Cardiff City building towards a bright future on the pitch

Watching Cardiff City’s good win over Bristol City it struck me how much the Bluebirds are a team in transition.

People have been asking why Malky Mackay and his men have not been playing so well of late, why they have not matched up to some of the thrilling performances they put in earlier in the campaign.

I think the answer is that fundamental changes to the way they are playing have been introduced and I, for one, am really pleased with what I am seeing.

Without putting too fine a point on it, the Bluebirds are trying to convert themselves into a total footballing side.

They are aiming to play the game from the back. The building starts with the ball from goalkeeper to defence, defence to midfield and then midfield to attack.

At the moment it is not working all the time, but it is obviously working enough for the Bluebirds to keep winning matches.

For me right now the problem is the supply from midfield to the front men, but that will come and for me it is a sign the Bluebirds are moving in the right direction under their manager.

The aim I would imagine is to try to emulate the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City or Tottenham where controlled passing and possession is used in a clinical manner. You want to try to avoid becoming a ‘pass happy’ team as I call them. I’m thinking of the likes of Arsenal there.

But this transition can only serve Cardiff well if they are promoted to the Premier League. They have 15 games left this season to refine it and I’m really looking forward to seeing how things progress.

Someone who could also serve the Bluebirds well if they do make it to the top flight is striker Fraizer Campbell, who marked his home debut in the Severnside derby with the two goals which sealed the win.

Campbell played really well.

He’s obviously not up to full match fitness yet and personally I don’t think he will start against Brighton tomorrow night.

It might be a case of Saturday to Saturday for the striker and maybe introduce the midweek games in a few weeks time.

For me now what is important is that Campbell concentrates on being just a goalscorer, an out-and-out striker.


Maybe because of the quality he has he has been played out on the right at times, I’m sure he could play on the left too as well as in the traditional frontman’s position. I’m not sure this has done him any favours down the years and I think the role of goal-getter is what he needs to focus on right now.

Let’s be honest, currently there is no need for Campbell to be pulling out wide to provide crosses, Cardiff have a lot of very good wingers who are more than capable of doing that.

But Campbell looks like a bargain right now, a real coup and the most important thing is just to keep him fit and keep him healthy because he is just what the Bluebirds have needed basically since Nicky Maynard picked up his long-term injury.

Next season, if they do go up, it’s players like Campbell who Cardiff are really going to rely on in the Premier League.

I’m pretty sure the guy is up to the job, he has played at the top level and even earned himself an England cap a year ago.

The other talking point in the Bristol City match was the own goal from Ben Nugent.

The youngster has come in at times this campaign and done an excellent job to be fair.

And you know what? I think the mistake on Saturday will do the guy the world of good.

The important thing was that Cardiff did not lose because that might have brought Nugent down for a few days.

Gaffs, mistakes and own goals, these things happen in football all the time and can happen to anyone.

I think Nugent will have learnt a valuable lesson on Saturday.

Put it this way, next time he’ll be heading that ball out of there or waiting for the shout from his goalkeeper. He won’t be doing that again in a hurry.

Cardiff themselves, of course, have little rest with another home game coming up tomorrow night when Brighton are the visitors.

For me Gus Poyet’s side is one which just lacks a bit of power, they are a lightweight side in many ways.

I think that has shown in that they have repeated the same mistakes this season that they made in the last.

Again they started the campaign like an express train and again find themselves falling off the pace. It’s like they haven’t learned.

But it is going to be a tricky game for Cardiff. Mackay and his men are going to have to be alert, but right now I see no reason at all why they can’t go out there and add another three points to their tally.



Read more: Wales Online http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/cardiff-city/cardiff-city-fc/2013/02/18/nathan-blake-cardiff-city-are-building-towards-a-bright-future-91466-32825935/#ixzz2LEBF9pvm

Sometimes I wonder if Nathan has ever played the game???

Campbell is a box player, but that does not mean he doesnt drift out wide to
make space for others, or to lose his marker. What is he supposed to do when
he finds himself out there and the ball comes to him??

His first goal Saturday was when he drifted out wide, won the ball, layed it off
inside to Smith and cut back in for the return. The defender just couldnt pick him up.

Preposterous statement Blakey!!

And I hope young Nugent just forgets about that own goal.A cushioned header back to where he thought the goalkeeper was would be seen as real quality under pressure under other circumstances.

And I hope young Nugent just forgets about that own goal.A cushioned header back to where he thought the goalkeeper was would be seen as real quality under pressure under other circumstances.

Thought Nugent was superb on Saturday for such a young inexperienced player and I can't remember him not winning a ball in the air, against 2 very big and experienced pros!

Seemed like he was totally happy to keep on challenging for the ball in the air, which allowed Hudson to drop off, relax a bit and concentrate on pullng the other defensive strings!

I thought Nugent should have chested the ball rather than head it for his og mind, but as Blakey said, I think he'll definitely learn from that experience!

Brilliant read.

Even the Football we are trying to play ent fully up to the full ability it can be reached it's a good sign and MM is laying down a foundation of Football to be played at the club which is a good sign.

We are tough to get 3 points off but lately we have been hard to get a goal past.

Ben Nugent is fantastic prospect and has be a great joy to watch. You forget his age when he is playing and confident he will play well. He is a big lad now and he will forget about the own goal as he is a centre back whos tough and will mature.

He might be stepping in but I think he is trying to prove he can get a place in the team. People think he is only coming in due to injury but MM will realise being a CB hiself can see what Nugent can do.

Nugent has a massive pressure put on him due to being young and stepping into a team who are chasing promotion in the Championship.

This is another reason why Hudson is captain. You could see Saturday when Bristol were playing the ball around in midfield that Hudson was trying to help him and build a partnership.

The defence deserves massive credit this season.

Can't forget his age when he wears his Dad's shorts!

Galver you are right I spotted the change in style to a play it out from the back style a fair while ago, it will take time but we will get there, that system suits the premiership much better too....

Galver you are right I spotted the change in style to a play it out from the back style a fair while ago, it will take time but we will get there, that system suits the premiership much better too....

I just wrote something very similar on another thread. It goes back to the olden days when the late great Bill Shankly returned with Liverpool after they'd been spanked by some European team and sat down with is backroom staff to develop a style of football to ensure it wouldn't happen again. Went along the lines if we keep the ball there's f**k all the opposition can do no matter how good they are. Took a few years to develop but Liverpool did, at the time, go on to become one the most successful teams in Europe.
I still maintain that it was all because of Shankly's first game as Liverpool manager when they came up against the mighty Cardiff City and got dicked 4 - 0 at home

Good spot, we are playing far fewer speculative long balls which we rarely won the second ball from.

While I like us keeping the ball there were times on Saturday when we could have turned out of midfield rather than returning it to the defence.

All said though I'm sure as others say this system will improve with practice.

He is right about Nugent though.

it will teach him a lesson,

I can see 433 drifting in soon. There is no way we can play 424 in the premier league we will get overun, we are outclassing teams this season. Bellers Campbell & Maynard up top - Whitts kimbo gunner in the middle and hudson nugent taylor another RB at the back with scotlands number 1.

That is good enough to stay a season and see what it's all about.