Thoughts naturally shift to the upcoming season and how Cardiff City builds on what has been a generally successful 12 months as the 2023–24 campaign approaches its end.
The team has made significant progress this season in long-term planning, signing several players to new deals as they consider their options going forward. Regrettably, the coaching and managerial aspects have not been given the same consideration, as manager Erol Bulut and his coaching staff remain in the dark on their own fate.
While the exact funding Cardiff will have this summer is unknown, past performance suggests they won’t be throwing millions of pounds at the team.
Nevertheless, a lot of the players that are currently signed will seem like fresh acquisitions come football season. Several players will feel like fresh additions, but how big of a role they play may depend on how well they perform in the preseason. Let’s examine this.
Isaak Davies, a guy who has played for the Bluebirds for 43 outings and has been with the team since he was eight years old, may sound like a strange choice, but that is just how it will feel.
Davies, who left Cardiff last summer, will be a completely different player when he returns.
The Welsh striker, who had been on loan at KV Kortrijk, had his best season to date with nine goals for the Belgian premier division team.
After spending a season as Cardiff’s primary striker and gaining confidence in front of goal, the 22-year-old required a year away from the team. He has, in fact, relished that with Cardiff’s Belgian sister club.
Having scored more goals this season than any other Bluebirds striker, he is expected to contribute significantly to his parent club’s success the upcoming campaign. Compared to Cardiff’s existing striker stable, which is fairly inadequate, he offers something quite different.
Cardiff has suffered a tremendous loss this year with the international for the Republic of Ireland. Apart from that incredible winger against Ipswich, this season has been a complete washout for the player with just 10 appearances and five starts.
During his first season in the Welsh capital, he was one of Cardiff’s most reliable players, able to play left-back, wing-back, and high up on the left side. He was also frequently the first name on the squad sheet.Obviously the most obvious, but Ramsey has been a huge miss this season, much like O’Dowda.
Considering his history of injuries, many did not think the Wales captain would be involved for the entire season, but the team would have anticipated more than 13 appearances from him.
During his five-month layoff in the middle of the season, Cardiff’s campaign completely collapsed. His preseason class encouraged an aesthetically beautiful style of play, but his absence before the football style rapidly deteriorated.