" ITS ALIVE "
Sat Feb 20, 2016 9:16 pm
" ITS ALIVE CARDIFF''S PLAY-OFF DREAM "
South Wales Echo
Saturday 20th Feb 2016
If Cardiff City’s play-off dream has been hard to believe in too often this season, then witnessing this domination of high-flying Brighton was enough to restore that faith.
The trouble is, of course, and with Russell Slade’s Bluebirds there always seems to have to be some problem, we have all been here before.
Way too often this term Cardiff have done this to us, raised the spirits, given the indication they can mix it with the Championship’s best, before shooting themselves well and truly in the foot moving forward. Think Wolves and Huddersfield away recently and those meek draws to follow things up.
But this victory, in dreadful conditions in the Welsh capital, had a different feel about it, well, you would like to think so anyway. This rampant display, particularly in the first-half, was not merely the best of the season, it was the best since Slade himself took charge in October 2014.
It was, without argument anyway, the first time the Bluebirds had managed to score four goals in a game since they won by the same scoreline as here in Blackburn way back in December 2012. That was, of course, the season they were promoted to the Premier League.
Whilst no one is going to be making such rash predictions after this, taken in its own context, it was a miraculous result in many ways. The Bluebirds have been hard to beat under Slade, we know this, but too may draws and too few goals seemed designed to keep the Welsh club firmly amongst the also-rans.
Cardiff were extremely good for their 3-0 half-time lead here at least after actually weathering an early purple patch by Brighton that seemed to suggest Chris Hughton’s men, who had only lost once away in the league all season, were unlikely to add to that tally.
But it was Peter Whittingham who made the break-through, the seemingly ever-green midfielder, has made a habit of telling those who believe his time is over at the club where they can stick their opinions and his decisive lashing home of a second-half penalty to complete the scoring was a virtually two-fingers up from a man who is perhaps not actually prone to such emotional displays.
Anthony Pilkington too and the excellent Lex Immers (two goals in two starts anyone?) were also on the scoresheet in an opening 45 minutes that cheered another meagre crowd that might have been wondering why they were not watching it in a warm pub somewhere otherwise.
Cardiff looked as cavalier, smooth and effective, particularly going forward, as they have in an incredibly long time.
The reason for that appeared to be a change of formation which was subtle, but, by the standards of Slade’s apparent rigidity, was actually totally revolutionary.
Slade described after it as a lop-sided 4-3-3, but, to my eyes, when functioning at its best, it was a 4-2-3-1, with the eye finally realising that this was undoubtedly the most effective line-up for the players at Slade’s disposal available.
Naturally the Cardiff boss seemed to have stumbled upon it by accident. Injury to Craig Noone and a suspension for Sammy Ameobi, forced Slade to shuffle his pack. The result was glorious.
Joe Ralls was better, Stuart O’Keefe proved still a revelation, as the pair provided the midfield platform for those ahead. In front were Tom Lawrence, giving arguably a man of the match showing, Whittingham himself and Immers who for me was man of the match as he fought and scrapped and linked up very well as well as firing home a good goal.
Up top Pilkington, the official man of the match, proved an excellent frontman, which may surprise as he is a winger, but it was a great showing from him again. Indeed, after all the fuss worrying about who are the best strikers to play at the club, the somewhat surprising answer seems to be right now, none at all.
This was a very good all round display from the Bluebirds, who finally looked like a coherent unit, a well-oiled machine rather than the old banger that has huffed and puffed around the division too often this term.
The caveat, of course, is that nagging worry about consistency. You find yourself wanting to believe, but can barely silence that little nagging voice of doubt that hides in your head.
Fabio impressed but went off injured shortly after half-time
The Bluebirds have only won back-to-back games once this season, so where is the evidence of the three or four match winning streak they are going to need now to force their way back into the top-six?
The evidence, one hopes, was right here in this match, the ability is there, but whether the Bluebirds can take this result and build on it, well, that remains a matter of simple blind faith I’m afraid.
South Wales Echo
Saturday 20th Feb 2016
If Cardiff City’s play-off dream has been hard to believe in too often this season, then witnessing this domination of high-flying Brighton was enough to restore that faith.
The trouble is, of course, and with Russell Slade’s Bluebirds there always seems to have to be some problem, we have all been here before.
Way too often this term Cardiff have done this to us, raised the spirits, given the indication they can mix it with the Championship’s best, before shooting themselves well and truly in the foot moving forward. Think Wolves and Huddersfield away recently and those meek draws to follow things up.
But this victory, in dreadful conditions in the Welsh capital, had a different feel about it, well, you would like to think so anyway. This rampant display, particularly in the first-half, was not merely the best of the season, it was the best since Slade himself took charge in October 2014.
It was, without argument anyway, the first time the Bluebirds had managed to score four goals in a game since they won by the same scoreline as here in Blackburn way back in December 2012. That was, of course, the season they were promoted to the Premier League.
Whilst no one is going to be making such rash predictions after this, taken in its own context, it was a miraculous result in many ways. The Bluebirds have been hard to beat under Slade, we know this, but too may draws and too few goals seemed designed to keep the Welsh club firmly amongst the also-rans.
Cardiff were extremely good for their 3-0 half-time lead here at least after actually weathering an early purple patch by Brighton that seemed to suggest Chris Hughton’s men, who had only lost once away in the league all season, were unlikely to add to that tally.
But it was Peter Whittingham who made the break-through, the seemingly ever-green midfielder, has made a habit of telling those who believe his time is over at the club where they can stick their opinions and his decisive lashing home of a second-half penalty to complete the scoring was a virtually two-fingers up from a man who is perhaps not actually prone to such emotional displays.
Anthony Pilkington too and the excellent Lex Immers (two goals in two starts anyone?) were also on the scoresheet in an opening 45 minutes that cheered another meagre crowd that might have been wondering why they were not watching it in a warm pub somewhere otherwise.
Cardiff looked as cavalier, smooth and effective, particularly going forward, as they have in an incredibly long time.
The reason for that appeared to be a change of formation which was subtle, but, by the standards of Slade’s apparent rigidity, was actually totally revolutionary.
Slade described after it as a lop-sided 4-3-3, but, to my eyes, when functioning at its best, it was a 4-2-3-1, with the eye finally realising that this was undoubtedly the most effective line-up for the players at Slade’s disposal available.
Naturally the Cardiff boss seemed to have stumbled upon it by accident. Injury to Craig Noone and a suspension for Sammy Ameobi, forced Slade to shuffle his pack. The result was glorious.
Joe Ralls was better, Stuart O’Keefe proved still a revelation, as the pair provided the midfield platform for those ahead. In front were Tom Lawrence, giving arguably a man of the match showing, Whittingham himself and Immers who for me was man of the match as he fought and scrapped and linked up very well as well as firing home a good goal.
Up top Pilkington, the official man of the match, proved an excellent frontman, which may surprise as he is a winger, but it was a great showing from him again. Indeed, after all the fuss worrying about who are the best strikers to play at the club, the somewhat surprising answer seems to be right now, none at all.
This was a very good all round display from the Bluebirds, who finally looked like a coherent unit, a well-oiled machine rather than the old banger that has huffed and puffed around the division too often this term.
The caveat, of course, is that nagging worry about consistency. You find yourself wanting to believe, but can barely silence that little nagging voice of doubt that hides in your head.
Fabio impressed but went off injured shortly after half-time
The Bluebirds have only won back-to-back games once this season, so where is the evidence of the three or four match winning streak they are going to need now to force their way back into the top-six?
The evidence, one hopes, was right here in this match, the ability is there, but whether the Bluebirds can take this result and build on it, well, that remains a matter of simple blind faith I’m afraid.
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Re: " ITS ALIVE "
Sat Feb 20, 2016 10:44 pm
Must learn from today's result and not let the work rate drop like previous games win then fall back into no mans land - kick on and shoot shoot shoot ! Onwards and upwards - long May the return of fans return - time to get the youngsters in from clubs and schools fill the new stand to capacity for free - stewards relax and actually start to get a sense of humour and enjoy the company of fans and hopefully the atmosphere will return to enjoy excitement no racist or trouble - back the team and make some noise and let the away fans know Cardiff city are still alive and kicking BLUEBIRDS and still number 1 club in WALES ! 
Re: " ITS ALIVE "
Sat Feb 20, 2016 11:06 pm
Great article. For me, best performance in a long long time.
Re: " ITS ALIVE "
Sat Feb 20, 2016 11:35 pm
I wasnt at charlton. But wasnt the performance good there,and ultimately unlucky to not get the win. We just need to keep going. I feel we can score tuesday, just hope we can restrict them too
Re: " ITS ALIVE "
Sat Feb 20, 2016 11:58 pm
If you look at our fixtures we are in a great position to do it.
4 points off the play offs, 10 off second, 42 points to play for.
7 home, 7 away.
4 of the 7 away games are against teams who are playing for pride and places where we should take a good following so there is hope that we could pick up points at Bristol City, Fulham, Brentford and Reading who are in the Cup.
Burnley and Boro away will be tough, Sheffield Wednesday last but one game of the season could be massive.
At home you have to fancy us against anyone.
Ultimately though, I think the 4 points dropped against Rotherham and MK Dons at home will cost us and we will just miss out, hope I'm wrong
4 points off the play offs, 10 off second, 42 points to play for.
7 home, 7 away.
4 of the 7 away games are against teams who are playing for pride and places where we should take a good following so there is hope that we could pick up points at Bristol City, Fulham, Brentford and Reading who are in the Cup.
Burnley and Boro away will be tough, Sheffield Wednesday last but one game of the season could be massive.
At home you have to fancy us against anyone.
Ultimately though, I think the 4 points dropped against Rotherham and MK Dons at home will cost us and we will just miss out, hope I'm wrong
Re: " ITS ALIVE "
Sun Feb 21, 2016 12:20 am
We need to be consistent for a minimum of a 5 game winning run,then we may nick a play off spot.
You know what,if we scrape a play off position I wouldn't back against us to win it.
Need that run though.
You know what,if we scrape a play off position I wouldn't back against us to win it.
Need that run though.
Re: " ITS ALIVE "
Sun Feb 21, 2016 11:06 am
Its not dead, whether by default this means its alive i am not sure. A point on Tuesday would be nice.
Re: " ITS ALIVE "
Sun Feb 21, 2016 11:29 am
llan bluebird wrote:Its not dead, whether by default this means its alive i am not sure. A point on Tuesday would be nice.
I'll be happy if we keep up the win draw win draw cycle which would get us into the play-offs.