FWS - Football Withdrawal Syndrome!
It's that time of year again - the last football season has disappeared and next season is still distant speck on the horizon. Although, as I compose this blog the first game in the Premier League is 3 weeks away. Our former rivals in the Championship will start 2 weeks earlier!
To keep us occupied in the summer, we indulge in endless transfer speculation about who will be joining us at the Cardiff City Stadium. The definite good news is that we have signed 20 year old Andreas Cornelius from FC Copenhagen. I know his name makes him sound like a Roman gladiator, but he is actually a Danish footballer! It seems that a number of Premier League clubs were interested but Malky got in there first. It remains to be seen whether his 18 goals in 34 games in the Danish Premier League can be transferred into the EPL, but he is young and improving - a typical Malky Mackay signing.
Andreas Cornelious.
But further signings have been a long time coming. Firstly there was talk about Victor Wanyama coming from Celtic, and more recently Tom Ince rom Blackpool. Sadly, neither player is now coming, but you can be sure that Malky has some alternatives to look at.
Finally, on Friday (26th July) we signed a player to strengthen an obvious weakness, when right back John Brayford joined us from Derby County.
John Brayford
We have been linked with Brayford before, and Malky has been patient and got his man eventually. He has been rated as one of the best defenders in the championship for many years, and so now it is time for him to prove it at the higher level. I was quite concerned about our fullbacks, but now we seem to have an alternative at right back at least. I also understand that Brayford can also play at centre back if required. I’m quite pleased about this signing.
DO WE NEED NEW PLAYERS?
My answer to this would be "Yes", but I don't think there is any real need to panic - yet. I think that Malky has bought wisely over the last 2 years, and I think that he had the Premier League in mind when he signed most of his young players. If he hadn't signed them already, then he would be looking to sign players like Jordan Mutch and Aron Gunnarsson, as they are ready to move up to that next level anyway. Joe Mason and Ben Turner may also fall into that category, as well as some of the players in last year's development squad. Andreas Cornelius and John Brayford are also players ready to improve and move up a level.
Here is my brief analysis of the existing squad players, and my thoughts about whether they may be able to do a job for the club in the Premier League.
GOALKEEPERS: David Marshall is clearly Premier class. I'm not sure whether Joe Lewis is a suitable back up, but its difficult to attract a top class back up to be a clear number 2. Simon Moore has now been signed from Brentford - another improving youngster with some league experience. I’m pretty sure that most Premier League teams have 3 goalkeepers named in the 25 man squads - its not clear at this point whether Moore will be classes as number 2 or number 3. Should keep Joe Lewis on his toes though.
FULLBACKS: Although not universally popular, Andrew Taylor is probably good enough at left back, but there doesn't seem to be a back up plan to him. I know Simon Lappin is still on the books, and the ever reliable Kevin McNaughton can play at left back in the Championship, but I'm not sure they are the answer for the Premier League.
At right back, I was not certain that Matt Connolly was good enough for the Premier League, and that situation has been dealt with by the signing of Brayford. Connolly is more of a centre back in my opinion, but is now able to provide cover at right back. Brayford, McNaughton and Connolly as back up gives us a reasonable set of right backs.
CENTRE BACKS: Club captain Mark Hudson is clearly first choice here and I’m pretty sure is good enough for the Premier League. I like Ben Turner, and Matthew Connolly when they play alongside Hudson, but I’m not sure that the two together would be a good combination for any length of time. As I compose this blog, we are being linked with a bid for Mexican international Hector Moreno from Espanyol. This would be a class signing and he would almost certainly start alongside Hudson. Young Ben Nugent, who Malky says is likely to be a future club captain, may also benefit from a loan spell here or there (rather than a season long loan).
MIDFIELD: Some players are clearly ready for the step up - Kim Bo-kyung, Jordan Mutch, Aron Gunnarsson are definitely ready, whilst Peter Whittingham has some experience in the Premier League in the past, albeit 7 years ago! He has been patient and waited a long time for this - lets hope he can take his chance. I’m not sure about the wide players such as Craig Conway and Craig Noone. Like many wide players, they blow a bit hot and cold. I’m pretty sure Craig Bellamy (why do we have so many ‘Craigs’ in the team) will probably play out wide quite a lot, but I wouldn’t mind a classy winger to join the team.
I’m generally happy with the midfield players we have available, but I can’t see many opportunities for Tommy Smith or Joe Ralls to get many games. Smith may have to move on, and perhaps young Ralls might benefit from a season long loan somewhere. However, after having been linked with an attempt to sign Victor Wanyama, we are now being linked with French international Etien Capoue, who is another defensive midfield player who plays in front of the back four. I’ve not seen him play, but reports suggest that he could be a useful acquisition if we can pull it off.
STRIKERS: Well, up front, we appear to have a good set of players. Because of his injury, we forget about Nicky Maynard, but he still has a lot to prove at Premier League level. Fraizer Campbell has that experience at the top level, and it is to be hoped that we have unearthed a gem in Andreas Cornelius from Denmark. In the background we still have Joe Mason and Rudy Gestede. Unlike some supporters, I rate Rudy quite highly, certainly as an impact player. However, if the new Danish signing is anything like as good as we hope I can only see limited opportunities for him. I don’t think Malky will let him go until he sees how Cornelius works out. Joe Mason continues to improve, and although I don’t see him starting very often, I see a regular role for him from the bench. And don’t forget the option of Craig Bellamy, whose best position is probably up front alongside a target man type of striker (like Cornelius?).
DON’T FORGET THE 12th MAN!
We only have to finish above 3 teams to stay up. And don’t forget our “12th man” - the added team spirit that Malky drives into the players. Our promotion last year was based on a team effort, and not individual brilliance. I think he has chosen players specifically not to upset the spirit of the team. I think he is right not to pay inflated amounts for soccer mercenaries, as this can come spectacularly unstuck, as it did for QPR last year. This team works hard for each other, and I think this spirit is what will keep us in the Premier League next year.
28th July 2013.
