and sold out) the fukking car parks again?

[Zip]

Have they pre-booked (and sold out) the fukking car parks again?

Yep get your lardy arse down to Mereoak.
Decent gate tomorrow with the ED and South Stand pretty much sold out.

[Millsy]

Aahhh - I am quite nice you aren’t I? At least relative to everyone else

Mwah!.

I'll tell you right now. Ince has done an amazing job on crosses and Paunovic is an absolute clown. And I'm only two games back into Clowno's tenure starting from most recent game. The difference is so stark it's mindblowing.

Ok, so I've only gone back to Fulham, because dinner time.

Ince after he's had some time to train (post Blackpool) all numbers average per game.
Oppo crosses - 13.2
Oppo corners - 2.8
Oppo shots - 10.7
Oppo on target - 4
Conceded - 1.3
Saves - 2.5
Claims - 0.0
Punches - 0.0

Ince (including his first two)
Oppo crosses - 15.6
Oppo corners - 3.8
Oppo shots - 11.9
Oppo on target - 4.9
Conceded - 1.6
Saves - 3.3
Claims - 0.3
Punches - 0.1

Clowno back to Fulham
Oppo crosses - 21.9
Oppo corners - 5.9
Oppo shots - 15.6
Oppo on target - 6.2
Conceded - 2.9
Saves - 3.4
Claims - 0.8
Punches - 0.3

We conceded more than 30 crosses in all of the last two of Pauno's games and Ince's first.

keeper's to follow when I've eaten

Thx Ian.

I was a lone voice commenting after Ince's first or second game my observation that we seemed to be preventing crosses a lot more effectively somehow, but didn't get too much agreement here.

Good to see this is something that has become more apparent over time, or they're getting better at it.

In any case it's great. I remember Parj saying how all he wanted to do was increase the number of crosses we put in the box and that goals would follow. That's exactly what happened. Ok, so we probably haven't fixed our low crossing (or have we?), largely because I guess scoring isn't our problem, but the converse is probably also true that if you let the oppo put loads of crosses in goals will come and if you prevent that goals will be prevented. Well done RFC for tackling this anyway (or for being less shit than Clowno at least).

[BROB0T]

shit object v shit force

should be a blinder

[Hendo]

shit object v shit force

should be a blinder

Everton v Man Utd?

[Royal_jimmy]

Follow up with Keepers for comparison.

Nyland
Crosses - 14.5
Corners - 3.3
Shots - 11.8
On Target - 4.3
Conceded - .8
Saves - 3.3
Claims - 0.0
Punches - 0.0

Hein
Crosses - 25
Corners - 5.8
Shots - 14.6
On Target - 5.2
Conceded - 1.6
Saves - 3.8
Claims - 1.0
Punches - 0.4

Southwood
Crosses - 17.4
Corners - 5.1
Shots - 14.4
On Target - 6.5
Conceded - 3.5
Saves - 3.1
Claims - 0.5
Punches - 0.3

Southwood - under Ince
Crosses - 12
Corners - 3.7
Shots - 10.7
On Target - 5
Conceded - 3
Saves - 2
Claims - 0.0
Punches - 0.3

Southwood under Clowno
Crosses - 20.6
Corners - 6.0
Shots - 16.6
On Target - 7.4
Conceded - 3.8
Saves - 3.8
Claims - 0.8
Punches - 0.2

+1 on the the level of detail and the difference between the 2 managers. The shape clearly was going haywire under Pauno leaving us exposed defensively and eventually the goals dried up after teams worked us out and set up accordingly.

Ince will get found out eventually but well done to him for sorting out a problem that would have got us relegated.

[BROB0T]

shit object v shit force

should be a blinder

Everton v Man Utd?

genuine LOL out loud

that's exactly where the thought came from

United could be mathematically safe this weekend if they get a result and Burnley don't

[Sutekh]

Ince back, Ejaria moves to bench

[Hendo]

Hard to argue with that, tbh. Maybe would’ve rather have Baba come in but can see why he’s stuck with the same defence.

[Orion1871]

shit object v shit force

should be a blinder

Everton v Man Utd?

genuine LOL out loud

that's exactly where the thought came from

United could be mathematically safe this weekend if they get a result and Burnley don't

Better hope Burnley don't get a result then...

[Ascotexgunner]

Fantastic crowd here today.

[Snowflake Royal]

Scrappy start.

[Snowflake Royal]

Holy shit that was beautiful, better touch and Laurent is in for an easy goal. And then Joao overdid the twists and turns picking up the loose rebound.