MID TABLE AT BEST FOR CCFC THIS SEASON

That is my honest opinion lads.

Not a dig, not slagging you off just an honest assessment from what I've seen from you lads early on this season.

Obviously we all know you had a MUCH better squad last season than your current one but with MM at the helm I firmly think you have a great manager for the future, but unfortunately not right now.

From an outsiders point of view I would say your squad is weak probably the weakest of the current top 6-8 teams. You have some good young players & of course you have experience in Miller & Earnie but I don't see that match winner you really do need in the Championship. Taarabt for us was immense but he couldn't be half the player he was without players like Derry, Clint Hill, Jamie Mackie & Ali Faurlin around him last year that gave him the license to do what he did. I don't see a Cardiff player that can take games by the scruff of the neck & lead you into battle (Bellamy)

I also don't feel that MM has been backed sufficiently by your owners or I'm pretty sure he would of brought in a couple of better quality players than you did. Miller & Earnie were good 3 years ago & I honestly don't see them getting the goals you will need to fire you up the league.

You are already 7 points off of Southampton (counting a far superior GD) & get a few injuries & I think you will free fall.

Unlucky today, how did you play? As I say not a dig at all purely a football based opinion but as always would love to be proved wrong as its no secret I'd love to see Cardiff City in the Premiership as you are a big big club who would flourish in the top flight.

Unfortunately it won't be this season.

Prediction 13th.

We have a top 6 manager
A top 6-8 first XI
mid table depth unfortunately.

sorry stan but how many games have u seen us this season...none ....did u see us v southampton the other night ...no ....so please dont judge ...we,ve had injuries already we,ll see where we are at the end of the season...you worry bout yourself...not a pop but we,re only a few games in....this team battles ...it didnt last year !!

I have access to QPR player which if you don't know is the same company Cardiff use. Log in details can access any clubs websites who use player. I have watched EVERY set of highlights from your games to date as I like to see how your getting on.

Yes your team battles so does 99% of the teams in your division is doesn't mean you have any advantage over any other teams mate.

In a nutshell what I'm saying is I don't see that 'blend' you need to get out of this league which in my view is youth, experience, a star player, a tight defence & a top goalkeeper. Those in my opinion are the golden ingredients & I would say you have 2 of those just about, youth & experience. I see you as very stretched squad wise & I just don't see it getting much better than it already is.

Losing players like;

Bothroyd
Bellamy
Chopra
Burke

Are going to affect any team but not replacing them with players half as good as them is a sign that things are not all that well at the club.

Just my take on it mate for what its worth.

highlights aint the game ...i know what your saying ...but this team battles for each other and it didnt last year way to many players couldnt be arsed ...mainly that fairy you,ve got now .....well be up there guarnteed

Highlights tell a lot. Shows me your shape, how you set up & most importantly how you defend. Mix that with newspaper reports & fans views on here I'd say I'm not far wrong. But again only my opinion.

I understand your team battles, so does Derby's have a look on Sky Sports 2 but its done them no favours so far as similar to yourselves they have no stand out players like a lot of other teams do at the top end of the Championship have.

Btw-Jay has been superb for us so far. Proper manager you see. Gets the best out of players.

I admire your faith in your team though mate. That's a good quality. Fair play.

Hi Stan;

This season if nothing else we are a very difficult team to beat as both Leicester and Southampton have found out this week and but for the referee changing his mind over a penalty today so would Hull.

After 10 minutes today we had no experienced forwards on the pitch but again we finished stronger than our opponents so I think we will do better than your 13th place prediction. We all no our squad is not strong enough, we are 5 players down on last season never mind the loss of the quality, but boy can we dig out results.

Most Cardiff fans are begining to enjoy watching the team play it's such a difference now the great bollock scratcher has gone and all the prima donnas around him and the team. Your absolutely right about one thing we are lacking that x factor player but if we can get him playoffs are well on the cards, but we also need to fill our squad out as 24 players is simply not enough.

Hope you have a good game tomorrow and I must say I have enjoyed watching QPR this season.

I have access to QPR player which if you don't know is the same company Cardiff use. Log in details can access any clubs websites who use player. I have watched EVERY set of highlights from your games to date as I like to see how your getting on.

Yes your team battles so does 99% of the teams in your division is doesn't mean you have any advantage over any other teams mate.

In a nutshell what I'm saying is I don't see that 'blend' you need to get out of this league which in my view is youth, experience, a star player, a tight defence & a top goalkeeper. Those in my opinion are the golden ingredients & I would say you have 2 of those just about, youth & experience. I see you as very stretched squad wise & I just don't see it getting much better than it already is.

Losing players like;

Bothroyd
Bellamy
Chopra
Burke

Are going to affect any team but not replacing them with players half as good as them is a sign that things are not all that well at the club.

Just my take on it mate for what its worth.

Bothroyd would never want that man back your welcome to him the day he said he was too good for the championship was the day he stopped playing and the day he thinks he should be in a top 4 team he will stop playing for you
Bellamy was on loan would have loved to have him back but thats life
Chopra waste of space so many problems hes a detriment to any football club and ipswich will figure that out if not sooner then later.
Burke is our only real loss but thats football
We have replaced these players weve replaced them with young hungry players with a point to prove instead of having players who are constantly stuck up their own backside

How are ya Castle ol bean.

Good post & similar to D20 sounds like you really have got a gritty team this year. As I mentioned massive plus having that but you need so much more & that is ultimately the point I am making.

I would say last year we had the perfect blend in Kenny, Taarabt, Derry, Hill, then in January the players we brought in for that final push, Routledge, Ishmael Miller, Shittu etc is what done it for us. Players who are all miles apart but come together to make a TEAM that's what I see lacking with Cardiff this season. I honestly believe if we didn't go up last season we wouldn't of gone up this one as the league is a lot tougher this time around.

Why did MM not bring in quality that is so clearly needed? Are his hands tied?

For the record I think he is a great manager & seems a very decent chap also.

Thanks for you're opinion Stan.I think a majority of posters on here would
agree with a lot of what you say but it is still early days yet.
We need 2 or 3 quality loan signings asap to ensure we are in or around the
playoff positions at Christmas and then it will be up to the owners to back
the manager with the funds to make a final push.
Anyhow,all the best for your season and lets hope we meet in the premier league
next year.

How are ya Castle ol bean.

Good post & similar to D20 sounds like you really have got a gritty team this year. As I mentioned massive plus having that but you need so much more & that is ultimately the point I am making.

I would say last year we had the perfect blend in Kenny, Taarabt, Derry, Hill, then in January the players we brought in for that final push, Routledge, Ishmael Miller, Shittu etc is what done it for us. Players who are all miles apart but come together to make a TEAM that's what I see lacking with Cardiff this season. I honestly believe if we didn't go up last season we wouldn't of gone up this one as the league is a lot tougher this time around.

Why did MM not bring in quality that is so clearly needed? Are his hands tied?

For the record I think he is a great manager & seems a very decent chap also.

None of us understand why we haven't signed at least 3 players since the loan window opened, QPR have at least 2 experienced forwards who are on the fringe players like Hulse and Agyeman (is that how you spell it). We needed experienced forwards even on short term loans but we didn't and paid the price at Hull today.

I honestly believe if we had an experienced forward today we would have beaten Hull but maybe thats blind faith. As you said NW did some great business in January and no doubt it gave QPR the extra power to take the League, but lets face it we were the only club to take over at the top of the table and that was never going to last because that QPR didn't accept defeat last year. We on the other hand were more than prepared to accept losing the odd game until the point where we actually lost to many.

This year is different we don't accept defeat easily but at this moment we don't have the spine of the team right, just not strong enough up front and we are weak in terms of numbers in the squad.

Are we likely to win the league, NO, are we good enough to get a playoff place well we will find out. But after 10 games we have played 6 teams in the top 10 of the division so we are not badly placed. Lack of numbers or lack of quality all these are valid points but 10 games in we are in the game.

No doubt about that.

Thanks Clam lad.

Yea you are right it is early days & on reflection I may have been a little premature in basically writing off your season already (always suffered with premature )

All it is, is just I can see what you've got at your disposal & I fear the worst with regards to a promotion push but as you said 3-4 GOOD loans will do you the world of good. Loans are not ideal as we found out but as it stands it could. Make your season.

I think you are correct-10th at best unless we invest in at least 3 more players. We desperately need another winger (Conway is good-prob better than Burke) and a bigger striker. I feel we need an extra midfielder as cover for Kiss and Gunnerson.

At least this season i know every player will give 100%.

u could be right stan, but at least we will play u again next season then

Haha no chance pal.

The R's are staying up!

Good posts from everyone & some top points made which puts a different perspective on things.

The proof is in the pudding so let's see your board go out & get Malky what he needs.

Bernie Ecclestone & Flabio were a pair of wankers but they knew what sensible investment would do, and it did do, promotion!

Your guys need to back Malky to the hilt because as it stands you are way short.

Stan,

If Malky is backed with a bit of money top 6, if he is not then 12th/14th.

stan i gotta disagree mate,

we could of pasted one or two teams already this cardiff team is strong and fear no one, theirs not a single ground in this league that intimidates our lads
we'v beat southampton, west ham (away) 2 good games with leicester city who are very very decent
if we had a fit side today hull city would of got destroyed!

we we're ready to explode before this injury crisis hit and we will get back to our best.

I got a confidenct feeling if we can be within distance in december we will sign a couple of decent young playersand we may not have match winners but we have real winners in our team who will get important goals and step up for the important gamse

confident*
games*

Stan,

If Malky is backed with a bit of money top 6, if he is not then 12th/14th.

Exactly how I see it mate.

Some great players out there not in Premiership 25 man squads. Go get em!

stan i gotta disagree mate,

we could of pasted one or two teams already this cardiff team is strong and fear no one, theirs not a single ground in this league that intimidates our lads
we'v beat southampton, west ham (away) 2 good games with leicester city who are very very decent
if we had a fit side today hull city would of got destroyed!

we we're ready to explode before this injury crisis hit and we will get back to our best.

I got a confidenct feeling if we can be within distance in december we will sign a couple of decent young playersand we may not have match winners but we have real winners in our team who will get important goals and step up for the important gamse

Great post mate & really does sound like you have some proper fighters in there.

Its a long season & you will need that grit but also a lot more so I will be a little shit & dig my heels in & maintain if you don't bring in that quality I can't see you pushing on. Waiting for January will be way to late.

We led from the start you guys are already playing catch up, that's what worries me.

But a lot of these posts have made me think a little different with regards to the grit your lads possess so I will be watching with interest.

Stan, we wont compete when some of the other clubs splash the cash again.
We just need 3 more players and Malky will deliver

the reason that the players are battling is because they are signed players and not loan players like lprevious years
i rekon if you get a loan player he dont give 100 per cent ....bellamy was an exeption

This seems like a bit of a dig to me mate, It's funny how you have waited 9 games (Our unbeaten run) to post this.

This seems like a bit of a dig to me mate, It's funny how you have waited 9 games (Our unbeaten run) to post this.

Stan has always been honest and fair in the past,he makes a great debate.

What would I gain from having a dig mate?

I think I've been very open & honest with all my posts & besides people telling me how much grit you have hardly anyone has disagreed so its not as if I'm seeing something no one else is.

10 games gone in the Championship. I would say that's the perfect time to have a first assessment of a team wouldn't you say?

As mentioned before I can only say it as I see it. Plenty here watch Cardiff week in & out & have made some valid points that I was not aware of but I can only go on my gut instinct & what I see / read & that's that I think you are way short of required ingredients to get out of this league.

Having digs is not my bag mate.

Hi Stan,

Its a marathon not a sprint as you know but in all honestly mid table suits me fine.

This team is young and is being built for the future in my opinion. I know we all want new players brought in asap to give us extra depth but I think our owners are trying to stabilise the club financially so maybe the cheque book is now closed for this season. Who knows we could be the underdog that surprises everyone this season?

Hi Stan,

Its a marathon not a sprint as you know but in all honestly mid table suits me fine.

This team is young and is being built for the future in my opinion. I know we all want new players brought in asap to give us extra depth but I think our owners are trying to stabilise the club financially so maybe the cheque book is now closed for this season. Who knows we could be the underdog that surprises everyone this season?

Wicked post & you have an absolutely spot on attitude.

You'll take mid table but if you surprise everyone then great, I love that.

I truly believe what you said about building a team & getting the finances in order is very much the case also.

Malky surely wasn't expected to push for promotion in his first season with a weaker squad than the previous year.

How many times have you seen us play this season?

We would be on a 10 match unbeaten run if it wasn't for 3 strikers being injured?

Answered this question early in this thread mate.

Unbeaten is good but you are off the pace with regards to points already & my post was more looking at the bigger picture ie; your squad or lack of it. I think that will cost you.

10 games gone in the Championship. I would say that's the perfect time to have a first assessment of a team wouldn't you say?

Not at all, new manager new players and a load of injury's. 10 games is not enough to judge us as a team, especially just from watching highlights.