Sullivan Rumour Dismissed - now there's a surprise

No sooner had the South Wales Echo - for the umpteenth year running - created a rumour citing an inevitable 'close friend' source that David Sullivan was looking to invest in Cardiff City, the club themselves have today moved to dismiss it.


Chairman Peter Ridsdale confirmed he followed up the story by contacting a known link to Sullivan but was given the firm rebuff that, "I asked someone who is close to David Sullivan to speak to him. And I was told the stories are not true and he had no interest in investing in Cardiff City Football Club."


At least, for a change, it isn't going to be spun out in the press for a while before the standard 'not now' line appears and amen to that.

Full Championship Table after 5 Games

Position	Team	Games	Goal Diff	Points
1	Newcastle	5	7	13
2	West Brom	5	4	11
3	Cardiff	5	7	10
4	Middlesbrough	5	6	10
5	Bristol City	5	0	10
6	Preston	5	5	9
7	Sheff Utd	5	4	9
8	Sheff Wed	5	5	8
9	Leicester	5	1	8
10	Blackpool	5	3	7
11	Derby	5	0	7
12	Coventry	5	-1	7
13	Watford	5	0	6
14	Doncaster	5	0	6
15	QPR	5	0	6
16	Crystal Palace	5	-1	5
17	Nottm Forest	5	-2	5
18	Reading	5	-3	5
19	Swansea	5	-3	5
20	Scunthorpe	5	-10	3
21	Peterborough	5	-4	2
22	Plymouth	5	-5	2
23	Ipswich	5	-5	2
24	Barnsley	5	-8	1

City back in 3rd as Toon Army go top

In a Bank Holiday Monday night game, Newcastle United beat Leicester City 1-0 in front of 38,000 at St James Park to leapfrog Cardiff City and grab pole position in the Championship.

Danny Guthrie scored the all important goal early in the second half but with Newcastle visiting the Cardiff City Stadium next game on September 13th, it sets it up nicely for a massive clash. The public are responding with less than 2,000 tickets now available for that game, half of them in the Premier Club seating balcony.


TOP of the TABLE tonight

Position	Team	Games	Goal Diff	Points
1	Newcastle	5	7	13
2	West Brom	5	4	11
3	Cardiff	5	7	10
4	Middlesbrough	5	6	10
5	Bristol City	5	0	10
6	Preston	5	5	9
7	Sheff Utd	5	4	9

5 SECOND MOVIES

I think I'd watch more long films if they were like this!!!

MILLION DOLLAR BABY

BATMAN

TITANIC


THE SIXTH SENSE

Doncaster 2 Cardiff City 0 - how the press saw it

Bad day at the office but Bluebirds must be given benefit of the doubt

WalesOnline

We deserved Doncaster result: Bluebirds skipper Mark Hudson

WalesOnline

Jones critical of 'sloppy' Bluebirds

WalesOnline

Bluebirds left Don in the dumps

WalesOnline

Cardiff suffer a 'reality check'

BBC Sport

Doncaster 2 Cardiff 0

Sportinglife.com

Cardiff suffer defeat at Doncaster

WalesOnline

Bothroyd concern for Bluebirds

Yahoo! Eurosport

Doncaster 2-0 Cardiff

Sunday People

Rovers beat leaders

Vitalfootball

Doncaster 2-0 Cardiff

Sportbox

Doncaster 2 Cardiff 0

TeleText

Time to seriously question why so many leg/hamstring injuries?

I asked this a couple of weeks ago and here we go again, another player (Bothroyd) just pulling up with a leg injury.


To my mind, and I'm sure it's reality as well as perecption, this happens far more at Cardiff than any other club. So why?


This season, we've had Kennedy, McCormack, Quinn, Feeney (in training) and now Bothroyd - and we're only 5 games into the season.


Last season, players affected included Bothroyd (twice), McNaughton (twice), Kennedy, Scimeca, McCormack (twice), McPhail, Ledley, Blake and, I think, Parry.


To me, that hints of being more than just bad luck.

Bothroyd Injury Scare

Most Cardiff City fans will tell you that JAY BOTHROYD is a pivotal figure in the side and we'd look a different outfit without him as he is perfectly suited to our system.


Those words proved prophetic at the weekend as Jay limped away within the opening 10 minutes, Cardiff were fairly battered and made to look ordinary in the extreme - a 100% contrast to everything served up beforehand this season.


To make matters worse, there are now genuine concerns that Jay may be spending time out injured as he felt something behind the knee. The club are organising urgent scans fearing Bothroyd's hamstring may have been affected.


Bothroyd was twice absent last term with hamstring trouble and it was interesting to hear Dave Jones moaning on Radio Wales last Saturday night with rambling remarks about it being 'not good enough, hinting about being 'unprofessional' and talk about looking into how Jay warmed up. It deeply suggested that Jay didn't prepare properly.


Cardiff now enter a two week break to sort this out but the worries are that he will be missing for longer, something City can ill afford.

Video Lowlights: Doncaster Rovers 2 Cardiff City 0

Click the link if you can bear to watch

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/8229694.stm

Why David Sullivan's like Father Xmas (he's linked to City once a year)

With news that the Gold Brothers and David Sullivan were about to be bought out at Birmingham City, I thought it would be only a matter of time before The South Wales Echo printed a story claiming he was interested in Cardiff City and yesterday we finally got it. The reaction of Cardiff City fans varied between yawns and talk being cheap. You see, we've been here before.

Soon to be seen in Cardiff???

Sullivan, worth £650M according to the Times rich list for his porn/newspaper empire, and about to be handsomely paid off when the sale goes through is likely to be looking for a new club. Time after time, year after year, over the past two decades, The Echo have - dutifully some would say - published a Sullivan story claiming he's a Cardiff fan and would love to buy the club one day when the time is right. This despite, nobody ever seeing this Cardiff fan ever at any of our games and some stories that thePenarth-born mogul never went as a kid either. However there was an ill-feted ham-fisted attempt by his brother Clive to take on the club in the 90's that collapsed almost as mysteriously as it had begun.

The Echo have managed to speak to a contact of Sullivan who said of course he would be interested. Peter Ridsdale''s reaction? Call me David.

Whether he will remains to be seen as newspaper stories are also linking him to West Ham with the Gold Brothers (which is the Gold Brothers boyhood club and close to Sullivan'sEssex home), Norwich City and at least 4 or 5 others.

Just like Vince Alm of the Cardiff City supporter's club, "I'll believe it when I see it". However there's no denying he could provide the club with more stability and help kick it on again.

In the meantime, Peter Ridsdale is due to return to Malaysia next week on his World Tour to refinance Cardiff City. It would appear to be an opportunity to hold more talks rather than a commitment yet.

Manager of the Month
Just look at what you would have won
with victory at Doncaster!

DAVE JONES on video

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/8229240.stm

DONCASTER's SEAN O'DRISCOLL on audio

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/doncaster/8228969.stm

Actual Call Centre Conversations

Customer: 'I've been ringing 0800 2100 for two days and can't get through to enquiries, can you help?'.
Operator: 'Where did you get that number from, sir?'.
Customer: 'It was on the door to the Travel Centre'.
Operator: 'Sir, they are our opening hours'.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Samsung Electronics
Caller: 'Can you give me the telephone number for Jack?'
Operator: 'I'm sorry, sir, I don't understand who you are talking about'.
Caller: 'On page 1, section 5, of the user guide it clearly states that I need to unplug the fax machine from the AC wall socket and telephone Jack before cleaning. Now, can you give me the number for Jack?'
Operator: 'I think you mean the telephone point on the wall'.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
RAC Motoring Services
Caller: 'Does your European Breakdown Policy cover me when I am travelling in Australia ?'
Operator: ' Doesn't the product name give you a clue?'

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Caller (enquiring about legal requirements while travelling in France ):
'If I register my car in France , do I have to change the steering wheel to the other side of the car?'

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Directory Enquiries
Caller: 'I'd like the number of the Argoed Fish Bar in Cardiff please'.
Operator: 'I'm sorry, there's no listing. Is the spelling correct?'
Caller: 'Well, it used to be called the Bargoed Fish Bar but the 'B' fell off'.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Then there was the caller who asked for a knitwear company in Woven.
Operator: 'Woven? Are you sure?'
Caller: 'Yes. That's what it says on the label; Woven in Scotland '.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

On another occasion, a man making heavy breathing sounds from a phone box told a worried operator:
'I haven't got a pen, so I'm steaming up the window to write the number on'.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Tech Support: 'I need you to right-click on the Open Desktop'.
Customer: 'OK'.
Tech Support: 'Did you get a pop-up menu?'.
Customer: 'No'.
Tech Support: 'OK. Right-Click again. Do you see a pop-up menu?'
Customer: 'No'.
Tech Support: 'OK, sir. Can you tell me what you have done up until this point?'.
Customer: 'Sure. You told me to write 'click' and I wrote 'click''.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Tech Support: 'OK. In the bottom left hand side of the screen, can you see the 'OK' button displayed?'
Customer: 'Wow. How can you see my screen from there?'

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Caller: 'I deleted a file from my PC last week and I have just realised that I need it. If I turn my system clock back two weeks will I have my file back again?'.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

There's always one. This has got to be one of the funniest things in a long time. I think this guy should have been promoted, not fired. This is a true story from the Word Perfect Helpline, which was transcribed from a recording monitoring the customer care department. Needless to say the Help Desk employee was fired; however, he/she is currently suing the Word Perfect organization for 'Termination without Cause'.
Actual dialogue of a former WordPerfect Customer Support employee. (Now I know why they record these conversations!):

Operator: 'Ridge Hall, computer assistance; may I help you?'
Caller: 'Yes, well, I'm having trouble with WordPerfect.'
Operator: 'What sort of trouble??'
Caller: 'Well, I was just typing along, and all of a sudden the words went away.'
Operator: 'Went away?'
Caller: 'They disappeared.'
Operator: 'Hmm So what does your screen look like now?'
Caller: 'Nothing.'
Operator: 'Nothing??'
Caller: 'It's blank; it won't accept anything when I type.'
Operator: 'Are you still in WordPerfect, or did you get out??'
Caller: 'How do I tell?'
Operator: 'Can you see the C: prompt on the screen??'
Caller: 'What's a sea-prompt?'
Operator: 'Never mind, can you move your cursor around the screen?'
Caller: 'There isn't any cursor: I told you, it won't accept anything I type.'
Operator: 'Does your monitor have a power indicator??'
Caller: 'What's a monitor?'
Operator: 'It's the thing with the screen on it that looks like a TV. Does it have a little light that tells you when it's on??'
Caller: 'I don't know.'
Operator: 'Well, then look on the back of the monitor and find where the power cord goes into it. Can you see that??'
Caller: 'Yes, I think so.'
Operator: 'Great. Follow the cord to the plug, and tell me if it's plugged into the wall.
Caller: 'Yes, it is.'
Operator: 'When you were behind the monitor, did you notice that there were two cables plugged into the back of it, not just one??'
Caller: 'No.'
Operator: 'Well, there are. I need you to look back there again and find the other cable.'
Caller: 'Okay, here it is.'
Operator: 'Follow it for me, and tell me if it's plugged securely into the back of your computer.'
Caller: 'I can't reach.'
Operator: 'Uh huh. Well, can you see if it is??'
Caller: 'No.'
Operator: 'Even if you maybe put your knee on something and lean way over??'
Caller: 'Oh, it's not because I don't have the right angle - it's because it's dark.'
Operator: 'Dark??'
Caller: 'Yes - the office light is off, and the only light I have is coming in from the window.
' Operator: 'Well, turn on the office light then.'
Caller: 'I can't.'
Operator: 'No? Why not??'
Caller: 'Because there's a power failure.'
Operator: 'A power......... A power failure? Aha, Okay, we've got it licked now.
Do you still have the boxes and manuals and packing stuff your computer came in??'
Caller: 'Well, yes, I keep them in the closet.'
Operator: 'Good. Go get them, and unplug your system and pack it up just like it was when you got it. Then take it back to the store you bought it from.'
Caller: 'Really? Is it that bad?'
Operator: 'Yes, I'm afraid it is.'
Caller: 'Well, all right then, I suppose. What do I tell them??'
Operator: 'Tell them you're too f --- ing stupid to own a computer!!!!!'

*********************************************************************************

It was 31 Years Ago Today ...

GULP - On this day in 1978, DEVO's debut classic album Q. Are We Not Men? A: We Are DEVO! was released and launched themselves onto the world scene.

The album included the DEVO classic tunes Jocko Homo, Mongoloid, Satisfaction and Uncontrollable Urge plus this classic take on modern rock'n'roll with synths, Come Back Jonee.

Rock'n'Roll Strops Ain't What They Used To Be

Patrick Wolf goes ballistic in Berlin. Hardly the Sex Pistols is it??

Championship: Doncaster Rovers 2 CARDIFF CITY 0 report

SUMMARY
CARDIFF CITY and Michael Chopra may have started the season on fire but they were firmly extinguished at Doncaster's Keepmoat Stadium today as the complete unpredictability of the Championship when anything happens and anyone can beat anyone occurred again. Omens meant nothing - going into this encounter, Cardiff were free-scoring, unbeaten and top of the league. Doncaster were struggling, had only scored 2 all season, hadn't won a game and had never beaten any top of the table side at their new ground. Yet City were well beaten and can have nocomplaints other hold hold an inquest into why they didn't turn up on the pitch until the game was already out of reach.

17 minutes after kick-off, Cardiff found themselves without an injured Jay Bothroyd, two goals down and played off the park for the entire half. The second half finally saw City wake up but only a bit and chances missed meant there wasn't even a consolation goal for the 1,200+ travelling fans in what was a deeply disappointing afternoon and display. However City remain second (for now - Newcastle are still to play this weekend) going into the fortnight's international break which still sets up a drooling clash next game with Newcastlevisiting the new stadium on September 13.

TEAM NEWS

Donny had one or two absences but the 11 starters were generally their first choice side on a mission to make up for their 5-1 midweek home hammering vs Spurs in theCarling Cup. Not sure you'd swap any of them for their Cardiff counter-part. DONNY: Sullivan; Chambers-Roberts-Shackell-Lockwood; Oster-Spicer-Stock-Woods; Coppinger-Hayter.

Dave Jones made one change from the side that demolished Bristol City last weekend as Paul Quinn found himself squeezed onto the bench with TonyCapaldi , available after suspension, at left back which Quinn covered last week while DJ decided to keep Adam Matthews at right back instead of return Quinn to his natural role. CITY: Marshall; Matthews-Hudson-Gerrard-Capaldi; Whittingham-Rae-Ledley-Burke; Bothroyd-Chopra: Subs included new £250k signing Solomon Taiwo joining Enckleman-Etuhu-Gyepes-Magennis-McPhail-Quinn.


MATCH REPORT

This was a game whose result was decided almost before it had begun. The game started at a frantic pace but Doncaster were passing and moving the ball better - they were doing a Cardiff on Cardiff. Within a 8 minute spell, the destiny of the game was decided.

On 9 minutes, City were rocked as Jay Bothroyd was taken off to be replaced by Etuhu with Dave Jones making post-match comments suggesting there may be a problem behind the knee and that he was unhappy with Bothroyd's preparations. Not sure what that was about but I'm sure more will come out. Etuhu ran and worked hard but common consensus was that Cardiff had no Plan B without Jay being the pivotal outlet for the forward play.

Three minutes later, the absence told again as a Donny corner saw LOCKWOOD have a free header which went in off the far post. He was the player Bothroyd would have marked at set pieces. This was the first time City had fallen behind in any game this season.

Then, on 17 minutes, a lucky Donny goal but one that completed a 12 pass move. The end of it though saw a sliced effort headed for the corner flag, Stock kept it in, anothermishit shot had the ball hit an offside looking HAYTER and hold up perfectly for him to fizz a shot into the top corner giving Marshall no chance again.

The rest of the half saw Donny buzzing and outplaying City although Marshall wasn't really tested. However neither was Sullivan at the other end, Cardiff managing just a solitary corner and frustration for that 45 minutes in which Jones criticised too many of his players for not being up for the battle and starting at full pelt. Didn't he say the same things after the side clung onto a point atBlackpool a fortnight ago - the only difference being we hung onto a draw that day?

Half-time: DONNY 2 CITY 0

Cardiff were brighter in the second half and had chances to have recovered. However their play was more frantic than the recent quality we have been enjoying but Michael Chopra will wonder how he missed a virtual sitter to add to his blazing start as well as a couple of half chances andEtuhu will feel the same. In the last minute, he somehow headed over a Ledley corner standing almost on the line. Taiwo was given the last 20 minutes for Whittingham and Magennis the final 10 for Burke but it changed nothing.

However City remain second (for now - Newcastle are still to play this weekend) going into the fortnight's international break which still sets up a drooling clash next game with Newcastle visiting the new stadium on September 13.

Megan Fox's School Anti-Bullying Message

Bloody hell, I love this woman even when she's talking crap!

Carling Cup offers Villa, Villa Night

CARDIFF CITY have been drawn away to Aston Villa in the Third Round of the Carling Cup, a draw greeted with some joy and anticipation amongst the Bluebirds faithful.

While a tough tie for City, the players will enjoy visiting the venue and so will City fans as few will have been there before other than to watch other sides - the last time the sides met was in 1975.

The full draw is;

Arsenal v West Brom

Chelsea v QPR

Bolton v West Ham

Barnsley v Burnley

Hull City v Everton

Leeds United v Liverpool

Manchester United v Wolves

Manchester City v Fulham

Sunderland v Birmingham City

Peterborough United v Newcastle United

Carlisle United v Portsmouth

Nottingham Forest v Blackburn Rovers

Stoke City v Blackpool

Scunthorpe United v Port Vale

Preston North End v Spurs

Aston Villa v Cardiff City

Adam Matthews The Graduate

One of the huge plusses of Cardiff City's outstanding start to season 2009/10 has been the emergence of teenage defender Adam Matthews.

He served notice with a goalscoring performance in a pre-season friendly against Chasetown but injuries to Kevin McNaughton and Paul Quinn have enabled him to burst onto the scene with a league debut in City's draw at Blackpool, the away win at Plymouth where he also went close to scoring and a superb display in City's supreme demolition of Bristol City.

Rejected by Swansea City's Academy after injury, their loss is City's gain. His rise underlined by a call up to Wales Under 21's.

So what does Matthews think of his meteoric jump into the first team? Talking to WALES ONLINE, he says, "Playing in a team doing well rather than struggling helps, but I didn’t expect to play as well as I have. Now I have to work on keeping that standard up. I’m young and I haven’t set myself a target on appearances this season. Right now, I’m happy to be in the squad and learning from the other lads.”

He is also full of praise for Cardiff-born club talisman Joe Ledley commenting, "All the boys are good to me and helped me get through the early games and the gaffer (Dave Jones) chats to me on a regular basis about how I am doing but Joe has helped me a lot. He talks to me on the pitch and off. He’s been a great help. Joe’s a Cardiff boy and I’d love to follow in his footsteps."

Adam - you're already on the way to doing that. Keep it going son.

It's The End of the World

AKRON's World of Rubber - used as the backdrop for DEVO's famous The Truth about De-Evolution and Jocko Homo movie - is to close next week in Akon, Ohio.


''Well, there you go,'' said Devo bassist Jerry Casale, when told of the museum's closing. ''This is total proof of de-evolution. What's the world come to when no one cares about rubber?''


The video of Jocko Homo is embargoed from YouTube at present although countless live performances exist. In difference to the charged version, I like this chilled out offering from 1988 followed by their truly devolved version of Satisfaction.

Enjoy!

Video of the Week - LEVEL 42, Leaving Me Now

Now I know it's not populist to admit a liking to Level 42 especially for an old punk like myself but back in the day and before they exploded, I was quite into them. Not as much as my funk brother but even so.

Went to a few early Cardiff gigs of theirs and they were brilliant nights. The only gigs I ever attended where I pulled!

So here they are playing Cardiff St David's Hall in 2006 doing one of their ballads - Leaving Me Now - which is one of the few slower songs I really love.

Joe Set To Stay at Cardiff City

Cardiff City and Joe Ledley are finally in discussions and believed to be close to completing a deal for a new contract ... one that it would be appear has been conducted without the meddling of Joe's agent.



Dave Jones has described Joe's impact at Cardiff City as being similar to Steve Gerrard at Liverpool so is desperate for him to stay at the club. With the transfer window set to close on Tuesday but no offers or enquiries yet from an Premiership club, Welsh Captain Joe is set to stay with the club anyway so a deal will offer him more money and allow City the security of having Joe under contract.


The deal is there to be done and needs to be sorted for the sake of player and club.

DAVE JONES' THOUGHTS ON JOE ABOUT TO TAKE A NEW CONTRACT AT CITY

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/8226678.stm

BLAKE'S DEVON!

Darcy Blake yesterday agreed a 6 month loan deal (or a deal until January depending on who you believe) to Championship rivals PLYMOUTH ARGYLE.


A Caerphilly product and still just 20 years old, Darcy hasn't quite broken through to Cardiff City's first team held back by injuries and for reasons I sometimes can't understand, not quite getting the same opportunities as others ... did anyone say Comminges for example??


The Welsh Under 21 stalwart has only been an unused sub this season and had only 26 Championship outings (11 as sub) managing 7 appearences last term. Ironically, many of those outings are as an emergency defender when, to my mind anyway, he's a more natural and better midfield man.


With City strengthening at the back and midfield this term, Darcy has probably fallen further down the pecking order so it's a perfect move for him as he needs first team football and I'm sure he's do a job at Argyle.

OASIS R.I.P.

Brit rockers OASIS who have been a major rock'n'roll force for almost 20 years split up last night with Noel quitting the group after the never ending feuding between the Brothers Gallagher hit another low.

Rumours have been rife for a week of their demise after they pulled out of a headline V Festival appearence but it came to an end with another pull out headling a festival in Paris last night minutes before they were due to hit the stage after a furious fight.

OASIS - SLIDE AWAY FROM KNEBWORTH 1996 - I WAS THERE!!!

On their official website, Noel posted, "It’s with some sadness and great relief to tell you that I quit Oasis tonight. People will write and say what they like, but I simply could not go on working with Liam a day longer. Apologies to all the people who bought tickets for the shows in Paris, Konstanz, and Milan”.

Question is - will he? This has happened before (in 2000) and they carried on but they are a group in demise and loved only for their live shows rather than their latest music offerings by many, myself included.

In their time, Beatles imitators or not, they were immense and a live experience like no other. I've seen them perform a few times including their major Knewborth headline shows in 1996 at at a time when their music was vital. Since then, they have stayed mainstream but their records have been more cliche-ridden radio friendly anthemic formula and got progressively less interesting.

It's hard to say what the future holds for Liam but Noel is more than talented enough to go his own way.

Streaking is Back

Back and Running

Apologies if the blog has been a bit quiet of late but had a hectic time at work and especially at home meaning I had minimal time to do this.

Things are settling down again at home as the Good Lady is back from a hospital op and recovering so here we go again then.

Video Highlights - Cardiff City 3 Bristol Rovers 1

CLICK LINK to VIEW:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/8225211.stm

Taiwo signing confirmed

Solomon Taiwo has become Cardiff City's 7th summer signing, 6 of them permanentm after completing a medical for his reported £250,000 switch from League Two outfit Dagenham and Redbridge.


The player - a midfield lynchpin for the Daggers - has been tracked by City since last season but his potential was highlighted by an outstanding display for the Londoners against Cardiff in Carling Cup Round 1 action a fortnight ago and his impressed in their flying start to the League campaign which saw them in 2nd spot.



City boss Dave Jones has describes him as "a good prospect, a strong player, a good athlete and comfortable on the ball who, with no disrespect to Dagenham, playing with better players around him he should up his tempo and the qualities that he has got."


Jones admits it is a punt but believes the players has the qualities to make an impact at this level and moved quickly to dismiss some thoughts amongst sections of Bluebird followers that he may be a replacement for Joe Ledley by adding, "We haven't bough in a midfield player because of what might or might not happen with Joe. We have brought in a midfield player because we are trying to bolster our squad. Hopefully that reassures the fans".


Welcome to Cardiff City, Taiwo.

In Photos - CARDIFF CITY 3 Bristol Rovers 1 Carling Cup Round 2

Solomon wisely set to join City

It's being reported tonight that Dagenham and Redbridge's powerful midfielder Solomon Taiwo is in South Wales tonight finialising a potential £250,000 move to Cardiff City.

Solomon who? You may ask.

He's a 24 year old Nigerian born player who has been with 9 South East mainly non-league sides and 1 in America with 5 years before joining League Two outfit Dagenham and Redbridge in 2007. His start there was tainted with 2 red cards but he has since become a pivotal and influential player for the Daggers.

Two weeks ago tonight, Taiwo shone at Cardiff City Stadium in Daggers Carling Cup defeat and that obviously convinced Dave Jones to make a move although he has been tracking the player for some time.

Cardiff have needed extra central midfield cover and Taiwo fits the bill although, clearly, he is a gamble.

Video Highlights: CARDIFF CITY 3 Bristol City 0

Re-live City's comprehensive demolition of the Carrot Crunchers.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/8218330.stm

Chopra's "On Fire" Goal Celebration vs The Carrot Crunchers

An amazing Cardiff City performance was crowned by Michael Chopra's fantastic goal celebration. Scoring 7 goals already and in each of City's 4 Champi0nship games means he truly is on fire.

What's On? Could it be Watson?

A couple of sources have today linked Cardiff City with a season long loan move for Wigan midfielder Ben Watson with a view to a permanent deal. One national daily claims on its website that the deal is 'on the verge' of being completed.


Watson, still only 23, would be an excellent addition to City's squad as he's an energetic box to box goalscoring and contributing midfielder. Riased through the youth system at Cystal Palace, he was dubbed the "Peckham Beckham" with his set pieces and general play.

18 goals in 145 league starts bring plenty of admiriers and he joined Premiership Wigan Athletic for a cool £2M in January making an instant impact crowned by winners against Sunderland and Hull.

However the arrival of ex-Swansea boss Roberto Martinez and his influx of mainly foreign players has seen him pushed out of facour so club and player are looking for a move.

However I wouldn't get excited or hold your breath - rumour has it that Premiership Portsmouth and fellow Championship side Ipswich are both monitoring developments and favurong paying to buy the player now for a £1.5M deal.

Cardiff 3 Wurzels 0 - the manager reaction

Dave Jones in raptures

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/8217168.stm

Bristol City’s Gary Johnson

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bristol_city/8217890.stm

Cardiff City 3 Bristol City 0 - in picture

4 Hours to go so ....

Etuhu The New Blue

After a day or two of rumours, Cardiff City have this morning confirmed the capture of Manchester City's Nigerian forward Kelvin Etuhu on loan for the rest of the season. He joins the squad today and is available for selection in tomorrow's Severnside derby against Bristol City.

There's no point lying down son ...
you're still off to Cardiff

Etuhu has been with the Eastlands club for the past 3 seasons and had 10 Premiership appearences, the last a home start against Fulham last April, as well as previous loan spells with Rochdale and Leicester. He was on the sub's bench for the Mancs in a midweek friendly against Barcelona too.

However with their influx of strikers, he's got no chance of appearences this term which made his loan or sale a formality. Cardiff are believed to have secured his swervices despite interest from Premiership outfits Wolves and Portsmouth.

Welcome to Soutb Wales Bluebird Kev!

MICHAEL CHOPRA's GOAL SALVO in Cardiff City's opening 2009/10 have not just propelled City to the Top of the Championship and himself to head the scoring charts (and let's enjoy it while we can!), it has also matched him up with soem notable Bluebirds forwards down the years.

Read the below article from John Heyda, Cardiff City Internet Statto.





Michael Chopra has scored in each of Cardiff City's first three league games this season. Doing so puts him in select company, as only a handful of other Bluebirds have managed the feat. In fact, Chopra is only the fifth City player to score in each of the first three league games. Here are the others who have accomplished the feat:

* Stan Cribbs, in the first three games of the 1932/33 league campaign. Cribbs would go on to net 11 goals for the season.

* Jimmy Collins, in the first three of the abandoned 1939/40 campaign. As these were the only three games played that year before the start of World War II called a halt to proceedings, you could argue that Collins doesn't belong on this list and that only four have turned the trick.

* Graham Moore, in the first three of the 1959/60 season. Moore would wind up with 13 for the year.

* Nathan Blake, in the first three of the 1993/94 season. He'd finish with 14.

In netting six goals so far, Michael Chopra matches the club record for most goals in the first three league games. In 1928/29, Hugh Ferguson scored six in the first three. Five of them came in the second game of the season, a 7-0 rout of Burnley in the home opener. Only a handful of other Bluebirds have netted as many as four in the first three league games.

* Jimmy Collins had four in the first three games of the 1937/38 season, including a hat trick in the second game. Collins would finish with 23 goals.

* Jimmy Collins had four in the first three of the 1939/40 abandoned campaign as well.

* Wilf Grant had four in the 1951/52 season's first three. Grant would wind up with an impressive 26 goals in league play.

* Nathan Blake had four in the first three in 1993/94.

In short, Michael Chopra is the first City player in club history to score six times in the first three league games while netting at least one in each of the three.

Make Your Own Paper D-E-V-O!

A bizarre website but I'm almost tempted to have a go this weekend!!

Video Highlights of Chops hat-trick and Cardiff's 3-1 win at Plymouth

Excellent new service with BBC online showing highlights of every Championship game 48 hours after they were played.

Enjoy City's early season return to the summit via the link below.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/8210321.stm

Tonight's Cardiff City Phone-In

Tonight's show, aired on GTFM, featured Trust member Tracy Marsh giving a ladies perspective on Cardiff City.

Listen, or download the show, via this link:

http://www.mediafire.com/?bjimykimujt