The Erol Bulut era is firmly under way at Cardiff City and with players now back in pre-season training, it's time for them to stand up and prove themselves in front of the new boss.
Bulut has made no secret of his desire to revamp the Bluebirds squad, confirming at his unveiling earlier this month that he was eyeing up to 10 new signings, despite being unable to pay a fee for transfers.
Having watched a handful of Cardiff games last season, he is under no illusion that the team needs reinforcements "in every department," with the attack in desperate need of transformation.
"I saw two games, so from there I already thought in my head that I had a system I wanted to play with the team," said Bulut. "We have to discuss about that, but already I have in my head the players I want.
"We need in every department. Offensive department, Cardiff last season scored only 41 goals. Second bottom scorers. In attacking, we have to invest, in my opinion. Also in the midfield. Attacking is not only wingers, strikers, No.10. This will start from the back, from the goalkeeper."
But while the major changes being rung have come as welcome news to many Cardiff fans, Bulut's vision will have set off alarm bells for the Bluebirds players who have struggled to kick on in recent months, with injuries and other factors limiting their progress.
With the new boss now in town, it is up to those players to show they deserve to be in the first team, with five names in particular having points to prove.
Rubin Colwill
A mercurial talent who has flitted between excellence and anonymity since bursting onto the scene two years ago, Colwill really needs to kick on this season if he is to live up to great expectations.
The young playmaker's natural ability cannot be questioned but he has struggled with injuries, starting just four Championship matches last season and spending just 25 per cent of the time on the pitch since making his debut back in February 2021.
While still only 20, Colwill needs to get serious game-time under his belt to boost his confidence - with his demotion from Rob Page's Wales squad to the under-21s this summer, already having a similarly restorative effect.
He knows it too - and wants it - having previously spoken about playing a key role in helping Cardiff push for the play-offs under Bulut.
"I just want to stay fit and play as much as I can," he said. "We've definitely got the potential to be pushing for the play-offs. That's where we need to aim, really. That would be my goal for the team and for myself."
Isaak Davies
Like Colwill, academy product Davies endured a rather stop-start season, with injury ruling him out of pre-season and the first half of the campaign before the acquisitions of Sory Kaba and Connor Wickham at the start of the year slowed his progress somewhat.
Again, the 21-year-old's high ceiling is obvious and has been recognised by the club, who turned down a bid from Burnley, believed to be worth up to £2.5 million, just last summer.
Limited though they have been, it is still fair to say that Davies largely didn't take his chances when they arose last season and he cannot afford to make the same mistake this season if he is to avoid being muscled out by new signings.
There is every chance, however, that some stability after the constant chop-and-change of managers, could get his development back on track. For now, he needs to focus on getting a full pre-season in so he can hit the ground running in front of the new boss.
Ebou Adams
The first player through the door in Steve Morison's overhaul last summer, big things were expected of Adams after he helped Forest Green Rovers to promotion the previous season.
However, the 27-year-old has endured a nightmare year, with a freak incident in pre-season leaving him with a serious shoulder injury while further setbacks have meant he is yet to make his competitive first-team bow with his appearances limited to the under-21s as he looked to improve his fitness.
As somewhat of an unknown entity, it's difficult to say what Adams - a player in the prime of his career - must do other than take his chances. After all, he can't afford to waste any more time.
A well-taken goal against Barnsley for the under-21s before a strong showing while on international duty for Gambia have shown there is a player there, but he must back it up in the first team to prove himself to Bulut as well as the fans that have already shown him so much love.
Jamilu Collins
Collins joined Adams on the sidelines for much of last season having suffered a horror ACL injury back in August, which ruled him out for nine months.
Having signed for Cardiff from Paderborn last summer, the left-back had impressed in his first four performances for the Bluebirds before the cruel twist of fate denied him the opportunity to cement himself in the first team.
The 28-year-old has worked hard to get himself back to full fitness and now has a golden opportunity to pick up where he left off, with Cardiff not exactly blessed for options on the left hand side.
And after returning to pre-season training, Collins pledged to repay his team-mates and the fans for their support, saying he was feeling "happy and motivated" ahead of the new season.
"I have to give back what I couldn't accomplish to the fans, and I owe them this," he said. "This season, I am hoping it will be a better season than it was, and I hope we will all be smiling at the end of the season."
Callum Robinson
It speaks volumes about Cardiff's attacking output last season that Callum Robinson finished their second-highest scorer despite being out injured since February.
He scored seven goals in all competitions and grabbed six assists (the most of any Cardiff player) to boot before picking up a hamstring injury against Reading.
It's not an awful return from 23 games, but the fact he topped the club's scoring charts shows how poor they were at finding the back of the net last term. Just 41 goals scored in the league all season, the second lowest in the Championship. Put simply, no player, not even Robinson, was ruthless enough.
Bulut wants to win and ergo he'll want goals. It is expected that his revamp will focus largely on improving the Bluebirds' attacking pedigree. If he wants to remain Cardiff's main attacking outlet, Robinson must exhibit the ruthlessness that his side were missing last season - but there's every chance with the right service, he could thrive under the new boss.
