' Cardiff City can make instant return '

Personally I think it will be harder than most realise and I see us struggling to go straight back up.
Sounds negative, but its my honest opinion.


' Cardiff City can make instant return '
Saturday May 20th, 2014
By Dan Lewis –


The Championship, so the saying goes, is the toughest of any league to get out of. Having spent ten years trying to escape it the right way themselves, Cardiff City need no telling just what a big task they face next season.

The fate of two current Championship teams still remains in the balance, with Derby County and Queens Park Rangers set to go face-to-face next weekend to battle for the final promotion spot. Meanwhile, Leyton Orient and Rotherham do battle to earn the right to ply their trade in the second tier.

While the likes of Wigan Athletic, Brighton & Hove Albion and the beaten play-off finalists, whoever it may be, will all look to go one better than this season next time around, a whole host of clubs, from promoted Wolverhampton Wanderers and fellow Premier League dropouts Norwich City and Fulham, will all be eying up the top two.

As ever, one or two unexpected teams will no doubt stake their claim in the same way as Burnley have done this season as rank outsiders. That said, do the Bluebirds have what it takes to regain their place in the big time, or will it be another 50 years of pain?

In theory, having finished as runaway winners just two years ago, a strengthened Cardiff squad should find it a breeze, right? Not quite. If there’s anything supporters of the Welsh club have learnt during their prolonged stay in the division, it’s that team spirit can often count for much more than quality.

Take the aforementioned Burnley who at the start of the season were even touted as relegation candidates. Instead, Sean Dyche instilled a real belief among the players with the team ethic being enough to get the Clarets over the line. It would be unfair to suggest the Turf Moor outfit lacked quality – they did have Danny Ings and Sam Vokes up front after all – but it was the sprit among the dressing room which acted as the real catalyst for their success

Of course, on the other hand we have Leicester City, who are no strangers to spending money. Yet just last season the Foxes missed out in dramatic style, in much the same way as seasons before. Money wasn’t enough. QPR, likewise, have not found the league as easy as they expected, with the play-offs always looking to be their best bet of a return to the top flight since the turn of the new year.

While the parachute payments received by the Premier League’s bottom three clubs is at an all-time high, it’s important Cardiff don’t overdo it. The key is to get all business done early; both ingoing and outgoing. Gary Medel, Steven Caulker and David Marshall are all expected to leave this summer, but the Bluebirds can’t afford to see any transfers dragging out for the duration of the off-season.

If Marshall goes, bring in a new first-choice goalkeeper; if Medel departs, ensure that a solid defensive midfielder is brought in – though this is easier said than done, of course, with teams leaving transfer business later and later every season.

One piece of business which could be wrapped up early is that of striker Lewis Grabban, who looks set to make the move to South Wales on the back of an impressive season at Bournemouth. The 26-year-old, who joined the Cherries from Rotherham in 2012, bagged 22 goals in 46 appearances in all competitions last season at Dean Court.

At £3m it seems a smart buy, especially with Fraizer Campbell likely to remain in the Premier League come August. At the back, Kevin McNaughton, Kevin Theophile-Catherine, Matthew Connolly, Fabio da Silva, Declan John and Andrew Taylor are all left to battle it out for two full-back berths, while Mark Hudson, Ben Turner, January recruit Juan Cala and, for the time being at least, Caulker are all competing for a place in the heart of defence – solid competition indeed, which is present throughout the squad.

The curtain may not have been officially drawn on the season with the play-off finals still to be contested, but much like 12 months ago when promotion was sealed early on, Cardiff now have a chance to get their summer business underway as they look to regain their place back in the Premier League.

I agree in so far as I hope we do well but I think we may have a wake up call.

we all know it's a slog with games sat/tues with any team being able to beat anyone. Lets just hope our players are up for it mentally otherwise it'll be mid table I fear. I also think ole is not the right man to lead us but will park those feelings and get right behind him. It's going to be interesting

No chance, will be mid-table at best unless massive changes take place with squad.

There are a lot of good teams in the league next year, Norwich, Fulham, Qpr/Derby, Forrest, Brighton, Wigan plus a few who will be surprise packages, If we made the playoffs I feel it would be a good season. Here's hoping though

No chance, will be mid-table at best unless massive changes take place with squad.

why?

Last seasons relegated teams made up the top 7 last season and we made more cash than them.

We could start next season with 7/8 of the players of the side that won the league last season.

People just don't like Ole because they see him as Tan's man.

Not with the hobbit u wont

There is a nucleus of a team to be successful this season.

With a few more additions....and I suspect a couple of quality players on loan we should be ok.

What worries me is that some fans are hoping we fail, to drive Tan out. Be careful what you wish for.

We all know that if we had a successful season in the premiership, this rebrand protest would have been as quiet as when we won the championship.

We nearly went to the wall before Tan came, some "prominent" fans were delighted when Tan came here. What if Tan stripped the club and walked away? I can assure you, with small crowds and being in Pompey's position. The press would not be looking for interviews then.

Since the playoffs were introduced 28 years ago only 17 of the 84 clubs relegated from the PL have won promotion the next season. Only another 21 clubs managed to finish in the playoffs the season after being relegated so overall only 45% of clubs actually managed to finish in the playoffs.

VT has told OGS that he will support him in the transfer market this summer but in return he MUST win promotion next season.

Given those historical figures I fancy that OGS may not be our manager this time next year unless of course we are one of the 23% of clubs who do manage to win promotion.

I think mid table will be a good season, otherwise we could go the same way as Wolves/Sheff Utd etc. also for a promotion push you have to have club and fans all in it together, and at present unless Tan pulls something amazing out of the bag, that just isn't going to happen, we are going to have a red team playing in front of blue supporters chanting for the blues, and Si the infighting amongst the supporters is going to continue instead of supporting the team

Keeping players like noone are vital I think, our defence will be ok and these 2 strikers come in then all we need is a solid no nonsense midfielder and I reckon we will fly it. Not forgetting mason, ralls etc, hungry young players. The names of the clubs in the championship are big but most of them haven't any money so we should do it easily, of course we won't but you never know.

No chance, will be mid-table at best unless massive changes take place with squad.

But then in a similar way massive changes to the squad needs longer to bed in.

If we can near enough put out the Championship winning team with a few add one we should have a good chance.

It will be an interesting season thats for sure, I tend to agree with Annis you cannot just walk the season and get back into it.

i would say the only thing instant at Cardiff right now is probably the Coffee in the Corporate Lounge.

Good OP, which says it like it is...

My only concern is that Cardiff City are not as slow out of the blocks making signings as they (apparently) were last season

I'm sure work was constant in the background, but I did feel that we missed out on some decent and 'experienced' signings (Caulker apart) by leaving so much business to the last weeks of pre-season. That, in turn, meant that there was less time for 'bonding' although I have to say that (initially) didn't appear to be a major problem in the early months with Malky

This is a realistic article and highlights the difficulties that can arise when a prem side is relegated. Some players will want to leave, others become demotivated and maybe there's a danger of over-confidence too.

My main concern is that we get going quickly to get the best prices possible and concentrate on the preparation for a gruelling season in The Championship. Personally, I wouldn't mind 2 years in 2nd tier if it meant a stronger side for promotion. Spending big is not the answer either. Spending wisely is more like it.

I have no doubt Solksjaer will assemble a squad capable of winning the Championship in a canter. That said to achieve that goal you will need the whole squad, manager, staff, club owner, board and the fans as one. I have no doubt we will start the season like a house on fire and now the "but". This is a divided club from top to bottom and it wont take any new players too long to realize that. If our club is divided no matter how good a squad we assemble then our season is destined to end in failure.

Therefore Mr Tan if you want to achieve your goal and ours of returning to the Premier League in order that we as fans can be happy and you as owner can sell up and get your money back just do the obvious thing and return us to our blue kit emblazoned with our bluebird badge and all will be hunky dory. Don't do it!! Then things will go from bad to worse.

Over to you Mr. Tan!!!

Last edited by VinnyLiar on Tue May 20, 2014 12:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Personally I think we will finish around mid table

Back up as champions, playing some good stuff to boot.

Defence, defence, defence!!! Oops sound like Malky there Will always get chances in this league going forward. If we can sort out the defence first, then we've got a solid foundation and a fair chance

Since the playoffs were introduced 28 years ago only 17 of the 84 clubs relegated from the PL have won promotion the next season. Only another 21 clubs managed to finish in the playoffs the season after being relegated so overall only 45% of clubs actually managed to finish in the playoffs.

VT has told OGS that he will support him in the transfer market this summer but in return he MUST win promotion next season.

Given those historical figures I fancy that OGS may not be our manager this time next year unless of course we are one of the 23% of clubs who do manage to win promotion.

Cheers Gary for the stats.

Its going to be another very tough season, next season.

I LOVE this club........ enjoy the ride people

True fans will be there this season and we will join as one to get us back there and if we go into the play offs...... get your Hull stubs out

[quote="Bobby Woodruff's long throw"]There are a lot of good teams in the league next year, Norwich, Fulham, Qpr/Derby, Forrest, Brighton, Wigan plus a few who will be surprise packages, If we made the playoffs I feel it would be a good season. Here's hoping though [/quote

Those teams will have us on their list of teams to worry about.