OK - I know - its not the season end yet as we still have the play-offs to look forward to, but you know what I mean!
And who would have thought last August that we would be going into the play-offs anyway? Well, me for one! If you refer back to my post on 6th August 2011, back before the start of the season, I tried to predict the top 6 in the Championship, not in any particular order. I included the Bluebirds in this selection as I didn’t think there were many stand out teams in the Championship this season, and we had as much chance as anyone else.
My top 6 as predicted on the 6th August 2011:-
CARDIFF
BRIGHTON
READING
WEST HAM
MIDDLESBOROUGH
LEICESTER
Well, 4 of those clubs reached the top 7 places, and they all finished in the top 10. Given the well publicised “anyone can beat anyone” nature of the Championship, I don’t that’s a bad effort!
My 3 choices for relegation were :-
DONCASTER
DERBY
PETERBOROUGH
I suppose that one out of 3 isn’t bad. Derby were a pretty decent side - Clough Junior seems to be building something good there with their youngsters. Peterborough also survived in the Championship by their risk all “if they score 3 we’ll get 4” mentality. Unfortunately, they did that very same thing to the Bluebirds before Christmas!
Under-achievers of the season? Undoubtedly Leicester, who spent big but were very ordinary. A change of manager half way through the season didn’t help, but I’m pretty sure they’ll be better next season.
A close runner up for the under achievers award goes to our play off opponents West Ham, who really ought to have made an automatic promotion place with the players and resources at their disposal.
Best manager achievement of the season? (apart from our very own Malky Mackay!). This must go to Chris Hughton at Birmingham. Getting them into the play offs when all of his best Premier Class players were sold for financial reasons was a great effort, especially as they managed to have a fairly successful Europa League campaign along with it. Without the Europa League distractions, Birmingham may well have made an automatic promotion slot.
Goalmouth action against Leeds.
BLUEBIRDS PERFORMANCES
I have to judge these on home games, as the only away games I see are the televised ones.
Player of the season - Mark Hudson, with Ben Turner a close second - they’ve put some real backbone in the defence.
Best performance of the season - the 3-1 win over Reading
Worst performance of the season: This one is a bit close, but I think the way we capitulated late to Blackpool was just a bit worse than the 3-0 defeat by Hull, on a day when nothing went our way following the bizarre own goal by McNaughton after 6 minutes.
Most exciting prospect has to be Joe Mason - I hope we are able to hang on to him as he could be VERY good one day.
Goal of the season: I’ve made this a tie! Ben Turner’s late equaliser at Wembley, and Mark Hudson’s 68 yard “wonder goal” against Derby!
And of course, the highlight of the season so far was the Carling Cup final against Liverpool, even if they did lose on penalties!
Don Cowie volleys the winner at Palace.
RESULTS SINCE MY LAST POST
14th March Barnsley 0 Cardiff 1
17th March Cardiff 2 Derby 0
21st March Cardiff 1 Leeds 1
28th March Crystal Palace 1 Cardiff 2
A good solid end to the regular season - lets hope we can stretch it further and even make the Premier League! Whatever happens in the play offs, its already been one heck of a season!
