Things Looking Up at Cardiff City (WTF?)

After a family holiday in North Wales and a lack of recent blog action in the last fortnight, it’s an ideal time to take stock of where the Bluebirds find themselves five games in and with the transfer window done. It’s fair to say, after the giant facepalm of a season last year, many had Russell Slade on borrowed time but credit must be given to the bald one for steering City to an unbeaten August.

Slade bore the brunt of stick from supporters last year (me included) for not only lame results and dire 1980s style tactics, but it’s there to see that things have been worked on in the summer and carried into the start of the season. With the sound of disgruntled fans ringing in his lugs, Russell has had a point to prove and after hiring coach Paul Trollope, the style of play in particular is something that has radically changed from a hit and run long ball slug-fest into a neater patient possession based approach.

Granted, City are not playing like Brazil 70 or Barcelona yet but the players appear fitter and better prepared for games, they know their jobs and are starting to click as a group on the pitch. What’s perhaps more significant though is the return of smiles to their mush and what looks like the return of the magical ‘team spirit’ - something which hasn’t been seen around these parts since the Malky era when the whole squad wanted to hold hands, hang out after training and put their bodies on the line for the promotion cause. (Good times) 

A potentially tricky transfer window and ‘#DeadlineDay’ have also been navigated sensibly. After three or four windows of pissing Malaysian money out the window, the balancing of the books has ticked along quietly. Signings haven’t been mouth-watering but it could also be argued that the nucleus of a potentially strong and fruitful squad was already in place (albeit with about 700 too many players). 

For once Cardiff stood firm over negotiations when the big boys came knocking for a star player and Captain David Marshall stayed at the club where he may have been sold for magic beans in previous windows. Slade also saw to clearing some of the deadwood left hanging round like a bad expensive stench from previous regimes including Guerra, Kiss and Velikonja, freeing up more funds for the budget. Striker Eoin Doyle, disgruntled at a lack of game time, was also moved on loan to Preston and took his moaning with him. 

Doyle's wildcard replacement Idriss Saadi was the only fee reported to have been paid by City (£700k) over the summer. It remains to be seen whether this lad can worm his way into the team and perform as good as his YouTube compilation videos (can anyone?). 

All in all, the squad may lack stardust and flair to sell tickets but it still looks functional and as strong as any in the league. 

Above: At the stadium for the Wolves game with the neighbours the other week.

On the pitch, City were not cavalier in their victory over much fancied Wolves a week ago Saturday but the organisation and result was impressive. Following that with another big three points away at Forest has continued the momentum and begun to create a welcome and unfamiliar decent feeling around the club for a change as we head into the international break. 

So, is Russell slowly starting to prove the naysayer supporters wrong? I am chowing down my words as I type this and look forward to feasting on more over the season if this continues.