Game two of several million this season sees QPR travelling to South Wales on Sunday, and LFW caught up with Jamie Kemble from Inside Cardiff City for some hints on what we might find when we get there.

So how was 2015/16 for Cardiff?

JK: Last season was an interesting campaign. After a season of knocking around mid-table, it was nice to have something to play for again, although, ultimately we just weren't good enough to keep up with Sheffield Wednesday. We were very strong at home and very weak away, the latter cost us dearly. We didn't spend a penny so to finish just short of the play-offs was a small achievement in itself, something to build on at the very least.

Why did Russell Slade leave the club at the end of the season and how have the fans taken that news?

JK: Russell did a decent job at the club while spending next to no money on new players. To finish where we did without any transfer outlay was quite impressive but his stubbornness with tactics and his failure to adapt cost him the support of the fans and his job. Slade was never really given the opportunity he deserved from supporters, simply because he wasn't the name they wanted when he got the job. Supporters were largely happy to see him go but there was no malice and the majority will have thanked him for his work and wish him the best.

Paul Trollope seems an intriguing choice as replacement, what's the thinking there?

JK: Trollope is a younger manager and offers tactical flexibility, something Russell Slade didn't. The lack of Welsh blood in the squad has played a part in fans feeling a distance between themselves and the club so by bringing a former Welsh international who has worked with the Welsh team in, the board are looking to bridge that gap. Trollope worked wonders with the rest of the Welsh coaching staff over the summer and he really made a difference when he joined the Cardiff coaching staff a year or so ago. It's a risk but one which needs to be taken.

Take us through the summer transfer business…

JK: We've not been too active over the summer. We made the loan signings of Kenneth Zohore and Lex Immers permanent which was pleasing, Lex Immers played a big part in our good form towards the back of last season. We also brought in Frederic Gounongbe on a free, a big hold-up striker, from Belgian club Westerlo. Our most recent signing was Jazz Richards from Fulham, the Welsh international joined on a swap deal which saw Scott Malone go the other way.

How has pre-season gone, and your first match at Birmingham?

JK: Pre-season was very decent, we lost just one game and that was a narrow 1-0 defeat at Bournemouth. We won the Osnabruck pre-season tournament in Germany, beating the hosts and FC St Pauli.

Our performance in the season opener was impressive on a whole. We largely dominated play and created five or six good chances to Birmingham's one. We were denied by two fantastic saves the crossbar and a miss from two yards out. Every away fixture is very tough in this league and you can only ask to keep a clean sheet and create three or four chances at the other end, we did that but our finishing cost us the win. A real platform to build on.

Best players and weak links in the current side?

JK:We have some good players at the club currently but young Declan John stood out last time around, tearing the Birmingham defence apart from his wing-back position. Lex Immers also causes teams problems from midfield, Anthony Pilkington from out wide and of course Peter Whittingham from the centre of the park.

There aren't any real weak links but Jazz Richards struggled in his first outing for us, something to keep an eye on.

How's the current boardroom situation, and the fans' feelings towards them!?

JK: The club have worked hard to get everyone back on board with the club and the board are very much part of that. Vincent Tan hosted a Q and A at the stadium last year and he apologised for mistakes made as well as promising a debt free club within five years. The club still has some healing to do but we're on the right tracks.

Expectations this season?

JK: It's tough to say with such a tough Championship but of course we'll be looking to reach the play-offs. We haven't got the investment of other clubs but we have a very decent squad who have spent some time together and we have the potential to reach that top six.

The Twitter @InsideCCFC, @loftforwords

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francisbowles added 10:07 - Aug 13 Thanks to Jamie for his insight. Hope it isn't another 0-0 for those going, although we probably wouldn't be unhappy with a point!
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TacticalR added 22:35 - Aug 13 Thanks to Jamie. It sounds like Cardiff are being very careful with money, and have done pretty well considering the lack of new players. I am quite intrigued as to exactly why Tan has taken a back seat - time will tell if this a temporary retreat.
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