Cardiff City have made a solid, if unspectacular start to the new season with two wins, a draw and a defeat leaving us on 7 points and comfortably in the top 10 of the Championship. That was about the best that could be hoped for, after losing 12 senior players and an established manager over the summer. Away trips to West Ham and Burnley always looked tough, while in-form Brighton are the only team to beat us so far.
City are currently playing without a ‘big man’ up-front, and that hasn’t helped our build-up play sometimes with Earnshaw and Miller similar in statures and styles. Further, a makeshift midfield has been necessary since Aron Gunnarsson limped off early on in our second game (vs Bristol City). Cowie, Conway, Whittingham and youngster Joe Mason are unlikely to ever ‘boss’ a midfield battle and there is a lack of steel and physical presence in the Bluebirds engine room.
City have appeared a little lightweight and lacking balance at times – though the returns of Filip Kiss and Aron Gunnarsson from injury will hopefully help to re-address this.
It’s therefore little suprise to see that Cardiff City are a long way adrift at the bottom of the ‘discipline charts’ having conceded just 21 fouls in the 4 games thus far. The two closest teams to us are Burnley and Birmingham – they have both played a game fewer so will surely be streets ahead after they face each other.
The next closest is Middlesbrough (29) while every other side in the division has more than 30 fouls – Portsmouth are the bad boys with a mammoth 65!
Committing fould is not a positive by any means, but the stats above do suggest we are not showing the same aggression as other sides . This could see us outmuscled in midfield, without a more physical approach. No fan could accuse the Bluebirds of lacking committment or determination thus far, however, some more power, grit and physicality would surely come in useful in such a competitive and combative league.
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I suppose Whitts, Mason, Earnie etc aren’t very physical. Still thought Gerrard/Hudson would rack up the fouls though..>>!