FT: WIGAN ATHLETIC 0 - 2 CARDIFF CITY. Match thread

[J R Hartley]

Ive not seen us be as dominant in a Championship away game since at least WarnockÂ’s time. So, on the face of it, you would say thatÂ’s proof that standards are a lot lower in League One.
However, for me, there are three “imponderables “ at play here.
‘1. The BBM effect.
2. Related to that, we are playing in a completely different way to how we played in the Championship.
3. It seems that we trust what IÂ’d describe as our best group of young players since we were granted Academy status in 04/05.
For what itÂ’s worth, I think thereÂ’s a bit more involved than just a decline in standards following a relegation.

I think all 3 points you make it’s actually a blessing to be able to implement them in
league 1 rather than another season in the championship where the aim it is to just survive and on the back of several very negative seasons.

Theres clearly a difference in level, not as huge as some make out, but certainly enough of a difference to make it easier for BBM to implement his style and mold the team.

Its worth pointing out that in the last two years Ipswich and Sunderland have gone straight through and got back to back promotions. Not suggesting for one second we will do the same, we havent got out of league 1 yet, but maybe for the top teams in league 1 it shows the gap isn’t that huge.

[Jimmy the Jock]

I'd say it's more that they're having to play against league one players instead of championship ones

And the Burnley game ? I know it wasn’t their first team, we were dominant on the whole ..

[BLUETIT]

Those bright orange shirts, made it seem like we had 20 outfield players on the pitch !

[olderblue]

And the Burnley game ? I know it wasn’t their first team, we were dominant on the whole ..

You’re right Jimmy it wasn’t a Burnley team full of kids either, they had some expensive buys in that team.
We have a decent coach for a change who has a way of playing and a belief in a system that’s getting the best out of the squad

I can’t think of too many managers we’ve had here over the years who would have changed the CB’s around as much as BBM and it works
All the talk from our group is about how much we’re just enjoying the football, and whilst there will be setbacks like last week, it hasn’t dampened the enthusiasm or confidence in the coach or his team

[Trigger]

Those bright orange shirts, made it seem like we had 20 outfield players on the pitch !

Don't give Vincent ideas.

[The Lone Gunman]

It’s worth pointing out that in the last two years Ipswich and Sunderland have gone straight through and got back to back promotions.

Not true. Sunderland spent three seasons in the Championship (22/23, 23/24 and 24/25) following their promotion from League One in 21/22.

[J R Hartley]

Not true. Sunderland spent three seasons in the Championship (22/23, 23/24 and 24/25) following their promotion from League One in 21/22.

My error, I stand corrected and bow to your 50 year football knowledge.

Just the 2 play off finishes and a promotion to the Premier League within 3 years of promotion from League 1. Maybe the gap is huge after all.

[The Lone Gunman]

My error, I stand corrected and bow to your 50 year football knowledge.

I’m glad to have been of service.

[PaulWent76]

It's finally sunk in with me after ca 20 years of reading this board, when we win the other team were poor and/or we were lucky. When we lose we were bad and should have beaten the other team who were poor.
If we win a league/get promoted/get to a final we were lucky because the league was poor or we got lucky in the draw.
Good. Now I've sorted that out in my head I can start to enjoy supporting City.

[North Cardiff Blue]

I think all 3 points you make it’s actually a blessing to be able to implement them in
league 1 rather than another season in the championship where the aim it is to just survive and on the back of several very negative seasons.

Theres clearly a difference in level, not as huge as some make out, but certainly enough of a difference to make it easier for BBM to implement his style and mold the team.

Its worth pointing out that in the last two years Ipswich and Sunderland have gone straight through and got back to back promotions. Not suggesting for one second we will do the same, we havent got out of league 1 yet, but maybe for the top teams in league 1 it shows the gap isn’t that huge.

Agree, a rebuild was just what we needed, and the top teams coming up from League one can handle themselves well in the Championship

We just played a tens of £millions Burnley team and beat them comfortably while still learning.

[Hilts]

It's finally sunk in with me after ca 20 years of reading this board, when we win the other team were poor and/or we were lucky. When we lose we were bad and should have beaten the other team who were poor.
If we win a league/get promoted/get to a final we were lucky because the league was poor or we got lucky in the draw.
Good. Now I've sorted that out in my head I can start to enjoy supporting City.

We've lost once this season and most if not all agreed Bradford were good

[Michael Morris]

[Michael Morris]

I hadn't realised just how good the build up to this goal was. Far too often we passed it up to the final third and then passed it back out again. Here's one time we saw through to a goal.

����#CityAsOne pic.twitter.com/dYH93iDjM0

— Cardiff City FC (@CardiffCityFC) September 28, 2025

[PaulWent76]

We've lost once this season and most if not all agreed Bradford were good

So you’re saying my sarcasm is ill founded? Fair enough. I’ll climb back into my box until the next time someone seeks to explain why we’re at or near the top as being because the league is “poor”.

[LA Bluebird]

I hadn't realised just how good the build up to this goal was. Far too often we passed it up to the final third and then passed it back out again. Here's one time we saw through to a goal.

����#CityAsOne pic.twitter.com/dYH93iDjM0

— Cardiff City FC (@CardiffCityFC) September 28, 2025

I was yelling at my tv when Robinson ballooned that pass out to apparently nobody from a central position but it was a brilliant ball, stretched Wigan out and gave Perry and Rubin the time to join the attack. Shows what I know.

[The Lone Gunman]

So you’re saying my sarcasm is ill founded? Fair enough. I’ll climb back into my box until the next time someone seeks to explain why we’re at or near the top as being because the league is “poor”.

Based on what you’ve seen so far, how do you rate the quality of the football in League One and the strength of the division overall?

[PaulWent76]

This is where I have a problem. I never pass judgement on the quality of a league as I don't have any facts on which to base a judgement. There seem to be a number of people who are able to make those judgements and as every day is a school day I will wait to be educated about what the facts are as opposed to people's opinions.

[The Lone Gunman]

This is where I have a problem. I never pass judgement on the quality of a league as I don't have any facts on which to base a judgement. There seem to be a number of people who are able to make those judgements and as every day is a school day I will wait to be educated about what the facts are as opposed to people's opinions.

They aren’t facts, they’re opinions. You seem to get upset or irritated by the opinions of others regarding the quality (or lack of) in League One, but you don’t seem to have any opinions yourself. Strange.

[PaulWent76]

We agree. They're opinions not facts. I'm quite happy to read other people's opinions and accept them as such. What I was interested in was if anyone had facts to back up their opinions which often, in my opinion, take the gloss off a City performance or achievement by stating that the opposition side or league contributed by being 'poor'. Often, in my opinion, these people have trouble enjoying our success which is something I find strange.

[Crisp White Lines]

We agree. They're opinions not facts. I'm quite happy to read other people's opinions and accept them as such. What I was interested in was if anyone had facts to back up their opinions which often, in my opinion, take the gloss off a City performance or achievement by stating that the opposition side or league contributed by being 'poor'. Often, in my opinion, these people have trouble enjoying our success which is something I find strange.

Football is awash with stats and analysis, yet those don’t always give the full picture.

I can’t remember a time when Cardiff City have allowed opponents as many chances as they have, without conceding more goals from open play.

I can only conclude that the standard of finishing is much poorer in L1 compared to the championship.

I wish there was a stat to prove it, but I don’t think any of the existing metrics show it.

I am over the moon with City’s results, performances, and league position.

That said, I also believe several of our opponents have failed to take advantage of the numerous opportunities afforded them

Those opinions don’t have to be mutually exclusive.

[The Lone Gunman]

We agree. They're opinions not facts. I'm quite happy to read other people's opinions and accept them as such. What I was interested in was if anyone had facts to back up their opinions which often, in my opinion, take the gloss off a City performance or achievement by stating that the opposition side or league contributed by being 'poor'. Often, in my opinion, these people have trouble enjoying our success which is something I find strange.

With all due respect, I think you’re being way too precious. After all, the two things are not mutually exclusive - City can play well and win well against poor opposition, and they’ve already done so on a number of occasions this season. A good example was the Rotherham game back in August. The Bluebirds played well and cruised to a 3-0 victory. The Millers were utterly abysmal and offered virtually nothing from the first whistle to the last. It was an easy victory over really poor opposition.

At the end of last season, lots of fans were full of doom and gloom about our prospects for 2025/26. They apparently believed League One was a tough division and City would be likely to struggle in it. Some even went as far as predicting we’d be marooned in the lower divisions for years to come.

I wasn't one of those people. On the contrary, as I said on here on several occasions, I believed the chances were that League One would be a significant drop in standard. I could see no reason why City wouldn’t either bounce back to the Championship at the first time of asking or at least within a couple of years provided the club appointed the right sort of manager and made some sensible signings.

Having said that, I must admit I’ve been surprised by just how poor the standard of football in this division is this season, or at least how poor it’s appeared to be in the games I’ve seen so far. I fully expected City to be challenging towards the top of the table, but I wasn’t aware of just how limited a lot of our opponents would be.

I can’t comment on yesterday’s victory as I haven’t even seen the highlights yet. Plenty of people who did watch it seem to be suggesting that City played well, but our players didn’t really need to extend themselves against poor opponents who offered very little. That makes perfect sense to me, as that has been the case in a number of other games this season.

[NYCBlue]

I think all 3 points you make it’s actually a blessing to be able to implement them in
league 1 rather than another season in the championship where the aim it is to just survive and on the back of several very negative seasons.

Theres clearly a difference in level, not as huge as some make out, but certainly enough of a difference to make it easier for BBM to implement his style and mold the team.

Its worth pointing out that in the last two years Ipswich and Sunderland have gone straight through and got back to back promotions. Not suggesting for one second we will do the same, we havent got out of league 1 yet, but maybe for the top teams in league 1 it shows the gap isn’t that huge.

I think there's a lot to be said for the way going down to League One gives teams a chance to reboot. It seems to me that the drop in quality provides a great opportunity for teams with a bit of talent to be able to keep possession and play football. I think this in turn builds confidence, trust and actually helps players improve. We've seen this in the past with teams like Wigan, Reading, Swansea, Bournemouth, Brentford and Brighton just to name a few. Pundits are already talking about BBM and our squad of talented youngsters. We're going to find it a lot easier to get quality loans if this continues, as well as attract better academy and senior players. We live in hope. At last. Still need to get rid of that worm though. (And badges with white birds - seriously how hard is it to remind the kit manufacturer that the bird should be blue?)

[PaulWent76]

Precious and strange. My middle names. Probably fair enough.
I believe that's the most positive post you've put up in the last few years.

[PaulWent76]

With all due respect, I think you’re being way too precious. After all, the two things are not mutually exclusive - City can play well and win well against poor opposition, and they’ve already done so on a number of occasions this season. A good example was the Rotherham game back in August. The Bluebirds played well and cruised to a 3-0 victory. The Millers were utterly abysmal and offered virtually nothing from the first whistle to the last. It was an easy victory over really poor opposition.

At the end of last season, lots of fans were full of doom and gloom about our prospects for 2025/26. They apparently believed League One was a tough division and City would be likely to struggle in it. Some even went as far as predicting we’d be marooned in the lower divisions for years to come.

I wasn't one of those people. On the contrary, as I said on here on several occasions, I believed the chances were that League One would be a significant drop in standard. I could see no reason why City wouldn’t either bounce back to the Championship at the first time of asking or at least within a couple of years provided the club appointed the right sort of manager and made some sensible signings.

Having said that, I must admit I’ve been surprised by just how poor the standard of football in this division is this season, or at least how poor it’s appeared to be in the games I’ve seen so far. I fully expected City to be challenging towards the top of the table, but I wasn’t aware of just how limited a lot of our opponents would be.

I can’t comment on yesterday’s victory as I haven’t even seen the highlights yet. Plenty of people who did watch it seem to be suggesting that City played well, but our players didn’t really need to extend themselves against poor opponents who offered very little. That makes perfect sense to me, as that has been the case in a number of other games this season.

"With all due respect" 😁? Precious and strange strange are my middle names. Probably fair enough.
I think that's the most positive post you've put up in the last five years. I look forward to reading further opinions.

[Crisp White Lines]

At the end of last season, lots of fans were full of doom and gloom about our prospects for 2025/26. They apparently believed League One was a tough division and City would be likely to struggle in it. Some even went as far as predicting we’d be marooned in the lower divisions for years to come.

Guilty as charged.

I formed my opinion on the way the club has been run, the quality of managers appointed, and the apparent lack of character from the players in the closing months of last season.

The turnaround has been dramatic on the last two points.