"The only mistake we've made" - Cardiff City transfer claim made after September 1st | OneFootball

FLW's Cardiff City fan pundit feels that bringing in a backup left-back is the one thing which his side should have done this summer

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

There weren't many incomings at the Cardiff City Stadium this summer, as new boss Brian Barry-Murphy put a focus on allowing young stars from the academy to blossom.

And you can't argue that this hasn't worked thus far. Cardiff City have started life back in the third tier impeccably, unbeaten with five wins out of six in League One, five clean sheets and wins against their fellow relegated sides, Luton Town and Plymouth Argyle.

The players which Barry-Murphy has brought in, though, have either already looked like a top-quality addition, in goalkeeper Nathan Trott's case, or look ready to hit the ground running in League One, with the deadline-day arrival of Omari Kellyman and Gabriel Osho, who excelled under the Cardiff boss at Rochdale.

However, looking at Cardiff's squad, the lack of depth outside of Joel Bagan at left-back could be a slight cause for concern, and FLW's Bluebirds fan pundit, Matt Hall, expressed such worries.

The squad has several players who can deputise in that role if the Irishman were absent, but Hall believes that his side should have moved for a backup during the summer window.

Cardiff City fan pundit assesses the lack of left-back depth at the club

Cardiff were quiet in the most recent transfer window, only bringing in three new faces to the Cardiff City Stadium. Many felt that, whilst new boss Brian Barry-Murphy was assessing his new squad, the club should still have moved for new faces a little earlier.

Hall rejected this opinion, telling Football League World: "Some would argue that we left it too late and, while appreciating that Barry-Murphy was evaluating the squad, feel that if we started to go for signings a week or two earlier, then other, more ambitious deals would have come off.

"I don't subscribe to that, and I think we've gone about the right way and now have a good balance in the squad."

However, Hall doesn't deny that Cardiff should have made a better effort to address the lack of depth at left-back, as Joel Bagan was the only natural in that position at the start of pre-season, and still is now that the window has shut.

"The only mistake we've made is not signing a left back," Hall said.

"I know some people are happy that we have some players who could fit in that role, and we have the youngster Luey Giles, but for me, not getting a new left-back was a mistake.

"Giles is someone who, for me, needed a loan. League Two sides were offering for him, and I think he'd have benefitted from it."

Giles, who turned 19 in August, made a few sporadic appearances last season and has made a cameo appearance in the EFL Cup second round so far this term.

Dakari Mafico, a central midfielder by trade, is the only person to have started ahead of Bagan in the league this season, but he was hooked just 36 minutes into their 3-0 win against Rotherham United after receiving an early yellow card.

"I just don't see a world where we have a natural replacement for Joel Bagan," Hall continued.

"He already has three yellow cards this season, so if he picks up a suspension or tweaks a muscle, although he isn't that injury-prone, you never know. I just think getting a left-back is something which could've happened.

"We only had one left-back at the start of July, and we still only have one left-back now. That didn't need much evaluating, so not getting one is a little bit of a concern."

Cardiff City can believe in their young talents under Brian Barry-Murphy

Whilst having a senior backup may be seen as a safe option, Brian Barry-Murphy has so far shown that having faith in young stars may be the way to go for Cardiff in the future, especially across a backline where 24-year-old Bagan has been the oldest out of the four defenders so far this season.

Barry-Murphy has allowed teenagers Ronan Kpakio and Dylan Lawlor to excel so far this season, on either side of 22-year-old Will Fish, and the only goal the Bluebirds have conceded in the league has been a penalty on opening day to Peterborough United.

The faith that the Cardiff boss has in his young players is being repaid, and anyone in the youth teams in the Welsh capital will be champing at the bit to get involved and show the manager why they should be considered for future sides.