' BIG SUMMER OF CHANGE FOR BLUEBIRDS '

' Cardiff City's summer of change: The ins and outs at the Bluebirds so far '
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Friday Jun 20th 2014

Media Wales


The release of the Championship fixtures this week underlined it has been a time of change for Cardiff City.
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After last year’s excitement of discovering when the champions were coming to town or when the curtain call for the Theatre of Dreams would come, the Bluebird’s exile from the elite was brought home in a list of 46 games.

Furthermore, the game-by-game road map of the months ahead was a reminder of the change in aims now facing a squad. No longer about hoping of survival, it is now about demanding success if those mid-May words of bouncing straight back are to not prove rather hollow.

Perhaps the one thing that hasn’t changed is the nudge the fixtures bring of how hard the task is that lies ahead of Cardiff. The names are not as glitzy, the grounds not as grand, but the grind is obvious; the second-tier slog is the same as it was when Cardiff left the division behind a summer ago.

It is a change of environment for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the celebrated former Manchester United striker not used to the environment of the Championship as either player or manager.

And perhaps that is why we have seen the start of changes in his squad to echo a flurry of changes within the corridors of Cardiff City Stadium....

Behind the scenes there have been shuffles and exits since the end of the season, most notably of course at the top. Or rather near the top. Simon Lim was chief executive but himself admitted he was the eyes and ears of owner Vincent Tan and events throughout the Malaysian’s reign have long left little doubt that his call rules all.

And the sight of Lim at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium making his way to the executive boxes where Tan and chairman Mehmet Dalman had already spent the best part of two hours with Solskjaer as they courted the then Molde manager said much.

With Dalman – for now – putting talk of his exit to one side to move into an executive role himself, another Tan man has come in as Lim departs and, like Lim, Ken Choo arrives from a background in finance and hotel management yet will fill a seat on a newly-formed transfer committee, created with the aim of having greater transparency when it comes to ins and outs at the club.



Of which there have been many.


Sticking with those away from the squad, Under 21 boss Kevin Cooper has left to taker up a position with Swiss second-tier Servette, no doubt influenced by former City commercial director Julian Jenkins who moved to an executive position with the Geneva-based outfit, while physio Sean Connelly has also headed to the Alps.

Marketing chief Tom Gorringe – much hailed for his work after the club was named the best away day experience in the Premier League recently – has headed to Brighton and there are thought to be other moves in terms of office roles.

And there is change in the academy too with Dick Bate leaving his role with no update on his replacement as yet, although Solskjaer’s brother-in-law Ole Lyngvaer revealed he could be in line for a post at Leckwith.

In other words, for whatever the various reasons, there has been a new broom at the Bluebirds for a new challenge.

The changes that fans will see first and foremost will be those wearing the shirts and taking to the field back in the Championship, starting at Blackburn Rovers on the first Friday of the season in seven short weeks’ time.

Solskjaer, to his credit, wasted little time in moving for some of his targets, especially in terms of attack. It says much where the former goalscorer believed the problem in last season lied, even decrying about chances and trotting out the line of “on another day” as the Bluebirds’ 3-0 defeat to Newcastle confirmed what had be on the cards for some time.

It also says something about the strikers last year, including two – Kenwyne Jones and Jo Inge Berget – that he brought in himself.

Nevertheless, a move for Federico Macheda showed a trust from his days watching over him as a junior and reserve coach at Carrington, Manchester United’s training ground.

Javi Guerra was all tied up January, too late for the winter window but early enough to nail down a pre-contract to see him first through the door this summer. His record in Spain impressed in a relegated side in Real Valladolid but it really will be a case of wait and see in terms of the culture shock that will be the Championship. Given Tan’s self-proclaimed role in his transfer, Guerra’s situation will be fascinating.

Certainly not all strikers can play, not when Adam le Fondre was snapped up as Cardiff took advantage of Reading’s pre-takeover financial worries, a player who does have a poacher’s reputation that former Royals teammate and boyhood Bluebird Chris Gunter was recently quick to say was not without foundation.

And, had it not been for the arrival of Kagisho Dikgacoi, it would have been Cardiff’s headline capture. But the awareness that Cardiff needed some extra steel, some dog for the return to reality, has been highlighted with the way the Bosman signing of midfielder Dikgacoi, has been welcomed.

Tony Pulis spoke of his disappointment at losing his midfield enforcer while also suggesting Cardiff were happy enough to pay when they needed too in terms of the South African’s contract.

But few will complain if he brings a balance to the side that was missing so often under Solskjaer with the hope that the Norwegian will not only find his team but himself now he can start afresh in pastures new.

There will be more, with a centre-back a priority suggesting that, as has been widely speculated, Steven Caulker is on his way out while Gary Medel is surely set for a new club regardless of attempts to keep the World Cup star on board. After all, if the release clause doesn’t get you, an active agent or a big money offer will.

Indeed, it is difficult to see where Medel and Dikgacoi can play in the same side together, likewise that surely the exit of Fraizer Campbell has been foreseen judging by the forwards brought on board.

Other exits – on top of Andrew Taylor and Tommy Smith – will be forthcoming but it could be Cardiff will have to play a waiting game for a little while given the domino effect of the transfer window, especially when waiting for the World Cup. It won’t be until after the winners are crowned in Brazil that many of the big clubs do their deals, the money and the availability filtering down.

But as we have already seen, the times they are a-changing at Cardiff City. However much more they do, the expectations for Solskjaer will not.

Quite a pensive post there Carl.I just wonder for the first time in the clubs history we could actually be run properly(not withstanding the colour argument)as I've been going down there 40yrs and in my opinion if theres any transparency in the clubs dealings it'll be the first time.

Quite a pensive post there Carl.I just wonder for the first time in the clubs history we could actually be run properly(not withstanding the colour argument)as I've been going down there 40yrs and in my opinion if theres any transparency in the clubs dealings it'll be the first time.

Agreed and likewise. I have been a city fan for over 40yrs.

Good read, it's also easy to accommodate Medel and Dikgacoi. Medel plays CB for his country and as the World Cup has shown he's very good at it, a lot better than when he's in the DM position anyway. IF and I mean a big IF he's somehow still with us next season I'd put him back in CB for us too and Dikgacoi in DM. Good to have options

Massive changes internally for club , it will take time for new peole and new regime to fit in .

I still think there will be at least 6 players to go , maybe july is the main month as contracts expire etc .

Looking forward to new season far more than the Prem one - sounds daft but im more excited

Carl there has been changes from top to bottom so far, not enough in my opinion.

A few more players need to go and the biggest person of all who needs to go is of course Tan

The biggest change needed without a doubt was our identity being restored, that would of made at least 90% of our fans happy including myself

Carl there has been changes from top to bottom so far, not enough in my opinion.

A few more players need to go and the biggest person of all who needs to go is of course Tan

The biggest change needed without a doubt was our identity being restored, that would of made at least 90% of our fans happy including myself

You consistently attempt to cause arguments on here in order to boost your own ad revenue to add to your inheritence.. The only one who needs to go is yourself, all you have done is split the fan base on here with the idiotic simpleton sheeples on one side and the intelligent on the other by banging on about how great Malky was and how much of an apparent Dictator Tan is.. It's his club, he bought it with his money, he can do what he likes to do regarding his club, you support his club.

You're a walking-talking Jewish stereotype and you have my pity.

Carl there has been changes from top to bottom so far, not enough in my opinion.

A few more players need to go and the biggest person of all who needs to go is of course Tan

The biggest change needed without a doubt was our identity being restored, that would of made at least 90% of our fans happy including myself

You consistently attempt to cause arguments on here in order to boost your own ad revenue to add to your inheritence.. The only one who needs to go is yourself, all you have done is split the fan base on here with the idiotic simpleton sheeples on one side and the intelligent on the other by banging on about how great Malky was and how much of an apparent Dictator Tan is.. It's his club, he bought it with his money, he can do what he likes to do regarding his club, you support his club.

You're a walking-talking Jewish stereotype and you have my pity.

Take it you don't like Annis.

Never mind I'm sure he won't lose any sleep over it.

Thanks anyway for helping with the hits. Keeps us mods in a job.

Carl there has been changes from top to bottom so far, not enough in my opinion.

A few more players need to go and the biggest person of all who needs to go is of course Tan

The biggest change needed without a doubt was our identity being restored, that would of made at least 90% of our fans happy including myself

You consistently attempt to cause arguments on here in order to boost your own ad revenue to add to your inheritence.. The only one who needs to go is yourself, all you have done is split the fan base on here with the idiotic simpleton sheeples on one side and the intelligent on the other by banging on about how great Malky was and how much of an apparent Dictator Tan is.. It's his club, he bought it with his money, he can do what he likes to do regarding his club, you support his club.

You're a walking-talking Jewish stereotype and you have my pity.

I am actually Egyptian,shows how much you really read my posts

Racists not welcome on here.

Like Ian says thanks for another hit

I also have my own opinion and I stand by my beliefs

You consistently attempt to cause arguments on here in order to boost your own ad revenue to add to your inheritence.. The only one who needs to go is yourself, all you have done is split the fan base on here with the idiotic simpleton sheeples on one side and the intelligent on the other by banging on about how great Malky was and how much of an apparent Dictator Tan is.. It's his club, he bought it with his money, he can do what he likes to do regarding his club, you support his club.

You're a walking-talking Jewish stereotype and you have my pity.

ALL OPINIONS WELCOME?

It's his club, he bought it with his money, he can do what he likes to do regarding his club, you support his club.

Going by your own theory.... It's Annis' forum, he can do what he likes to do regarding his forum.

Carl there has been changes from top to bottom so far, not enough in my opinion.

A few more players need to go and the biggest person of all who needs to go is of course Tan

The biggest change needed without a doubt was our identity being restored, that would of made at least 90% of our fans happy including myself

You consistently attempt to cause arguments on here in order to boost your own ad revenue to add to your inheritence.. The only one who needs to go is yourself, all you have done is split the fan base on here with the idiotic simpleton sheeples on one side and the intelligent on the other by banging on about how great Malky was and how much of an apparent Dictator Tan is.. It's his club, he bought it with his money, he can do what he likes to do regarding his club, you support his club.

You're a walking-talking Jewish stereotype and you have my pity.

And you are a racist tosser who assumes far too much. Go away we don't do racist on here.

Carl there has been changes from top to bottom so far, not enough in my opinion.

A few more players need to go and the biggest person of all who needs to go is of course Tan

The biggest change needed without a doubt was our identity being restored, that would of made at least 90% of our fans happy including myself

Glad you left out 10 percent out as some fans will never be bloody happy ha