Cardiff made their worst ever start to a league season with just one point from the first seven games leading to a managerial change, but have managed to crawl out of the bottom three under caretaker Omer Riza - Phil Bushby (@bushby_p) gives us the latest.
How's the start of the season gone for Cardiff? We were worried about you pre-season...
The start of the season was a disaster – we could not score a goal let alone win – I was starting to think that you were right to be worried about Cardiff’s chances. I did not understand what was going on. The team was set up defensively and key players either not in the team or playing out of position. We never went on the front foot and refused to put teams under pressure – even when we had the chance to do it. It was all very strange. Not surprisingly, we sat adrift at the bottom of the table with a single point. The only redeeming factor was that single point came in an away draw at Swansea.
Cardiff in the league so far…
Cardiff 0-2 Sunderland O’Nien 18, Clarke 89
Burnley 5-0 Cardiff Horvath og 9, Koleosho 31, Bronwhill 51, Amdouni 88, Gudmundsson 90
Swansea 1-1 Cardiff Cullen 10 – Robinson 79
Cardiff 0-2 Boro Clarke 55, Ramsey og 82
Derby 1-0 Cardiff Goudmijn 28
Cardiff 0-2 Leeds Ramazani 30, Piroe 87
Hull 4-1 Cardiff Belloumi 22, 35, Zambrano 51, Bedia pen 90 – Robinson 18
Cardiff 1-0 Millwall Ng 39
Bristol City 1-1 Cardiff McNally 73 – Tanner 54
Cardiff 5-0 Plymouth Robertson 16, Colwill 24, El Ghazi 52, Robinson 75, Willock 80
Cardiff 2-0 Pompey Poole og 5, Robinson 13
West Brom 0-0 Cardiff
Cardiff 2-1 Norwich Robinson 89, O’Dowda 90 – Sainz 52
Luton 1-0 Cardiff Brown 57
Cardiff 1-3 Blackburn Turnbull 73 – Weimann 15, 54, Baker 86
Sheff Wed 1-1 Cardiff Bernard 36 – Tanner 34
Spent all summer wrestling with Bulut's contract then fired him six weeks in, what went on there?
I was pleased that Bulut stayed. I thought that there was enough that I saw last season to warrant giving him a bit more stability and time to get the team working as he wanted I thought the close season business was OK and whilst we were unlikely to challenge the play offs you just never knew. I did not see Cardiff as a squad to just have that single point and the worst ever start in our history. Given some of the things mentioned above, it was therefore not surprising that Bulut went. But in true Cardiff style we have then dithered in terms of the next appointment.
Results did initially pick up under Omer Riza, is he likely to get the job? Who's in the frame?
OR has done a really good job and getting the players/ fans back on board. He has simply done what was obvious to fans. He has played the better players in their preferred positions. A younger midfield has given some drive and energy, we have been better in defence, and we have scored a lot more goals. Certainly, October was a very good month. I have not been sure about OR’s ‘plan B’ though when things have not quite worked. For example, he took the foot off the gas away at Bristol and we probably gave away two points there and in the November fixtures so far, some of those early frailties seem to have returned as teams have perhaps worked out the changes that OR has brought. It will be interesting to see how we get going again after this international break.
I am not sure if OR will get the job. I like him as a person and has been very engaging with staff, players and fans. I would like to see him stay until the end of the season. There has been talk about Mark Robins since he left Coventry and we are always linked with Welsh managers such as Edwards (Luton) and Jones (Charlton). But the main name in the frame seems to be Bilic who apparently could take over in January. You never know though with Vincent Tan et al but I guess we will all find out…….at some stage.
What was your overall assessment of your summer transfer activity?
I was generally pleased with it. There was the usual mix of out of contract players on high wages but also so younger energy coming into the team – I have been impressed with Robertson when he has played and his combination with Turnbull and Colwill look to be Cardiff’s best attacking midfield. Chambers seems to have settled now and was key to the success in October and I also like the look of Daland. Some of the new attacking players that were brought in over the summer have been disappointing.
Ins >>> Jesper Daland, 24, CB, Cercle Brugge, £4m >>> Roko Simic, 20, CF, RB Salzburg, £1.5m >>> Will Fish, 21, CB, Man Utd, £1m >>> Alex Robertson, 21, AM, Man City, £1m >>> Wilfried Kanga, 26, CF, Hertha Berlin, Loan >>> Calum Chambers, 29, CB, Aston Villa, Free >>> Anwar El Ghazi, 29, RW, Mainz, Free >>> Chris Willock, 26, AM, QPR, Free
Outs >>> Mark McGuinness, 23, CB, Luton, £10m >>> Ebou Adams, 28, CM, Derby, £1m >>> Ollie Denham, 22, CB, Sligo, Free >>> Sheyi Ojo, 27, RW, Maribor, Free >>> Rohan Luthra, 22, GK, Derby, Free >>> Roko Simic, 20, CF, Kortrijk, Loan >>> Ryan Wintle, 27, DM, Millwall, Loan >>> Eli King, 21, DM, Stevenage, Loan >>> Kieron Evans, 22, AM, Newport, Loan >>> Malachi Fagan-Walcott, 22, CB, York, Loan >>> Romaine Sawyers, 32, CM, Released >>> Mahlon Romeo, 28, RB, Released
How’s Chris Willock done so far?
Not great. He has been OK but it is fair to say he has not had the impact that I hoped he would have. I think we still need to find the wide attacking player that I hoped he would be but in the meantime other such as El-Ghazi, Tanner and Robinson seem to be ahead of him in the manager’s thoughts.
Stand out players in this team?
Colwill on his day. Tanner on his day. Alnwick has been good in goal since he came in for Horvath. O’Dowda on his day. I think finding a good consistent player is tough though. Overall, I would go for Goutas and Robertson (if the latter is fit). I also like Robinson and he remains the main goal threat. I think he was carrying an injury just before the break and I hope he is over that now as we always look better (in my opinion) when he is in the team.
Weak links?
Left side of defence (still). We have been playing O’Dowda there which is OK but he is better further forward. We have not got a settled midfield and we often look over-run in there. We still need better wide players and especially a main striker for Robinson and others to play off. Etete may be back by the time we play QPR – so that will at least give a better ‘No 9’ option.
Revised expectations for the season?
Avoiding relegation. If we can get back to some of the October form then possibly mid table.
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