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Don’t think this is a bad piece apart from the bit where he says we signed one striker, we didn’t. We signed two and people in Glen Williams’ profession should be on to the club asking why he’s playing in Belgium when we’re bottom of the league having scored once in four matches.
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/...-erol-29880884
Any chance of a summary TOBW? The WoL website crashes my iPad every time I click on a link.
The big Cardiff City changes Erol Bulut will considering right now after dire startQuote:
Originally Posted by Des Parrot
"Four games we’ve played. Now I will look at the statistics. We will analyse them and there will be changes."
Those were Cardiff City manager Erol Bulut's parting words as we headed into the international break, with the Bluebirds sitting at the bottom of the Championship table after four matches.
Cardiff have scored just one league goal and conceded 10, which makes you wince a little when it's laid bare like that. Some would argue their performances on the whole have not warranted such a horrendous start — many neutrals have even said the same — but the fact is, they are where they are.
Bulut has vowed to make changes and for many supporters it's not before time. There are a number of issues likely coursing through the manager's head right now in the middle of this international break, with a different-looking Cardiff side likely to take the field against Derby County in a week's time.
So, what are the big questions that need answering? We take a look at some of them...
READ MORE: Ramsey says he has 'unfinished business' with Wales as he torpedoes speculation over international future
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The goalkeeper
Erol Bulut placed his faith in Ethan Horvath despite his toe-curling gaffe in the heavy 5-0 defeat up at Burnley, selecting him in goal for the subsequent games against Swansea and Middlesbrough.
The USA international is a top shot-stopper, the trouble is, and this is particularly pertinent amid a drastic change in footballing style, he does not fill anyone inside Cardiff City Stadium with any confidence when the ball is at his feet. That Burnley goal aside, away at Swansea he was visibly rattled by the home supporters' jeers whenever the ball came to him and he put Calum Chambers in some awkward positions.
Jak Alnwick is a wonderful passer of the ball, on the other hand. Cool, calm and is far more likely to be able to launch attacks from the back, which presumably is the aim with this new style of play. His error in the Watford draw a year ago is potentially the only blot on his copybook.
He can pick out laser-like passes out to the wing which can set City on quicker attacks – and the pace has been lacking in their attempts to get forward thus far. And would Cardiff lose that much in shot-stopping ability if he was to be selected over Horvath? Most would probably say no. One to ponder.
The left-hand side
Cardiff's left-hand side has not been effective enough this term, which was likely started when Jamilu Collins' injury altered the plans, forcing Callum O'Dowda to shift to left-back.
But there's probably not a better winger in the club than the Irishman, who has been forced to play on the left-hand side of defence for the majority of his stay in the Welsh capital so far.
Chris Willock, the summer signing, has done OK without really setting the league alight in his first few matches, but there's enough there to offer some hope, while Anwar El Ghazi is still working his way up to full fitness after a year out.
Collins is likely to be close to match fitness following the international break, but maybe it's time to give Joel Bagan that left-back berth. The defender has enjoyed an impressive summer, both in pre-season and in the cup matches in which he has been afforded his opportunities. He looks far sterner, more aggressive and is not afraid to carve out a lovely ball down the channel – another means of getting Cardiff playing higher up the pitch.
Perhaps a Bagan-O'Dowda axis on the left-hand side is worth a shot after the early showings.
The midfield balance
Arguably the area of the pitch which provokes the most debate.
Many supporters believe Cardiff's setup is too defensive and are urging Bulut to play a more forward-thinking pair at the base of the midfield. They are conceding too many and not scoring any, so, surely, it must be worth a punt?
Some wonder whether having Alex Robertson and Aaron Ramsey as duel-eights is workable, or whether that leaves the defence too exposed. But against supposed weaker teams, and especially when playing at home, it could be the way to go. Cardiff always look far better later on in games with a more attacking blend in there, so why not from the off?
Manolis Siopis does perhaps do some unseen work that might not always be appreciated, but do his deficiencies with the ball outweigh his expertise without it?
Whatever solution Bulut opts for, that balance just isn't right at the moment and is undermining the style of play they are trying to implement. Sign up to our Cardiff City newsletter here.
The Colwill conundrum
Another big issue for fans. Rubin Colwill is Cardiff's most dynamic attacking threat and he simply isn't playing enough minutes. By hook or by crook, City's attack needs to be built around the Wales international, whose talents are not being fully utilised.
By the same token that Aaron Ramsey should not be written off, Colwill should not be punished for his inexperience. The argument is that he doesn't do it for 90 minutes, but, on the other hand, nor do any of the other players picked ahead of him. And the 30 minutes he is giving is far more impactful than 60 minutes of anyone else at the moment.
You can guarantee that many teams in the Championship would find a way of accommodating a generational talent like Ramsey and a game-changer like Colwill in their starting XI. The sooner Cardiff can find a way to do that, the sooner the goal tally will ramp up.
Instead of piling into him for the things he cannot do, let's focus on the things he can do. Let's focus on the defenders who hate seeing him run at them or the chance he can create from nothing when an attack looks like it's grinding to a halt.
There is a similar argument to be made on the right wing. Is Yakou Meite doing enough to keep Ollie Tanner out of the team? Many would say no right now.
Robinson or Kanga?
Cardiff managed to sign only one striker in the summer, which some supporters felt was a little bit of an oversight. Bulut even admitted he was uncomfortable with the number of striker options he had who are predominantly wingers.
Wilfried Kanga has not done a great deal wrong, but he has not shown enough as yet to make that centre-forward position his own, that's for sure.
There seems little justification for keeping a fully-fit Callum Robinson out of the side now. Bulut revealed he had trained only once due to an Achilles issue in the lead-up to the Middlesbrough game, citing that as the reason he was not eligible to start the match.
But after a full international camp, Robinson, the man who is responsible for Cardiff's only league goal this term, has to be the player leading the line. He also complements this style of play and is a better link-up man for the likes of Roberts, Ramsey and Colwill.
Robinson is full of confidence and has more Championship goals to his name than any other player in the squad by a considerable distance. It would be a shock not to see him given his chance from the off against the Rams, that's for sure.
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The formation
Lastly, and perhaps the most unlikely and nuclear option, there is a potential shift in formation.
Bulut has largely stuck with a 4-2-3-1 since taking charge of Cardiff and that will probably continue, but some supporters have proffered the theory of changing the shape of the team to accommodate the squad's strengths.
One prevailing theory among some sections of the fan base is to operate with three at the back – Chambers, Dimitrios Goutas and Jesper Daland — while using O'Dowda and Perry Ng as wing-backs. Those wing-backs are both good on the ball and can operate centrally, while O'Dowda has electric pace and Ng is a fantastic crosser of the ball, qualities which can help the team further up the pitch.
It then allows a midfield three of Robertson, Ramsey and one of Manolis Siopis or Joe Ralls, while Colwill could potentially support Robinson as the two most advanced players.
It would shore up Cardiff, potentially, but would it detract too much from their attacking output? Perhaps away from home, against better teams, it might be something to consider. It will be interesting to see how flexible City are in this regard.
consider yourself luckyQuote:
Originally Posted by Des Parrot
Jak Alnwick to start in goalsQuote:
Originally Posted by the other bob wilson
Joel Bagan at left back
Ollie Tanner on the right wing
O'Dowda on the left wing
Callum Robinson to start instead of Kanga. Kanga should be nowhere near the team at the moment. Reindorf to be sent on as Robinson's replacement should he tire.
And lastly, and most importantly. PLAY COLWILL FROM THE START!!
ThanksQuote:
Originally Posted by Mr Soul '68
I’ll go with that. Ramsey looks far better in a deeper role. Let Colwill off the leash.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr Soul '68
I stopped bothering with this article after all the Jak Alnwick hyperbole, utter nonsense.
The sentence ‘Wilfried Kanga has not done a great deal wrong’ is one word too many…….. the last f*cker!!
We all know that Bulut is a cautious individual.
I doubt we will see huge changes.
I think he will stick with Horvarth, Chambers and Daland (injury permitting).
Probably Ng too as we don;t have many options and I can't see him trusting Kpakio just yet
And O'dowda at LB.
Central midfield I can see him going with Siopis and Ramsey or Siopis and Robertson
And I think Colwill will get his chance at 10 (and if he doesn't run the game he'll hold it against him for months)
Up front Robinson with Tanner and Willock on the wings
Is Horvath a "top shot stopper"? Since signing he's conceded 39 goals in 20 league games!
I keep seeing this stuff about a "change in playing style", it looks like we're playing the same ponderous style that we did last season
The only difference i can see is that we're playing out from the keeper, running out of ideas and then knocking the ball 40 yards.Quote:
Originally Posted by City123
We need a complete change of style. Boring, defensive football is all well and good if you don't concede, and then snatch a winner. We don't do either of those things. For a manager who insists on playing defensive football, we don't half let in a lot of goals. If you look at the team sheet at kick-off, it all looks fairly decent - yep, that's not a bad side. But when they get out on the pitch, not only are they ineffective, but it's also dreadful to watch. Why so? If the players are good enough, then the fault clearly lies elsewhere.
Are we all forgetting about El Ghazi? He should be the first name on the team sheet if he's fit for the next game, given he's come off the bench twice and has a full international break to regain his fitness I'd expect him to start at Derby.
Has O Dowda got electric pace?
It's un feckin believable isn't it.!!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by splott parker
What useless journalists we have.!!!!
I stopped reading after the Kanga crap then saw this post and this stupid feckin so called journalist said this as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by delmbox
Walesonline is shit it really is.
Anyone who has half an ounce of balls, would have just written The manager isn’t up to the job and needs to goQuote:
Originally Posted by Hilts
The rest of it is mostly fiction written in such a way as not to offend anyone at the club
Bulut has failed everywhere else and this will just be another one to add to the list on his CV