" Is this Cardiff City squad the strongest ever? "

EVER to grace the Championship?

Thursday 3rd July 2014.

by Simon Gaskel
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men have been installed as favourites for a return to the Premier League and it's easy to see why...
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=142752



Newcastle United 2009/10:
Dangerously dubbed 'too good to go down' from the Premier League, the Toon suffered relegation in the 2008/9 season under Alan Shearer.

The next season, Chris Hughton was given the reins with one aim and one aim only: promotion back to the top flight.

Hughton's squad contained an army of players who could have been playing higher.

They included Argentine international Fabricio Coloccini, Spanish left-back Jose Enrique, Joey Barton, Swansea City's Wayne Routledge, ex-Ireland international Damien Duff, Danish speedster Peter Lovenkrands, ex-Mallorca man Jonas Gutierrez and English trio Alan Smith, Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan.

Hughton managed to fulfil the club's prerequisite of going up, romping the league with 102 points.


West Ham United 2011/12:
Following Avram Grant's sacking, Sam Allardyce was charged with restoring Premier League football to the Boleyn Ground.

After a 1-0 reversal at home to Cardiff City on the opening day of the season through a Kenny Miller strike, the Hammers went onto dominate many of the teams they came up against.

But their tally of 86 points was still not enough to see them win automatic promotion and they missed out to Reading and Southampton in third place.

Eventually they were to go up though, after defeating Malky Mackay's Cardiff 5-0 on aggregate in the semi-finals before defeating Blackpool 2-1 in the final at Wembley.

Among their star performers in their promotion cause were Rob Green, Kevin Nolan, Carlton Cole, John Carew, Ricardo Vaz Te, Matt Taylor, Papa Bouba Diop.

Scott Parker had also started the season in the side before his £5.5m move to Tottenham Hotspur.


Middlesbrough 2009/10:
When Middlesbrough lost their Premier League status chairman Steve Gibson backed Gareth Southgate to lead them back up with a strong-looking squad.

In their ranks they boasted the likes of £13m Brazilian striker Alfonso Alves, Austrian international Emanuel Pogatetz, French star Didier Digard and ex-Arsenal prodigy Jérémie Aliadière.

They were complemented by Turkey star Tuncay, Argentine Julio Arca, ex-Celtic man Barry Robson and German international Robert Huth.

It didn't turn out as planned, though. Southgate was relieved of his duties in October after a tough start and Boro finished in 11th place in the league.


Queens Park Rangers 2013/14:
QPR were said to have had a bigger wage bill last season than Champions League finalists Atletico Madrid.

They were hot favourites to go up from the Championship as champions under Harry Redknapp but only managed a play-off place by virtue of their fourth-placed finish.

Nevertheless they beat Wigan over two legs and were promoted thanks to a Bobby Zamora strike against Derby in the final at Wembley.

Had they not been, there may have been questions asked of an expensively-assembled squad.

Among those Redknapp had to choose from were big names like Richard Dunne, Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Ravel Morrison, Matt Phillips, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Jermaine Jenas, Joey Barton, Niko Kranjčar, Yossi Benayoun, Junior Hoilett and Kevin Doyle.

Leading the line up front was the prolific Charlie Austin who they had signed during the summer for an undisclosed fee believed to be more than £4m.

Last edited by Cardiff Daft! on Thu Jul 03, 2014 1:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.

EVER to grace the Championship?

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/foot ... er-7364089

stuff like this we could do without.

EVER to grace the Championship?

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/foot ... er-7364089

stuff like this we could do without.

We are favourites are we not? This kinda comes with the territory.

Bit early for this. Lots of movement on the transfer to come.

I'd say we're the best squad in the world tbh

Better team than when we went up last time, one or two defenders needed and we are ready to go. Daehli and Mutch in the middle will rip other teams to pieces, can't wait to see Guerra in action!

Credit to Sloksjaer, he has bought players who have previously done well at this level. Macheda & Le Fondre know the league.

It is essential the players who are new to this country settle down quickly. The Championship is a very unforgiving league

Perhaps the fans are unforgiving of OGS for last year? Be interesting to see the mood of the fanbase if we lose a few early on

Perhaps the fans are unforgiving of OGS for last year? Be interesting to see the mood of the fanbase if we lose a few early on

Considering how starved our home fans were of goals last year, I suspect that if OGS' team start scoring for fun early on, the fans won't be on his back at all. Our attacking play should be bloody glorious to watch this season (touch wood).

Perhaps the fans are unforgiving of OGS for last year? Be interesting to see the mood of the fanbase if we lose a few early on

Considering how starved our home fans were of goals last year, I suspect that if OGS' team start scoring for fun early on, the fans won't be on his back at all. Our attacking play should be bloody glorious to watch this season (touch wood).

Lets hope it's a thrilling season, Ole's team defensively was a shambles last year. Got to be honest and call it as it was. 0 -3 against the Jacks. 0 - 4 Sunderland. 0 - 3 Newcastle. Not forgetting the Palace game at home.

Can Ole's team settle for a 1 - 0 victory now and again? Those kind of results when we are not playing great will be important next year.

I'd say we're the best squad in the world tbh

I was quite worried, but the signings OGS has pulled off for sensible money have changed my view. Even the big names leaving won't affect this. We didn't have most of them last time, so business as usual!!

Top of the shop end of the season. That's the target.

Our aim has to be the auto's. We know how tough its going to be, plenty of experience at the club of getting out of the championship.

Ole being a Utd player will know all bout the pressures of being expected to win pretty much every game.

He's put his stamp on things, there will be more out the door but i wouldnt be surprised if we strengthen further.

Our aim has to be the auto's. We know how tough its going to be, plenty of experience at the club of getting out of the championship.

Ole being a Utd player will know all bout the pressures of being expected to win pretty much every game.

He's put his stamp on things, there will be more out the door but i wouldnt be surprised if we strengthen further.

Agree with this!! The fans are going to want win after win and that is pressure which any Man U player will have experienced.

Marshall is the main must-have. I think he will stay. Been an amazingly loyal player already. No reason for that to change.