I'd be more than happy with this View attachment 6153 Cardiff City Last season: 4th - lost in play-off semi-final Odds for promotion: 20-1 Manager: Malky Mackay Big buys: Kenny Miller (Bursaspor, £800,000), Robert Earnshaw (Nottingham Forest, free) Big sales: Michael Chopra (Ipswich, £1.5m), Jay Bothroyd (QPR, free). Our verdict: It's been all change for Cardiff this summer in the hope a change of direction will finally push them over the finish line. Successive play-off failures saw Dave Jones pay the price after six years at the helm with Mackay arriving from Watford to take over in the hot-seat. With the likes of Jay Bothroyd, Craig Bellamy and Chopra in their ranks, it was no surprise to see Cardiff billed as red-hot favourites for promotion this time last year. Yet the Welsh side crumbled upon the pressure â and all three strikers have since exited to underline the task Mackay now faces. Mackay, who revelled in the underdog role at Watford, said: "We have lost 12 first-team players in all, something I have never seen before, and it takes time for teams to adapt. That shows how difficult it will be for us." Given the upheaval in a division that offers little sympathy for those trying to build, a play-off place is Cardiff's best hope this time around. Don't expect: Immediate success. Given the major rebuilding job with nine summer signings, this new-look Cardiff side will take time to gel. Do expect: Summer signings Robert Earnshaw, back at his hometown club, and Scotland striker Kenny Miller to score goals for fun at this level. Finishing position: 5th source: Championship Previews
I think we will be hovering around 10th-12th place and make a big play-off push March onwards, I would take 5th every day of the week but not sure I could cope with the play-offs again.
Slight correction there H - the odds for promotion are currently running at around 5/1 mate, not 20/1. You're looking at the Championship title odds. I know because I jumped the gun just before Malky was appointed and only got 16/1 from WH for promotion - now they've gone out. £300 at 16/1 for the title, and £300 at 5/1 for promotion by any other route - how much do you reckon I'll make come May?
I expect Norwich, Swansea, Hull and Blackpool were 20-1. I see no ships. The main squad has not played a game in the Championship but when they do I will be expecting 100% from every player and I did not expect that last season. The players we have are well capable of getting results against any team. Bellamy will be here soon or in January and another one or two players will be coming in. Do you seriously think the Malaysians are here for the fun of it? Do you seriously think Malkay will settle for a worse position than Dave Jones managed? The goalposts have not moved, the aim is for automatic and it certainly is not to toddle along in mid table because if that is the case Malkay will go.
Would I take 5th? Don't think so, I'd rather go through the ups and downs that is Cardiff City and take where ever we end up.
My bad Sparkey - was doing my Tucker impression. Copy/pasting without checking facts first jck200, it's all if's and but's at the moment and nobody has a devine right to finish anywhere. All I'm saying is if you offered me 5th at the moment, I'd take it. As the season progresses, that opinion might change
Haha that part made I laugh I don't think you'll be finishing 5th because you've lost 2 decent strikers, one things for sure is that you'll finish above us with no worries
Totally agree that Malkay will be made fully aware of expectations at the helm. The Malaysians are shrewd businessmen with great aspirations, i haven't been this excited for a new season in years!
Millens, we may have lost two exceptional strikers (for this league), but Chopra was a want away striker that left on poor form, and Bothroyd scored less than 20 goals in the league last year, infact, i'm not sure if he finished in the top 10 goalscorers in the league last year..
personally i think miller and earnshaw have the potential to match the performances of bothroyd and chopra last year. i think both miller and earnshaw will be desperate to get to the top league next year, and especially miller, as he has only been there once before. bothroyd and chopra were average at times last season so we have reason to be optimistic as for expectations, i dont think expectations will be reduced by the board. the goal is automatic promotion as always, but the fact that MM has been given a 3 year contract suggests that its not an 'all or nothing' season like it was last year. realisticially with the likes of west ham, birmingham, leicester and notts forest in the division, top 6 should be viewed as successful, given that the wage bill is probably a damn site lower than it was last season. but with so many new players in the team its difficult to know how we could start the season, it could be either top 6 or bottom 6 after a few games, thats how difficult the league is going to be this year
Spot on Swampy, +rep for that post.. We've lost a donkey who falls over a lot, a gambler who takes takes personal problems onto the pitch, and attained Earnie who i've never seen bad in the press, and Miller, someone who has always performed on the pitch! Not that I disliked Bothroyd or Chops, I'm grateful for having both players these last few years. I just don't think we have downgraded..
talk sport gives you no chance as like they say you are much weaker than last season and even that idiot jock on with keys says there are to many poor Scottish players in the side to be anywhere near the big boys and are candidates for one of the relegation spots....how long is MM's contract for.....
personally i was devastated with losing chopra for £1.5m, i probably based that on his form when he banged in 24 or something about 5 years ago however that seems fair for a player who had lost his way somewhat in the past season. bothroyd in his first 2.5 seasons here was excellent, but it seemed his form did fade a bit towards the end of the season, despite that excellent goal against QPR if my memory serves me correctly. i think miller will be an outstanding signing by MM. £800k for a player who works his socks off and has an eye for goal, not to mention extensive CL and international experience. i'm less certain about earnshaw, i think our views may be clouded a bit by his cult status here
"talk sport gives you no chance as like they say you are much weaker than last season and even that idiot jock on with keys says there are to many poor Scottish players in the side to be anywhere near the big boys and are candidates for one of the relegation spots....how long is MM's contract for....." You should listen to a different station on your stolen car radio you retarted gypo
Sayer77 not worth commenting on the recycle queens thread, and anybody that listens and actually pays attention to anything keys and gray say need more than a lobotomy And back to the thread i would take 5th now if offered it but have put my money on promotion
CVD what annoys me more than anything with these twats is their team is actually playing tonight but they are more interested in coming on our board spouting their ****e and then running away a la Proph and his tiff with one of the window licking ****ers.
Sayer77 they can be a little annoying, but its so much fun watching them get slapped down on every thread
