“ Uninspiring, disappointing, underwhelming “

Uninspiring, disappointing, underwhelming.



viewtopic.php?f=2&t=144783


By Glen Williams

Monday 3rd February 2020


Those were just a few of the words being banded around social media after Cardiff City's January transfer window limped to its conclusion.

There was a real hope among the fan base that this window would be used to patch up a squad which desperately needed reinforcements.

It needed proven talent, an injection of attacking potency and some much-needed back-up for the onerous creative burden Lee Tomlin has been lumbered with all season.

In truth, Cardiff probably needed four or five signings in this window. Players who could come in and immediately improve the team. But perhaps that was never truly realistic.

Come 11pm on transfer deadline day, Cardiff had signed only 20-year-old Dion Sanderson, Brad Jones, a left-back who, at 25, has just 32 first-team games under his belt on these shores, and Albert Adomah, a proven winger who might well add the experience that is needed.

But the addition of that experience was countered by the body blow of Lee Peltier's deadline day exit to West Brom.

The circumstances of that move still remain under a cloud. Neil Harris had said there were contract talks going on in the background, with the right-back's deal set to end at the end of the season, but no news was forthcoming.

Tomlin's contract extension was announced earlier in the window and supporters were waiting patiently for updates of Peltier and Danny Ward. Radio silence.

A few short weeks back, Peltier posted an emotional message to Cardiff City supporters to mark five years since he had joined the club.

Some supporters mistook the post for an exit message, however Peltier quickly dispelled the rumours and even replied to one fan that he would sign a life contract at the club if it was offered to him.

It makes it all the more curious, then, that this cropped up in the final hours of deadline day.

The club's statement said Peltier had left the club by mutual consent, rather than he had signed for West Brom. The Baggies weren't mentioned in the statement at all, for that matter, which points to him signing there on a free contract.

So, all things considered, many fans were left feeling indifferent following the 11pm deadline on Friday night.

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By Glen Williams


But, crucially, all is not lost.

Yes, it wasn't the transfer window everyone wanted. Harris' comments after the Reading game seemed to suggest it wasn't entirely the window that he wanted.

Peltier's exit led to a bit of a scramble, which saw the signing of Sanderson, which is seemingly very positive news.

The noises coming out of Wolves are that this boy has a big future ahead of him. He can operate at centre-back and at right-back and it will be exciting to track his progress in the few short months he is contracted to the Welsh capital club.

While it is understood his recruitment is simply to provide back-up for Jazz Richards, should the 20-year-old impress, however, he could certainly earn a spot and his stripes in a Cardiff City shirt.

Similarly, Brad Smith is a relatively unknown quantity but certainly addresses a key problem area for the Bluebirds, with Joe Bennett having been largely unchallenged for his spot all season.

He won the MLS Cup with Seattle Sounders last season and those Stateside were disappointed when he chose the Welsh capital over a move back to the US.

Of course, there is always a question mark as to just how good MLS really is and where that standard would sit in the English football pyramid.



But with 22 international caps with Australia under his belt and a tremendous schooling at Premier League giants Liverpool, he might just be one to keep an eye on. He is also said to be rapid.

Lastly, then, there is Adomah, arguably the most household of names to frequent watchers of Championship football.

If pace is what you were after, the Forest loanee is your man. Or certainly, he was. Whether, at 32, those fast-twitch fibres are as effective as they once were remains to be seen.

Given the paucity of goals coming from Cardiff strikers in recent seasons, the Bluebirds need contributions from all over the park.

While Adomah is hardly prolific, his scoring record is not to be sniffed at and he has chipped in with a number of useful goals wherever he has been.

He also has two Championship promotions to his name and Harris is hoping that experience will rub off on other players.

So, not a disaster, not by any stretch. Deadwood was also moved on. Omar Bogle and Gary Madine were shipped out, Armand Traore and Brian Murphy were cut loose and Joe Day and Ciaron Brown were sent out on loan to get minutes under their belts.

That was always the aim for this window, remember, and it's fair to say that box is certainly checked.

Some fans were even content with the transfer business.

7 players out / 3 players in

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=144783

Fair to say that the January window is not easy to do business. I expect far more outgoings and incomings in the summer. I suspect the majority of fans have written off this season already.

Janaury isn't rather time for mass changes, just the time to tweak.

I didnt notice many teams spend huge amounts really. Personally would have kept one of Medine or Bogle. Also would have kept Peltier until we got a proper replacement probably in the summer.

Underwhelming certainly the word but I think most teams would feel the same.

Janaury isn't rather time for mass changes, just the time to tweak.

I didnt notice many teams spend huge amounts really. Personally would have kept one of Medine or Bogle. Also would have kept Peltier until we got a proper replacement probably in the summer.

Underwhelming certainly the word but I think most teams would feel the same.

Spot on. To expect anything more in this window was stupid. It's been made clear we have no money. The club is happy to settle the ship this season and cut costs after relegation. We will soon see what our ambition is come the summer months.

Janaury isn't rather time for mass changes, just the time to tweak.

I didnt notice many teams spend huge amounts really. Personally would have kept one of Medine or Bogle. Also would have kept Peltier until we got a proper replacement probably in the summer.

Underwhelming certainly the word but I think most teams would feel the same.

I’d say 7 players leaving is mass changes.

Janaury isn't rather time for mass changes, just the time to tweak.

I didnt notice many teams spend huge amounts really. Personally would have kept one of Medine or Bogle. Also would have kept Peltier until we got a proper replacement probably in the summer.

Underwhelming certainly the word but I think most teams would feel the same.

I’d say 7 players leaving is mass changes.

Yes but we all knew that had to happen as we had a bloated squad.

Janaury isn't rather time for mass changes, just the time to tweak.

I didnt notice many teams spend huge amounts really. Personally would have kept one of Medine or Bogle. Also would have kept Peltier until we got a proper replacement probably in the summer.

Underwhelming certainly the word but I think most teams would feel the same.

Spot on. To expect anything more in this window was stupid. It's been made clear we have no money. The club is happy to settle the ship this season and cut costs after relegation. We will soon see what our ambition is come the summer months.

Not really, how many of them were actually being used under Harris in recent weeks.
Only Peltier really and even he has seemed to have fallen behind Richards (rightly or wrongly). The core of the squad has hardly changed in my opinion.

Janaury isn't rather time for mass changes, just the time to tweak.

I didnt notice many teams spend huge amounts really. Personally would have kept one of Medine or Bogle. Also would have kept Peltier until we got a proper replacement probably in the summer.

Underwhelming certainly the word but I think most teams would feel the same.

Spot on. To expect anything more in this window was stupid. It's been made clear we have no money. The club is happy to settle the ship this season and cut costs after relegation. We will soon see what our ambition is come the summer months.

Not really, how many of them were actually being used under Harris in recent weeks.
Only Peltier really and even he has seemed to have fallen behind Richards (rightly or wrongly). The core of the squad has hardly changed in my opinion.

3 in 3 out is what ive seem.. there were 2 players on very short term contracts and another 2 quite a way from the first team sent on loan. that { or something similar } was always happening

City have fallen behind several clubs who did good business particularly the jacks and wurzels.

City have fallen behind several clubs who did good business particularly the jacks and wurzels.

Looks good business on paper but
Only good business if it helps them get in top 6 and stay there? Sheff wed good window as well

City have fallen behind several clubs who did good business particularly the jacks and wurzels.

Swansea have signed 3 kids ,picked up 1 point in their last 2 games and left a player who cost 15 { FIFTEEN } million pounds and has 20 appearances this season go for free..
yeah fantastic business.

Janaury isn't rather time for mass changes, just the time to tweak.

I didnt notice many teams spend huge amounts really. Personally would have kept one of Medine or Bogle. Also would have kept Peltier until we got a proper replacement probably in the summer.

Underwhelming certainly the word but I think most teams would feel the same.

I’d say 7 players leaving is mass changes.

Jack’s had 9 players leave and 3 in, Warnock’s squad had 4 Senior keepers and 6 strikers and played only 1, we had a crazy unbalanced squad that was costing a fortune!
Now we have a much better balance but badly need some quality in the Summer!

Janaury isn't rather time for mass changes, just the time to tweak.

I didnt notice many teams spend huge amounts really. Personally would have kept one of Medine or Bogle. Also would have kept Peltier until we got a proper replacement probably in the summer.

Underwhelming certainly the word but I think most teams would feel the same.

I’d say 7 players leaving is mass changes.

Jack’s had 9 players leave and 3 in, Warnock’s squad had 4 Senior keepers and 6 strikers and played only 1, we had a crazy unbalanced squad that was costing a fortune!
Now we have a much better balance but badly need some quality in the Summer!

yes..should never have signed Murphy when Etheridge got injured and Day didn't exactly cover himself in glory....