Well - its finally here. The last pre-season game has taken place and the proper football is about to start.
The Olympics is ending today, which I’ve thoroughly enjoyed (much more even than I expected).
I’ve been on this year’s family holiday (not during the season, you notice!)
So now its back to the Bluebirds!
SOMETHING HAPPENED IN THE SUMMER?
My last post, on 7th June, commented on the so-called “re-branding” and the change to red. Despite all of the rhetoric and arguments amongst the fans since that time, my position on the subject remains unchanged.
I will be making a small and probably insignificant protest. At the Huddersfield game, I will be wearing a blue shirt, to register the fact that I would have preferred to stay blue. However, at the next home game against Wolves I will be wearing my new red shirt with pride, to show my support for my home town club, the ONLY team for me, whatever colour shirts they are wearing.
That’s my last word on the subject of red v blue this season in this blog.
NEW INVESTMENT - THE SQUAD IS DEFINITELY STRONGER
Our Malaysian owners have certainly kept to the first part of the bargain concerning the re-branding - they have given Malky the funds to heavily invest in the squad. Our squad was already multi-national, but has now become even more so! Off the top of my head, the squad now includes players from Wales, England, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Iceland, Slovakia, Slovenia and now South Korea - the bill for translation services must be phenomenal!
Then came the biggest investment of all - the return of CB39 - Craig Bellamy! It’s rumoured that he has taken a huge paycut to return to his hometown club - let’s hope he stays fit as I’m sure he can have a major influence on the team and its performances, especially at Championship level.
Jordon Mutch - the first signing from Birmingham City - this caught us all by surprise, but this could be a really top class signing. The Birmingham fans were really upset at his departure.
Jordon Mutch - the first signing from Birmingham City - this caught us all by surprise, but this could be a really top class signing. The Birmingham fans were really upset at his departure.
Kim Bo-kyung - fresh from his success with the South Korean Olympic team. This could be a really big signing, and we had to beat off some other big European clubs to get him.
Etien Velikonja - became our third international signing - a Slovenian international. Apparently Malky has been keeping an eye on him for a couple of years.
Heidar Helgusonn. Although some feel that he is past his best, 9 goals in 16 Premier League games for QPR last season is a great record. Could be a very shrewd signing.
The prodigal returns! CB had offers from QPR to continue in the Premier League, but I suspect his wife put her foot down and insisted on a return to his home in Cardiff. The thought of being able to sleep at home in his own bed every night proved to be the clincher!
Apparently, there are more signings due this week - its rumoured to be a Premier League defender and possibly another striker. Exciting times indeed!
NEW SEASON PREDICTIONS
Like all football fans, we tend to be pessimistic about our team’s chances. But its hard not to be optimistic about the team that Malky Mackay has assembled. Let’s face it - last year’s squad basically over-achieved , and the team was greater than the sum of its parts. The new additions appear to have improved the squad considerably, and so surely we can finish higher than our 6th place last season?
I’d like to think we can finish in the top 2 this year and gain automatic promotion, but there are too many unpredictabilties in this league to be certain of that. Lots of teams will raise their game against us as we will be seen as one of the favourites for promotion, and you can’t be sure of the form of the teams coming down from the Premier League or those coming up from League 1. After all, during the last 2 seasons first Norwich and then Southampton have gone straight from League 1 to the Premier League. I suspect that Charlton may be the most capable of the teams coming up, but I’m not sure they have the ability to go straight up.
TOP 6 Predictions.
I’m not going to try to pick the top 2, but I will try to predict the top 6 for the season. I will have to include the Bluebirds in this, a decision which is based on evidence as well as enthusiastic support for my own team. So, my top 6, in no particular order:-
CARDIFF
BOLTON
LEICESTER
CHARLTON
MIDDLESBOROUGH
BLACKPOOL
Relegation? The usual suspects I’m afraid:-
PETERBOROUGH
BARNSLEY
BRISTOL CITY
HOLD ON TO YOUR HATS!
After all of the uncertainties of the close season, I’m really excited about the coming season. Could this really be our year to get to the Promised Land of the Premier League? I really hope so. One thing is for certain - its a really exciting time to be a supporter of Cardiff City Football Club!
BLUEBIRDS!
