" Games are running out, But "

" GAMES ARE STARTING TO RUN OUT / BUT WE ARE STILL ONLY 5PTS BEHIND "

By Nathan Blake

Tuesday 16th Feb 2016

On the pitch, it was frustrating to see Russell Slade’s men again fail to secure the three points they needed and probably deserved against Charlton on the weekend. The gap to the play-off places remains five points, but the games themselves, of course, are starting to run out.


Cardiff couldn't quite get all three points against Charlton
Next up on the agenda is Brighton at home on Saturday and I think it is going to be a tough ask for Slade and his men even if the game is in the Welsh capital.

Chris Hughton’s side have been perhaps the surprise package of the Championship this term and were really setting a ferocious pace early on. OK, they had a dip over Christmas and New Year, but, in a strange way, I think that is almost a good thing.

You are going to have a dip at some point, so get it out of the way, then pick the pace back up again heading towards the business end of the campaign.

Brighton have most certainly done that, they arrive on Saturday now having won their last four games on the bounce.

Also read: Cardiff City's Bruno Manga is the best defender in the Championship right now but will he be a Bluebird for much longer?

A tough test then for the Bluebirds and, strangely, I actually fancy them to maybe have a better shot at getting something away at Middlesbrough on the following Tuesday. We shall see.

Either way it goes without saying they are two crunch games for Cardiff.

Positive results and they could be really back in business when it comes to a place in the play-offs, but, if they keep dropping points at the rate they have been, well, they are simply going to run out of chances.

True, we are only five points behind but our problem is we have no consistency. We struggle to go on a run of results like you need to make up the ground on the top six.

We have two tough games now against Brighton and Boro. Brighton had a bit of a blip but seem to be picking up again now, and Boro are going through a rough spell but I'd expect them to come through that soon.

Somehow we need to get at least 3-4 points out of these two games or we will find ourselves way off the pace.

Personally, I don't think we will make top six. Mainly because we have no consistency.

True, we are only five points behind but our problem is we have no consistency. We struggle to go on a run of results like you need to make up the ground on the top six.

We have two tough games now against Brighton and Boro. Brighton had a bit of a blip but seem to be picking up again now, and Boro are going through a rough spell but I'd expect them to come through that soon.

Somehow we need to get at least 3-4 points out of these two games or we will find ourselves way off the pace.

Personally, I don't think we will make top six. Mainly because we have no consistency.

But then we win the next 2 games struggle against the lower teams but turn up for the big ones because that's the way the cookie crumbles.

Why anyone would think City have a chance of a play off spot is beyond me.

Last 2 games epitomise why they won't. Should have won both by a 2-3 goal margin. Up against much stronger opposition in next few games.

City will end up @10th.

I would love to be proven wrong but really can anyone seriously see City putting together the necessary winning run together, especially looking at our fixture list?

This is really sad , just think what a proven championship manager would have done

We should of been top 6 constantly throughout season as Championship nothing special this season

" GAMES ARE STARTING TO RUN OUT / BUT WE ARE STILL ONLY 5PTS BEHIND "

By Nathan Blake

Tuesday 16th Feb 2016

On the pitch, it was frustrating to see Russell Slade’s men again fail to secure the three points they needed and probably deserved against Charlton on the weekend. The gap to the play-off places remains five points, but the games themselves, of course, are starting to run out.


Cardiff couldn't quite get all three points against Charlton
Next up on the agenda is Brighton at home on Saturday and I think it is going to be a tough ask for Slade and his men even if the game is in the Welsh capital.

Chris Hughton’s side have been perhaps the surprise package of the Championship this term and were really setting a ferocious pace early on. OK, they had a dip over Christmas and New Year, but, in a strange way, I think that is almost a good thing.

You are going to have a dip at some point, so get it out of the way, then pick the pace back up again heading towards the business end of the campaign.

Brighton have most certainly done that, they arrive on Saturday now having won their last four games on the bounce.

Also read: Cardiff City's Bruno Manga is the best defender in the Championship right now but will he be a Bluebird for much longer?

A tough test then for the Bluebirds and, strangely, I actually fancy them to maybe have a better shot at getting something away at Middlesbrough on the following Tuesday. We shall see.

Either way it goes without saying they are two crunch games for Cardiff.

Positive results and they could be really back in business when it comes to a place in the play-offs, but, if they keep dropping points at the rate they have been, well, they are simply going to run out of chances.

We will finish the season around where we are now. Not enough to team or tactics direction for us to be confident. Bring in next season

This is really sad , just think what a proven championship manager would have done

We should of been top 6 constantly throughout season as Championship nothing special this season

as annoying as some of the games have been this season, we are pretty much where i expected us to be.

This is really sad , just think what a proven championship manager would have done

We should of been top 6 constantly throughout season as Championship nothing special this season

That is an easy conclusion to come to but if you factor in the rest of our circumstances i.e. squad/cost cutting/no transfer fees it is not a certainty that we would have been top 6 under an experienced Championship manager.

That said I do agree we have wasted a golden chance this term as the lot above us in the league are nothing special.

Higher than I expect us to be, I don't see us getting into the play/offs at all.

Higher than I expect us to be, I don't see us getting into the play/offs at all.

Same thoughts here, Luke!

Time to see who we have 'in reserve' who could step up for next season (inc. giving Macheda a run of games IMHO)