My 2015-16 Championship preview

Here are my personal thoughts ahead of the new Championship season, which starts this weekend. All feedback would be welcome and would be good to hear your own thoughts

WHAT'S HAPPENED OVER THE SUMMER?

At Cardiff City, it has been a much quieter summer in terms of transfers as over the last few seasons. Russell Slade received the backing of the club's board following last season. His biggest boost, I would say, is that he has retained the services of Bruno Manga. Despite talk of moves to Wolves, Peter Whittingham and Joe Mason also look likely to stay.

The biggest outgoing, although not yet confirmed, looks likely to be long-serving goalkeeper and captain David Marshall. Other high-profile outgoings have been Adam Le Fondre on loan to Wolves and Tom Adeyemi to Leeds on loan.

What about new signings? Well there have only been three two date - Sammy Ameobi, Semi Ajayi and Jordan Blaise.

HOW HAS PRE-SEASON GONE?

If you disregard transfers, then you have to say it's been a successful pre-season for Rusell Slade and Cardiff City. They were unbeaten in all of their matches, which ended with impressive wins over Premier League new boys Watford and Bournemouth.

Not many injuries have been picked up. Bruno Manga and Ben Turner are the only long-term casualties.

WHO'S NEW TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP?

QPR, Burnley and Hull were relegated from the Premier League and will be joined the teams promoted from League One - Bristol City, Preston and MK Dons.

MK Dons are the only team of the six who haven't been at this level before, and it will be interesting to see how they adapt to the higher standard. Of course, we know the other five very well - particularly Bristol City and, in recent years, QPR, Hull and Preston.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED AT THE OTHER CHAMPIONSHIP CLUBS SINCE LAST SUMMER?

Since the end of last season, there have been a few managerial changes. Uwe Rosler replace Neil Redfearn at Leeds, Marinus Dijkhuizen replaced Mark Warburton at Brentford, Paul Clement replaced Steve McClaren at Derby, Guy Luzon replaced Bob Peeters at Charlton and Carlos Carvalhal came in for Stuart Gray at Sheffield Wednesday.

In terms of transfers, Middlesbrough have had a good summer. Boro have strengthened their team particularly with the acquisition of Stewart Downing from West Ham. They continue to be linked with Jordan Rhodes too.

Other key signings include Bobby Zamora to Brighton, Tom Ince to Derby, Chris Wood to Leeds, and Marco Matias to Sheff Wed. From a Wales point of view Jazz Richards has joined Fulham and Simon Church has gone to MK Dons.

CAN CARDIFF CITY BE PROMOTED? WILL WE BE RELEGATED?

There are a few on here who are optimistic about our chances, and far more who are pessimistic. The likelihood is that Cardiff City won't be in contention for promotion. Other clubs have strengthened their squad a lot more than we have, and the bookies don't fancy us at all.

Having said that, we were the favourites to win the league last season so never say never!

Although I'm not the most optimistic of fans under Slade, I can't see us being relegated either. I believe there are at least three teams in this division who are worse than us - then again I'm sure Wigan fans said the same last season.

I think Middlesbrough, Derby and Wolves will go up with Rotherham, Huddersfield and Charlton going down. Cardiff City to finish 11th.

WHAT WILL OUR FANS EXPECT?

I think, with the vast majority of our fans, that all we expect is hard work. If we can see the team fighting and putting everything into it then we, as fans, can't complain. It's a lot easier to take defeats like that, rather than how we were losing at times last season.

I think its only a minority of our fans who expect promotion, and maybe we can do well without the pressure we had last season.

AM I EXCITED?

YES I know last season was painful to watch at times but it's good to have Cardiff City back. If we start well, then hopefully more of the fans will come back and that can only help the team. It will be a good occasion on Saturday as Cardiff City kick off a season in BLUE for the first time since 2011

My MOTM polls will return this season too, starting from Saturday

Thank you for reading

Decent post, a lot of truth in that. I think we will finish top half but not in the play offs, we are for sure in better shape than we were last season. Am no Slade fan although think he has done what he was brought in for and steadied the ship. We will get some decent results but not sure we have the quality to go that step further, I do however think the mood in the camp and attitude is going to be better and that can take you a long way. One never knows with the championship and that's why we love it opening game 1-1

Very good post
I think we will do better than last season
Just need to get rid of those that need to go
I'm happy with what we've got
And would like to think we will be looking to strengthen in January to maintain a push for the play offs

Great post

Mid-table 7-10 my prediction. Anything less is failing, anything more, not ready for top flight. Just being realistic.

Much weaker squad than last season, plodder of a Manager, but a tighter squad, would expect us to finish around 12th..........

Much weaker squad than last season, plodder of a Manager, but a tighter squad, would expect us to finish around 12th..........

how is it a weaker squad than last year
the players gone or going were not playing anyway
mason has improved
ralls has improved
digickio has got fitter and is playing
ameobi is an improvement
moore has got more game time under his belt
and as you say the squad seems tighter as its being reduced
think this squad is going to be one of the dark horses this season

Much weaker squad than last season, plodder of a Manager, but a tighter squad, would expect us to finish around 12th..........

how is it a weaker squad than last year
the players gone or going were not playing anyway
mason has improved
ralls has improved
digickio has got fitter and is playing
ameobi is an improvement
moore has got more game time under his belt
and as you say the squad seems tighter as its being reduced
think this squad is going to be one of the dark horses this season

Not sure about dark horse but your other facts are spot on, time will tell

Top post. I definitely think we'll be top 10. Slade will be more settled with us and the quality of our squad alone will see us a certain percentage of the way. I still don't think we'll make the playoffs but I think we'll be in the reckoning.

Cheers Ned

Decent post, a lot of truth in that. I think we will finish top half but not in the play offs, we are for sure in better shape than we were last season. Am no Slade fan although think he has done what he was brought in for and steadied the ship. We will get some decent results but not sure we have the quality to go that step further, I do however think the mood in the camp and attitude is going to be better and that can take you a long way. One never knows with the championship and that's why we love it opening game 1-1

Cheers

I'm not a Slade fan either, doubt I ever will be. But he did steady the ship last season, as you say. However, he has now had a full pre-season with this squad and it is very much his team now. It's up to him to now show us what he can do over the next 9-10 months.

Very good post
I think we will do better than last season
Just need to get rid of those that need to go
I'm happy with what we've got
And would like to think we will be looking to strengthen in January to maintain a push for the play offs

Cheers

You're right what you say. There are still a few who don't want to be there, and who the club doesn't want. Those players need to go ASAP, and I feel sorry for some of them.

Great post

Cheers

Mid-table 7-10 my prediction. Anything less is failing, anything more, not ready for top flight. Just being realistic.

I would definitely take that. If we have a poor start, then you can see Slade going relatively early. Definitely need to do better than last season.

Much weaker squad than last season, plodder of a Manager, but a tighter squad, would expect us to finish around 12th..........

I don't think the squad is weaker. Maybe on paper, but they have been working together all pre-season and the manager has made it clear he thinks it's been a good pre-season and says they're ready. If we have better work-rate and the right tactics, it will be a better season.

Top post. I definitely think we'll be top 10. Slade will be more settled with us and the quality of our squad alone will see us a certain percentage of the way. I still don't think we'll make the playoffs but I think we'll be in the reckoning.

Cheers

Hope you're right on that. It's now up to the manager to get his players to fight for that shirt, and fight for the cause. If he really thinks we will make the top six, then there hast to be a vast improvement on last season.

Cheers Ned

Cheers Annis

Much weaker squad than last season, plodder of a Manager, but a tighter squad, would expect us to finish around 12th..........

I don't think the squad is weaker. Maybe on paper, but they have been working together all pre-season and the manager has made it clear he thinks it's been a good pre-season and says they're ready. If we have better work-rate and the right tactics, it will be a better season.

It was a good post mate, we partly agree the squad is weaker as you say (on paper means its a weaker squad), but they are a tighter bunch and may play as more of a team, which is vitally important. I don't really rate the plodder, he's no Malky, Pullis, or Dyche, so around 12th for me but time will tell, I hope he surprises me ????

Much weaker squad than last season, plodder of a Manager, but a tighter squad, would expect us to finish around 12th..........

how is it a weaker squad than last year
the players gone or going were not playing anyway
mason has improved
ralls has improved
digickio has got fitter and is playing
ameobi is an improvement
moore has got more game time under his belt
and as you say the squad seems tighter as its being reduced
think this squad is going to be one of the dark horses this season

Its a weaker squad because, Ole fecked things up and Slade had to get rid of loads of wages letting many of the top players go, that's obvious ???

Marshall as good as gone, Moore miles worse......
Mason loaned as weaker squad member........
Diigckio was in last years squad ????
Ameobi time will tell, hope he's decent......

Agree on the team they look much more together which is important, and worth a lot.

Overall though still weaker squad with plodder Manager, I can't see it, but hope you're right

Mid-table 7-10 my prediction. Anything less is failing, anything more, not ready for top flight. Just being realistic.

Definitely agree!