First 11 games of Cardiff's season by Nathan Blake

This is how I've viewed the first 11 games of Cardiff's season...


By Nathan Blake

Thursday 5th October 2017


It's gone quick, but we're now virtually a quarter of the way through the season.

I think it's been a better quarter for Cardiff City than anybody envisaged or would have dared imagine. To only have lost once from 11 is superb.

It's good for Neil Warnock to have these international breaks to split up the season. I don't think, even in his wildest dreams, he would have thought his team would be top of the table at this stage, but he can now set small goals for the players and take them forward.

It will be a long hard slog for Cardiff after the international break until Christmas. But Warnock now feels he has a team who can challenge for automatic promotion — despite maybe thinking top eight, or top six before the start of the campaign.

Neil Warnock has now been in charge of Cardiff City for a full League season and this is where they'd have finished



This is how I've viewed the first 11 games of Cardiff's season...



' Best player so far '

I would pick the whole team if I could, because I think people like Lee Peltier, Joe Bennett and Joe Ralls have been brilliant, their performance have gone under the radar.

But two players I would highlight are Sol Bamba and Kenneth Zohore.

Bamba because I just think he's a leader at every point. He's always there for his team and he doesn't just talk the talk.

It might surprise a few people that I've chosen Zohore, but for the position he's playing as a lone striker — and the fact he doesn't only score goals but he brings others into play too and gets assists — he's been excellent. Just look at how far he's come in a short space of time.

He's shown he is a team player with his fantastic work ethic

When you're top of the league, the heart of your defence and the heart of your strike-force deserve immense credit. But that's not to say the rest of the team haven't been brilliant.







(Minor) things for Cardiff to improve

In an ideal world, Warnock would love a big, tall, powerful holding midfielder to play that No.6 role. You could argue that player is Sol Bamba but it's not entirely his natural position.

I've always said someone in that role could free up Aron Gunnarsson to boss games for Cardiff.

And no disrespect to Neil Etheridge — who I think has done well this season — but I think the manager would like a big, agile and dominant goalkeeper of the top bracket.

There's Lee Camp to come back in of course, and we'll see how that battle plays out.

It's very harsh to focus on negatives after such a strong start, and Etheridge has been in goal for all those league games, so there's not much more he could do bar the odd mistake. I'm nit-picking and to be honest I'd stick with Etheridge. But in a fantasy land you'd love a keeper in the mould of a Thibaut Courtois or a David De Gea.





Favourite moment of the season so far

Without doubt, it was the Leeds United game. That was the best atmosphere I've experienced in the stadium since that famous Man City win in the Premier League season.

I thought the performance level throughout, of players and fans alike, was amazing.

And it gave me a huge amount of pleasure. What a thrill to commentate on that game and call it as events were unfolding. I had anticipated a big atmosphere a couple of days before, and I was excited. It really reminded me of games I used to play in at the old Ninian Park.

The away win at Wolves a few weeks before was another big atmosphere in which Cardiff performed.

But for Cardiff to come up against one of their arch rivals in a top of the table clash, and win like that in front of a huge crowd, it was just right. It was brilliant.

can't disagree with any of that really.

the star so far has been mendez laing for me. he's such a threat in the final third, and i don't think he's come up against anyone who has had the measure of him yet. hoilett, zohore and bamba have not been not far behind.

I agree with everything but as already said all the players deserve a mention why I feel Junior Holliet has been a fab signing
he was a big difference in last season with Bamba to save us from League 1 football and yet again he has been great again this season that goal against Leeds was very special

Warnock once said about his QPR side when they played us that there were some unsung heroes in the dressing room ... I can firmly say there are plenty in ours, well done lads

Got to agree but NML star player, love watching him power and pace and causes havoc.