Cardiff City will be targeting Premier League survival this season and nothing else. If the Bluebirds are to achieve this, then these five things need to happen throughout the course of the season.
Defensive solidity
Last season, Cardiff were one of the Championship’s best defences, conceding just 39 goals. If the Bluebirds are going to survive the drop in the Premier League, then they need to maintain that level of solidity at the back.
In the Premier League last season, all of the teams placed from 11th down to 20th conceded more than 50 goals. If the Bluebirds can keep the goals against at the lower end of that level, they’ll have a real good chance of survival.
Set-piece goals
21 of Cardiff’s 69 goals last season came from set-pieces – the most in the Championship. In a summer where we’ve seen the importance of set-pieces at the World Cup (ahem England…), Cardiff will need to continue their potency at set-pieces.
http://gty.im/1010924342
In Joe Ralls, Cardiff City possess a midfielder with great set-piece delivery, and with plenty of height in the team we’ll always be dangerous from a free-kick or corner. With Sol Bamba and Sean Morrison among the goals last year, there’s no reason why they can’t get a few more in the Premier League.
Beat the teams around us
It’s an age old saying, but to survive the drop a team must beat the teams around them. If we can pick up points throughout the season against the likes of Brighton, Huddersfield and Fulham, then we’ll be in a good position come May.
Anything else is a bonus. We can’t expect to beat the likes of Liverpool or Manchester City, so it’s so important that we do beat those around us.
In our last Premier League outing, it’s something we struggled to do. Losses to the likes of Swansea, Sunderland and Aston Villa ultimately cost us our place in the Premier League.
Keep our key players fit
With a lack of reinforcements in some areas, it’s more important than ever to keep our key players fit this season. Last season, the likes of Sean Morrison, Joe Ralls and Aron Gunnarsson all missed a spell of games and their absence was felt.
All are really important players and leaders on the pitch, so any chances of survival rest on having them in the team. Keeping Gunnarsson fit also means we can utilise his long throw – and keep Morrison in the box!
Keep the faith
http://gty.im/955568042
Listen, we’re going to lose games this season. We’ll probably lose a lot of games. It’s so important then to keep the faith and stay united, as a dressing room, club and fan base.
One of the best things about last season’s promotion was the togetherness shown between fans and the club, which is something we must continue in the Premier League.
If we’re losing, keep the faith. Keep singing. Don’t doubt Warnock or the players. Get behind them and they’ll fight ‘till the death for us.
That goes to Vincent Tan, too. Please keep the faith. If things start to go wrong, don’t do what so many owners do and hit the panic button.
Make sure you follow View From The Ninian on Facebook and Twitter.