Sussex I saw your post earlier, just want to pass on my best wishes. I'm sure that your fellow fans will hold the fort until you get back
Clash, the table doesn't lie and your lads have deserved it but your last line sums it up. From what I've seen of Cardiff this year, I honestly believe you will struggle next season. However, as you say, it all depends on how much you are given to spend. The problem is, throwing money at new players doesn't do it and the point you make about seeing how they will gel is valid. QPR spent an absolute fortune in transfer fees and wages and look what happened to them because they play as a bunch of individuals and not as a team. Unless Malky can mould your lot into a viable team, and very quickly, you will be playing catch up in the most unforgiving league in the world. It won't be easy.
Don't you mean: "Bloody hell, Cardiff have only just been promoted so we should start a thread about them and give them some abuse. Ivorall: It will be one tough season. Can only hope to survive. But I guess all promoted teams feel that before the season starts!
There is a very fine line. If you change too much your ****ed and if you dont change enough the same applies. Cardiff look like they need a few players,but like the swans they can get some luck with injuries in their first season and therefore remain competitive. The problem i see with the Dragons is the style of play. I think there are teams that play it better with more talent in the prem league, i think the best thing is to not change too much and maintain team spirit, knowing you have guys that will give 110% is vital and will get the crowd onside. I dont expect Ting Tong to invest too much money which might not be such a bad thing, throwing money at it in the past hasnt worked for you so non reason why it should now, careful investment in the right areas is critical...and some luck !
ivor, I know that we only have a handful of players that would survive in the PL but VT has said that he will fund at least £25million on new players. I also know that a sum of this amount won't go far in the PL. We do however have a good coach and I guess we'll now see what VT is made of? If it all fails and we come straight back down that will also be fine with me as it's been a great roller coaster following Cardiff city for the past 6 years, including 3 Wembley appearances. Ultimately I would rather be a good club in the Championship than always struggling in the PL.......but it would be great to get there and experience it and I guess then we'll see what happens?
Would you pass up 60m every year and a 17th place finish ?? really ? to play at the higher end of the championship? im not so sure. One thing is for sure, being in the Premier league means that every single game is almost a must win! its a totally different kind of experience and i have to admit it does take a bit of getting use to. I dont enjoy the games in the same way as when in the championship but you will find that once your there you wouldnt want to be anywhere else
That's the right attitude, Clash. We weren't sure of our survival chances when we were promoted but we were determined to enjoy every minute of it, win or lose. We would have been delighted with 17th position but, as history now records, we easily surpassed that. At least the money you get will help. It won't clear the debt but it will at least eat into it and even if you are relegated then you will get the parachute payment. I suppose you are now going to find out about the integrity and motives of VT. Most of the promotion money will have to be spent on transfer fees and wages and it will be interesting to see the calibre of players he will aim for. If he starts penny pinching.....
With the Premier league comes the big exposure and VT will be hoping to cash in on this, an example of how media and popularity grows when you are in the prem league is Twitter, i saw something on planet swans earlier which highlighted the difference. Swans get 110,000 followers on twitter which is pretty good by prem standards The highest in the championship is wolves with 55,000 ! Cardiff have 33,900 following on twitter, when cardiff get into the prem league this will increase greatly the media exposure is quite frightning to be honest and once you are in it you dont really want to be anywhere else. Cardiff have as much of a chance as anyone, i feel our 3rd season will be our hardest and i also think we are going to struggle this time around, europa league will take its toll but im hoping Laudrup will be prepared for this in terms of making us stronger in the summer. If cardiff get off to a good start then they will make a good fist of it .
I think you are right NJ. there are a couple of scenarios, If they get a run of hard games early on and dont win, could put them under right pressure, on the other hand beat a big side and pick up a couple of results and confidence will grow. On the other hand if the fixtures give them winable games early on and they struggle it could be a long hard season as Reading have found out. A lot will depend on how they stregnthen their squad.
I have watched Cardiff a number of times this season, and they are a different team with Bellamy playing, but there is one issue that they will have to address, and that's their consistency! they can go from very mediocre to playing some great stuff with some very good movement going forward, and I've been pleasantly surprised at the way Cardiff can pass the ball around when they want, but they have to produce those performances every game, otherwise they'll just end up propping up the PL!.....................
Dragon, we need at least half a new team, otherwise there is only one place we will be heading at the end of next season. We do have some terrific talent coming through in the form of Kim and Gestede though but we will need some PL standard players to supplement the 4 or 5 players that in my mind will hack it in the PL. I understand that we will be raiding the Spanish market soon. Beforeb that though we need to get one point and it may well be party time tomorrow night against Charlton for us....if not, we will have another 3 cracks at getting a point.
Mind we are mediocre at the moment.........Seems our boys thought the season was over at Wembley, hope we pull our figure out, as we have some really tough fixtures coming up, and I'm not thinking of the Saints either!.....................
