Let’s be honest, things couldn’t have gone much better for Brian Barry-Murphy to date. Bearing in mind he was picking a group of players up off the floor after a rotten season, and preceding few years, then setting about implementing a style of play that has proven to be beyond previous Cardiff managers and players. It has all been pretty seamless to date, which was as unexpected as it was welcome.
The Port Vale game was an eye-opener. A peek through the looking glass at the bad old days and without the same baggage, Barry-Murphy still seemed as traumatised by it as the rest of us. It was a snapshot of what can happen when Cardiff go awry, unable to absorb any pressure or even string a few passes together. Despite that, they still managed to keep a clean sheet and were a moment of quality away from winning.
That is a rather damning indictment of League One if anything. I know Cardiff have yet to play anyone of note, but it does not appear to be an especially impressive standard. Mistakes are not punished and the overall quality is not great. I know I’m tempting fate by saying that, but it feels like a huge drop off from the Championship, where every game is competitive and unpredictable.
Embed from Getty ImagesCardiff’s greatest challenge to date has been opening up teams that site deep and play with a back five. The way they’re trying to play is akin with Craig Bellamy’s Wales and they encounter a similar problem. When you look to dominate the ball and the pitch, you squeeze the space and pin your opponent into their own half, so face a low, deep block. The way to do that is to speed things up in the final third and rely on your creative players to find a way.
At present, Cardiff’s most creative player is starting on the bench and watching on.
Callum Robinson does not just tend to be the top scorer, he is often the primary source of assists too. He often felt like a Premier League player operating at Championship level and would surely represent a cheat code in the third tier, but he currently has a watching brief. He can’t be happy about that, from a pride or status perspective, but there currently only appears to be room for one attacker and that is Yousef Salech.
Understandably so, by the way. Salech was a significant acquisition and immediately impressed in a failing team. He is a fearsome presence and playing on merit, but Cardiff’s attack is not quite clicking. For the reasons already outlined, space and opportunities are at a premium and despite their impressive, unbeaten start, there is the nagging suspicion that they already have the tools to be even better.
Embed from Getty ImagesIt also feels like a future problem bubbling just below the surface. Until now, Barry-Murphy has deflected the Robinson issue by explaining that he has been a little behind the others in terms of fitness, but he won’t be happy to remain on the bench indefinitely and neither would Salech. It’s easy to say don’t fix it if it’s not broken, but it’s an issue that will need to be suitably addressed eventually.
There is a similar dilemma with Callum Chambers, who dropped down a level to play for Cardiff in the Championship and the blink of an eye later has found himself in the third tier. Not even playing either. After a few shaky games back at centre back, Cardiff’s new captain has found himself deservedly out of the team and they have looked better in his absence. Having impressed in central midfield last year, you wonder if Barry-Murphy I entertaining that option because the reality is that he may be the best at the club in that position, especially if Alex Roberson ultimately ends up moving to Portsmouth, as has long been mooted.
Ronan Kpakio has been a revelation and may have been Cardiff’s best player so far this season, but playing every minute of every game will take its toll on the only just 18-year-old. Fortunately, Perry Ng is nearing fitness, but when both are available, it will be very difficult to leave either out. These are all good problems to have, until they’re not.
Embed from Getty ImagesCardiff look leaner and meaner this season. That is by design and full credit needs to go to Barry-Murphy, who arrived with a plan, has focussed on youth and hacked chunks out of a baggy, bloated squad. An unbeaten start, with only one goal conceded from a penalty is amazing, especially all thing considered, but it still feels like Cardiff are coasting.
In order to reach their full potential, to successfully knit together midfield and attack, it feels like space needs to be found for Salech AND Robinson. They will also need the quality and experience of Chambers and Ng, but no one currently deserves to lose their place. You expect that this team will evolve over time, whether naturally or by necessity and that may prove to be the toughest challenge Barry-Murphy will encounter.