As we arrive at our final game of 2016 this evening away at Championship leaders Brighton, its time to try and assess the first half of the season, as 23 games have been completed. Its also a convenient time to compare the 2 managers we have had this season, and try to assess the record of the 2 men.
We reach the half way point of the season in 19th place, 2 places above the relegation zone, having previously been at rock bottom back in September.
Paul Trollope: Played 11 Win 2 Draw 2 lost 7 Goals for 8 against 19 (-11 gd)
Neil Warnock: Played 12 Win 4 Draw 4 lost 4 goals for 18 against 19 (-1 gd)
Neil Warnock - made the team competitive again.
Paul Trollope - ironically now Assistant Manager at Brighton!
So, without setting the world alight, Warnock has clearly improved the team and the key improvement from my point of view is that the team is now capable of scoring goals, something that never looked likely before. Defence is still a concern, particularly as with Sol Bamba suspended for the last 3 games there have been 7 goals conceded. At the start of the season, most supporters would have thought that we had no problems with defence, but Warnock has already stated that this needs addressing and I think he will be looking at defensive options during the January transfer window, including a replacement goalkeeper for Ben Amos who has been struggling in recent weeks. Bizarrely, our only clean sheet in the Warnock era was a 0-0 home draw with top team Brighton!
RESULTS SINCE MY LAST POST:
CARDIFF 0 WIGAN 1
NEWCASTLE 2 CARDIFF 1
CARDIFF 3 HUDDERSFIELD 2
ASTON VILLA 3 CARDIFF 1
CARDIFF 0 BRIGHTON 0
IPSWICH 1 CARDIFF 1
CARDIFF 2 WOLVES 1
CARDIFF 3 BARNSLEY 4
BRENTFORD 2 CARDIFF 2
The last 3 games sum up our defensive problems despite our own never -say-die attitude. In the Wolves game, we fought back from an early Ben Amos error to take the lead in the 86th minute and a deserved win. Against Barnsley we found ourselves 3-1 down at half time, again following defensive frailties and errors by Amos. But we then scored 2 goals in the 80th and 88th minute to draw level, only to concede in the 4th minute of stoppage time! And finally, in our last game at Brentford we led until the 81st minute, took the lead again in the 89th minute and yet again conceded a stoppage time equaliser! You definitely shouldn't go home early from our games at the moment.
One positive note from our recent fixtures is the form of Kenneth Zohore, who came on at half time in the game against Wolves and played the best we have ever seen since he came to the club. He has kept this form into the next 2 games, capping it off with an excellently taken chance against Brentford on Boxing day. Neil Warnock has said all along that we needed a fast and mobile striker in the January transfer window, but the form of Zohore may yet make him feel that we have the answer within the club already.
Kenneth Zohore celebrates his 89th minute goal against Brentford
THE TRANSFER WINDOW OPENS!
Now this is where Neil Warnock can really make a name for himself. His experience around the game, coupled with respect from many players within football, should put us in a strong position to acquire the players we need to move away from the relegation zone. There are some financial restrictions at the club, and I suspect still that any player in the squad is available for sale at the right price, even those whose place in the side appears sacrosanct. But I think the fans have a great belief and support towards Warnock and trust him to do the right thing. Lets hope he can do it.
