' What a difference a year makes '
Sat Dec 24, 2016 10:17 am
This time last year the Bluebirds were fighting for a play-off spot, now they are embroiled in a relegation scrap
What a difference a year makes.
Saturday 24th December 2016
Christmas 2015 saw Cardiff City in 9th place in the Championship, only outside the play-offs on goal difference, and with just three defeats in their last 14 matches.
A solid start to the season had seen Russell Slade's side with expectations of a play-off finish, and perhaps even an outside shot at the top three.
They may not have been the most exciting side in the league, but they were winning matches and competing at the right end of the table.
Russell Slade had guided Cardiff to 8th place at Christmas last year (Photo: Getty Images)
Fast forward a year, and despite the optimism around the club following Neil Warnock's appointment, the club are in a battle at the other end of the table.
Last minute defeat to Barnsley last time out means that Cardiff now sit 20th in the table, just two places and three points above the bottom three.
Warnock may have overseen a small uplift in the clubs fortunes and kept them out of the relegation zone, but the fact remains that Cardiff are still underachieving in the Championship.
Christmas 2015: Played 22, Won 8, Drawn 9, Lost 5, Points 33
Christmas 2016: Played 22, Won 6, Drawn, 5, Lost 11, Points 23
Boxing day last year saw Cardiff fall to a disappointing 2-1 defeat away from home to struggling MK Dons, before drawing with Nottingham Forest.
The solid first half to the season, was followed by a steady second half that saw the Bluebirds finish the season in 8th place, just one place and one point away from a play-off place.
Craig Noone's goal couldn't stop Cardiff losing to MK Dons on Boxing Day last year
While the first six months of 2016 saw solid performances from the side, and despite results, the last two months have also seen improving performances, the real issue for the club came in the opening 11 matches of this season.
If the league had started when Warnock took over at Cardiff, the club would be in the top half of the table challenging for the play-offs. A similar situation to the Slade side that entered the Christmas period last season.
However, a disastrous spell in charge from Paul Trollope has meant that Cardiff have faced an uphill struggle this season since it began.
Despite their good league finishes, Slade was never the most popular character at Cardiff City Stadium, with his style of football coming in for particular criticism.
Cardiff City fans have taken to Neil Warnock since he took over from Paul Trollope
So far Warnock has kept the fans on his side with his passionate comments and in-your-face style of play. But if the Bluebirds don't start to haul themselves up the table soon, he may face a more hostile crowd.
The upcoming January transfer window will be seen as crucial for the current boss, who has repeatedly said that he wants to be judged after he has the chance to improve on the squad he inherited.
With Kieran Richardson, Junior Hoilett, Marouane Chamakh and Sol Bamba all snapped up on free deals, Warnock will now have to play the loan market or stump up some cash to capture the players he wants.
Last year, Russell Slade cashed in on Joe Mason in the January window, selling him to Wolves for £3 million. He then strengthened the squad with a trio of loan signings, two of which went on to be permanent arrivals in the summer.
Kenneth Zohore, Lex Immers and Tom Lawrence all joined on loan and helped to contribute to Cardiff remaining in the play-off hunt until the final day of the season.
This Christmas, it could be Zohore who holds the key. The Danish striker had been an increasingly peripheral figure since Warnock took over. But with Rickie Lambert struggling for fitness, and options limited, Zohore has impressed in his last two outings against Wolves and Barnsley.
The Christmas fixtures haven't fallen too kindly for Cardiff this season, with matches against high-flyers Brighton and a resurgent Aston Villa to contend with.
But with easier matches to follow, Bluebirds fans' can be hopeful that, come May, Cardiff will be closer to last season's finishing position than their current position.
What a difference a year makes.
Saturday 24th December 2016
Christmas 2015 saw Cardiff City in 9th place in the Championship, only outside the play-offs on goal difference, and with just three defeats in their last 14 matches.
A solid start to the season had seen Russell Slade's side with expectations of a play-off finish, and perhaps even an outside shot at the top three.
They may not have been the most exciting side in the league, but they were winning matches and competing at the right end of the table.
Russell Slade had guided Cardiff to 8th place at Christmas last year (Photo: Getty Images)
Fast forward a year, and despite the optimism around the club following Neil Warnock's appointment, the club are in a battle at the other end of the table.
Last minute defeat to Barnsley last time out means that Cardiff now sit 20th in the table, just two places and three points above the bottom three.
Warnock may have overseen a small uplift in the clubs fortunes and kept them out of the relegation zone, but the fact remains that Cardiff are still underachieving in the Championship.
Christmas 2015: Played 22, Won 8, Drawn 9, Lost 5, Points 33
Christmas 2016: Played 22, Won 6, Drawn, 5, Lost 11, Points 23
Boxing day last year saw Cardiff fall to a disappointing 2-1 defeat away from home to struggling MK Dons, before drawing with Nottingham Forest.
The solid first half to the season, was followed by a steady second half that saw the Bluebirds finish the season in 8th place, just one place and one point away from a play-off place.
Craig Noone's goal couldn't stop Cardiff losing to MK Dons on Boxing Day last year
While the first six months of 2016 saw solid performances from the side, and despite results, the last two months have also seen improving performances, the real issue for the club came in the opening 11 matches of this season.
If the league had started when Warnock took over at Cardiff, the club would be in the top half of the table challenging for the play-offs. A similar situation to the Slade side that entered the Christmas period last season.
However, a disastrous spell in charge from Paul Trollope has meant that Cardiff have faced an uphill struggle this season since it began.
Despite their good league finishes, Slade was never the most popular character at Cardiff City Stadium, with his style of football coming in for particular criticism.
Cardiff City fans have taken to Neil Warnock since he took over from Paul Trollope
So far Warnock has kept the fans on his side with his passionate comments and in-your-face style of play. But if the Bluebirds don't start to haul themselves up the table soon, he may face a more hostile crowd.
The upcoming January transfer window will be seen as crucial for the current boss, who has repeatedly said that he wants to be judged after he has the chance to improve on the squad he inherited.
With Kieran Richardson, Junior Hoilett, Marouane Chamakh and Sol Bamba all snapped up on free deals, Warnock will now have to play the loan market or stump up some cash to capture the players he wants.
Last year, Russell Slade cashed in on Joe Mason in the January window, selling him to Wolves for £3 million. He then strengthened the squad with a trio of loan signings, two of which went on to be permanent arrivals in the summer.
Kenneth Zohore, Lex Immers and Tom Lawrence all joined on loan and helped to contribute to Cardiff remaining in the play-off hunt until the final day of the season.
This Christmas, it could be Zohore who holds the key. The Danish striker had been an increasingly peripheral figure since Warnock took over. But with Rickie Lambert struggling for fitness, and options limited, Zohore has impressed in his last two outings against Wolves and Barnsley.
The Christmas fixtures haven't fallen too kindly for Cardiff this season, with matches against high-flyers Brighton and a resurgent Aston Villa to contend with.
But with easier matches to follow, Bluebirds fans' can be hopeful that, come May, Cardiff will be closer to last season's finishing position than their current position.
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Re: ' What a difference a year makes '
Sat Dec 24, 2016 11:51 am
Russell Russell Slade 
Re: ' What a difference a year makes '
Sat Dec 24, 2016 12:54 pm
We have seen a huge improvement under NW with almost double the goals scored and points won in his 11 games in charge of the team. Prior to his appointment we were heading in only one direction, Relegation.
11 games on he has shown that there is a real chance we will keep our Championship status this season. If the powers that be support him during the January transfer window I'm convinced we will be fine.
However if they interfere, like they did in the summer, where the squad was almost cut the the bone, an inexperienced manager appointed and a forward line which was unfit for purpose left then we will have problems.
Firstly NW will go and then the writing will be on the wall and in 2017 we will be staring relegation square in the face.
11 games on he has shown that there is a real chance we will keep our Championship status this season. If the powers that be support him during the January transfer window I'm convinced we will be fine.
However if they interfere, like they did in the summer, where the squad was almost cut the the bone, an inexperienced manager appointed and a forward line which was unfit for purpose left then we will have problems.
Firstly NW will go and then the writing will be on the wall and in 2017 we will be staring relegation square in the face.
Re: ' What a difference a year makes '
Sat Dec 24, 2016 1:09 pm
I don't understand why City are in a relegation fight with the squad we have. I am sure NW will kick some backsides and I am sure we will be stronger next season
Re: ' What a difference a year makes '
Sat Dec 24, 2016 3:30 pm
Charlie Harper wrote:I don't understand why City are in a relegation fight with the squad we have. I am sure NW will kick some backsides and I am sure we will be stronger next season
It was our squad which made me predict a very average season back in August. To me, there are weaknesses in all areas. Problem with goalkeepers, weak defensively, little if any pace throughout the team, and no-one to put the ball in the lobster pot. It is because of our squad we are where we are, and unless we can address the above points it will not be easy to get much higher than we are at present. Hopefully a few signings can lift us towards the middle of the table.
Re: ' What a difference a year makes '
Sat Dec 24, 2016 3:58 pm
Steve Zodiak wrote:Charlie Harper wrote:I don't understand why City are in a relegation fight with the squad we have. I am sure NW will kick some backsides and I am sure we will be stronger next season
It was our squad which made me predict a very average season back in August. To me, there are weaknesses in all areas. Problem with goalkeepers, weak defensively, little if any pace throughout the team, and no-one to put the ball in the lobster pot. It is because of our squad we are where we are, and unless we can address the above points it will not be easy to get much higher than we are at present. Hopefully a few signings can lift us towards the middle of the table.
Spot on Steve,we started the season playing declan John who by previous managers had been deemed not good enough and so it told again,we also had no leader in defense until bamba was brought in strikers as u say not fit for purpose or not being utilized correctly and a pair of flappy keepers cos we sold both of ours,as u do, oh and we still didn't have the winger we've been crying for for yrs
Re: ' What a difference a year makes '
Sat Dec 24, 2016 4:08 pm
Very similar roads Slade and Warnock have gone down.
Slade came in to replace the worse manager we have ever had in OGS. He inherited a squad that was unbalanced and managed to steady it making us survive the season. The following season he improved the finish by a few places and at one stage we were talking grabbimg a play off place. Unfortunately Slade showed his weakness and made a right hash of it in the end.
Warnoch has replaced a manager who should have not been there in the first place. I would say with a slightly weaker squad than what Slade has he has managed to keep us in with a chance of avoiding relegation. My opinion is we should have had some distance between us and the relegation spots but for 2 very bad defeats at home Wigan and Barsnley. I believe he will keep us up and will match Slades performance from his first season. Next seaso for Warnock will be the telling one.
Slade came in to replace the worse manager we have ever had in OGS. He inherited a squad that was unbalanced and managed to steady it making us survive the season. The following season he improved the finish by a few places and at one stage we were talking grabbimg a play off place. Unfortunately Slade showed his weakness and made a right hash of it in the end.
Warnoch has replaced a manager who should have not been there in the first place. I would say with a slightly weaker squad than what Slade has he has managed to keep us in with a chance of avoiding relegation. My opinion is we should have had some distance between us and the relegation spots but for 2 very bad defeats at home Wigan and Barsnley. I believe he will keep us up and will match Slades performance from his first season. Next seaso for Warnock will be the telling one.