Somewhere in there, I'm convinced Cardiff City have a decent little team.
Yet for differing reasons, they are just two points off the relegation spots and should things go wrong this weekend could well find themselves in the bottom three at Christmas.
As manager, it is Mark Hudson's job to ensure that doesn't happen - and really it needs to start from the first minute in this weekend's must-win Cardiff City Stadium clash with Blackpool.
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Way too often in recent years, whether Hudson, Steve Morison, Mick McCarthy, Neil Harris or indeed Neil Warnock has been manager, Cardiff appear to start on the back-foot and suddenly look a much better team in the closing quarter of games by utilising substitutes after things have already gone wrong.
It was the case again in the 2-2 draw at Stoke on Saturday as Hudson's bench power titled the match back the Bluebirds way.
On the face of it, a point up at Stoke upon Cardiff's return to action after the World Cup break isn't a bad result - but it does need to be followed up by victory in front of their own fans on Saturday.
The best way for that to happen surely is to release the shackles. With team selection, tactics and approach.
What I'm personally finding disappointing, and I know many Cardiff fans share this view, is the default position Hudson and Morison appear to have adopted this season of the need to play Ryan Wintle, Andy Rinomhota and Joe Ralls as a midfield three.
It happened again at Stoke. Indeed, you could argue a dogs of war approach is required away from home. But surely it's no coincidence that when Hudson altered that dynamic by making his second-half changes, Cardiff began playing with a swagger and were a much more potent team going forward.
Wintle, Rinomhota and Ralls each have their strengths and two of them obviously have to be picked. To be fair, Cardiff have won games this year when they have started as a triumvirate and Hudson will know that.
But to give the side greater fluidity, creativity, passing ability, cutting edge and goal power moving forward, four more offence-minded players are also required in front of the chosen two. Particularly for games like Blackpool at home.
Only then is the balance of the team correct.
Cardiff fans are coveting Rubin Colwill being handed the keys to No.10 and being asked to fire the Bluebirds from here on in as their playmaker, the man knitting everything together.
Either way, there are other options. Romaine Sawyers, who is undoubtedly a better footballer than he's looked thus far for Cardiff, could play there, with Colwill also in the side in a slightly wider role.
One of the principle reasons we're told Vincent Tan got rid or Morison as manager was because he felt the side was set up too defensively and the owner believed his Bluebirds were heading for League One without change.
Hudson was to bring a far more adventurous approach. At times he has, and Hudson is to be commended for that, yet you just sense he has still to properly release the shackles.
The World Cup break came at a good time for Cardiff. With players fit again and everyone rejuvenated, the moment has arrived to really let this team start going for it. Particularly at home, where the fans need some cheer from a side who have won just four out of 11 games at Cardiff City Stadium and scored just nine goals.
It's too easy, in my view, to say Cardiff's problems are solely down to lacking a goal-getter, which many fans do. Of course that has a huge bearing, but so do does team selection and tactics.
With Isaak Davies nearing full fitness, and Colwill having barely featured to date, Cardiff possess a couple of hugely talented home-grown youngsters capable of suddenly giving this team fresh hope, impetus and direction.
But they need to be picked, preferably in tandem, for that to happen.
Colwill looks the most talented youngster to emerge at the club, indeed at any club within the Welsh game, since a certain teenager called Aaron Ramsey first burst onto the scene back in the day. At 20, of course he's going to be inconsistent, make errors, and questions will be raised over some of his decision-making and whether the hype is justified.
But you don't carve open the Liverpool defence at Anfield, or produce match-winning moments at Nottingham Forest and QPR, as those two did at such a tender age, without having something special about you.
I do hope Hudson is prepared to indulge Colwill in a way Morison was clearly reluctant to, point to what he can do, as opposed to what he supposedly can't. He's a home-grown jewel Cardiff really do need to develop in the cut and thrust of the Championship with greater game time.
As for Davies, he is genuinely quick, direct, takes on players and is ready to have a pop at goal, something Cardiff have been lacking at times in his absence this season.
Looking into 2023, what is not to like about Colwill playmaking at 10, Davies and Callum Robinson with their movement on the wings, and Kion Etete up front?
That just seems like a more potent front line in the making to me, one that would get better over time as the players are young, with any two of Wintle, Ralls and Rinomhota, or indeed a fit-again Ebou Adams, offering the defensive shield and midfield grunt behind.
Romaine Sawyers, Mark Harris, Callum O'Dowda and Sheyi Ojo are also in that mix, but the key is playing four of the more creative players, rather than three.
I'm not convinced O'Dowda won't yet end up as Cardiff's left back, offering further flair when he goes forward, but we'll see on that one.
Hudson suddenly possesses enough options in those forward areas and could strengthen further with a swoop for a striker in January. It's about striking the correct balance.
Cardiff have yet to prove they've got that right this season, but we hope Hudson will soon enough.
Games will come thick and fast over the Christmas period, with the Bluebirds hosting QPR after Blackpool, then travelling to Coventry and Blackburn, before the Leeds FA Cup tie.
Hudson will need to utilise his squad to its maximum potential to ensure fresh legs. But by the time we're into the back-to-back winnable home games with Wigan and Millwall in mid-January, Hudson should have settled on a slightly more offensive formation - and Cardiff can start looking up the table, rather than down below them.
What Cardiff team would you like Hudson to pick? Have your say in our comments section here
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