Erol Bulut delivers six-minute explanation on exactly what he’s trying to do without Cardiff City incredible stars as they face Stoke City in their weekend clash
The Bluebirds have lost their way of late, but manager Erol Bulut has explained exactly what he is trying to get his team to do
Cardiff City fans could be forgiven for scratching their heads over the last couple of months.
That sizzling early-season form which saw them rise as high as fifth in the Championship table back in October seems to have fizzled away at a steady pace over the last two months.
This season has offered more encouragement and positivity than the last two years combined — following horrendous back-to-back campaigns which included managerial merry-go-rounds and relegation battles — but supporters want to see a strong finish to the season to ensure there is a sound platform on which to build next term.
The Bluebirds have won just one game in their last eight, losing six of them. What has made that run worse is the woeful home form — Cardiff fans have not cheered a home goal since Boxing Day nor a home win since December 9 — and, pressingly, a lack of goals.
The Bluebirds come up against one of the very few teams who are in a worse run of form than them this weekend when they welcome Stoke City to Cardiff City Stadium and they need to put in a good performance in front of the home supporters.
During Erol Bulut’s early tenure at the beginning of the campaign, Cardiff played some decent football. They hurt teams on the outside and the likes of Ike Ugbo, a poacher-type striker, really, benefitted from turning home some chances which were put on a plate for him.
That has been easier said than done in the last few months. Cardiff have been forced to shoot from distance — only Sunderland, Watford and Hull City have an average shot distance greater than Cardiff’s (18.3-yard average) this season — and are failing. They are the lowest scorers of goals from open play in the division (16).
Cardiff’s style appears to have changed, too. Those early-season performances had a zip and a go-forward about them, but that has seemingly dissipated. Sign up to our Cardiff City daily newsletter here.
When asked about his team’s style of play and exactly what it is he is trying to implement, Bulut entered a six-minute explanation in an attempt to furnish fans with a better idea of what the plan of attack, literally, actually is.
