**Official Pre-Match Thread - Stoke v City**

[TDAGlobal Superstar]

If City can continue their more positive approach and eliminate the poor distribution from the back, then we could get a good result here.  The danger is that if Malky sets up not to lose, we could end up at the wrong end of the coconut shy as we did at Villa and Norwich.............yes, we drew at Norwich, but (imo) these were games we should have got more points from.

I wouldn't expect the team to change that much, maybe Odemthingy back in for Kimbo, or maybe even Gunnarsson for Kimbo if Malky goes ultra conservative.

I reckon a hard-grafted 0 - 0, although I feel it is a game that we should be looking to win.........

[Tyrion TannisterGlobal Superstar]

Malky said in his press conference the goal was to being back 'points' from both fixtures. We just have to cross our fingers he means three from each, and that a total of 2 isn't the target.

And Odemwingie should be on the bench still. He was in terrible form Saturday off the bench and his shameful dive in the box gifted Arsenal their third. I'd still back Cornelius up front with Campbell going wide right. Campbell has seemed a bit lightweight at his worst - the Stoke defence are only going to highlight that if he's expected to play the target man again.

[Tans TacheNational Legend]

I Fancy a Cardiff win, 2-1 Cornelius & whitts,

[*** G L O V E S ***National Legend]

http://www.shoot.co.uk/cardiff-on-course/

[Tans TacheNational Legend]

is that your article gloves?

[*** G L O V E S ***National Legend]

is that your article gloves?

Yeah  

[davewebber65National Legend]

50% of our goals have come from set pieces

only fulham have allowed more shots on target than cardiff

average possession is 45%

average pass success rate is 46% gary medel's is 90%

city average 10 shots per game. only fulham are less

marshall has made more saves than any other goalie

these statistics have to change if we are going to take points off teams around us. they reek of poor defending whether that be from the striker who gives away possession to a defender in the box, the midfielder that fails to intercept a pass or a defender that is caught out of position

[Tyrion TannisterGlobal Superstar]

50% of our goals have come from set pieces

only fulham have allowed more shots on target than cardiff

average possession is 45%

average pass success rate is 46% gary medel's is 90%

city average 10 shots per game. only fulham are less

marshall has made more saves than any other goalie

these statistics have to change if we are going to take points off teams around us. they reek of poor defending whether that be from the striker who gives away possession to a defender in the box, the midfielder that fails to intercept a pass or a defender that is caught out of position

Where did you get those stats from Dave?

Squawka has our pass accuracy at 77%, quite some difference.

[TDAGlobal Superstar]

http://www.shoot.co.uk/cardiff-on-course/

I wouldn't disagree with anything said there, but would make the following observation.......

Results and other statistics are just numbers on a screen or a piece of paper.  They don't provide any insight into how they were achieved or the nature of a team's performance.  It's all very well saying we have these "easy" games to come, but setting out to not to lose games that we subsequently do lose (i.e. Spurs, Villa...and we were very lucky at Norwich) will have a negative impact on squad morale over time.  Come those "easy" games, the team may have forgotten how to win and if points aren't picked up then, then it's "Auf Wiesdershen PL".

Fortunately, I think the two home games have shown how City can compete if they are not constrained by negative tactics and, I am hoping, these have been consigned to the dustbin.........

[G-sterClub Legend]

Capable of getting a point.
Hopefully Malky won't retreat back into negative mode after signs of a more adventurous approach recently.

Plus I think Mark Hughes is a bit of a kent.

[davewebber65National Legend]

i have taken the stats from a walesonline article by paul abbandonato and rounded them to the nearest "round" figure. the stat to which you refer has since been deleted. i assume by wol. they do come out with a similar figure to the one you quote, but comment that it is the fourth lowest in the league

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/paul-abbandonato-malky-mackay-needs-6366482?

[davewebber65National Legend]

palace 1-0 up at ht

[Tyrion TannisterGlobal Superstar]

i have taken the stats from a walesonline article by paul abbandonato and rounded them to the nearest "round" figure. the stat to which you refer has since been deleted. i assume by wol. they do come out with a similar figure to the one you quote, but comment that it is the fourth lowest in the league

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/paul-abbandonato-malky-mackay-needs-6366482?

Ah, the infamous article that declares Whitts should be dropped despite being potentially our best player the last two matches , and replacing him with Odemwingie, our worst player over the last two matches.

[davewebber65National Legend]

not going to get into a debate over players, but do suggest that 17th place aint exactly healthy

[Tyrion TannisterGlobal Superstar]

not going to get into a debate over players, but do suggest that 17th place aint exactly healthy

I'm not targeting you Dave just to clarify, it's just clear that the author is just another WO soon and gloom merchant who's yet to actually see us play.

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