Cardiff City Season Preview
It’s been a busy summer of signings for Cardiff City and it’s showing no signs of stopping anytime soon.
After briefly flirting with the idea of the play-offs before finishing comfortably in mid-table last year, it is now time for the Bluebirds to grow following years of upheaval.
The ending of the transfer embargo, put in place due to defaulting on payments for the late Emiliano Sala, means that Cardiff can start to pay fees for players.
However, initially at least, Cardiff and manager Erol Bulut have adopted a more pragmatic approach, signing highly rated and experienced players on free transfers.
The Signings
Chris Willock
Age – 26
Position – Left Wing/ Right Wing/ Attacking Midfield
The signing of former Arsenal academy product Chris Willock on a free transfer after his QPR contract ended looks a really smart piece of business.
Unsurprisingly for a player from the Arsenal academy, Willock possesses immense close control whilst dribbling and is capable of driving forward, dribbling past players or using his trickery to get out of tight spaces and break an opponent’s press.
He is also capable of a blockbuster goal or two in and amongst his 22 goals and 22 assists in the Championship to date.
Willock will can feature on either wing as well as in the 10 role and will be a great addition following the departure of Karlan Grant in the summer.
Speaking on this week’s Sportin Wales podcast journalist Philip Marsh said: “I was at the Bristol Rovers game on Saturday and Willock looked sharper than everyone else on the field.”
“He didn’t really have a position, very fluid, Erol Bulut looked like he was allowing players to roam across the field and pick up different positions and Willock looked good.”
Callum Chambers
Age – 29
Position – Centre Back/ Right Back/ Defensive Midfield
Another who has come through the gates of Arsenal. Chambers began his career at Southampton before signing for the Gunners for £16million aged just 19.
Chambers enjoyed loan periods at Middlesborough and Fulham before joining Aston Villa on a free transfer having made 122 appearances for Arsenal.
The move to Cardiff marks the first time Chambers has played in the Championship having made nearly 200 appearances in the Premier League to date
While Chambers’ versatility will be a huge asset to the club he is likely to line up in the centre of defence as a direct replacement after the end to Natt Phillips’ loan from Liverpool.
Anwar El Ghazi
Age – 29
Position – Right Winger/ Left Winger
Dutch international El Ghazi joins Cardiff also on a free transfer having spent last season with German side Mainz.
El Ghazi hasn’t played a competitive fixture since the sixth of October after a dispute with the Bundesliga side due to a post on social media where he came out in support of Palestine amidst the ongoing conflict with Israel.
Welsh fans might remember the Dutchman from his time at Aston Villa where he contributed 26 goals and 16 assists.
A cultured right foot who isn’t afraid to let fly from range who will also provide an additional set-piece taker option.
Worth noting that whilst Willock and Chambers have signed three-year deals, El Ghazi’s deal is only a one-year deal.
“It will be interesting to see where El Ghazi fits in because I’m not sure he’s fully fit to start against Sunderland,” said Marsh.
“But he’s a player with international experience, plenty of Premier League experience, 20+ goals in the top flight.”
Wilfried Kanga
Age – 26
Position – Striker
The news of Kanga’s arrival on loan from Hertha Berlin led many fans to scrabbling on Google to find out more about their new man.
The Ivory Coast international spent last season on loan with Belgian side Standard Liège where he scored 12 goals in all competitions. That came after a somewhat difficult season with Hertha where he scored just twice in the Bundesliga with his side relegated having finished bottom.
“Kanga I must admit when he signed there was a ‘Who’s that?’ I didn’t know anything about him,” said Marsh.
“I saw 20 minutes of him against Rovers and he reminds me a bit of Sinclair Armstrong who’s gone to Bristol City and was at QPR. Big, quick striker, who seems to have a good turn of foot. His first touch was a bit lacking on Saturday and he didn’t have a lot of service, but he has all the attributes you want in a striker.
“If he is someone that can put in 10-15 goals for Cardiff then it can be a really positive season.”
Alex Robertson
Age – 21
Position – Central Midfield
Today Cardiff have announced the signing of Manchester City midfielder Alex Robertson for a fee which could rise to £3m.
The Australian international is 21 and is a creative midfielder, an area where Marsh feels Cardiff were lacking last season.
“With no disrespect to any of the midfielders at Cardiff it was a case last season that they were all a bit ‘samey’,” said Marsh.
“Joe Ralls, Ryan Wintle and Emmanouil Siopis are all good players but there wasn’t someone to play that killer ball. Aaron Ramsey obviously has that but he missed so much time last year it’s nice to have a player to come in and be a back up to him or play a bit deeper if Ramsey’s in the 10 role.
“Work hand-in-hand with a Ralls or Siopis to give Cardiff that oomph going forqard. Cardiff weren’t bad defensively last season but a lot of the games they were so slow transitioning from defence to attack.”
The Manager
Finally, after months of a will they, won’t they, which would rival the very best romcom Cardiff City and Bulut agreed a new contract in June.
His first season saw a side which were solid if unspectacular at times although it did include some huge wins including at home against Swansea and a come-from-the-death win against Ipswich.
However, the hope going forward is that Cardiff can adopt a more progressive, winning style, the goal for every fan base.
“It took too long to give Erol Bulut his new contract, I think everyone at the club would say that,” said Philip Marsh.
“Cardiff had 15 points more last season than the season before so it’s clearly working.”
The Colwill Conundrum
This season will be another interesting one for one of Wales’ hottest young talents in Rubin Colwill.
The 22-year-old has made almost 100 appearances in the Championship however last season from 36 appearances in the Championship, only 14 of them were starts during a season where he scored one goal and two assists.
“He was the go-to-guy for Wales under 21s under Matty Jones last season, where if they needed a goal he was probably the guy to get it,” said Bryn Law also on the Sportin Wales podcast.
“It’s the step from that to the next level which seems to have been difficult for him.
“It’s difficult for managers, in any club in the championship they are probably only four games from the sack and if they don’t fee they can 100% rely on the guy in front of them then they are going to be cautious to play them.
“I saw elements of that for Colwill last season. He’s got to grasp it this season because he looks like he’s got the whole lot; great physique, good on the ball and a good goal-scorer potentially but he needs a run of games, but the fact is he’s not going to get it!”
The Bookies Thoughts
So how do the bookies see Cardiff’s chances this season? Well Dragon Bet have all the odds for you.
It begins with odds of 40/1 for Cardiff to finish top of the pile, I’m sure some will fancy a flutter even if it seems a little far-fetched currently with the likes of Leeds and Burnley bound to be there or thereabouts but what chances of a top six finish and place in the play-offs at the very least?
That is at 6/1 with promotion at 14/1 and odds which many might fancy considering how much of a lottery the play-offs can be at times.
What may temper those thoughts is that Cardiff are 10/3 to be relegated, noticeably shortened odds than those for promotion.
However, things look more positive for the start to the season with odds of 9/5 for Cardiff to kick off the season with a win at home to Sunderland on Saturday.
One other bet which might interest Cardiff fans is the prospect of a first ever double against Swansea which is priced at 7/1.
Key Fixtures For Cardiff This Season
Cardiff v Sunderland – 12:30, 10th August – EFL Championship
Cardiff v Bristol Rovers – 19:45, 13th August – League Cup
Swansea v Cardiff – 15:00, 25th August- EFL Championship
Bristol City v Cardiff – 15:00, 6th October – EFL Championship
Cardiff v Swansea – 15:00, 18th January – EFL Championship
Cardiff v Bristol City – 15:00, 15th February – EFL Championship
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