Cardiff City’s star Joe Ralls sends a ‘stunning’ message to fans as he Insists Bluebirds Are A Different Animal This Season…

September 30, 2023 Sports_xtreme Cardiff City FC 0

Joe Ralls vividly recalls the high-stakes atmosphere surrounding Cardiff City’s previous encounter with Rotherham. Back in April, the Bluebirds were locked in a battle to avoid relegation, heading to The New York Stadium for a crucial match against another struggling team.

It took until the 87th minute for loan sensation Cedric Kipre to score the winning goal, securing a 2-1 victory and three vital points that ultimately preserved Cardiff’s position ahead of Reading, Blackpool, and Wigan.

Fast forward five months, and Cardiff, under the new leadership of Turkish manager Erol Bulut, finds itself in seventh place, aiming to extend their winning streak to four in the Championship against Rotherham on Saturday – even in the absence of the injured Wales captain, Aaron Ramsey.

“We’re in a very favorable position after a week where we earned nine points, a rare occurrence that I haven’t seen often during my time at the club,” confessed Ralls, who has been a Bluebird since his initial signing in 2011.

“Our goal is to maintain this momentum in the upcoming Rotherham game. Our last encounter with them last season was under vastly different circumstances. It was a pivotal match that helped us secure our Championship status. Now, we’re looking up and aiming to continue our performance from this season.”

With 358 appearances for the club, Ralls is undoubtedly one of the most familiar faces in Cardiff City. He became a beloved figure in the Welsh capital and experienced a season in the Premier League in 2018-19 after helping the team achieve automatic promotion the previous season.

Although they returned to the Championship after just one Premier League season, Ralls played a crucial role in Cardiff City’s journey to the Championship play-offs in the 2019-20 campaign before bowing out to Fulham.

Since then, the club has witnessed a series of managerial changes and a gradual decline in performance.

“The fans have thrown their support behind the new manager and the fresh faces in the squad this season, sensing that the team is heading in the right direction,” Ralls added.

“We’re playing an attractive brand of football under Erol Bulut, and we’re finding the back of the net regularly, which is great for our confidence. We struggled in that department last season.

“We are a changed team, embracing a different style under new management, and it’s an exhilarating time.”

Meanwhile, at Swansea, long-term injuries have sidelined Josh Ginnelly, Joe Allen, and Nathan Wood in recent weeks. Unfortunately, these three players are unlikely to return to action in 2023.

Ginnelly’s season appears to be over after he suffered an Achilles injury in the last Saturday’s victory against Sheffield Wednesday. Allen, who was withdrawn from the warm-up before the South Wales derby, and Wood, who sustained an injury in the first half against Sheffield Wednesday, will both be sidelined until January, as they require surgery for groin and ankle injuries, respectively.

“It’s been a series of unfortunate injuries,” admitted Duff, whose team is scheduled to face Millwall in South London on Saturday.

“But in the world of football, it presents an opportunity for someone else to step in and seize their chance.”

The absence of these three players, particularly the experience of former Wales midfielder Allen, is a significant setback for Duff, who has only managed to secure one Championship victory this season, despite returning to the club a year and three months ago. Allen’s influence has been hampered by a series of injuries, with just 17 league starts out of 52 games played for the club.

In League Two, Newport County’s manager, Graham Coughlin, expressed his satisfaction with the arrival of new owner Huw Jenkins, as his team prepares to face Salford City. The club’s Supporters Trust approved a takeover by former Swansea City chairman Jenkins, who will hold a 52% controlling interest in the club after investing £500,000.

“If the fans have given their approval, it’s clear that they wanted this change,” said Coughlan.

“The fans are the most crucial stakeholders at the football club. It’s fantastic to see some positivity, and now my focus is on football.”

Newport County has also been hit by injuries, with defender James Clarke sidelined for eight weeks due to a groin injury.

After his team suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat against Stockport County last week, Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson hinted at making changes for their upcoming clash with League Two rivals Crewe.

“There are players who have been performing well in training and are eager for an opportunity,” Parkinson stated.

“It’s our responsibility to select the right lineup to face Crewe and get back on the winning track.”

 

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