Cardiff City - favourites for Premier League return
Sat Jun 07, 2014 6:30 am
Cardiff City spending spree sees Bluebirds installed as favourites for an immediate Premier League return
The Bluebirds are out on their own at 7-1 with one bookmaker after doing a good deal of business early this summer
Cardiff City have been installed as number one favourites for a return to the Premier League following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s summer spending spree.
Many Bluebirds fans believe the off the field turmoil will lead to their team missing out on an instant return to the top flight... with some even gloomily predicting a second successive relegation.
But Solskjaer’s impressive work in the transfer market has led to the men who know best – the bookmakers – confidently predicting Cardiff will win the Championship again and clinch promotion back into the big time.
According to William Hill, Cardiff are out on their own at 7-1 to top the league.
Next come Fulham and Wigan (each 8-1), Derby (9-1), Norwich (10-1) and then, perhaps somewhat surprisingly, Bournemouth at 14-1.
Blackpool (100-1), Millwall (80-1), Charlton and Birmingham (each 66-1) are dubbed the no-hopers of the division.
The odds on Cardiff have been reduced following early close-season moves by Solskjaer to bolster his squad.
Already the City manager has snapped up Federico Macheda from Manchester United, Javi Guerra, who fired16 goals in Spain’s La Liga last season, Reading’s Adam Le Fondre, plus goalscoring Austrian midfielder Guido Burgstaller.
Solskjaer says his captures are a statement of promotion intent from the Bluebirds and he still plans to strengthen further with acquisitions for his midfield and defence.
Although Solskjaer is resigned to losing Fraizer Campbell, Gary Medel and skipper Steven Caulker, his team will be bolstered further by the presence of Jordon Mutch, Craig Noone, Mats Moller Daehli and Fabio.
Cardiff’s huge £15million valuation on David Marshall also means they could keep hold of their highly-rated goalkeeper.
Arsenal are reported to have had a £6m bid for Marshall rebuffed by the Bluebirds.
The Gunners’ north London rivals Tottenham also want Marshall and are waiting to see what happens with Hugo Lloris when he returns from the World Cup
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/foot ... es-7230857
The Bluebirds are out on their own at 7-1 with one bookmaker after doing a good deal of business early this summer
Cardiff City have been installed as number one favourites for a return to the Premier League following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s summer spending spree.
Many Bluebirds fans believe the off the field turmoil will lead to their team missing out on an instant return to the top flight... with some even gloomily predicting a second successive relegation.
But Solskjaer’s impressive work in the transfer market has led to the men who know best – the bookmakers – confidently predicting Cardiff will win the Championship again and clinch promotion back into the big time.
According to William Hill, Cardiff are out on their own at 7-1 to top the league.
Next come Fulham and Wigan (each 8-1), Derby (9-1), Norwich (10-1) and then, perhaps somewhat surprisingly, Bournemouth at 14-1.
Blackpool (100-1), Millwall (80-1), Charlton and Birmingham (each 66-1) are dubbed the no-hopers of the division.
The odds on Cardiff have been reduced following early close-season moves by Solskjaer to bolster his squad.
Already the City manager has snapped up Federico Macheda from Manchester United, Javi Guerra, who fired16 goals in Spain’s La Liga last season, Reading’s Adam Le Fondre, plus goalscoring Austrian midfielder Guido Burgstaller.
Solskjaer says his captures are a statement of promotion intent from the Bluebirds and he still plans to strengthen further with acquisitions for his midfield and defence.
Although Solskjaer is resigned to losing Fraizer Campbell, Gary Medel and skipper Steven Caulker, his team will be bolstered further by the presence of Jordon Mutch, Craig Noone, Mats Moller Daehli and Fabio.
Cardiff’s huge £15million valuation on David Marshall also means they could keep hold of their highly-rated goalkeeper.
Arsenal are reported to have had a £6m bid for Marshall rebuffed by the Bluebirds.
The Gunners’ north London rivals Tottenham also want Marshall and are waiting to see what happens with Hugo Lloris when he returns from the World Cup
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/foot ... es-7230857
Re: Cardiff City - favourites for Premier League return
Sat Jun 07, 2014 8:36 am
Favorites to go down last season now favorites to go up
Re: Cardiff City - favourites for Premier League return
Sat Jun 07, 2014 8:51 am
No one can argue against us not taking preparations this time unlike other seasons where we have left it late.
It seems everything is moving along nicely but there are those outstanding uncertainties:
1. Who reckons Ole is the right manager for this? I'm finding this difficult to believe but I would feel a lot more assured of it was DJ.
2. The striker options are looking a lot more healthy from the last 2 previous seasons BUT are they? Macheda and Le Fondre I'm not so sure about although Guerra does install confidence.
3. The off field events killed us last season thanks to Tan. As he is still about will it be more of the same.
Overall I feel there is no reason why we can't go up in an auto place. However I do feel if we do fail it will be down to number 3 above more than anything.
It seems everything is moving along nicely but there are those outstanding uncertainties:
1. Who reckons Ole is the right manager for this? I'm finding this difficult to believe but I would feel a lot more assured of it was DJ.
2. The striker options are looking a lot more healthy from the last 2 previous seasons BUT are they? Macheda and Le Fondre I'm not so sure about although Guerra does install confidence.
3. The off field events killed us last season thanks to Tan. As he is still about will it be more of the same.
Overall I feel there is no reason why we can't go up in an auto place. However I do feel if we do fail it will be down to number 3 above more than anything.
Re: Cardiff City - favourites for Premier League return
Sat Jun 07, 2014 8:52 am
welshman19 wrote:Favorites to go down last season now favorites to go up
Yep
Re: Cardiff City - favourites for Premier League return
Sat Jun 07, 2014 9:46 am
Ole is doing it his way we'll be back pretty confident bloobirds
Re: Cardiff City - favourites for Premier League return
Sat Jun 07, 2014 4:09 pm
Bakedalasker wrote:No one can argue against us not taking preparations this time unlike other seasons where we have left it late.
It seems everything is moving along nicely but there are those outstanding uncertainties:
1. Who reckons Ole is the right manager for this? I'm finding this difficult to believe but I would feel a lot more assured of it was DJ.
2. The striker options are looking a lot more healthy from the last 2 previous seasons BUT are they? Macheda and Le Fondre I'm not so sure about although Guerra does install confidence.
3. The off field events killed us last season thanks to Tan. As he is still about will it be more of the same.
Overall I feel there is no reason why we can't go up in an auto place. However I do feel if we do fail it will be down to number 3 above more than anything.
Number three will be even bigger this season i hope
keep the blue up and pressure on tan we should. although some will say we will ruin a promotion season and blame that if we didnt go up because we waved blue flags or songs 