Cardiff are starting to struggle. That might seem like a daft statement while they’re currently sat in ninth place, a mere win away from the play-off places, but November was a bit of a slog and December may follow suit.
They recorded a largely uneventful draw at Stoke, a defeat snatched from the jaws of victory against Norwich, a victory snatched from the jaws of defeat at Preston and a loss against West Brom midweek.
The win at Preston was pretty glorious and briefly put Cardiff back in the top six, but it took them 90 minutes to get going. They were playing against 10 men for most of the second half, but you couldn’t tell. Cardiff eventually put the hosts under enormous pressure in added time, pinning them back and after winning endless corners, Preston eventually buckled and it served as a timely reminder of how potent Cardiff can be. This was a return to the Cardiff that showed Huddersfield no mercy and finally put Swansea to the sword.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe truth is that Cardiff have been rather fortunate until now, in some respects. They may have lost Aaron Ramsey and Callum O’Dowda, two pivotal players to long-term injuries, but they’ve otherwise been able to rely on the same core group of players. Karlan Grant has played 90 minutes, every single game, but he was ineligible on Tuesday and there was no adequate solution.
It was the worst possible time for Jamilu Collins to serve a one game ban and wipe out the whole left flank, but he’s lucky it wasn’t three games after avoiding a red card for losing and using his head against Preston. Everyone that deputised on the left struggled and it unbalanced the team. Yakou Meite and Kion Etete also both picked up injuries in recent weeks as they were starting to hit their stride and now have to regain their rhythm.
The return of Alex Runarsson has also proved divisive.
With three clean sheets in four, it felt rather harsh to stand down Jak Alnwick, who has had to bide his time and wait for his chance since joining. Erol Bulut’s claim that the change is born of a desire to build from the back and Runarsson is better with his feet is valid, but that was also the case for the last few months, when he couldn’t get a look in.
Embed from Getty ImagesCardiff even returned to inverted full backs at times against West Brom and with Runarsson between the sticks, it all felt like a flashback to the start of the season, when Cardiff were still feeling their way and finding their feet. The problem is that Cardiff fans are not the most tolerant. Some claim they want a more attractive brand of football, but they get nervous and restless. They have collective kittens when they see their goalkeeper 30 yards up the pitch, squeezing the space.
On the one hand, I understand this, but it’s a means to an end and a work in progress. Runarsson got caught out in an advanced position at Preston, they broke, he lost his bearings and Cardiff were a goal down. You can put it down to teething problems, but there is always very little patience. Ryan Alsopp was signed to perform this function and most turned against him. He ended up a scapegoat for Cardiff’s poor form and it feels like Runarsson could end up inheriting that mantle.
It feels like Bulut is trying to fix a problem, but has instead created one for himself. Manchester United signed Andre Onana in order to build from the back, but if your defence is uncomfortable in possession, it won’t work. Arsenal signed David Raya as competition for and as a potential successor to Aaron Ramsdale and it has unsettled the harmony. It’s a position that requires a hierarchy and having two goalkeepers of an equal standing results in a situation where every mistake comes accompanied with calls for the other guy to return. It may also be a use him or lose him situation, with him on loan and likely to be recalled by Arsenal if he’s not playing.
Embed from Getty ImagesWhat Cardiff really could have done with this month was the return of Ramsey and O’Dowda. That injection of quality and boost in morale would have carried them through a potentially difficult December, but their return will now likely coincide with the opening of the January window.
Finally able to spend after several transfer windows under an embargo, supporters have high hopes for a month that is not exactly renowned for big spending, as clubs are far more reluctant to let players leave mid-season. The incessant Kieffer Moore chat, while very exciting also feels like it might be falsely getting everyone’s hopes up.
What is clear though is that Cardiff really do need reinforcements. Until now, they’ve managed to lick their wounds during international breaks, but it’s a big expanse of games now until the spring and will test the limits of this group. Bulut may need to willingly put some more faith in some of his reserves and give his favourites an occasional breather, otherwise injuries may start to rack up and force his hand anyway.
Cardiff are creaking, but hanging on in there. They just need to grind out the next few weeks because hopefully the cavalry are fast approaching for the season’s second half.