Match Preview: Cardiff City v AFCB
Blogger interview: View from the Ninian
Twitter: @VFTNinian
I wrote to Ben at View from View From the Ninian this week and h kindly shared his thoughts ahead of the big game with AFC Bournemouth. Bournemouth haven't always done ell in the Welsh capital and Cardiff City are looking strong having just recorded a 0-1 away win at Preston North End. But what does Ben think of Cardiff's chances now that they also have signed Harry Wilson from Liverpool on loan.
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CC: What do you make of Cardiff's slow start to this season?
VFTN: I’m not overly concerned yet. It definitely feels like there was a little bit of a hangover from last season. The season running later into the summer was one thing but going close in the playoffs has had an impact. There have been some flashes of good - the wins against Forest and Preston were great - but we’ve also been poor in other games. I’m hopeful the weekends win against Preston is the start of a good run.
CC: Has the club signed any players this window?
VFTN: Up until the final day, we’d signed a couple. Kieffer Moore came in from Wigan alongside Jordi Osei-Tutu from Arsenal and Sheyi Ojo from Arsenal. The latter on loan. Then on the final day, we got Filip Benkovic - a Croat international - on loan and Dillon Phillips from Charlton on a permanent deal. The marquee signing was Harry Wilson. I still think there’s some disbelief we got him, even if he did make his debut today…
CC: With Cardiff City just signing Harry Wilson on loan I'd better add the question of what you think he might bring to Cardiff City this season and were you pleased with the signing having seen how he played for Bournemouth in the Premier League and Derby in the Championship the season before?
VFTN: I think pleased is an understatement. Middle of the week, things didn’t look promising. Swansea, Derby, Forest were all in the running for him and it didn’t sound like were in the front runners for him. But one by one they dropped out and then late on Thursday, it was all but confirmed that he was coming. He’s been brilliant the past two years and it’s a surprise he’s dropped to the Championship. He’s just going to give us that bit of flair and creativity that we sometimes lack. We have Tomlin but he’s not hit the ground running. A player like Wilson means that any free-kick around the box becomes extra dangerous and his link-up play and movement is so intelligent. It’s very exciting!
CC: Cardiff almost got it right last season for promotion, but what do you think the team needs to go one step further?
VFTN: I think it raised expectations. We were off the top six all season but we really got it together when the season resumed and we looked excellent. Changed the way we played slightly, started keeping the ball and it paid off. We were very close to reaching the playoff final and I think that set the tone for the new season. We needed a striker who can score consistently and someone to give support to Tomlin. So much of last season relied on Tomlin doing something magical and now we have Wilson, it means that the pressure is off him a little bit and we have someone else who can do something.
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CC: Who has been impressive for Cardiff so far this season?
VFTN: Kieffer Moore is showing that he’s more than just a lump. Lovely hair, great movement, and super intelligent football. Sean Morrison has been great at the back and Tutu at RB has hit the ground running.
CC: Have Cardiff got any injuries you know about?
VFTN: Our full-backs both went off injured against Preston but it seemed more precautionary than anything. Tomlin isn’t involved currently so he’s probably out. The rest are fit.
CC: Have you been pleased with Neil Harris and what style has he brought to Cardiff City's game?
VFTN: Yeah, overall, he’s doing a good job. I must admit to not being overly enamoured when he first came in but he was seemingly unpicking what had come before him. Felt like things were stagnating under Warnock. The second half of last season saw a Cardiff team that was hard to beat and clever going forward. He’s not making massive changes overnight but he’s evolving us. We pass it around more, we try and keep the ball, and we were getting results last season.
CC: How might Cardiff line up for this game?
VFTN: I’m pretty sure it’ll be a similar team that started against Preston. Smithies in goal with Moz and Nelson at CB. Hopefully, Jordi is back at RB and Bennett is fit at LB. Midfield picks itself. Pack, Ralls and Wilson with Ojo and Hoilett on the wings. Moore up top.
CC: Give us a score prediction?
VFTN: I think we’ll win 2-0. Similar to your last visit to the CCS.
Twitter: @VFTNinian
I wrote to Ben at View from View From the Ninian this week and h kindly shared his thoughts ahead of the big game with AFC Bournemouth. Bournemouth haven't always done ell in the Welsh capital and Cardiff City are looking strong having just recorded a 0-1 away win at Preston North End. But what does Ben think of Cardiff's chances now that they also have signed Harry Wilson from Liverpool on loan.
Advertisement
The Disrupted Season (2019-20) completes the story of Eddie Howe's reign at AFC Bournemouth
- it's available now for £11.49 as a paperback - visit Amazon to order
- it's available now for £11.49 as a paperback - visit Amazon to order
VFTN: I’m not overly concerned yet. It definitely feels like there was a little bit of a hangover from last season. The season running later into the summer was one thing but going close in the playoffs has had an impact. There have been some flashes of good - the wins against Forest and Preston were great - but we’ve also been poor in other games. I’m hopeful the weekends win against Preston is the start of a good run.
VFTN: Up until the final day, we’d signed a couple. Kieffer Moore came in from Wigan alongside Jordi Osei-Tutu from Arsenal and Sheyi Ojo from Arsenal. The latter on loan. Then on the final day, we got Filip Benkovic - a Croat international - on loan and Dillon Phillips from Charlton on a permanent deal. The marquee signing was Harry Wilson. I still think there’s some disbelief we got him, even if he did make his debut today…
CC: With Cardiff City just signing Harry Wilson on loan I'd better add the question of what you think he might bring to Cardiff City this season and were you pleased with the signing having seen how he played for Bournemouth in the Premier League and Derby in the Championship the season before?
Advertisement
CC: Cardiff almost got it right last season for promotion, but what do you think the team needs to go one step further?
VFTN: I think it raised expectations. We were off the top six all season but we really got it together when the season resumed and we looked excellent. Changed the way we played slightly, started keeping the ball and it paid off. We were very close to reaching the playoff final and I think that set the tone for the new season. We needed a striker who can score consistently and someone to give support to Tomlin. So much of last season relied on Tomlin doing something magical and now we have Wilson, it means that the pressure is off him a little bit and we have someone else who can do something.
Advertisement
VFTN: Kieffer Moore is showing that he’s more than just a lump. Lovely hair, great movement, and super intelligent football. Sean Morrison has been great at the back and Tutu at RB has hit the ground running.
Advertisement
VFTN: Our full-backs both went off injured against Preston but it seemed more precautionary than anything. Tomlin isn’t involved currently so he’s probably out. The rest are fit.
CC: Have you been pleased with Neil Harris and what style has he brought to Cardiff City's game?
VFTN: Yeah, overall, he’s doing a good job. I must admit to not being overly enamoured when he first came in but he was seemingly unpicking what had come before him. Felt like things were stagnating under Warnock. The second half of last season saw a Cardiff team that was hard to beat and clever going forward. He’s not making massive changes overnight but he’s evolving us. We pass it around more, we try and keep the ball, and we were getting results last season.
Advertisement
VFTN: I’m pretty sure it’ll be a similar team that started against Preston. Smithies in goal with Moz and Nelson at CB. Hopefully, Jordi is back at RB and Bennett is fit at LB. Midfield picks itself. Pack, Ralls and Wilson with Ojo and Hoilett on the wings. Moore up top.
Advertisement
The Disrupted Season (2019-20) completes the story of Eddie Howe's reign at AFC Bournemouth
- it's available now for £11.49 as a paperback - visit Amazon to order
- it's available now for £11.49 as a paperback - visit Amazon to order
VFTN: I think we’ll win 2-0. Similar to your last visit to the CCS.
CC: So, a very confident Ben from View from the Ninian. While we know all about Harry Wilson's free kicks we also know that he is not the best in tracking back and we'll try and exploit that. But I think Neil Harris is one of the best managers in the Championship and I'd like to see Jason Tindall see if he can out do the Cardiff manager. We need Josh King, David Brooks and Danjuma to probably start this game to give Cardiff plenty to think about so I'm hoping Tindall isn't too cautious in his team selection.
Read more of Ben's thoughts at View from the Ninian.
Read more of Ben's thoughts at View from the Ninian.
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