Updates have a hit a snag for me, sorting out moving house, organising uni work, re-sitting courses and general work. But now it's back to business in the football league (as you now know it is the football league, rather than the Premier League but no matter) and the changes that have been made are phenomenal. 14 players and a manager down the summer made for uncomfortable viewing for us as Cardiff fans and left us wondering what the situation would be come the start of the season. However, gradually as time went on the rebuilding process began. New manager at the helm in the form of Malky Mackay gave me confidence that stability would be there for us and we build the squad form the top. New players started to come in with the help of the backing of the much publicised and much talked about Malaysian owners and the rebuilding process was well under way.
One thing that started to develop in my mind was the fact that for a long time now, we would have a squad with no superstar names and no big ego's in the team and that there would be no one name that would think themselves bigger than the club they play for. This was not yet to be proven successful but the idea was that of more team-work in general and a vocal manager organising a squad capable of making the mammoth rebuilding structure a success.
Looking at players we have had play for us in past seasons shows the type of thing I am talking about and the type of situation which allows so much expectation to be put on a team that needs support rather than pressure. Craig Bellamy, Jay Bothroyd, Aaron Ramsey, Jason Koumas, Robbie Fowler, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink... just a few names that draw unnecassary media attention and expectation from outside influence. The name of Craig Bellamy has been floating around our club for a long time now ever since he joined us in a spectacular loan deal last season. The rumours of another loan deal or possible contract termination were put to bed more recently when he rejoined Liverpool and finds himself a contender for a regular starting 11 position.
The situation with Bellamy angered me in a way but not for a selfish reason. What he did for Cardiff is undeniably a fantastic thing for a professional to do for his home town club. However, on leaving Cardiff at the end of the season, he was adamant that the only clubs he will be pulling on a shirt for in the 2011/12 season would be Cardiff or his current club Manchester City. This statement gave so much hope for us as Cardiff fans because the situation with him, Mancini and Man city as a club was well documented and looked as though there was never going to be a future for him there. So weeks went on when his quotes, interviews and statements gave more and more indication that a return to Cardiff would be on the cards, however he then made the decision to join Liverpool on deadline day when the opportunity came knocking. Now, I would never say that Bellamy shouldn't have joined Liverpool as when a team like that comes calling for you, only a fool would turn that down. But the fact that he had built up our hopes all summer of a return with the statements he was making was the one thing that angered me. I would have preferred for him to say as soon as he left that, yes I would like to come back to Cardiff but if a situation arises where the circumstances are right for me then i might not be returning to Cardiff. This would have then given me a more realistic look on Bellamy returning and not built up hopes of many fans with the promises he was making. However, he is now with Liverpool and am sure he will be as big a name this season as he has every other.
But now we have our new squad, along with the return of a cult hero of our ours, Robert Earnshaw and we now look at another long, tough season with a more positive outlook and one with less expectation on a team which is still under the rebuilding process. I personally only have one expectation and that is to perform at our best every game and show tat we are building up another great Cardiff City squad. the start we have made has impressed me no end and were currently in and out of the play-off places which again is an achievement for a brand new squad of players. Southampton are up next for us, a tough game for sure but let's see what we can do!
