A bit earlier over a brew, as I eased my way into a Saturday morning, I started thinking about where we're at as a club. A re-invigurated Dalman doesnt do it for me. However, new manager, a new style of play and new players. A bit of deja vous on the surface. Or even plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose. Then I thought again. Yes, a new manager. But a new style of manager. Fresh ideas, foreign, managed and played in different leagues. First time in brittish football. Hungry. The I thought about the initial crop of signings. Planning a big number, AGAIN. But, a couple foreign players, not known to this league, aligned to the new managers ethos (I know, they always are. Plus ca change.....). But also, a player who knows the division we're in. Then theres the style of play. Modern, progressive and quite different. Ive not seen any of the pre-season games, but from what I've read, players may take time to adapt but it is a step away from where we've been. Some will fly, some will crash and burn. I have hopes that some of our stuttering signings of the last year or so will blossom in the new style, that the young guns will embrace the new world order and kick on, with one or two more 'foreigners' who will add a bit of the exotic to the mix. The potential for an exciting blend. Ok, I know, time for the real world. Stuck record time. We need an identity and a strategy so this isnt a jump to the left, followed by a step to the right, but in the mean time, Im feeling quite up beat.
Like you I haven't followed much of the pre-season offerings so far - other things on my mind at the mo. It's fairly normal to go into a new season with optimism particularly after our recent abject efforts, but I do sense a change of approach at the club. I'm far happier with the fresh start rather than if Lamouchi had been retained. The new recruits (so far) look like a serious attempt to tackle the obvious deficiencies most supporters have been aware of for some time. I will admit I was ecstatic when it was announced this time last year that Sawyers had been signed - I thought he'd be that midfield controller that we desperately needed. Alas my initial optimism fell on stoney ground and it wasn't to be. That spot is vital to fill as much as bringing in the big Greek at the back and Meite up top. If Ramsey comes to the club I'd be more than happy with that. I realise we could be looking at alternative "freebies" here and there are similar players out there that fall into the same category but will demand the necessary rewards to attract them. It's Ramsey for the cache of his previous attachments to the club and proven past ability, but I hope the net is also being cast further. I feel there is no room for compromise here if Tan and his henchmen are serious about moving this club forward.
Great post remote. I must admit that every pre season I do get a bit optimistic about the season ahead. After the first game last season against Norwich I came away from the stadium with a very positive attitude. After years of hoof ball here we were playing decent passing football and a first day three points. I’ve often wondered where we would have finished up last season had Morison kept his mouth shut and diluted his ego. But it was not to be and three managers in a season does not aid continuity. So as we approach another chapter in the life of Cardiff City I can’t wait to see what this new boss has in store. Could he be the one who delivers for our long suffering fans? Or could he be out of a job by Christmas? I’m looking forward to finding out.
Hope the 'other things on your mind' aren't too serious Sparkey. Not sure if its fortunate or unfortunate that there are constrsints in what we can do in the market. Ditto that Bulut only has a 1 year contract with options. If he's a great success can we make him stay. If we want him to stay and he goes is there recompense? Contracts never tend to be overly one sided. Maybe Bulut is supremely confident and was happy with one sided terms, though I'm sure his agent wouldnt be. Back to the limitations, Bulut and his recruitment team will have to box clever to get the right personnel through the door. On paper they've done ok so far. The €12M winger will be an interesting test case. Im also interested in seeing if we can finally get some tyros making the step up as starters rather than padding for the squad. The other challenge will be shedding some of the dead wood. We're crying out for this to be a transitional season. A solid top half finish, embedding a new footballing ethos, the foundations of a squad for the future and signs of stability in transition. A big ask, but we're nothing if not optimists.
Thanks Irish. I have my moments. Like you, hope springs eternal. Even when we've had success in the past, its usually been out of the blue. A steady build of expectation over a couple seasons would be nice. Perhaps a false hope, but it feels a bit different this time. Safely avoiding relegation would be progress, top half a big step in the right direction. Lets see how we're feeling when the first real game comes around.
A Royal take on Meite. https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/inside-track-yakou-meite-cardiff-27282125
From what I've seen of him that is a fair summary. I recall him at his best when one on one with defenders or when defences are in disarray. Up to his team mates to create those situations. Bulut ball may well suit him with more players getting forward than we have seen recently.
There is only one target and that is promotion. Tan wants promotion, Dalman wants promotion , Bulut wants promotion and I want promotion. Ogbo is here to score goals and Goutos is here to keep clean sheets and we have more players to come. We already have some good players. Tan and Dalman have two promotions on their cv`s and after last season are determined to pull out all the stops to give Bulut the ammunition to get us promoted this season. Every fan should expect promotion from a side that has done it twice already. Perhaps when the team has played a few games they can be judged but not before a ball is kicked.
I’m more positive than I thought I’d be with this new approach; the manager is an unknown quantity as are the new players so far (save Meite) but patience is perhaps the key once he gets his final squad together, and played a few league games. As for his squad if you add in the 7 or so new players still to come (hopefully a keeper, a right back, a centre back, a central midfielder and winger) it’s very bloated. So as stated before he’ll have to send some on loan or sell.
Can't fault the sentiment but as well as those two promotions we also had two immediate relegations and nearly dropped another rung last season because of poor decisions taken by those in control at the club. The writing is on the wall - there is no way back from that dreadful season last year soley in my opinion because of errors of judgement by the board which can't be repeated - next time we might not be as lucky. The ultimate target must be promotion out of this division rather than dropping out of it at the other end. I don't necessarily buy into this "slowly slowly catchee monkee" stuff we keep hearing about. Consolidation is certainly a must, but we must have a target better than just survival. I'm sure Bulut has far greater ambitions than that or he wouldn't have come here. Aiming for the top and not achieving it is far better than cowering in fear of other clubs in this division. Let's give him a decent shot at turning this around - there was nothing remotely funny about sitting through that lot last year.
You cannot compare relegation from the premier to relegation from the championship. As far as errors by the board such as investing over £200 million and all the ongoing bills and spending £11 million on Murphey and £6 million on Madine etc they are not picking the team and they are not actually on the pitch where the blame is firmly there.
Another CB?.............. https://the72.co.uk/2023/07/09/card...to-sign-impressive-burnley-youngster-on-loan/
Limited experience for a player aged 22. Did well on loan at the Gas and Barnsley last season. I will ask my Gas fan mate about him.
Its an interesting decision. Is it just to get him game time? Does he see him as more of a CB Or, is it part of his game plan, using him to play out from the back? OR, is it part of his development as a player? I read somewhere that with 'inverted wing backs', when the wing backs push forward and in, the defensive CM drops back between the 2 CBs creating a 3. Bulut working on the top 3 inches? Maybe I'm over thinking it.
Indeed but presumably due to a shortage of CBs as Ng is playing FB so there’s only Simpson, Denham & Benjamin as back up CBs.
