{"id":34315,"date":"2019-03-05T16:15:54","date_gmt":"2019-03-05T16:15:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jomec.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/?p=34315"},"modified":"2019-03-05T16:15:54","modified_gmt":"2019-03-05T16:15:54","slug":"could-sol-bamba-injury-be-blessing-in-disguise-for-cardiff-city","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/2019\/03\/05\/could-sol-bamba-injury-be-blessing-in-disguise-for-cardiff-city\/","title":{"rendered":"Could Sol Bamba injury be blessing in disguise for Cardiff City?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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What will Cardiff lose?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

There is a lot made of the intangibles in football: team spirit, fight and the impact of the crowd a<\/span>re tired\u00a0<\/span>cliches<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\nYet the importance of a leader in the dressing room is no such platitude. Bamba is essentially a de-facto leader and his presence has been crucial.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\nNew signing Leandro\u00a0<\/span>Bacuna<\/span>\u00a0confirmed this in a recent interview: \u201cSol Bamba is (\u2026) always talking, always laughing.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\nBamba\u2019s personality is infectious and in the miasma of a relegation fight, charismatic personalities are vital.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\nFor all that he lacks tactically, Bamba\u2019s commitment cannot be questioned. The\u00a0<\/span>centr<\/span>e<\/span>-back bravely throws himself in-front of everything.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\nSecond in the league with goal-line clearances, two, Bamba will put his body anywhere it hurts if it means stopping a goal.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\nBamba\u00a0<\/span>also<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>sym<\/span>b<\/span>ol<\/span>ises<\/span>\u00a0the positive transformation Cardiff have had under Warnock.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\nThere is\u00a0<\/span>one thing<\/span>\u00a0more important than\u00a0<\/span>changing back to a blue strip<\/span>, Chairman Sri Vincent Tan c<\/span>onverting<\/span>\u00a0debt owed to him into equity and promotion.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\nIt\u2019s that finally, after years of apparent apathy, the player<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0seem to care about the football club.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\nFor many,\u00a0<\/span>Bamba\u00a0<\/span>is\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>\u00a0cult hero<\/span>\u00a0that p<\/span>ersonif<\/span>ies<\/span>\u00a0the endeavor, spirit and passion that Cardiff fans pride themselves on.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\nBamba has his flaws, but he must remain a figure in the dressing room, on the training pitch and around the club; his connection to the club\u00a0<\/span>and fans\u00a0<\/span>is too important for him not to.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Who will replace him?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Bamba\u2019s injury could be a blessing in disguise<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0pav<\/span>ing<\/span>\u00a0the way for Bruno\u00a0<\/span>Ecuele<\/span>\u00a0Manga \u2013 who has been stationed at right-back all season \u2013 to cement a\u00a0<\/span>centr<\/span>e<\/span>-back spot.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\nThe Gabonese\u00a0<\/span>international\u00a0<\/span>has been an ever present this season, playing the most minutes for Cardiff after goalkeeper Neil Etheridge.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\nManga and Bamba share the same instinct to\u00a0<\/span>pl<\/span>a<\/span>y it out from the back and take risks<\/span>. Yet Manga cuts a calmer, more composed figure than the often-erratic Bamba.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\nOn the surface, Manga appears to be a better foil for the no-nonsense Morrison.\u00a0<\/span>The 30-year-old is l<\/span>ess prone to mistakes and\u00a0<\/span>has<\/span>\u00a0a cool head<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\nCardiff put in two of their most impressive performances of the season with Manga at\u00a0<\/span>centre<\/span>-back.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\nA clean-sheet against a vibrant and lively Bournemouth at home, followed by a robust display at Southampto<\/span>n<\/span>\u00a0suggests Manga is more than capable of<\/span>\u00a0filling Bamba\u2019s shoes.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\nWhile Bamba has put in some sterling performances this season, Manga will look to avoid some of mistakes Bamba has made.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Bamba has found adjusting to Premier League life difficult<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Extortionate price tags cloud insight when comparing the Premier League and the Championship. The biggest difference between the two leagues is not the gulf in finances.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\nMistakes frequently go unpunished in the second tier but are ruthlessly pounced on in the top-flight.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\nBamba knows that more than most.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
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