Cardiff relegated after just one season in the Premier League

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could not manage to keep Cardiff City in the Premier League

Cardiff City was relegated from the Premier League yesterday after suffering a 3-0 defeat at out-of-form Newcastle.

In many ways it looked like the perfect fixture for the Bluebirds to claim a vital win, with the Magpies going into the game on the back six straight Premier League defeats.

However, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side failed, despite the home fans turning on under-pressure Magpies boss Alan Pardew.

Responsibility

Cardiff fans have to lie some of the blame at the door of boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for the relegation. The former-Manchester United striker has been in charge since January and brought in a host of new players.

Those players have not exactly set the world alight and Cardiff have looked destined for the Championship for a good while.

Out of his depth

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was a highly-rated boss when he arrived in the Welsh capital from Norwegian football and Molde. The Norwegian top-flight is obviously not as strong as the Premier League and the young boss has looked out of his depth at times.

Solskjaer knows the English game very well from his years playing for Manchester United. A lot of foreign bosses arrive in the country with no knowledge of the English top-flight, but no experience. Solskjaer could not use that excuse.

It seems that Solskjaer will get the chance to take Cardiff back up to the top flight. Maybe a spell in the second tier may do the relatively inexperienced boss some good.

Solskjaer has appeared to display some managerial talent, maybe his opportunity in the top-flight just came slightly too soon for the Norwegian.

Mackay

Solskjaer replaced popular boss Malky Mackay at the Cardiff City Stadium, after the Bluebirds experienced a poor run of form. However, the Scot had done a very good job with City and helped the club gain promotion in the first place.

The Scot spent quite a lot of money in the summer on three big signings in Steven Caulker, Gary Medel and Andreas Cornelius. In Meat Loaf’s words ‘Two out of three Ain’t Bad’. Caulker has been one of the better players for the Welsh side and Medel has had a decent campaign for the Welsh side.

However, signing young Dane Andreas Cornelius for a reported club record fee of £8million proved to be one of factors that lead to the downfall of their boss. The youngster struggled with injury, making just nine league appearances before returning straight back to former-club Copenhagen for an undisclosed fee.

Cardiff’s controversial owner Vincent Tan was reportedly not happy with Mackay’s spending, despite the Scot being authorised to make the signings. Director of football Iain Moody bore the brunt of the clubs summer spending and was sacked, much to the anger of Mackay.

As soon as Mackay relationship with the Cardiff owner became frosty the Scot was never likely to last long in the Welsh capital. The Scot stayed in difficult circumstances, until he was sacked late in December.

Controversial

Bluebird’s owner Vincent Tan has consistently caused controversy in his tenure at the club. From changing the clubs home colours, to sacking the popular Malky Mackay the Malaysian businessman never seems to be out of the news.

Tan has invested a lot of money in the Welsh club and got his reward by the Bluebirds winning promotion to the Premier League. However, his belief that just because he has invested money in the club he can do whatever he likes has exasperated some Cardiff fans.

Tan’s money may have got the club promoted, but a lot of Cardiff fans would like to see the Malaysian walk away from their club. The Bluebirds supporters have been fantastic this season and deserve better at their club.

Difficult

It took a long time for Cardiff City to make it to the Premier League and it will be difficult for the Bluebirds to achieve the feat again. A lot of players are likely to leave the club, with the likes of England international Steven Caulker being linked with a move away.

It will be even harder for Cardiff to win promotion if Mr Tan continues with his controversial behaviour. Cardiff fans deserve their team to be successful and hopefully for their sake the club make a return to the top-flight.

However, Cardiff is an example of how things can go sour when a foreign owner comes in and throws his weight about at a club. The Bluebirds are also an example of a club sacking a boss and it not saving them from the drop.

Uncertain

The future is uncertain for Cardiff City Football Club. With Vincent Tan in charge at the Cardiff City Stadium you just never know what is going to happen. The Championship is very competitive and club often find it difficult to bounce straight back up and I believe Cardiff could be one of those clubs.

Were Cardiff right to sack Malky Mackay?