Cardiff City’s Set-Piece Shockers

Cardiff City had a poor game on Saturday for many reasons. However, in one particular area they looked schoolboy-like and hugly naive.


City forced a number of corners, and have Roger Johnson who is a threat in the air and poses a real threat in the opposition area. In addition, Glenn Loovens and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink are both powerful in the air and would hope to convert corners and free-kicks throughout the season.


However on Saturday, Cardiff City midfielder Joe Ledley was particularly guilty of wating possession in this way. Ledley has been in superb form this season and is a huge part of the City squad, however so many crosses failed to beat the first man and saw the attacking opportunity lost while Johnson and Loovens were then forced to race back under pressure. It’s highly disappointing to see such poor deliveries into the box especially when one early (Whittingham) corner saw Marchsall flap unconvincingly at the cross.


Equally disappointing was a free-kick Cardiff City won 20 yards from the Norwich goal. Parry, Whittingham, Hasselbaink should all have been vying to take the chance – a really good chance for a shot on goal and possible rebound.


However, as the fans watched 3 Cardiff players line-up in a training ground formation, the chance was wasted. The ball was in a good position for a shot, almost perfect in fact, but Cardiff City chose to take a short free-kick, from where Whittingham took ANOTHER touch before shooting by which time he was easily closed down. Very naive and disappointing.



Perhaps we have been spoilt by the excellent set-piece delivery of Kavanagh, O’Neil, Koumas and Chopra in recent years. In any case, a team of Cardiff City’s quality and aspirations should certainly be doing better from these situations.