Despite the appointment of our former Coach as manager ( Paul Trollope), things appear to be undergoing a radical change.
Our previous manager Russell Slade was actually beginning to win over many fans, though most realised that he would never take us to another level.
He was tactically limited, gave few opportunities to youngsters and signed several players who proved totally unsuccessful in the Championship, such as Revell and Doyle.
After the clueless tactics and ludicrous excesses of Ole Gunnar Solksjaer's regime (we still have three of his signings on the books and not even in the squad, taking home about £45 k per week!), Slade steadied the ship.
After that he got it stuck in the doldrums and then, last season, it did set sail again, albeit in a wayward direction ( if I'm ever a manager I know where my metaphors will come from).
When he started selling and loaning out players like Revell, Doyle and Kennedy that he had signed, we knew something was wrong.
For me, one game last season summed him up, at home v. lowly Shrewsbury in the FA Cup.
He picked a team full of misfits and under-achievers and an indication of just how badly we played was that Ameobi was our best player ( a dreadful loan signing from Newcastle).
Unusually, we sat in the Grandstand and had a perfect view of Slade and Trollope.
Slade kept his arms folded the whole game despite the utter shambles ; Trollope tried to impart advice, but looked powerless given the team selection.
During the second half of last season, with a transfer committee in charge of signings, we made one excellent singing, namely Lex Immers, a versatile player with a prodigious work-rate and eye for goal. We also signed Kenneth Zohore, a young Danish striker with pace and power, but more potential than skill.
When Trollope was appointed and he was still a coach with Wales, these two were signed permanently and it made a lot of sense.
Already - before the new season has begun - he has imposed his own ideas and style on the squad and team.
There are two aspects which immediately stand out.
In pre-season friendlies he has favoured the same system which worked so well for Wales in the Euros, that is 5-3-2 or, when attacking, 3-5-2.
At Cardiff we have the right players to make this work in some respects, though lack the serious pace of the Welsh team to hit opponents on the break.
In John, Fabio and new signing Jazz Richards ( a Wales squad player) we have three players ideally suited to the role of wing-back, with pace, skill and attacking intent ( but not as good defensively as Gunter and Taylor).
We also have centre-backs like Connolly, Manga and Ajayi who are very comfortable on the ball and there's always no-nonsense Sean Morrison when he's fit.
In the experienced Peter Whittingham we have, quite simply, the best long passer outside the Premier : a player who can find marauding wing-backs or mobile strikers with one telling ball.
Yet, do we possess mobile strikers, with pace, to trouble resolute defences?
Immers is sharp, Pilkington shrewd and lively and new striker Gounongbe strong in the air ; yet we lack a proven striker at Championship level and Trollope must address this before the season starts a week Saturday away to Birmingham.
The other aspect where Trollope's made a difference is his willingness to give young players a chance.
Declan John from Merthyr, Ajayi and Tutonda have all played well pre-season after being sidelined by Slade last year.
All three could thrive in the new formation as well.
If it doesn't work, then Trollope has already experimented with a Plan B ( sometimes Slade lacked even a Plan A!), which is 4-3-3 and would allow our one pacey winger, Craig Noone, to come into the reckoning.
Philosophies and formations are one thing, harsh reality another and this promises to be the most difficult Championship for a long time.
Brighton, Derby and Sheffield Wed. must all fancy their chances, not to mention Benitez's Toon Army, Di Matteo's Villa and Norwich, who will always be thereabouts.
Of course, I realise I have no right to be so optimistic, but can't help it despite our billionaire owner's palpable lack of interest and serious lack of investment in players ( not even the £21 k parachute payment from last year).
Maybe this season will be ours.
Maybe our wing-backs will tear defences apart.
Maybe Pilks, Whitts, Lex and unpronounceable Frederic will click.
Maybe I'll be amazed.
NEW SEASON
It's gone the old 4-4-2
and welcome the 5-3-2
we are doing a Wales
we are doing an Iceland
we've even got Gunnars
for the HOO! chanting
but where are Rambo, Bale,Williams?
there's only Jazz Richards
I'm ridiculously optimistic
dangerously so, as always
let's face it, we are Cardiff City
so expect to be let down
we can't even pronounce
our new striker Gounongbe
let alone chant his name
( we'll call him 'Freddy')
still, the new season's coming
and we're on the verge of.......something!
Our previous manager Russell Slade was actually beginning to win over many fans, though most realised that he would never take us to another level.
He was tactically limited, gave few opportunities to youngsters and signed several players who proved totally unsuccessful in the Championship, such as Revell and Doyle.
After the clueless tactics and ludicrous excesses of Ole Gunnar Solksjaer's regime (we still have three of his signings on the books and not even in the squad, taking home about £45 k per week!), Slade steadied the ship.
After that he got it stuck in the doldrums and then, last season, it did set sail again, albeit in a wayward direction ( if I'm ever a manager I know where my metaphors will come from).
When he started selling and loaning out players like Revell, Doyle and Kennedy that he had signed, we knew something was wrong.
For me, one game last season summed him up, at home v. lowly Shrewsbury in the FA Cup.
He picked a team full of misfits and under-achievers and an indication of just how badly we played was that Ameobi was our best player ( a dreadful loan signing from Newcastle).
Unusually, we sat in the Grandstand and had a perfect view of Slade and Trollope.
Slade kept his arms folded the whole game despite the utter shambles ; Trollope tried to impart advice, but looked powerless given the team selection.
During the second half of last season, with a transfer committee in charge of signings, we made one excellent singing, namely Lex Immers, a versatile player with a prodigious work-rate and eye for goal. We also signed Kenneth Zohore, a young Danish striker with pace and power, but more potential than skill.
When Trollope was appointed and he was still a coach with Wales, these two were signed permanently and it made a lot of sense.
Already - before the new season has begun - he has imposed his own ideas and style on the squad and team.
There are two aspects which immediately stand out.
In pre-season friendlies he has favoured the same system which worked so well for Wales in the Euros, that is 5-3-2 or, when attacking, 3-5-2.
At Cardiff we have the right players to make this work in some respects, though lack the serious pace of the Welsh team to hit opponents on the break.
In John, Fabio and new signing Jazz Richards ( a Wales squad player) we have three players ideally suited to the role of wing-back, with pace, skill and attacking intent ( but not as good defensively as Gunter and Taylor).
We also have centre-backs like Connolly, Manga and Ajayi who are very comfortable on the ball and there's always no-nonsense Sean Morrison when he's fit.
In the experienced Peter Whittingham we have, quite simply, the best long passer outside the Premier : a player who can find marauding wing-backs or mobile strikers with one telling ball.
Yet, do we possess mobile strikers, with pace, to trouble resolute defences?
Immers is sharp, Pilkington shrewd and lively and new striker Gounongbe strong in the air ; yet we lack a proven striker at Championship level and Trollope must address this before the season starts a week Saturday away to Birmingham.
The other aspect where Trollope's made a difference is his willingness to give young players a chance.
Declan John from Merthyr, Ajayi and Tutonda have all played well pre-season after being sidelined by Slade last year.
All three could thrive in the new formation as well.
If it doesn't work, then Trollope has already experimented with a Plan B ( sometimes Slade lacked even a Plan A!), which is 4-3-3 and would allow our one pacey winger, Craig Noone, to come into the reckoning.
Philosophies and formations are one thing, harsh reality another and this promises to be the most difficult Championship for a long time.
Brighton, Derby and Sheffield Wed. must all fancy their chances, not to mention Benitez's Toon Army, Di Matteo's Villa and Norwich, who will always be thereabouts.
Of course, I realise I have no right to be so optimistic, but can't help it despite our billionaire owner's palpable lack of interest and serious lack of investment in players ( not even the £21 k parachute payment from last year).
Maybe this season will be ours.
Maybe our wing-backs will tear defences apart.
Maybe Pilks, Whitts, Lex and unpronounceable Frederic will click.
Maybe I'll be amazed.
NEW SEASON
It's gone the old 4-4-2
and welcome the 5-3-2
we are doing a Wales
we are doing an Iceland
we've even got Gunnars
for the HOO! chanting
but where are Rambo, Bale,Williams?
there's only Jazz Richards
I'm ridiculously optimistic
dangerously so, as always
let's face it, we are Cardiff City
so expect to be let down
we can't even pronounce
our new striker Gounongbe
let alone chant his name
( we'll call him 'Freddy')
still, the new season's coming
and we're on the verge of.......something!
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