Good Start
All in all, its been a good start to the season. After 5 league matches, we have 2 wins, 2 draws and a loss. An away win would have been nice, but lets not be greedy. In addition to this, we have got to the 3rd Round of the League Cup after our back up side won through the first 2 rounds. These cup fixtures have been invaluable in giving our fringe players some meaningful football as well as bringing on some of the youngsters from the development squad.
Results since my last post:
Coventry 1 Cardiff 2 (League Cup)
Cardiff 3 Huddersfield 1
Cardiff 1 Wigan 0
Wolves 1 Cardiff 0
Port Vale 2 Cardiff 3 (League Cup)
Fulham 1 Cardiff 1
The Coventry game saw a side with many youngsters from the development squad, including the memorable name of Jazzi Barnum-Bobb at right back. Young BB has subsequently played in the second round of the cup as well, and has played well in both games. Although clearly down the pecking order behind John Brayford and Matthew Connoly at right back, I don’t think I would worry if he had to play the odd first team game here and there.
Peter Whittingham celebrates his first goal of the season against Huddersfield
The Huddersfield game was a comfortable win, as they were still looking lost having sacked their manager after the first game of the season. 2 more goals for Kenwynne Jones showed how much of a handful he is likely to cause defences at Championship level (we hope).
The Wigan game was more of a challenge, but in my mind the 1-0 win was a little more comfortable than the scoreline suggests. This game saw the introduction of Sean Morrison at centre back, and the first (and only, so far,) clean sheet of the season.
An away trip to Wolverhampton is always tricky, particularly as they took up where they left off in League 1 last season with some good performances. Reports suggest that we were outplayed for much of this game, but looked like hanging on for a point until a bizarre own goal from Mark Hudson in stoppage time saw us slip to our first defeat of the season.
A midweek League Cup game at Port Vale once more gave the chance to give some meaningful game time to squad members who hadn’t yet played this season. As a result, it was a first team debut for Federico Macheda, who celebrated by scoring 2 goals. In general, I’m not a fan of this competition. However, with the size of the squad we have this season, tied in with giving youngsters experience, it is useful at the moment. A home 3rd round draw against bournemouth also gives us a chance of progressing further.
A rejuvenated Kenwynne Jones scores his fourth goal of the season to equalise at Fulham
Finally, a draw against one of the teams relegated with us from the Premier League last season at Fulham. Fulham had had a dreadful start to the season, but were much improved against us. According to reports, we were very poor in the first half, but were better in the second. sounds like it was a point gained rather than 2 points lost.
THE INS AND OUTS AT CENTRE BACK.
Mark Hudson - on his way to Huddersfield
The big transfer news just before the end of the transfer window was the departure of club captain Mark Hudson, and the signing of Gabon international Bruno Manga from L’Orient in France.
Mark Hudson has been a legend for the club. Skipper when we went to the Premier League, he will always be remembered for that amazing long distance goal against Derby! I would go as far as to say that his late season injury in 2009 cost us the chance of winning the play-off final, as he was by no means back to full fitness when he played in that match. Part of his reasoning for moving to Huddersfield was to help to develop the team up there, and i’m sure he will be very successful.
Bruno Ecuele Manga is welcomed to the club by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
The signing of Bruno Manga from L’Orient in France could be a very important deal. It seems the Ole sees him as a club captain, and also that the first choice centre back pairing will be Manga and Morrison. £5m is quite a lot to pay for a Championship player, and I hope this is seen very much as a signing which will also be usefulin the Premier League, should we make it back.
Next home game is against Norwich on 13th September, another major challenge.
