Phil Bushby tells us an active January in the loan market has helped Steve Morison turn around a fairly dire pre-Christmas situation at Cardiff.

How's the season been so far?

Overall disappointing but much better over the past couple of months. Even when we lose such as the Fulham and the Huddersfield games, it feels like we are playing much better.

Cardiff league results so far…
Cardiff 1-1 Barnsley Pack 54 — Sibbick 69
Blackpool 0-2 Cardiff Bacuna 52, Moore 86
Peterborough 2-2 Cardiff Burrows 49, Dembele 51 — Flint 83, 90
Cardiff 3-1 Millwall Flint 66, 70, Morrison 83 — Afobe 76
Cardiff 1-2 Bristol City Bentley og 59 — Weimann 21, 70
Forest 1-2 Cardiff Grabban 23 — Colwill 58, 73
Coventry 1-0 Cardiff Gyokeres 15
Cardiff 0-1 Bournemouth Billing 54
Blackburn 5-1 Cardiff Gallagher 24, Brereton 32, 45, pen 90, Dolan 53 — Morrison 58
Cardiff 0-4 West Brom Grant 5, Nelson og 56, Mowatt 75, Phillips 82
Cardiff 0-1 Reading Hoilett 38
Swansea 3-0 Cardiff Paterson 29, Piroe 60, Bidwell 74
Fulham 2-0 Cardiff Cairney 57, Mitrovic 63
Cardiff 0-2 Middlesbrough Sporar pen 35, Payero 74
Stoke 3-3 Cardiff Brown 9, Fletcher 16, 46 — Colwill 66, Harris 70, Moore 71
Cardiff 0-1 QPR Gray 37
Cardiff 2-1 Huddersfield Moore 74, 90 — Sinani 12
Preston 1-2 Cardiff Maguire 2 — McGuinness 51, Collins 66
Cardiff 0-1 Hull Lewis-Potter 15
Luton 1-2 Cardiff Clark 64 — Colwill 10, Morrison 77
Cardiff 2-3 Sheff Utd Harris 32, McGuinness 90 — Gibbs-White 61, Sharp 73, McGoldrick 75
Birmingham 2-2 Cardiff Deeney 29, Sunjic 45 — Moore 66, McGuinness 90
Bournemouth 3-0 Cardiff Christie 25, Solanke 68, Smithies og 83
West Brom 1-1 Cardiff Robinson 48 — Collins 34
Cardiff 0-1 Blackburn Rothwell 14
Bristol City 3-2 Cardiff Martin 33, 63, Weimann 77 — Collins 31, Watters 90
Cardiff 2-1 Forest Hugill 6, Davies 65 — Davis 90
Barnsley 0-1 Cardiff Ikpeazu 71
Cardiff 4-0 Peterborough Ralls 4, Flint 39, Hugill 57, Ikpeazu 85
Millwall 2-1 Cardiff Wallace 73, Bennett 82 — Bagan 90
Cardiff 2-0 Coventry Bagan 72, Harris 87
Cardiff 1-1 Blackpool Bagan 49 — Ekpiteta 11
Huddersfield 2-1 Cardiff Koroma 88, Russell 90 — Doyle 61
Cardiff 0-1 Fulham Mitrovic 41
Cardiff 1-0 Derby Ikpeazu 85

Steve Morison didn't look a particularly inspirational appointment at the time, how's he done so far?

I think he has done really well. Style of play is better, defending is improved and we have pulled clear of the relegation zone. SM knew the academy lads well and has blended them well with the established players and some great loan signings.

What has he changed?

The soft under belly through the middle is stronger. Keeping more clean sheets and proving far harder to beat.

What January business did you do? What did you need to do?

Excellent January business for us. We lost Kieffer Moore but brought in some excellent loan players who have made a massive difference. Watch out for Tommy Doyle on loan from Man City, Cody Drameh from Leeds and Jordan Hugill from Norwich (remember him!?). Also brought back Ryan Wintle who was on loan at Blackpool who has improved the midfield. The team is far better and a lot more balanced. Also watch out for big Uche off the bench. He has scored a couple of winners late on against Barnsley and Derby. The fans love him.

Summer Ins >>> Mark McGuinness, 20, CB, Arsenal, Undisclosed >>> James Collins, 30, CF, Luton, Free >>> Ryan Wintle, 24, CM, Crewe, Free >>> Ryan Giles, 21, LW, Wolves, Loan >>> Marley Watkins, 30, RW, Bristol City, Free

Winter Outs >>> Kieffer Moore, 29, CF, Bournemouth, £3.7m >>> Ciaron Brown, 24, LB, Oxford, Loan >>> Tom Sang, 22, DM, St Johnstone, Loan Kieron Evans, 20, AM, Linfield, Loan >>> Lee Tomlin, 32, AM, Released

Player of the year candidates?

Probably Joe Ralls who has been really consistent but could be Doyle if he keeps up the performances.

Weak links in the side?

Not so easy to answer these days. I would have said left back but Doughty and Bagan have both been good there recently.

Expectations for the rest of the season?

Mid table and grateful to be away from the danger zone.

Links >>> Official Website >>> Three Little Birds — Blog >>> CCMB — Message Board >>> Wales Online — Local Paper >>> Mauve and Yellow — Blog >>> View From The Ninian — Website and Podcast

The Twitter @bushby_p, @loftforwords

Pictures — Action Images

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TacticalR added 18:20 - Mar 4 Thanks to Phil. Morison took over after a terrible run under McCarthy, so he's done well to retrieve something from the season. It will be interesting to see whether Hugill will serve as a genuine replacement for Kieffer Moore. Hugill has never recovered his QPR form, although he played well against us for West Brom earlier this season.
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francisbowles added 09:43 - Mar 5 I just pray that Hugill doesn't score. How very QPR that would be! Thanks Phil were there two Lee Tomlins?
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