Paul Trollope cut a defiant character after over-seeing Cardiff City’s sixth loss in seven games, leaving them second-from-bottom in the Championship.
Cardiff City: Paul Trollope defiant
Cardiff City’s poor results were adjudged to the team needing time to gel with the new 5-3-2 formation. Now those negative results are coming thick and fast against other struggling teams around the foot of the table. With just two wins this season – against Blackburn Rovers (22nd) and Rotherham United (24th), Cardiff City sit 23rd in the Championship table. Their worst league start since they arrived in the Championship in 2003.
The discontent amongst the fans was clearly visible as the vast number of supporters sent negative chants towards their manager. Chants of “sacked in the morning” were followed by “Trollope for England”in Cardiff City’s 2-0 loss to Burton Albion at the Pirelli Stadium. Where The Bluebirds have struggled to push for promotion in previous years, it is clear to see that there is a far bigger battle to come. It is unlikely that Vincent Tan will persist with Paul Trollope for much longer as the club ambles at the bottom of England’s second tier.
After 10 games, teams generally have shown where their capabilities lie and it is becoming clear that Cardiff City will face a huge relegation battle. With a team hoping to push for the play-offs this season, it has been a disastrous start.
The loss of captain David Marshall to Hull City was a huge blow and as with many of Cardiff City’s high-profile departures, the replacements have been nowhere near the acceptable quality that the club need.
Trollope’s management style has extinguished any confidence and ability the squad once had. Bruno Manga is a good example. A firm, solid and reliable centre-back with some passing ability was a player likely to leave for the Premier League in the summer. After a great Bluebirds career so far, albeit dogged with a couple of injuries – Manga, along with usually reliant Matthew Connolly have looked fragile, frail and poor at defending. Poor defending has been a team trademark this season.
At the other end, Rickie Lambert has scored two goals in his five matches but it was never feasible in relying on a 34 year-old striker to lead an invisible line. Having played just 39 league games in two seasons, and scoring just two goals, could he really be the needed ‘saviour’? 107 goals in 206 games for Southampton in League One, the Championship and the Premier League are great for the resume. But those goals came between 2009-2014 where Lambert would have been between the ages of 27-31. The peak age for a striker.
That does not mean Lambert has lost his ability but to keep that level over the full season takes great stamina and his signing for previous Cardiff City managers would have been as an impact player. The transfer policy lacks direction and justification.
Frederic Gounongbe is proving to be a poor player. One that the clubs coaches, management and board and should never have signed on reflection. Transfer madness that continued in releasing Adam Le Fondre, Eoin Doyle, Kenwyne Jones, Federico Macheda and Joe Mason. In return the club have signed Gounongbe, Kenneth Zohore and Rickie Lambert whilst also playing Anthony Pilkington as a make-shift striker. It screams desperation and lack of ambition. The club had to reduce its wage bill, but surely not at the risk of possibly dropping out of the Championship so dramatically.
With strained relations between the supported and the owner already, Vincent Tan would be foolish not to invest in the squad in January to attempt in pulling clear of the relegation zone. His first task will be to remove the severely under-achieving Paul Trollope and recruit a manager capable of squeezing every ounce of effort from his players. Neil Warnock is an expert in this and although not a long-term appointment, in the short term he could bring some passion and desire back to the team and moreover, to the dwindling and depressed crowds of the Cardiff City Stadium.
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