By Ben Thomas
Cardiff City kick off their EFL Championship campaign on Saturday afternoon as they face Markus Schopp’s Barnsley in front of a packed-out Cardiff City Stadium.
It’s safe to say that last season was a rollercoaster of emotions for the Bluebirds which saw them finish in a respectable 9th position. The sacking of Neil Harris in January came as no surprise to the Cardiff faithful due to the poor run of results. However, the replacement of Mick McCarthy was extremely unexpected and a serious gamble from the Cardiff City board.
McCarthy hit the ground running and injected a new lease of life into the Cardiff City dressing room. After making an unbeaten start to his reign at the club, a run that included a 6-game winning streak, McCarthy signed a new two-year deal with the Bluebirds on 4 March 2021.
In the lead up to this upcoming season, the Bluebirds have played 5 pre-season friendlies which includes a draw against Exeter City, a loss against Southampton and wins against Bath City, Forest Green, and fellow South Wales opposition Newport County.
With that being said, I asked Bluebirds fans for their prediction of the upcoming season.
This is what they said…
Tom Phillips – View from the Ninian – ‘I see this as a huge season for Joe Ralls’
There’s not a huge amount of expectation on Cardiff this season but I sense a quiet confidence. Mick’s had a full pre-season and started shaping the squad his way. We haven’t got a squad of superstars but there’s a solid core and finally a group of youngsters ready to make the step up. Keeping Kieffer Moore is essential, the addition of James Collins is a shrewd signing and I’m excited to see the impact of Ryan Giles as our creative focal point. With Bagan, Ng, Sang, and the emergence of Rubin Colwill, we’ve got young players with bags of ability, ready to make an impact. I see this as a huge season for Joe Ralls. It’s his time to step up and become that box-to-box midfielder we know he can be. He scored a great goal against Newport, the ideal confidence boost before the season starts. The signing of Ryan Wintle, a 24-year-old with over 180 appearances under his belt, adds some welcome youthful experience. And of course, we’ve still got the warrior Sean Morrison. Outside the clear “Big 4” of the Championship – Fulham, West Brom, Sheffield United and Bournemouth – I think it’s wide open.
Prediction: 5th.
Owen Deacon – ‘Promotion has to be looked towards!’
I think it’ll be a tight season with the candidates who have come down from the topflight. If we can get anything above sixth, then I’ll be happy. Promotion has to be looked towards!
I think if he can get a run of games, Josh Murphy could be a lethal weapon on the left side. Giles looks to be some player, with Wintle looking reliable, too. Mick has to have a good season – to say his reputation precedes him, is an understatement. With a full summer transfer window under his belt, I’m sure he’ll get the best out of the new boys.
Prediction: 8th.
Matt Skinner – ‘Feed Kieffer and we will score goals’
After watching the pre-season friendlies and keeping an eye on all the recruitment it’s obvious to see it could be a very different season for us. A full pre-season with Mick in charge could get all the players to a better fitness level than what we seemed to notice under Harris, that’s got to be a bonus, and we all know that McCarthy will demand nothing less than running through a brick wall for the team. We will be relying on the younger players, and that isn’t a bad thing. We’ve all been crying out for that for years now, get a production line going and people who want to play for the shirt. Feed Kieffer and we will score goals, a fit Tomlin to play 20+ games would help that, Colwill has been touted as a play maker that can do that as well. With Ng and Giles supplying crosses it’s hard not to see that we won’t score. Mozza, Nelson & whoever fits in to the back 3 will be solid enough.
Prediction: – 8/9th.
Gareth Williams – ‘I worry about the lack of creativity’
The season will hinge on two things. Keeping hold of Kieffer Moore and keeping Lee Tomlin fit!! James Collins has showed good form in pre-season and will score goals, but I worry about the lack of creativity in the side along with the ability to concede sloppy goals which was evident last season and continues during pre-season. The emergence of Rubin Colwill is exciting but, we shouldn’t expect too much from him as he’s largely untested at this level. I expect us to be competitive this season which Mick McCarthy will demand of the players but, I can’t see us troubling the newly relegated clubs for automatic spots with the squads and riches available with parachute payments.
Key Player: Kieffer Moore
Prediction: Top 10.
Owen Gardner – ‘One of our biggest problems from last season looks to have been fixed’
I’m not sure how this season will pan out as a Cardiff City supporter, and the overwhelming feeling I get is that we may be slightly all over the place. In terms of positives, one of our biggest problems from last season looks to have been fixed, as Mick finally looks to have signed a striker in a similar ilk to Moore in the name of James Collins, which allows for the former to get a breather without having to play the full 90 every fixture. It will also be refreshing to see further use of youngsters like Bagan, Brown and Colwill who will challenge for first team places.
However, in terms of creativity this squad looks paper thin. I get the feeling that Mick is gambling on Lee Tomlin’s fitness for that, which is a daunting prospect given his age and the usual work ethic of a Mick McCarthy side.
I’m predicting a 7th place finish for the Bluebirds. If the youngsters hit the ground running, we could be looking at a play-off push, but one or two key injuries could easily send us languishing into mid-table obscurity.
Prediction: 7th.
Dan Lowe – ‘I can see us finishing between 10th and 6th’
After a fairly good end to last season, I can see this season being a lot different. Mick has now had time to somewhat build his squad to the way he wants to play, all be it with little monetary backing. Key players this season will likely be the same old, Moore, Morrison, and Nelson. However, it’s clear that from pre-season matches, many youngsters will be given a chance to impress, perhaps the most talented being Rubin Colwill, unexpectedly earning a Euro call up, he could be key to our attacking form going into the season, especially with the limited cover we have in the number 10 position. I expect players like Ng, Sang, and new signings Wintle and Collins to kick on and be important players as the season goes on. Due to the limited amount of money the club is sitting on, I highly doubt we will be making any more permanent signings, maybe the odd loan or two, hopefully bringing in another number 10 and possibly something more at centre half. I can see us finishing somewhere been 10th and 6th when the season finishes. This will be dependent on if we can keep hold on to Moore and seeing if injuries and the lack of depth affect us. All in all, I’m not expecting much but hoping to be proved wrong.
Prediction: 6th – 10th.
Mia Edwards – ‘Mick McCarthy will be sacked in January’
As we head into the new season, I am worried due to how we have looked in pre-season. Although, many say ‘you can’t look too much into pre-season’ for me, I have to. The creativity going forward against both Southampton and Newport looked worrying. When the forwards found themselves in the final 3rd, the final pass was always lacking which led to a lack of goals.
With that being said, we are without Kieffer Moore and Rubin Colwill who will be our main powerhouses this season. On paper, our team is too strong to be anywhere near a relegation battle but in my opinion, this season will be a rollercoaster of emotions which will find us in 13th.
Kieffer Moore will score 21+ goals this season and Mick McCarthy will be sacked in January.
Prediction: 13th.
Jeff Salway – ‘Six points against the Jacks would do nicely’
‘This could prove a pivotal season for City, and not for the usual reasons.
I don’t care if we go up or not.
More important is the opportunity to introduce a batch of youngsters who seem more or less ready for the transition to first-team football. When’s the last time City had this many youngsters knocking on the first team door?
I want this to be a season in which we take a big step towards being a more sustainable club, developing local players that can strengthen the bond with supporters, add to the team and, if they thrive, attract hefty transfer fees.
It’s a model we’ve seen most recently with the likes of Norwich and Brentford and, dare I say it, previously at Swansea. It’s the only realistic way forward in cash-strapped times and doesn’t leave us too vulnerable when Tan eventually decides to sell. We’ve certainly got the catchment area for it, as well as a manager prepared to give the kids a run.
In the meantime, we’ve recruited smartly. The likes of Giles, McGuinness and Collins arguably strengthen the squad, albeit we still look somewhat pedestrian in the middle of the park.
If we can look back on the 2021/22 season as one of mid-table stability in which two or three youngsters became established in the first team and we gave the fans something to shout about after a season of silence – six points against the Jacks would do nicely – I’d be more than happy.’
Prediction: 11th.
Matt Gough – ‘We’ll come up short and finish between 7th and 10th’
Will be another average “what if” season. Towards the run in we’ll look to be in a good position, and we’ll all be hopeful of a play-off spot but ultimately, we’ll come up short and finish between 7th-10th. Will be underwhelming and people will be calling for Mick’s head. I think he’ll see out the whole season but maybe not see the beginning of next season. I also hope we don’t loan out Sparky Harris as he’s been one of our best players in pre-season and had a good spell at the end of last season, he gives us something different and will work his socks off.
Prediction: 7th-10th.
Nathan Loveridge – ‘It’s hard to not be optimistic about another season of the future Ballon d’Or winner leading the line.’
Beyond the newly established appreciation of being able to attend football matches in person once more, the expectations of the new season are almost an after-thought. However, after an underwhelming season last year, that did provide some notable positives, this season provides a new opportunity for Cardiff City to challenge for the play-off places.
City have conducted shrewd business in the transfer market, in tandem with promoting youngsters with serious talent and potential, which gives City fans plenty of reason to be optimistic. We have been craving to see young, local players for years and there seems to be a great balance of youth and experience throughout the squad – pivotal for a Championship season.
For me however, the biggest coup for Cardiff will be keeping hold of Kieffer Moore; crucial to the way we’ll be looking to play and someone who certainly knows where the net is, keeping hold of Kieffer will be fantastic for the blues going forward. It’s hard to not be optimistic about another season of the future Ballon d’Or winner leading the line.
I would still like a defensive left sided player to be added before the window shuts. If there is a deal to be made with Joe Bennett, I think he’d be the ideal player to bring back into the mix and provide great competition with Joel Bagan in a defensive line he knows well. The thought of playing Brown or pulling Ryan Giles (who has been very impressive in a more attacking role in pre-season) back into the defence, makes me feel apprehensive.
I genuinely think that with a relatively injury-free season, Cardiff can push for a play-off spot, mixing with sides with significantly larger budgets. With a manager that knows what he’s doing and knows what’s needed to clinch promotion to the first division, I think Cardiff have an advantage over many teams with Big Mick calling the shots on the pitch.
Fundamentally, I’m just excited to get back to what I love doing and supporting the boys in the stadium and around the country. Let’s hope we can kick off the season well with three points on Saturday!
Prediction: 8th.
Niamh Jenkins – ‘We haven’t replaced Wilson’
The pre-season and the new signings looked optimistic in many areas. I think the defence will be strong this season with solid centre-backs and the cover for wing backs we now have. I think Ryan Giles has been one stand out player in preseason that we have brought in. However, I think we could have of benefited from a few more signings as there are limited creativity without Tomlin. We obviously have Colwill but if he will step up and perform at this level consistently is yet to be seen. Optimistically, we now have cover for Moore, and if he plays Moore and Collins together that we will be an interesting partnership to watch and see whether it works or not. However, I think we also depend a lot on set pieces as a team, and with Wilson gone we don’t have someone as good as he was at dead ball situations. I think Ralls can do it but, in my opinion, we haven’t replaced Wilson. The personnel haven’t changed too much so everyone knows each other which could benefit us. All in all, I think this season could go many ways depending on Tomlin’s fitness as well as many other key players fitness, but as it stands, I think we will finish a solid 8th.
Prediction: 8th.
Tom Taylor – ‘Mark McGuinness is a clever signing’
I think it could be a bit of a tough season for us. The championship is a notoriously tough division with so many quality teams, managers, and players, and this year is no different. I do like the bits of business we’ve done. James Collins looks like he’ll be great backup for Kieffer Moore which we desperately needed, Ryan Wintle adds more depth in midfield, Ryan Giles has impressed me in pre-season, and I think Mark McGuinness is a clever signing. I can see us having a similar season to the end of last year, decent runs of form but falling short in a few games. An absolute dream would be to finish in the playoff places and there’s no doubt in my mind we have the quality to do so, however I think we’ll end up around mid-table finishing 10th. I hope I’m wrong and that Mick McCarthy can get the Bluebirds flying, but much like last year I can see us just falling short again.
Prediction: 10th.
James Williams – ‘Mick will certainly make us tough to beat’
This season for Cardiff City, like any other is a tough one to predict. Mick will certainly make us tough to beat but I don’t think anyone’s holding their breath for pretty football. Having an in-form Kieffer Moore will be massive for City as well as core players like Sean Morrison and Joe Ralls. I also think new signing Mark McGuinness will have a big part to play this campaign. My main concern is the 2-man midfield we’ve seen in pre-season. I like the look of Ryan Giles, but his game time requires a position out wide. I think we might get found out in a 5-2-3 and would much prefer the better known 5-3-2 of last year. I see us finishing 10th-11th but with City, you never know.
Prediction: 10th-11th.
Conor Cameron-Evans – ‘McCarthy will see out the season and then get the boot’
Personally, I think Mick McCarthy will see out the season and then get the boot. The Board won’t want to make a trend out of swapping managers every January as it’ll prove not to work and doesn’t give us a chance to rebuild. With Kieffer Moore leading the line, the possibilities are endless for Cardiff City. With a goal scorer who has 20+ goals in his locker, a crack at the play offs is achievable. However, I do believe we’ll finish around 10th then hopefully make some more inspired changes ready for the season after.
Prediction: 10th
Callum Jones – ‘James Collins will have over 10+ goals’
After a solid second half of the season last year under McCarthy I’m not fully convinced we are going to get out of mid table, the lack of signings & we are lacking in a few places in terms of squad depth. We have a difficult start too the season but are certainly winnable. My prediction is that we are going to finish 11th hopefully I’m proved wrong by Mick & the boys
So, I think the main standout in defence is going to be Aden Flint, he’s been different gravy since he’s returned from Sheffield Wednesday and I’m looking forward to seeing the Flint Nelson & Morrison partnership again. Midfield I think it’s a pretty easy choice, Ryan Giles has been really sharp in pre-season when I’ve seen him play he can whip a great ball in the box and is pacey and is a massive threat when he’s on the ball I feel like he’s going to be the perfect replacement for Harry Wilson Striker the easy choice would be Kieffer but I think James Collins is going to have over 10+ goals he’s been superb in pre-season and I just hope we get the combination of Collins & Moore. A centre backs nightmare, a real physical deadly threat.
Prediction: 11th.
Jack Cook – ‘Harry Wilson will be a big loss for the Bluebirds’
I believe that Cardiff City will have a great chance of getting into the top six this season with the addition of fans returning only boasting on last year’s performance. Cardiff will have to rely on Star striker Kieffer Moore again this season if they want to push for the automatic. Harry Wilson will be a big loss for the Bluebirds and going to championship Fulham who looked to be one of the favourites in the division. I believe that loanee Ryan Giles could have a massive impact on this season as I think he has similar traits to Dan James. He would be a real stand out performer. This season, Cardiff look solid at the back with strength in depth and will most likely play back five for most of the season. With Captain Sean Morrison, Aden Flint and Curtis Nelson looking most likely to start as a trio and with young Ciaron Brown and loanee Mark McGuinness the bluebirds are looking strong this season and if they can get the likes of Tomlin, Murphy and Vassell playing then sky is the limit for the Bluebirds, but a play-off place is most likely in my opinion.
Prediction: 6th.
Ben Evans – ‘Squad depth is our biggest problem’
I think quite a few people think that this campaign will be full of disappointment, this is usually the way I think looking ahead of the new season, but this season I have a strange feeling it could be a success.
I think squad depth is our biggest problem this year, especially on the wings. However, with that in mind, I feel that it is still enough to get enough positive results to push us into a top 8 finish this year and potentially earn a play-off place.
I think Lee Tomlin will make up for not playing many minutes last year and pick up where he left off the season before. I think Collins playing off Moore will lead to goals, and I think between the two of them, they could hit 20+ goals. Ryan Giles will also have a terrific season and be one of our star players.
One thing I will say is, I can’t see Mick McCarthy being our manager by the end of the season, I hope I’m wrong, but I think we will experience a slow spell towards the middle of the season.
Some people’s expectations are high, and some are low, I think we will finish 8th but maybe slip into the play-offs.
Prediction: 8th.
So, there you have it, these are the fans thoughts of the 2021/22 season. Do you agree with their thoughts for the campaign?
Follow me on Twitter @benfthomas_10 for live discussions and reactions.
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