Jones Moans On Subs – Why?!?

Cardiff City looked a little foolish on Saturday when a neck injury to Darcy Blake forced the youngster home meaning that the Bluebirds had only 4 substitutes available for the game against Sheffield Wednesday.


I am informed that the BBC Sport live text function had no facility for this outcome and had to put in a ficticious number (20 – Darcy Blake’s squad number) to get the system to accept the Cardiff City team sheet!


Dave Jones was understandably unhappy with the situation, he told The Echo:


“There was nobody else available, We brought Jon Brown and had him on the bench even though he is a young player not yet ready for Championship football.”


Jones also claimed that Trevor Sinclair was nowhere near ready for Championship action meaning that Steve Thompson was the only usable outfield substitute.


That is a consequence of a threadbare squad and a number of injuries. However, Jones appears not to be a fan of substitutions anyway.


When we have had quality on the bench in Ramsey, Sinclair, Whittingham etc – they are rarely used while the manager prefers to allow the starting XI to continue, even when we are chasing a game and changes are needed.


Steve Thompson is regularly used from the bench, but normally at a very late stage when he is forced to challenge numerous long balls and chase lost causes. Aaron Ramsey could have been used on numerous occasions when Stephen McPhail was struggling for form.


Although with current financial restrictions, Cardiff have been unable to strengthen. A loan player costs very little and is a must, surely we had planned for these eventualities? With Loovens out, there is NO defensive cover whatsoever.


Even if there is no genuine quality in reserve, surely a promising youngster would benefit from the experience and could even do a job if circumstances dictated? Adam Matthews is a full-back with potential and has travelled with the squad before.


Even if Jones had no intention of using a player, at least name them on the bench to avoid embarrassment, unless Dave Jones is trying to make a point….