Cardiff fan Jordan Alexander, and Jamie Kemble from Inside Cardiff City, say it's been a successful season for the Bluebirds/Red Devils whether they make the play-offs or not.

Assess Cardiff City's season overall…

JK: It's been a good season for us. After a poor season last term, where the club was is a state of disarray, I think everyone is pleased we still have something to play for with five games left and even if we don't make the play-offs, we will be in a fantastic position to push on next season.

Our biggest problem this season, and what's held us back, has been our inability to kill off opponents and that's the biggest reason we've lost points. What I will say, however, is that we didn't spend a penny on new players last summer and the embargo in January meant we will finish the season without our spending peaking above nought, so to be in the position we're in makes us over-achievers in many ways anyway.

JA: Overall I feel we've overachieved. We've been up and around the play-off scene since the 2008/2009 season so outsiders mayve expect Cardiff to be up there all the time but according to Transfermarkt we've not spent any money at all this season. I'm not sure if that's true or not, considering we brought in Idriss Saadi, but I know that if there was a fee it was relatively small. So if you can compare our spending to our position, I think it's a fantastic feat to be up there.

Our biggest problem is inconsistency, although we've only suffered two home defeats this season and we only suffered two home defeats in our promotion season, so that's an impressive record. I think we've really missed out on not having an out and out goal scorer with both Joe Mason and Kenwyne Jones shipped out - although bar Jones being a physical presence and chipping in with the odd goal we're not really missing anything there. I think we've developed a good playing philosophy now - we've played some grittty stuff at times but we've also played some fantastic penetrative football which has been pleasing on the eye and what the fans have wanted. Even if we don't end up in the play-off places, anything above our finish of eleventh last season would be regarded as a success.

Still harbouring play-off hopes despite the Fulham loss?

JK: We've certainly given ourselves a mountain to climb but we all know the Championship is full of surprises. We're five points behind but as long as we can win our games, it'll only take one more slip-up from Sheffield Wednesday and it'll be in our hands because we still have to travel to Hillsborough. It won't be easy and it certainly remains unlikely but it's not impossible.

JA: Only just so. I felt that it was our biggest opportunity, especially seeing the Sheffield Wednesday scoreline at Ashton Gate come in, but we failed to capitalise. Mind you if we had won and Sheffield Wednesday won then the gap would be the same. You only have to look at the top six and see the stature of the clubs and how much they've spent this season to see how tough it is and we're only just a few points off. I don't think we'll achieve a play-off spot but there are still plenty of twists and turns that can happen. We usually finish the season strongly so hopefully we can grind that out. What will be will be.

Parachute payments almost done and crowds down, what are the consequences of staying in this division next season and possibly beyond?

JK: The club is now in a good way and staying in the division may even benefit us in many ways. Vincent Tan has introduced plans to create a debt-free club within five years and so our finances are the healthiest they've been for many a year. The fans are back on board with the club opening its doors to supporters with ticketing initiatives which recently brought a new club-record crowd of more than 28,000. Average attendances are down but we all know success is the biggest factor in whether fans turn up or not. In a way, we weren't ready for success last time we were promoted and that showed but now the fans are behind the club and are working with the club as well as the financial situation being sorted, we seem ready for a big push in the next couple of years.

JA: We earned a profit last season, due to player sales but I believe we've faced the worst now in terms of the effects of losing our parachute payments. Vincent Tan is a rich benefactor and he's recently converted his debt to equity, with us now only being in debt of £40m, down from about £160m. He's also sorted our long outstanding debt to Sam Hammam, so I believe the financial future could be bright. We've had really low crowds this season which I feel has been harsh on the players but after last season where we weren't challenging for anything and the atmosphere at the club was toxic, then I can see why fans haven't come. But recently we've given incentives, by giving free tickets, where we broke our Championship record attendance. We are also giving free tickets out for Saturday although I expect the crowd to be less of the one against Derby. We do need Premier League football though as we don't want to lose young fans to Swansea, we want to pack our 32k stadium week in, week out.

Is Russell Slade the man to get you promoted? If not who?

JK: It's difficult to say because Russell has really had his hands tied. When Slade came in he had a professional playing squad of around 50 and he was given the task of weeding out the players with bad attitudes and halving the squad to get a professional playing staff back at the club. This season, when he should have been given the chance to push on, he's had to deal with a transfer embargo and despite spending nothing, he has got us into a very competitive position. There's no telling whether Russell Slade has what it takes to get the club promoted but he certainly deserves an opportunity to do so. There are very few managers who guarantee you promotion, only Neil Warnock comes close to that so it's worth giving managers who have earned their chance an opportunity. Craig Bellamy certainly isn't the answer.

JA: Russell Slade has his limits and in all honesty I can't see him delivering Premier League football but he wasn't brought here to deliver that. He was brought here to steady the ship, bring down the wage bill and keep us competitive and he's definitely achieved that. I would give him another year as I think he's earned that, but our fans want us to bring in Neil Warnock as he's experienced and has taken many teams out of the division.

How are relations with the owners these days?

JK: Things have taken a turn for the better at Cardiff City on and off the field and Vincent Tan's surprise visit a couple of months a go went down a treat. Tan is investing massive amounts of money to pay off a long standing debt to a former owner and he will make the club debt-free within the next five years. I don't think he will ever be forgiven for changing the colour and badge but the Bluebirds' faithful can certainly see that it takes a brave man to reverse a decision like that and it doesn't happen much in football. Vincent rarely attends games so it's difficult to perceive the feeling fans have toward him but it's certainly not a negative one and the club is on the up.

JA: Our relations with the owner have gotten stronger in a way but he doesn't attend as many games as he did in our promotion season and our Premier League season. I believe he has our best interests in his heart. As mentioned, he's brought our debt down, converted debt to equity and he's not been as influential as previous seasons on the tactics and players.

Stand out players and weak links in the current team?

JK: Lex Immers joined us on loan in January from Feyenoord and the attacking midfielder has five goals. Immers is a real talent and hopefully he'll be here beyond his loan spell. The Dutchman tends to arrive in the box at the right time, every time and has a real impact on the game.

Other than the obvious goalkeeper David Marshall, Anthony Pilkington has evolved from a winger to a striker to become a real threat and Bruno Manga is solid at the back. Former Palace midfielder Stuart O'Keefe seems to cause everyone problems at the moment with his energetic displays and I'm sure you know what Peter Whittingham is capable of. The only real weak-link is Scott Malone at left-back...the lad who scored a screamer against you in the final moments during the return fixture but I think he may be replaced by former Ranger Fabio this weekend.

JA: Our stand out players would have to be the obvious David Marshall who has been great in between the sticks this season, although he's bit of a loose cannon and tends to lose his concentration fairly easily. Bruno Manga is a rock at the back and has been consistent throughout the season. Stuart O'Keefe has been a revelation of late, he's been consistent in the midfield, with a great engine on him, breaking up the play and frustrating the opposition. Our weak link would have to be Scott Malone who serves no real purpose, continuously getting caught out by the opposition.

Short, medium and long term aims for the club?

JK: Short-term we're certainly looking at getting promotion but it's going to be tough this year and if it doesn't happen then that will undoubtedly become our medium goal. Long-term I think everyone's just looking forward to having a debt-free club. The positive changes this year leave very few boxes un-ticked and so we only have things to look forward to as an oppose to having real goals... except for promotion of course.

JA: Short term, I'd like us to continue in our attempts of a play-off spot, it's still in sight although games are running out. Medium term future I would like for us to remain competitive as we have been but instead of buying players, we produce players from our developmental and academy systems, as that's what fans want to see, local talent who have pride in wearing the shirt. In the long term future I'd like to see us back in the Premier League, with as mentioned some local Welsh talent in our line-up, with the attendances back up, there's no reason we can't achieve what Swansea have done.

The Twitter @InsideCCFC, @JordsAlexJones, @loftforwords
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TacticalR added 14:51 - Apr 14 Thanks to Jordan and Jamie. Things sound surprisingly positive given the transfer ban and the previous animosity between fans and owner. It sounds like the main factor is Tan taking a back seat and letting Slade get on with running things things.
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isawqpratwcity added 18:20 - Apr 14 Thanks to all for that. I was impressed, too, by the sort-out from a bloated squad and a transfer embargo and still be competitive. The Tan situation sounds very encouraging with his backing down on the kit - that must have cost the bloke some pride - as well as the fantastic moves on the debt front. Respect.
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