" Cardiff City need to make the most of them "
Wed May 06, 2015 4:04 pm
' Cardiff City already have the players to push for promotion, they need to make the most of them '
Wed 6th May 2015
Bluebirds season ticket holder and blogger Scott Johnson argues new players aren't needed to bolster the current squad
From next season, Financial Fair Play regulations dictate that clubs are only permitted to make a £2million loss, with a further £3m investment from owners also allowed. That's a total loss of £5m, which if exceeded, will result in a transfer embargo.
Seeing as Cardiff City reported losses of £12m in their last set of accounts, the club have everything to do to keep within these parameters, despite recent cost-cutting.
This may explain why Russell Slade could keep his position as manager and offer some indication of how the summer transfer window is likely to play out for the club.
Blackburn, Leeds and Nottingham Forest fell foul of the new Football League guidelines this season and received transfer bans in December.
They will be lifted at the end of the season if the clubs can demonstrate that their finances adhere to the rules, otherwise the bans will continue. These are concerns for another article, but this whole issue has got me thinking.
In a hypothetical scenario, from a footballing perspective, would it be such a terrible thing if Cardiff were placed under a transfer embargo?
If they had to make do with what they currently have, how well equipped would the current squad be under those circumstances for a crack at promotion from the Championship?
In my opinion, they would be in surprisingly good shape.
In goal, Cardiff are in secure hands. David Marshall is one of the best stoppers outside the top flight and is a regular at international level with Scotland.
Simon Moore has proven an able deputy when called upon and Joe Lewis will see his contract expire in the summer, so that particular position enables Cardiff to be strong and also cut costs.
At full-back, Cardiff have Fabio, Scott Malone, Lee Peltier and Declan John fighting for positions, with Jazzi Barnum-Bobb and David Tutonda looking bright academy prospects who could step up if required.
Kevin Theophile-Catherine will soon return from a successful loan spell at St Etienne, with a move back to France likely if the Bluebirds can recoup the £2m they spent on him, while Kevin McNaughton departs.
At centre-half, Cardiff have an abundance of riches. Bruno Ecuele Manga and Sean Morrison were first and second respectively in the recent Player of the Year voting, Matthew Connolly is set to return from a loan spell at promoted Watford, while Ben Turner has attained full fitness again.
With Maximiliano Amondarian also waiting in the wings, the centre of the Cardiff defence is as strong as any in the Championship.
On the wings, Cardiff can call upon Craig Noone, the fit again Anthony Pilkington, Matthew Kennedy and Kadeem Harris, while in central midfield, there is a depth of options offering any array of permutations.
Peter Whittingham, Aron Gunnarsson, Joe Ralls, Stuart O’Keefe, the under-used and unappreciated Tom Adeyemi, plus Kagisho Dikgacoi can have a huge influence next season.
Up front, Cardiff have several players out on loan and you expect some will be made available for transfer.
Adam Le Fondre, Kenwyne Jones, Javi Guerra, Etien Velikonja and Rhys Healey are still under contract, while Eoin Doyle, Joe Mason, Federico Macheda and Alex Revell currently compete for places.
Guerra and Velikonja appear to have no future at the club. Maynard has gone, with forgotten midfielder Filip Kiss likely to follow.
Cardiff could also afford to lose a further centre back, left back and couple of strikers if they wanted to make further cost cutting, have a squad of more manageable size and still have a collective with good balance of youth and experience, plus strength in depth across the board.
I appreciate this is the same squad that seemed so ineffectual and devoid of ideas at times this season, but they will learn from that and would certainly benefit from a period of stability and continuity.
Whether these cuts would be enough to bring Cardiff in line with Financial Fair Play guidelines I do not know, but they would surely be well on their way.
I know fans are obsessed with new signings, so the same old faces would not encourage a greater uptake in what has been reported to be poor season ticket sales.
But the fact is this is a very talented squad, but one which is woefully underachieving.
At the start of the season, many were proclaiming the club had their best squad in history. Many of those players are still there and once the fat has been trimmed, it is hard to identify any glaring weaknesses.
Cardiff could do with more leadership in midfield and another right back, but in this scenario, it would be perfectly feasible for them to make do without too much concern.
I don’t subscribe to claims that Cardiff need an injection of playing quality.
Playing wise, I genuinely believe the Bluebirds have the players they need to mount a promotion challenge next season.
It is now time for Russell Slade to make the most of what he has.
Wed 6th May 2015
Bluebirds season ticket holder and blogger Scott Johnson argues new players aren't needed to bolster the current squad
From next season, Financial Fair Play regulations dictate that clubs are only permitted to make a £2million loss, with a further £3m investment from owners also allowed. That's a total loss of £5m, which if exceeded, will result in a transfer embargo.
Seeing as Cardiff City reported losses of £12m in their last set of accounts, the club have everything to do to keep within these parameters, despite recent cost-cutting.
This may explain why Russell Slade could keep his position as manager and offer some indication of how the summer transfer window is likely to play out for the club.
Blackburn, Leeds and Nottingham Forest fell foul of the new Football League guidelines this season and received transfer bans in December.
They will be lifted at the end of the season if the clubs can demonstrate that their finances adhere to the rules, otherwise the bans will continue. These are concerns for another article, but this whole issue has got me thinking.
In a hypothetical scenario, from a footballing perspective, would it be such a terrible thing if Cardiff were placed under a transfer embargo?
If they had to make do with what they currently have, how well equipped would the current squad be under those circumstances for a crack at promotion from the Championship?
In my opinion, they would be in surprisingly good shape.
In goal, Cardiff are in secure hands. David Marshall is one of the best stoppers outside the top flight and is a regular at international level with Scotland.
Simon Moore has proven an able deputy when called upon and Joe Lewis will see his contract expire in the summer, so that particular position enables Cardiff to be strong and also cut costs.
At full-back, Cardiff have Fabio, Scott Malone, Lee Peltier and Declan John fighting for positions, with Jazzi Barnum-Bobb and David Tutonda looking bright academy prospects who could step up if required.
Kevin Theophile-Catherine will soon return from a successful loan spell at St Etienne, with a move back to France likely if the Bluebirds can recoup the £2m they spent on him, while Kevin McNaughton departs.
At centre-half, Cardiff have an abundance of riches. Bruno Ecuele Manga and Sean Morrison were first and second respectively in the recent Player of the Year voting, Matthew Connolly is set to return from a loan spell at promoted Watford, while Ben Turner has attained full fitness again.
With Maximiliano Amondarian also waiting in the wings, the centre of the Cardiff defence is as strong as any in the Championship.
On the wings, Cardiff can call upon Craig Noone, the fit again Anthony Pilkington, Matthew Kennedy and Kadeem Harris, while in central midfield, there is a depth of options offering any array of permutations.
Peter Whittingham, Aron Gunnarsson, Joe Ralls, Stuart O’Keefe, the under-used and unappreciated Tom Adeyemi, plus Kagisho Dikgacoi can have a huge influence next season.
Up front, Cardiff have several players out on loan and you expect some will be made available for transfer.
Adam Le Fondre, Kenwyne Jones, Javi Guerra, Etien Velikonja and Rhys Healey are still under contract, while Eoin Doyle, Joe Mason, Federico Macheda and Alex Revell currently compete for places.
Guerra and Velikonja appear to have no future at the club. Maynard has gone, with forgotten midfielder Filip Kiss likely to follow.
Cardiff could also afford to lose a further centre back, left back and couple of strikers if they wanted to make further cost cutting, have a squad of more manageable size and still have a collective with good balance of youth and experience, plus strength in depth across the board.
I appreciate this is the same squad that seemed so ineffectual and devoid of ideas at times this season, but they will learn from that and would certainly benefit from a period of stability and continuity.
Whether these cuts would be enough to bring Cardiff in line with Financial Fair Play guidelines I do not know, but they would surely be well on their way.
I know fans are obsessed with new signings, so the same old faces would not encourage a greater uptake in what has been reported to be poor season ticket sales.
But the fact is this is a very talented squad, but one which is woefully underachieving.
At the start of the season, many were proclaiming the club had their best squad in history. Many of those players are still there and once the fat has been trimmed, it is hard to identify any glaring weaknesses.
Cardiff could do with more leadership in midfield and another right back, but in this scenario, it would be perfectly feasible for them to make do without too much concern.
I don’t subscribe to claims that Cardiff need an injection of playing quality.
Playing wise, I genuinely believe the Bluebirds have the players they need to mount a promotion challenge next season.
It is now time for Russell Slade to make the most of what he has.
Re: " Cardiff City need to make the most of them "
Wed May 06, 2015 4:33 pm
"Cardiff City have the players to push for promotion" - Totally disagree with this observation. Unfortunately we have a clueless manager, we do not play as a team, we do not play attacking football, we do not score enough goals. We play at a very slow pace that every other team can cope with.
Unfortunately most of the quality players have left and many of the players that are left are not going to set the world alight. Can anyone honestly say that they think that we will get anywhere near the top 6 next season? If we do add 3/4 players with a bit of quality then you never know but realistically looking at the squad where we stand now we are going to be nearer the foot of the table rather than the top. That's not being negative but realistic.
Unfortunately most of the quality players have left and many of the players that are left are not going to set the world alight. Can anyone honestly say that they think that we will get anywhere near the top 6 next season? If we do add 3/4 players with a bit of quality then you never know but realistically looking at the squad where we stand now we are going to be nearer the foot of the table rather than the top. That's not being negative but realistic.
Re: " Cardiff City need to make the most of them "
Wed May 06, 2015 4:42 pm
bridgendbluebird30 wrote:"Cardiff City have the players to push for promotion" - Totally disagree with this observation. Unfortunately we have a clueless manager, we do not play as a team, we do not play attacking football, we do not score enough goals. We play at a very slow pace that every other team can cope with.
Unfortunately most of the quality players have left and many of the players that are left are not going to set the world alight. Can anyone honestly say that they think that we will get anywhere near the top 6 next season? If we do add 3/4 players with a bit of quality then you never know but realistically looking at the squad where we stand now we are going to be nearer the foot of the table rather than the top. That's not being negative but realistic.
I think top six is more than achievable not from our strength but playing in what is now a very poor championship, still competitive yet of a much less standard. The fact that we have been so dire, changed managers and had all the turmoil and changes in players yet still finish mid table says it all. We do need new blood, every team does but a top 6 is more than in reach.
Re: " Cardiff City need to make the most of them "
Wed May 06, 2015 4:45 pm
Santa Ponsa Blue wrote:'
But the fact is this is a very talented squad, but one which is woefully underachieving.
This is the least talented squad we have had in > 10 years imo
At the start of the season, many were proclaiming the club had their best squad in history. Many of those players are still there and once the fat has been trimmed, it is hard to identify any glaring weaknesses.
How about the lack of creativity throughout the team for just 1 example
I don’t subscribe to claims that Cardiff need an injection of playing quality.
Really? happy with those home performances?
Playing wise, I genuinely believe the Bluebirds have the players they need to mount a promotion challenge next season.
It is now time for Russell Slade to make the most of what he has.
Not even Russell Slade is as daft as this, he doesn't believe this squad would have a prayer of promotion
Re: " Cardiff City need to make the most of them "
Wed May 06, 2015 9:52 pm
We will sell more than bring in transfers over the next 5 months ( IMO ).
Re: " Cardiff City need to make the most of them "
Thu May 07, 2015 6:50 am
ThomasC wrote:Santa Ponsa Blue wrote:'
But the fact is this is a very talented squad, but one which is woefully underachieving.
This is the least talented squad we have had in > 10 years imo
At the start of the season, many were proclaiming the club had their best squad in history. Many of those players are still there and once the fat has been trimmed, it is hard to identify any glaring weaknesses.
How about the lack of creativity throughout the team for just 1 example
I don’t subscribe to claims that Cardiff need an injection of playing quality.
Really? happy with those home performances?
Playing wise, I genuinely believe the Bluebirds have the players they need to mount a promotion challenge next season.
It is now time for Russell Slade to make the most of what he has.
Not even Russell Slade is as daft as this, he doesn't believe this squad would have a prayer of promotion
Does Russell Slade know what it takes to build a promotion winning team?