Promotion to the Premier League?

The good thing about the football season in the UK is that there is such a short gap from one season to the next. And so barely 3 months after the last season ended a new one begins. My friends in the US wish that was the case with their major sports!

Unfortunately, my blog updates last season petered out rather like the season, and I haven't posted since the 3rd of March. At that point, I was finally convinced that we weren't being relegated, and the rest of the season was unspectacular but encouraging. We finally crept up to just make the top half of the Championship table in 12th place, with some encouraging performances against some good teams. This could be considered disappointing, but considering the desperate predicament we were in when Neil Warnock took over as manager then 12th place was more than acceptable. The performances were much better after that time too.

It has been well publicised that NW was asking for around £6m to strengthen the team in such a way to make a challenge for promotion this season, and the board has essentially backed him in this. With the ridiculous amounts of money now being paid for players in the Championship, that seems a ludicrously small amount of money. But NW has been very shrewd in his acquisitions, bringing in a number of players with something to prove, as well as a couple of players who he has worked with in the past. The pundits suggest that the Bluebirds will be a mid table team again, but we live in hope that the "Warnock factor" can encourage the team to out-perform what the experts say. Last season, Huddersfield proved what could be done with a good manager and a small budget and now find themselves in the Premier League - there is no reason why we can't do the same.

The Magnificent(?) Seven.

Ok - that may be exaggerating it a bit, but here are NW's summer signings:-

Lee Camp - an experienced goalkeeper who has worked with NW several times before. Probably our starting keeper for the season.

Neil Etheridge - an up and coming goalkeeper signed from League 1 Walsall - probably back up for Camp but may yet make the first team.

Loic Damour - a relatively unknown French midfield player from Ligue 2 in France.

Nathaniel Mendez -Laing - another player performing well at League 1 level and now gets the chance to prove himself at a higher level.

Callum Patterson - a young full back stepping up from the Scottish Premier League with Hearts to try his luck south of the border.Can also play midfield or up front. Not available until October due to an injury.

Danny Ward - another striker added to the squad to back up and play with Kenneth Zohore. He also has played for NW at Rotherham and deserves a chance in a better team.

Lee Tomlin - the only player who has cost a significant amount of money (and wages). Been at Bristol City and Bournemouth in recent years and on his  day is a very classy player. He was easily Bristol City's best player when they lost to the Bluebirds in NWs first game last season. Has a reputation for not always giving his best, but respects NW greatly. NW feels that he can bring out the best in Tomlin - lets hope he can.

Lee Tomlin

Goodbye to Whitts.

The closed season also saw the departure of Peter Whittingham - the last Cardiff City player to play for the team at Ninian Park. Whitts has been a legend for the club, but the time has finally come for him to move on as he approaches the end of his career. His spectacular free kicks will live long in the memory, but the goal the always sticks in my mind is the one he scored off the near post in the first leg of the playoffs at Leicester in 2010. I'm pretty sure that all Bluebirds fans wish him well.

Whitts in Blackburn colours.

Bruno is staying. Ken worth £20m?

A signing which is just as important as the new ones above is that of Bruno Ecuele Manga who has decided to accept a new contract from the club. It was widely expected that he would leave and return to France to play, but he has chosen to accept a new contract. Despite the odd glaring mistake, Bruno is a good footballing defender. I'm glad he's staying.

There have been rumours of interest in last season's sensation Kenneth Zohore, who continued his good form to us into good form for the Denmark under 21s in the summer. NW has slapped a £20m price tag on him, but emphasised that he is not really for sale. If he continues in the same form, then by the end of the season the big clubs may well be interested in him.

Burton away.

And so it all begins in another 2 days time with an away trip to relegation favourites Burton Albion. I've no doubt the season will be a real roller coaster as usual, but most of the regular fans are excited if not exactly confident about the new season. Bring it on!