We asked the guys at View From The Ninian to take on our Q&A ahead of the trip for Palace to South Wales at the weekend. We thank them for their time and here is what they told us.
Q. No better place to begin than with Vincent Tan. He has had quite an impact since he took over at the club but what is your view?
Vincent Tan. The man with the plan. I really don’t like the bloke. When he first came in we couldn’t believe our luck. A rich and seemingly trustworthy bloke who wanted to invest in us. The kit change was just the start of a series of baffling decisions. The kit change wasn’t thought through and simply hasn’t had the effect Tan would have led us to believe. His disrespect for Cardiff City’s history and tradition is blatant and his awful decision to sack Malky and Moody has destabilised this club.
Q. Can Solskjaer keep Cardiff in the Premier League or do you think you would have had a better chance with Mackay still in charge?
I think Solskjaer can keep us up. Our play has certainly been more positive since he’s taken charge but the results still haven’t gone for us. I think our chances of staying up would have been improved if Tan hadn’t started meddling. Our downfall can be traced back to when Moody was sacked without warning. If Malky had stayed and the club hadn’t been destabilised we would have stayed up. If Ole had come in earlier we would have had a better chance of staying up.
Q. As you know, us Palace fans have a soft spot for Wilf Zaha. How is he doing for you since arriving on loan from Manchester United?
Wilf has blown hot and cold since his arrival. I think his confidence has taken a battering since being at Manchester United. No game time and no belief in him has left him struggling. But he has been getting better. At the start he tried to do a bit too much when he had the ball. He would go past a man and then do an extra trick or make the wrong decision on who to pass to. Against West Brom on the weekend just past, he looked better. More confidence and he was instrumental in our third goal.
Q. Who do you think will win the title this season and which three teams will be relegated?
Liverpool blew us away recently and I really can’t see past them for the title. I’d prefer Manchester City to win but I just think Liverpool have the momentum and Rodgers has instilled such belief into them.
To go down? I can see Fulham and Sunderland dropping out. But then the third place? I can’t say Cardiff City so it’s between us and West Brom really. Norwich City have a nightmare run in so I can’t really discount them. Too tight to call!
Q. Which Cardiff player has impressed and which has disappointed this season?
The players who have impressed have been Jordan Mutch, Craig Noone and, since January, Mats Daehli. Both Mutch and Noone have been so dangerous for us and most of our good play has come from them. Mutch should, by rights, be getting an England call up. Noone is knocking on the door. And Daehli is just such a positive player, he is only 18 but he is inventive and tough and has really given our team a new edge.
It’s hard to pick a player who has disappointed. Odemwingie was a waste of time for us but is banging them in at Stoke. Kenwyne Jones hasn’t done much since arriving in January.
Q. If you could choose any three players from the past that played for Cardiff that you feel would improve the current team, who would they be and why?
Golly. I’ll say:
- Jason Koumas – but only if he was in the form he found when he played for us. Just a creative genius.
- Jay Bothroyd – a brilliant target man and scored goals for us. Inventive, quick. The England call up went to his head but I’d have him back.
- Graham Kavanagh – a player who always led by example and scored goals as well as made them.
Q. Who do you think Cardiff should be concerned about from the Palace line up and vice versa?
I’d be wary of Bolasie. The guy is full of tricks and pace and could really cause our defence some problems. Jerome was always a thorn in our side when we played you at Selhurst Park.
See above for my players. Mutch is so dangerous that he will cause you problems all afternoon.
Q. How do you think Palace have fared in their return to the Premier League?
Well, you’ve done far better than I thought you would. I’ll be honest, I thought Palace were the weakest of all the promoted sides but Holloway leaving was the best thing to happen to you. Pulis has come in and sorted you guys out. He’s made you hard to beat and got you vital wins when it mattered. He has turned your season around.
Q. Your prediction for this one?
I’ve got to say Cardiff City to win. You don’t concede many so I think we will win 1-0. I have to!
Q. And finally, tell us a little about yourself and anything that you would like to promote.
I’m a 26 year old Cardiff City fan who has been going to watch them play for 23 years. I really don’t like the red and I really don’t like what has happened to my football club. But it’s very hard to walk away.
I don’t really have anything to promote but if you want to hear more of my thoughts about Cardiff City and football in general, follow me on Twitter @ViewFromTheNin.
