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Optimistic Bluebird - I should know better!

8/20/2017

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Picture
   Cardiff City are at the heady heights, top of the Championship. Four games played and four victories : a club record and also one for our very successful manager ( in this league anyway).
   Yet....I should know better.
   We're Cardiff City, we always fall quickly; it's the law of the team and of gravity. Expect nothing and you'll be happy.
   'Where's your Celtic pessimism?' asks my Scottish friend.
   ' Haven't got any,' I reply. Though I'm wary like our manager, of getting too carried away.
   But no-one can deny there's something special happening at the club.
   Last season Warnock had the best record of any manager appointed during the season, despite having limited resources and actually spending no money on transfer fees.
   This summer we've signed eight players, two of whom - Callum Paterson and Lee Camp - have yet to figure due to injuries. Probably, both would be first choice selections as well.
   Several of the signings have already made a great impression, especially two signed on Bosman deals i.e. free transfers. Nathaniel Mendez-Laing was captured from Rochdale when other Championship teams were after him. Warnock made a quick decision and acted on instinct ( I'd call it experience).
   Undoubtedly, he's made the most impact so far, as he's top scorer in the league. He's an unlikely looking winger, resembling an American footballer : very tall and broad-shouldered.
   With defences worried about our fast, physical and effective striker Big Ken ( Zohore), Mendez has exploited almost every chance and scored several superb goals. With speed and power, he's virtually unstoppable as Aston Villa's Welsh international Neil Taylor found out.
   We 've beaten two fancied teams who've spent a lot of money ( Villa and Wolves), showing that it doesn't guarantee success.
   Likewise, French midfielder Loic Damour was snapped up for a free from their second division, by the same scout who once spotted a certain Didier Drogba.
   Damour is a tough-tackling box-to-box player with immense energy, a sure touch and no shortage of skill when need be. He's the perfect fit for the likes of Wolves away and suits Warnock's style of attacking on the break.
   At £3 million Lee Tomlin's our most expensive acquisition, from Brizzle City. Some see him as a luxury player and he's also got a charge of GBH hanging over his head.
   However, as the season progresses, the club's most skillful player by some way should become increasingly influential.
   If we continue to do well, more teams will arrive and park, not just the cliched bus, but a huge juggernaut!
   Tomlin possesses vision, quick feet and can get goals and , contrary to lots of opinions, is willing to graft for the team.
   With the exception of Peter Whitttingham's long passing ability, we've had nobody like this for years.
   If Damour's the perfect fit for matches away against the better teams, then Tomlin's the one to undo packed defences.
   In goal another free signing Neil Etheridge ( from Walsall) has done very well to follow one of last season's best signings Allan McGregor ( albeit on loan).
   When N. Ireland international Camp get fit there'll be real competition between the sticks, just as Warnock's favourite right-back Peltier will come under great pressure from the goal-scoring full-back Paterson.
   Though I'm singling out individuals, our whole squad has done extremely well, even after going behind in the Carabao Cup v. Pompey. Fringe winger Matty Kennedy was the best player on the field and utility man Halford made up for his mistake on their goal by scoring the winner.
   Of course, along the way there are bound to be pit-falls : injuries, jail sentences, controversial sending-offs and ridiculous rumours about Big Ken.
   I'm not one of those Bluebirds who take pleasure in Swansea's demise, simply because I'd like to see us beat them in the Premiership next season!
   Great challenges lie ahead ; not least finding rhymes for Mendez-Laing and Omar Bogle should poetry workshops at our stadium be revived.
   Warnock has a phenomenal record getting clubs promoted from the Championship.
   We have the strongest squad for many years ( including Malky MacKay's which won the league).
   I have to say I'm cautiously optimistic.....at least until Vincent Tan sells the club to Peter's Pies and Cardiff Blues take over the stadium.


                                     THE   BLUEBIRD

Where did it come from,
an old Music Hall song?

Here for more than summer,
skimming over the Taff.

Flying higher than ever.
Are there predators watching?

Last song of a dying Swan,
the Owl's only night-time.

Magpies have come and gone,
the Robins are in hiding.

Our bird once captive
in a red cage, now freed.

Up there with cirrus, cumulus ;
up there looking down.
        
     
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