It is now just over 7 weeks since our season ended, and in a little less than 7 weeks it starts all over again! Of course, since then we have had the end of season big games like the end of season playoffs, the FA Cup Final and and Champions League final, as well as the big European Championship qualifier here which saw Wales achieve a great win over number 2 ranked in the world Belgium. But now that is all out of the way, we finally have a couple of weeks relatively football free before it starts all over again!
Cardiff boy Gareth Bale (but never a Bluebird) celebrates his goal for Wales against Belgium with fellow Cardiff boy and former Bluebird Aron Ramsey.
I think its taken me until now to really work out what happened at the Cardiff City Stadium last season. I don't think I ever really bought into the idea that we were favourites to get promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt, but I was fairly confident that we would at least be challenging. It soon became apparent that the huge squad that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had put together was a talented team of individuals, but not necessarily a team ( and some were not even talented individuals!). The departure of Ole in October seemed to give us plenty of season to recover and challenge, but then came the rather underwhelming appointment of Russell Slade, whose remit seemed to be to cut costs and still produce a challenging team. A substantial numbers of fans still want Slade out, as they don't think he is up to the job. I'm prepared to award him a 6 out of 10 for the rest of last season - at least the players seemed to know what they were doing after he arrived - but i'm fairly sure that if he doesn't get off to a good start next season then he too will be looking for alternative employment by Bonfire Night.
What possibly caused more disappointment for fans was our home form. Not only was it poor in terms of results, but it was poor in terms of performance too. The home league win against Reading sticks in my mind - I can't remember when a win has been so disappointing and terrible to watch! However, as the season progressed our away form became more and more acceptable. I'm not sure if this was coincidence or whether the players felt less pressure away from their own fans, but it was at least a sign of progress and a crumb of comfort from a disappointing season. There were notable away wins at eventual Champions Watford, as well as at top 6 team Brentford. The season ended with a good win at Nottingham Forest ( a bogey ground in recent years). This away form must be a positive going ahead?
Eoin Doyle scores at Forest.
So - How did I do?
Trying to predict the outcome of the Championship is particularly difficult, and last season proved to be no exception. Of the 6 teams I tried to predict in to the top 6, only 2 made it! (Middlesborough and Norwich) Derby were there until the final day of the season (welcome to our world!), Cardiff and Blackburn flattered to deceive and Wigan were comfortably relegated!
To counteract that, of the 3 teams I thought might be relegated, Blackpool achieved it (comfortably), Huddersfield finished safely mid table and Brentford actually finished in the top 6 playoffs! I think this just about sums up the roller coaster ride that is Championship football!
And next season?
I'm not saying anything yet. At the time of composing this blog, there have been no significant players in or out of the club, although a number of the high earners are rumoured to be on their way. Off the pitch, the club seem to be much more organised than in recent seasons. The stadium has already had its new facelift, the new shirts (now thankfully back to blue!) are due to be delivered by Adidas on 3rd July, and the early adopter season tickets are due out very soon. One of the more positive things this week was the picture of Bruno Ecuele Manga appearing on the outside of the Cardiff City Stadium for the new season. He was easily our best player last season (easily Ole's best signing), and we all though he would be heading off to the Premier League this season. Surely, now that the club his picture on the stadium he's staying?
Funny how the excitement starts to build as a new season approaches - roll on August 8th and a home game to start the new season against Fulham!
Aron Gunnarsonn and Bruno Ecuele Manga adorn the "Back in blue" Cardiff City Stadium.
