It’s time for the Bluebirds to take stock after their stuttering start
CARDIFF City are seven games into the 2019/20 campaign and, with the international break upon us, it seems a good time to take stock.
The Bluebirds have had a stuttering start to life back in the Championship – they are 13th in the table after two wins, two draws and two losses – and were convincingly dumped out of the Carabao Cup courtesy of a 3-0 defeat by Luton Town.
With just eight points to their name, Neil Warnock’s side will hope to hit the ground running following this short break, but the question begs - what is the Bluebirds’ best team?
Well, if that question was solely based on this season’s performances so far, it would certainly be a tricky one, with many players proving inconsistent.
Given Neil Etheridge has been absent since halfway through the first game, it seems a tad harsh not to place Alex Smithies in goal, given how visibly his confidence grew as August wore on.
The back four largely pick themselves, especially as they are beginning to look a more solid a unit, Reading aside, now Aden Flint is fully bedded in.
Midfield is a vexed area of selection. Joe Ralls is the first name on the team sheet, but then is it Marlon Pack or Leandro Bacuna alongside him? Or even Callum Paterson, perhaps.
Pack was imperious on debut against Luton and indeed the Bluebirds crumbled after he hobbled off 20 minutes into the match against Reading.
But, credit where credit is due, Bacuna has stepped up his game in the last three fixtures, especially against Fulham in his last outing, and deserves his spot alongside Ralls.
Lee Tomlin has shown glimpses of real quality and should be at the tip of the midfield trio.
The wings are another bone of contention, but Junior Hoilett and Josh Murphy, combined, have had a hand in over 70 per cent of City’s goals this term, which nails them on as the men on the flanks.
Up front? Take your pick, they are all misfiring. However Robert Glatzel has shown some signs of promise and you feel just one goal
would make all the difference to his confidence.
Our Cardiff City XI so far this season:
Smithies; Peltier, Morrison, Flint, Bennett; Ralls, Bacuna, Tomlin; Murphy, Hoilett, Glatzel.
■ SO, let’s see who you think should make it into Cardiff’s team of the season.
Visit our custom-designed widget on Wales Online which has every player, barring Bobby Reid who is now at Fulham, who has played for the Bluebirds so far this team.
Once you’ve picked your team, make sure you let us know who gets in and who you would leave out in the comments section below or on our Cardiff City Twitter account .
Cardiff City return to action against Derby County on Friday (7.45pm kick-off ).