" A clearer picture of Cardiff’s realistic ambitions "
Thu Nov 19, 2015 9:45 pm
" A clearer picture of Cardiff’s realistic ambitions "
By Steve Tucker
19/11/2015
It is a cliché of sorts that a couple of games can define a team’s season, but for Cardiff City right at this moment in time that really might be the case.
The well-documented scoreless run was ended last time out when Russell Slade’s Bluebirds overcame Reading, but that seems an eternity away following the subsequent international break.
The win took Cardiff up to seventh, still three points off the play-offs and nine behind top two Hull and Brighton.
But it’s what happens next that will tell us what we need to know when it comes to the Bluebirds’ promotion credentials under Slade.
A clearer picture of Cardiff’s realistic ambitions
First up are fifth-placed Derby on Saturday, then it’s third-placed Burnley in the Welsh capital the following weekend.
Once those encounters are over, we will have a much clearer picture of what Cardiff’s realistic ambitions under Slade will be this season and whether they really can be the promotion contenders many believe they should be.
It has been a solid if somewhat unspectacular start in the Championship thus far from Slade’s men. The results have been ticking over in a fashion designed to frustrate some of the Cardiff manager’s critics. Of which we know there are many.
Last time out, the win over Reading steadied a ship that seemed becalmed in mediocrity for a while. The worrying lack of a goals from men in the blue shirts was off-set by a rearguard action that refused to concede.
It has been a small gap to the play-offs, but a chasm in a way that Cardiff have never quite managed to bridge it. These next two fixtures offer them that chance, but, more than that they will give Cardiff the opportunity to put down a real declaration of intent.
Derby and Burnley are in the kind of form that marks them out as real prospects to make the jump to the Premier League.
The Bluebirds travel this weekend to face a Rams side under Paul Clement who have begun to thrive and a smash and grab Bluebirds raid at Pride Park is going to be a darned sight easier said than done this weekend.
Until losing at Nottingham Forest, Derby had gone on an unbeaten 10 game run which included eight wins. They have only lost once at home this season and the last team to even take a point at Pride Park was Burnley way back in September.
Those Clarets are the Bluebirds’ next opposition after Derby and have lost just once in their last 13 games. That blip? A 2-1 defeat to Reading funnily enough, the side the Bluebirds mastered last time out.
With nine wins and three draws behind them recently, it’s little wonder Dyche’s men sit third in the table, just two points Brighton and Hull.
By Steve Tucker
19/11/2015
It is a cliché of sorts that a couple of games can define a team’s season, but for Cardiff City right at this moment in time that really might be the case.
The well-documented scoreless run was ended last time out when Russell Slade’s Bluebirds overcame Reading, but that seems an eternity away following the subsequent international break.
The win took Cardiff up to seventh, still three points off the play-offs and nine behind top two Hull and Brighton.
But it’s what happens next that will tell us what we need to know when it comes to the Bluebirds’ promotion credentials under Slade.
A clearer picture of Cardiff’s realistic ambitions
First up are fifth-placed Derby on Saturday, then it’s third-placed Burnley in the Welsh capital the following weekend.
Once those encounters are over, we will have a much clearer picture of what Cardiff’s realistic ambitions under Slade will be this season and whether they really can be the promotion contenders many believe they should be.
It has been a solid if somewhat unspectacular start in the Championship thus far from Slade’s men. The results have been ticking over in a fashion designed to frustrate some of the Cardiff manager’s critics. Of which we know there are many.
Last time out, the win over Reading steadied a ship that seemed becalmed in mediocrity for a while. The worrying lack of a goals from men in the blue shirts was off-set by a rearguard action that refused to concede.
It has been a small gap to the play-offs, but a chasm in a way that Cardiff have never quite managed to bridge it. These next two fixtures offer them that chance, but, more than that they will give Cardiff the opportunity to put down a real declaration of intent.
Derby and Burnley are in the kind of form that marks them out as real prospects to make the jump to the Premier League.
The Bluebirds travel this weekend to face a Rams side under Paul Clement who have begun to thrive and a smash and grab Bluebirds raid at Pride Park is going to be a darned sight easier said than done this weekend.
Until losing at Nottingham Forest, Derby had gone on an unbeaten 10 game run which included eight wins. They have only lost once at home this season and the last team to even take a point at Pride Park was Burnley way back in September.
Those Clarets are the Bluebirds’ next opposition after Derby and have lost just once in their last 13 games. That blip? A 2-1 defeat to Reading funnily enough, the side the Bluebirds mastered last time out.
With nine wins and three draws behind them recently, it’s little wonder Dyche’s men sit third in the table, just two points Brighton and Hull.
Re: " A clearer picture of Cardiff’s realistic ambitions "
Thu Nov 19, 2015 10:57 pm
Two games could define a lot.
If we beat Derby and Burnley then that puts us right up there! If we lose both games then we'll slide down the table quite a bit!
Would be interesting to see if fans will return to the CCS if we're around 3rd/4th in the table.
Anyone can beat anyone so let's hope for two consecutive wins for the Bluebirds!
If we beat Derby and Burnley then that puts us right up there! If we lose both games then we'll slide down the table quite a bit!
Would be interesting to see if fans will return to the CCS if we're around 3rd/4th in the table.
Anyone can beat anyone so let's hope for two consecutive wins for the Bluebirds!
Re: " A clearer picture of Cardiff’s realistic ambitions "
Thu Nov 19, 2015 11:31 pm
I'd bite your hand off for 4 points from the two games
Re: " A clearer picture of Cardiff’s realistic ambitions "
Fri Nov 20, 2015 2:39 pm
A point from these two games would be ok. I expect Derby and Burnley along with Hull and boro to be well clear of the rest come May