Tue Jun 18, 2013 6:25 pm
billionaire owner who swatted aside century long identity of the club for the sake of commercialism? Check. A much derided manager who was possibly one failure away from a premature retirement? Check. A team which languished at the very bottom of the Championship table without a solitary point as September began? Check. The three promoted teams to the Premier League class of 2013/14 encompass all the above riveting stories and more.
Cardiff City
How they got promoted?After two successive years of playoffs heartbreak, Cardiff City, bankrolled by the Malaysian billionaire Vincent Tan, were a club on a mission this past season as they led the Championship all the way from November till the end and clinched promotion with 3 games to go. Their position at the top were never really threatened as the Bluebirds – rebranded to red last season – maintained a healthy lead over the chasing pack all throughout and unlike previous seasons, did not capitulate in closing stages.The managerIt was no surprise to see Malky Mackay’s name being linked to the managerial post at Everton in the days following David Moyes’ exit. The 41 year old Scot has been immensely impressive since taking over at the beginning of 2011-12 season, when many predicted doom and gloom for the Welsh club. Mackay though guided the team, against all odds, to the playoffs where the limitations in the squad was eventually exposed by the much stronger West Ham. With owner Tan making funds available at start of the last season, Mackay, who turned down an approach from Norwich City during the same period, made a number of shrewd acquisitions to put the club firmly on the path to promotion.The present squadCardiff City, under Mackay, have wholeheartedly embraced the philosophy of the team being greater than the sum of its components. Apart from an ageing Craig Bellamy, there may not be too many big names but on the pitch they have functioned exceedingly well as an efficient and cohesive unit. It is at the back where the Bluebirds have been most impressive as goalkeeper David Marshall kept 18 clean sheets in the league. Mark Hudson, the skipper, had marshaled the defense excellently and was ably supported by his fellow centre-half Ben Turner. Heidar Helguson topped the scoring chart but only with 8 league goals whereas his strike partner Frazier Campbell has bagged 7 goals since his transfer in January. Paucity of goals from strikers – record signing Nicky Maynard sidelined for almost entire season due to ruptured cruciate ligament did not help matters – have been compensated by the goal-scoring exploits of Peter Whittingham and Aron Gunnarsson ,7 goals each, from the midfield.What they need?Mackay has been assured of a £25 million transfer budget as he starts life as a Premier League manager. A substantial chunk of it would be needed to address the most glaring deficiency in the squad – the lack of a prolific goal-scorer. Lyon’s Bafetimbi Gomis may be the solution but Cardiff face competition from local rivals Swansea City for the French international. Darren Bent and Peter Odemwingie, both strikers with proven Premier League pedigree but presently out-of-favour at their respective clubs, are other viable alternatives. Elsewhere, the squad could do with some steel in the middle of the park in the form of a quality defensive midfielder and an improvement in the full back areas.
Tue Jun 18, 2013 6:32 pm
Whoa mate, my eyes are bleeding and blurred, paragraphs would be good.