This is Cross Channel Stuff, Cardiff & Connected Banter Thread.

No problem at all Ashton - I withdraw my assumption.

 

Sparky - are Cardiff planning to strengthen in the transfer window, or sell?
If selling, I wouldn’t mind Sol Bamba (although he has looked poor of late)

 

Tan has authorised some dosh for Warnock - just how much we don't know but we need some new blood let alone injury replacements.

On the Sol Bamba front, I think Warnock would get rid of his mother rather than him ....he has been a monster signing.

 

Here we go again then guys, after your excellent exploits in the Carabao with more still to come, it's back to the nitty gritty of the league.

After that Blades draw last night it's a home game each for us and an away game for all the other clubs around us - the two above and the two below. A chance to stretch away a bit?

Early start for us against the Mackems (expect you to be cheering them on on the box ) and then you're taking on Farke's lot. I can warn you now that if you beat them, it'll be because the ref favoured you - at least that's what Farke will say.

Any predictions this morning on what the table will look like this evening after round 27 of this season?

 

A must win game for us today, Then Derby away next Friday. Don't get any easier.

 

Out of interest old spark plug what positions do you predict both teams will finish the season in?
Only ask because you got ours completely wrong along with a lot of us.

 

Onphone - tell you after the game

 

I reckon one of us will just miss out! on goal diff maybe 6th 7th 8th all same points!

 

We need to get back to winning ways after our mini ‘wobble’.
Strangely enough I am confident we will.
I’m not used to feeling confident regarding Bristol City - it feels wrong somehow........

 

Sparky,
Just watching your game vs Sunderland on Sky now; where are all your fans? The stadium looks empty!
What’s wrong? I know you have ‘wobbled’ of late (as we have too) but come on - you are fighting at the right end of the table so why are they staying away?
(It’s not lambing season yet so that can’t be the reason )

 

Just got back in R&W - you're right about the empty seats pal. Maybe the recent 4 league defeats on the trot and the fact that it was on the box had a lot to do with it but it's really sad that we can't fill the original seating (about 27,000). The new upper tier on the Ninian (another 6,000 ish) has been closed for the season so far and you can understand why. I think I heard the official attendance today was 17,700 and it showed - nowhere near good enough.

As for the game - bloody 'orrible first half that was so slow paced I nearly fell asleep! I think Warnock must have rattled a few cages at half time because it was like a different game second half.

To be fair and put some perspective on it, Sunderland are a very poor side. We'll take the points (and the goals) but there are far better teams than them coming up for us to face. Still you can't do much better tha win 4-0 whoever you're playing in this division.

 

17,703

 

Hmm.....not much joy for you guys this afternoon, but that's the sort of result this league throws up - plenty of games to go.

Let's hope Forest can do us both a favour this evening and see off Villa.

Must say that Fulham look a real threat to that current top 6 to me - easily the best team we've played this season.

 

ROD - can't read too much into today's games. We played and thumped an extremely poor Sunderland side, and you lost to a previously underperforming Norwich team that we beat a few weeks back - that means nothing in this league,

I will say that despite Sunderland being crap, we showed real signs of regaining the impetus we had earlier in the season - this new Wildschut bloke we've got is going to cause some problems for sides. Strangley enough, he's come from Norwich where he couldn't get a a start under Farke.

Whatever happens to us two, Fulham are going to displace someone from the current top 6 - let's hope it's neither of us.

I think we both need to get these cup games out of the way one way or another and see who both managers can recruit this next fortnight.

 

Well here we go again with the main event - namely a top 6 (or even top2) finish in the Championship now the target on the horizon for us both.

We're level on points now and you could well be in front by 3 after your game at Bolton tonight, whereas we've got stiff task at Leeds tomorrow.

Villa gone above us both and with the right (wrong?) results, Fulham with a home game could do so as well over the weekend if we both fail to get any points on the road.

Now your excellent Carabao exploits are over and our exit from the other Cup last weekend, any further thoughts on the final top 6 clubs - our two in particular?

 

I am hoping on both in the playoff's note I say hope!
wolves seem to be almost home and hosed although theoretically they need 102 points to guarantee it [ taking into consideration teams at top do play each other } second place to guarantee it would be 93+
51 [ ALL ] / [Cardiff 54 ] pts up for grabs minimum pts per game 1.76 x 17 = 30pts = 83 to be sure of the top 6

hope bit.... both have strengthened, a master stroke is Madine .. I was hoping the rumour, not widely spread did mention it without a name in a previous post! going he was possibly a target for us would be fruitful, after all Wilbs would be able to build him up!
Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock says January transfer deadline day was the best of his managerial career.
The Bluebirds signed striker Gary Madine, forward Jamie Ward and defender Armand Traore.
Warnock believes the £6m capture of Madine from Bolton proved Cardiff owner Vincent Tan will support the club's bid for promotion from the Championship.

finishing second? I think you will finish higher 1 (2) places up, (2nd or) third, although I think our best position will likely be 4th. Fulham Sheff Middsbro may likely supply 1 place in top 6
so 4th to 6th perm any 3 from 5.
pne leeds Brentford just to much to do!

 

I think Sheff Utd will fall away.
Leeds, Boro, Fulham and even Norwich are all contenders for a top 6 finish.

 

It's an open book but I can't see more than one of the current encumbants being dislodged. For instance Middlesbrough are at Norwich on the weekend so one of them (at least) is going to drop points.

The three clubs above us and the one below us in the top 6 are all at home this weekend against teams they should beat whilst we are both on the road.

Could be a watershed first weekend after the transfer window shut. New players and ideas at all the clubs will either hit the ground running or take some time to bed in - that could be the key.

Of the top 6 I think you have got the most straightforward choice. Not sure about all the other contenders but you've retained the integrity of your existing team structure whilst most of the rest have fiddled around and have decisions to make.

We've taken Madine off Bolton (at least that should help you tonight) and now face a Zohore and/or Madine quandry up front - if we play both then we'll need to restructure our midfield. Going to be very interesting.

 

A game i expect us to win convincingly tonight.Promotion is in our hands now,it is how we deal with it that matters.

 

We've a decent run in , no reason why we can't finish top 6, never count my chickens though , will be happy end of season come what may , as already far exceeded my expectations.