2009-2010 Championship Previews

Last updated : 02 August 2009 By Rob Miles (barnsley Boy)

Manager: Dave Jones

Odds to win: 22/1. Odds for Promotion: 6/1

2008-2009:

Position: 7th W:19 D:17 L:10 F:65 A:53 Points: 74

Top Scorer: Ross McCormack (23)

FA Cup: Fourth Round

League Cup: Third Round

Yellows: 41 Reds: 5

Results against Reds:

16/9/08 Barnsley 0-1 Cardiff. 3/3/09 Cardiff 3-1 Barnsley

2009-2010:

Name: Dan Nelson

Club: Cardiff City FC

Level of Interest I.e Now and then, Every other week, season ticket holder etc)
Season ticket holder

How has pre-season gone for you?
The sale of Roger Johnson was expected & he has been replaced by Mark Hudson aswell as Anthony Gerrard. Goalkeeper and Defence has been sorted and looks strong. We are yet to sort out the centre of midfield. Two new centre midfielders are needed if we are to challenge to get into the top 6. The club were banking on the sale of ledley to be able to fund this i believe, but there is yet to be any bid as the asking price seems to be putting clubs off which means we are stuck with what we have in the mean time.
Our Pre-season results are
CARDIFF CITY 4 - 0 CHASETOWN
FATIMA 0-1 CARDIFF CITY - In Portugal
PRESIDENT'S XI
0-3 CITY - In Portugal
CARDIFF CITY
0-0 CELTIC

We play
Valencia on Saturday to conclude our pre-season.

Are you pleased with the signings your club has made?
Very pleased with what we have signed.
David Marshall looks like he could well be the answer to our goalkeeping problems.
Mark Hudson will turn out to be a solid player by this divisions standard though if the 1Million price tag is correct i think we have overpaid slightly.
Paul Quinn I think will really excell and become a fans favourite for his commitment he shows on the pitch!
Anthony Gerrard will have to bide his time to get into the first team ahead of Gypes and Hudson but he'll get that chance and I think he will take it in the manner Roger Johnson took it when he came to us. Gerrard is another one who I think will become a fans favourite.
What realistically are you aiming for this season?
Top 6 I should think if we manage to sell ledley and fund at least one new creative midfielder (Hopefully two!)

Which player has past his sell by date?
Warren Feeney - How he is still on our books i don't know, but we can't get rid of him I know that! Hes currently out injured!

Have you got the right manager in charge?
Yes I don't like Dave Jones, and I don't agree with certain things he does at the football club, but then I look at who's out there that we could realistically get and I don't believe there is any one who could actually do a better job with their hands tied like Jones have been.

What advice would you give him?
Stop Playing players out of position
Eg - Mcormack on the left and Commigues at Left Back
Also just to interact with the fans more, people may then start to like him, you never know!

Who do you see as your key player?
David Marshall - Last year we didn't have a permanent goalkeeper for the season which made it difficult for the defence to build any sort of relationship with any of the keepers we used. From what I have seen in Pre-Season I feel Dave Jones may have finally found a good goalkeeper on a Permanent basis.

Who would you most like to beat this season?
Swansea - At The Cardiff City Stadium

Where will you finish?
5th

How do you rate
Barnsley's chances next season and where do you think they will finish?

I think they will finish 16th or around about. They have got a few quality players with Campbell-Ryce, Anderson Silva, Hume and if they can stay fit I'm sure Barnsley will be fine.