5 REASONS CCFC PROMOTED ~ Guardian
Wed Apr 17, 2013 1:01 pm
1 Solid foundations
Cardiff have cut loose as an attacking force at times this season, but with 17 clean sheets prior to Tuesday night's match against Charlton, their success has largely been built around a solid defence. With David Marshall impressive in goal and Mark Hudson, the captain, a commanding and influential figure in the heart of central defence for much of the campaign (he has been sidelined with an ankle injury since the middle of last month), Malky Mackay's side have been obdurate opponents.
2 Team ethic
When every Championship manager was asked to name their best five players in the division, not one member of Mackay's squad polled enough votes to finish among the top six names, despite running away with the league. But as the goalscoring charts illustrate, it is all about the team rather than the individual at Cardiff. In the absence of a prolific striker – there is not one Cardiff player who has managed to get into double figures in the league this season – the goals have been shared around the side.
3 Mackay's leadership
As Cardiff have come up short at the play-off stage in the previous three seasons, a fair chunk of credit must go to Mackay for finally getting the club over the line. The Cardiff manager has had a decent budget to work with, both in terms of transfers funds and wages, but he has also had to deal with off-the-field distractions, including the fall-out from the colour change and speculation about the club being renamed. Amid everything, Mackay has been a calm head, keeping his players focused and diligently plotting the club's return to the top flight.
]4 Leading from the front
The fact that Cardiff climbed to the Championship summit in November and have stayed there ever since is testament to the players' mental fortitude, especially when the club has picked up a reputation in previous seasons for choking when the pressure is on. Mackay has continually preached the importance of "monotonous consistency" and his players have taken that message on board, relentlessly grinding out victories, especially at home. There was a little wobble across February and March but never any real sign that Cardiff would collapse.
5 Financial backing
While Vincent Tan's decisions last June to change the shirt colour from blue to red and alter the club crest was hugely controversial, the Malaysian owner stayed true to his promise that he would pump money into the club if the radical rebranding exercise went ahead. Cardiff splurged more than £10m in the summer, making them the Championship's biggest net spenders, and Craig Bellamy joined on a free transfer. The financial gamble paid off and promotion means a PR disaster has been avoided.
Sorry if this has been posted previously but just thought I'd share
source - http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog ... CMP=twt_gu
Cardiff have cut loose as an attacking force at times this season, but with 17 clean sheets prior to Tuesday night's match against Charlton, their success has largely been built around a solid defence. With David Marshall impressive in goal and Mark Hudson, the captain, a commanding and influential figure in the heart of central defence for much of the campaign (he has been sidelined with an ankle injury since the middle of last month), Malky Mackay's side have been obdurate opponents.
2 Team ethic
When every Championship manager was asked to name their best five players in the division, not one member of Mackay's squad polled enough votes to finish among the top six names, despite running away with the league. But as the goalscoring charts illustrate, it is all about the team rather than the individual at Cardiff. In the absence of a prolific striker – there is not one Cardiff player who has managed to get into double figures in the league this season – the goals have been shared around the side.
3 Mackay's leadership
As Cardiff have come up short at the play-off stage in the previous three seasons, a fair chunk of credit must go to Mackay for finally getting the club over the line. The Cardiff manager has had a decent budget to work with, both in terms of transfers funds and wages, but he has also had to deal with off-the-field distractions, including the fall-out from the colour change and speculation about the club being renamed. Amid everything, Mackay has been a calm head, keeping his players focused and diligently plotting the club's return to the top flight.
]4 Leading from the front
The fact that Cardiff climbed to the Championship summit in November and have stayed there ever since is testament to the players' mental fortitude, especially when the club has picked up a reputation in previous seasons for choking when the pressure is on. Mackay has continually preached the importance of "monotonous consistency" and his players have taken that message on board, relentlessly grinding out victories, especially at home. There was a little wobble across February and March but never any real sign that Cardiff would collapse.
5 Financial backing
While Vincent Tan's decisions last June to change the shirt colour from blue to red and alter the club crest was hugely controversial, the Malaysian owner stayed true to his promise that he would pump money into the club if the radical rebranding exercise went ahead. Cardiff splurged more than £10m in the summer, making them the Championship's biggest net spenders, and Craig Bellamy joined on a free transfer. The financial gamble paid off and promotion means a PR disaster has been avoided.
Sorry if this has been posted previously but just thought I'd share
source - http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog ... CMP=twt_gu
Re: 5 REASONS CCFC PROMOTED ~ Guardian
Wed Apr 17, 2013 1:09 pm
From Cardiff's match report in today's Times,
"When Cardiff take to a Premier League pitch in August there wil lbe no suggestion that theirs is the blueprint for others to follow. Mackay came to Wales commanded to seal promotion by any means.His side as a consequence are direct and strong ,and make no bones about it.
More crucially though, it is because even as the Scot has brought order to the club on the pitch,off it, they remain something of a basket case.
Cardiff,s debt stands at £83.5m according to their latest accounts, and counting.It is testament to years of chasing the dream, of living beyond their means.
They owe Hamman, in the guise of his Langston investment Company-some £24m.Another £40m is owed to Vincent Tan,who used his influence to change the clubs badge to incorporate a dragon and switch their kit from blue to red.
It is easy in such circumstances to see why fan owned, frugally run Swansea are seen as an example of all that is right in football,and Cardiff, a club which mortgaged its future and then sold its soul, are the very opposite."
Balance
"When Cardiff take to a Premier League pitch in August there wil lbe no suggestion that theirs is the blueprint for others to follow. Mackay came to Wales commanded to seal promotion by any means.His side as a consequence are direct and strong ,and make no bones about it.
More crucially though, it is because even as the Scot has brought order to the club on the pitch,off it, they remain something of a basket case.
Cardiff,s debt stands at £83.5m according to their latest accounts, and counting.It is testament to years of chasing the dream, of living beyond their means.
They owe Hamman, in the guise of his Langston investment Company-some £24m.Another £40m is owed to Vincent Tan,who used his influence to change the clubs badge to incorporate a dragon and switch their kit from blue to red.
It is easy in such circumstances to see why fan owned, frugally run Swansea are seen as an example of all that is right in football,and Cardiff, a club which mortgaged its future and then sold its soul, are the very opposite."
Balance
Re: 5 REASONS CCFC PROMOTED ~ Guardian
Wed Apr 17, 2013 1:15 pm
6) weak championship league
Re: 5 REASONS CCFC PROMOTED ~ Guardian
Wed Apr 17, 2013 1:24 pm
Roguetrooper wrote:From Cardiff's match report in today's Times,
"When Cardiff take to a Premier League pitch in August there wil lbe no suggestion that theirs is the blueprint for others to follow. Mackay came to Wales commanded to seal promotion by any means.His side as a consequence are direct and strong ,and make no bones about it.
More crucially though, it is because even as the Scot has brought order to the club on the pitch,off it, they remain something of a basket case.
Cardiff,s debt stands at £83.5m according to their latest accounts, and counting.It is testament to years of chasing the dream, of living beyond their means.
They owe Hamman, in the guise of his Langston investment Company-some £24m.Another £40m is owed to Vincent Tan,who used his influence to change the clubs badge to incorporate a dragon and switch their kit from blue to red.
It is easy in such circumstances to see why fan owned, frugally run Swansea are seen as an example of all that is right in football,and Cardiff, a club which mortgaged its future and then sold its soul, are the very opposite."
Balance
Did they forget jacks screwed local businesses by going into admin.....twice!
Re: 5 REASONS CCFC PROMOTED ~ Guardian
Wed Apr 17, 2013 1:26 pm
7) The Premier League need a Malaysian owned basket case of a club to pay dross players a fortune and take them back to the championship with them with them now that QPR will be vacating that role.
Re: 5 REASONS CCFC PROMOTED ~ Guardian
Wed Apr 17, 2013 1:44 pm
Roguetrooper wrote:From Cardiff's match report in today's Times,
"When Cardiff take to a Premier League pitch in August there wil lbe no suggestion that theirs is the blueprint for others to follow. Mackay came to Wales commanded to seal promotion by any means.His side as a consequence are direct and strong ,and make no bones about it.
More crucially though, it is because even as the Scot has brought order to the club on the pitch,off it, they remain something of a basket case.
Cardiff,s debt stands at £83.5m according to their latest accounts, and counting.It is testament to years of chasing the dream, of living beyond their means.
They owe Hamman, in the guise of his Langston investment Company-some £24m.Another £40m is owed to Vincent Tan,who used his influence to change the clubs badge to incorporate a dragon and switch their kit from blue to red.
It is easy in such circumstances to see why fan owned, frugally run Swansea are seen as an example of all that is right in football,and Cardiff, a club which mortgaged its future and then sold its soul, are the very opposite."
Balance
I cannot wait to see what straws, you Jacks will be grasping, when VT turns the loan into equity and settles with Langston, for half that amount or for a chunk of equity. I think you will find that we will be debt free by the summer.
