The good, the bad and the ugly: Cardiff City's January Deals
Thu Dec 29, 2016 2:30 am
The good, the bad and the ugly: Cardiff City's best and worst January transfer signings since 2010
This list proves you have to be careful when plunging into the January sales
BY DOMINIC BOOTH
29 DEC 2016
January at Cardiff City is often a time of great upheaval.
New players come in, old ones go out and there is a renewed sense of optimism around the club, regardless of league position.
This formula is likely to be repeated in January 2017 when Neil Warnock gets to work fine-tuning his Bluebirds squad with five months of bitter battling at the basement of the Championship ahead!
A draw against Brentford ensured the Bluebirds will remain entrenched in a fight for their Championship lives for the next month or so at the least. Friday night's visit to table-topping to Brighton will not be easy.
But, if there is one word of caution – or hope – to Warnock, it should be Cardiff City's somewhat mixed history of signing players in January.
As this list proves, the New Year doesn't always bring good news...
The Big Neil Warnock Interview: Cardiff's City's contradiction manager still feeling the buzz
Scott Malone (from Millwall. January 2015)
A snip at £110,000 from Millwall amid sensational rumours of Borussia Dortmund's interest, but Malone never settled at Cardiff City Stadium, despite the backing of manager Russell Slade.
The left back was regularly picked ahead of fan-favourite Fabio in Slade's back four, much to the ire of many supporters. But he lacked tenacity and was more defensive-minded than the Brazilian. He eventually left South Wales for pastures new at Fulham in a swap deal for Jazz Richards.
Verdict: BAD
Cardiff City defender set to miss matches in the New Year after call up for Africa Cup of Nations
Lee Peltier (from Huddersfield Town, January 2015)
As Slade sought to reorganise the Bluebirds' backline that had faltered under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, he ushered in the workmanlike Peltier from Huddersfield for an undisclosed fee.
Cardiff's Lee Peliter
It turned out to be a very useful signing indeed, as Peltier made the right back position his own, despite pressure from Fabio and Matt Connolly. The Liverpudlian is now a mainstay of Warnock's side.
Verdict: GOOD
Might as well group these three together, as they were all signed by Solksjaer after he replaced Malky Mackay as Bluebirds boss. To call the Norwegian's transfer strategy haphazard would be an understatement, perhaps best represented in the signing of these three, undoubtedly talented, but unready youngsters.
Mats Moller Daehli
All were quickly moved on by Slade after arriving on hefty wages and — a few flashes from Daehli aside — flattering to deceive for Cardiff.
Verdict: BAD
Fabio Da Silva (from Manchester United, January 2014)
A real coup for Solksjaer's Bluebirds, perhaps aided by his connections with former club United. But Fabio arrived as a ready-made Premier League full-back and — with the notable exception of one or two moments of madness — played like one too.
The Brazilian instantly struck up a rapport with the Canton End, which would regularly chant his name to applaud a scything challenge tracking back, or a kamikaze run forward. Fabio is now thriving with Middlesbrough and badly missed by Bluebirds supporters.
Verdict: GOOD
Brian Murphy set to become Cardiff City's Number One goalkeeper after impressive debut performance against Brentford
Juan Torrez Ruiz (Cala) (from Sevilla, January 2014)
Cala actually scored a crucial (and spectacular) Bluebirds goal in a 1-0 away triumph at Southampton shortly after signing from Sevilla.
But the abiding memory of the Spaniard's time at Cardiff will surely be the sending off at Sunderland, which effectively ended the Bluebirds' hopes of Premier League survival in their sole season in the top flight. Cala saw red on 45 minutes for bringing down Connor Wickham and the Black Cats romped to a 4-0 win.
That moment defined Cala's Cardiff career and six months later his contract was terminated. He's now at Getafe.
Verdict: UGLY
The former Manchester United prospect arrived from Sunderland for £650,000 as Malky Mackay sought an injection of pace and a few more goals to get his side's promotion push over the line. Campbell did just that and then some.
Fraizer Campbell could be on his way back to Cardiff if rumours are to be believed
He marked his debut against Leeds United with a goal off the bench to clinch a 1-0 victory for the Bluebirds and continued to find the net with regularity for the next season-and-a-half until Crystal Palace came calling with a £900,000 offer.
He is remembered fondly by many Cardiff fans, who have expressed a desire to see the 29-year-old return to South Wales amid rumours .
Verdict: GOOD
This list proves you have to be careful when plunging into the January sales
BY DOMINIC BOOTH
29 DEC 2016
January at Cardiff City is often a time of great upheaval.
New players come in, old ones go out and there is a renewed sense of optimism around the club, regardless of league position.
This formula is likely to be repeated in January 2017 when Neil Warnock gets to work fine-tuning his Bluebirds squad with five months of bitter battling at the basement of the Championship ahead!
A draw against Brentford ensured the Bluebirds will remain entrenched in a fight for their Championship lives for the next month or so at the least. Friday night's visit to table-topping to Brighton will not be easy.
But, if there is one word of caution – or hope – to Warnock, it should be Cardiff City's somewhat mixed history of signing players in January.
As this list proves, the New Year doesn't always bring good news...
The Big Neil Warnock Interview: Cardiff's City's contradiction manager still feeling the buzz
Scott Malone (from Millwall. January 2015)
A snip at £110,000 from Millwall amid sensational rumours of Borussia Dortmund's interest, but Malone never settled at Cardiff City Stadium, despite the backing of manager Russell Slade.
The left back was regularly picked ahead of fan-favourite Fabio in Slade's back four, much to the ire of many supporters. But he lacked tenacity and was more defensive-minded than the Brazilian. He eventually left South Wales for pastures new at Fulham in a swap deal for Jazz Richards.
Verdict: BAD
Cardiff City defender set to miss matches in the New Year after call up for Africa Cup of Nations
Lee Peltier (from Huddersfield Town, January 2015)
As Slade sought to reorganise the Bluebirds' backline that had faltered under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, he ushered in the workmanlike Peltier from Huddersfield for an undisclosed fee.
Cardiff's Lee Peliter
It turned out to be a very useful signing indeed, as Peltier made the right back position his own, despite pressure from Fabio and Matt Connolly. The Liverpudlian is now a mainstay of Warnock's side.
Verdict: GOOD
Might as well group these three together, as they were all signed by Solksjaer after he replaced Malky Mackay as Bluebirds boss. To call the Norwegian's transfer strategy haphazard would be an understatement, perhaps best represented in the signing of these three, undoubtedly talented, but unready youngsters.
Mats Moller Daehli
All were quickly moved on by Slade after arriving on hefty wages and — a few flashes from Daehli aside — flattering to deceive for Cardiff.
Verdict: BAD
Fabio Da Silva (from Manchester United, January 2014)
A real coup for Solksjaer's Bluebirds, perhaps aided by his connections with former club United. But Fabio arrived as a ready-made Premier League full-back and — with the notable exception of one or two moments of madness — played like one too.
The Brazilian instantly struck up a rapport with the Canton End, which would regularly chant his name to applaud a scything challenge tracking back, or a kamikaze run forward. Fabio is now thriving with Middlesbrough and badly missed by Bluebirds supporters.
Verdict: GOOD
Brian Murphy set to become Cardiff City's Number One goalkeeper after impressive debut performance against Brentford
Juan Torrez Ruiz (Cala) (from Sevilla, January 2014)
Cala actually scored a crucial (and spectacular) Bluebirds goal in a 1-0 away triumph at Southampton shortly after signing from Sevilla.
But the abiding memory of the Spaniard's time at Cardiff will surely be the sending off at Sunderland, which effectively ended the Bluebirds' hopes of Premier League survival in their sole season in the top flight. Cala saw red on 45 minutes for bringing down Connor Wickham and the Black Cats romped to a 4-0 win.
That moment defined Cala's Cardiff career and six months later his contract was terminated. He's now at Getafe.
Verdict: UGLY
The former Manchester United prospect arrived from Sunderland for £650,000 as Malky Mackay sought an injection of pace and a few more goals to get his side's promotion push over the line. Campbell did just that and then some.
Fraizer Campbell could be on his way back to Cardiff if rumours are to be believed
He marked his debut against Leeds United with a goal off the bench to clinch a 1-0 victory for the Bluebirds and continued to find the net with regularity for the next season-and-a-half until Crystal Palace came calling with a £900,000 offer.
He is remembered fondly by many Cardiff fans, who have expressed a desire to see the 29-year-old return to South Wales amid rumours .
Verdict: GOOD
Re: The good, the bad and the ugly: Cardiff City's January D
Thu Dec 29, 2016 11:38 am
Would agree with most of that except Lee Peliter who IMO is not a good signing. Apparently he is a solid defender (although in recent matches he has been skinned a number of times) and also he is a complete non-entity as an attacking force.
Kept Fabio out of the side last season (
) and is now keeping Bennett out at left-back ( ). He is just one of those players who seems to get picked no matter what.
He has to take his share of the blame for recent defensive lapses so I would like to see a new right back brought in and LP moved on, if possible.
Kept Fabio out of the side last season (
) and is now keeping Bennett out at left-back ( ). He is just one of those players who seems to get picked no matter what.He has to take his share of the blame for recent defensive lapses so I would like to see a new right back brought in and LP moved on, if possible.