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WHERE WILL CARDIFF CITY'S FIRST WIN COME FROM?

Mon Sep 17, 2018 5:35 am

Where is Cardiff City's first win coming from? The next five matches assessed as Man City, Spurs and Liverpool await
By Tom Coleman


Monday 17th September 2018


The Bluebirds are still looking for their first win of the season ahead of a tough run-in


We all knew it would be tough for Cardiff City, but the longer it takes to get their season up and running with that first win, the more vocal the critics will become.

Just as there were in the narrow defeat to Arsenal, there were a few positives for Cardiff in the defeat at Chelsea, but positives alone don't win points, and if the Bluebirds are to survive, something will have to give soon.


It all begs the question - where's that potentially crucial first win going to come from?





Manchester City (H), September 22nd

The champions come into this game on the back of a highly impressive 3-0 win over Fulham in their last outing, a victory sealed courtesy of a ruthless first-blitz started by Leroy Sane, the German making his first league start of the season.

When you can leave players of Sane's calibre out of your starting line-up, it tells you all you need to know about the embarrassment of riches available to Pep Guardiola.

Nevertheless, the 1-1 draw with Wolves shows this team can potentially be stopped by a high-pressure approach.

Then again, Fulham's attempts to 'have a go' at City largely left them exposed at the Etihad last time out, with the forward-thinking full-backs Cyrus Christie and Ryan Sessegnon leaving their team too exposed down the channels.

Some will say the sellout crowd in attendance at the Cardiff City Stadium could prove a factor, but the way Man City handled themselves so professionally in that encounter suggests it will take an awful lot for this team to be intimated into a sub-par performance.




Burnley (H), September 30th

This surely has to be earmarked as a potential three points by every Cardiff City fan.

Following their defeat at Wolves, Burnley are yet to pick up a win in the Premier League this season, and have also seen their European dreams dashed by Olympiakos.

After such a sensational campaign from the Clarets last term, questions are now being asked of Sean Dyche, with a 0-0 draw with Southampton so far the only point picked up in five games.

There is the concern that exiting the Europa League may well leave Burnley's squad feeling fresher over the next few weeks, but having already equalled a club record of four consecutive Premier League defeats, there's no doubt that the pressure is on.

The likes of Chris Wood, Ashley Barnes and Sam Vokes all have the ability to cause problems, but last year's tally of 36 goals in 38 games doesn't exactly point to a free-flowing attacking side. That will suit Cardiff just fine.


Tottenham (A), October 6th

Obviously a very tough assignment on paper, but there are a few suggestions that all is not well with Spurs at the moment.

The defeat to Liverpool perhaps wasn't overly surprising, but the manner of the performance will be considered deeply alarming for the white half of North London.

Indeed, as demonstrated by the defeat at Watford, where Spurs threw away a lead to somehow conspire to lose, there does seem to be a sense of fragility with this team at the moment.

The fans are also becoming a little twitchy, with the farcical uncertainty surrounding their new stadium, and of course the subsequent failure to sign a single player in the summer, creating an increasingly unsettled atmosphere.

Nevertheless, it's been a reasonably stable start, with Spurs earning three wins from their opening five games, including a brilliant win at Manchester United.

But with the Champions League in full swing by the time these two sides meet, one cannot help but wonder if that apparent lack of resolve will be tested once more.


Fulham (H), October 20th

It's back to the Cardiff City Stadium following the second international break of the season, against a side that Warnock knows very well.

Despite failing to beat the Cottagers, Cardiff still managed to pip Slavisa Jokanovic's team to Premier League promotion on the final day of the Championship season, although it's fair to say that Fulham have made plenty of noise since, becoming the first promoted side to spend over £100m.

And yet, it's been relatively subdued start, with Fulham picking up just four points so far.

Perhaps the biggest factor in Cardiff's favour is that Warnock will know all about Fulham's brand of attacking football and the defensive weaknesses that were so expertly exposed by Man City last weekend, and indeed in the draw at Brighton where they threw away a two-goal lead.

Fulham are still clearly a work in progress so there's certainly some potential here.


Liverpool (A), October 27th

There's a long way to go, but Liverpool already look like one of the teams to beat this season.

Cardiff haven't won at Anfield since 1959 and on current form that looks unlikely to change.

The win over Spurs at Wembley saw the Reds maintain a 100 per cent record from their first five games of the season for the first time since 1990.

The front three of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino is one of the most frightening in world football, never mind the Premier League, and Cardiff will struggle to keep them quiet.

There are still question marks at the back. Leicester City showed that the likes of Virgil van Dijk can look a little bit shaky under pressure, while Alisson's high-profile error in that same game suggests the problem between the posts isn't totally solved.
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Re: WHERE WILL CARDIFF CITY'S FIRST WIN COME FROM?

Mon Sep 17, 2018 11:11 am

Well put it this way. They've got to beat Burnley and Fulham and if possible get a point from Tottenham

Re: WHERE WILL CARDIFF CITY'S FIRST WIN COME FROM?

Mon Sep 17, 2018 11:24 am

SirJimmySchoular wrote:Well put it this way. They've got to beat Burnley and Fulham and if possible get a point from Tottenham

Who are 'they'???? I think WE may well beat Man City myself....... :old:

Re: WHERE WILL CARDIFF CITY'S FIRST WIN COME FROM?

Mon Sep 17, 2018 11:47 am

Burnley are there for the taking.

Re: WHERE WILL CARDIFF CITY'S FIRST WIN COME FROM?

Mon Sep 17, 2018 1:30 pm

Bakedalasker wrote:Burnley are there for the taking.


So where Newcastle and Huddersfield with 10 men ;)

Re: WHERE WILL CARDIFF CITY'S FIRST WIN COME FROM?

Mon Sep 17, 2018 1:58 pm

No they are not.we will struggle to break them down unless we improve dramatically.

Re: WHERE WILL CARDIFF CITY'S FIRST WIN COME FROM?

Mon Sep 17, 2018 4:15 pm

We could cause an upset against man city they have lazio mid week so could change quite a few players so this may go in our favour.

Re: WHERE WILL CARDIFF CITY'S FIRST WIN COME FROM?

Mon Sep 17, 2018 9:13 pm

montyblue wrote:We could cause an upset against man city they have lazio mid week so could change quite a few players so this may go in our favour.


Don't think they are playing Lazio.

Re: WHERE WILL CARDIFF CITY'S FIRST WIN COME FROM?

Mon Sep 17, 2018 9:33 pm

1980s Bluebird wrote:
Bakedalasker wrote:Burnley are there for the taking.


So where Newcastle and Huddersfield with 10 men ;)




We're they? It's not unusual for 10 men to beat 11 and considering we've only just got promoted not bad results in grand scheme of things, but Burnley whilst is a winnable game they've got point to prove! Still expect a win though :thumbup:
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