Missing piece of jigsaw filled!

MALKY Mackay has signed virtually an entire new team for Cardiff City this summer ... and Nicky Maynard is the much-needed final piece that was missing in the jigsaw.

You have to give credit where it is due to the Malaysians for they have put their money where their mouth is.

When the blue to red rebranding took place a few weeks ago there was much cynicism about whether the transfer funds pledged would indeed be forthcoming.

Well they clearly have been, hence Mackay’s captures of Craig Bellamy, Kim Bo-Kyung, Craig Noone, Heidar Helguson, Tommy Smith, Jordon Mutch, Matt Connolly, Etien Velikonja and goalkeeping cover Joe Lewis.

Nine new signings who give Cardiff, on paper at least, the strongest looking squad outside the Premier League.

It is the 10th signing, though, Maynard from West Ham, who could prove to be the most significant one.

Even before Maynard put pen to paper, Mackay was able to pick a formidable unit.

Last season’s back four of Kevin McNaughton, skipper Mark Hudson, Ben Turner and Andrew Taylor, backed up by impressive goalkeeper David Marshall are still there en-bloc.

Cardiff also have the class of Peter Whittingham in the midfield and of highly-rated young Joe Mason further forward, plus the hard working ethic of Mackay regulars Aron Gunnarsson, Don Cowie and others.

Throw the likes of Bellamy, when fit, Kim, Noone, Smith, Mutch, Connolly and co into the mix and it is a side brimful of talent and strength in depth.

Still, though, you sensed there was something lacking to get the Bluebirds over the Premier League promotion line ... a 20 to 25 goals a season striker.

That sort of individual is worth his weight in gold, the player who can make the difference with his predatory penalty box instincts to win tight matches 1-0 and secure crucial victories.

Helguson came to South Wales with a big reputation and he does look fit, strong, committed and pretty decent in the air against bigger defenders for someone standing at 5ft 10in himself.


But the jury is definitely out on whether Helguson is the man to deliver the volume of goals the Bluebirds need from their principal striker if they are to deliver promotion.

Velikonja comes here with a big reputation, having played in the Champions League and also three times for the Slovenian national team.

Again, though, you have to ask if he is really a 25-goal man in the hurly-burly of the Championship?

You sense Maynard really could be, particularly given the service he could expect to receive from the likes of Whittingham, Bellamy, Smith, Kim and Noone.

In their three games played to date, City have flattered to deceive. Their main goal threat has come from set pieces, they have appeared to lack potency, pace and a real cutting edge going forward.

But with Maynard in the mix, that somewhat ponderous approach will become a thing of the past


He is quick enough, mobile enough and alert enough to make the runs which will enable him to get on the end of through balls from Whittingham, or crosses via the flank from Bellamy, Noone or Kim.

I’m not saying Maynard is necessarily a Premier League class goal scorer. But at Championship level his record of 45 goals from 124 appearances in a struggling Bristol City team show him to be pretty decent.

An earlier record of 32 goals from 59 matches for Crewe, better than one every two games, also speaks volumes about Maynard’s poaching instincts in front of goal.

You can have the best approach work in the world, but it means nothing in football if there isn’t anybody there to stick the ball in the old onion bag.

Mackay has that figure in Maynard. Throw in the extra goal threat provided by the likes of Bellamy, Noone, Whittingham, Kim and Mason and it should prove a combination which is too much for most teams in the Championship.

City need Bellamy fit and firing, of course, but there is little doubt Mackay suddenly has a squad which just about every other manager in the division will be casting envious eyes at.

Even big-spending Leicester and the Premier League’s relegated trio of Bolton, Wolves and Blackburn will be fearing Cardiff.

Of course, the big issue is for Mackay to get the right blend and pick the best XI to make the most of the talent at his disposal.

Just as importantly, he needs to keep on board the players who don’t get to start. It is a contented squad which will take Cardiff City up, not just the first choice XI.

When everyone is fit, what team does Mackay go for? I bet if you were to ask 20,000 City fans, you would come up with 20,000 different answers.

My verdict? Well, there is an argument for saying that Connolly could eclipse Hudson as Turner’s centre-back partner... even though the Bluebirds skipper has produced his best form at the club under Mackay’s watch.

Connolly played the majority of matches for Queens Park Rangers when they were promoted under Neil Warnock a couple of seasons back. Given he was also with Reading as they clinched last year’s Championship title, he could be something of a lucky omen.

Mackay will more likely stick with Hudson, his trusted captain. But Connolly, Turner and Hudson are three very decent centre-backs to perm from.

I would like to see Whittingham pushed further forward, but he is better utilised holding the midfield next to Gunnarsson because there are so many other riches at Mackay’s disposal.

Bellamy and Noone should provide the pace and directness down the flanks and Maynard the genuine goal threat up top.

Leaving Smith, who looks a very gifted footballer, Kim and Mason to battle it out for the creative role just behind the lone front man.

We haven’t seen enough of Kim to judge him properly yet, but if he is three-quarters as good as people in South Korea say he is then the Bluebirds really do have a good capture.

Smith appears to be one of those players who can buy himself time on the ball with a shimmy here, a dummy there, and he possesses enough zip to his game, too. Mason has those qualities as well and looked City’s best player when he came on as a second half substitute in the defeat to Bristol City.

Mackay has some mouth-watering options available to him. Maynard is the goal predator to ensure the talent does not go to waste.



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Good squad yes, best in the division I don't think so. Bookies still have us as 7th in line for promotion which basically means not even making the play offs. I guess it's all about how we gel as a team, generate a hard working team ethic and get momentum going early. Going to be an interesting yet hard season ahead

Good squad yes, best in the division I don't think so. Bookies still have us as 7th in line for promotion which basically means not even making the play offs. I guess it's all about how we gel as a team, generate a hard working team ethic and get momentum going early. Going to be an interesting yet hard season ahead

My big worry is the ponderous approach play from our central defenders, Hudson is not a playmaker and slows the pace of the game down, he then launches long balls which we seldom win, Swansea have shown how the game should be played and that is on the floor with players who can pass a football and look for space to exploit, untill we can play this way we will not get the best from Bellamy and Maynard, to much emphasis is placed on Whittingham others need to step up to the plate and take greater responsibility, which will free up Whitts.

We still have the loan window

What is to say we cannot get two Premiership Defenders in the loan window?

...... and then there is January


Malky has not only bought well this summer but he has also bought in the right positions and ensured that we have strength in depth.

Forget our players - We must have the best manager outside of the Premiership!

Good squad yes, best in the division I don't think so. Bookies still have us as 7th in line for promotion which basically means not even making the play offs. I guess it's all about how we gel as a team, generate a hard working team ethic and get momentum going early. Going to be an interesting yet hard season ahead

My big worry is the ponderous approach play from our central defenders, Hudson is not a playmaker and slows the pace of the game down, he then launches long balls which we seldom win, Swansea have shown how the game should be played and that is on the floor with players who can pass a football and look for space to exploit, untill we can play this way we will not get the best from Bellamy and Maynard, to much emphasis is placed on Whittingham others need to step up to the plate and take greater responsibility, which will free up Whitts.

Agree it's not difficult either. Make sure the full backs and midfield make themselves open and then pass it to one of them! Surely MM doesn't encourage hudson and turner to hoof it as irs not like we've even had big strikers to aim for. To have tnf midfield options we have now it would be criminal not to play it on the floor

We didn't sign any full-backs, jigsaw not complete yet...

Abbandonato knows little about City then. Cheeky dig at Hudson again

Good squad yes, best in the division I don't think so. Bookies still have us as 7th in line for promotion which basically means not even making the play offs. I guess it's all about how we gel as a team, generate a hard working team ethic and get momentum going early. Going to be an interesting yet hard season ahead

My big worry is the ponderous approach play from our central defenders, Hudson is not a playmaker and slows the pace of the game down, he then launches long balls which we seldom win, Swansea have shown how the game should be played and that is on the floor with players who can pass a football and look for space to exploit, untill we can play this way we will not get the best from Bellamy and Maynard, to much emphasis is placed on Whittingham others need to step up to the plate and take greater responsibility, which will free up Whitts.

Now I'd say Hudson is a lot better with the ball the Hudson. He moves forward into space and usually users It well. When he doesn't we stuggle because he doesn't have the pace to get back. Kev had recovered him a number of times.
In the same thought people who want a Pacey CB who is strong in the air with good positional sense are on crack.