A game of two parts: Opening half-hour

By: Martyn | October 1st, 2008

I still cannot believe how bad we were in the opening half-hour of last night’s match against Coventry City. We looked scared to go anywhere near the ball, we were sloppy, lazy, asleep, clueless and totally outclassed and outplayed. There wasn’t a leader out on the pitch, and whenever corners and crosses were sent into the box we were like the walls of a pinball table: Static and hoping the ball would rebound off us to safety. In truth, Coventry could and probably should have been 3-0 up within 30 minutes, Leon McKenzie and Clinton Morrison in particular were both guilty of being profligate in front of goal. Our defence just could not handle the attacking pair as they roamed freely, making well-timed runs and playing sumptuous lay-off’s to one another. We may not have handled them, but thank God they couldn’t handle putting the ball in the rectangular shaped metal and net contraption. At times Coventry reminded me of how we were playing when coasting at the top of the league two years ago. A free-flowing, confident attacking brand of football that creates countless chances aided by the fact that bodies are always offering support, looking to get on the end of the moves. (Cardiff) City, on the other hand, had Bothroyd and McCormack still looking like strangers who had never previously met and didn’t plan on arranging a further meeting, and the centre-midfield made no effort whatsoever to support the attack.

Tom Heaton – Coventry kept shooting wide, so was called into action sparingly. Managed to show two instances of his dreadful kicking mind. Any excuse to join The Useless Gang.

Kevin McNaughton – Sloppy passing, caught out of position on several occasions, not alert to the persistent threat, and driving on the motorway in second gear.

Roger Johnson – Stodgy, half-arsed and lost.

Darren Purse – Too gung-ho, and let Morrison drift away from him on far too many occasions.

Mark Kennedy – Constantly beaten by the Jay Tabb The Dwarf in the air, and seemed overwhelmed in his first start for a good while. Part of a defence that was shocked to be greeted by 4 forwards at their home ground.

Peter Whittingham – The only player who wanted the ball, and the only player who started the game from the off.

Gavin Rae – Had McPhail’s one game long absence meant that Rae had forgotten who his midfield sparring partner was!? Overrun, no understanding with the rest of the team, no attacking support offered and no authority stamped on the game whatsoever.

Stephen McPhail – For someone just returning from a suspension earned after some reckless tackling, you’d think said person would try and keep things clean, right? Wrong. McPhail was flying in everywhere once again, always two seconds too late. Should really have been booked but thankfully the ref showed leniency. This wasn’t the worst part of his opening half-hour mind. Macca sent an atrocious backpass Heaton’s way that really should have seen us concede. Did McPhail track back and try and make amends just incase say, Heaton parried? Nope. He jumped about on the spot with his hands on his head with as much intelligence as an ape. Great stuff.

Joe Ledley – Plain awful. For starters, had about two touches in 30 minutes. For the main course, he was constantly caught out of position or awoken from his nap by the City faithful whenever a Sky Blues player had zoomed past him. For dessert, he seemed to entirely forget the attacking, box-surging instincts that have helped carve out his reputation. Pathetic.

Jay Bothroyd – Flagged offside on countless occasions, and constantly following or getting in the way of McCormack. His hold-up play was as neat as ever but sometimes he is guilty of holding up the ball for too long which allows too many opposition players to get back.

Ross McCormack – Still to establish a bond with Bothroyd, but the only way to get one is through regular playing time together. A bit wasteful, one opportunity to put a good cross in saw McCormack lay the ball to the edge of the box and… no-one. A moment that summed up the opening period.

I know football is a game of 90 minutes, but the idea of splitting my blog postings in two for this particular game are to indicate (a). Just how bad we were in this first half, and (b). What a difference a goal for your misfiring striker makes.