Cardiff City are set to resume their Championship campaign this week with a fight on their hands if they are to push themselves up the table and into a more comfortably position come the new year.
It follows a tough start to the campaign which has included a change of manager from Steve Morison to Mark Hudson and the biggest squad overhaul in years.
It has left fans across south Wales, and across the world where applicable, feeling a range of emotions and harbouring strong feelings on how best to tackle the challenges ahead in order to make the club more sustainable and successful moving forward.
We asked for opinions and plans and we got them in spades. Here's what our fan jury had to say...
'We must get rid of the 4-3-3 and bring in a 4-2-3-1'
Name : Peter Bradbury. Age : 40.
Year I went to my first Cardiff City game : 1990.
1) Cardiff find themselves near the foot of the table for the second year running. In your view, what has gone wrong this season?
In my opinion it's been a combination of two things. Firstly is the issue with recruitment. Until City get a director of football we will struggle to have a long-term vision in bringing in players to suit a philosophy.
Second is management. Steve Morison was never going to be the answer and the club panicked and gave him a new contract and had to sack him. I feel this is the same with Mark Hudson. I cannot understand why we haven't played Rubin Colwill at 10 in a 4-2-3-1 rather than the rigid 4-3-3 which hasn't worked all season.
I am really worried that we lack a plan and that we are conceding too many goals. We must tighten up and other more of a threat at the other end of the pitch.
2) What on-field changes would you like to see? Which players need to be playing more? Or any tactics that need changing?
We must get rid of the 4-3-3 and bring in a 4-2-3-1.
3) More broadly speaking, what off-field changes would you like to see implemented to get the club back on a more successful pathway?
I want a director of football brought in, I want the end of the transfer committee and I also want a full time CEO in place. It is shocking that we don't have anyone running the day-to-day operations of the football club. I doubt Vincent Tan would allow this in any other of his businesses. I feel Ken Choo's time is up as well. If he won't do the job full time then he has to go.
4) What do Cardiff need in the upcoming transfer window?
I think we need another striker (a target man), a left-back and a midfield creator. I suspect we will be reliant on the loan market. Problem is we are trying to do things on the cheap and January is notoriously a difficult market. However we must get some quality in as we are in a precarious position in the League.
5) How do you feel about the appointment of Mark Hudson? Are you confident he is the man to carry out the plan to get Cardiff back near the top of the table?
He's a club legend and I've liked what I heard in a podcast I listened to a few years ago but I am concerned at his reluctance to play Colwill centrally.
I don't agree with giving him to the end of the season and wanted the club to appoint Rob Edwards who now has gone to Luton or Neil Critchley who is out of work. However he's got the job and I will get behind him but I want to see an improvement.
I was never a fan of Steve Morison because of the way he treated our younger players. Hudson needs to build around them as I think they are more talented than some of the players that regularly play. Plus, he needs to ditch the 4-3-3.
'Signing attacking players is January priority and I like Luke Harris'
Name : Andy Evans. Age : 23.
Year I went to my first Cardiff City game : 2011.
1) Cardiff find themselves near the foot of the table for the second year running. In your view, what has gone wrong this season?
We're the lowest scorers in the league and, quite simply, the investment wasn't strong enough during the summer to build an attacking line up capable of being a consistent threat. Callum Robinson has helped, but there's only so much quality you can bring in on free transfers and low wages.
Steve Morison shaped the squad into something more progressive, but there's still a lot more work to be done.
2) What on-field changes would you like to see? Which players need to be playing more? Or any tactics that need changing?
I feel for Hudson, because I feel he's picked up a squad with limited options. Colwill is the obvious name to come in, but even though I do think he has the potential to become a top, top player, he has to prove he has the ability to carry the team, rather than just show moments of talent.
It might feel negative, but the team is probably best off starting with a back five - Mahlon Romeo and Niels Nkounkou seem better attacking outlets than our wingers at this point and getting them further forward might be beneficial.
3) More broadly speaking, what off-field changes would you like to see implemented to get the club back on a more successful pathway?
It's time for the board to move on. I don't believe that Vincent Tan has had much interest in the club from the moment that the colours changed back to blue, and certainly his attendance record would back that up.
At this point the only activities going on at board level seem to be in aid of recovering as much of Tan's investment as possible. The communication between the board and fans is next to non-existent. The club is stagnant at best, and desperately needs new enthusiasm and ideas.
4) What do Cardiff need in the upcoming transfer window?
The priority has to be getting some new attacking players in. Who the club would be able to afford is anybody's guess at this point. The loan market would seem to be our best opportunity, but it's extremely competitive. At our position in the league, we'd be likely to be feeding off the scraps.
In an ideal world, we'd be able to look at players like Cameron Archer. I love a stereotypical Welsh pick, so how about Luke Harris at Fulham?
5) How do you feel about the appointment of Mark Hudson? Are you confident he is the man to carry out the plan to get Cardiff back near the top of the table?
I don't think Hudson is the right man to progress the side into top half material, but he might be a steady enough hand to keep us up. Ideally Rob Edwards would have come in, but the club never really appeared to look elsewhere.
'It’s imperative we get someone on the board with a ‘football brain’'
Name : Jamie Pryor. Age : 30.
Year I went to my first Cardiff City game : 1996.
1) Cardiff find themselves near the foot of the table for the second year running. In your view, what has gone wrong this season?
Ultimately it’s what wins you games, which is scoring goals. We’ve been unlucky we haven’t managed to get our strongest team out all season yet but hopefully that changes when the season resumes.
We get into very good areas and play some lovely football these days but we have to start finding the back of the net when we’re on top in games as that’s what is the difference at the moment in getting points or losing a game narrowly.
2) What on-field changes would you like to see? Which players need to be playing more? Or any tactics that need changing?
I have thought with the players we have available to us, and the poor form on the whole of our wingers, that a three-at-the-back would suit us, especially having a left-footed centre-back for balance in Jack Simpson.
I do think if we can get Sean Morrison into a position where he can play Championship football again then he will be a huge asset at both ends of the pitch on set pieces as this is where we are struggling defensively.
One thing for sure is that we do need to get Rubin Colwill on the pitch as much as possible but in a central attacking role as I feel he’s wasted out wide with his ability and lack of pace. I do think having Isaak Davies back and the unknown of Ebou Adams will help us and give us options we don’t have currently.
3) More broadly speaking, what off-field changes would you like to see implemented to get the club back on a more successful pathway?
I think it’s the obvious ones and a lot of fans agree. More dialogue is needed from the senior officials at the club and the fans need to be kept in the loop with what is going on.
The project going on in Llanrumney is excellent and Steve Borley is doing a great job keeping fans up to date. More of that would go a long way with fans.
I do also think it’s imperative that we get someone on the board who has a ‘football brain’ who can help oversee all things football related. That will allow Ken Choo, Mehmet Dalman etc to do and concentrate on what they are good at which is the business and finance side of the club.
4) What do Cardiff need in the upcoming transfer window?
I’ve thought about this for a few weeks now and I feel three areas are massive for us. The first is at left-back. I don’t feel comfortable with Niels Nkounkou there and he has struggled hugely at times to the extent of being hooked and us moving a winger in Callum O’Dowda there. Hudson obviously doesn’t rate or trust Joel Bagan as for me, he should be there now. It was a massive shame when Jamilu Collins got injured as he looked superb and was probably the best left-back in the league at the time.
The next would be out wide. We have been poor there this season. O’Dowda started like a train but has dipped off where Jaden Philogene and Sheyi Ojo have been extremely ineffective on the whole. Philogene has improved just before the break but with the injury he has, who knows how he will come back. If we can get someone in to just come and run at players with pace that would be welcome and get some decent delivery into the box.
The last would be up top and a bit of help for Robinson. I’m a huge fan of Mark Harris and I feel what he does for the team is so important with his hassling and work rate but we need someone to come in and be a threat in front of goal and aerially. Jordan Hugill was huge for us last year and I wouldn’t be against getting him again.
Kion Etete has looked way off the standard of Championship football but in the Peter Whittingham Memorial Match he looked a completely different player. He gave Tyrone Mings, Calum Chambers and Ezri Konsa a torrid time and they couldn’t deal with him at times. Scored two really good goals too so if he can replicate that in the Championship then he will be very useful for second part of season.
5) How do you feel about the appointment of Mark Hudson? Are you confident he is the man to carry out the plan to get Cardiff back near the top of the table?
I really like Mark Hudson, especially as a player, captain and as a human being. He got off to a lightning start with seven points from nine and then that terrible week with three defeats came, albeit there were reasons for them which weren’t our fault and a player's naivety costing us in the derby.
I do think he will guide us away from danger and at the moment I’m not worried about relegation as I feel we are playing well enough to get points. Whether that will be good enough for the hierarchy who knows but we do have to stop sacking managers on a whim without a clear idea of what we’re doing. If it were up to me, we would still have Steve Morison in charge but that’s gone now and I will throw all my support behind Hudson for as long as he is the manager of my club.
'I love Mark Hudson, he really understands the club and the fans'
Name : Jamie Anderson
Year I went to my first Cardiff City game : 2004 (Len Ashurst testimonial game against Birmingham City at Ninian Park).
1) Cardiff find themselves near the foot of the table for the second year running. In your view, what has gone wrong this season?
Inconsistent. Results haven’t gone our way but it’s not for the want of trying. We have played well in some games and have been unlucky to be on the wrong end of decisions (such as Coventry).
Injuries to key players haven’t helped either. Jamilu Collins and Isaak are/were huge losses, and that's to name just two!
2) What on-field changes would you like to see? Which players need to be playing more? Or any tactics that need changing?
When Isaak comes back to full fitness, he starts for me. We seem to need that direct trickery from our wingers. Jaden Philogene showed for a few games how effective it can be.
Rubin to start, too. He can pick the key passes for Callum Robinson to score the much-needed goals
3) More broadly speaking, what off-field changes would you like to see implemented to get the club back on a more successful pathway?
I do like the idea of a director of football who can help the footballing side of things. The board can concentrate on the financial aspects of the club and the director of football could assist with the recruitment.
4) What do Cardiff need in the upcoming transfer window?
I believe we could do with a striker, maybe an experienced one (Hugill) a creative midfielder to complement Joe Ralls/Ryan Wintle/Ebou Adams/Andy Rinohmota. These are the two main areas I’d say.
5) How do you feel about the appointment of Mark Hudson? Are you confident he is the man to carry out the plan to get Cardiff back near the top of the table?
I love Mark! A lovely guy both on and off the pitch who really does understand the club and the fans.
He, for one, will want to get up that table! He and his staff will give 110% for the fans.
'Bringing the youth through is more important now than ever before'
Name : Sarah Leck
1) Cardiff find themselves near the foot of the table for the second year running. In your view, what has gone wrong this season?
I fully expected an average season with all the new signings. I liked the style of play under Morison. Over the course of the season I think things would have improved. The players would have got used to the system, and each other. However once Morison got sacked we were back to square one.
2) What on-field changes would you like to see? Which players need to be playing more? Or any tactics that need changing?
Morison liked to keep the ball on the ground, Hudson appears to go with both that and route one when necessary. That's fine, but at times we are too slow and predictable, not much to get the fans off their seats, and easy to defend against.
I love Hudson and hope he can get them playing the exciting game we all want to see. The most frustrating thing is we constantly give the ball away! Would like to see more of Isaak Davies now he's fit and of course Rubin Colwill. Bringing the youth through is more important now than ever before. We have to keep producing young talent.
3) More broadly speaking, what off-field changes would you like to see implemented to get the club back on a more successful pathway?
More interaction with the fans is crucial. A lot of people feel that the hierarchy 'just don't care'. Owners come and go, but the club belongs to the fans, we will always be here. It's hard work buying tickets, trying to get through on the phone and the club shop seems to be closed more than it's open (though they may make more of an effort for Christmas).
A lot of people have received totally wrong items when ordering online, and nobody answers the phones! So frustrating. The club need to listen to it's fanbase.
4) What do Cardiff need in the upcoming transfer window?
Well we have no money, but the obvious weakness is up front. We create plenty of chances, don't score, then the opposition have one chance and we're 0-1 down. It happens so often. They have to be more ruthless and take a shot instead of passing it around, only to lose possession.
I often wonder where we'd be if we still had Kieffer Moore. But we're probably stuck with what we've got due to finances.
5) How do you feel about the appointment of Mark Hudson? Are you confident he is the man to carry out the plan to get Cardiff back near the top of the table?
As I said before, I love Hudson. He was a great player for us and is Cardiff through and through. I just sometimes wonder if he's ' too nice'. He is probably the opposite personality to Morison. He is left with another man's team, only time will tell if he can get us up the table.
'We need to see Kion Etete given more game-time'
Name : Barry Murphy Age : 41
Year I went to my first Cardiff City game: 1987 (0-0 draw against Stockport County).
1) Cardiff find themselves near the foot of the table for the second year running. In your view, what has gone wrong this season?
For me, this was always going to be a season of transition with new playing style and new squad so there was no pressure of expectation from me. However, giving a new squad such a short space of time before sacking the manager meant the pressure was on from early on. Inconsistent performances and lack of spark in final third now seem a regular thing.
2) What on-field changes would you like to see? Which players need to be playing more? Or any tactics that need changing?
Callum Robinson has definitely made a difference but we need to see Kion Etete given more game time as well. He's become something of an easy target recently but how can you judge a player from late appearances from the bench. A fit Isaak Davies will add a much needed spark and I think we'd all like to see Rubin Colwill given an extended run.
3) More broadly speaking, what off-field changes would you like to see implemented to get the club back on a more successful pathway?
We need a director of football as a link between the board and the manager. Too many non-football people making football decisions. We've gone in circles for the last eight to 10 years, firstly with the playing style and now with the short-term tenure of managers.
4) What do Cardiff need in the upcoming transfer window?
Rumours that Cody Drameh may be available in January. As much as I've been impressed by Mahlon Romeo, I'd love to see us go back in for Drameh. Depending on fitness of Isaak Davies, maybe bring in another pacy, creative attacker and a big striker. I'm all for promoting our youth players and there's calls for that on social media but it's the wrong situation to be throwing untried kids into the mix right now.
5) How do you feel about the appointment of Mark Hudson? Are you confident he is the man to carry out the plan to get Cardiff back near the top of the table?
One thing I never understand is when you sack a manager then promote the assistant as new manager. Only proves the sacking was a quickfire decision. I loved Hudson as a player and captain but he is still very raw as a manager. I'm happy to give any new manager time but I think Huds could do with an old head alongside him to help in the situation we are currently in.
'From the outside it feels like a rudderless ship'
Name: Tim Wegener. Age: 52
Year I went to my first Cardiff City game: 1981.
1) Cardiff find themselves near the foot of the table for the second year running. In your view, what has gone wrong this season?
To be honest I don’t think we are that far off being competitive. It’s not as if anyone has outplayed us 11v11. Biggest and most obvious issue was not signing a couple of first-team strikers in the summer.
Callum Robinson was a good addition, but too little to late. Etete may well come good, but was clearly not ready. At the back, Jamilu Collins' injury was a massive blow. Followed immediately by Joel Bagan’s. Niels Nkonkou has been inconsistent as replacement. So although we are competing in most games we lose out in both boxes.
2) What on-field changes would you like to see? Which players need to be playing more? Or any tactics that need changing?
I don’t think there’s an awful lot more we could do. I’d have liked to have seen Bagan back in earlier - seems to have been brought back into the bench then abandoned and like most I am hopeful that Davies and Colwill can start to become regulars now.
3) More broadly speaking, what off-field changes would you like to see implemented to get the club back on a more successful pathway?
Off-field. I’d like to see more and clearer communication from the owner and the CEO and chairman. The structure of the club seems unbalanced with no clarity of who’s the decision maker.
From the outside it seems Vincent Tan is involved in operational decisions and with neither of Dalman nor Choo as full-time employees it gives fans a feeling of a rudderless ship. I would also like to see more incentives to get kids down there, we need to ensure the next generation are given the chance to become fans like we were.
4) What do Cardiff need in the upcoming transfer window?
We need more options up front. A dominant centre forward like Hugill . At the back I think we are a bit vulnerable and I would bring Mark McGuinness back and play him. I don’t want to bring too many in as I’d like to give Davies, Colwill and Bagan chance to develop.
If we can stabilise our position then hopefully others will get the chance to step up later in the season like James Crole and Joel Colwill.
5) How do you feel about the appointment of Mark Hudson? Are you confident he is the man to carry out the plan to get Cardiff back near the top of the table?
I’m biased about Hudson as I really like the guy. Only time will tell if he can turn it around. I’d just like everyone to give him a fair chance. Would be nice if just for once we developed our own managerial talent. I thought that was where we were going with Morison mind...
'We are struggling because of a lack of investment'
Name: Gareth Gardner. Age: 42
Year I went to my first Cardiff City game: 1988 (Aarhus with my father. Season ticket holder for 15 years).
1) Cardiff find themselves near the foot of the table for the second year running. In your view, what has gone wrong this season?
This season too many changes on and off the pitch would be the reason I’d say we are struggling. But I believe due to lack of investment, this has been coming since we were relegated from the Premier League.
2) What on-field changes would you like to see? Which players need to be playing more? Or any tactics that need changing?
On-field changes, I really don’t know. I still don’t think we know our strongest 11 or even formation. I’m expecting Mark to do the same as last season and play the five-at-the-back with wing-backs to make us harder to beat, as Steve Morrison did last season.
Personally, I would like to see more youngsters coming off the bench, but understand it’s tricky in the situation we are currently in.
3) More broadly speaking, what off-field changes would you like to see implemented to get the club back on a more successful pathway?
Off-field changes, I’d like to see someone between the board and management overlooking the club as a whole. Something Steve McPhail is currently doing at Shamrock Rovers. A sporting director kind of role.
I also think Mark needs help with more experienced coaches.
4) What do Cardiff need in the upcoming transfer window?
Tricky question to bring in players with the lack of investment. If I had to name some then Jordan Hugill on loan again as he is out of contract in the summer. Or Lyle Taylor, another experienced option up top who’s not playing regularly.
Hopefully Sean Morrison can come back to tighten us up the at back and Mark Hudson can find a good midfielder in the Tommy Doyle mode of player.
5) How do you feel about the appointment of Mark Hudson? Are you confident he is the man to carry out the plan to get Cardiff back near the top of the table?
Great guy and will likely create a good team spirit if he can turn a few results around. Proven coach but unproven manager. Time will tell I suppose, but I’m not confident and would have preferred us to look elsewhere.
Not many managers lose six out of the last eight games and get a job. If he gets a good team around him though, you never know.
READ NEXT
- Who is Gabriele Biancheri, the 16-year-old Cardiff City starlet linked with Man Utd and Chelsea who just made the step up
- Cardiff City transfer news as Preston boss rules out move for Bluebirds target
- South Wales derby cranks up pressure as competitive nature that league is crying out for is on full display
- The best pictures from Swansea City Ladies v Cardiff City Women as gritty clash ends in stalemate
- Cardiff City headlines as Leeds United legend warns them over Bluebirds rivalry
