' SOL BAMBA '
Mon Sep 25, 2017 2:36 pm
How Sol Bamba has proven Leeds United and their fans wrong by becoming a man mountain for Cardiff City -
By Chris Wathan
Monday 25th September 2017
Cardiff City fans were given a very strong warning almost a year ago when signing Sol Bamba on what seemed like the perfect free transfer.
Leeds United supporters were adamant that Bamba's form would deteriorate like it had done at Elland Road over the previous year.
Bamba was not, in their eyes, a solid signing for Neil Warnock. After all, he'd terminated his Leeds contract a month before joining Cardiff, finding himself Garry Monk's fourth choice centre-back after Pontus Jansson and Kyle Bartley joined Liam Cooper at the club. There were reports of Bamba's performances growing consistent and, despite being a former skipper, few around Elland Road really missed him.
And despite a Man Of The Match display on Cardiff debut — Warnock's first game, as the Bluebirds beat Bristol City 2-1 — Whites fans remained unconvinced.
A year on and their scepticism has been proven foolhardy by Bamba's brilliance at the back in the Welsh capital.
He ran Aron Gunnarsson close for Cardiff's Player Of The Season award last term and has become a genuine leader in Warnock's team, building a close relationship with the Yorkshireman and the Bluebirds fans. Last season, when Cardiff's backs were against the wall, Bamba stood tall to prevent the defence being breached. The difference he made to the defence was stark and it wasn't limited to his first few appearances, as some Leeds fans predicted.
The goal Bamba scored in that Severnside Derby started a trend too, of scoring important goals for Cardiff, which has continued into this season. There was a last gasp winner against Sheffield Wednesday a week ago which doubled the Ivorian's account for the campaign, to add to the winning strike against Queens Park Rangers a couple of weeks earlier.
More crucially, Bamba presence has improved those beside him, especially Sean Morrison. The Englishman wears the captain's armband but his understanding with Bamba has given Cardiff two leading figures in the back four and — until Warnock changed things for Saturday's game against Sunderland — ensured someone of Bruno Manga's quality has been left on the bench.
At 32, Bamba's age hasn't been a problem either. His physicality defines his play, willingly stepping into midfield at times and so often racing back to make that last ditch tackle. In the air, he wins everything and embodies what is expected of a Warnock player.
As Warnock said after the Owls draw, Bamba is a "colossus" who will no doubt be ready to re-enter the fold on Tuesday night with a point to prove.
His time at Leeds wasn't all bad though and there is still some affection between Bamba and the club.
Sol Bamba captained Leeds United before his move to Cardiff
As Yorkshire Post chief football writer told WalesOnline last year , his charismatic style of defending drew plenty of praise initially before other players, namely Bartley and Jansson, usurped him in the Leeds back four.
"At his best he was what you'd expect of a defender with his physique — strong and dominant in the air," said Phil. "People here warmed to him quickly. But he was prone to errors, particularly when it came to playing out from the back."
Ultimately it was decided by Monk that Bamba wasn't good enough to remain at Leeds and get regular playing time. He left amid a mixture of feelings from the Elland Road faithful and Warnock gleefully snapped him up on a free. The Bluebirds never looked back, as Bamba helped them out of a relegation battle and towards the top of the Championship within the space of a year.
Neil Warnock and Bamba have a great relationship
Meanwhile, Bartley's performances last season ensured Leeds fans didn't pine for Bamba — but they might be left to rue his departure if the Ivorian pops up with another crucial goal on Tuesday. Which isn't unlikely.
Cardiff fans certainly don't have mixed feelings towards Bamba and that's why he will be desperate to dent his old club's promotion hopes in South Wales tomorrow night.
By Chris Wathan
Monday 25th September 2017
Cardiff City fans were given a very strong warning almost a year ago when signing Sol Bamba on what seemed like the perfect free transfer.
Leeds United supporters were adamant that Bamba's form would deteriorate like it had done at Elland Road over the previous year.
Bamba was not, in their eyes, a solid signing for Neil Warnock. After all, he'd terminated his Leeds contract a month before joining Cardiff, finding himself Garry Monk's fourth choice centre-back after Pontus Jansson and Kyle Bartley joined Liam Cooper at the club. There were reports of Bamba's performances growing consistent and, despite being a former skipper, few around Elland Road really missed him.
And despite a Man Of The Match display on Cardiff debut — Warnock's first game, as the Bluebirds beat Bristol City 2-1 — Whites fans remained unconvinced.
A year on and their scepticism has been proven foolhardy by Bamba's brilliance at the back in the Welsh capital.
He ran Aron Gunnarsson close for Cardiff's Player Of The Season award last term and has become a genuine leader in Warnock's team, building a close relationship with the Yorkshireman and the Bluebirds fans. Last season, when Cardiff's backs were against the wall, Bamba stood tall to prevent the defence being breached. The difference he made to the defence was stark and it wasn't limited to his first few appearances, as some Leeds fans predicted.
The goal Bamba scored in that Severnside Derby started a trend too, of scoring important goals for Cardiff, which has continued into this season. There was a last gasp winner against Sheffield Wednesday a week ago which doubled the Ivorian's account for the campaign, to add to the winning strike against Queens Park Rangers a couple of weeks earlier.
More crucially, Bamba presence has improved those beside him, especially Sean Morrison. The Englishman wears the captain's armband but his understanding with Bamba has given Cardiff two leading figures in the back four and — until Warnock changed things for Saturday's game against Sunderland — ensured someone of Bruno Manga's quality has been left on the bench.
At 32, Bamba's age hasn't been a problem either. His physicality defines his play, willingly stepping into midfield at times and so often racing back to make that last ditch tackle. In the air, he wins everything and embodies what is expected of a Warnock player.
As Warnock said after the Owls draw, Bamba is a "colossus" who will no doubt be ready to re-enter the fold on Tuesday night with a point to prove.
His time at Leeds wasn't all bad though and there is still some affection between Bamba and the club.
Sol Bamba captained Leeds United before his move to Cardiff
As Yorkshire Post chief football writer told WalesOnline last year , his charismatic style of defending drew plenty of praise initially before other players, namely Bartley and Jansson, usurped him in the Leeds back four.
"At his best he was what you'd expect of a defender with his physique — strong and dominant in the air," said Phil. "People here warmed to him quickly. But he was prone to errors, particularly when it came to playing out from the back."
Ultimately it was decided by Monk that Bamba wasn't good enough to remain at Leeds and get regular playing time. He left amid a mixture of feelings from the Elland Road faithful and Warnock gleefully snapped him up on a free. The Bluebirds never looked back, as Bamba helped them out of a relegation battle and towards the top of the Championship within the space of a year.
Neil Warnock and Bamba have a great relationship
Meanwhile, Bartley's performances last season ensured Leeds fans didn't pine for Bamba — but they might be left to rue his departure if the Ivorian pops up with another crucial goal on Tuesday. Which isn't unlikely.
Cardiff fans certainly don't have mixed feelings towards Bamba and that's why he will be desperate to dent his old club's promotion hopes in South Wales tomorrow night.
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Re: ' SOL BAMBA '
Mon Sep 25, 2017 3:03 pm
Sol Bamba will certainly be 'up' for this game and it'll be one of the match highlights for me! 
Whisper it quietly, but I was told that the Leeds game was the reason he was 'rested' versus Sunderland on Saturday
If so, that's great man-management by Neil Warnock as he now has a fresh player motivated against his old club
What odds a Sol Bamba goal?
Whisper it quietly, but I was told that the Leeds game was the reason he was 'rested' versus Sunderland on Saturday
If so, that's great man-management by Neil Warnock as he now has a fresh player motivated against his old club
What odds a Sol Bamba goal?
Re: ' SOL BAMBA '
Mon Sep 25, 2017 9:43 pm
Cardiff defender Sol Bamba is set to return against his former side on Tuesday after being rested on Saturday.
Bluebirds full-back Lee Peltier should be fit despite a knock, while winger Junior Hoilett is likely to start.
Leeds defender Pontus Jansson could return to the XI after missing the win over Ipswich with a muscle injury.
Striker Pierre-Michel Lasogga returned to Germany on Saturday after the birth of his daughter but came back to training on Monday and will play.
Bluebirds full-back Lee Peltier should be fit despite a knock, while winger Junior Hoilett is likely to start.
Leeds defender Pontus Jansson could return to the XI after missing the win over Ipswich with a muscle injury.
Striker Pierre-Michel Lasogga returned to Germany on Saturday after the birth of his daughter but came back to training on Monday and will play.