The Reduced Section @ CCFC

With a month left of this slow-burning transfer window, fans are awaiting the latest moves from Cardiff City as things begin to heat up prior to the madness of ‘#DeadlineDay’ ™

With very dramatic transfer windows of the past where Malaysian money was being urinated into the wind and new overpriced diva footballers arriving at the Vale training ground by the hour, the club have had a much needed calm and relatively uneventful one thus far.  

Seeing your club show ambition and investing in making transfers is fun but when you know it’s all going to end in tears it gets a bit frustrating. However, the current squad could be seen by some as strong enough to compete this season if managed effectively. Only really Sammy Ameobi has been drafted in on loan so far and a very handy signing he looks to be.

But what next for Russell Slade, the City Admin lads and the club fax machine? Noises have been made regarding plates spinning and irons in fires for ‘one or two’ additions but we await any further developments on that front.

Lots has been made of the failings and wasted money of previous managers resulting in a group of unwanted players hanging around begging for a move. With the likes of Adam Le Fondre and Javi Guerra not fancied by Slade and gathering dust in the CCFC deperture lounge, it looks certain that these assets will move on. A conclusion to suit all parties it seems.

There are other players in the reduced section too who could well be shipped out should enquiries become firmer, including Kenwyne Jones who has recently been linked with a move to the MLS (We can only hope).

It’s only after these moves are completed and the sales cash hitting the Cardiff bank account that we are likely to see the club make more active strides in this market. After making a loss on each player mentioned there’s been noises from the owner that this is the only cheddar Russell Slade will have to play with for now.

So, regardless of whether Russell is the right man to spend this doe in the market and whether or not his scouting network spans beyond Championship Manager, what do we need? 

Nasty Midfield Maestro

Cardiff have yearned for a warrior marshalling things in the middle since not replacing Gary Medel this time last summer. Kagisho Dikgacoi was brought in but got all sorts of injured (mostly from eating) leaving the gaping hole protected by the likes of Gunnarsson (not clever enough) and Whittingham (not that type of player).

During last season calls were repeatedly made for Russell to change the formation and bring more bodies to protect the middle instead of his beloved 4-4-2 but all we ended up seeing was the middle getting overrun and Cardiff get bullied.

In order to progress this season, this is one issue which needs addressing. The time has come for a maestro to add some bite and if he can take the ball short from our long punting centre backs then that’s a bonus.

Dikgacoi is not the answer (Perhaps he could be after several years of fitness work).

Imagination

Last season was mundane under Slade at times with the straight line 1980s tactics, robotic long balls and static movement. It’s fair to say more craft and creative thinking is required from the front players but do the current group have that? And will they be allowed to indulge in such frivolities?

You could argue that Joe Mason and Ameobi each carry the brain and capability of producing something but not many would argue against City brining in a new versatile playmaker. A bit like a Mats Møller Dæhli but a rebooted one that Slade likes and one who has the hunger and the balls to play in the grimy Championship.

Perhaps Russel could move late on this one and make a cheeky dip back into the loan market. We can only dream. Sigh