When I last posted to this blog, I had no idea when I would need to add to it again. In fact , I had no idea if I would ever have to add to it again, as there had been 51 years between our last 2 visits to the top level of football!
But here we are, just 4 years after our relegation, back in the big time! Proudly back in blue, unlike our last promotion when we were still playing in red. There's a different feel about it this time. The fans and the board are more united. Our owner, Mr Tan, has learned from his previous mistakes and admitted to them. More crucially, the club has made a conscious decision not to "throw money " at the Premier League this time. Neil Warnock is searching for solid players with Premier League experience or potential, rather than marquee foreign signings for huge amounts of money. This time, if relegated, we will be in a much stronger position to get promoted again quickly, although there are no guarantees, of course!
Despite the continuing distractions of the World Cup in Russia, Neil Warnock has quietly gone about strengthening the squad and has so far added 4 new signings to the squad. The one thing that these players have in common is that they are proven top class Championship level players who now deserve chance at the Premier League. I suspect that Warnock is going to be loyal to most of last season's defensive players, and that tactically we will be very similar to last season.
Last season Warnock and the team were often criticised for the pragmatic nature of their tactics. The idea of a well organised defence, defending efficiently whilst the other team are in possession, then counter attacking at speed or scoring goals from well organised set pieces. This system undoubtedly worked, and it is interesting to see the same tactics being used widely at the World Cup. Even Brazil, who are usually associated with flamboyance on the pitch, are actually a very organised defensive unit relying on the individual brilliance of Neymar up front to steal them a goal. Warnock is setting, not bucking, the trends! Indeed, it is this style of football which has seen England do do well!
NEW SIGNINGS
At the time of composing this blog, there have been 4 major signings for the first team squad. First on board was Josh Murphy from Norwich. An attacking mainly left sided wide player/attacker. At Cardiff last season he was probably the best player on the field in a team which Cardiff beat easily. Only 23 - lets hope he kept improving like his twin brother Jacob who moved to play for Newcastle last season and made a good number of Premier League appearances.
Despite the continuing distractions of the World Cup in Russia, Neil Warnock has quietly gone about strengthening the squad and has so far added 4 new signings to the squad. The one thing that these players have in common is that they are proven top class Championship level players who now deserve chance at the Premier League. I suspect that Warnock is going to be loyal to most of last season's defensive players, and that tactically we will be very similar to last season.
Last season Warnock and the team were often criticised for the pragmatic nature of their tactics. The idea of a well organised defence, defending efficiently whilst the other team are in possession, then counter attacking at speed or scoring goals from well organised set pieces. This system undoubtedly worked, and it is interesting to see the same tactics being used widely at the World Cup. Even Brazil, who are usually associated with flamboyance on the pitch, are actually a very organised defensive unit relying on the individual brilliance of Neymar up front to steal them a goal. Warnock is setting, not bucking, the trends! Indeed, it is this style of football which has seen England do do well!
NEW SIGNINGS
At the time of composing this blog, there have been 4 major signings for the first team squad. First on board was Josh Murphy from Norwich. An attacking mainly left sided wide player/attacker. At Cardiff last season he was probably the best player on the field in a team which Cardiff beat easily. Only 23 - lets hope he kept improving like his twin brother Jacob who moved to play for Newcastle last season and made a good number of Premier League appearances.
Neil Warnock welcomes Josh Murphy.
Next player to be signed was left back Greg Cunningham from Preston North End. Appears to be a "typical Warnock player" and someone NW has been following for some time. Greg had a handful of first team appearances for Manchester City a few years ago but left for Championship football to get more playing time.
Greg Cunningham (in yellow) playing against Cardiff last season for Preston.
Despite the unexpected success and progress of Neil Etheridge in goal last season, NW was keen to get in some meaningful competition for him as keeper this season. Alex Smithies at QPR is another player who looks ready to step up. I've been impressed with Smithies for a number of years and remember him playing for Huddersfield when they were first promoted into the Championship. He deserves a chance at the Premier League and although I suspect that Etheridge will be given the number 1 shirt for the start of the season, NW will have no worries about putting Smithies in.
Alex Smithies
Perhaps the biggest surprise signing so far is Bobby Reid from our near neighbours Bristol City. Reid had quite a breakthrough season last year, scoring nearly 20 goals at Championship level for the first time. He had primarily been seen as a wide player before last season, but played behind the main striker for much of the season and scored many goals than previously. It will be interesting to see if NW plays him with our other former Bristol City player Lee Tomlin, as I understand they previously had quite a rapport together. Bristol City fans were pretty upset about this signing to their rivals!
Bobby Reid is a Bluebird!
NEW CONTRACTS
Although the main headlines have been for the new players, there have also been widespread negotiations off the field for many of our existing squad players. 8 players so far have signed improved contracts which reflect their new Premier League status. also, following his return form the World Cup with Iceland, Aron Gunnarsson has signed back with the club for another season. This brings an added stability to the club, and puts the club on a stable financial footing should other teams come looking for our players, and also if the worst should happen and we get immediately relegated back down to the Championship.
QUIET OPTIMISM
That is the best way I can think of to describe where the club is at the moment, just 31 days away from our first Premier League fixture of the new season away at Bournemouth. The club seem to have learned from the mistakes made during our last trip to the Premier League , and the supporters, owners, managers and players seem very united and ready to go.
This blog is being published on the morning of the England v Croatia World Cup semi final. Even though I am proudly Welsh I will still be cheering England on tonight. Mainly because the longer their players stay in the competition the more likely they are to be tired in the early stages of the Premier League season! In last night's semi-final between France and Belgium, 14 of the starting players play in the Premier League, and all of the England squad also play there, as well as a few of the Croatian players too. I'm sure that will help our squad in the early stages of the season as only Aron Gunnarsson went to the World Cup from the Bluebirds and his team were knocked out weeks ago!
So lets get the World Cup out of the way so that we can really concentrate on the important business of the Premier League!
