' Vincent Tan & Ole Gunnar Solskjaer '

Cardiff City's recruitment so far: Our man assesses Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's business as they launch Championship assault
Saturday Jun 28, 2014

By Terry Phillips


Five players have arrived in the Welsh capital this summer with a centre-half thought to be the only remaining player on the Bluebirds' shopping list viewtopic.php?f=2&t=142752

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is delighted with his work on recruitment this summer and there is complete harmony in the camp between manager and owner Vincent Tan.

Tan has a full say on every signing, talking through potential targets with his manager plus chairman Mehmet Dalman and general manager Ken Choo.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=142752


Solskjaer has the major input, of course, but any of the men can come up with names. They key is that all four must agree – and there is little doubt City’s new committee system is working well.

Tan knows exactly what is happening and how much is being spent with Choo’s main role among the four to ensure any money being spent is within the budgets agreed.

The Bluebirds’ have added five new players this summer with one more – a central defender – still to come. Three of the new boys have been free signings, out of contract with their previous clubs, while fees were paid for Reading’s Adam Le Fondre, at around £2.5m, plus an undisclosed sum for Guido Burgstaller from Rapid Vienna.

All five have committed to Cardiff until 2017.

Solskjaer’s major coup, for me, is without doubt tempting Kagisho Dikgacoi, a powerful and highly effective defensive midfield man, to turn down a new Premier League contract with Crystal Palace and move to Cardiff City on a free.




‘KG’ is going to be a key player for City and his arrival makes it clear Chilean international Gary Medel will be on his new out soon after the World Cup.

Dikgacoi is my number one signing by City so far, but Adam LeFondre will be another key man. For ‘Alfie’ it’s about scoring goals and he does that really well. His target for any season is usually 20 – he’s surpassed that several times and is invariably well into double figures.

Javi Guerra has always played in Spanish football, although he almost joined Rangers a couple of years ago, and it may take him time to adjust, but he is another goalscorer, signed on a free, who could prove a massive hit.

Austrian Guido Burgstaller must also adapt, but the big man signed from Rapid Vienna certainly has the ability to shine. Solskjaer will give him time to make his mark.

Finally comes the player who has all the talent needed to be the best of the bunch. Signing Federico Macheda, even on a free, is without doubt a gamble, but Sir Alex Ferguson believed in the Italian striker and Solskjaer knows him well.

Perhaps now is the time for Macheda, still only 22-years-old, to consistently show what he can do. Ten goals in 18 appearances – eight of those from the bench – for Birmingham City on loan last season underlined his undoubted potential. Now he is a Bluebird and Solskjaer is intent on taking Macheda back to the Premier League.

The final move for Cardiff will be a centre-half. Solskjaer knows who he wants – and that final slot in his squad will be filled over the next few weeks.

City’s work in the transfer market looks top notch this summer – plenty of talent and costs have been kept to a minimum.

This is Solskjaer’s squad – and now he has the task of taking his squad back to the top flight.

How is this Solskjaer's squad? Takes a bit more than a couple of transfers to build your own squad. Was that statement in the original article, or was it added on?

How is this Solskjaer's squad? Takes a bit more than a couple of transfers to build your own squad. Was that statement in the original article, or was it added on?

Well he has players he can use and brought in players to replace the ones he can't use, he changing the way team plays plus he's the manager so it is his squad

How is this Solskjaer's squad? Takes a bit more than a couple of transfers to build your own squad. Was that statement in the original article, or was it added on?

Well he has players he can use and brought in players to replace the ones he can't use, he changing the way team plays plus he's the manager so it is his squad

Of course its Ole's team/squad next season, there can be no doubts about that, he had the January transfer and brought in 7 players and then Ole will have had a full Summer to have decided who he wants in or out, 5 new so far, making it 12 of his own signings so far, plus if he is happy with the other players, they become his.
No more blaming or praising any other managers, its Ole's team next season

Not sure what planet signing 11 players makes it "your own team". It is a good start, but not near "building a squad". Most players are still Jones and Malkys. It takes more than a january and summer window, but what ever makes your reality tick... Surprised no one knew that, and even more surprised i was banned for my first post. Nice football forum being run here

How on earth would next season NOT be Ole's squad?!

How on earth would next season NOT be Ole's squad?!

Simple. He got two transfer windows with a budget, 11 players bought. Still majority of Jones and Malky players. Takes time to build a squad, but its not rocket science

Simple. He got two transfer windows with a budget, 11 players bought. Still majority of Jones and Malky players. Takes time to build a squad, but its not rocket science

Very much Ole's squad then.

Of course, your viewpoint would go both ways, should this team gain promotion, DJ & MM would have to take credit?

How on earth would next season NOT be Ole's squad?!

Simple. He got two transfer windows with a budget, 11 players bought. Still majority of Jones and Malky players. Takes time to build a squad, but its not rocket science

So by your logic hardly any managers have their own squad, Ole is the manager now some of the players might have been bought by other managers but that doesn't mean it's not his squad he is the manager he's drilling them to play his way it's his squad now, your logic is flawed

Simple. He got two transfer windows with a budget, 11 players bought. Still majority of Jones and Malky players. Takes time to build a squad, but its not rocket science

Very much Ole's squad then.

Of course, your viewpoint would go both ways, should this team gain promotion, DJ & MM would have to take credit?

Not very sharpish at maths are we? Try 25 minus 11 = They certainly should, it`s still some of their doings. Strange lot you are! Though this was common knowledge.

How on earth would next season NOT be Ole's squad?!

Simple. He got two transfer windows with a budget, 11 players bought. Still majority of Jones and Malky players. Takes time to build a squad, but its not rocket science

So by your logic hardly any managers have their own squad, Ole is the manager now some of the players might have been bought by other managers but that doesn't mean it's not his squad he is the manager he's drilling them to play his way it's his squad now, your logic is flawed

By my logic, and every logic it takes time for a manager to build his own squad. He is on his way

This must be 7summits 30th account?!

Going by his farcical theory, should we win promotion, it will be thanks to DJ & MM mainly as it isn't OGS squad yet.

This must be 7summits 30th account?!

Going by his farcical theory, should we win promotion, it will be thanks to DJ & MM mainly as it isn't OGS squad yet.

30th what? Most certainly, its still the majority of their squad. Putting a stamp on something does not make it your own.