9 Cardiff City players with points to prove against Hull C

By Paul Abbandato

Wednesday Feb 2014


Solskjaer doesn’t need anyone to remind him that his record thus far with Cardiff reads: Played 9 Lost 5. Significantly, four of those defeats have come in the Premier League.

With Cardiff City now at the point of 'must win' as they prepare to welcome fellow promoted team Hull City to South Wales, Head of Sport Paul Abbandonato sifts through who has the biggest points to prove


Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needs to get wins from his Cardiff City squad


When it rains, it pours. An apt analogy, I guess, given the recent weather in south Wales.

As if the battle against Premier League relegation wasn’t hard enough already, losing three of your more inspirational players is the last thing Cardiff City need ahead of Saturday’s crunch against Hull.

It’s as if the very drive of the team has been ripped out in one fell swoop.

But there’s an age-old saying in football about one man’s misfortune being another’s opportunity.

Games are running out and this has to be the moment when others step up to the plate. Starting this weekend.

There are so many Bluebirds with significant points to prove.

' 9 Cardiff City players with points to prove against Hull City '



1: KENWYNE JONES

The big centre-forward played a starring role on his debut against Norwich, scoring the winning goal and defending in stoic fashion near the end as Cardiff had to clear corner after corner.

But last time out against Aston Villa, Jones was ordinary. In the second half the ball kept bouncing off him, meaning the Bluebirds were not only poor offensively, but constantly under the cosh defensively.

Jones really should have been taken off and replaced with a midfielder, but Solskjaer stuck by him. Repaying that confidence with another winner against Hull would be the perfect answer.

2: MAGNUS WOLFF EIKREM

The Norwegian Solskjaer thinks so highly of is a different type of holding midfield player to Medel, more cultured and looking to close down space than tigerish in the tackle.

But with only 12 matches to go, there is no time to waste. Eikrem has to start proving with immediate effect that he can influence the outcome of key games when the hurly-burly of a Premier League relegation battle is at stake.

It’s great looking good on the ball. What we need is Eikrem controlling the 90 minutes against Hull... and inspiring Cardiff to victory.

3: MATS MOLLER DAEHLI

Like his Norwegian team-mate, teenager Daehli is highly regarded by Solskjaer. He is more one for the future, dubbed in his homeland as potentially the greatest Norwegian footballer in the history of the game.

But how Cardiff need Daehli’s undoubted creativity for just a few short-term fixtures right at this very moment.

Against Villa, the teen star in the making was brushed off the ball too easily. Completely understandable, given he has still to fully bulk out. But whether he starts, or comes on as a substitute against Hull, Daehli can provide the mercurial match-winning magic Cardiff need.

4: WILFRIED ZAHA

If we’re talking mercurial, let’s talk Zaha. One of the reasons he moved to Wales on loan from Manchester United was to give himself the opportunity of an 11th hour bid to make the England World Cup squad.

Roy Hodgson has thrown down the gauntlet, by telling Zaha he is in his thoughts. If the wide-man forces his way into the reckoning for Brazil 2014, it will be through performance on the pitch... and Cardiff City will be the chief beneficiaries.

There has been lots of hype surrounding Zaha. I plead guilty to formulating a lot of that myself. But he has to do his fancy tricks where they matter in the final third of the pitch, not in his own penalty box and give away possession.

We need Zaha’s goals.

5: BEN TURNER

Big Ben went into the Aston Villa match under fire. Too slow, too cumbersome in possession, too easy to get past claimed the critics, after Turner had a shocker against Swansea.

He responded with his best performance of the season, putting in four or five incredible last-gasp blocks to rescue the Bluebirds and earn them a point against Villa.

But the critics would argue some of those blocks, while gallant, had to be made because Turner was caught out of position in the first place. He must build on the Villa performance, but the jury is still out.

6: JUAN CALA

It’s unclear whether Turner or Cala will get the nod as Steven Caulker’s centre-back partner.

Cala is more comfortable on the ball, something Solskjaer demands as a prerequisite from his defenders, but he knows little about the cut and thrust of a Premier League relegation dogfight.

If chosen, can Cala offer the defensive resoluteness Cardiff have been lacking to prevent them from being over-reliant on David Marshall?

7: ARON GUNNARSSON

The Iceland captain has been little more than a bit-part figure since fellow Scandinavian Solskjaer took over as Cardiff manager, but Hull might be his big moment.

In the absence of Medel, somebody has got to provide the midfield tenacity and bite to get the better of Tom Huddlestone and Jake Livermore.

This could be the opportunity to impress forgotten man Gunnarsson has been waiting for. Or will Peter Whittingham get the nod ahead of him? In which case he has lots to prove again, too.

8: KEVIN THEOPHILE-CATHERINE

When he is good, Theophile looks exceptional. The best right-back the Bluebirds have had since the days of Mark Delaney.

When he is poor, he looks really poor. This is no time for inconsistency, if Theophile gets the nod against Hull he needs to be solid, disciplined and composed first and foremost. Once that foundation is in place, his swashbuckling forays forward on the overlap can be a bonus.

9: FABIO DA SILVA

He came here with Solskjaer predicting Fabio would bring some ‘Brazilian stardust’. But after just a couple of games, the man signed from Manchester United was axed for the draw with Aston Vila. When, coincidentally or not, Cardiff kept a clean sheet.

Poor positional play from Fabio directly led to goals conceded against Norwich and Swansea, but I can’t believe a man who has been schooled the Old Trafford way is quite as bad as he has looked.

Fabio probably won’t start against Hull, but if he comes on as a substitute, the Brazilian has to cut out the errors and provide the full-back solidity the Bluebirds desperately need.

10: AND FINALLY... OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER HIMSELF

Solskjaer doesn’t need anyone to remind him that his record thus far with Cardiff reads: Played 9 Lost 5. Significantly, four of those defeats have come in the Premier League.

He made a similarly less than dazzling start to his time as Molde manager, Then, in his 10th match, it clicked and Molde went on to win two titles and a cup.

No-one is expecting Cardiff City to win the Premier League. But Hull is Solskjaer’s 10th match in charge. This is the moment when a dramatic turnaround in the Bluebirds’ Premier League fortunes is needed... and for Solskjaer to work the motivational and tactical magic the Bluebirds hierarchy saw in him.

You forgot Leo Annis

You forgot Leo Annis

Leo has nothing to prove

biggest LOL of the day claiming an unproven Magnus Woolf Eikrem is more 'cultured' than Medel

It is scary how shockingly bad these reporters are at that rag!
Scraping the barrell so much, the "Head of Sport" has felt the need to rattle off 9 players names and suggest they've something to prove LOL

F*!k knows what the "reporters" at that rag have to prove then......

Abbo couldn't pass water on the pitch, trust me I unfortunately had to witness and clear up his misplaced errors often enough every Sunday, so how he thought he could write about something he clearly couldn't play is beyond me.

Catherine, when he is good he is very good??? Can someone tell me when that was as I must've blinked and missed it.

At least he admitted to creaming over Zaha when the rest of us knew he was shit, oooh he came from Old Trafford and is worth £15m....

Abbo, fella, if you want me to proof read your stuff before you embarrass yourself any further, give me a shout. I won't even charge if it means you don't look a mug anymore.

Catherine is incapable of tackling, passing straight or cross accurately.

Abbo couldn't pass water on the pitch, trust me I unfortunately had to witness and clear up his misplaced errors often enough every Sunday, so how he thought he could write about something he clearly couldn't play is beyond me.

Catherine, when he is good he is very good??? Can someone tell me when that was as I must've blinked and missed it.

At least he admitted to creaming over Zaha when the rest of us knew he was sh it, oooh he came from Old Trafford and is worth £15m....

Abbo, fella, if you want me to proof read your stuff before you embarrass yourself any further, give me a shout. I won't even charge if it means you don't look a mug anymore.

To be fair I thought KTC was outstanding away to Hull, home to Spurs and home to Swansea. But he's very inconsistant and he really needs to work on his concentration lapses when he switches off and allows his man to get the wrong side of him to score. There is no way I would play him Saturday after pulling out of the tackle leading to Wigan's first goal. We don't want bottlers in a relegation scrap, we want battlers.

I would play McNaughton Saturday because we all know he will never let us down defensively and despite his limitations, he will give his all. I think McNaughton has performed adequately enough since returning from Bolton. His distribution which I've always said is his main weakness, has actually been alright so far this season in my opinion. KTC doesn't deserve to keep his place Saturday and I would trust McNaughton defensively over Fabio any day. McNaughton should definitely start.

Abbo couldn't pass water on the pitch, trust me I unfortunately had to witness and clear up his misplaced errors often enough every Sunday, so how he thought he could write about something he clearly couldn't play is beyond me.

Catherine, when he is good he is very good??? Can someone tell me when that was as I must've blinked and missed it.

At least he admitted to creaming over Zaha when the rest of us knew he was sh it, oooh he came from Old Trafford and is worth £15m....

Abbo, fella, if you want me to proof read your stuff before you embarrass yourself any further, give me a shout. I won't even charge if it means you don't look a mug anymore.

To be fair I thought KTC was outstanding away to Hull, home to Spurs and home to Swansea. But he's very inconsistant and he really needs to work on his concentration lapses when he switches off and allows his man to get the wrong side of him to score. There is no way I would play him Saturday after pulling out of the tackle leading to Wigan's first goal. We don't want bottlers in a relegation scrap, we want battlers.

I would play McNaughton Saturday because we all know he will never let us down defensively and despite his limitations, he will give his all. I think McNaughton has performed adequately enough since returning from Bolton. His distribution which I've always said is his main weakness, has actually been alright so far this season in my opinion. KTC doesn't deserve to keep his place Saturday and I would trust McNaughton defensively over Fabio any day. McNaughton should definitely start.

The dilemma OGS will face is whether to be attack minded with his full backs or be defensive.

McNaughton & Taylor are the safer options as they are better defensively than KTC and Fabio, but are hopeless when going forward as McNaughton cannot cross and Taylor is too slow.

Earlier this season down the left with Whittingham & Taylor it was sterile and predictable and City lacked any attacking outlet.

If KTC & Fabio play then can OGS trust his 2 wide men (Noone & Zaha probably) to do their shift?

An unenviable decision for him to call.

Abbo couldn't pass water on the pitch, trust me I unfortunately had to witness and clear up his misplaced errors often enough every Sunday, so how he thought he could write about something he clearly couldn't play is beyond me.

Catherine, when he is good he is very good??? Can someone tell me when that was as I must've blinked and missed it.

At least he admitted to creaming over Zaha when the rest of us knew he was sh it, oooh he came from Old Trafford and is worth £15m....

Abbo, fella, if you want me to proof read your stuff before you embarrass yourself any further, give me a shout. I won't even charge if it means you don't look a mug anymore.

To be fair I thought KTC was outstanding away to Hull, home to Spurs and home to Swansea. But he's very inconsistant and he really needs to work on his concentration lapses when he switches off and allows his man to get the wrong side of him to score. There is no way I would play him Saturday after pulling out of the tackle leading to Wigan's first goal. We don't want bottlers in a relegation scrap, we want battlers.

I would play McNaughton Saturday because we all know he will never let us down defensively and despite his limitations, he will give his all. I think McNaughton has performed adequately enough since returning from Bolton. His distribution which I've always said is his main weakness, has actually been alright so far this season in my opinion. KTC doesn't deserve to keep his place Saturday and I would trust McNaughton defensively over Fabio any day. McNaughton should definitely start.

The dilemma OGS will face is whether to be attack minded with his full backs or be defensive.

McNaughton & Taylor are the safer options as they are better defensively than KTC and Fabio, but are hopeless when going forward as McNaughton cannot cross and Taylor is too slow.

Earlier this season down the left with Whittingham & Taylor it was sterile and predictable and City lacked any attacking outlet.

If KTC & Fabio play then can OGS trust his 2 wide men (Noone & Zaha probably) to do their shift?

An unenviable decision for him to call.

Good points, I think for the last 12 games we should just have traditional LB & RB. Not looking to overlap the whole game. Keep the game tight & break them down with the sheer tenacity to win. I would go for McNaughton & Taylor personally