2010-11 npower Championship Preview: Cardiff City

Last updated : 03 August 2010 By Kevin Markey
















Matthew Gabb, 1927club.com

After the disappointment of losing the play-off final we've had a turbulent summer. Endless unpaid bills have meant a transfer embargo and an uncertain season ahead. My general feeling is that it'll be a season of consolidation as we feel a bit of pain after the last few years of excess. But as long as we keep Dave Jones and don't have a complete fire sale, we'll be safe enough. Anywhere near the play-offs would be a massive success.

Last season 4th Prediction 11th

The new boys With the embargo in place we've lost Joe Ledley for nothing to Celtic and brought in youngster Danny Drinkwater from Manchester United on loan. We've off-loaded a lot of the dead wood, but we're left with a really thin squad. We need some more players in before the end of August, otherwise we'll struggle as soon as we have two or three injuries.

Men to watch If they stay then it's our forward players who'll make us worth watching - Chopra, Bothroyd, Whittingham and Burke, with McPhail pulling the strings in midfield.

Best youngsters Wales U-21 midfielder Darcy Blake came into the team at the end of last season and did a great job, and Adam Matthews is always being watched by scouts.

Target for the boo-boys McPhail appears to have passed this mantle on to Mark Hudson. Although there's a bloke who sits behind me who can't stand the sight of Gavin Rae.

Hate figure We've got enough problems with our own ex-chairmen Sam Hammam and Peter Ridsdale to worry too much about other clubs. But there's Swansea's Alan Tate, old-boy Mark Kennedy, and everything about Bristol City and Leeds.

Going up Nottingham Forest, Middlesbrough, Burnley
Going down Crystal Palace, Watford, Millwall


When Do We Meet?
Elland Road: 23 Oct 2010
Cardiff City Stadium: 4 Jan 2011

Previous Positions:
2007-08: 12th
2008-09: 7th
2009-10: 4th

Odds
Promotion: 11/2
Relegation: 9/1


First Team Squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.PositionPlayer
1ScotlandGKDavid Marshall
2ScotlandDFKevin McNaughton
4ScotlandMFGavin Rae
5EnglandDFMark Hudson (captain)
6HungaryDFGábor Gyepes
7EnglandMFPeter Whittingham
8EnglandFWMichael Chopra
9EnglandFWJay Bothroyd (vice-captain)
10Republic of IrelandMFStephen McPhail (vice-captain)
11ScotlandMFChris Burke
14ScotlandDFPaul Quinn
No.PositionPlayer
15EnglandDFAnthony Gerrard
18NigeriaMFSolomon Taiwo
23WalesMFDarcy Blake
24GuadeloupeDFMiguel Comminges
27WalesDFAdam Matthews
28EnglandMFAaron Wildig
44ScotlandFWRoss McCormack
49WalesMFJonathan Meades
EnglandGKTom Heaton
CanadaGKJordan Santiago