CITY’S PLAYERS OF THE YEAR: THE VERDICT
CARDIFF City remain firmly in the promotion hunt as we approach the halfway stage of the 2017-18 Championship campaign.
But who has been the Bluebirds’ best player this season and what have been the highlights of the campaign so far?
Our writers have delivered their verdicts... Chris Wathan – Chief Football Writer Best player: Sean Morrison There’s plenty you could single out, all having big parts to play at different times so far, but it’s hard to argue that anyone has been more consistent than Warnock’s captain.
He’s had his criticism since becoming a Bluebird – many times justified – but he’s been improving since the manager’s arrival and has been thoroughly impressive since the start of the season and showing why he’s the right choice as the dressing room leader.
Plus, if you count winning penalties, he’s got his fair share of assists this season, too. Honourable mentions: Junior Hoilett has gone up a notch this
season – and that having played pretty much through the summer for Canada too – while Nathaniel Mendez-Laing has been a huge Bosman bonus. Best goal: Kenneth Zohore’s second v Leeds Ball into feet, lay-offs, speed, and even a centre-back providing the perfect assist. If that’s the ‘Warnock Way,’ we’re all for it.
Honourable mentions: Danny Ward’s stunner at Forest, Zohore’s crucial winner at Burton and Bogle’s neat finish of a big build-up against Norwich.
Best moment: The Leeds game The result was one thing, sending out a message live on Sky that Cardiff were indeed to be taken seriously this season.
The performance was another, nullifying, scaring and then tearing Leeds apart, with the display the perfect evidence to silence anyone wanting to dismiss the Bluebirds’ achievements or the way they go about them. But what makes it stand out? Heading to the game, feeling the buzz of anticipation from supporters both regulars and those wanting to come and see what the fuss was about.
It was an attendance driven by the team’s excitement and expectation rather than any ticket scheme or big-name opponent and will have given Warnock a taste of what can be possible now he’s got the city proud of its club again.
Honourable mention: Zohore’s late winner at Burton. An opening day victory at the death that gave you that gut feeling more was to come. Ian Mitchelmore - Football writer Best player: Junior Hoilett The Canadian is a man reborn this season and has well and truly delivered the goods on a consistent basis for the Bluebirds. His tally of six Championship goals - the best of any Cardiff player represents a superb personal haul while it has also helped to alleviate the pressure on the likes of Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Kenneth Zohore and Danny Ward.
A tireless runner and a constant threat, Hoilett has been simply magnificent.
Five assists is already drastically better than his return from the whole of last season and is among the best totals in the Championship this term.
Honourable mentions: Sol Bamba, Joe Ralls and Mendez-Laing have been immense, but in fairness, the fact I can give this gong to Hoilett without hesitation when there have been so many other impressive performers highlights just how pivotal the winger has been. Best goal: Danny Ward v Nottingham Forest What a strike it was from the forward who left Forest keeper Jordan Smith with no chance as he unleashed a left-footed pile driver into the back of the net to put the Bluebirds 2-0 up at the City Ground in November.
Already a contender for the Bluebirds’ goal of the season award.
Honourable mentions: Zohore v Burton, Hoilett against Leeds and Mendez-Laing’s second against Aston Villa. Best moment: Win against Queens Park Rangers The Bluebirds had won all of their opening four league games and looked to make it five on the bounce ahead of the first international break of the season when QPR came to town.
And after going 1-0 down, the Bluebirds turned it around thanks to goals from Hoilett and Sol Bamba to extend their record-breaking start.
It wasn’t the prettiest of wins, but the Bluebirds showed the type of resilience that we have come to expect under Neil Warnock, while they also demonstrated the neversay-die attitude that will carry them a long way if they are to gain promotion into the promised land of the Premier League this season. Honourable mention: That night against Leeds. Dominic Booth - Football writer Best player: Joe Ralls Instead of choosing the outright best player in Cardiff’s squad (which clearly this season has been Junior Hoilett), I’m opting for the most improved.
Ralls appears to have brought a new dimension to his game this season and for long stretches of the campaign he’s been without Aron Gunnarsson to guide him through.
Ralls has been Mr Consistency and is fast becoming the beating heart of this Cardiff team.
Honourable mentions: Junior Hoilett, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Sol Bamba. Best goal: Mendez-Laing versus Villa This goal not only announced Nathaniel Mendez-Laing as the surprise package of this season, but it also set Cardiff on course for an early winning spurt.
The collective gasp from the Cardiff City Stadium press box was a rarity in itself and a mark of the sheer quality of Mendez-Laing’s lightning pace and clinical finish.
Honourable mentions: Ward v Forest, Bogle v Ipswich, Hoilett v Leeds. Best moment: Warnock with the Cardiff fans at Forest The ecstasy was writ large across Neil Warnock’s face after watching his side demolish Nottingham Forest on their
own patch.
Forest’s erstwhile streak of four home victories had been ended by a makeshift Cardiff team — and both the travelling Bluebirds’ supporters and the delighted boss enjoyed the moment. Each Warnock fist pump was met with an almighty roar from the 1,300 away fans. It was a display of confidence, momentum and unity.
Honourable mention: The 1-0 win at Barnsley, Zohore’s performance v Leeds. Tom Coleman - Football writer Best player: Sol Bamba Cardiff City have been simply magnificent at the back this season and Bamba has undoubtedly been an integral part of it all. His power and strength in the tackle, as well as his ability to read the game, has been second to none, and his partnership with captain Sean Morrison is arguably the best in the Championship at the moment.
His talents have also shone just as brightly in the defensive midfield role when needed, and it’s no wonder he’s so trusted by Neil Warnock.
Honourable mentions: There are so many. Morrison and Bruno Manga have both been solid, while Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Junior Hoilett have provided a welcome dose of pace and trickery on the wings. Meanwhile, Joe Ralls has done brilliantly to keep things ticking over in the centre of the park, and Callum Paterson looks set to be a really special player. Best goal: Zohore v Leeds Who said Warnock’s side don’t play nice football? This was a simply marvellous move on what was a marvellous night for the Bluebirds.
Hoilett cuts in from the left before playing a neat one-two with Zohore on the edge of the box, before doing the same with Loic Damour.
He plays Morrison into the area, whose low cross is poked home by Zohore. A simply wonderful team goal.
Honourable mentions: Danny Ward’s strike against Forest was something really special, while I’ve not seen Cardiff fans go nearly as crazy as did when Mendez-Laing smashed home at Wolves – and rightly so! Terrific scenes. Best moment: The win against Wolves This really did feel like a statement of intent.
To go away to arguably the best team in the Championship and beat them on their own patch in the manner that they did showed everyone that the Bluebirds are deadly serious about a promotion push.
Honourable mention: Has to be that night against Leeds. There was an air of confidence about Cardiff that was so strong it bordered on arrogance, and there was subsequently a real swagger about this win. The sort of home performance a fan always hopes to see when they come through the turnstile. A very close second to the trip to Molineux.