Well, the first pause in the new season is here with the first 2 week international break. The season is young, with only 5 league games gone (that is more than 10% of the season though!), and we don't want to get too carried away at this point. But, the start to the season has been pleasing, to say the least. We still haven't lost a game in 90 minutes(more of that later), we remain unbeaten in the Championship, and we find ourselves occupying one of the playoff places.
And to make things even better, we have managed to keep our best players in the "Transfer Window" despite interest from Premier League clubs, particularly concerning goalkeeper David Marshall. Despite getting the club on a more sound financial footing with a number of cost cutting measures, the club held out for their full valuation for Marshall from West Bromwich Albion, and when WBA didn't come up with that figure, then Marshall stayed. I honestly thought he would be leaving us, and I think this shows a positive statement of intent from the club.
Cardiff and Scotland's number 1, David Marshall.
There have been four more matches since my last update:-
BLACKBURN 1 CARDIFF 1
CARDIFF 2 WOLVES 0
MK DONS 2 CARDIFF 1 (Capital One Cup - After Extra Time)
NOTTINGHAM FOREST 1 CARDIFF 2
Blackburn Rovers 1 Cardiff 1
This time the boot was on the other foot for Cardiff. After 2 late equalisers in the first two Championship fixtures, this time it was Cardiff who were unable to hold on for the whole 3 points when Blackburn captain Grant Hanley equalised in the 88th minute, following an early Joe Mason goal which had put us 1-0 up after 5 minutes. Match reports suggest that Blackburn could easily have come back to win this game, and Cardiff should have killed the game off in the first half, but a second away draw against a team I expect to challenge this year is more than acceptable.
Joe Mason - encouraging start to the season.
Cardiff 2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0
Now we are making progress! A really good team effort. After his heroics in the previous games, including his stunning equaliser at QPR, Scott Malone had to be left out of the team with a virus. So Fabio turned out at left back and was outstanding, easily the best I have ever seen him play for Cardiff! I have often criticised Fabio in the past for living on the glory days of his occasional appearances for Manchester United, but this time he proved that he can still play. Kennwyne Jones marked his return to the starting lineup following injury with a brave headed goal, and Sammy Ameobi replaced KJ and scored his first goal for the club!
Kenwynne Jones beats the Wolves defence in the pouring rain to get his first goal of the season!
Wolves were tipped to do well this season, but we controlled this game from the 10 minute mark. In truth, Wolves weren't very good. But last season we allowed ourselves to be dragged down to the level of the opposition,and in this match it was pleasing to see that this didn't happen.
MK Dons 2 Cardiff 1 (Capital One Cup)(After Extra Time - 90 minutes 1-1)
A very different team from the one who beat Wolves on Saturday, with a number of key players rested and a number of back up players given a start. An Alex Revell goal was cancelled out after 78 minutes and the game went to extra time, when Murphy scored his first goal for MK Dons. Not a very satisfactory performance, but no-one is too upset to be out of the trophy as no team seems to take it too seriously until about the 4th Round anyway.
Nottingham Forest 1 Cardiff 2
The final league game before the break produced our first away win of the season. A goal each from our strikers Kenwynne Jones and Joe Mason gave the Bluebirds a 2-0 lead early in the second half. A Forest goal with 4 minutes remaining made the end of the match interesting, but we held on for a well deserved win. David Marshall made a number of key saves and was voted Man of the Match.
The Transfer Window closes.
And we kept our key players. We made few new signings over the summer, but the fact that we kept David Marshall, Kenwynne Jones and Bruno Ecuele Manga is probably more important than bringing in new players. That said, Russell slide was able to announce the signing of French League 2 striker Idriss Saadi on the day before the transfer window closed, from Clermont Foot (great name for a football club!). Idriss is expected to immediately challenge for a first team place.
Idriss Saadi
The club also signed Hungarian International Gabriel Tamas who was previously a free agent. It seems that Tamas is expected to provide defensive cover for the back four. although he clearly has experience and ability, he has also had some disciplinary issues with other clubs, so lets hope he has put those behind him.
Gabriel Tamas
Of course, in addition to the new signings, the return of Kagisho Dikgacoi and Anthony Pilkington from long term injury, and the return to the club from loan of Joe Mason has made a considerable difference, and is almost like having 3 new players! I'm not getting carried away yet, as there is much of the season to go. But this is a more promising start than anyone ever hoped. Lets hope that with 3 matches at home out of the 4 September fixtures we can continue our push at the top of the Championship. Onwards, and (hopefully) upwards!
