After Saturday afternoon’s 0-0 draw with Ipswich Town at Portman Road, Cardiff City have now gone 436 minutes without conceding a league goal since the 1-1 draw with table-topping Brighton at the Amex Stadium. That particular result last saw a Cardiff City player score a goal – without taking into account the own-goal from Middlesbrough’s George Friend, that is.
Cardiff City: A Glass Half Full?
The Bluebirds have now conceded just 11 goals in 14 Championship matches, a vast improvement for a team that conceded 61 goals last term. The back four has settled together well, with Matthew Connolly and Sean Morrison in central defence, the latter less error prone than during his debut season.
Fábio, who has been a revelation at left-back since his return from his first injury spell, was stretchered off and taken for a scan on an injured foot after the Ipswich game on Saturday afternoon. Lee Peltier has also improved at right-back after an indifferent start to the season, cultivating a stern defence that has conceded one goal in the month of October. Only Hull, Middlesbrough and Derby have a better defensive stronghold than the Bluebirds this campaign, whilst leaders, Brighton, have conceded the same amount of goals thus far.
The star of the defensive unit has been captain David Marshall, who has pulled off some world class saves in goal for Cardiff City since his return from a three-match ban after receiving a straight red card against Rotherham United. His fine goalkeeping has cemented his position as the Bluebirds’ number one shot-stopper and justifies his rank as captain. However, the fine performances will no doubt attract Premier League interest once the January transfer window opens, after West Bromwich Albion’s failed £4.5 million bid in August.
With Ben Turner and Bruno Ecuele Manga out injured, the defence can only become tighter, stronger and more decisive once Connolly and Morrison have competition for their places in the first team.
Cardiff City: A Glass Half Empty?
With the defence in such prominent unity, the other end of the field is proving far more unsettled. The injury to Kenwyne Jones has affected Joe Mason’s goal-scoring form, as well as the whole team’s threat. The absence of Jones’ aerial prowess has left the attack blunted, with the Bluebirds failing to muster clear goal-scoring opportunities in the last few matches. Alex Revell’s promotion to the starting eleven, alongside Joe Mason, has proved unproductive despite the effort he puts into every shift.
To counter the lack of goals, Russell Slade started Sammy Ameobi in place of Craig Noone – who has looked out of form on the wing – against Ipswich. With three attacking players on the pitch, the Bluebirds did create more opportunities, but still failed to generate chances into goals.
This is a squad that has a plethora of striking options, but, apart from the Jones and Mason partnership, no other pairing has caused a threat to opposing defences in quite the same fashion. With Federico Macheda and Idriss Saadi joining Jones on the injury list, and Adam Le Fondre and Eoin Doyle out on loan, the alternatives have been limited to just Revell and Ameobi to assist top scorer, Mason.
It is clear that Eoin Doyle has a future at the club with an impressive run in the team towards the end of last season, however, he needs first team experience whilst Slade picks between Mason, Revell, Jones, Macheda and Ameobi. Despite Revell’s effort during matches, his effectiveness is limited and doesn’t change the shape of the game at Championship level. It might be best if he, along with Macheda, left during the January transfer window, with a replacement striker brought into the fold that has more Premier League experience under their belt.
Macheda has shown glimpses of his potential; this was first seen at Manchester United in his first season, yet his consistency has been missing far too often to be regarded as a first-team squad member for Cardiff. Fraizer Campbell, a former Bluebird, has had limited opportunities at Crystal Palace since Alan Pardew’s arrival and he could be interested in returning to gain first team opportunities that he so craves. With Manchester United struggling for goals, it is unlikely that Louis Van Gaal would let former target, James Wilson, out on loan at this present time but he could be a great addition to the squad with his sheer pace – something the Cardiff squad principally lacks.
In summary, the Bluebirds will be happy with taking seven points from a possible 15, including four points against table-topping Brighton and promotion play-off chasers, Middlesbrough. Conceding just one goal is a huge positive, but scoring just two will leave some concerns amongst fans.
Main Photo
