Fulham, the Smurff song and a lump of granite and ice

Fulham 1 Cardiff 1.

It was the best of times and it was the worst of times.

Let’s get the worst of times out of the way while we can still weep.

The first half performance of Cardiff’s was poor. Hmmm. Ok it was crap. If it was an animal we would have it put down and been relieved to see it put out of its suffering. 

We couldn’t keep the ball, we couldn’t pass, and we didn’t look like we had played football before.

Fulham on the back of three successive defeats couldn’t believe their luck as Cardiff gave them space and opportunity. We conceded one goal but in truth it could have been a hatful, and I mean a pretty big hat for all the goals they ought to have scored.

When it isn’t happening for City the supporters sink into their bitterness. Like Smurffs they would always be blue and was that a Malky MacKay song I heard? Clearly there are many who not yet over the Malky bereavement.

they're singing my song

The bright spot? Good chasing down up front. Anything else? Hmmm. No.

Fulham had so much space in midfield they could have opened a car park. McCormack showed why he is worth a lot of money, maybe not £11 million mind. He worked hard in the first half, contributing to their goal and could have scored a few himself.

The City midfield was disjointed, as if the manager was changing it every week - as if! Surely no one would do that would they Ole?

Then the second half, and, as ever in soccer, it was a different match. Cardiff played with purpose.

They took off Dikgacoi, which they could have done in the first half and played with ten men without anyone noticing the difference. Suddenly we were more solid in midfield and Whits and Daehli could work their considerable magic.

Daehli is blessed with an overload of footballing talent, we will be lucky to hang onto him if we don’t get promoted. But, heavens above, can’t he pass a ball to another red shirted player? Is he trying too hard? Is he looking for the million dollar pass when the 15 pence one from an all-night City Road newsagent would get him more?

In fact just as you were wondering if he would complete a good pass he controls a difficult ball, brilliantly, as only he can, and makes a pass of such distinction the Queen should give it its own award for services to football.

And just as you wonder if Kenwynne will actually do anything other than soak up the adulation from the Cardiff fans, so he receives the beautiful, award winning Daehli pass before finishing it lethally. A true goal scorerer.

There are times when you wonder what Kenwynne is doing on the pitch but then you see the goal scoring list from the first 5 matches and say ah, yeh, keep it up Kenwynne.

I think that next valentine’s day Malky Mackay and Kenwynne should get an extra-large letterbox fitted to their front doors. Ready for the loving, adoring cards from Cardiff fans

One all.

Suddenly everyone is up for it. The city players, the fans. there's no one better than Cardiff fans. It sounded like a home match at times.

We could have achieved 3 points here. Oh, yeh and so could Fulham, so let us be grateful.

With a draw being the safer option Solskjaer took off the forward thinking Daehli and put on Eikrem. 

Eikrem soon settled into the Cardiff style of play by being unable to pass.

So we gain a point. 

If we win our home games and draw our away games that should put is in the mix for promotion or at the very least a dreaded playoff spot.

But right now we are Championship middle of the table side. This squad of players should surely be higher.

We learned that Brayford, Connolly and Morrison should have their berths nailed down.

Fabio bounces between being brilliant and poor. I have never seen anyone be such a buzz moving the ball from defence up the field but then so disappointing in passing. 

We learned that it is a good thing Dikagacoi is a big bloke else you will be wondering if he was on the pitch. Though I remember him from Crystal Palace so know he will play better.

The biggest news from this match is that Ralls and Macheda are class. To be able to bring on two game changing players like those will earn Cardiff points across the season. 

what we need in midfield

Final thought. What we were missing was a gritty Icelandic midfielder. A man hewn from the depths of the icy granite in that far off inhospitable plane of volcanoes, ice and banking debt. A short bearded guy who can win balls, move box to box and play in front of the defence and behind the strike force all within the space of a minute. When Gunnarson doesn’t play we look vacant in midfield. I have been saying this for three and a half years. If mister Tan is looking for another manager I will send him my agent’s details.