CCFC 1 v 1 BOLTON

CCFC 1 v 1 BOLTON

The Preamble Ramble (Optional)

Today the City of Cardiff finally bids a fond farewell to football's second tier (and beyond) after 51 years. And as we prepare for our coronation as champions and the city charabanc readies itself to transport our heroes in open-topped exaltation we can finally look beyond the horizon towards the promised land, safe in the knowledge that our destiny is assured.

So why am I finding it so difficult to get too worked up over it?

I feel a bit ungrateful but perhaps it's the manner in which promotion was confirmed, after an inglorious blank-blank, and then securing the title after conceding a last minute equaliser (great stuff if you favour your squibs a little on the damp side). And with Hull, Watford, Palace, Leicester, Boro all in turn stepping aside with a deferential tug on the forelock and waving us through, we seem to have succeeded almost by default.

The slow but certain inevitability of our victorious run-in has left us like an Olympic marathon runner still looking over his shoulder for his nearest challenger to enter the stadium as he jogs through the winning tape. After a lifetime within sight of the line, the relative ease with which we've crossed it unchallenged has left me confused as much as elated. I feel a bit cheated.

Here I stand at the pinnacle of an entire sporting life so rich with the expectation of heroic epic battles against the odds leading to ultimate crushing disappointment, from narrowly missing out on promotion in 1971 after beating Real Madrid at Ninian Park, through the lean years of yo-yoing between the third and fourth tiers, to the most recent glorious failures, that my brain is wired to expect the footballing gods to do their worst.

What's going on here? Where's the catch? 'Victory, where is thy sting?' Who'd have thought success would be so disorientating? Still, 'Nothing fails like success' and it'll take a good old traditional relegation scrap to make sense of it all. Normal service will be resumed soon enough. I can't wait.

And so to the game...

A full crowd, a gloriously sunny day, a fitting end to a season spent in the metaphorical sun. Bolton are still very much in the Play-Offs shake up and it's not in Malky's nature to send his team out  anything other than fully committed so there was no sense of end-of-the season drabness.

As the glory boys stepped out to greet the capacity crowd the Bolton players formed a Guard of Honour. Which was nice.

We should have been ahead within a couple of minutes, the ball falling at the feet of Mutch who found the keeper from 6 yards. We continued to dominate play but throughout the first half the quality of the final ball was found wanting. The failure to capitalise on the early possession cost us as after 20 minutes Conway lost the ball in midfield to former Swansea favourite Ricketts who fed the ball into the path of Eagles who swooped like... (nah, too obvious) to side-foot the ball beyond Marshall. 0-1.

Bolton sat comfortably on their lead for a good 40 minutes, soaking up the pressure and looking dangerous on the break before Malky rang the changes, bringing on Noone for an ineffective Conway, and Smith to provide a more direct approach at the expense of Mutch. Bellamy moved to the left wing and looked more at ease as Noone took over on the right.

The shake-up worked immediately as Noone tormented their full back Alonso and delivered a succession of incisive crosses, one of which arrived at the feet of Smith who should have done better with the goal at his mercy.

Just minutes later, a rampaging Gunnarsson was upended just outside the box. From the resulting free kick Noone placed a perfectly directed shot around (or through?) the wall and into the near corner. 1-1.

In many ways this game was a microcosm of our season - we dominated, showing real commitment and occasionally playing with a flamboyancy and panache that will serve us well next season. We are not the complete unit but it's reassuring that the aspects of our game requiring improvement are not too difficult to discern and will no doubt be attended to over the summer: we need a top-notch right back who can deliver going forward, a front man fleet of foot and thought who can anticipate and run off the defender's shoulder (a fully fit Campbell / Maynard) and an experienced, commanding, controlling presence in midfield. These three vital roles will be the difference between security and struggle.

We stepped up the pace in the last 20 minutes and on the balance of play probably deserved a win but hey-ho... let the party commence!

(One disturbing aspect of the day: The distinctive slippery silvery mane and satanic eyebrows of the Lebanese Chancer was a very unwelcome presence standing next to Mr Tan in the director's box. The gruesome twosome were straight out of central casting - could they look any more like Bond villains?)

The temporary stage was erected and each first team member was called forward in turn to accept the applause and collect their medals. We sang, we danced and we jigged jigs of jiggery joy, tempered with a reflective nod to those that went before; savouring the present with a grateful heart, and looking to the future with blissful uncertainty.

Q. Will we be good enough?

PLAYER PROFILES

DAVID MARSHAL L

Starting at the very beginning. And a very good place to start. He wears the number 1, he is the Number One shot-stopper in the Championship, he's Scotland's No.1 and as an ever-present this season he's had a great season - totally reliable, providing the assurance that our back four craves. I have no hesitation in awarding him 5 / 5 for Premiership Potential.

KEVIN McNAUGHTON

Super Kev is the longest serving current squad member by some distance, having chalked up 255 appearances since signing for the Bluebirds almost exactly 7 years ago which in the rapidly changing world of football seems a lifetime (to put it in perspective it was the season that Charlton were relegated from the Premiership, Peter Ridsdale's Leeds went into administration and newly formed AFC Wimbledon began life in the Combined Counties League). Sentiment dictates that he's worth an extension to his contract but unfortunately he's likely to miss out on the big time.                          Prem Potential 1 / 5.

ANDREW TAYLOR

If there was an award for Most Improved Player, Taylor would be a leading contender. Reluctant to get forward in the early part of the season and often caught out of position, he has been instrumental in our rise to the top with a number of quality overlaps down the wing and precision crosses into the box. 4 / 5.

MARK HUDSON

It's no coincidence that our minor wobble through February / March happened when our captain was injured. Without him we looked disorganised and rudderless. His long term injury had fans seriously doubting our chances in the run-in before the arrival of Leon Barnett. He's likely to start in the Premier League as captain but his lack of pace may find him wanting and if we can get Barnett on a permanent basis he may struggle to get a regular start. 2.5 / 5.

BEN TURNER

When Malky was forced to ring the changes Big Ben always looked more comfortable as the junior member of the central partnership. Excellent with Hudson or Barnett, unsettled when expected to take the lead with stand-ins Nugent or Connolly. Rock solid in defence but distribution can be inconsistent. 3/5.

PETER WHITTINGHAM

Maddening, mecurial, masterful by turns, when he's on form he 'does what he wants'. When out of sorts and lacking in confidence you sense he'd rather be elsewhere. His undoubted match-winning talents are utterly wasted sweeping up in front of the back four. Perhaps his natural diffidence doesn't allow him to push his case with the manager but the most naturally gifted player in the squad may be a bit-part player next season with the emergence of Kim. If someone can put their arm around him, or alternatively place a size 9 up his backside he still has the potential to thrive. 4/5.

DON COWIE

When they broke the mould after Malky emerged, they put the pieces back together and produced Cowie. Sometimes the cracks show but the Scot has an engine which purrs. The Forest Gump of the squad, if life is a box of chocolates unfortunately he's the coffee cream - you know it's there but you're not likely to reach for it while other more mouth-watering options are available. 1/5.

CRAIG CONWAY

See 'Cowie'. The similarities in terms of stamina are striking. Came back strongly after his transfer request but struggling to command a regular start in the Championship suggests that a significant role at the next level is unlikely. Still, a useful squad player with the potential to re-energise the latter stages of a game. 2/5

MATTHEW CONNOLY

I can't see what Connolly brings to the party. He was unconvincing at right back, denying McNaughton his place, and was a less than commanding presence in a shaky make-shift central defence. He's popped up in the opposition box to score a couple of vital goals but he's not a Premier League player and will probably spend most of next season awaiting the call that won't be made. 1/5.

KIM BO-KYUNG

'Kim Bo-Kyung my Lord, Kim Bo-Kyung, Oh Lord! Kim Bo-Kyung!'  Malky's masterstroke. If we go on to consolidate a long term Premier League presence we may well reflect that Kim's breakthrough heralded the dawn of the new era. He spent the winter months on the bench cocooned in his tracksuit only to emerge in the spring to take flight and spread his gossamer wings. He floated through midfield like a butterfly, stung the opposition like a bee and his metamorphosis transformed a hum-drum midfield into a thing of rare beauty. A City legend in the making. 5/5.

TOMMY SMITH

A typical Malky signing - experienced, industrious, brought in to 'do a job' to complete the midfield jigsaw but is unlikely to be part of the picture as we move onto a bigger stage. Injuries and age are against him 2/5.

RUDY GESTEDE

He's done what's been asked of him, scoring a couple of vital goals coming off the bench late in games to shake up a tired opposition defence. People still talk of his 'raw' talent but he occasionally looks as coordinated as a baby giraffe on ice. A message to you Rudy: you're going out on loan. 1/5.

CRAIG NOONE

The archetypal tricky little winger with quick feet. A good reader of the game, often seeing opportunities, making darting runs into the box. His light wiry frame has served him well against some sluggish defenders, but there aren't many of those at the next level. Occasionally guilty of running up blind alleys. May find his opportunities limited in what is likely to be a compact, defensive midfield next season 2.5/5

AARON GUNNARSSON

This season has seen a huge improvement in the Icelander's influence. He's emerged from the pack to claim his place in the starting line up with consistently assured displays, playing with a greater aggression and commitment, controlling midfield and driving the team forward. What he may lack in natural ability compared to say, Whittingham, he makes up for in natural drive and stamina. His long throws into the box will require some fine tuning if they're to provide any real threat against the more astute Premiership defences 3.5 / 5

JORDON MUTCH

Progressed from Mutch of a muchness to much improved but the jury's still out. He finished the season strongly after being paired with Kim in an attacking midfield. A stylish player whose natural elegance can betray an air of indifference, he's never likely to be accused of over-committing himself in the tackle. The step up will either make or break him. 3/5

JOE MASON

Has had disappointingly few opportunities this time out after his breakthrough season. Lacks the pace to run off the shoulder of defenders but comes alive in the box where his speed of thought is always capable of outwitting defenders. His performance in the Carling Cup Final proves that he's not intimidated by the big stage and given the opportunity he may surprise a few people next season. 3/5

HEIDAR HELGUSON

Experienced, committed, excellent in the air. An instinctive finisher but given time to consider his options will invariably choose the wrong one. As strong as an ox and just as quick-witted. He's had a good career but there's an allotment just outside Reykjavik that needs tending. 0/5

NICKY MAYNARD

Very much an unproven talent. He had one season in the Premier League, scoring twice in 17 games. His career has been a succession of goal gluts followed by goal droughts mixed in with long injury lay-offs. He was bought to lead the charge out of the Championship, not necessarily to spearhead our attack at the next level. We paid more for him than Swansea paid for Michu. If he makes half the impact I'll eat my bobble hat. 2.5/5

FRAIZER CAMPBELL

Snapped up by Malky as part of his 'affirmative action' initiative which favours players with comic book Scottish names regardless of their actual ethnicity. Fraizer's career has stalled after a number of serious long term injuries which has seen his stock reduced from the £7m that Hull offered for him after his loan spell in 2008 to the £650,000 that we paid in January. He looked sharp in the handful of games he played before succumbing to another injury. If he can stay fit he should start up front in August. Bargain or liability? Time will tell.

CRAIG BELLAMY

Perhaps we'll never know the primary motivating factor for his desire to return home - the boyhood ambition to lead his team to the big time? The doomed attempt to save his marriage? His struggle to make sense of Gary Speed's death? Whatever the reasons, we have to be grateful not just for the fact of his return but for the way he's used all his experience, motivation, desire and considerable skills to inspire his teammates to optimise their talents and believe that they are capable of exceeding their own expectations of themselves. Driven, complex, troubled, never apparently at ease with himself or those around him (particularly figures of authority) the man is, as Churchill once said of Russia 'a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma'. But above everything else he's a ruddy good footballer and we're jolly lucky to have him.

See you the other side of summer.....