Morning Bluebirds! Well, we've seen a lot of changes since Malky Mackay has come in.. He was my favourite for the job in the first place and was chuffed to bits when I raked in £80 from my bet at William Hill too.. We've raided Watford and taken them to the cleaners in terms of staff and personnel.. they are not happy with us! Still, not bothered and bring it on for next season! And Malky has brought in some ideal replacements in areas that desperately needed attention.. He's identified the LB berth as a problem and brought in Taylor, noticed we're lacking in midfield after a few departures and brought in Cowie, and of course a like for like replacement in Conway for Burkey.. All on frees too! Guys, as you well know, i'm usually Optimism Prime when it comes to the City anyway, but i'm getting really excited now.. as some of you remember, I highlighted that we have a good solid base and foundation in terms of the defence to build on for next season. Tom Heaton and David Marshall are both reliable enough 'keepers at this level and will push each other all the way whilst also having (hopefully) beaten their injury problems.. Heats fills me with the more confidence in terms of commanding his box but Marshy is a great stopper. So long as the only time we see Bywater at the CCS again is picking the ball out of the opposition net i'll be happy with our goalkeepers.. On that note, disappointing to see Martyn Margetson leave the club, now whilst I realise that he is blamed in some sections of the crowd and forums for the poor goalkeeping coaching has led to poor goalkeeper errors in our game in previous seasons, i'd like to point out that he has been approached by West Ham, the clear favourites in our division and also with some decent 'keepers on their books, including an English international.. He's also Wales' goalkeeping coach too, so he has blatantly got something about him.. So I wish him well for the future. Now our defence.. our achilles heel in recent seasons.. Not this season, i'm telling you! The much improved Mark Hudson and Paul Quinn had tremendously solid seasons last time out. Quinny making the RB slot his own with some tough tackling and very good defensive displays, he'll be slightly disappointed more competition has been brought in, in the fullback area but it's only good for the club. Huds was imperious under the high ball last season and was one of our most consistent performers at the back. Anthony Gerrard, who with 20-20 hindsight many fans slated DJ for sending out on loan last season has come back ready and raring to go whilst picking up the Hull Player of the Season award from last season and found himself linked with a few Premiership clubs through his performances, he'll be one to watch in my opinion next season and am looking forward to watching him bang in a few headers at set pieces. Dekel Keinan established himself as a very good defender last time out and proved a handful in the box with our attacking set pieces. Andy Taylor seems to be a useful acquistion by Malky, to fill the problem LB berth frees up Super Kevin Mcnaughton (our player of the season and sure to play a big part again this term) to revert to his favoured RB slot and we should be treated to some good marauding runs from both full backs. Then there is Lee Naylor, Gabor Gyepes and Darcy Blake to call on when needed, however I can see possibly Gyepes and Naylor making way by January. Darc, I would like to see get some good chances under Malky. So.. a solid back line i'm sure you'll agree, some good reasons to be extremely optimistic for the coming season. Then there is the midfield.. Despite Peter Whittingham being linked with Norwich and Portsmouth in recent weeks I remain convinced that Whitts will stay and go back to his favoured left wing able to cut in and find the positions he did a couple of years ago when he grabbed his 23 goal haul for the season, he's a superb player on his day and given freedom to roam from the newly installed central midfield which hopefully has some bite (more on that in a second) he'll do some damage this year. Craig Conway has provided a like for like replacement for Burkey and we were all excited when Burkey was in full tilt running at the fullbacks, great to watch and i'm looking forward to seeing what he can deliver considering we beat Rangers to his signature. Don Cowie has been a good signing by Malky, speaking to a big Watford fan on Friday (he was livid about it) he is a very useful player, he just links the play up between the defence and the strikers very well whilst also getting stuck in. Steve McPhail will have a role to play this season, although I feel it may well be more of a bit part, considering Malky is trying to put a stamp on his own side and Macca was definitely a DJ player, he's handy to come on when we're defending a lead and he's able to put his foot on the ball and slow things down. So he'll be about.. I'm expecting to see a lot more of Aaron Wildig this season as Malky likes bringing the youth talent through and we saw what young Aaron was capable of a couple of years ago against Chelsea in the Cup. One young'un I am extremely looking forward to seeing get a chance is Ibrahim "Ibby" Farah, very highly rated from our academy and Neal Ardley (who I am chuffed to bits has stayed with us after being linked with Watford) speaks very highly of the tough tackling and clever teenager. Solomon Taiwo, who was, I believe a panic signing that made Gavin Rae and Stephen McPhail look like 2nd rate amateurs in our game with Dagenham a few years back, will either go out on loan or be sold, but the best of luck to him. Then finally there is the player we are being linked with and an imminent move is reportedly on the cards Aron Gunnarsson is a very talented central midfielder from Coventry, this potential move has really excited me, as for a couple of years he has raised eyebrows in the Championship, according to some Coventry fans he was inconsistent last season but still a very useful player to have in your side. This is the bite in midfield alongside Cowie that has been sadly lacking in recent years since the departure of Willie Boland (wanted to stick that in ;-)) and I think this new midfield engine room will bear fruit this season. One potential move I do not look forward to is the rumour of Jon Oster that has been circulating, i've never rated the lad to be fair, he's decent, don't get me wrong, but just strikes me as a utility player being brought in.. But he's never cut it for me. That's just an opinion however. I've saved the best for last, now as I write this, this morning, we have been strongly tipped by the BBC, SSN, Walesonline that we are about to bring back one of the club's most prolific goalscorers, certainly the most prolific in my lifetime (and that includes my all-time favourite Michael Chopra) Robert Earnshaw is due to make a sensational return to his beloved Bluebirds and what a time to get him.. I think this is a great piece of business, as we witnessed against Swansea in the playoffs, he's still got it, he was on to that ball in a shot and it flew past De Vries before he even knew what had happened! Earnie is bound to get bums off their seats this season and it'll be good to see yet another playing with some heart and guts for the club they love a la Bellers last season.. Which brings me nicely on to Craig Bellamy, lot of rumours doing the rounds about him going to Celtic next season, and whilst Malky has been very quiet and extremely professional about it all I don't think a deal for him to return to us is dead in the water just yet.. i'd bet there will be a few more twists and turns before Bellers' future is sorted. Then there is Jon Parkin, say what you like about the Beast.. I loves him! He must be a nightmare to play against! All elbows and backing in, yes he's slow, yes he gives away free kicks and yes he has a poor touch at times, but he still has a lot to offer in terms of brute strength and aerial threat in the opposition area. I don't think he'll be the starting partner for Earnie but he'll be handy to have around. There is also strong rumours that we're closing in on David Goodwillie, very ironic name considering certain aspects of his personal life recently but according to wide reports in Scotland, a very highly rated young individual who can hold up the ball well, get up to head on and of course score goals. Provided he can keep his head right can do a great job for us. I think this maybe the other one to watch along with Gezza, next season if it comes off. Apparently he combines brilliantly with Conway too, which is another bonus.. Right that's it from me, sorry it was so long, but I haven't posted much since starting on not606 so i'll justify it like that ;-).. but that's why I think it's so far so good guys. Look forward to seeing your comments. Cheers
Sorry Benni - but I thought your journalistic tendancies had finished with the demise of the Beeb 606........ Only joking mate - good article and very well put together. By the time I'd finished reading it, I'd lost the will to live.
Okay...I am excited now : I really think that if you write this in about 4 weeks time Benni you will be even more fired up! i think the squad will just get better!
A very exciting time to be a Bluebird indeed, after the worries of having a paper thin squad a few weeks ago we have made some great signing's in key area's and the world is rosy again. And plenty of time to go before the season starts as well, no need to rest on our laurels yet, I expect a fair few more through the hallowed gates in the next month and can't wait to see who it is. Great names being mentioned which always instils a bit of pride, good work Malkay.
haha! Sorry for sending you to sleep guys, if I hadn't written it on here I would have just bored someone else to death by talking to them about it! Na, only my bickering with other posters when down with 606 Sparkey mate.. Again sorry for the long winded post though, I know you ..ahem.. older lads have to pull the reading glasses out for the longer articles.. ;-) Think Siam's right though, I think in 4 weeks time we'll be well and truly fired up. And guys, you think this article was long, wait until my match reports for the Celtic and Parma friendlies!
Well I loved reading it Benni despite what the rest are saying I recently took up employment in Lloyds bar in town, having to deal with drunk idiots for hours on end has given me the most amount of patience I've ever had, the tank is full. Your article then was a breeze. Saying that mind it was as much a sport getting to the end as the subject matter
great news having earnie back now and on an unrelated note when i was down in cardiff last i was in lloyds most nights :L
Hell Benni, I know you can be long winded, but that must be a record, don't think your mad Prof could beat that!............. please log in to view this image
