' Russelll Slade has a few decisions to make '

Cardiff City's burning issues: Defensive conundrum, the return of Anthony Pilkington and the real challenge presented by Brentford

Dec 16, 2014

By Steve Tucker


DEFENCE? WHAT DEFENCE?

It seems just when you have turned a corner with the Bluebirds under Russell Slade you suddenly find the road ahead closed. Many of us had been waxing lyrical about the new manager’s work on the Bluebirds defence where a bit of tinkering and an enforced change really seemed to have dome the trick with three clean-sheets in four outings prior to the Bournemouth game indicating some much needed solidity had been achieved.

The five goals thundered in by the Cherries though might tell a different story. Defensively at Bournemouth Cardiff were terrible with no-one covering themselves in any glory at all. There are still question marks about the full-backs. John Brayford is on the wrong side and Matt Connolly, a centre-back really, is at right back.

How has all that come about with Cardiff we’re told having the ‘biggest and best squad’ in the Championship. With Bruno Manga now fit, where does that leave the Ben Turner and Seam Morrison partnership? Manga before his injury was probably the Bluebirds best and most consistent player. Does Slade take action? Was Bournemouth a bad day defensively at the office? Questions need to be answered ahead of Brentford that is for sure.

WHITE OUT



FUTURE OF THE LEFT

Anthony Pilkington is looking to be recovering from his hamstring injury quicker than expected. Good news. Let’s hope the wideman is fit for Brentford because Slade’s attempt to replace him in the last two games have been misjudged.

Kim Bo-Kyung has had his moments for the Bluebirds (not as many as one might like mind), but his outings against Rotherham and Bournemouth were poor, feeble and unacceptable. After the draw with the Millers, Slade should have looked at another option out on the flank. He didn’t and was rewarded with that poor performance.

Kim was effectively writing his own transfer request in an abstract and tired-looking display. Kadeem Harris made his league debut and looked better, but what about Mats Daehli or even Fabio? It’s almost as if Slade doesn’t have the options, well not options he likes, but again that seems sheer madness in ‘the biggest and best squad’ in the Championship.



IT’S ONLY BRENTFORD

They say the Championship is no respecter of reputations and the Bluebirds’ beating at Bournemouth perfectly illustrated that. The result put Eddie Howe’s men top of the table with the Bluebirds languishing in mid-table yet last season it was Cardiff who were the Premier League side, it was they who were mixing with the big boys.

Even when relegated it was expected Cardiff were going to be big fish in a small pond with their parachute payments and the biggest and best squad in the Championship.

Things have not panned out that way at all. A year ago on Saturday Brentford were at Preston in League One while Cardiff were at Liverpool in the top flight. None of that will matter this weekend.

All that matters now is that Brentford have won six of their last seven games. They lie fifth. Indeed it is the Londoners could be forgiven for thinking, ‘well, it’s only Cardiff City.’



OFFENSIVELY OFFENSIVE

The Bluebirds play in general is not the most wonderful on the eye, but to watch the Bluebirds on the front foot can be a pretty depressing business right now.

Slade’s men seem unable to prise an opposition defence open actually from open play. OK, a slip let Adam Le Fondre through to square to Kenwyne Jones to tap home, but the other two goals at Bournemouth were high hopeful crosses and headers. That was not dissimilar to the goal at Watford previously.

The Bluebirds must get some kind of cutting edge to their play moving forward, they have to turn defence into attack quicker although the fact they have so little pace in the side makes this a problem.

The Bluebirds attacking is way too pedestrian and way too predictable. Let’s get a bot of zip going and get supporters excited at the same time.

Got to say Annis, Brayford has to go back to right back Fabio although not as good defensively as Connelly needs to be at left back, when he is bombing up the wing the opposing team cannot attack, in the center it has to be Manga and Turner but Connelly at the start of the season did well there, I hope that Pilkington is back soon we are missing him in attack and defence up front Lefondre with Guerra which is not going to happen with Slade, midfield well, this is one of the biggest problems, I would have had Dichochei in there but Ademeyni and witts and Gunnerson I would have to go with with Noone to come off the bench, but there what do I know, I am only a fan not a manager, but it makes you think sometimes that a fan could do a better job

Got to say Annis, Brayford has to go back to right back Fabio although not as good defensively as Connelly needs to be at left back, when he is bombing up the wing the opposing team cannot attack, in the center it has to be Manga and Turner but Connelly at the start of the season did well there, I hope that Pilkington is back soon we are missing him in attack and defence up front Lefondre with Guerra which is not going to happen with Slade, midfield well, this is one of the biggest problems, I would have had Dichochei in there but Ademeyni and witts and Gunnerson I would have to go with with Noone to come off the bench, but there what do I know, I am only a fan not a manager, but it makes you think sometimes that a fan could do a better job

It does make you think even a fan could play our team in their right positions I'm with you on this

Got to say Annis, Brayford has to go back to right back Fabio although not as good defensively as Connelly needs to be at left back, when he is bombing up the wing the opposing team cannot attack, in the center it has to be Manga and Turner but Connelly at the start of the season did well there, I hope that Pilkington is back soon we are missing him in attack and defence up front Lefondre with Guerra which is not going to happen with Slade, midfield well, this is one of the biggest problems, I would have had Dichochei in there but Ademeyni and witts and Gunnerson I would have to go with with Noone to come off the bench, but there what do I know, I am only a fan not a manager, but it makes you think sometimes that a fan could do a better job

It does make you think even a fan could play our team in their right positions I'm with you on this

Fifa 15 is great way to manage any football team?

What is fifa 15?

What is fifa 15?

Well that make believe game you play!

Have never played any games in all my life and at 67 years old it's a little to late to start

Have never played any games in all my life and at 67 years old it's a little to late to start

Nor have I,I think Allan plays it with Slade and Tan every Saturday

If he insists on playing Connoly why doesn't he try Manga,Connoly,Turner as CB and have Brayford and Fabio as Wing Backs

If he insists on playing Connoly why doesn't he try Manga,Connoly,Turner as CB and have Brayford and Fabio as Wing Backs

it's certainly worth looking at when our wingers are not producing anything, would suit Whitts aswell playing 5-3-2

If he insists on playing Connoly why doesn't he try Manga,Connoly,Turner as CB and have Brayford and Fabio as Wing Backs

it's certainly worth looking at when our wingers are not producing anything, would suit Whitts aswell playing 5-3-2

I've been thinking that for the past few weeks. That'll stop Connoly drifting in as he'll already be in the centre

Have never played any games in all my life and at 67 years old it's a little to late to start

Nor have I,I think Allan plays it with Slade and Tan every Saturday

In his own little world