Hello Tractor Boys - we're (Cardiff) back down amongst you in the Championship and looking forward to the chat on here. We've usually seemed to struggle when playing you at this level. Do you see it any different this time around? To be honest, quite looking forward to this coming season on the pitch as well - perhaps we can win a few games for a change. Given that Norwich were also on the Prem trap door when the lever was pulled, which of the 6 new sides to the Championship this season do you see as potentially the biggest threat to your own hopes of promotion? The 3 dropping out of the Prem would seem the obvious candidates, but who of the 3 that came up are going to trouble us all? On the other hand, maybe there are already a couple who didn't quite make it last season who will do the business this time around - Derby and Wigan looked prety useful from the little I watched. Come on guys, you played them last year - what's the form like?
Hi Sparkey, good to have you back. Wigan will be very good next year, had an awesome second half to the season so i expect them to be the side to beat, derby will depend on who they keep, I reckon they will be high mid table at best. Of the sides coming down, I reckon you will be the best, probably pushing wigan all the way, with the budgies and fulham pushing the playoffs, with the sides coming up, obviously wolves will be quite strong but watch out for rotherham, they could be a dark horse this year. As for the sides from the championship last year, its anybody guess, we will depend on who we can sign that will add creativity to our game without losing the solid platform we found last year.
Hi pal - I won't say it's great to be back, but you know what I mean. Someone else has mentioned Rotherham recently as dark horses next season. I know they've got a nice new little stadium and that, and the money that's been made available to them has certainly given them a lift. Wolves on the other hand seem to be skint, but Jackett knows how to run a team on a strict budget - they'll be there or thereabouts. As far as we're concerned, unless OGS makes a complete balls up of team selection (he was often accused of that last season), we should have a squad capable of doing well even if (when) Caulker and Medel move on. To be fair about it, Norwich are going to be strong as well, but I've got a feeling that the other side coming down, Fulham could have a disaster on their hands. Wigan seem to be being talked about and I can't disagree with that. As for yourselves, I think a decent start will see you do OK - nothing worse than playing catch up later in the season. Any more info will be gratefully received.
We feel so honoured by you showing up on here and giving us a pat on the head! Why not go onto someone else's board and patronize them there's a good chap! I'm sure the Budgies would love to chat
Ah well - it takes all sorts to make a forum guys. If you want to consider yourself patted on the head Warkey, feel free - personally I'd rather kick your arse next season than pat you on your head, but that's another story for another thread. This one is just to say hello as we're playing in the same division once again. To the rest of you, good luck this season - I reckon I and many other Cardiff supporters will enjoy this one a lot more than the last. The experience was not a pleasant one on the whole, but an experience nevertheless. An extra 8 games to enjoy, 4 of them on my season ticket more than last year, Tuesday/Wednesday evening fixtures again, and a decent chance of winning something rather than struggling to survive - I'll take that for now thank you.
Fair play Sparkey I'll play along for now! I am very optimistic about our chances especially with Mick in charge. He's a wily old bird and has done a superb job for us over the 18 months he's been at Portman Road. He has galvanised our squad and he has improved us beyond measure spending no money in the process. We will be hard to beat next season and if we can add just one or two in the creativity department I reckon we will be a force to be reckoned with! As for the others in this hell hole of a division I don't really know or care until we come round to playing them.
That's the spirit Warkey!! Take it slowly apply a bit more hemorrhoid cream and you'll be just fine. I've always liked and rated your MM - much more than I did with our MM, but that's another long long story again. Far too early to make any predictions, but looking at the more recent history of all the clubs that will be competing in the Championship this coming season, I'll take an auto spot as being up for grabs between any two of about 8. I think we'll be up for it and also Norwich - the current betting seems to suggest that anyway. The other half dozen has got to include Wigan and probably yourselves with an outsider for me being Freedman's Bolton. Got a feeling they are going to be a lot better next season after their dismal start last year. Let's see how it goes eh?.........and keep smiling through the pain pal.
What's up Spark? As per usual it's difficult to make any predictions for the top or bottom of the league. I have a feeling Fulham will go into meltdown, Norwich will be mid table and yourselves will end up in the top six, but not the top two. Wigan will be strong again and Bournemouth will be one to look out for too. As somebody has already mentioned, our own fortunes will depend on how we can add some much needed guile to our solid but unspectacular championship squad. Most of our business will be in the loan market unless we sell a couple.......not interested in a left back for 8 million are you???
San Diego - nothing's up pal, we're just down, so I thought I'd join you for a chat. Don't want to set the expectation levels too high, but if we don't finish top 2 this year, there'll be some glum faces in some quarters down this way. OGS has already gone out and bought 3 strikers, Javi Guerra from Valladolid, Adam Le Fondre from Reading and ex Man U product Federico Macheda. Looks like we'll lose Fraizer Campbell, but overall we'll be better in that department this coming season. If as expected Caulker and Medel at the back bolt for the door now we're down, he'll have to find some replacements, but we understand that's expected and already in hand. If we can hang on to Marshall and Jordan Mutch, we'll be in good shape squad-wise - the trick is putting it together on the pitch, and OGS has really yet to prove that consistently. I agree about Wigan, but can't see Bournemouth having another season like last time now they've flogged Grabban, and I also think (sorry) that Norwich will be on for top 6 at least. We just let our left back Andy Taylor go on a free to Wigan, but we do have young Declan John and Fabio for that spot - don't think Vince Tan is looking to spend anything like £8m on any one player this time like last season, so no thanks.
