VIEW FROM THE OPPOSITION: CARDIFF CITY
Tue Jul 31, 2018 11:21 pm
VIEW FROM THE OPPOSITION – CARDIFF CITY
By Jay Crame - The Eagles Beak
IN THE THIRD OF OUR SERIES OF ARTICLES FROM OUR PREMIER LEAGUE PANEL OF FAN GROUPS, WE TURN OUR ATTENTIONS TO ONE OF THE THREE NEWLY PROMOTED SIDES, CARDIFF CITY.
CARDIFF CITY @VFTNINIAN
Q. What are the fan expectations?
While the majority of us are genuinely just excited to be unexpectedly back in the Premier League, I think there is a quiet confidence in Cardiff. Nobody expected us to be promoted last year and nobody expects us to stay up this season. We have complete faith in Neil Warnock, though, and I think the business done this summer has been genuinely positive. We have not broken the bank like Wolves or Fulham, but instead have spent within our means and look to be investing in our infrastructure, which is great to see.
Q. Which position does your team desperately need to improve?
I think the centre of midfield is a pressing issue for us. We are two down on our numbers there last year (Marko Grujic and Craig Bryson have both seen their loans end) so it is really important we get some quality in there. Warnock is keen to get Grujic back on loan, but the deal keeps stalling. Hopefully we can get that one over the line, but I’d still like an extra player in there.
Q. Name a player from your club that will shine?
I am really excited to see what Bobby Reid can do in the Premier League. We snapped him up off our rivals Bristol City (the second season in a row we’ve bought their best player, much to their fans’ annoyance) after an impressive goal return last year. Warnock has played him just behind a main striker so far in pre-season and he offers a genuine alternative to Kenneth Zohore, who is strong and leads the line well for us. If he can start the season well, I can see him grabbing 10-15 goals and being a really important player for us.
Q. Where will your team finish in the league and how will they do in the cups?
It will be a scrap, I think every Cardiff fan is aware of that, but I think we will have enough to stay up. Almost everyone else is writing us off – I have seen the majority of people put us in 20th when predicting the league – but we are used to that. We;re Cardiff, nobody likes us and we thrive under those circumstances. 17th will do.
Q. Predict the title winners, teams relegated and domestic cup winner?
I think the title will be fought out between Manchester City and Liverpool, but the Citizens will just have the edge and will retain the title. Huddersfield, Bournemouth and Watford will go down. FA Cup will be won by Chelsea and the League Cup will be won by Liverpool.
Q. Your thoughts on Palace and how we will do this season?
It all rests on whether Wilfried Zaha stays. I hope for your sake he does. He is a superb player who is just right at home at Palace. Hopefully he realises his mistake in leaving last time and sticks around. We did not see the best of him in his loan spell at Cardiff, but he is so crucial to how you play. The loss of Rueben Loftus-Cheek will be tough too. If I was a Palace fan, I’d be worried about the lack of transfer activity, but I think that Roy Hodgson is a steady manager and you will have a much smoother run this season than you did last! You’ll flirt with the relegation zone but achieve a mid-table finish come May.
By Jay Crame - The Eagles Beak
IN THE THIRD OF OUR SERIES OF ARTICLES FROM OUR PREMIER LEAGUE PANEL OF FAN GROUPS, WE TURN OUR ATTENTIONS TO ONE OF THE THREE NEWLY PROMOTED SIDES, CARDIFF CITY.
CARDIFF CITY @VFTNINIAN
Q. What are the fan expectations?
While the majority of us are genuinely just excited to be unexpectedly back in the Premier League, I think there is a quiet confidence in Cardiff. Nobody expected us to be promoted last year and nobody expects us to stay up this season. We have complete faith in Neil Warnock, though, and I think the business done this summer has been genuinely positive. We have not broken the bank like Wolves or Fulham, but instead have spent within our means and look to be investing in our infrastructure, which is great to see.
Q. Which position does your team desperately need to improve?
I think the centre of midfield is a pressing issue for us. We are two down on our numbers there last year (Marko Grujic and Craig Bryson have both seen their loans end) so it is really important we get some quality in there. Warnock is keen to get Grujic back on loan, but the deal keeps stalling. Hopefully we can get that one over the line, but I’d still like an extra player in there.
Q. Name a player from your club that will shine?
I am really excited to see what Bobby Reid can do in the Premier League. We snapped him up off our rivals Bristol City (the second season in a row we’ve bought their best player, much to their fans’ annoyance) after an impressive goal return last year. Warnock has played him just behind a main striker so far in pre-season and he offers a genuine alternative to Kenneth Zohore, who is strong and leads the line well for us. If he can start the season well, I can see him grabbing 10-15 goals and being a really important player for us.
Q. Where will your team finish in the league and how will they do in the cups?
It will be a scrap, I think every Cardiff fan is aware of that, but I think we will have enough to stay up. Almost everyone else is writing us off – I have seen the majority of people put us in 20th when predicting the league – but we are used to that. We;re Cardiff, nobody likes us and we thrive under those circumstances. 17th will do.
Q. Predict the title winners, teams relegated and domestic cup winner?
I think the title will be fought out between Manchester City and Liverpool, but the Citizens will just have the edge and will retain the title. Huddersfield, Bournemouth and Watford will go down. FA Cup will be won by Chelsea and the League Cup will be won by Liverpool.
Q. Your thoughts on Palace and how we will do this season?
It all rests on whether Wilfried Zaha stays. I hope for your sake he does. He is a superb player who is just right at home at Palace. Hopefully he realises his mistake in leaving last time and sticks around. We did not see the best of him in his loan spell at Cardiff, but he is so crucial to how you play. The loss of Rueben Loftus-Cheek will be tough too. If I was a Palace fan, I’d be worried about the lack of transfer activity, but I think that Roy Hodgson is a steady manager and you will have a much smoother run this season than you did last! You’ll flirt with the relegation zone but achieve a mid-table finish come May.
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Re: VIEW FROM THE OPPOSITION: CARDIFF CITY
Wed Aug 01, 2018 9:10 am
Can't fault the replies much.
I would favour us being relegated instead of staying up but I do believe it will be a close affair. All I'm praying for is we don't do a Derby by getting relegated on a record low points which would mean a return ot the Championship for 10 years or more. It will take some achievement to recover from that.
I would favour us being relegated instead of staying up but I do believe it will be a close affair. All I'm praying for is we don't do a Derby by getting relegated on a record low points which would mean a return ot the Championship for 10 years or more. It will take some achievement to recover from that.
Re: VIEW FROM THE OPPOSITION: CARDIFF CITY
Wed Aug 01, 2018 10:23 am
I look at the number of teams who aren’t much better than us and that gives me hope. If you disregard the top 6, and possibly West Ham and Everton, then any of the other 12 teams in the Premier League are capable of relegation. How many people would have predicted Stoke, West Brom and Swansea as the 3 teams to get relegated last season?
The gap between the top half of the Championship and the bottom of the Premier League is much closer these days.
The gap between the top half of the Championship and the bottom of the Premier League is much closer these days.
Re: VIEW FROM THE OPPOSITION: CARDIFF CITY
Wed Aug 01, 2018 7:37 pm
What helped us last season was the stability at the club which had us punching well above our weight. If we can stay stable again this season then that will give us an edge over other sides who may have better squads but put in below par performances due to infighting.
We know from 2013/14 how self defeating a divided club is so I am betting on there will be at least 3 other sides more divided than us and giving an escape route from relegation
We know from 2013/14 how self defeating a divided club is so I am betting on there will be at least 3 other sides more divided than us and giving an escape route from relegation
Re: VIEW FROM THE OPPOSITION: CARDIFF CITY
Wed Aug 01, 2018 7:39 pm
bluebird58 wrote:I look at the number of teams who aren’t much better than us and that gives me hope. If you disregard the top 6, and possibly West Ham and Everton, then any of the other 12 teams in the Premier League are capable of relegation. How many people would have predicted Stoke, West Brom and Swansea as the 3 teams to get relegated last season?
The gap between the top half of the Championship and the bottom of the Premier League is much closer these days.
NW will have us motivated to the limit and a team which plays for the shirt week in week out will always have a chance. Your post is absolutely spot on
Re: VIEW FROM THE OPPOSITION: CARDIFF CITY
Wed Aug 01, 2018 9:31 pm
Im certain we will do significantly better then 13/14,i just hope its enough. The bottom half of the league is always so tight,could come down to fighting spirit,of which we certainly have plenty enough. I predict 15th with a few notable scalps along the way
Re: VIEW FROM THE OPPOSITION: CARDIFF CITY
Thu Aug 02, 2018 7:50 am
3 down, Greg Halford too. Whatever anyone said about him he was needed at certain points and when he was he stepped in and barely put a foot wrong.
Re: VIEW FROM THE OPPOSITION: CARDIFF CITY
Thu Aug 02, 2018 9:14 am
nubbsy wrote:3 down, Greg Halford too. Whatever anyone said about him he was needed at certain points and when he was he stepped in and barely put a foot wrong.
Halford was more a utility player though and Grujic only here for the 2nd half of the season .
so another view is from the start of last season we are up on numbers. down 1 on midfielders..and have players who no one are calling midfield players but can and have played there..and play 8 less games ?
i do think we could still do with strengthening but dont see it quite as bad as maybe it looks.