THIS BLOG IS ON HOLS

It's summer, the only news is rumours and it's time to enjoy the weather so this blog is taking a fortnight's rest with several beers, topless girls and a big bunch of grapes - how I wish!

Back around July 12 ... or so.

Bye for now Amigos.

CARDIFF CITY PLAYER NEWS

SIGNINGS

Nothing has yet materialised. Boyd of Rangers does not seem to be going any further, the player is likely to stay there or sign for a 'bigger' club.

City are talking to a midfielder with Champions League experience - expect huge disappointment when it turns out to be be someone from Cyprus or similar who featured as sub in one game!

NEW CONTRACTS

It would appear that Peter Whittingham has commited to a new 3 year deal and the club are also expecting Roger Johnson to do likewise. Rumours of a RJ summer injury may not be true then.

Three other players - Paul Parry, Glen Loovens and Kevin McNaughton - are currently mulling over contract offers, all believed to be for 2 years. The club seem reasonably confident all will commit. Still no news that Robbie Fowler - anyone remember him? - is taking a pay-as-you-play contract but is likely too.

LEAVERS

Still no takers for the likes of Willo Flood, Warren Feeney and Steve Thompson amongst others but news is that Jimmy Floyd-Hasslebaink is linked with the vacant manager's post at MK Dons although the club are expected to go for an experienced boss.

Welsh Artist of the Year 2008

Take a look at the winning entries in Welsh Artist of the Year. Got to admit I'm no major fan of art and I can see a Bonsai Tree wrapped in thread (the winner) has some merit but is it just me or these crap, some looking as if they could have been made by schoolkids??

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/7468109.stm

CARDIFF CITY SET TO INCREASE BOYD OFFER (and other City Scottish rumours)

Having had a club record bid of £2.5M turned down for Kris Boyd, the striker who almost signed for City 2 years ago then jumped to Rangers instead, Scottish media are suggesting that Dave Jones and Peter Ridsdale are returning with an improved £3M, offer with the extra apparently coming from incentivised offers.

Dave Jones seems very keen to land his target but Cardiff City now have a history of failing to land their public targets so many Bluebirds will treat, with some scepticism, club attempts to land the likes of Boyd, Ched Evans and Chopra until they are seen holding a City scarf over their heads holding their contracts. Each Dave Jones summer seems to see us linked with big names but we end up hitting the B or C list - Fowler and Hasselbaink being exceptions.

Let's see what develops particularly as newly promoted Premiership side Hull City seem set to move in too which means City wouldn't really be able to compete, such is football.

Exclusive: Cardiff set to return with new bid for Rangers striker ...

Glasgow Daily Record

In other news, City's Willo Flood and Robbie Fowler have both been linked, via the rumour mill of Setanta and 'In The Know' sorts in Scotland, with possible approaches from Celtic. With Flood having had an impressive season on loan at Dundee nited, I can understand that but surely any move for Fowler seems unlikely but they did express interest before he arrive at Ninian Park last summer. However, in a summer of a million and one rumours, don't believe anything unless it happens.

THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE'S SUPPORTERS SURVERY 2008

The Football League has just published its Supporters Survey 2008.

The report compiles the views of the 40,316 supporters who took part in an on-line survey, over half of whom reppresented Championship clubs, exactly 900 of them declared themselves as Cardiff City supporters.


The research reveals that:

- Respondents attended an average of 16 home matches and 5 away matches each season.

- 72% of supporters believe that Football League matches provide good family entertainment.

- Supporters identified match atmosphere as the single most important aspect of the matchday experience.

- 58% of fans prefer to see their clubs midweek matches scheduled on Tuesday nights compared to the 36% that prefer Wednesdays.

- Fans identified players showing dissent or a lack of respect to match officials as the most important area for the football authorities to address in the area of Fair Play, with 29% of supporters believing this to be the case.

To download a copy of the report, click here.

EURO'2008 GAME 25: QUARTER FINAL 1: GERMANY 3 PORTUGAL 2

The Germans, although not overly pressive, still proved too good and far too organised and brushed aside the Portuguese who have played good football but showed they have limitations.

I think most observers called it a 50/50 game but the Portuguese started the better without getting close on goal and then were hit by two goals in 5 minutes midway through the first half which was highly entertaining with quality on display from both sides.

Those goals came firstly from a superb move sweetly finished by Schweinsteiger and then poor defence gave Klos a free header on goal from a free-kick after Ronaldo let him go.

Portugal could have caved but took the game to the Germans with Deco and Ronaldo causing problems and got reward when Ronaldo, now getting behind the Germans, saw his shot saved by Lehman but turned home on the rebound by Gomez. Ronaldo missed eqaulising by a whisker on half-time and then Pepe header over in front of goal at the start of the second half.

The second period didn't match the first half intensity but Portugal always looked the likelier to score until the Germans won another free-kick and once again Portugal were undone by their own criminal defending, this time their keeper gifting Michael Ballack a free header on goal delighting his national manager watching in a box as he was banned from the touchline but agonising his new club boss, Scolari, who was coaching Portugal.

The Portuguese came again but never got sight of goal and thier distance shooting was hopeless but then came an 88th minute lifeline as sub Postiga headed home.

With 4 minutes added time, it was set for a Grandstand finish but the Germans held on comfortably. Great start to the quarter-finals opf what has been an excellent tournament.


Video highlights of this game and all others can be found at this BBC link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2008/schedule_and_statistics/default.stm

WALES AND SCOTLAND RENEW TALKS TO JOINTLY HOST EURO'2016

THE FAW and the SFA (not Supper Furry Animals!) have held further talks with a view to jointly hosting the Euro'2016 finals.

With joint hosts Austria and Switzerland enjoying a successful championships now and more joint hosts in 2012, it does seem the way forward. It's also possibly the only way Wales and Scotland will reach a finals again!


Wales and Scotland plan Euro bid
BBC News

JACKS vs CITY - NOW A SUNDAY SERVICE WITH SONGS OF PRAISE

This season's Swansea City vs Cardiff City Championship fixture, the first league clash between the Welsh rivals for 10 years, is being moved back a day to Sunday November 30th with a 11:30am kick-off and will also be televised live on Sky TV - what a treat for the viewers to watch and hear us lot going at it!

It was always believed this would happen once South Wales Police had their say and it is certain that it will be addionally confirmed as a coach-only "bubble" trip for Bluebirds followers. Police claims that one of the problems was that a Staurday game would clash with a Wales v Australia rugby international in Cardiff was probably of no major significance in truth. I can't even rememeber the last time a Cardiff v Swansea game had a bog-stand.

The question now is how many more Cardiff games will see their kick-off times or days changed for tv scheduling or police interference. I recall 5 games were moved before the season started and a few more during it. Even when we behave and get praised, City fans just cannot shake off the reputation tag.

DARREN DAY PISSED DOWN THE BAY, allegedly!

I don't there's too many more odious celebrities out there than Darren Day, that's assuming you still label as a celebrity these days.

He's in Cardiff currently appearing at a show in New Theatre but seems he was stopped cruising around Custom House Street(!) at 2am and has been charged with drink driving. It may stop him driving but I'm afraid he'll probably carry on acting which is a shame.

Darren Day charged with drink-driving after arrest in Cardiff
InTheNews.co.uk

CITY LINE-UP STRIKING TRIO

Will Fowler sniff out goals

for City next season?

As it's been a long time since Cardiff City actually landed the players named in newspapers, I can't get too excited at this stage but Peter Ridsdale is confident things are moving in his direction so we'll see.

The most certain 'arrival' appears to be that Robbie Fowler is set to sign a 1 year pay-as-you-play deal with Dave Jones and the club more excited about this than most supporters who have been distinctly unimpressed by Robbie and have every reason to speculate that he can't get the 20 goals that the boss suggests - 7 seasons of missing half the games and averaging 7 goals being as good as any. However, it's likely to be his last hurrah so we can only hope he does succeed.

More interesting is emerging news, eminating from Manchester too, that City are very close to landing Ched Evans on a season's loan from Manchester City. He's been a target for some time but some feared Mark Hughes would want to retain the Welsh starlet but as he chases down Brazilians and world stars and is set to splash the cash, it seems that he wants the player long-term but is considering allowing Cardiff - and possibly several other interested clubs - to give him more experience.

The names of Michael Chopra, Steve Howard and, worryingly, Mamady Sidibe continued to be linked as the club look set to play their own version of "Bargain Hunt" where we have antiques and stars are sold. :>)

Euro 2008 quarter-final line-up

The Group games are ended but starting form tonight, Euro'2008 swings straight into the quarter-finals with one game each night. Every game looks fascinating with the line up as follows;

Euro 2008 quarter-final line-up

Tonight - Germany v Portugal

Friday - Croatia v Turkey

Saturday - Netherlands v Russia

Sunday - Spain v Italy

EURO'2008 GAMES 23 & 24: GROUP D - SPAIN 2 RUSSIA 1, RUSSIA 2 SWEDEN 0

People get ready, The Russians are coming! A sensational Swede-bashing performance sent the previous faltering Russians into the quarter-finals to play Holland with absolutely nothing to fear. The Swedes, meanwhile, becmae the third team to win their opening game yet still be knocked out after game 3.

The Russian attacking display was refreshing and compulsive viewing. The shot count probably around 30 to 5 in their favour with every player pouring forward, even at 2-0, and a telling factor was that both goals were assisted by both full-backs making the final pass after lung-bursting runs to get deep inside the penalty box.

The key difference was Arshavin, who ran Rangers ragged for Zenit St Petersburg in their recent winning UEFA Cup winning display, ruled this encounter from start to finish but the whole team display was so powerful and consuming, making Sweden - who only needed a draw to go through and knock Russia out - looked a one paced clueless outfit.

Goals came in each half through Pavlyuchenko and that man Arshavin with sweeping moves, both started by Arhsavin. They also hit the post twice, produced numerous saves from Isaksson, went close several more times whilst battering the Swedish defence and midfield and peppering shots on goal at every opportunity.

The Swedes were mauled and lucky to get away with 2-0 although that represented their biggest ever defeat in a Euros final. Larrsson and Ibrahimovich never linked up front although the former hit the bar with a clever header and a 2nd half shot hit the post but, truth is, they only had 1 decent 5 minute spell all night which came at the end of the first period. However one first half shot in the Innsbruck venue probably ended up in Switzerland which did link the co-hosts.

Dare I suggest it now puts Wales' World Cup qualifying group and hopes into sharp perspective?

Our kids are developing fast, we look more competitive and have picked up some good results, albeit in friendlies. It also encouraged that Germany and Russia have looked decidely dodgy in their early games which I liked too. But now reality dawns, we're facing two Euro quarter-finallists. I bet our will be the only group that will be able to 'boast' that. While they may not be the best German side ever, they're still quality and so organised. Russia, meanwhile, look a terrifying prospect in this mood. It'll be one hell of a job to be anywhere near them.

In the other fixture, Spain were already through and had won the group played defending Champions Greece who were already out and would finish bottom. The Spaniards made 10 changes yet still won 2-1. The Greeks opened the scoring with a terrific powered header by Christeas, the man who scored the Euro'2004 winner.

However the Spanish were the superior side throughout with Liverpool's Alonso so close three times with a shot from the halfway line that missed by inches and sent the Greek keeper clattering into his own post, a 25 yard free-kick that almost whistled past the post and a 30 yard screamer that hit the inside of a post and rolled across goal but victory came with goals by the spendidly named De la Red's shot just past the hour and Guiza's guided header with two minutes left.

Greece, 2004 Winners, were therefore sent packing as the only team in the tournament to lose all three games while Spain equalled their international best record of 9 successive wins. When they last achieved it, they played Italy who stopped that sequence continuing and, yes, their quarter-final opponents just happen to be Italy!


Video highlights of these games and every Euro'2008 match plus stats and other info can all be found on this excellent BBC page
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2008/schedule_and_statistics/default.stm

CARDIFF WAGAMAMA RESTAURANT VISIT

Went to the latest addition to the Cardiff Bay eating scene this evening, Wagamama - an Asian styled noodle restaurant which has taken off around the UK and this is their first venue in Wales.

Got to admit, part of the reason I went is that it's 2 Meals for 1 all month if you print off a voucher at this link > http://www.menshealth.co.uk/Down-time/2-for-1-at-wagamama/v2

It only opened last month and is upstairs at Mermaid Quay with an entrance downstairs between restuarants facing the Millennium Centre.

The weather wasn't good and the Bay wasn't busy but Wagamama's was packed but we got a table straight away. It's open, spacious and with minimal decoration but is seen as trendy as that's the crowd they pull in, lord knows what they thought of me then! Having said that, I bet most were there on 2 for 1 vouchers anyway!

It was my first time in this sort of place and the menu was minimal - either noodle, rice or curry dishes. The staff were very friendly and every meal is freshly cooked but this does mean your food could arrive before your friend or partner, that's the way it is.

Fortunately, food for the other half and myself arrived pretty quickly after each other and it was excellent. I had teryaki steak noodles, my missus tried chickle noodles both were enriched with various additions and flavours and bloody gorgeous. Filling too.

My meal cost £12, my wife's cost £7 which is about the average cost per meal and a side dish was £4 so came to about £20 with drinks and the discount voucher but would have been nearer £30 otherwise.

Would I go there again? Yes definitely - although in truth probably only when the offer gets repeated which is regularly. I don't think it would have been worth £30.

Well worth a visit though and a refreshing change from the usual resturants and foods.

WALES' WEST HAM CARDIFF TRIO READY FOR PRE-SEASON

John Toshack's Wales have receieved a boost ahead for the Autumn World Cup 2010 qualifiers commencing with news that ex-Cardiff City men James Collins and Danny Gabbidon plus Cardiff-born Welsh skipper Craig Bellamy are all aiming to take part in the Premiership club's pre-season programme.

"Bells" briefly featured in Wales' end of season games and trained with the Bluebirds prior to the F.A. Cup Final after almost a year absent with various problems.

Gabbs has not played since before Christmas with back and hip problems but has had undertaken extensive treatment in Italy, he is understood to be ready and eager to get training and playing.

Ginge's return would be the biggest surprise of all since he had a cruciate knee ligament injury and was expected to miss the whole of 2008 and after regular action at the end of last season but his recovery appears to be well ahead of schedule.

Wales' first World Cup games are Azerbaijan and Russia in September, it will be good to have all three available.

Roger and Out at Ipswich as they sign two centre-halves

Media Rumours that Ipswich Town were about to offer an increased bid of £1.75M for Cardiff City centre-half Roger Johnson have ended almost as quickly as they started as the Suffolk club have signed two centre-halves within 24 hours.

Following the wonderfully named Pim Balkestein arriving from Holland, Town boss Jim Magilton has now signed Leicester City centre-half Gareth McAuley. It was widely believed that Magilton was after McCauley or Johnson and having obtained the former, there will no longer be any follow up enquiries or offer for the City man.

Any move to Ipswich seemed out of the question anyway as Johnson would not have left for another Championship club while Ipswich's valuations were substantially below the fee of £3M set by Peter Ridsdale.

EURO'2008 GAMES 21 & 22: GROUP C ITALY 2 FRANCE 0, HOLLAND 2 ROMANIA 0

The repeat of the 2006 World Cup Final saw Italy and France, who both qualified form the same group edging out Scotland, fighting to stay in the competition knowing a win would not be enough if Romania beat Holland in the simultaneous group fixture.

As it was, the Dutch, even with 9 players rested, eased past a disappointing and ultra-cautious Romania 2-0 even with 2nd half strikes by Huntelaar and Van Persie. The Italians also found it rather too easy to repeat that scoreline against the worst French side seen for many years and who look in need of a drastic rebuild.

With the point shared between them in their dull opening clash being their only return of the finals, the French and Romanians head home while Italy and Holland march on although the Azzuri will have do make do without the suspended Gatuso and Perlo in their quarter-final.

The Italy v France contest was virtually over in the first 25 minutes as France lost their star man Franck Ribery to injury very early and then went one behind to a Perlo penalty and had Abidal sent off for bringing down Toni in thhe move that produced the spot-kick.

The French should have been out if sight by the interval but Toni somehow missed a literal hatful of chances with 6 clear sights of goal each failing to hit the target while Grosso hit the postt from a free-kick.

It got little better for France after the interval as Buffon has only one save of note to make all night as Thierry Henry, now a shadow of the player he was, rarely influential and it was ironic that Italy's clinching goal just past the hour was cruelly deflected in off Henry's boot after De Rossi's highly speculative 30 yard free-kick was heading wide.

Italy will face Spain in a tough quarter-final while Sweden and Russia effectively face off tomorrow for the dubious honour of taking on the unstoppable looking Dutch in the last 8.


Video highlights of all Euro'2008 games including the above matches can be found here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2008/schedule_and_statistics/default.stm

FLEETWOOD, FROM CITY REJECT TO NON-LEAGUE TO CHAMPIONSHIP RIVALS

Cardiff City Academy product Stuart Fleetwood in back in league football and at Championship level too after signing a contract with Charlton Athletic.

Fleetwood always looked a useful player but his character wasn't right at City and he was discarded by Dave Jones with few appearences and fell away firstly with Hereford United and then into the non-league game with Forest Green Rovers. However he revived himself last season, netting 36 goals to make him leading Conference scorer and that brough him to the attention of league clubs.

Forest Green Rovers must be kicking themselves after Fleetwood himself turned down a January transfer to Crewe for a reported £200,000. Four months on, he can walk away for nothign although there is the matter of a compensation fee to be agreed.

SWANSEA ALREADY COUNTING THE DAY TO PLAYING CITY

Good to know we're still the centre of their universe!

MONK CAN'T WAIT FOR DERBY DAY AGAIN
South Wales Evening Post

JOHN HEYDA'S 2007/2008 CARDIFF CITY STATS PACK

Hope Mr H doesn't mind me repeating his posting to the Cardiff City mailing list but, for you CCFC trivia and stas buffs, this is a very worthy read.

Remember City's 4-2 League Cup win over West Brom in September? The Baggies had 16 attempts on goal in that match, the Bluebirds six. Or, how `bout City's 1-0 loss at Southampton in October? City had 13 attempts on goal compared to the Saints' three.

Match stats don't always tell you that much when it comes to individual games. Can they tell you much more when they're added together to produce season totals for the familiar categories - shots on goal, shots on and off target, corners, fouls, offsides, etc.?

Here are totals for City's games from the season just completed. See what you think.

Attempts on goal - City had 676 shots on goal in 56 games played (46 league games, six FA Cup and four League Cup games). That's an average of 12.1 attempts per game. City's opponents had 531 shots on goal for 56 games, an average of 9.5 per game. In short, the Bluebirds had 27% more attempts on goal than their opponents. City had the edge in league games 547 to 429 (or 11.9 to 9.3 per game), and in cup games by a margin of 129 to 102.

Attempts on target and off target - City put 385 of its 676 shots on target (or 57%), 280 off target (or 41.4%). Opponents put 288 of 531 on target (or 54.2%), 234 off target (or 44.1%). In league games, the Bluebirds had 313 on target (6.8 per game) and 225 off target (4.9 per game), opponents had 245 on target (5.3 per game) and 177 off (3.8 per game). In cup games, City had 72 on target and 55 off, opponents 43 and 57.

Hitting the woodwork - City hit woodwork 11 times, with nine coming in league matches, the other two in cup games. Opponents whacked the woodwork nine times, seven coming in league tilts and the other two in cup games.

Corners - The Bluebirds had 336 in total, 269 in the league (5.8 per game), 67 in cups. Opponents had 279 overall, 239 in the league (5.2 per game) and 40 in cup games. City had 20.4% more corners than their opponents in all games.

Fouls - City committed 563 fouls in all games (472 in the league, 91 in cups), while opponents were charged with a total of 743 (612 in league games, 131 in cups). In league games, the Bluebirds averaged 10.3 per game, opponents 13.3. Overall, opponents committed 32% more fouls than City.

Offsides - City were offside 194 times (181 in league play, 13 in cup games), while opponents show a figure of 211 (177 in the league, 34 in cup games). In league tilts, the Bluebirds averaged 3.9 per game, opponents 3.8. The offsides total for opponents is 8.8% higher than City's for this category.

Yellow Cards - The Bluebirds had 58 yellow cards (45 in league games, 13 in cup tilts), while opponents had 88 (70 in the league, 18 in cup games). Overall, opponents received 51.7% more yellows.

Red Cards - City had three, all in league matches. Opponents had only one, that coming in a cup game.

Substitutes - City employed 125 substitutes (100 in league games, 25 in cup matches). Opponents used 151 substitutions (124 in league games and another 27 in cup tilts). Opponents' total for this category is 20.8% higher than City's.

Scoring first - The Bluebirds scored first in 29 of the 52 matches featuring at least one goal. In league play, City scored first in 22 of 42. In cup matches, the club got the first goal in seven of 10.

So, what to make of all of this? Cardiff City finished 12th in their division in 2007/08, with a league record of 16-16-14, scoring 59 goals and conceding 55. Including ten Carling Cup and FA Cup matches, City won 24, drew 16 and lost 16, netting 76 and conceding 62. Do these marks sound like adequate return for a season in which the Bluebirds had 27% more attempts on goal and 20% more corners than their opponents in all games, not to mention seeing opponents commit 32% more fouls, get whistled for 9% more offsides, and pick up 52% more yellow cards?

In short, should City have done better with the edge they had in these categories? Or is this just further evidence that it's a funny old game (and good luck making much sense of it all)?

IPSWICH READY TO RAISE THE STAKES FOR ROGER JOHNSON

News emerges from East Anglia that Ipswich Town are ready to come back to Cardiff City with an increased offer for centre-half and fans favourite Roger Johnson.

Town had a £1M turned down by Peter Ridsdale last month but it's being reported in the media that they will now make a new bid of £1.75M.

That looks just as unlikely to have success as Roger Johnson would surely only leave Ninian Park for Premiership football but Cardiff City have already stated they would want £3M for the player who they do not wish to sell anyway. They have, however, offered new contract terms for Johnson which has not yet been signed.

Town Set to Bid £1.75m for Cardiff's Johnson?