OK I'm looking forward to a PROPER CCFC season, before the second Reading playoff game, I was chatting over a beer (as you do) with quite a few Bluebirds, and not one of them was looking forward to the game, there was just to much riding on it, and the expectations were so high................I think deep down inside I knew it was all going to end in tears. With our "champagne" signings we went in expecting to win every game, human nature with the side we had I suppose, but we all know that on to many occasions, well they failed to deliver, and with huge expectations come equally huge disappointments. I know all of us on here can remember the days when we travelled "more in hope than expectation" We'd go to games hoping we might win, thinking we had a chamce of winning, but not utterly convinced we would get a result. If we got a result it was a bonus and we'd go home happy, if we dropped points, disappointing but not a tragedy. Over the last couple of seasons (especially last season) well we expected to win every game, and were gutted and disappointed if things went against us..............not a natural mindset for a Bluebird. This season I'm hoping to watch some decent football, from a hard working Cardiff team, I'm not expecting a playoff place at least, as a matter of right. I think we will be OK, top ten IMO, anything else will be a great bonus..........but I'm not EXPECTING it. Lower expectations, maybe, less disappointment stored up, definitely. I'm looking forward to next season with a degree of optimism, but I see it as a season of rebuilding, I think we will be competitive, but not necessarily challenging.............it could be our time to sneak in under the radar, being favourites doesn't seem to sit well with CCFC. I think that MM is a long term appointment and not a "quick fix"................I just hope the owners and the fans have patience and give the new regime time, we WILL get to the promised land of that I have no doubt, but lets give it time and not demand instant success, because it will only end in tears AGAIN.
Yeah, even when we went up in League one with Lennie, I myself didn't expect wins like I did last year. Even though that Lennie team was probably more dominant in that league. Last year's expectancies has a lot to do with the well established abilty of big name players and options of last terms playing squad. Another point to add to your post Phoph. There's something to be said about just plain playing well. Good football with spot on, changable tactics for each game. When we drew games the last year or so, it was more often than not because when we didn't show up, it just felt like that was our lot for that particular game because we would play quite mindlessly. Balls straight to Betty etc - Then Betty would fall over. These kind of games were damn frustrating and hard not to be annoyed about on the way home. Hopefully MM will now how to tamper with games and motivate players out of a bad perfomance. I have a very good feeling he will.
Nice post Proph. I really enjoy the Championship as a league, as long as we don't go down a division I'll stay pleased I can't wait for the next season, looking forward to making the trip from London to the CCS as often as possible
Good points as always proph . This season there will be a lot less pressure on us because no-one will be expecting us to challenge for promotion. This could work in two ways: either the players will start to gel and play in a relaxed way picking up some good (if not outstanding) results which could see us in and around the play-off places, this will also be helped by the fact that our own fans won't be expecting immediate fireworks (well I'd hope so anyway). The other result of less pressure could have a detrimental effect on the team: The players could pick up a few decent results before Christmas and then think they didn't have to do much more until the end of the season. This could result in the players being far too relaxed and getting far too complacent with consolidation in the league, IE not bothering to put the effort in to push on to the play-off places, and doing just enough to avoid any potential (dare I say it) relegation scrap . Two very different circumstances there. I don't think the second one is likely because I believe Malky will instill a real determination in the team and I don't believe he'll settle for more than 100 % effort from every player in every game IMO .
"The players could pick up a few decent results before Christmas and then think they didn't have to do much more until the end of the season. This could result in the players being far too relaxed and getting far too complacent with consolidation in the league," I take your point.but it's all down to who we get on board, MM has a reputation for giving youth a chance...................if MM signs up hungry young players, well I can't see them chucking the towel in and settling for mid table mediocrity, they may not be good or experienced enough to achieve success, but you can't ask for more than 100% commitment
Amazing how times change. I remember the seventies when we were in the old second division relegation battle one year and in the third division title race the next, or it seemed that way at the time. I cannot for the life of me remember the team being booed off the pitch once in those days and yet now not getting promoted to the PL is a major disaster and time for a new manager. damn i'm getting old.
interesting stuff proph last season yes it was expected that we beat whoever was put in front of us. if you are signing players of the calibre of bellamy and ramsey then expectations will rise, theres nothing you can do about that. the fact that these players were largely from the PL meant that there was a spotlight on the players to perform, and although at times the football was great, the team often failed to perform for whatever reason. i hope MM builds a team together to serve this club for 3, 4, 5 seasons, not just gamble all our money away in the hope of one last hurrah like DJ seemed to do in his final year. although this may mean top 8 instead of top 2 at least we can say we're moving in the right direction with a younger average age of the squad. i'm really looking forwards to seeing how we fare next season under MM - the watford fans certainly seem to think he's got a touch of genius about him
I agree Proph, though a large part of the Bluebirds supporter base may struggle for a month or two getting back into the swing of things!
You're not alone mate. Good days, bad days, they were all Bluebird days I wish every supporter could experience those days with their respective clubs. It would certainly put an end to the 'Plastic Armies' Proph: Good post btw
Welshman. Ho Ho Ho. Cant you remember Stevens fighting with his own player in the 80's the early 80's were an absolute dire time for the Bluebirds. I can remember many times hearing the chant 'What a load of rubbish' all be it for a short period of time in our history but it did happen. especially when there were only 3 or 4 thousand in the crowd, it seemed louder as it echoed around the Bob Bank. Then things started to get better, i am of course talking about the Clemo era. Hopefully we will not experience those times again, but our support is never whiter than white, and our fans always see the club as world beaters. Next year will be no different, if we do finish mid table, which i think we can do, however i think the owners will want more, but if we do finish lets say 10th or 11th it will be interesting to see if our crowds stay above 20k. I love the club and our supporters but we can be fickle at times
Up until the Millenium when Sam arrived, I'd watched 30 years worth of anything from crap to ecstasy at NP.......and I wouldn't have missed it for the world no matter how bad (and it was bad!) on times. Sam took the reins and we were off on the quest - a heady time that the 2001 stuffing of Leeds in the Cup epitomised to the tee. Since then, we've been paying the price financially whilst in reality also enjoying the best 10 years of sustained success at Cardiff City FC. In my belief, we've experienced the heartache this past few seasons only to come out stronger with all that is in place now. The new stadium, new owners, new board members, Gethin Jenkins as CEO, and now a new player management team headed up by MM. I said on a previous thread that I can honestly see us achieveing promotion this season and I have a hefty wager on it to back it up - the power of conviction eh? Does that make me someone who has too high an expectation level? Do I have a right to think that way or should I just be hoping to stay safely in this division by finishing the season mid-table and nothing to play for during those last few weeks? I think if you asked the owners and especially their new recruit at the helm, mid-table is not for us - we're going for auto with the backup of the playoffs as a last resort. Now where did that bloody moggy leave that tin................
Don't bother looking for the tin sparkey, it's obviously empty if you've plowed money on us to go up this season Nah, I'm with on this actually, i think we are going to go for it again and would expect playoffs if all goes well, auto maybe asking for a large slice of luck. Think if Malky can get us in the mix come January then we will have more funds made available for the push home. Thats my view on it anyway.
"the early 80's were an absolute dire time for the Bluebirds." Yes a time I'd rather forget things were dire.
Welshman / hbomb, we must be of an age. I remember with fondness the 2nd / 3rd division yo-yoing. Happy days on the bob bank! Lost my footballing way a bit in the 80s and 90s while i chased eggs but my body telling me to quit allowed me to return to the round ball. Looking forward to the pre-season merry go round. A few transfers started at other clubs (surprised Leeds are letting schmeikel go). Sven doing a Notts county methinks. Hopefully see a few new faces in our squad in the next couple of weeks with a left back and right wing already being negotiated.
yeah, had some good times on the Bob Bank though a lot of the 80's is a bit blurred. I didn't stop going but late teen/early 20's alcohol consumption played it's part I remember visiting some god awful grounds too. Thankfully (and hopefully) those days are behind us. In Malky we trust.
Oh yes it was a bit of an alcoholic blur, we were in the same league as County and what a tip Somerton park was, Bury not much better or Rochdale, Lincoln etc etc etc Still had some good times though, Was at Fratton for the Clock malarky etc etc. Which i find hilarious when our younger fans ie Under 40 chant Pompey whats the time.. and remembering traveling back to Cardiff (In Royal Navy) for the return match in a train packed to the rafters with 6.57 crew, i remember it was one of the longest journeys of my life (as neither did they like CCFC they werent all that keen on military people either, maybe something to do with thier sisters prefrences of boyfriend) got to General station where they were instantly bushwhacked, do i want those days back. Hell No. But the memories of it all will remain forever. You only remember the really good bits and bad bits anyway. So plenty of memories there then !
