BRIAN BARRY-MURPHY LET DOWN?
Cardiff City's transfer business is seemingly done for the summer, leaving plenty to be desired. The Bluebirds have added just four players, two of whom were here last season: Nathan Trott and Calum Scanlon.
Barry-Murphy wanted three players on deadline day. A striker, something he's wanted all summer; a winger, which again he's wanted all summer; and a fullback.
He didn't get one of them.
Cardiff have been notably slow in their summer business, causing plenty of concerns amongst fans. A lot of this has come from disagreement between BBM and members of the board on who should and shouldn't be recruited.
Barry-Murphy was guilty of refusing players put forward to him by the recruitment committee. However, it was made clear he wanted three before the deadline as of midway through last week, and despite deals being deemed close as recently as yesterday, those above BBM failed to get his desired deals over the line.
Lack of depth in forward lines:
There's a reason Barry-Murphy wanted a striker and winger. We need them. Cardiff are in desperate need of quality in depth in the final third, as proved by the opening three games. The Bluebirds really should've won against both Derby County and Sheffield United, but BBM didn't have enough quality in the forward line to make the impact required in those games.
City find themselves in trouble if Yousef Salech gets injured. Callum Robinson has started just eight league games in Barry-Murphy's first season at the helm, and has played fifteen league minutes to his name so far this season. The 31-year-old is a fan favourite and has something to offer still, as he's naturally a top finisher; however, he's clearly not trusted from the start, as he doesn't have the imposing style Salech possesses.
Jack Moylan was signed to play centrally, yet is being forced out wide already. Maybe that was a wake-up call weeks before the window closed.
Ryan Wintle replacement?
Ryan Wintle left Cardiff officially over a hundred days ago. Yet we sit here at the end of the transfer window without an obvious replacement, or at least a body to make up for Wintle's departure.
Media reports suggest Krystian Bielik was signed to play as a holding midfielder, but the Pole begs to differ. With Bielik claims he was told by Brian Barry-Murphy he will operate predominantly as a centre-back.
Whilst Alex Robertson can fill the role, he's naturally better in more advanced areas. It feels quite restricting of one of our best players.
Asian Cup problems:
There is a world where both Alex Robertson and Perry Ng go to the Asian Cup at the start of January. That leaves Cardiff incredibly short at both right-back and defensive midfield.
Ronan Kpakio's start has been highlighted by plenty of Cardiff fans. Leaving Kpakio exposed for up to a month on his own to play through a busy period feels like asking for a problem.
As for Robertson, there is no natural replacement in that squad for him to play that holding midfield role. Perhaps David Turnbull, but the Scotsman looks far more comfortable further forward.
Missed opportunity:
It's deflating. Very deflating. There appeared to be such a great opportunity for Cardiff to kick on this year and push for potentially even the play-offs, given it has been expanded, but the end of this window feels a real damper on those hopes.
This City squad is far better than the side that got relegated two seasons ago, and some credit should be levelled because Cardiff have been able to retain all of their key players.
The board had an open goal to try and build up their fragile relationship with fans back up again, but given the reaction to reports that our business is done, things appear to be back to square one in that regard.
Conclusion - Brian Barry Murphy let down?
I believe so. I share the same heated frustration as thousands of Cardiff fans that the best head coach we have had in such a long time has not got what he needs.
Is BBM blameless? No. He has turned down quite a few players.
But enough players were identified that the City head coach wanted for Cardiff to have added more than two new faces for the first half of the season.
Tough to take.
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