An earlier than normal review this time, because, after all those weeks where it was, frankly, a struggle to find anything to write about, we have had half a week where the Cardiff City news came thick and fast!
This was always going to be a significant week because yesterday had been earmarked for the release of the fixtures for the new Premier League season, but with two new signings, the announcement of the club’s retained list and an update on the situation regarding the three soon to be out of contract players who have been offered new deals, this, more than any other week since we got promoted, has really brought into focus the enormity of what was achieved in 2017/18.
I’m sure nearly everyone has already seen the fixture list for the coming season, but here it is again. One of the problems about recording your thoughts on a site like this is that the idiotic things you say in posts are still there to embarrass you if someone is prepared to spend the time finding them – this applies particularly on here where every posting I’ve made since the blog began nearly nine years ago is still available to read in the “old stuff” section!
Analysing your clubs fixtures before a ball has been kicked in anger and with nearly two months to go before the transfer window closes is a classic case of potential for further foot in mouth or egg on face syndrome, but you look at our fixtures up until New Years Day and it’s hard not to think that they divide into three, pretty distinct, phases.
No matter what the three clubs concerned do in the transfer market over the next few weeks, you look at an August programme of Bournemouth (A), Newcastle (H) and Huddersfield (A) and think that the opportunity is there at least for City to get away to the sort of good start which newly promoted teams tipped to struggle often manage while they still have something of an air of mystery about them.
Certainly, a losing run in the season’s first month looks very hard to recover from quickly when you consider twhat Neil Warnock has already described September as an equivalent of a month from Hell. Three home matches out of four doesn’t sound bad, but when two of the visitors are Arsenal and Man City and there’s also a trip to Chelsea in there, well, you can see what our manager means.
October, with just three matches and trips to Tottenham (apparently, we are going to be only the second league visitors to their new stadium) and Liverpool, doesn’t look much easier either. However, after that, we have a couple of months of games almost exclusively made up of encounters with sides that, realistically, are going to be more concerned with what is happening at the bottom of the table than the top. Manchester United at home just before Christmas is an exception, but, generally speaking, if the Premier League in 18/19 follows a similar course to the previous season, then November and December are going to see a series of games against the ten to twelve sides who will be concerned only with beating the drop he we play them for the first time.
As to what sort of City side will be turning out before the January transfer window gives some opportunity for changes to be made, well, that’s a little clearer after the signings of Norwich’s Josh Murphy and Preston’s Greg Cunningham on successive days earlier in the week.
Although there were those who disagreed with me (including our manager it seems!),, I described Josh Murphy’s contribution in Norwich’s 3-1 defeat here in December as “flakey”. Whether that was the best word to use I’m not sure, what I was trying to get over was a feeling that, for a player who looked so dangerous when he was running at us, there wasn’t a great deal in the way of an end product. That said, I can’t think of too many wingers I saw against us in 17/18 who made me feel as uneasy as he did at times.*
Murphy, whose home league debut will see a reacquaintance with his twin brother Jacob, joins on a four year deal which is reported as costing Cardiff a possible £11 million, making it the biggest money transfer the club have been involved in, from the incoming perspective anyway, since the summer of 2013 when we were signing the likes of Andreas Cornelius, Steven Caulker and Gary Medel.
Although the degree to which those three individuals can be labelled flops is open to argument, it cannot be denied that, collectively, they became synonymous with the complete and utter failure which was our only previous association with the Premier League.
Murphy’s fee is at a level which I would think many supporters did not expect to see us paying out this summer – for myself, I am slightly surprised, but temper that with the thought that, rightly or wrongly, £11 million is not a great deal when it comes to transfer valuations for domestically produced youngsters (Murphy is 23) at Premier League level these days.
Using the what do supporters at his old club think test, it has to be admitted that the impression given is that City have paid over the odds for someone who s viewed as not having fulfilled the potential that marked him, and his brother, out as something special when they formed an integral part of an FA Youth Cup winning Norwich team in 2013.
You only have to look at the Feedback section on here to see a recent message from a City fan, who moved to Norwich last year and spent the season just ended watching Murphy play most weeks. I think it’s pretty obvious that Lindsay has his doubts about our new winger, but I would say that the areas of comparative weakness he mentions are ones which you would have thought would be very important to Neil Warnock (he expects his wingers to perform an important function when we do not have the ball and you have to assume that he and his coaching staff are confident that they can get our new signing performing in the same way as Junior Hoilett and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing were prepared to do when it came to defending last season).
What is clear is that Murphy is talented. While sounding all of the usual warnings about You Tube compilation videos, this one marks him out as a scorer of great goals, as opposed to a great goalscorer. With the perception growing, rightly in my view, that we are going to play in a similar manner to last season (i.e defending pretty deep, with a reliance on quick counter attacking) , Murphy’s pace will certainly help – I suppose the challenge will be to fuse a defensive responsibility, team ethic and greater consistency onto Murphy’s undoubted ability to make things happen.
I find it difficult to answer the question as to whether Murphy is a typical Neil Warnock signing because our manager really likes his wingers and he gives them full licence to use their pace and ability in the right areas of the pitch – I suppose, on balance, he is.
Signed on a free transfer from Bristol City, Greg Cunningham became a very important member of a Preston side which I would argue have been the biggest over achievers in the Championship since their return to the division in 2015 – he will, surely, add to his four Republic of Ireland caps if he can establish himself in the Premier League.*
What is apparent though is that left back Greg Cunningham, who has signed a three year contract and will cost us a reported £3.5 million, comes across as an archetypal Warnock signing in that he is a defender who, more than anything else, defends.
Whereas reaction from Norwich fans to Murphy’s departure could be said to be mixed, this doesn’t apply with Cunningham (who we tried to sign last summer). This article is well worth a read because I think it gets to the heart of the matter when it comes to a signing like Cunningham – unlike Murphy, I suppose there may be a doubt as to whether the natural talent to make a Premier League footballer is there, but, in the areas where doubts exist with Murphy, all of the signs are that Cunningham will be able to make the transition.
Interestingly, the article mentions that Cunningham can perform as a left sided central defender and the player, and his new manager. have talked about us utilising this on occasions as he is used in a back three with wing backs.
Although the club confirmed that our promotion meant that the clause in Joe Bennett’s contract which had him available at £2 million no longer applies, it was thought that Cunningham’s arrival could lay the ground for a possible departure of our first choice left back, but, it seems not – indeed, Neil Warnock has talked of both Cunningham and Bennett in the starting line up, rather than it being a case of one or the other.
One final word about our new arrivals, neither of them fit the “experienced Premier League” criteria that we were told was going to apply to any newcomers. In the event, they both fall into the Championship regulars group that I have always felt was the more realistic path for us to follow if, as it seems we are, we intend focusing mainly on the domestic market – only time will tell if this trend will continue through to August though.
Moving on to the retained list. There are no great surprises, with our manager even offering the possibility of a deal eventually being offered to Greg Halford (the one player who started a Championship fixture in 17/18 to be released) if he does not get an offer of the first team football – something which he feels he needs at this stage of his career. If it is the end for Halford at Cardiff, then I wish him well because he never let us down when called upon and, for me, showed more ability than he was often given credit for.
My only other comment on the list is to record some sadness that Wales Under 21 left back Rhys Abbruzzese has been released and to hope that this decision was not down to a perceived lack of inches on the player’s part – as I said in a fairly recent messageboard post, at five foot nine, Abbruzzese is taller than Roberto Carlos, Philipp Lahm and Bixente Lizarazu!
This brings me on to Brian Murphy, Aron Gunnarsson and Junior Hoilett, the three players to be offered new deals. I’m a little surprised that the first named has been offered a new contract, but if, as I believe, he is to be our third choice goalkeeper for the new season, then I suppose it makes sense.
With Gunnar, I presume it all comes down to how he does in the World Cup (assuming he is fit enough to play a part for Iceland). There has to be a possibility that an offer from an obviously “bigger” club than us will result if he does well and I, for one, couldn’t blame him if he decided to move on under such circumstances – I honestly don’t know how this one will end up and wouldn’t like to predict either way, but, if I had to, I’d say I would just come down on the side of Gunnarsson leaving.
I was more confident of Hoilett staying, but this story from yesterday (including quotes from our manager) casts doubts on that – all I’ll say for now, is that, if it wasn’t referring to signing a new contract with us, this Instagram post by the player last week could have been more sensitively worded.
Finally (nearly a decade after this blog was created!), I’ve taken the plunge and, from now on, Mauve and Yellow Army is available on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MauveAnd – not too much to read there currently, but, hopefully, that will change soon.
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*pictures courtesy of https://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/
I agree Paul it’s good to have actual football news to comment on and am pleased with the two new acquisitions, as you say championship regulars. Was also pleased with Ken Choo’s comments concerning living within our means.
With the uncertainty surrounding Hoilett and Gunna we may be looking for additional players and that is going to stretch the budget. If they were under contract surely their combined value would be at least twelve million in today’s market.
Midfield must be the priority now, with Grujic, Bryson and possibly Gunna off the books quality reinforcements are required.
Good Morning Paul and others – As ever, thanks for your thoughts.
If NW is able to work his magic on Murphy, then I suspect the amount that we have allegedly spent may represent good business. However,I note that on the BBC website list of transfers, the amount paid by us for his services is shown as “Undisclosed”, whereas it has been stated by various sources that it was £10 million or £11 million. Does any of your followers know the actual amount. The same applies to Cunningham as that too is quoted by the BBC as “undisclosed”.
There are reports this morning that Hoilett is wanted by Stoke City. Disappointing if he goes, but if he receives a better offer, then so be it. The same for Gunnars, but he has other matters on his mind just now and we may not know his destiny until events end in Russia.
Research that I have carried out this morning show that:
“all Premier League Clubs must include eight Home Grown players out of a squad of 25 for the season. A Home Grown player is one, regardless of his nationality or age, has been registered with any club affiliated to the FA or FAW for a period, continuous or not, of three seasons or 36 months prior to his 21st birthday ( or the end of the season during which he turns 21)
Clubs are able to supplement their squads with unlimited additional players under the age of 21 on the 1st January in the year in which the season commences.”.
I mention this because looking at the squads of some of the larger Premier League Clubs last season reveal that some teams registered upwards of 5o players, clearly making use of their Academy players. I wonder just what we will do, particularly if we are letting some depart of the calibre of Abbruzzese, who did seem a useful prospect.
But on to who will be our next arrival. “We have players in mind” the story goes, but really hope that they include a couple of lively midfielders, Grujic and Arsian would be fine, and a right wing back, a loan application for young Reece James of Chelsea would be worth a punt.
And if we want a goalscorer, we could always invite and welcome Ronaldo back to the Premiership!!!
Thanks for your replies both. Jeff, I think 12 million for Hoilett and Gunnar is a conservative estimate in today’s market. Yes, I agree about the midfield, at least two needed if we are going to lose the players you mention.
BJA, Norwich supporters seem to believe on the whole that the reported fee for Murphy represents an over payment on our part. While there will always be an amount of guesswork involved when it comes to fees paid, there does seem to be general agreement now that we did pay something like 5 or 6 million for Madine, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the sort of figure we’re talking about for Murphy is not too far off the mark – I’d say the same applies to Cunningham as well.
I’m struggling to think of eight players who would fit the criteria you describe out of those who were with the Under 23s last year – Coxe, Veale, Humphries, Waite, then I think we’d have to be looking at Under 18 players from this season.
I take it you mean the Ronaldo who mysteriously missed the 1998 World Cup Final there do you?
Paul – Thanks for your response.
Both squads for Chelsea and Spurs had to show many of their under 21 players (vast numbers) to satisfy PL Rules even if only a modest number actually played for the first team. I confess as to not completely understanding these rules, but I appreciate and understand that the League wishes to promote and encourage teams to select English/Welsh players from their Development teams whenever possible rather than the quick fix of established foreign stars.
As far as we are concerned, we are well placed for the majority of our lot are certainly “Home Grown”, but I wouldn’t mind if we had a couple more of vibrant mid-fielders from cabrord.
Goodness knows how many of our youngsters will make it to the first team squad proper. I have always been impressed by young Spence, but I am not sure of his best position nor if he may be considered still a little young although I have the feeling he may be over 18. Just hope he continues to develop.
Finally, I do not have a Twitter account so hope I will be able to find you somewhere as week-ends would be awful without your views and your devotees’ responses.
Thanks Paul for the summary ,I’m a bit late replying as Sunday is my natural absorbing comment reading, and replying day , adding in the fact I was at the Cricket all day and a bit worse for wear.
Yes it was a shock and sad to see Abbruzzese be released , I can only think as we are now a premiership club we now have the ability and attraction value to bring in more established / experinced youngsters that perhaps of a better quality of the likes of Abbruzzese. Over the years we have released a number of developing players, none have yet to rock up and prove it was bad release decesion, I just wonder if the system is wrong ,as we see so much good Welsh talent at International level but not from Cardiff’s academy ?
As you say we have bought two potential players, looks likely we want (and rightly so )unbalance our current team spirit , but simply supplement it , what is needed though , is an old head in midfield ie a Milner / Snodgrass/ Barry ,who we can turn too when we’re say 2 nil down with 30 to go .
An experience keeper is a must, in case Etherdidge has a bad run or Injury .
And an off the shoulder striker unless it’s
the new wingers at 10 or Holilett , with Cunningham or Bennet as defensive wing backs
and one other
We wait be entertained
The Twitter link is just another way the blog can be accessed BJA – it’ll still be available to you in the ways that you logged on to it in the past. Sion Spence is eighteen in October I believe.
Etheridge will be off in January for the Asia Cup Russell, so I’m fairly sure we’ll get a new keeper sometime this summer because I cannot see Murphy being second choice if he decides to sign a new contract for us.
Bored stiff watching teams passing the ball backwards and square in this blasted World Cup…so I thought I’d drop you a line, Paul.
Thank heavens it is every four years and not contested annually. Indeed, it is a pity that it could not have the regularity of the Oberammergau Passion Play…!!
And in some games, I am not just indifferent as to which side wins, I actively WANT both sides to lose 10-0…as in the game currently on, between Argentina and Croatia.
Oh, you won’t believe this Paul…as if on cue, Willy Caballero has just committed a howler…just the sort of nonsense I always rail against. True, he was put under pressure by an unnecessary back pass from a defender who should have put it in Row Z…but then the goalie tries a stupid little chip over the attacker…instead of walloping the ball down the field. Madness.
When will these circus performers give us our game back, eh?
Before signing off…a further word on the Lesser of the Two Murphys.
The thought occurs that our Great Alchemist was a winger himself in his playing days. And he should know a winger, if anyone does. And can improve a winger, like he has NM-L. So with a bit of luck, brother Jacob will soon be getting the “Lesser” sobriquet.
I’m quite enjoying the World Cup Dai and think Croatia are one of the best sides I’ve seen so far (albeit it’s hard to know how much of yesterday’s outcome was down to them being good or Argentina being a spiritless shambles). Mind you, the outcome may have been different if Argentina hadn’t missed an absolute sitter, ironically caused by the Croat’s overplaying at the back, at 0-0, instead of the first goal coming from Caballero’s shocker (he wasn’t helped by some of the defending beforehand mind). Although Caballero’s mistake was a hard one to miss, and had me thinking of you as soon as I saw it, I must admit you are a tireless advocate for your cause – if there is a goal scored because a keeper thought he was better with his feet than he actually is on a weekend, you will inevitably find it! I put this out there without any idea of what the answer would be, but I wonder if there are more goals scored by a team which habitually plays out from the back, started off by their keeper’s short pass, than there are goals conceded because of Caballero type cock ups? Anyway, as for that particular aberration, there seems little point in trying to build play from the back gradually upfield if your midfield is incapable of establishing a foothold on proceedings, or, worse still, unable to pass the ball with any accuracy or invention.
“Wonder” no more Paul. I can answer your question with certainty. Far, far more goals are conceded by teams who incompetently play the ball out from the back, than are scored by them adopting such a move.
Your final sentence in your response to me there, is right on the money. In recent years we saw the Barcelona team of Guardiola having the nous and skills to be able to carry it off, and much lesser players the world over, then tried to emulate them. With disastrous results.
My proof? That’s easy…I present as evidence M’lud, the last seven or eight years of regularly watching the highlights on MotD and the EPL games. I promise you that the late Benny Hill did not live in vain. We thus see week after week of disastrous examples of teams shooting themselves in the foot.
The best analogy I can draw, is with the events of World Cup ’90. In the year following, I was calling on WMCs in the Valleys, seeing stewards and committees in my role as a booze salesman. And invariably, I’d be waiting on a committee member to arrive…so I would sit at the bar, and take in the “entertainment”.
And invariably, I would see at least two Pavarotti wannabes at the microphone every week. And I promise you that the quality of what I saw, was a million miles removed from the great man. There was not even a Paul Potts wannabe on my particular horizon.
And thus the way we repeatedly see British footballing Barcelona aficionados trying to outdo each other as members of Fred Karno’s Army, is a sight to behold. But, all that is not to say that when you see a goal result from a move that starts with the ball being rolled out by the goalkeeper, (and a series of short incisive passes take the ball the length of the pitch, and into the opponent’s net), that it is not a thing of beauty. It emphatically is.
I recall a remarkable Swansea “length of the field” goal from about 5 years ago, that positively thrilled me. But such goals are alas as scarce as hens’ teeth. Whereas Willy Caballero’s aberrant behaviour is in the proud tradition of Jude the Apostle, the patron saint of lost causes.
Did you note by the way that after his disastrous moment, Caballero spent the rest of the game putting his boot behind the ball and giving it some welly…?
A bit late for that Willy.
Mind you, knowing how strange football is…would it really be so amazing if Argentina save themselves against Nigeria and go on to win the final in a penalty shootout…with Caballero outstanding…?
I would not rule it out.
Paul,
I take it all back.
That Sweden v Germany game of a few hours ago was vindication – if it needed it – of the whole World Cup farrago.
What a game…!! And just as I was about to renounce the Germans (my pre tournament tip for being the winners) three times before the cock crowed, they come up with that incredible – yet somehow inevitable – winner.
Two additional thoughts…
First…I am still hoping I am wrong in my prediction, and that we have a bizarre Russia v Belgium final (are they in different halves of the draw? I have yet to check). Why? Well…for obvious reasons that pertain to Euro 2016.
And second…if only my health was better, I would be back in Russia now at our property on the banks of the Volga River. But my wife Larissa tells me to get real…just walking 100 yards by the banks of the River HUMBER has me banjaxed as it is….let alone a few weeks battling the mosquitos of Larissa’s native Russia…!!