Two In, One Out?
After weeks of endless speculation linking Bluebirds.tv’s Robert Earnshaw to every second rate Premiership club in need of a striker, it makes a change to comment on some incoming transfers.
Welsh international Robert Page replaces Spencer Prior as the defender trying to break up the partnership of James Collins and Gabbs at the centre of defence, while Tony Warner’s arrival has relegated Neil Alexander to third choice.
These are two solid transfers which will undoubtedly strengthen the squad overall, as well of course as the permanent signing of goalscoring midfielder Lee Bullock.
Lawrence hopes these signings will silence critics who complained about the lack of transfers but Bluebirds.tv still doesn’t think these three alone will be enough for the big promotion push that Sam Hammam desperately wants and the play-off spot Lennie hopes to achieve.
The newly named (and quite aptly) Championship is looking very strong in the run-up to it’s first season and whereas these signings are positive, City will need further signings just to maintain May’s final position as a mid-table club.
But if transfer news is thin on the ground, you can always do what Lennie does, and simply make some up.
"We have effectively signed six players in the last 48 hours." said Lawrence unconvincingly, making up for the lack of transfer activity with fictional signings.
Of course he was referring to players signing new contracts and praising those coming back from injury. But just how mainstays Martyn Margetson and Gary Croft signing new deals or the fact that Kav and Thorney may remain free from injury long enough to play a bit of football next season counts as signing new players is still something Bluebirds.tv is trying to work out.
The arrival of 6 foot 5 goalkeeper Tony Warner is good news as far as Bluebirds.tv is concerned, because we may now have somebody who can dominate the box, but it spells the end for Neil Alexander’s City career.
“Scotland’s… Number One… Scotland’s, Scotland’s, Number One” as he was affectionately known as at Ninian Park has now become City’s number three, or even four if Arran Lee Barrett has anything to do with it.
"It doesn't look good for me at Cardiff” said Alexander, stating the bleeding obvious, “I thought I would be trying to win my place back from Martyn next season.”
The player, who has not started a league game since December doesn’t have much to look forward to next season, apart from sitting on the bench in the FAW Premier Cup and is likely to move away or at least go out on loan.
“It's not that easy to find a new club” he explained, “not many clubs are looking for a new goalkeeper, especially one that concedes 14 goals in five games" he only partly added.
The defensive third is looking a lot stronger in view of the forthcoming season and there could be more reinforcements on the way with Sean Gregan of WBA, Celtic’s Jamie Smith and Birmingham loan target Darren Carter still being linked strongly.