Cardiff were wholly unfancied among the Championship season previews, but with Turkish manager Erol Bulut making his mark and Aaron Ramsey back for a third spell there's a degree of optimism in South Wales buoyed by a creditable showing at Leeds on day one according to Phil Bushby.
Were you disappointed Lamouchi didn't stay? Who/how is the new guy?
It is fair to say that there is a lot of optimism amongst Cardiff fans. Whilst I was disappointed Lamouchi left after he brought some structure back to the side, he has been quickly forgotten in the excitement of what has happened since.
Erol Bulut looks the part and seems to mean business. The club has backed him with some good signings, especially up front and at centre back. Also getting Jamilu Collins and Ebou Adams back from season long injuries is fantastic. I liked the look of Collins at the start of last season but we never really sorted out the left side of defence once he got injured. With Collins back, we will be better balanced in defence which will allow O'Dowda to get forward more from left back.
Cardiff results so far
Leeds 2-2 Cardiff Cooper 49, Summerville 90 – Bowler 23, Ugbo 39
Cardiff 2-2 Colchester* Colwill 19, Etete 35 - Akinde 40, Taylor 44
Obviously Ramsey is the big name, but what other business has been done this summer, what's needed, what's still to come?
Ramsey is of course the standout signing. It is good for morale, but we should not base our hopes on him. He will have a great impact but will not be there week in week out over a 46-game season. Transfer business has been good despite us remaining under an embargo on paying fees for players until the January window. I think we could do with another midfielder and wide player.
Bulut is hoping to have more signings in time for the QPR match - so watch this space. I expect a central midfielder and possibly another defender. I think (hope) Kieffer Moore will return from Bournemouth but that will be later in the window if it happens. I also hope that Robinson will be fit and play against QPR - he brings a different dimension to our forward play.
Ins >>> Aaron Ramsey, 32, AM, Nice, Free >>> Dimitrious Goutas, 29, Sivasspor, Free >>> Yakou Meite, 27, LW, Reading, Free >>> Karlan Grant, 25, CF, West Brom, Loan >>> Ike Ugbo, 24, CF, Troyes, Loan >>> Josh Bowler, 24, RW, Forest, Loan
Outs >>> Mark Harris, 24, CF, Oxford, Free >>> Gavin Whyte, 27, RW, Portsmouth, Free >>> Dillon Phillips, 28, GK, Rotherham, Free >>> Tom Sang, 24, RB, Port Vale, Free >>> Max Watters, 24, CF, Barnsley, Undisclosed >>> Ollie Denham, 21, CB, Dundee Utd, Loan >>> Eli King, 20, DM, Morecambe, Loan >>> Connor Wickham, 30, CF, Free
Some grim recent seasons at Cardiff, will this year be better? How do you see it going?
I am sure this season will be better than the past two seasons. Let's be honest, we should have gone down last year. If it wasn't for Reading's point deduction, we would be in League One. There is a lot of optimism at the moment and I think the evidence from the first weekend continues to provide the Bluebirds faithful with hope for the season ahead. It can’t be any worse than last year.
What did you make of your first game? I thought Cardiff looked pretty good and were unlucky…
Very pleased on the whole. We played well and although Leeds dominated much of the possession Cardiff did well and were unlucky not to hold on for the win. New manager and new signings really making their mark on the game. Cardiff worked hard in the match. Often last year, it looked like a training match, so to see a real effort was very pleasing.
Ramsey did well on his third debut. Grant was good and I think Goutas looks like a real leader at the back. Meite was fine when he came on. My mate (a Reading fan) said that Meite will score some important goals for us but will also fall over his own feet. On the whole though, I have been impressed with the new signings. Adams was also on debut after a season long injury kept him out of the whole of the last campaign.
Some existing players were good as well: Alnwick in goal (I actually prefer him to Allsop) and O’ Dowda had strong games.
Main changes to team selection, shape, style of play?
Some of the key players for Cardiff last year were loanees, so there were always going to be several changes. The new signings certainly made their mark with both goals coming from debutants: Josh Bowler on loan from Forest and Iche Ugbo. In terms of style, it is hard to say after one game as Leeds were always going to have a lot of possession. However, I think we looked solid. Defence was far better and I am sure that McGuiness and Goutas will make a formidable partnership in defence.
On the whole last year, we played with a back three with wing backs. The formation now looks more like a 4-4-2, especially out of possession and a more fluid formation when we have the ball. We look better going forward and have more striking options. I do not think we will be the lowest scorers in the division this season.
Thoughts on Saturday?
The main injury concern from the weekend was skipper Joe Ralls. I thought Adams did well coming on to replace him but we lost experience and shape with Ralls going off. I think we have good options to replace Ralls in Adams, Rinomhota or Sawyers, so hopefully will not miss him too much.
I always feel conflicted when Cardiff play QPR. Despite having a City season ticket for the past 16 years, I had a QPR season ticket in the mid 80s and enjoyed many games standing on the loft watching matches on the Omniturf. I was even down at the QPR end in the play off match in 2003. My 1992 ‘Dennis Bailey Brooks’ shirt still has pride of place in my wardrobe! I have though also been in the away end at Loftus Road - so my relationship with this particular fixture is a complex one! It is really sad watching Rangers lurch from one bad result to another. I probably want a draw on Saturday but it looks like a Cardiff win.
Links >>> Official Website >>> Three Little Birds — Blog >>> CCMB — Message Board >>> Wales Online — Local Paper >>> Mauve and Yellow — Blog >>> View From The Ninian — Website and Podcast
The Twitter @bushby_p, @loftforwords
Pictures — Action Images