Source: FOOTYMAD
2010-11 npower Championship Preview: Cardiff City
LeedsUnitedMAD take a look at the 24 teams whom will compete in the 2010/11 npower Championship; in this edition we feature Cardiff City. Matthew Gabb, 1927club.comAfter 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 11thThe 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, BurnleyGoing down Crystal Palace, Watford, MillwallWhen Do We Meet?Elland Road: 23 Oct 2010Cardiff City Stadium: 4 Jan 2011Previous Positions:2007-08: 12th2008-09: 7th2009-10: 4thOddsPromotion: 11/2Relegation: 9/1First Team SquadNote: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.No.PositionPlayer1GKDavid Marshall2DFKevin McNaughton4MFGavin Rae5DFMark Hudson (captain)6DFGábor Gyepes7MFPeter Whittingham8FWMichael Chopra9FWJay Bothroyd (vice-captain)10MFStephen McPhail (vice-captain)11MFChris Burke14DFPaul QuinnNo.PositionPlayer15DFAnthony Gerrard18MFSolomon Taiwo23MFDarcy Blake24DFMiguel Comminges27DFAdam Matthews28MFAaron Wildig44FWRoss McCormack49MFJonathan Meades—GKTom Heaton—GKJordan Santiago
