Nathan Blake -Toughest Championship For 6 Years!

CARDIFF City legend Nathan Blake has greeted the release of the new campaign’s fixtures by warning Bluebirds fans to keep their expectations realistic this season!

The former Wales striker believes the Championship is set to the toughest it has been for years.

And the straight-talking Echo columnist fears manager Malky Mackay and his men may not even reach the play-offs this time as they did last season.

The Bluebirds have been joined in the second tier by Bolton, Blackburn and Wolves from the Premier League.

And with Charlton, Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield – who Cardiff entertain on the opening day – Blake insists supporters might need to tone down their expectations.

“Next season for me is the toughest Championship in the last five or six years,” he said.

“Cardiff supporters need to be realistic and realise there are some massive teams in the division.

“It’s not only those who have come down, but the likes off Sheffield Wednesday and Charlton who came up and will believe they can push at the top.

“Off the top of my head I can think of eight sides that will challenge ahead of Cardiff.

“You’ve got a lot of sides who have been in the Premier League and want back in, and the longer you don’t make it the harder it gets.

“They say there’s a surprise package in the Championship every year and I think Cardiff are going to need to be that if they are going to be up there.”

Mackay has already said he is delighted with the backing he will receive in the transfer market after the club’s Malaysian backers went ahead with controversial rebranding plans.

Blake said some major business would need to be done if the Bluebirds were to confound expectation.

Blake added: Quality is needed as well as a bigger squad.

“It’s early yet, but the right names are going to have to be brought in for Cardiff to challenge this year.”

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... -31210783/

Nonsense.

Its the same every season in the championship. Each season is as tough as the last. I don't buy into all that crap where one season is tougher than the last, because if there's one thing the championship is consistent on, its that every team is capable of beating each other and there's always at least one promotion place up for grabs right till the very end! Nothing is a forgone conclusion in this league, favourite tags mean fukall in this league, you have to earn the right to get promoted, no game is a gimme. I'm expecting us to push on from last season depending on how malkay gos in the summer transfer window, and if we make the right choices and strengthen again in january with one or to players if we are in a good position like last season.

THEY SAY THE SAME OLD BULLSHIT EVERY SEASON

it annoys me so much

Nonsense.

I only copied and pasted what Nathan said!

Nonsense.

I only copied and pasted what Nathan said!

I know

Nonsense.

I only copied and pasted what Nathan said!

I know

Well I think that he's entitled to an opinion, without it being brandished as nonsense so early in proceedings!

Nonsense.

FFS; point the nonsense then?

It is pre-season page filling for the newspaper.

The Championship is hard every season as is every league.

I didn't even read the article because it is probably a re-hash of what was stated in each of the previous pre-seasons just with different names of clubs.

Nonsense.

FFS; point the nonsense then?

The nonsense is "it's the toughest league for years" blah blah blah.
Maybe your a new fan I don't know but the same thing is said EVERY season and over the last few years if anything it has been getting weaker. I expect it to get even weaker looking at the teams.

Remember last season when everyone was told West Ham and Leiceter would run away with the league and everyone was playing for a play/off spot

THEY SAY THE SAME OLD BULLSHIT EVERY SEASON

it annoys me so much

Beat me to it but the exact opposite always happens.

If we have a £15m transfer buget, then tell me how many other Championship clubs will have a budget to match? A handful at the most (Wolves/Leciester?). Sheffield W and Huddersfield won't be spending much and will consolidate at best.

I agree with Blakely, teams coming down all, with the exception of West Ham are bigger and more established as prem quality than than those who came down last year. Similarly can see Charlton doing back to back promotions as pet norwich/saints. Huddersfield will have a season like brizzle or millwall or Brighton when they came up and challenge a play off place as well.

And with the new tv deal for prem teams it is going to keep getting harder for us to get out of this league, especially with ffp coming in.

15 mil (if that's correct) is not a big warchest in this division.

Malky needs to spend very wisely imho.

The fact is that it's always a difficult league for any team as anyone can beat anyone and there's a gruelling fixture list.

It's nothing new.

The key to our season is going to be the quality of the new players Malky brings in and strength in depth.

Maybe someone needs to point out to the bandit that three teams come down from the PL every year, and three come up.

Utter gash. I think it's an easier championship this year.

Same thing said every year i'm afraid. Same as Leicester will go up

I agree ith 2b its the same thing every season. Always said. Entitled to his opinion, yes.