Pre Season Light Entertainment - Cardiff City 2 Watford 1

After a dry summer of football based starvation, we can all be thankful that the new season is emerging in the distance - No longer a mirage and now a reality.

It’s from now that we’ll know what we’re doing each weekend and it’s from now that we’ll have reasons to get out of family visiting and kids parties.

It’s now that we can stop mowing the lawn every half hour and it’s now that we no longer need to fill the entertainment void with DIY and ‘conversations’ with the wife.

Sighs of relief can be heard across the land as the football has returned.

Last night was classic pre season – a low key atmosphere with a sparse crowd but exciting all the same after the break.  With our senses refreshed after a stuffy and tense season last year, one might notice the scent of the grass, the newly painted interiors of the building or the new ridiculous blue dug out formula one chairs.

In true corporate style, the punters around us in the Rioch Lounge were overheard analysing the new bar stools and sofas while supping red wine instead of how the summer has gone football-wise. 

This is Paul (below). He also wasn't at all happy about the new modern decor vibes and was disappointed in the club for not emailing him for his professional opinions prior to the works commencing. 

Even Manager Russell Slade (the one who gets stick on here) has gone for a new vibe this season it seems (see below) by ditching the trackie and cap in favour of a slick suit and fresh tan (Shouts from the stands of him having a job interview were a bit harsh at this stage though I thought). 

The game itself was played at a decent tempo (for pre-season) and there were lots of positives for Cardiff. The obvious one being little Joey Mason, who appears to have returned after the summer with a full upgrade installed. Not only is the once exiled Joe smashing pre-season goals in but he’s looking fitter, stronger and hungry. Mason’s two goals were taken with confidence but it was his movement and all round shift that impressed. 

Then there was the refreshing sight of some flair and class in the team in Sammy Ameobi who played with freedom like a man who could control an up 'n' under punt with his Mohawk.  He may be built like a twig but the boy’s got tools and is a point of optimism for the weeks ahead. 

Also, wandering around the pitch and built more like a fridge or wardrobe was Kagisho Dikgacoi. A Solskjaer signing Injured for the whole of last season, he’s looking heavy and filling his kit shall we say. There were glimpses of what he could offer if you looked closely - he' s a massive unit and you wouldn't want to run into him but Dikgacoi was poor in possession and looks like he needs to do a few more years of pre-season before he finds his lungs.   

It may have been Russell Slade’s same old 1980s formation but City moved the ball quicker and played with more patience. The centre backs did look for the long knock but it was noticeably reduced from last season. 

A soft goal aside, the back five looked pretty comfy but it will be a more solid beast with the likes of Bruno Manga, Ben Turner and Dave Marshall returning. 

Slade’s got a fortnight till things kick off ‘for real’ and to fine tune the starting squad but I for one feel ‘above average’ about this season ahead.