The signs were not good as Cardiff headed into the congested Christmas period. With a daunting four games in nine days, it looked like they were running on empty and risked tumbling down the table. Questions were being asked about several players and there were widespread doubts. I, dear reader, was one of those many doubters, voicing concerns about Cardiff’s apparent stagnation, but I’m happy to report that it proved to be a period where many fears were allayed.
It’s not really worth dwelling on the Leicester defeat because they may be one of the best teams to ever play in the second tier. In a year when it will take a minor miracle to better the three relegated sides, Leicester are still way ahead of everyone else, blending an abundance of talent with evidently effective coaching. They pulled Cardiff apart, like they will most teams at this level. It felt like a mid-table Premier League side against a mid-table championship team because on paper because that is pretty much the case.
Mid-table represents clear progress for Cardiff though, who remain a squad of many fathers, consisting largely of free transfers. They’ve bobbed around the middle reaches of the division, sometimes threatening to drop towards their former comfort zone, but always find the strength of character to return to the top 10.
Embed from Getty ImagesCurrently ninth, Cardiff are exceeding expectations and this was a period where several offered timely reminders of their strengths and worth to the team.
It feels slightly ridiculous that Joe Ralls is still underestimated by some, after more than a decade of sterling service, but this is the nature of modern football, with short memories and quick tempers. He’s put the hard yards in at Championship level and that takes its toll over time. Having just turned 30, he’s viewed as more of a veteran than he actually is, but he is often withdrawn in favour of fresh legs, having emptied the tank.
It was widely considered that Ralls could no longer play two games in a week, but he started all four festive games and was arguably Cardiff’s most influential player. His bite and intensity are missed when he’s not out there and he always leads by example. He may be a fading force in some respects, but his importance should not be questioned and hopefully these displays will go a long way towards a deserved new deal.
Embed from Getty ImagesDespite a run of fine form and three consecutive clean sheets back in November, a rare poor showing against Norwich saw Jak Alnwick harshly replaced by Alex Runarsson. A crisis of confidence was cited by Erol Bulut, but since returning, Alnwick has been exemplary, making key saves in pivotal moments. Having flip-flopped between the two, Alnwick has surely now nailed down the spot and his authority spreads through the defence.
Karlan Grant has been one of Cardiff’s most consistent performers this season, but his end product has not been what most will have expected when he arrived. A centre forward by design, he has played exclusively on the left wing and had to track back far more than he will ever have in his career to date. In recent weeks, he has provided more attacking threat and at Sheffield Wednesday, he was finally given a chance through the middle.
Grant responded with a goal and a timely reminder of where his true strengths lie and hopefully his injury is not as bad as it looked. He terrorised the Wednesday defence and provided support for Kion Etete, who also thrived with his attacking burden shared. He netter the winner and made you wonder if Cardiff’s current pool of strikers are better equipped to playing in pairs, rather than ploughing a lone furrow.
Embed from Getty ImagesA frustrating trait of Cardiff’s recent struggles has been woefully poor set piece deliveries. That was particularly apparent against Leicester, where opportunities were slim and the rare corners earned never made it past the first man. Both goals at QPR resulted from pinpoint deliveries from Ralls and Ryan Wintle. With the likes of Grant, Etete, Mark McGuinness and Dimitrios Goutas to aim for, if the quality is there, goals will surely follow.
Over the space of four games, I’ve gone from dreading the next game to rueing the lack of midweek games, but they certainly needed the relative rest of a sole cup game in two weeks. Attention now turns to the transfer window and the need for reinforcements, but it won’t be easy. Any new recruits will be welcomed and certainly beneficial, but as these games have proved, those that are already here are up to the task and still giving their all.