The things you’re talking about in the pub...
SO THAT’S THE MIDFIELD SORTED, THEN? It has taken far too much time, but Cardiff City’s midfield is finally starting to look as if it is fit for purpose in the Championship.
Cardiff dominated Bolton in the engine room area... and how often have we been able to say that against any opposition during the Russell Slade tenure?
The balance looks so much better with Joe Ralls and Aron Gunnarsson in the middle. Young Ralls, energetic and influential, is growing in confidence game by game, while next to him the superb Gunnarsson is a willing carrier who provided a platform going forward.
If Craig Noone was again in and out, grasping for the form we know he is capable, then Anthony Pilkington brought a new dimension. Width of course, but also a forward momentum of his own.
A giant leap forward indeed. Surely Slade needs to stick with this formation? CARDIFF HAVE STRENGTH IN DEPTH MOST CHAMPIONSHIP CLUBS WOULD COVET Russell Slade has real options in his squad. One only needs to take a look at the Bluebirds’ bench at the Macron Stadium to see that.
Just looks at the list of substitutes: Fabio, Bruno Manga, Peter Whittingham, dropped by the Cardiff boss, Joe Mason, Kagisho Dikgacoi and Sammy Ameobi.
That is a list of first-teamers right there. A lot of clubs in the Championship would want players of that quality.... and they only make the Bluebirds bench!
Most of them, of course, have been Slade first picks up until recently.
That the Bluebirds have one of the best quality squads in the entire Championship has never been in doubt.
Suddenly we are starting to see that and it can only be a massive boost going into the packed festive fixture schedule. WATT A CORKER The search for a strike partnership to fire the Bluebirds into goal scoring form could finally have been solved.
Kenwyne Jones is a given in the side, the big striker an essential presence, a man mountain, making up for ground not covered with guile and just sheer strength.
But suddenly the Bluebirds seem to have the perfect foil for Jones in the on-loan Tony Watt. The striker is just a bundle of energy and forward thing positivity.
He tormented the Bolton defence, who found it hard just to get a grip on him as he dropped deep and fled out wide.
His goal too, the opener, was a cracker really, nice patient approach play by the Cardiff team, then Watt surging forward from deep, before cutting inside to fire in off the post.
Slade said Watt is getting fitter and stronger. Cardiff it seems could have quite a player on their hands as a result. PLAY-OFFS AT LEAST It seems an eternity the Bluebirds have been knocking on the door of the top-six and, despite dips in form and misfortune, they have always managed to avoid falling away.
What is without doubt is that Cardiff do have the quality to secure themselves a play-off spot at least this season.
The problem, as identified by Slade himself after this win, has been a lack of consistency.
The festive period as always is going to be pivotal. The next run of games will go a huge way to defining just what sort of campaign the Bluebirds are truly going to have.
Their clash with Sheffield Wednesday in the Welsh capital on Saturday is going to be massive with the Owls in the same boat as the Bluebirds.
Slade and his men have a real chance to set down a marker, to show that they have what it takes to really make a push for promotion.
There are many critics of manager Slade, who is basically a novice at this level remember. But is he finally starting to implement what he has learned?
There may not be swagger yet, but his side are starting to show some lovely passages of play, some real dangerous intent too going forward. Not before time, you might well say. Slade has had it tough, never had the budgets of his recent predecessors. But while they only beat the bottom side on Saturday afternoon, slowly but surely it seems Slade may be starting to get a grip in terms of how Cardiff are expected to play. What can you say? There was the typical clutch of outstanding saves that kept the Bluebirds ticking over, including a great one late on. The keeper had little chance with the efforts that did beat him.
LEE PELTIER
Not a great day for the right-back as he was forced off with injury barely more than 20 minutes into the match. Fabio came on for him at right-back, perhaps showing a lack of cover there.
MATTHEW CONNOLLY
A mixed day at the office for the centre-half. Some great last-ditch defending at times and bravery, but will be unhappy with the goals conceded.
SEAN MORRISON
Another strong showing for the nononsense defender as he marshalled the back-line well and gave Bolton as little ground as possible. Was maybe lucky not to give a pen away though, when he clattered Feeney in the box.
SCOTT MALONE
Defensively he will not have enjoyed the pressure put on him for long stretches but he got forward well, resulting in a well-worked goal.
CRAIG NOONE
Not the busiest of afternoons for the wide man. Plenty of effort but found time on the ball hard to come by and he will want to make a bigger impact than this.
ARON GUNNARSSON
The usual battling showing in midfield, carried the ball well at times, but would want a bit more intelligent delivery. Thought he had scored with an astonishing long-shot at one point.
JOE RALLS
In his favoured central position, he kept things going, acting as a good link-up between defence and attack. Faded a little as the game went on, but worked so hard.
ANTHONY PILKINGTON
Back in the side and will be delighted with a nice winner. His service from out wide was top-notch at times, too. Brings a lot to the side.
KENWYNE JONES
Perhaps even more laid-back than usual, which is hard I know, but he had some timely interventions and he battled. Provided the assist for the winner too.
SUBSTITUTES
Fabio (for Peltier 23), Sammy Ameobi (for Pilkington 85), Kagisho Dikgacoi for Watt 88). Not Used: Moore, Manga, Whittingham, Mason.
YELLOW CARDS
Fabio 88, Connolly 89. Casado 41, 90 Pratley 69
RED CARDS
Casado 90
BOLTON
Amos, Vela, Wheater, Dervite, Casado, Moxey (Dobbie 69), Danns, Pratley, Feeney (Twardzik 90), Madine, Ameobi (Heskey 70). Subs not used: Rachubka, Gouano, Spearing, Holding.