Sun Jul 31, 2011 7:58 am
From the Echo:
With the Championship kick-off under a week away, CHRIS WATHAN previews the new-look Bluebirds’ chances of success this season
IT’S the giant step that Cardiff City failed to take.
Admittedly, not by much but the Bluebirds have failed to get over the line separating them from promotion.
But this time, a change in direction and a leap of faith could give the club a real chance of succeeding.
That’s the hope at Cardiff City Stadium this summer as the big kick-off to the new Championship campaign looms into view.
Whereas the tail-end of the transfer window last August brought big names and even bigger expectations, Malky Mackay’s recruitment efforts have been mostly more low-key.
Sven-Goran Eriksson at Leicester and Sam Allardyce at West Ham have made the big spending headlines in a bid to buy a Premier League spot.
City supporters would be better off letting them get on with it rather than being envious.
Cardiff crumbled under the pressure last term. Dave Jones’ side eventually capitulated in the race for automatic and play-off promotion when – on paper – it seemed a given.
Let someone else shoulder the burden of being favourites: now it is the Bluebirds’ time to build.
And that they are doing.
With the exceptions of Robert Earnshaw and Kenny Miller, low-profile but long-term signings have been targeted and delivered by a manager who seemingly revelled in the underdog role while at Watford.
And already there is a sense of hunger about the Cardiff squad which only comes from young players with something to prove.
And while he admits his profession is a precarious one, he insists his eyes are wide open to what faces him.
Just six weeks after arriving from Vicarage Road, there’s the sense that Mackay is forging a team rather than assembling a group of individuals.
“Every year there are teams and chairmen who really go for it, and we’ve seen with a few clubs some very big transfer fees and big money being paid out,” said Mackay.
Leicester and West Ham’s spending is outstripping the vast majority of the rest of the division, while Cardiff’s outlay is hardly over the £1m mark.
“You might not be able to compete financially but you can compete in terms of the work you put in, by trying to build a team and then tactically when you go to play them,” added Mackay.
The Scot’s tactics will not be dissimilar to those he employed at Watford.
The aim will be to see Cardiff nice on the bal, but nasty off it. A controlled aggression to press high and force mistakes, and then capitalise with quick counters. Full-backs, often restricted under Jones, are likely to push on – no bad thing when you consider Kevin McNaughton and Andrew Taylor are likely to start in those roles.
And there will be a need to be patient with passes. Mackay screaming at his men to be quicker and more competent with their distribution ha been a feature of recent pre-season run-outs.
He is striving to form an identity – something Cardiff struggled with under Jones.
It means that should Mackay land Craig Bellamy – something no-one at the club is ruling out – he becomes the added edge rather than the one-man-band he was often asked to be during last year’s loan.
Whether the Wales ace is able to return to his hometown club is yet to be answered.
But the arrivals of Miller and Earnshaw should not be underestimated, both with proven goalscoring records.
Aaron Gunnarsson looks perfect for the protecting role Cardiff have missed so badly while still being able to play and Filip Kiss has suggested he has a real class about his midfield presence.
Don Cowie, too, has the ability to link-up well to hint at a much more fluid Cardiff at Mackay’s disposal.
What is more likely to cost is the fact things are still a little bit threadbare and that the Championship offers little sympathy for those trying to build.
“It does take time,” admits Mackay. “The fact we had 12 people, all first-team players leave is something I’ve never seen before.
“The fact we’ve managed to get nine good players in is great, but at the same time it takes a while for teams to come together, to adapt and get to know each other.
“That’s what we’ve been working at and we’ll keep working at it.
“Mistakes will happen but everyone makes mistakes and I’m pretty sure fans will forgive that.
“But they will not forgive is a lack of effort so I can guarantee that won’t be the case. They will see sweat on the jersey.
“I’ve been around in this division for nigh-on 14 years so I know how it works – and anyone who comes here thinking it’s going to be easy to get out has got a rude awakening coming.”
Cardiff’s support, so convinced last year was the year, had theirs in May.
So much so that there are plenty who have held back on their hopes for the campaign this time around.
In some ways, they are wise to do so.
In next week’s opener against the Hammers there could be six new faces in the starting XI, not including the ones in the dugout.
It will take time to gel and get to grips with the new era beginning at the club.
It could well take longer than this season with the upheaval potentially too much for quick fixes.
If Mackay is given the time he deserves, what may seem like a step back can help ensure that giant leap forward. But there is, though, unlikely to be sweat on Mackay’s brow for a while.
Asked about the pressure to deliver promotion and the fact his predecessor was disposed of despite making the play-offs twice in a row, Mackay points to the pressure of facing administration while at Watford.
He stresses his focus is only on the club’s future rather than it’s past.