' THE MISSING LINK '

As Cardiff City continued their impressive start to the Championship season, Terry Phillips picks out Kagisho Dikgacoi as the man who's made the big difference

Monday August 31 2015

For a full year he has been the missing man. Suddenly, Kagisho Dikgacoi looks like Cardiff City’s missing link.

The Bluebirds continued their unbeaten start to the Championship with their 2-0 win at Nottingham Forest and the Dikgacoi factor can’t be over-stated enough.

The man who made a name for himself as a midfield dynamo with Crystal Palace in the Premier League cut a sad and lonely figure last season as he struggled to deal with a back injury which caused problems in leg muscles and kept him out of action for 11 months.

There were times when City’s coaching staff were hesitant to send him out for light training because they feared he would instantly break down again.

Fitness regained, Dikgacoi is suddenly beginning to show exactly why Ole Gunnar Solskjaer brought him to Cardiff, his ability to dictate the tempo of a match from the base of midfield a fundamental reason for the Bluebirds’ bright start to the 2015-16 campaign.

Last season, Cardiff were constantly over-run in the midfield and often struggled to get on the front foot.

Dikgacoi is changing that. The big man keeps things tight, breaks up opposition moves and brings an extra dimension to the Cardiff engine room because he is so comfortable in possession.

Compare Dikgacoi to former Chelsea and Hamburg defender Michael Mancienne, who played a similar role in Nottingham Forest’s team.

Dikgacoi was sharp, clever, incisive and ambitious, putting Mancienne into the shade as he tried to cope with Kenwyne Jones, Joe Mason, Joe Ralls and Anthony Pilkington.

Cardiff felt they had signed the perfect holding midfield player when Gary Medel arrived from Sevilla for £9m two years ago and he did a solid job at Premier League level.


Dikgacoi has more physical presence and, barring injuries, he is going to be a highly influential figure this season.

He carried out his role at the City ground with a cool calmness which currently runs right through the team.

Forest tried to gain the upper hand by playing a three-man central midfield, with David Vaughan the biggest influence. Manager Dougie Freedman clearly felt the extra player would give his team an edge, but Joe Ralls, who was constantly running and popped up in crucial areas, plus Anthony Pilkington were always looking to help Dikgacoi and Peter Whittingham win their battle.

Freedman has changed his Forest team tactics a few times this season, but Russell Slade has looked to build team spirit and understanding by sticking firmly with the tried and trusted 4-4-2 he has favoured from day one.

I’ve heard fans accuse Slade of being too rigid and failing to change his team formation to take advantage of weaknesses in opposing teams.

When I put that to him after the win against Forest he insisted he does have a plan B, but argued: “If we go to plan B too often that would suggest plan A isn’t working. We are in a good place, the players are enjoying their football, know their jobs and hold each other accountable.”

So what do we make of the Bluebirds’ start, which has caught many by surprise?

Slade insists he hasn’t even looked at the Championship table, where Cardiff are fifth, and won’t until they have played at least 12 fixtures.


But Cardiff are in a better place than many expected, even though it’s really early doors. After the two-week international break Slade’s men go into a spell where they have three of their next four matches at Cardiff City Stadium, with Huddersfield, Hull and Charlton the visitors.

The single away fixture in that spell is at Rotherham, who are bottom of the Championship.

Having negotiated their five league matches during August without defeat, the Bluebirds have what looks a real opportunity to gather more wins and really put down a marker.

Unfortunately for Slade, there can be no let up. He dare not fail, understanding home fans want to see continued evidence that City are revitalised after the dreadful football on offer at the end of last season.

They will take a little more convincing yet, but the signs are good. Dikgacoi’s sudden availability has clearly played its part.

Can't fault the article by TP and I wholly agree with his assessment on Kagisho Dikgacoi.

I also note the other members of our revitalised midfield have been given a nod and I believe Joe Ralls has had as much influence as KD in turning our fortunes around.

Well done boys!

class diagonal pin point cross for Jones first goal

Can't fault the article by TP and I wholly agree with his assessment on Kagisho Dikgacoi.

I also note the other members of our revitalised midfield have been given a nod and I believe Joe Ralls has had as much influence as KD in turning our fortunes around.

Well done boys!

Its all about balance.

Joe gives us energy and drive coupled with his passing range
Whitts gives us the ability to change the pace of the game and own the ball
Pilkington gives us another direct outlet that is not shit or bust
Dikgacoi gives us stability and power in the middle

The stand in if any are injured

Joe/ Pilkington = Noone
Whitts - Joe then above- O'Keefe can do a job
Dikgacoi - Gunnar

Got cover all over the place......It may turn out to be a better season than i feared

I thought this was going to be a thread about Swansea lad!

I thought this was going to be a thread about Swansea lad!

Gareth, I thought similar, although 'Military Junta' passed through my mind, too!

I thought this was going to be a thread about Swansea lad!

Gareth, I thought similar, although 'Military Junta' passed through my mind, too!

Haha! Don't call military junta the missing link or you'll be accused of being a lefty...

I thought this was going to be a thread about Swansea lad!

Gareth, I thought similar, although 'Military Junta' passed through my mind, too!

Haha! Don't call military junta the missing link or you'll be accused of being a lefty...

That's why he's called 'Military junta'

Like listening to a Drill Sergeant every debate. All you here is a "Left, Right, Left, Right..." drone in your ears!

class diagonal pin point cross for Jones first goal

If you're talking about his first goal this season, it was a header from a Whittingham cross. And if you're talking about his first goal vs Forest it was a Whittingham cross.

class diagonal pin point cross for Jones first goal

If you're talking about his first goal this season, it was a header from a Whittingham cross. And if you're talking about his first goal vs Forest it was a Whittingham cross.

What's your point??

Nice one, fella

I agree but also think joe has been key in this as he also keeps possession and in time will be sought after, but for now he is a bluebird who continues to improve and only last season was deemed not good enough by a lot on here. Laughable he was a boy he's now a man

He can be like another Medel for us.

class diagonal pin point cross for Jones first goal

If you're talking about his first goal this season, it was a header from a Whittingham cross. And if you're talking about his first goal vs Forest it was a Whittingham cross.

Fabio crossed for his first