Yahoo News Seven takeaways from Cardiff City's first day back amid coaching shake-up
Cardiff City's players began preparations for the 2024/25 campaign on Monday.
Erol Bulut and his charges were back at their Vale of Glamorgan training base after a summer of jet-setting and relaxation, but the Bluebirds are back in the building for testing and fitness drills as they build towards the season.
Here are some of the things we noticed from the club's first day back...
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Coaching staff shake-up
Perhaps the most niticeable thing was the change of the coaching staff make-up. WalesOnline reported on Sunday that the club were set to appoint former Watford first-team coach Omer Riza and that was confirmed on Monday.
The club posted a photo of the new-look coaching staff, with Bulut flanked by Nikos Karydas, Mario Galinovic, Tom Ramasut and Riza. It means Nadir Sonmez departs the club after just one season.
The thinking was that the club wanted more attacking football nous on the coaching staff. Riza was a striker in his playing days, having played both in England and Turkey, and has held numerous roles with an emphasis on attacking and possession play.
That is certainly an area Cardiff will look to improve next season, with a poor return with regards to goals from open play last term. Of course, the work in securing the right forward targets in the transfer market will also play a big part, too.
It's important the club got this over the line before a ball was kicked in training, allowing the new staff members to bed in together and carry out clear messaging throughout the summer.
Robbo: 'Back to business'
It will have been heartening for some to see Callum Robinson bounding into the building at The Vale.
It was an up-and-down first season under Bulut for the Republic of Ireland international, but he, and his fans, will hope this summer represents a clean slate for him.
After a number of injury issues and a disciplinary problem saw him sidelined for so much of last season, Robinson will feel he has something of a point to prove over the course of pre-season.
Followers of his social media account will see that the winger has been putting in the extra yards during the off-season, attending a bespoke football training camp to ready himself for pre-season.
On the first day of testing, Robinson was all smiles as he strode into the building, writing on social media afterwards: "Back to business."
There are a large number of supporters who hope Robinson hits the ground running and impresses in pre-season, because he has goals and versatility in an area of the pitch in which Cardiff are not blessed with options.
Ramsey reports for day one
It's a big summer for Aaron Ramsey. After the euphoria of his stunning return, bossing it in early performances, that goal against Leicester, the penalty against Swansea, it was all going so well. Too well, it turns out.
After his injury following the sixth league game of the season, he never really returned to full fitness – starting just one more game.
The Wales captain was absent for the final four games of the campaign amid more injury worries, having already missed a massive portion of the season. The hope is that Ramsey will put the work in during the summer and hit the ground running next term. And day one – he was in the building, bounding up the stairs with a huge smile on his face.
Make no mistake, the 33-year-old has a massive role to play this season and what Erol Bulut would give for 30 games out of his talismanic playmaker next term.
Quite where Ramsey is in his fitness journey is as yet unknown, but he posted a positive message after the first day, writing on Instagram: "Back at it" along with a curled bicep emoji.
No sign of internationals
Rubin Colwill was pictured at the club's training base on day one, having been away with Wales during the early part of the summer, however there were others who weren't pictured. Sign up to our Cardiff City newsletter here.
Manolis Siopis was away with Greece, Callum O'Dowda with the Republic of Ireland, Andy RInomhota with Zimbabwe, Ebou Adams with Ghana and Ethan Horvath with the USA and none of them were pictured on the first day.
That's not to say none of them were there, although Siopis has posted a video on holiday with his family, but one might think they have been afforded a few extra days off after playing more football in the post-season.
Youngsters and returnees ready to impress
It's always interesting to see which academy lads feature in the club's images and videos. It's also encouraging to see players return to the club who spent last season out on loan.
Joel Bagan was the first face we saw on the club's video and it will be interesting to see how a year out in Belgium served him. He comes with a full season under him and ready to fight for that left-back spot, having signed a new deal before leaving last term.
The club also posted a photo of Isaak Davies and Colwill, with the former returning after a 12-goal season with KV Kortrijk and ready to show Bulut and Co what he learned out in the Belgian top flight last term.
Raheem Conte, fresh from signing new terms after impressing at the tail end of last season, looked like he was ready for business as he rocked up to HQ, while Kion Etete arrived with good friend Malachi Fagan-Walcott, who has also signed a new deal and could be fighting for that fourth centre-back spot after impressing at Dunfermline last term.
Two other youngsters who are set for big pre-seasons, Joel Colwill and Cian Ashford, also arrived together, with big thumbs up and ready for work. Time to impress the gaffer, lads!
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Pre-season birthday treat
Can you think of a better way to celebrate your birthday than by ending your summer off to report for day one of a gruelling pre-season?
Well, that's what Perry Ng had to contend with. The back-to-back player of the year winner reported for duty at the club's training base on the day of his 28th birthday.
Quite what this summer holds for the right back remains to be seen, with Bulut last season saying clubs in Europe were in contact over the player's availability.
Who can blame others for taking a look? He has been consistently first class for City over the last two seasons.
New training gear on show
Monday saw the first outing of the club's new training clobber.
This is the third year New Balance have provided the club's training and playing kit — the home kit has been announced today and you can read more about that here — and this year's gear has split opinion.
The players donned the new training strip, which included grey shorts and a maroon and grey shirt, split half-way down. It's fair to say that the new design, well, split opinion.
Alfie Walker wrote: "Sorry lads but that’s hideous." Another fan said: "Not sure about that colour blocking."
Time Baker wrote: "Oh dear. It's even worse than last year's. It's very dreary." While Scott wrote: "Looks better than last season's."
Gareth said: "First look didn't like. The more I look at it, its not that bad." And Samuel Jack Williams added: "Can’t believe people don’t like the training kit, it’s decent."
John Dimblebee said: "Love the new training kit good luck for the new season Joe (Ralls) to you and the lads."
A veritable smorgasbord of opinions, there.... decide for yourselves!
