' Sol Campbell:Why Cardiff are for the PL drop '

Campbell’s column: " Why Cardiff are for the PL drop. "
Exclusive
Thu, 15 Aug 2013

By Sol Campbell
So here we go: nine months of frenetic activity, plenty of highs and lows and ultimately heartbreak for three Premier League teams.

The new season is likely to be the most competitive campaign in its 21-year history. But that will count for nought if your team is relegated.

So who is for the chop from the top-flight come May 2014?

I personally don't think it's as clear-cut as in recent seasons. Wherever you look, there isn't a weak team. And all of the underdogs have the potential to be really competitive and spring a major surprise on more illustrious opponents.

Having said all of that, I do fear for Cardiff City.

Malky Mackay is a great manager, and what he has achieved for the Bluebirds in a short space of time has been tremendous.

But there is a major difference between plying your trade in the Championship and taking on some of the biggest names in European football week-in, week-out.

If fear the Premier League is going to be a baptism of fire for Mackay and Cardiff even though the club has splashed out a lot of money in the last few days on players like Steven Caulker from Spurs and Gary Medel from Seville.

Malky is still cutting his teeth as a boss and, unlike the other promoted managers, he has no experience of managing in the Premier League. That's what might count against him.

His relative lack of experience could cost his team, particularly in the first few weeks when everyone is looking to impose themselves.

West Ham, Manchester City and Everton provide the opposition in the first three fixtures and there is a real possibility Cardiff won't have a point when they line up against Hull at the KC Stadium on 14 September.

With the season less than a month old, the Welsh team could already be locked into a rear-guard action. And that's where experience and nous cuts in and City are really limited in this regard.

Elsewhere, I think Hull and Steve Bruce could surprise the critics and doom merchants by enjoying a successful campaign.

You can say what you like about Brucie. The fact remains that the former Manchester United defender who has seen it and done it as a manager with the likes of Birmingham, Wigan and Sunderland has made some good acquisitions during the summer.

Danny Graham's switch from Swansea to the KC could prove a masterstroke. The signing of Scotland goalkeeper Allan MacGregor was also a shrewd bit of business.

But Hull's biggest asset is Bruce himself. He works tirelessly and doesn't fear pitting his wits against the biggest names in the business. So watch out Jose Mourinho on Sunday. I hear Bruce and has already been out a bought a big banana skin for the occasion.

Similarly, Ian Holloway and Crystal Palace will surprise a few teams.

The Eagles have written off from day one. Yet Holloway, as he proved with Blackpool a few seasons ago, has an uncanny ability to out-think opponents and catch them by surprise.

Sure, he's had difficulty in luring big name signings to Selhurst Park. But Holloway would have known many of his attempts would turn to dust.

One thing is for sure, Palace will have a lot of togetherness and play as a team from day one. This will count for a lot and, if they get the odd lucky break on the pitch, could ensure their survival.

I think Aston Villa will be OK, provided they hold onto Christian Benteke and learn from last year's mistakes. Fulham need a good start and to keep the squad fit but the worry for them is the arrival of a new chairman who won't have the deep pockets of their previous one. Also, if they lose a two key players like Dimitar Berbatov and Brede Hangeland, it will be critical. It will be interesting for Swansea because although they will be buoyed by last year's success, playing in Europe as well as the domestic cups will severely test the squad.

Stick with me during the course of the season, as I share my exclusive views and opinions on all the big football issues of the day with SportsDirect News.

Sol's predictions for relegation: Cardiff City, Fulham and Crystal Palace.

I think Campbell has a man crush on Steve Bruce.

I think Campbell has a man crush on Steve Bruce.

Sol Campbell is a c*** though

Can't wait to prove the fat f**k wrong!

What utter boll**** - I am sure MM will make SC eat his words

f**k off sol , Prick

Aye, Ian Holloway who failed with Blackpool is definitely a step above Malky despite Malky winning the Championship with ease, 15 pts above Palace? 8 above Hull.

Another pundit who will have his arse handed to him on a plate come the end of the season

It's kind of obvious from there, sol just doesn't want Cardiff in the prem!

campbell is a tw*t,and has spoke shit most of his career .we'll stay up

Sol Campbell thought he could hack it in League Two with Notts County... he was quickly proven incorrect!

One thing is for sure, Palace will have a lot of togetherness and play as a team from day one. This will count for a lot and, if they get the odd lucky break on the pitch, could ensure their survival.

Nah, definitely not us, all a bunch of egos the lot of them

campbell is a tw*t,and has stabbed shit most of his career .we'll stay up

fixed it for you!

He thinks palace and hull will do better then us? What a f*cking joker

Were going to have a tough campaign, yet Hull will have a great one? ... He's talking out of his arse dont be put off by him.

does Campbell realise Holloway took Blackpool down?

On a side note, he's choosing Fulham for relegation? Let's compare Hull and Fulham for a second shall we Campbell using your own comments...

He's saying that the experience of Steve Bruce in the Premier League will keep Hull up... yet Martin Jol's experience clearly doesn't matter. Bruce's success at Premier League level also pales in comparison to Jol's. Fulham also have the much better squad. Let's compare and contrast...

Stekelenburg vs McGregor
Hangeland, Riise, Reither and Manolev vs Figueroa, Davies, Bruce and Rosenior
Duff, Taarabt, Sidwell and Kacaniklic vs Huddlestone, Elmohamady, Boyd and Brady
Berbatov and Ruiz vs Graham and Aluko

Oh my f*cking days Sol, jog on.

What a load of of Shite!!!!!

It's all about opinions.

12 or 13 teams could be relegated-all bar Everton, Liverpool, Spurs, Arsenal, Man U, Man City and Chelsea are safe. Swansea, WBA, Newcastle and West Ham are all likely to stay up unless they have injuries/fixtures backlog (please let this happen to Swansea!).

The other 10 teams are all in the mix with Palace being almost certainties for relegation. Ourselves and Hull have bought well but alot depends on how quickly we adapt and start. Fulham finished badly last season and along with the likes of Southampton, stoke and Norwich will be hoping for 3 worse teams than them. I think that Sunderland may struggle again and Di Canio has not got what it takes to manage in PL.

I predict that Palace, Stoke and Fulham will drop.

Sol sol wherever you may be....

I would have said if we'd had bought along the lines of Hull and palace then I would have agreed with him but every Manager has to start somewhere and I think Malky will surprise a few.

We need to sack Malky now then and get Mick McCarthy in asap!

I really don't understand how he can write us off, we have as much team togetherness as any team! Going close so many times does that to you! I believe we have spent wisely and with more signings to come hopefully we will be stronger.

Why does he have so much confidence with Bruce, it's not as if he got someone up and then push forward with them? It's a joke and holloway is a good manager but he was relagated with Blackpool and with them not signing markey placers I don't see them doing well.

Hope we prove him wrong! Come on BLUEBIRDS!

Malkys inexperience while being chased by Everton and Norwich, laughable.

Another thing Steve Bruce has over Malky Mackay is that he has been sacked at least twice (Huddersfield in 2000 and Sunderland in 2011).

Just the kind of experience Malky lacks eh, Sol?

I don't think there was ever a prediction based on such crap.

Not having premiership experience means your assured for the drop Swansea should have gone down with Rodgers & Laudrup.

He also praises Holloway, yet fails to mention his Blackpool team was still relegated.

I do agree on one thing, I'd be pleased if we had more than a point going into the game against Hull.

Man who never played Championship football comments on it

What a load of shit. Doesn't have a clue does he? I'd rather have Malky as a Manager than Bruce or Holloway any day of the week,

What the bloody hell is Sports Direct News anyway.

Sol isn't the most knowledgable of pundits but the other day Phil Thompson said we would be ok.Both of their opinions mean nothing come Saturday and I wouldn't care if 100 pundits said we would go down,i believe we will stay up and so do thousands of others.Up malky and the boys we are staying up