Vital Reading season preview
Club: Cardiff City
Founded: 1899
Nickname: Bluebirds
Ground: Cardiff City Stadium (Capacity: 33,000)
When we face off: Fri 21st November (A), Sat 4th April (H)
Last season finish: 20th – Premier League (Relegated)
Manager: Ole Gunnar Solskjær – The former Manchester United manager has not exactly made a great start to his managerial career in England, after a good three-year stint in his native Norway. Cardiff fans would have given him the benefit of the doubt with their relegation though, as it seemed no manager would have been able to keep the Bluebirds up – now is where Cardiff fans should be judging his abilities as a manager.
Key player: Jordan Mutch – I’m sure there would have been and still will be plenty of interest in the central midfielder, who was one of the only positives to come out of Cardiff’s miserable season. Seven goals in his first Premier League season is a great achievement for the 22-year old and will be massive for their promotion hopes if he stays in South Wales
Season Preview: Like any team that comes down from the Premier League, they are often favourites to bounce straight back up, but as history has proved, is no easy task. Despite their relegation, Cardiff have kept the core of their squad together, losing a handful of key players, but replacing them well (i.e: Fraizer Campbell / Le Fondre). They have the infrastructure and finance in place to gain promotion once again, but my only doubt is whether Solskjær can crack it at this level. Yes, he has a good record in Norway, but England and the Championship are completely different to that of leagues abroad. He has the squad and if he uses it correctly, will certainly be in the mix for promotion.
