' Cardiff City need players in two positions Says '

Cardiff City need players in two positions to sustain their Championship challenge - Nathan Blake


28 SEP 2015

BLAKE says a lot will change between now and the new year in the Championship and thinks that the Bluebirds will need two additions in particular areas

The signs are good. The Bluebirds look a team intent on being able to slug it out with the leading Championship clubs.

If Russell Slade’s men can stay in and around the leading group over the next three months - and 15 matches until the end of 2015 - they will be in good shape.

There is certainly a togetherness among the players and plenty of character.

Cardiff may, though, have to strengthen again in the January transfer window to ensure they sustain their challenge.

I am sure Slade is checking out loan possibilities now to ensure he doesn’t miss a bargain, but realistically it’s going to be the new year before Cardiff can bring in a couple of quality additions.

My feeling is that City need a midfield general who can dictate the game when needed and a quick striker who can run beyond defenders.

Personally, I’d like to see City go for a player like Grant Leadbitter at Middlesbrough. He makes their team tick and sets things up for them.

I’m not suggesting Cardiff sign Leadbitter because Boro simply wouldn’t let him go. He’s far too valuable in their team.


But Cardiff’s transfer committee - Vincent Tan, Mehmet Dalman, Russell Slade and Ken Choo - must identify a player who can do a similar job and bring him in.

That quality of player is hard to find, but they are out there.

If they can add more pace in attack and give themselves more options up there City would have the look of a team capable of finishing in the top two.



The key is to find the right players. They may be in the UK or abroad, but the Bluebirds must spread their net far and wide to make sure no stone is unturned.

Slade’s Bluebirds are fifth in the Championship table and doing okay right now. Their winner followed another set-piece and Charlton are among the struggling teams at the moment, but Cardiff can only beat the team in front of them.

It was a decent result which keeps them among the leading clubs.

Captain Sean Morrison heads home Cardiff City's winnerCaptain Sean Morrison heads home Cardiff City's winner
Between now and January the task is to ensure they remain in the top eight at least and then look to push on.

A lot will change between now and the new year with some teams climbing the table from lowly positions and others sliding. Cardiff have to work for each other and stay up there with the group looking to finish first or second.

It won’t be until the end of January that we can truly judge which clubs have the quality to stay up there.

The Russell Slade Cardiff City Q&A: Joe Mason was hard done by and we need to mix up our delivery

Cardiff are showing clear signs that they are making progress and can maybe stick with it, but they must keep their key players and stay strong if West Brom come calling for David Marshall again.

If they have to sell anybody then that cash must be used to strengthen the squad.

Even if City keep all of their top players, though, I want to see another option through midfield.

We all know Peter Whittingham can pass the ball onto a sixpence and his deliveries from set-pieces are top quality, while Kagisho Dikgacoi is a good, strong player at Championship level.


But, Aron Gunnarsson apart, where are the players pushing those two and making sure they produce consistently strong displays?

In attack Slade is blessed with Joe Mason, who will score 15 goals this season, and Kenwyne Jones, who will chip in with between 15 and 20.

I’m still not sure about Federico Macheda, while Rhys Healey is out on loan at Dundee and Alex Revell is not a striker who will score anywhere near 20 goals in my opinion.



If Cardiff add the right striker and a midfield leader with the right pedigree they will be start to look a team who can mount a formidable challenge.

They are the only two positions where I feel Cardiff need to strengthen their options.

Matt Connolly, Sean Morrison and Bruno Manga are competing for the centre-back slots with Ben Turner on his way back to fitness, while Fabio has regained his place and is like a breath of fresh air.

He wasn’t given a fair crack at first, but has been given a chance and there is no question he has grabbed that with wild enthusiasm.



City have a fair mix of players through midfield and overall they are in decent shape.

The key to Cardiff’s season is can they find and sign the players they need to turn a season of real hope into promotion reality.

It wasn’t too long ago a return to the top flight looked a forlorn hope, something well out of Slade’s reach.

They are not the finished article yet and there is still a long, long way to go, but nobody can deny that Slade and Paul Trollope have overseen a change of emphasis over the last few months.

Cardiff City Analysis: Bluebirds show great spirit to battle back... but it should have been so much easier

Cardiff have belief, character and team spirit. With just a touch more quality in the right areas Bluebirds fans may have reason for genuine optimism.

The test now is for City to stay with the pack and head into 2016 with hopes still alive.

Didn't read the article apart from positions needed.

Aren't these the positions most of us have been on here going on about since pre-season?

We know our team and their strengths and weaknesses.

We know what was needed

It didn't happen

He's right we need a more creative option pushing whitts for a place in the middle.

I'm not sure about a more dangerous striker because we have ameobi on the bench and I'm hoping Saadi comes good when he's finally fit.

What football knowledge with the exception of Slade does this nonsensical transfer committee possess to know what players to go for in the transfer market?

What football knowledge with the exception of Slade does this nonsensical transfer committee possess to know what players to go for in the transfer market?

Exactly, it's ridiculous

Blakey is wrong about the general bit. Digichoi as the muscle and Whitts as the finesse with Ralls somewhere in between in skill sets is fine. We need a left sided wide midfielder like Conway. A tough hard working guy who can do the job for the team.. We need to start giving Whitts and Digachio rests soon or we'll blow up at the end of the season again.

The lack of a pacey striking option has been there for two seasons or more as Frazier wasn't a speed guy , but could stop to tie his bootlaces and still beat all our forwards in a half pitch race.