' HE HAS EARNED HIS PLACE WITH SLADE '
Fri Oct 23, 2015 4:00 am
Cardiff City defender Fabio earning rave reviews as Bluebirds teammates express admiration for Brazilian ace
Walesonline
Friday October 23rd
Fabio has been superb for Cardiff City this season.
It’s not just Cardiff City supporters getting excited by ‘Fabulous Fabio’ this season, his own teammates are as full of admiration for the exciting defender as everyone else.
The Brazilian left-back has been getting some rave reviews of late, lifting another Fans’ Man-of-the-Match accolade in midweek as Russell Slade’s men put on a defiant showing to see off one of the Championship’s favourites this season, Middlesbrough 1-0.
Since arriving from Manchester United in January 2014 it would be fair to say the Brazilian has somewhat divided opinion in the Welsh capital.
There are those who see him as an all-action marauder, as happy in the opposition penalty area as his own, while others warn his forward thinking is always likely to cause problems when the Bluebirds are on the back foot.
Indeed, Cardiff manager Russell Slade originally had his reservations about the player he inherited from his predecessor Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Slade, known for his cautious approach, found Fabio perhaps too attack-minded and in came the more traditional Scott Malone to seemingly add some fibre to the Cardiff defence.
At the start of this campaign, Fabio found himself kicking his heels on the Bluebirds’ bench, but having got his chance he has now seized it with both hands.
One man left as impressed as anyone by Fabio is his fellow full-back, Lee Peltier, who operates on the other flank.
He rates his teammate as pure quality and does not buy into the notion that Fabio’s ambition going forward hinders his defensive capabilities.
In fact, Peltier said he gets as excited as anyone to see Fabio surging up the pitch and would never criticise the Brazilian for perhaps leaving him and his centre-halves short at the back.
Has Fabio been your player of the season so far?
“No, I’d never have a go at him,” chuckled Peltier.
“Fabio’s a great character. I’ve got no problem with him getting forward, that’s just the way he plays.
"He’s exciting for the fans, but defensively he is good and people may not see that. Perhaps they just look at his ability to go forward more.
“He very rarely misses a header. He is solid in a tackle, gives it 100 per cent and is, all-round, just a quality player.
“Fabio’s just a good lad basically. He goes into a game and he gives it everything he has got and you can’t ask for much more than that.”
Having come down from the upper-reaches of the Premier League with United to the rough and tumble of the Championship, it could have been easy for Fabio, schooled in the Samba football of his native Brazil, to find the transition difficult.
But Peltier believes a side to Fabio that many do not see, his utter commitment on the training ground, has helped him thrive in the second-tier.
“It’s hard for me to say if he found it difficult dropping down, I came here in January and he was not really playing,” added Peltier.
“What he has done though is work very hard.
“He works hard in training every day.
“He’s got himself back into the team and his performances this season have been quality.
“If you’ve got the quality and the determination, like Fabio has, then there should not really be a problem for you in this division.”
Walesonline
Friday October 23rd
Fabio has been superb for Cardiff City this season.
It’s not just Cardiff City supporters getting excited by ‘Fabulous Fabio’ this season, his own teammates are as full of admiration for the exciting defender as everyone else.
The Brazilian left-back has been getting some rave reviews of late, lifting another Fans’ Man-of-the-Match accolade in midweek as Russell Slade’s men put on a defiant showing to see off one of the Championship’s favourites this season, Middlesbrough 1-0.
Since arriving from Manchester United in January 2014 it would be fair to say the Brazilian has somewhat divided opinion in the Welsh capital.
There are those who see him as an all-action marauder, as happy in the opposition penalty area as his own, while others warn his forward thinking is always likely to cause problems when the Bluebirds are on the back foot.
Indeed, Cardiff manager Russell Slade originally had his reservations about the player he inherited from his predecessor Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Slade, known for his cautious approach, found Fabio perhaps too attack-minded and in came the more traditional Scott Malone to seemingly add some fibre to the Cardiff defence.
At the start of this campaign, Fabio found himself kicking his heels on the Bluebirds’ bench, but having got his chance he has now seized it with both hands.
One man left as impressed as anyone by Fabio is his fellow full-back, Lee Peltier, who operates on the other flank.
He rates his teammate as pure quality and does not buy into the notion that Fabio’s ambition going forward hinders his defensive capabilities.
In fact, Peltier said he gets as excited as anyone to see Fabio surging up the pitch and would never criticise the Brazilian for perhaps leaving him and his centre-halves short at the back.
Has Fabio been your player of the season so far?
“No, I’d never have a go at him,” chuckled Peltier.
“Fabio’s a great character. I’ve got no problem with him getting forward, that’s just the way he plays.
"He’s exciting for the fans, but defensively he is good and people may not see that. Perhaps they just look at his ability to go forward more.
“He very rarely misses a header. He is solid in a tackle, gives it 100 per cent and is, all-round, just a quality player.
“Fabio’s just a good lad basically. He goes into a game and he gives it everything he has got and you can’t ask for much more than that.”
Having come down from the upper-reaches of the Premier League with United to the rough and tumble of the Championship, it could have been easy for Fabio, schooled in the Samba football of his native Brazil, to find the transition difficult.
But Peltier believes a side to Fabio that many do not see, his utter commitment on the training ground, has helped him thrive in the second-tier.
“It’s hard for me to say if he found it difficult dropping down, I came here in January and he was not really playing,” added Peltier.
“What he has done though is work very hard.
“He works hard in training every day.
“He’s got himself back into the team and his performances this season have been quality.
“If you’ve got the quality and the determination, like Fabio has, then there should not really be a problem for you in this division.”
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Re: ' HE HAS EARNED HIS PLACE WITH SLADE '
Fri Oct 23, 2015 5:06 am
He's been magnificent this season and what has impressed me most is how he's obviously been working hard on improving the defensive side of his game. He's still not quite there but is getting there.
Without doubt one of the most talented and exciting full backs I have seen in over 45 years of supporting City (the list of poor full backs in that time is rather a long one!)
Unless somebody does something out of the ordinary then the Player of the Season award is virtually decided already.
Without doubt one of the most talented and exciting full backs I have seen in over 45 years of supporting City (the list of poor full backs in that time is rather a long one!)
Unless somebody does something out of the ordinary then the Player of the Season award is virtually decided already.
Re: ' HE HAS EARNED HIS PLACE WITH SLADE '
Fri Oct 23, 2015 4:46 pm
Most definitely. 
Re: ' HE HAS EARNED HIS PLACE WITH SLADE '
Fri Oct 23, 2015 9:13 pm
davids wrote:He's been magnificent this season and what has impressed me most is how he's obviously been working hard on improving the defensive side of his game. He's still not quite there but is getting there.
Without doubt one of the most talented and exciting full backs I have seen in over 45 years of supporting City (the list of poor full backs in that time is rather a long one!)
Unless somebody does something out of the ordinary then the Player of the Season award is virtually decided already.
Agreeing with to many of your posts
the defensive part is the obvious improvement, the rest was always there. He's great and deserves a banner 