Cardiff City were relegated to EFL League One last season following a 24th-place finish in the EFL Championship. Now, the Bluebirds will be looking to bounce back in the new season.
Following their 2-1 win against Peterborough on the 2nd of August, I sat down with Lower Tiers writer and Cardiff City fan Ben Thomas (@BThomasJourno on X) to talk all things City in a Cardiff City interview.
Before we start, we would like to take a moment to thank Ben for taking part in the Cardiff City interview.
The Cardiff City Interview
Question 1: Relegation Isn’t Great. But, Can It Be Used To Improve The Club Even Further?
“No one ever wants to see their club relegated, but it felt inevitable over recent seasons.
Although it isn’t the ideal scenario, I do feel this is now the perfect time for the club to use this as the springboard to make the changes needed across the club and begin moving in the right direction.”
Question 2: What Do You Think About Cardiff City Currently?
“No one ever wants to see their club relegated, but it felt inevitable over recent seasons.
Although it isn’t the ideal scenario, I do feel this is now the perfect time for the club to use this as the springboard to make the changes needed across the club and begin moving in the right direction.”
Question 3: What Was Your Favourite Moment Of Last Season?
“There wasn’t much to shout about last campaign, but the standout moment was probably seeing the 3-0 home win against Swansea City. It was the only shining moment in a dire season.”
Question 4: Do You Think City Are Prepared For The 2025-26 Season, And Why?
“There has been major changes already over the summer with some long-serving and experienced players such as Joe Ralls and Callum O’Dowda leaving, as well as bringing in new manager Brian Barry-Murphy after what felt like a lifetime of searching.
The issue is the fact we’ve not yet made a signing at the time of writing, so that does concern me, especially seeing other clubs in the division are making some serious additions.”
Question 5: What Is Needed To Bring Success Back To The Club?
“In my personal opinion, I don’t think the club will see major success until a change of ownership happens.
The main reason the club finds itself in its current position is due to a lack of planning and foresight from the top, and there isn’t likely to be changes in that department unless the club is sold.”
Question 6: What Area Needs The Most Improvement In The Squad And Why?
“The main area of the squad that needs addressing is the defensive issues we continue to see.
During pre-season, we’ve shown pleasing progress going forward, but in multiple games we’ve had commanding leads only to see defensive frailties lead to soft goals given away.”
Question 7: What Are Your Thoughts On The Upcoming Season?
“Despite the glaringly obvious issues that still need to be fixed, there is still a feeling of positivity and optimism heading into the opening weekend. My concern is that positivity could soon turn to frustration if the team start slowly.”
Question 8: Is Brian Barry-Murphy The Right Manager For Cardiff City?
“Barry-Murphy has been linked to various roles in the EFL over recent years, and I’m glad Cardiff were the team to take the risk on someone who is unproven.
Looking at the current senior squad, only nine of the players are over the age of 23, and with a prolific track record of developing young talent, it feels like the perfect appointment given where the club is currently at.
My concern is that he may not get the time to make an impact due to the club’s track record with managers over the last decade.”
Question 9: What Has Been Your Best Signing So Far This Summer?
“I would love to discuss the various signings we have made, but as stated, we haven’t yet made a signing in the summer transfer window.
I think the best thing we could achieve this window is to ensure Yousef Salech doesn’t leave the club and also tie down the young centre-back Dylan Lawlor to a long-term deal.”
Question 10: Can You Give Me Your Prediction For How Cardiff City Will Do Next Season?
“With how our current squad is shaping up and the performances shown in pre-season, I do believe there are other clubs in the division that are in a stronger place heading into the opening weekend.
Despite this, I do feel like it should be considered a failure of a season if we aren’t challenging for play-off places, and I’m predicting us to finish fifth, and optimistically dreaming that we’ll have a day out at Wembley and get promotion.”
Thank you for reading the Cardiff City Interview. If you have any feedback, please let us know in the comments below.
