I’m amazed by the lack of respect Cardiff City have shown striker Kenwyne Jones.
The guy is head and shoulders above any other frontman currently at the club and, as a former striker myself, I know you should treat your No.1 just like that, as your No.1 player.
The way Jones has been treated by the Bluebirds, I believe, has been in danger of affecting him psychologically.
Strikers thrive off confidence and it seems a lot has been done at Cardiff to dent that belief. That is the worst thing you can do.
It was to his credit then that Jones got his first start of the season against Wolves and responded with the opening goal and an all-round performance that gave the Bluebirds a threat up front they simply lack when he is not on the pitch.
Keeping the guy happy is, for me, the most important thing right now. Make sure he is aware of his importance at the club and everything else will fall into place. He will get the club goals.
How the club can drop him to the bench is ridiculous as far as I am concerned. You start him. Jones has been treated poorly, never knowing if he will be picked or shunted out on loan.
I can’t think of a club where a star striker has been treated in such a manner.
Your main striker is the most important player at the club and must be treated accordingly.
Short of what seem to be financial considerations, I don’t think anyone who watches the Bluebirds regularly can even understand why Jones is not the club’s No.9.
Given that kind of support, Jones could get close to 30 goals for the Bluebirds this season.
I’m not sure the rest of the forwards all added together could even get to that number between them.
Joe Mason, for me, could get you 20 if he has a very good season, but Jones is another level.
The guy is an international striker, a Premier League striker, respect where it is due please Cardiff!
He brought a new dimension to the Bluebirds’ play against Wolves in a match where I thought things were much better all-round for Russell Slade’s side.
Jones did what he does best, keeping the ball nicely, little lay-offs to Kagisho Dikgacoi, who seems to be improving every game, little balls swept out-wide to Anthony Pilkington or little passes round the back where Mason was willing to do the running.
There was that typical goal from Jones to enjoy too.
It was unfortunate he went off injured, but when Sammy Ameobi came on he kind of continued where Jones had left off, albeit asking different questions of the Wolves’ defence.
He used his pace to run in behind and scored a cracking goal too.
Now, for me, what is the point of having all these wonderful weapons at your disposal if you are not going to use them?
Why use your most dangerous weapons for 10 minutes at the end?
Utilise your best players for 60, 70, 80 minutes. It is simple enough, but does not seem to have been happening at Cardiff City.
Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face, there’s no point in trying to prove a point.
Simply play your best players and you will be rewarded as Slade was against Wolves.
With that in mind, Ameobi should be starting. As for where he fits into things, well, that is what Slade is getting paid to decide.
There’s the making of a very good side at Cardiff now, as long as no one is let go.
I believe there is a very good spine to the side. David Marshall in goal, Bruno Manga, who is nearing fitness, at the back and Jones up-front.
Things are starting to look a bit more promising which is nice to say and something we have not really been able to say in quite a while about the Bluebirds.
The first-half never really got going against Wolves. In truth, not a lot happened at all until Jones got the goal.
The game was played between the two 18-yard boxes and when the action got into the danger areas, I thought both sides lacked composure and quality, but the second-half very much belonged to the Bluebirds.
The good thing now is that there’s real competition for places too.
I thought Fabio was fantastic against Wolves. He is a player who always gives 100% and refuses to accept defeat.
He has a winning attitude and I think that mindset can permeate throughout the whole squad.
On the other hand, Scott Malone, who was absent with illness, has had a good start to the season too so there is a potential headache for Slade right there and that is exactly what you want.
OK, so it was just one match, just three points, but it was as good a performance as Cardiff have put in for a while.
The signs are positive and, with the right team selection, things could get even better for the Bluebirds now moving forward.