Is the Championship bound to witness a Year of the Dragon?
Both Swansea and Cardiff City find themselves on the brink of promotion, a mere five points between the two and the fashion in which they are promoted. The capital, Cardiff City currently reside in 2nd place eight points behind leaders QPR, who look more and more assured of going up as champions. So, with that second spot being the one to fight for, the question rises whether Cardiff can withstand the last four trials and finally reach the Premier League, or falter at the last hurdle as they have before to spend another season in limbo.
The reasons for Cardiff’s latest and greatest promotion challenge are obvious when looking at this season’s additions to the squad. As well as bringing in transfers like Tom Heaton, who has performed massively for the team this year, despite an extensive injury around Christmas, loan deals have been particularly influential.
Until a summer transfer embargo was lifted, the club had to make the most of their loan deals, and did they ever. To name a few, Craig Bellamy, Seyi Olofinjana and Jason Koumas (in his second stint at the club) have all played key roles since joining the team. Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has also come up with his share of goals since arriving in January.
So, it’s obvious that new players have been vital in the 2010-11 campaign, but Cardiff City have been knocking at the proverbial door of the Premier League for a few years now. In 2009, the team died off towards the latter end of the season as may Championship sides do, and finished 7th, just outside the playoff places. Last season the club went one better to reach the playoff final and actually looked as if promotion was sealed. However, a stubborn performance by Ian Holloway’s Tangerines made sure that Blackpool were the team to go up instead.
Dave Jones has done well to maintain his team’s momentum though. Occasionally, players can become fed up of getting so close but not seeing the benefits. However, taking the transfer embargo and available funds into account, the ex-Everton full-back has done well to encourage his squad’s consistent performances. Jay Bothroyd in particular has only improved under Jones with a current tally of 19 goals for the season. Since his arrival in 2005, Jones has done nothing but help the club and given he can stick out these last four games, will surely be seeing a return to managing in the Premier League.
So what of Wales’ ‘second biggest club’. Despite risking the wrath of many a Liberty Stadium regular, Swansea have remained somewhat in Cardiff’s shadow when it comes to Welsh football. If there was any time for that tradition to be turned around however, it looks as if Brendan Rodgers will have to pounce on the opportunity now. Whereas Cardiff City have made the gradual steps to becoming serious title contenders, Swansea have made a somewhat rapid ascent to the Championship’s playoff spots. This being only their third term in the NPower Championship, they haven’t finished outside the top eight yet and looked to boost that record with a place in the playoff finals.
Scott Sinclair was brought in at the beginning of the season for £500,000, but could rise to £1m depending on how well the 22 year-old does at the club. Unfortunately, if Sinclair continues in his current form, the Swans look certain to be paying this further sum. Given it gains them access to English football’s elite however, It could look to be a savvy bit of business. The ex-Chelsea man has netted 22 times in 39 appearances for Swansea since his summer arrival. Along with this, the Swans defence has been in good form too, with veteran Garry Monk and native Welshman Ashley Williams also doing more than their part for the club this year.
I feel my impartiality has made it far enough and I’d like to think that, being from the Welsh capital myself, Cardiff have done enough to clinch automatic promotion. The players face what could turn out to be the most important game of their lives when QPR come to the Cardiff City Stadium in the early kick-off on Saturday 23rd April. Swansea will be crossing their fingers and just about any other appendage they can cross that the Bluebirds drop three points, but that’s quite a few ‘ifs, buts and maybes’ to take into account.
Dave Jones will be feeling comfortable with his side’s recent results and has all the momentum on his side to finish the campaign with flair. Now nobody wants to peg their promotion hopes on coincidence, but the club are enjoying their 100th season under the name ‘Cardiff City F.C’. The slogan “I’ll be there” has been the motto attached to commemorate the year and although I’m not one for superstition, it is an awfully convenient precursor for a team seeking bigger and better pastures. No matter the point totals at seasons’ end, I think both teams have become fearsome enough opponents to progress the leagues. Whether it’s one, both or neither, 2010-11 has definitely been a good Year for the Dragon.
