PRESTON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 25: Cardiff City Manager Erol Bulut celebrates after the Sky Bet Championship match between Preston North End and Cardiff City at Deepdale on November 25, 2023 in Preston, England. (Photo by Ben Roberts Photo/Getty Images)
Cardiff City fan jury: Transfer demands, ‘dream’ signings from Bournemouth and Rotherham and tying Erol Bulut down
Cardiff City enter the January transfer window in a more stable place than they have been for the last couple of years. It has been refreshing and has provided some joyous moments for supporters.
But after a quick start, form has dropped off over the last six weeks as the Bluebirds limp slightly towards the new year, with manager Erol Bulut keen to inject more quality into the squad for that end-of-season push. Sign up to our Cardiff City newsletter here
But how are fans feeling about the club right now? And what would they like to see next month? We asked for opinions and plans and we got them in spades. Here’s what our fan jury had to say…
‘I would love the board to tie Bulut down to a long-term deal’
At the start of the season if you’d have offered me 30 points and 12th place at Christmas I’d have bitten your hand off. I think he’s massively overachieving given the transfer embargo and the fact that we haven’t got a recognised proven Championship striker or a deep-lying midfielder capable of playing forward and making us tick. I would love the board to tie Bulut down to a long-term deal and build on this start.
2) What has surpassed your expectations and what still needs to be worked on or changed?
Years I’ve been supporting Cardiff City: 19
1) What have you made of Erol Bulut and the team’s start to the season so far?
I love Erol! Overachieving, mastermind of the recruitment in such a hard position! He’s good with the fans, gives great insight and wants the best for the club.
2) What has surpassed your expectations and what still needs to be worked on or changed?
The competitiveness of the team. Without the issues of FFP we’d be a lot better off and the fact we’ve had a lot of injuries, too. We are making the best of what we can until January, when we will have a lot more flexibility to get players in.
3) January will be a big month for City – in your opinion, what do Cardiff need to do?
We need to address the attack. Kieffer, sign him right away! Get some more height in the midfield to complement Manolis Siopis, Joe Ralls and Aaron Ramsey. Obviously, we need cover at left-back (Callum O’Dowda can’t be rushed back).
4) Give us one dream signing and one realistic signing you’d like to see…
Kieffer is the obvious choice. Other than that…. Anastasios Bakasetas! He would instantly make us better.
5) Presuming the transfer window goes relatively smoothly, where do you expect Cardiff to finish come May?
If we can add quality and get our injured players back, then I can see at least a play-off run. If we can keep it up, I’d be delighted with a top-10 finish.
‘Kieffer Moore is still in his prime and would be a massive upgrade’
Name: Henry Saye
Years I’ve been supporting Cardiff City: Closer to 30 years than 20 now…
1) What have you made of Erol Bulut and the team’s start to the season so far?
Potentially the best manager I’ve seen in my time as a fan. Without a broken-down Connor Wickham we might be in League One now. Even under a transfer embargo we are battling for top six with an attack based around players no one else wanted.
2) What has surpassed your expectations and what still needs to be worked on or changed?
We only scored 42 goals last season. Even though we have recently hit a rocky patch due to fatigue, injuries and the embargo biting us, we are much better in front of goal.
It’s also bad luck that Ramsey picked up a knee injury because his performances were top quality and exceeded my expectations. Ramsey rolled back the years and showed that he still has plenty quality left in the tank.
3) January will be a big month for City – in your opinion, what do Cardiff need to do?
Goals win games. The MOORE goals we score the better chance we have of winning – everyone has heard the Moore return rumours by now. Moore is still in his prime, in my opinion, and would be a massive upgrade on anything we currently have.
You also win a game in midfield – Ramsey can pass and play at a high tempo. We need another central midfielder or two who can do that. We haven’t really had that in midfield since we had Tommy Doyle.
4) Give us one dream signing and one realistic signing you’d like to see…
It‘s Christmas so I’m having two – Kieffer Moore and Anastasios Bakasetas.
5) Presuming the transfer window goes relatively smoothly, where do you expect Cardiff to finish come May?
I want top six, if we have a good January and with a returning Ramsey. I also want to see a foundation of a team being created where we can bring through the youngsters and a plan for the future.
