EROL BULUT SIGNS NEW DEAL

Cardiff City have confirmed manager Erol Bulut has signed a new two year deal with the club ahead of the 24/25 Championship campaign.

Cardiff City manager Erol Bulut.

After a long wait and months of negotiating, Cardiff City and Erol Bulut have agreed terms over a new contract, and the Turk will lead The Bluebirds in what's expected to be an open Championship campaign ahead.

A year yesterday, eyebrows among the City fan base were raised as an unknown Turkish manager was confirmed as Bluebirds boss, a year on, with ups and downs, Cardiff fans seemed delighted that Bulut's tenure will resume into next season.

If we go back to the start of last season, excitement was high as The Bluebirds welcomed home Aaron Ramsey, as well as highly rated Greek duo Manolis Siopis and Dimitrios Goutas, Karlan Grant, Alex Runarsson, Ike Ugbo, Josh Bowler, Jonathan Panzo and Yakou Meite also linked up with The Bluebirds.

Despite promising outings, Cardiff were winless after three games, conceding heart-breaking goals at the death against both Leicester City and Leeds United. City's first win under Bulut in the Championship came against Sheffield Wednesday, quite fittingly winning it with a penalty at the death.

After another agonising defeat against Ipswich Town, Swansea were in town, as Erol Bulut managed to end the CCS curse in the South Wales Derby, as his side came out deserved 2-0 winners with goals from Ollie Tanner and Aaron Ramsey. Cardiff would follow this with wins against Coventry City, Sunderland and Rotherham United.

City's run halted before the October international break, as Bulut's side went three games without a victory, However a break seemed to be what Cardiff needed, as the break was followed with a 4-0 win at Huddersfield, which would be City's biggest win of the 23/24 season.

Bulut and his side would follow that performance up with another Derby Day victory, this time in the Severnside Derby, as goals from Perry Ng and Rubin Colwill were enough to see off Bristol City.

Cardiff seemed to struggle for consistency from that games onwards, winning just two of the next eight, drawing one and losing five. City closed 2023 well with a win and a draw coming before the close of the year.

City started the following year in the same way, with a 2-1 win at QPR. Before Erol Bulut fell ill, being forced to be hospitalised in the process. Bulut returned but saw heavy defeats to Plymouth Argyle and Leeds United.

Cardiff needed fresh blood. and recruited Nat Phillips, Josh Wilson-Esbrand, David Turnbull, Ethan Horvath and Famara Diedhiou before the end of the January Transfer Window.

Four debuts were handed against Watford, as City came away 1-0 winners at Vicarage Road with a stunner from Josh Bowler. Cardiff followed this with a slump and some poor showing losing three of their next four, including a heavy 4-1 defeat to Norwich.

However, as new signings began to bed in, City saw an uplift in form going five games unbeaten and winning four on the bounce, including another Severnside Derby and a dramatic win against Ipswich.

Bulut couldn't be the first City boss to complete the South Wales Derby double, as his side were convincingly beaten 2-0 by The Swans before the international break. City returned from the break with a defeat at home against Sunderland, but responded with a 2-1 win at Coventry.

The Bluebirds would pick up two more wins before the end of the campaign against Birmingham and a dramatic win against Southampton, with a 95th minute winner from Cian Ashford.

Cardiff would finish comfortably in 12th with plenty of positives to take into the next campaign. City ended with 21 wins in all competitions, 5 draws and 24 defeats. Consistency will prove key next season, as City look to build on a solid first year under Bulut.

My View:

I'm personally delighted to see Erol stay. I think what excites me the most is that it's an open division, and if Bulut can bring in some of these high calibre players he can reportedly attract, then City can really make a push this season.

I would say, pressure this season is much higher than it was last season, Bulut was adjusting last year and getting to grips with things, however comes into this season with a full season under his belt, something not many managers at this level get at the moment.

City will need to improve the way they play. A more obvious structure and setup that sees them play a more positive way, more free flowing and ultimately capable of scoring more from open play. I think this simply comes with higher quality players.

What I'm happiest about is continuity. The club did the hard work last summer, now they need to build on it, the job isn't done. This club has potential if things are done right, renewing Bulut is the first step in that.

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