It has become a football cliche that to achieve “success” in the game, first you must win your home games. According to this conventional wisdom, teams must make their stadiums a fortress that the opposition fears to visit, and this is held to be particularly true for newly promoted teams. But to what extent is relying on securing points at home a dependable strategy for maintaining your Premier League status? New article explores this: http://hitrowz.com/2013/07/05/premier-league-survival-guide-part-4/ It would be fantastic to get feedback from Cardiff fans on what this analysis might mean for you this season. Ben UPDATE - Final part to the guide is now live - draws together lessons for Cardiff and other promoted sides. http://hitrowz.com/2013/07/12/premier-league-survival-guide-part-5/
From 8th place down there wont be much difference between those sides. I see all games against those games as winnable home and away. Any points against the top 4 or 5 will be a bonus home or away and theres no reason why we cant pick up points against the 2 scouse teams. Of course home games are important but I can see us turning a lot of sides over away.
Certainly the league last season was hugely tight from 10th downwards so you may very well be right. How do you feel about Cardiff's signings so far?
Good topic Ben. Very valid points made about points accumulated home and away although for me the interesting issue could be an overall lack of Prem experience. Apart from Bellamy, David Marshall, Frazier Campbell and Tommy Smith I think we have another 7 players only who have played at Prem level, and most have no more than a few games under their belts. I guess the same goes for the other promoted clubs but we have to look beyond those to get the points needed for survival. Possibly Malky needs to be looking at bringing in the right sort of guy with the experience of playing at the highest level.
Thanks! Its tricky to balance given how expensive it is to sign and then pay the wages of establish PL players. Cornelius looks decent though no?
Cornelius is very highly thought of and will be a good signing for you - think he WILL thrive in the prem Ccfc!
SCH, I think he will, he is an international player so he has played against different countries, different styles of play and high quality players. My only worry is how quickly he settles in to the team. If he is given the right support on the pitch, he could be a menace to defenders. What do you think of your Shelvey and Pozuelo, will they be an asset to Swansea?
The thing about the Premiership is that it is essentially two leagues, with the top 6-8 competing for European places, and the rest. There's no doubt, and no illusions which camp we currently fall into, and that also goes for players we're trying to attract. Players who want to play in European competitions will only be interested in playing for us once we've established ourselves in the Premiership and push on to challenge the upper echelons. To do that we need to maintain form, and that starts with home success. In my opinion we couldn't have a better manager than Malky, and if anyone can do it for us, he can. It's his judgement, his insight, his knowledge, and his nous that will lead Cardiff City to the successes we fans have been craving for, for so many years.
to be honest you dont have any form either home or away in the premiership yet...Its all brand new and you have to earn the fortress tag as the season develops. Its not easy...
Don't know a great deal about Pozuelo and have never really been a fan of Shelvey but trust the manager and board. Time will tell whether they will be assets but will be right behind them. As for Cornelius; he has international experience and is highly regarded so think he will settle into the team quickly enough and think he will do very well for you.
Cornelius is a cracking signing, and a good front man cold keep you out of the relegation scrap, providing you don't let a load in at the back. Hopefully neither side have to worry about relegation, and the Welsh derbys are going to be cracker (whith purple and yellow and white and black victories naturally)
Concluding part to the guide now live - http://hitrowz.com/2013/07/12/premier-league-survival-guide-part-5/
