" Cardiff City and our rivals - 2011 thus far "

QPR - No additions aside from Tommy Smith on a perm from his loan spell. Agyemang out for 3 months and Mackie out for the season. Kyle Walker gone back to Spurs and subsequently on to Villa. Significantly weaker thus far. Dumped out of the Cup and now able to concentrate on the league.

Cardiff - Jon Parkin signed as a striker - no other incomings but Miguel Commingues has left to join Southend. Stronger in the target man department. Re-emergence of Paul Quinn is looking like the signing of a new player. FA Cup replay to add to the busy schedule.

Norwich - Strong rumours linking Lambert with a move away from Carrow Road. Defender Elliott Ward is injured for several weeks and Henri Lansbury is also out injured (unlikely to now play for the Canaries as his return to parent club Arsenal is due on the 16th). Strike Aaron Wilbraham signed from MK Dons. Dumped out of FA Cup and now able to focus on the league.

Scumsea - Striker Demi Moore signed from the Baggies, but super striker Pintado farmed out to Cyprus. Skipper Gary Monk out for the season. Midfielder Andrea Orlandi out for a few weeks and Neil Taylor out for several weeks. Finally managed to find a way between the oppositions defence and now are "well on the way to Wembley".

Dirty Leeds - Permaently signed defender with a fat dad, Andy O'Brien from Bolton after he decided they were a better proposition than Cardiff who then promptly have his new club a footballing masterclass. Impressive draw at the Emirates against Arsenal but also now have a replay to schedule. Max Gradel likely to leave during the window.

Watford - Still strong rumours also linking their manager, Mackay with a move away from Vicarage Road. No incomings yet but Jordan Mutch and Andy Taylor have now returned to parent clubs. Influential midfielder John Eustace is out for several weeks. In to round 4 of the cup.

Forest - with games in hand and a large squad Forest are a danger. Tudgay looks a good signing although Ramsey and Bertrand returning to their parent clubs, Arsenal and Chelsea will leave them weakened. Celtic also are pushing for Kelvin Wilson to move up to Scotland now rather than in the summer following his signing of a pre-contract this week. In to the 4th round of the cup.

Best of the rest - Plenty of other clubs still in the mix with rumours suggesting amongst other things, Reading signing Bradley Wright Phillips (Keep and eye on your handbags ladies with him and Nathan Dyer soon potentially lining up against the City). Hull whilst further down the table look like ramping up a serious challenge in the second half of the season with Fryatt and McClean having joined for big bucks this week. Mannone and Chester have also joined.

So in summary with 12 championship clubs now out of the cup (could be significantly more after replays and today/tomorrows fixtures) ,a couple of key managers being linked with moves away from their clubs, key players at certain clubs injured for the season or returned to their parent clubs, minimal inward movement to all our rivals the second half of the season looks all set up. BLUEBIRDS BLUEBIRDS !!!!

Thanks for that, a good read and it must have taken a bit of time too!

QPR - No additions aside from Tommy Smith on a perm from his loan spell. Agyemang out for 3 months and Mackie out for the season. Kyle Walker gone back to Spurs and subsequently on to Villa. Significantly weaker thus far. Dumped out of the Cup and now able to concentrate on the league.

Cardiff - Jon Parkin signed as a striker - no other incomings but Miguel Commingues has left to join Southend. Stronger in the target man department. Re-emergence of Paul Quinn is looking like the signing of a new player. FA Cup replay to add to the busy schedule.

Norwich - Strong rumours linking Lambert with a move away from Carrow Road. Defender Elliott Ward is injured for several weeks and Henri Lansbury is also out injured (unlikely to now play for the Canaries as his return to parent club Arsenal is due on the 16th). Strike Aaron Wilbraham signed from MK Dons. Dumped out of FA Cup and now able to focus on the league.

Scumsea - Striker Demi Moore signed from the Baggies, but super striker Pintado farmed out to Cyprus. Skipper Gary Monk out for the season. Midfielder Andrea Orlandi out for a few weeks and Neil Taylor out for several weeks. Finally managed to find a way between the oppositions defence and now are "well on the way to Wembley".

Dirty Leeds - Permaently signed defender with a fat dad, Andy O'Brien from Bolton after he decided they were a better proposition than Cardiff who then promptly have his new club a footballing masterclass. Impressive draw at the Emirates against Arsenal but also now have a replay to schedule. Max Gradel likely to leave during the window.

Watford - Still strong rumours also linking their manager, Mackay with a move away from Vicarage Road. No incomings yet but Jordan Mutch and Andy Taylor have now returned to parent clubs. Influential midfielder John Eustace is out for several weeks. In to round 4 of the cup.

Forest - with games in hand and a large squad Forest are a danger. Tudgay looks a good signing although Ramsey and Bertrand returning to their parent clubs, Arsenal and Chelsea will leave them weakened. Celtic also are pushing for Kelvin Wilson to move up to Scotland now rather than in the summer following his signing of a pre-contract this week. In to the 4th round of the cup.

Best of the rest - Plenty of other clubs still in the mix with rumours suggesting amongst other things, Reading signing Bradley Wright Phillips (Keep and eye on your handbags ladies with him and Nathan Dyer soon potentially lining up against the City). Hull whilst further down the table look like ramping up a serious challenge in the second half of the season with Fryatt and McClean having joined for big bucks this week. Mannone and Chester have also joined.

So in summary with 12 championship clubs now out of the cup (could be significantly more after replays and today/tomorrows fixtures) ,a couple of key managers being linked with moves away from their clubs, key players at certain clubs injured for the season or returned to their parent clubs, minimal inward movement to all our rivals the second half of the season looks all set up. BLUEBIRDS BLUEBIRDS !!!!

should be interesting next few weeks/ months then

Good post.
I still have a feeling Leicester and Scabby Forest will be dangerous.

Good summary - but it could all change by the end of the window.

QPR could easily be sucked back into the pack - and Forest look like joining the mix.

If we can get a good run going over the next few (on paper very difficult) games we will look very good for a top 2 finish.

Whatever happens, it won't be boring

good read

it will be in the Echo tomorrow now

Forest will be a huge threat second half of the season!

Cheers

Good post.

As far as QPR goes you have left out that on January 1st we completed the signing of SK Brann player of the year & Norwegian International Petter Vagen Moen who is a left winger & looked very good at Blackburn on Saturday.

As far as injurys go losing Mackie for the season is a massive blow & its now time for the board to show they're mettle.

Kyle Walker to Villa was disappointing but Bradley Orr was the RB when we had a fantastic run early season & has no reason to not maintain that form again.

The next 5 games for us & you will go a long long way in determining how this season will end.

Good post.

As far as QPR goes you have left out that on January 1st we completed the signing of SK Brann player of the year & Norwegian International Petter Vagen Moen who is a left winger & looked very good at Blackburn on Saturday.

As far as injurys go losing Mackie for the season is a massive blow & its now time for the board to show they're mettle.

Kyle Walker to Villa was disappointing but Bradley Orr was the RB when we had a fantastic run early season & has no reason to not maintain that form again.

The next 5 games for us & you will go a long long way in determining how this season will end.

Why do they need to show they are mettle? Did you mean their mettle or they are metal as in hard?

Sorry couldn't resist. I still think QPR and us will go up automatically.