Cardiff made 17 signings in the summer but have already sacked the manager who oversaw that, sunk to twentieth in the Championship, lost to Swansea again and now face a January transfer embargo because of their refusal to stump up cash in the Emiliano Sala tragedy - Phil Bushby is finding the whole thing deeply frustrating.

How have Cardiff started the season?

Cardiff have ‘flattered to deceive’ this season. The game v Blackpool last Saturday was the season in microcosm. Lots of good play and creating chances but failing to put teams away. The style of play is better but we have lacked that killer instinct. Blackpool ended up with a draw that they really did not deserve which felt like a defeat for Cardiff.

I know that you have been a constant critic of the standard of refereeing in the Championship and Cardiff feel like they have suffered at the hands of poor decisions. Possibly even in the defeat in return fixture at Loftus Road earlier in the season with a harsh red card if I remember correctly and certainly with the Madine challenge on Ng at the weekend which was a premeditated challenge that should have seen a red card. Obviously, Madine then goes on the score the equaliser after failing to find the net for his entire two years at CCS.

Cardiff league results so far…
Cardiff 1-0 Norwich Sawyers 49
Reading 2-1 Cardiff Long pen 27, Ince 63 — O’Dowda 4
Cardiff 1-0 Birmingham Philogene-Bidace 17
West Brom 0-0 Cardiff
Bristol City 2-0 Cardiff Conway 41, Atkinson 64
Cardiff 0-0 Preston
Cardiff 1-2 Luton Sawyers 85 — Freeman 47, Osho 62
Millwall 2-0 Cardiff Cresswell 63, Afobe 90
Middlesbrough 2-3 Cardiff Watmore 76, Muniz 77 — O’Dowda 4, Harris 20, Ng 45
Huddersfield 1-0 Cardiff Rhodes 8
Cardiff 1-1 Burnley Robinson 90 — Tella 48
Cardiff 1-0 Blackburn Harris 83
Wigan 1-3 Cardiff Wyke 83 — Robinson 7, Ojo 65, Wintle 90
Cardiff 0-1 Coventry Gyokeres 34
QPR 3-0 Cardiff Dykes pen 19, 33, Paal 74
Swansea 2-0 Cardiff Cooper 38, Obafemi 67
Cardiff 1-0 Rotherham Philogene-Bidace 65
Cardiff 1-2 Watford Kipre 9 — Sierralta 38, Sarr 59
Sunderland 0-1 Cardiff Harris 49
Cardiff 2-3 Hull Robinson 47, Whyte 62 — Pelkas 4, Slater 75, 77
Cardiff 0-1 Sheff Utd Baldock 64
Stoke 2-2 Cardiff Campbell 11, Delap 18 — Wintle 6, Robinson 58
Cardiff 1-1 Blackpool Etete 36 — Madine 67

Steve Morison sacking felt weird, after letting him sign all those players in the summer, what did you make of that decision?

The Steve M sacking was very weird. Fans did not understand it. On this point the club/ board have been very poor at engaging with fans — we rarely get to understand what is going on. The club really need to up their game on this as large groups of fans are feeling disenfranchised by this lack of engagement.

Mark Hudson, cheap and uninspiring replacement, or right man for the job? How's he done so far?

Hudson was on Morison’s coaching team — so not much has changed really and personally, I would have given SM more time. I can only think it was a style thing with him. The way he addressed topics/ issues/ players was often very direct and not always popular in the way he handled things. I am not convinced by Hudson. A great man and servant to the club but think we need someone else but given all of the off-field challenges I think we need to get behind Mark and the team for the remainder of the season and then see where we are.

Seventeen signings in the summer, felt a bit nuts, and hasn't lifted you up the table, how do you look back at the summer in hindsight?

The summer changes have been mixed. The change was needed but not all of the players have done well. Robinson up front (apart from the Swansea match!) has been great and others have shone e.g. Rhinomota, O’Dowda, Kipre, Philogene (in bursts) but we look like a new team: sometimes great; sometimes poor. Given there was all these new players, it again seemed odd to get rid of Morison.

Ins (deep breath) >>> Kion Etete, 20, CF, Spurs, £600k >>> Ollie Tanner, 20, RW, Lewes, £50k >>> Callum Robinson, 27, AM, West Brom, Undisclosed >>> Andy Rinomhota, 25, CM, Reading, Free >>> Mahlon Romeo, 26, RB, Millwall, Free >>> Sheyi Ojo, 25, LW, Liverpool, Free >>> Callum O’Dowda, 27, LW, Bristol City, Free >>> Jamilu Collins, 27, LB, Paderborn (Germany), Free >>> Romaine Sawyers, 30, CM, West Brom, Free >>> Ryan Allsop, 30, GK, Derby, Free >>> Jak Alnwick, 29, GK, St Mirren, Free >>> Vontae Daley-Campbell, 21, RB, Leicester, Free >>> Ebou Adams, 26, CM, Forest Green, Free >>> Jack Simpson, 25, CB, Rangers, Free >>> Cedric Kipre, 25, CB, West Brom, Loan >>> Jaden Philogene, 20. LW, Villa, Loan >>> Niels Nkounkou, 21, LB, Everton, Loan

Outs (we’re not finished yet) >>> Sam Bowen, 21, CM, Newport, Undisclosed >>> Will Vaulks, 28, CM, Sheff Wed, Free >>> Aden Flint, 32, CB, Stoke, Free >>> Marlon Pack, 31, CM, Portsmouth, Free >>> James Collins, 31, CF, Derby, Free >>> Ciaron Brown, 21, RB, Oxford, Free >>> Kieron Evans, 21, AM, Torquay, Loan >>> Leandro Bacuna, 30, CM, Released >>> Josh Murphy, 27, LW, Oxford, Free >>> Alex Smithies, 32, GK, Leicester, Free >>> Isaac Vassell, 28, CF, Released >>> Sean Morrison, 31, CB, Released >>> Dillon Phillips, 27, GK, Oostende, Loan >>> Mark McGuinness, 21, CB, Sheff Wed, Loan

A transfer embargo over non-payments in the Emiliano Sala tragedy, just before January - nightmare, or not going to make much difference?

The transfer embargo may make a difference in January but they really need to sort it out before the summer. I think we need a left back and a striker at least and getting them in during January would have been good but it is more about getting the team to work with the existing players. Again, this is an indication of poor fan relations by the club. We do not know enough about the finances or how we are handling the Sala tragedy etc.

Stand out players and weak links in the team?

I have mentioned the standout players. One of those not mentioned was Jamilu Collins. He was excellent at the start of the season. It is such a shame that he sustained an ACL injury. In general our defence has been OK but the left side of the defence has been a problem for us ever since he was injured.

Again, in general, the team is OK with no real weaknesses (and no real strengths). Midfield is good especially Rhinomoto and Wintle. Wide players are threatening. Defence and keeper OK with some decent attacking players. Pulling this all together for long enough periods in the game has been a problem though all season. A disappointing feature for me has been the lack of progress of our young players. This has been hampered by injury but Colwill and Davies looked to be breaking through last season and have not been in the first team squad much at all (although both are coming back to fitness now).

Expectations for the rest of the season?

The rest of season is likely to be more of the same. We long for some consistency to pull us away from the relegation group but expect we will be in a dog fight for the rest of the season.

Links >>> Official Website >>> Three Little Birds — Blog >>> CCMB — Message Board >>> Wales Online — Local Paper >>> Mauve and Yellow — Blog >>> View From The Ninian — Website and Podcast

The Twitter @bushby_p, @loftforwords

Pictures — Action Images

Action Images

TacticalR added 16:34 - Dec 26 Thanks to Phil. It sounds like there is a Kieffer Moore-shaped hole up front...Championship strikers are not only hard to find, but also hard to hold on to. It also sounds like there is some serious disorientation at the club, compounded by Tan's failure to communicate with the fans.
0

Faraon23 added 20:45 - Dec 26 Hi guys. Do you know if there are any contraindications to taking enclomiphene supplements? Testosterone enclomiphene citrate supplements are clinically proven not to react with other drugs. But be sure to visit your doctor before starting any other medication or before changing your dose. Pregnant women and nursing mothers should avoid its use https://valhallavitality.com/blog/best-enclomiphene-citrate-for-sale . Because the treatment does not benefit pregnant women, some amount of the drug is excreted with breast milk. So, avoid it. If my post wasn't enough for you, I recommend this site.

0

Blogs 31 bloggers

Queens Park Rangers Polls