Football apathy

Let's talk Cardiff City.

Image: Ben Evans/Huw Evans Agency)

Actually, at this moment in time I'd rather not but I'm going to anyway.

The Bluebirds are in a spot of bother. Seemingly unable to score (certainly in the first half, and often not at all), they're now leaking goals faster than a colander under a running tap, and dropping down the Championship table towards that relegation trapdoor. Since beating Nottingham Forest 2-1 on 12th September, they've lost away to Coventry 1-0 in what was regarded as one of their worst performances in a long time (that's not saying much though after what's followed), 1-0 to Bournemouth at home, 5-1 away to Blackburn and 4-0 at home to West Brom. That's 11 goals conceded vs 1 scored.

And it's not just that they're losing, but the whole manner of their play. Long derided by just about every other club as "hoofball" merchants under managers Mick McCarthy and Neil Warnock (and less hoofing, but equally pretty dull football under other recent managers), it's absolutely the case that long ball football is what you get at City at the moment. The last few matches have been hard to watch as a City fan, and believe me, I've seen them play some rubbish over the years. The ball spends so much time in the air, you'd think all they do in training is play keep uppy and head tennis.

After Mick McCarthy's appointment and subsequent honeymoon period when City drove to within an inch of the playoff final, it's all gone a bit crap. Against Bournemouth McCarthy said he'd picked a squad to "frustrate" them (the opponents). What? At home? Surely you should be picking a side to win - or at least try to? Against West Brom on Tuesday, he unbelievably selected 5 (yes five) centre backs in his XI, and yet still managed to concede after only 5 minutes. The outcry from City fans on the announcement of that squad was pretty much universally incredulous.

Said fans have inevitably, and unsurprisingly turned on McCarthy, and although chants of "you're getting sacked in the morning" from the home (and away) supporters during the West Brom game haven't been realised, you've got to think it's coming. City haven't got the most talented players, but surely they're better than this? They kicked off against West Brom and the very first kick of the game was deliberately back to the keeper, who then blasted it high upfield - a tactic repeated every time we kicked off after they scored their 4 goals. By half time, pretty much every time the ball was carted upfield (every time we had possession generally), it was met with a chorus of boos. You can't tell me that this is the way the players want to play. It's down to the manager. It's awful, awful football, and genuine relegation form and style. The fans want him out but whether the club can afford to get rid is another matter, as well as even if they did, who can they get in to change things? There's a growing school of thought that the club needs a root and branch clearout on the field, in the dugout and in the boardroom, but I can't see that happening.

As things stand, we're due to go and watch them tomorrow against Reading. But with an atrocious weather forecast, and recent grim watching, I'm not sure I can bear the effort of going. Half of me says sod it, it's not worth the frustration of another afternoon of torment, and the other half says you support the team through thick and thin. I'll make a call tomorrow, but as I write this it's already swayed 45/55 in favour of staying home in the dry.

And this brings me to another broader point. After almost 18 months of not going down to CCS to watch City due to the 'rona, I'm much more apathetic about the whole support thing. Since the pandemic arrived, or just before, I've retired, taken up golf including playing on Saturdays, which now creates a golf vs football dilemma. My golf isn't always great, but I enjoy it, so torturing myself watching Cardiff City every week or every other week, just hasn't really been on my radar. I might get the vibe back, but going down now, just to see the rubbish they're playing isn't really a way to get me back into and excited as a City fan.