The Cardiff City report card: Every player rated and ranked so far this season
By Ian Mitchelmore
Friday 6th October 2017
Cardiff City's promotion dream remains well and truly alive as they continue to lead the way in the Championship with a quarter of the season gone.
There have been some magnificent team displays from the Bluebirds to date, but who have been the best and worst performers for Neil Warnock's side?
Here are the grades for the players based on their performances so far...
(Ratings based on league performances only)
Lee Peltier: C+
Started the season in brilliant form while performances against Leeds and Derby were also impressive. Only negative is that the right-back has already amassed four yellow cards meaning he's one off a ban.
Joe Bennett: B-
Celebrated the birth of his son with a fine display in the goalless draw against Derby and has once again proved to be Mr Reliable for the Bluebirds on the left side of the defence.
Sean Morrison: B
Magnificent in the wins against Sheffield United and Sunderland, scoring in the former. Has thrived alongside Sol Bamba while he's proved sufficiently solid next to Bruno Manga aswell.
Bruno Manga: C
Having signed new terms with the club in the summer, the Gabon international will have been disappointed with his recent lack of game time. Showed what he's all about against Leeds, a performance that proved he's willing to battle for a regular starting place.
Jazz Richards: C-
The Wales international has just three league starts to his name having fallen behind regular full-backs Bennett and Peltier in the pecking order but his versatility means he will still be a key man for Warnock. Hugely unfortunate to suffer an ankle injury that will keep him out of action for another couple of months.
Lee Tomlin: C-
Arrived with huge expectation on his shoulders, but Tomlin has struggled to force his way into the first team reckoning. Has shown real glimpses of brilliance, but you can't help but feel there's a lot more to come from the former Bristol City man.
Joe Ralls: B+
Arguably playing some of the best football in his Cardiff career. Scored vital goals against Sunderland and Wolves while he has taken command of central midfield with the likes of Aron Gunnarsson and Loic Damour beside him.
Danny Ward: C
Neil Warnock has repeatedly stated how he feels sorry for the ex-Rotherham striker who is yet to start a league game for the Bluebirds but "has been on fire in training". Rescued a point for Cardiff at Fulham with a late header, and there's no doubt Ward's time will come.
Kenneth Zohore: B+
His barren spell certainly raised one or two eyebrows, but his overall displays - typified as his chasing put Queens Park Rangers on the back front as Junior Hoilett hassled Alex Smithies before bagging an equaliser against the Rs - have been vital. A brace against Leeds was more than deserved.
Liam Feeney: C
Still in the early days of his Cardiff career, Feeney has a tough task on his hands with regards to getting himself ahead of the likes of Junior Hoilett and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing in the pecking order. Marked his debut with a crucial assist for Ward in the 1-1 draw with Fulham.
Sol Bamba: A*
When you've been compared to the likes of Patrick Vieira and Franz Beckenbauer , you know things have been going well. Bamba has been a colossus at the back, and his display against former club Leeds was simply mesmerising. Also netted crucial goals against QPR and Sheffield Wednesday.
Aron Gunnarsson: A
The Icelandic warrior has been his typically reliable old self in the centre of the pitch. Excellent at Sunderland and Fulham and has continued to prove why - when fit- he's one of the first names on the team sheet.
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing: A*
As Bosman signings go, they don't get much better than this. With five goals and the August Player of the Month award to his name, his debut month in the Welsh capital could not have been any better. And while he has not got on the scoresheet since August, his endless running has wreaked havoc, allowing the likes of Zohore and Hoilett to shine around him.
Loic Damour: B
His influence has waned in recent matches, but the Frenchman initially took to the Championship like a duck to water after making the move to South Wales from Ligue 2 outfit Bourg-en-Bresse Péronnas 01 in the summer. A constant runner, and certainly not afraid to put a challenge in when needed as he demonstrated in the win at Wolves.
Craig Bryson: B
As with fellow deadline day signing Feeney, Bryson remains in the infancy of his Cardiff career. Netted his first goal for the Bluebirds in the win at Sunderland while he was everywhere in the memorable triumph against Leeds. An encouraging start from the Scot.
Neil Etheridge: B-
It's been a mixed bag for the goalkeeper who kept a clean sheet in each of Cardiff's first three league matches while he produced a magnificent double save in the second half against Leeds as well as a stunning close range stop to deny David Nugent at the death in the draw with Derby. Had a night to forget at Preston and didn't cover himself in glory as QPR took the lead in the Welsh capital in the final game of August.
Junior Hoilett: A*
The Canadian winger looks like a player reborn under Warnock this season. Sheer persistence saw him score against QPR while his strike and performance against Leeds was out of this world. Has bettered his goal tally from the whole of last season in just two months. Simply stunning from the 27-year-old.
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