You are quite right Greeny in terms of actual. But the concept of over/under-achieving comes out of that very inaccurate measure of (advised?) opinion at the start of the season which is a prediction. It makes for some interesting discussion (although generally useless) about comparing expectations and reality. People enjoy a chat and a bit of a poke at the opposition teams. if you look at the BCFC board, they are beginning to settle for a near-playoff position or playoff this year. But already are expecting to build off this year and move higher next season. Predictions and expectations already of improvement. But continuous improvement is impossible for all...or we'd all be in the Premiership.
City deserve to be in the auto spots at present due to a tremendous work ethic by the squad & management attributable in part to the ability, drive and attitude of the players themselves coupled with exceptional man management by Warnock and his team. Nothing to do with punching above weight or any other relatively meaningless phrase but as aforesaid by dint of hard graft, skill and positive attitude. All players at this level are mostly of the same quality, more some than others but it’s how to get the best out of these players and to get them to gel which is the crux of how a team performs. That is how I suggest City have achieved their present position. Should also add that had we had the run of the green on several occasions, we would be even closer to Wolves. City have some due breaks left in the tank.
Whilst I agree with some of what you've said, I think you're misconstruing the sentiment of those making the observation and that it's reasonable to consider the resources available to clubs to gauge their success. I would suggest Wolves are ahead of you because of the money and connections available to them, not necessarily because they have more work ethic, drive, better attitude and better manager etc. It's not anyone saying Cardiff 'don't deserve' to be in the auto-spots - if anything, you should take it as praise that you're ahead of the likes of Aston Villa, who'll have a significantly larger wage bill and outlay on players over the past few years. Observing that a club is 'punching above their weight' isn't to imply that they're lucky, it's quite the opposite - it's conveying that the reason for the success is down to the qualities you described, rather than in spite of them. I'm personally of the opinion that if a Man City fan had come on here bragging about their win over you and how they're at the top of the Premiership whereas Cardiff are 'only in the Championship', then it wouldn't be fair because their goals ought to be much higher, based on the resources available to them.
If you ever listen to Talkshyte the punditry on there is truly awful, a special mention goes to Jason Cundy, although an ex player what he knows about football outside of the top 6 in the Premier league he could put on the back of the proverbial *** packet. Driving home after our 2 - 1 victory over the Tykes he was assessing the chances with some other idiot who was likely to get promoted automatically, he referred to the top 6 teams at that time as ''worthy contenders of gracing the premier league'' with the exemption of perhaps Cardiff who he classed as the smallest club currently in the top 6, then went on to say, he didnt know whether or not we could maintain our form for the whole season. There were only 10 out of 46 left, he referred to us as punching above our weight and every other half witted cliche his brain allowed him. But to conclude what i got from listening to the drivvle was he and his co presenter really did not want to see us promoted. Why who knows all i know he is a pecker head of the highest order.
I always get frustrated by clubs who purport to "deserve to get promotion" or "deserve to be in the premier league". Teams deserve to be where they are. Just because you were "a big club" in the past doesn't give you any rights. Manure fans are the worse. Just because you've spent money or been there in the past doesn't mean you deserve anything. Just because you play pretty football or have the best striker doesn't give you any rights. Scoring more goals than the opposition puts you where you deserve to be!
You deserve nothing paricularly in the Championship - you earn it. On a slight divergance from that, it's worth discussing the Derby fiasco. "Cheating" is a very immotive word and it should only be used in the right context. Things like pre-match "mind games" and media quotes from managers have been around for years - no problem with that. Even gamesmanship during the game both on the pitch or on the touchline is all part and parcel of the game and a different thing altogether - that's up to the referee and his officials on the day to control. The thing that cannot be allowed is for an Official EFL Club to gain an advantage through the cynical manipulation of circumstances to prevent a game from being played because they just didn't want to. The EFL must see it necessary to come down hard on clubs that take that route to avoid setting a precedent. Doing nothing and turning a blind eye to this gross misuse of its responsibilities should not be an option. The clubs in the current top 6 that do get up this year will deserve it, be it Wolves, Cardiff, Villa, Fulham or Middlesbrough.....please note I've left out Derby.
Gary Rowett has been silent since Sunday. It must be inferred he’s got something to hide. His phone calls from his home as the snow was coming down to his directors would make interesting listening. He should be forced to come clean. Anyway I can’t take him seriously after he said Derby deserved to win at CCS earlier this season.
I take it all back - Derby are innocent. https://www.efl.com/news/2018/march/efl-statement-derby-county-v-cardiff-city/
EFL have set a precedent. Be interesting to see how the next club are treated. There'll be some who will try it on as derby did.
Total cop out. EFL took the easiest route. Was any account taken of likely changes in the conditions? When we first moved to CCS I remember a home game versus Leicester being called off as the car park was a total ice rink with no sign of a thaw. The Riddler was annoyed as the gate receipts for a potential sell out were to be used towards the VAT debt. If memory serves correctly (I don't guarantee that) I think we gave 24 hours notice. However, a season or so later we had a Boxing Day game v. Coventry which went ahead despite the surrounding streets being full of snow and icey. Some of you will remember Robbie the Mole, a friend of some of us (Bluescull, HT and Blue Prophet) from Coventry. He came to the game with his son and was not best pleased at me dragging him all the way around to the Cornwall for a pre-match pint. Us winning didn't help either.
www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/efl-chief-says-cardiff-city-14445456 So what they are saying is derby get away with it but if someone does it in the future they'll get done!!!! So, not only is the integrity of derby in question, so is that of EFL.
Maybe peanuts to Vince but it tells a different story about him and CCFC than is usually portrayed in the media....... https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/cardiff-city-owner-vincent-tan-14446322
Teams like ours have to overachieve and punch above our weight if we are going to get anywhere......We have been doing it for years.....
It is with out doubt that the Sam loving boot boys will ignore this news, we are very lucky to have Tan, he's done more than every chairman we have had since Bartley Wilson.
I'm not a 'Sam loving boot boy' and I still think the guys a vindictive ass-hole. Granted an extremely rich 'vindictive ass-hole' but a 'vindictive ass-hole' none the less.....have I mentioned I think he's a 'vindictive ass hole'. By a stroke of luck he employs a really good manager, the first good decision (probably not his anyway), made in among a million terrible ones. Only my opinion of course.
And it's great that we can all have our own opinion, I don't agree with you on this but it's not the end of the world.
