So here we are again, another pre-season well underway now and the training camp in sunny Spain is about to begin culminating in a full 90 minute match against Charlton Athletic. The difficulty at this time of the year for most bloggers following their beloved local football club is finding something to write about other than endless transfer speculation and frustration but as is the norm with Cardiff City Football Club this isn't the case (is it ever?).
So much has changed in the last two months for our club, we have a new manager, new backroom staff (courtesy of Mr Taylor and the Watford Board, thanks very much!) and five new players. Balance that against the fact we lost the longest serving manager in The Championship, eight loan signings and four players out of contract and it's been quite a busy summer for everyone involved with the club. So where are we now?
Well let's deal with the new signings first....Craig Conway from Dundee United, a tricky winger and scorer of important goals (see Scottish Cup Final), Don Cowie technically gifted and tough tackling midfielder from Watford, Andrew Taylor the highly rated defender/midfielder from Middlesbrough, Aron Gunnarsson, a midfielder with huge potential and an even bigger throw from Coventry and not to mention the return of the Golden Boy Robert "Earnie" Earnshaw. Did i mention that all of these were free transfers as they were all out of contract? (well that's technically not true as we have to pay compensation for Gunnar due to his age).
It seems Mr Mackay has been extraordinarily busy along with CE Gethin Jenkins and it doesn't appear to have stopped there, Cardiff are also linked with highly rated but controversial striker, David Goodwillie also of Dundee United and a certain Joe Mason up and coming striker from Plymouth looks to be signing in the next day or two too. This is certainly a period of huge change for the Club and coming on the back of the highly prestigious award of Family Club of the Year it seems to be going in the right direction once again for the club.
I am torn between settling for a season of settling down and preparation for the big push maybe the season after next and wanting to maintain the fantastic progress we've made over the last four seasons. I'm going to be wrong on at least one of those two scenarios and i know which one i hope I'm right about but it's time to take a deep breath and smile. No transfer embargo, no false promises from dodgy Chairmen, no big ego's in the dressing room and no manager refusing to talk to the local press who on their day can be an absolute nightmare. The days of Sam's crazy gang, selling our best players and abject disappointment APPEAR to be behind us.
The King is dead (Dave Jones), Long Live The King Mr Mackay. Let's sit back and smile as we see the new team gel together and as we rush towards the new season's kick-off let's just for once dare to be positive. Support the boys and....MAKE. SOME. NOISE!!
See i made it through the whole blog and didnt mention Craig Bellamy once....
