Bluesy's Blues (Cardiff City, Wales & more)

2011-02-17T20:31:00.002Z

Ex-Bluebird Steve Thompson broke Cardiff City hearts on Tuesday night as his late headed goal got Burnley a draw at Ninian Park. City dropped 2 points but remained in 2nd spot.

However what is it about Thommo and this fixture?

Since joining Cardiff in January 2006, Steve Thompson has just 30 league goals in 160 league games for The Bluebirds and The Clarets - an average of 1 goal every 5.2 starts.

So how come he's managed to score 5 goals in 6 Cardiff v Burnley games? (3 for City in 4 games and 2 in 2 for Burnley)

Worryingly, Burnley away is last game of the season ... let's hope he's injured or suspended!

Two Feet of Snow Predicted for Tonight in Barry

2010-12-16T20:11:00.002Z

Cardiff City 0 Nottingham Forest 2 - match report

2010-11-20T23:05:00.000Z

CARDIFF CUT DOWN TO SIZE BY FOREST

Cardiff City lost their second successive home game in abject style – this time by 2-0 to Nottingham Forest – and in doing so, immediately surrendered their hard earned top spot in the division.

Cardiff did not play well and Forest were predictably tough, organised and uncompromising closing down City and not allowing them to play in exactly the same way as Swansea did a fortnight earlier in the last home outing.

However this time it was all about poor player performances rather than manager Dave Jones’ tactics and selections even if they could still be questioned in part. Cardiff’s passing was atrocious, Forest really won the ball, we just kept giving it to them. Forest’s goals, both well taken, were still both borne from pitiful defending.

Clear cut chances were inexplicably wasted and Cardiff were completely disjointed all afternoon as just about every player playing poorly and it is time to ask serious questions about one or two of them.

Pre-game, the mood was confident with City top of the table and deservedly so, Jay Bothroyd incredibly getting a midweek start for England and although everyone expected a tough afternoon – the sides shared two draws last season - City have still enjoyed the upper hand in recent times and Forest, despite fast improving, had only had 1 away win in 21 attempts.

However a headache came with the loss of Chris Burke who failed to recover from a thigh strain in Scunthorpe last week. Cardiff should be able to deal with it but, plainly, they weren’t and that is worrying. Without him, we lacked width, pace, energy and work-rate going forward while nobody was running at Forest’s defence and apart from Bellamy once, nobody got behind them either. City were also missing Lee Naylor to injury but few seemed too concerned about that, he has all too often looked the weakest link of Cardiff’s defence.

Dave Jones dealt with it by calling up Jason Koumas, reverting to Gyepes and Hudson in central mid, moving SuperKev from right to left back and slotting Darcy Blake into the right back role. Cardiff: Heaton; Blake-Gyepes-Hudson-McNaughton; Koumas-Olifinjana-Whittingham-Bellamy; Chopra-Bothroyd. Jones was suffering from laryngitis and so was so to stand on the touchline with arms folded having nothing to say … as usual!

Pantomime season is due to start shortly but it’s been running at Forest off the pitch all season. Manager Billy Davies has been a frequent and outspoken critic of his board with matters coming to a head as they failed to back in the summer transfer window. A so-called Transfer Policy Committee captured only one summer target and there was spats with both Cardiff and Swansea at their conduct after they appeared to be tapping up Whittingham and Pratley. Now Davies is at loggerheads with Forest’s club owner having missed a couple of matches citing family illness and accused of returning home to Scotland after weekend games and not being seen back in Nottingham until 48 hours before their next weekend match.

However Forest has been a slow burner on the pitch and are slowly but surely coming into contention. They’ve now lost fewer games than Cardiff but have been a draw specialist yet it’s 14 points in 7 outings as they’ve risen to 6^th and in the play-off picture.

Pre-game, Alarm front man and rocker Mike Peters sang The Bells of Rhymney on the pitch, it was soon followed by The Balls Up of Cardiff but they started well enough. Bellamy firing over early on, Bothroyd wide and Whittingham grazing the top of the crossbar from an edge of area set piece after Olifinjana won a free-kick.

A key moment arrived however when Bellamy picked out Jay with a peach of a pass, Jay looks favourite to score, he managed to get past keeper Lee Camp but then rolled the ball into the side-netting from an angle. “England, you’re ‘aving a laugh” Forest fans chanted at him.

However it was an even battle and Forest gave as good as they got before taking the lead with a super goal on 25 as their man of the moment Lewis McGugan struck home from 25 yards with a dipping volley but how and why was he given so much time to take the ball, control it and shoot unopposed? Was Tom Heaton also caught off his line as the shot only appeared to be halfway up the goal yet cleared him?

Unfortunately, City had no response to that and looked like a disorganised mess, a problem they just did not resolve.

It’s hard to know where to start when criticising players but here we go with some key lowlights;

Michael Chopra – What was wrong with his fitness? Was his trip to Dubai too enjoyable? He had no pace or movement whatsoever and was getting beaten in sprints by big and burly Forest centre-halves. Many fans have observed Chops seems to be carrying a few more pounds than usual, is it catching up with him? He was taken off at half-time and rightly so.

Craig Bellamy – Is it time to ask what exactly he’s offering to us at present? There’s a good argument that he may be getting picked by name and not on merit. Surely he’s going to come into his own and offer us more soon but he’s really been very average in recent games.

Jason Koumas – Will he ever come good? Once again anonymous and the problem is that he’s not just lost all pace – which often saw him check out and send the ball backwards when given it wide or advanced – but he also seems to have lost his passing quality too. If we’re honest, Koumas and Keogh were two key signings, both are proving to be poor captures.

Darcy Blake – Nowhere near as good this season as he was last season. Did his passes only find red shirts all afternoon? However it couldn’t have been easy with Koumas in front of him.

Olifinjana – Personally, I don’t think he’s played that well for the past 3-4 games. Today, he tried to be City’s playmaker and that’s just not his game.

Peter Whittingham – I love watching Whitts and he’s pure class but an entire afternoon observing him trying to pick out killer or long passes is not what he’s about or should be doing.

I could go on but that’s enough. Collectively, City were a mess. The lack of movement on the pitch was shocking, City’s tactics largely revolving around hoof-ball punts, sometimes aimlessly, to the front was dull. Teams may be gradually getting to grips with City. When we’re allowed to play, there is nobody better in this division but we have to earn that right (today we never eve n tried to) and must have a Plan B and, on the evidence of the Swansea and Forest home displays, we just don’t have that in the locker.

Half-Time: City 0 Forest 1

Cardiff came back with Drinkwater replacing the ineffective/bloody useless (choose your adjective) Chopra and Bellamy moved alongside Jay. Danny D finally added some zest, energy and bite into central midfield and Cardiff slowly but surely, got some momentum going which became a steady steam of pressure.

However when the chances came, they were wasted. None more so than a delightful move which saw Whittingham play a great pass behind Forest, Bellamy get onto it like a F1 driver and send over the perfect ball for Jay to head in from of goal. Inexplicably, he sent it straight at Camp. Likewise, a corner kick saw the ball met by Olifinjana close range and centre of goal but he nodded it a good 4 yards wide.

Forest were in no mood to surrender what they had earned and the free-kick count ended up 23 to 9 in Cardiff’s favour, Forest also getting 3 second half yellow cards but City were unable to do anything with them.

Just like the Swansea defeat, as poorly as Cardiff played, no side at any level can afford to waste chances like those presented today. A side aiming for automatic promotion must be more clinical, no excuses. City sent over a huge number of crosses and balls forward but just 1 effort on target in 90 minutes tells its own story, that was Jay’s wasted header.

Adam Matthews replaced a poor Darcy Blake for the final 10 minutes but it was Forest who benefitted as they advanced way too easily down Cardiff’s right, Matthews being well beaten, McGugan found sub Dexter Blackstock and he had all the time and space to place a shot wide of Tom Heaton inside the area.

Forest’s 1,500 fans were naturally going crazy, 5,000 or more of Cardiff’s in the crowd of 23,526 walked out.

Those who stayed were held back for even longer as the game ended on a sour note when Seyi Olifinjana caught Blackstock on his leg with his studs. It looked an instant red card to me but both ref and lino either missed it or didn’t agree. Blackstock, after lengthy treatment, was stretchered away with news that it’s likely to be cruciate ligaments rather than a broken leg but that would end his season anyway.

6 minutes of added time saw more huff’n’puff from City but nil quality.

Cardiff fall to 2^nd and still in a position that 22 of the Championship’s other sides will envy but they clearly have some sorting out to do. Assistant Manager Terry Burton tried to play it down as a “bad day at the office”. In some respects he’s right, it was a tight game in which Forest took their limited chances and Cardiff failed to do so. However there is a bigger underlying problem than that. What we’ve witnessed in the last two home games is unacceptable. Burton, Jones and the players know that too.

Coventry City 1 Cardiff City 2 in picture

2010-10-19T23:59:00.000+01:00

The King of Back Heeled Goals

2010-10-07T06:47:00.000+01:00

Incredible play by Irish player Mattie Burrows on Tuesday night. Makes every other back heel goal look very normal.

Video Highlights: Barnsley 1 CARDIFF CITY 2

2010-10-04T07:40:00.000+01:00

BBC Sport - Football - Highlights - Barnsley 1-2 Cardiff City

Craig Bellamy is on the score sheet for the Bluebirds as they remain in the automatic promotion places. (UK users only).

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/9055880.stm

How To Miss A Red Card

2010-10-03T00:03:00.000+01:00

Championship match report: Barnsley 1 CARDIFF CITY 2

2010-10-02T21:54:00.000+01:00

Barnsley suffered their first home defeat of the season as Craig Bellamy and Cardiff City rode into town and left with all 3 points to remain in 2^nd spot after a battle but a curious encounter.

I almost made the trip but domestic chores and finances won the day this time, I was gutted to miss out.

Brian Flynn and Wales have already chosen not to select Craig Bellamy for next week’s Euro clashes after missing the whole of September but he was back and put in a full 90 minute shift, providing the spark for victory. It was Andy Keogh who dropped to the bench and he was joined by Jason Koumas, both completely ineffective in City’s midweek blank at home to Crystal Palace. Darcy Blake was promoted to midfield and Gabor Gyepes was back alongside Mark Hudson after missing out in the previous two games.

City: Heaton; McNaughton-Gyepes-Hudson-Naylor; Whittingham-Blake-Olinfinjana-Burke; Bothroyd-Bellamy.

Barnsley recorded a double over City last season but they tend to make up the numbers in the Championship’s reckoning and went into the clash as the perfect average side – 9 games, 3 won, 3 drawn, 3 lost, 13 scored, 13 conceded. Their highlight was a recent shock 5-2 thrashing of Leeds.

The first half was truly dreadful, neither side able to put a move together, the ball going into touch more than an egg chasing game, quality was desperate. However Cardiff then carved a superb 42^nd minute opener completely out of context with everything beforehand.

Jay Bothroyd looked up and swept a pass to Peter Whittingham deep inside the far corner of the penalty area, he took the ball down and laid it back superbly for BELLAMY and his finish was class personified as he passed the ball around keeper Steele, may Championship players would have gone for a hit and hope option.

H/T: Barnsley 0 City 1

If the first half lack action, the 2^nd half more than made up for it starting with Bothroyd being denied from distance by Steele, Whittingham almost scoring direct from a corner and the next one being headed goalwards by Gyepes, turned in by Bothroyd but it was ruled out for offside with City celebrating.

City’s defence has looked suspect this season and they narrowly survived one silly goalmouth scramble but, no lessons learned, paid for it as 5 or 6 attempts to clear were all fluffed, Hudson miscontrolled and Shackell sent the loose ball home. It was schoolboy stuff all round.

That was on 63 minutes and it felt ominous for Cardiff but back they came. Three minutes later, Foster handled from a corner under pressure from Hudson only for Peter Whittingham to miss his second penalty of the week and still wait for his first goal of the season. He powered the ball but it hit Steele’s legs.

The resulting corner want close but the next put City back in front as it dropped for Whittingham, his shot was going in anyway but OLIFINJANA made sure from a couple of feet.

Oli almost killed the game off altogether hitting the post from another set piece and how City almost paid the price as Darcy Blake earned a second yellow card and Cardiff had to play the final 14 minutes with 10 men. Despite being far from their best, the 900 City fans there will tell of their determination and focus to see it out, they showed their bottle but it still needed one super Tom Heaton save late on to preserve the win.

Cardiff – despite missing 5 key players recently and not playing well – head into the two week international break still in 2^nd spot. With everyone due back next game against Bristol City (now bottom of the league – ha ha ha Wurzels), everyone will surely take heart.

Video of the Week - THE CLASH, English Civil War (live)

2010-10-02T07:49:00.002+01:00

Always loved The Clash, superb on record (even if they didn't always get it right) and unrivalled live. Their 1,600 tonnes gig at Cardiff Sophias Gardens in support of their legendary London Calling album remains one of my top three gigs of my life.

To show their power live, enjoy this.

Drama in Australia's Next Top Model

2010-09-29T00:01:00.000+01:00

Last night's Ozzie tv announced the wrong winner in a live show ... good entertainment at last for a trash tv show!

Championship match report: CARDIFF CITY 0 Crystal Palace 0

2010-09-28T23:47:00.002+01:00

BBC Online show 2 minutes highlights of every Championship game, if they manage to scrape out 30 seconds from Cardiff City’s turgid 0-0 with Crystal Palace, it would have to include interviews. This was a shocker. Cardiff disjointed and clueless from first whistle to last managed to test the Palace keeper just once in the entire 90 minutes and had it not been for two inspired second half saves by Tom Heaton as the injury ravaged South Londoners looked the only side capable of finding the net, City would have recorded a shock defeat and have had few complaints.

Positives? Heaton, Hudson, Blake (back at centre half) and McNaughton played well enough and Lee Snail-or went off with a knock. You’ll notice not a single midfielder or forward is named, enough said. The only other positive is City remained 2^nd, kept a clean sheet and collected a point, we had to be grateful for small mercies.

Problems? Every where I feckin’looked. No cohesion, no discernable pattern of play, energy lacking, no creativity or invention … and then there were the really bad aspects!

Too many players were found wanting. Naylor looked poor again in too many moments. Maybe 4 years coasting it in the lesser Scottish wilderness with Celtic has blunted him but Palace became the latest side to create just about everything on his side of the pitch although, in fairness, Wilfried Zaha, up against him looks a very useful prospect. Adam Matthews, lambasted by Jones and bombed from the side after 1 outing at Ipswich, must have his head in his hands watching Naylor getting regular football and no criticism by contrast.

Jason Koumas started and proceeded to show us magic, he looked invisible on the pitch all night. The player still looks short of fitness and, at present, a shadow of the player we loved last time we saw him in a City shirt. I honestly don’t think he made a single telling pass or touch or flick all night.

Seyi Olifinjana was welcomed back but was another who did not look fully fit and showed his frustrations, he could easily have been red carded in the second half for flicking out a boot at a Palace opponent. We all know how he can break up play but on a night where he needed to produce intensity and drive, he appeared to be continually holding up play in City’s midfield.

Peter Whittingham, allowed to take and waste every set piece, was dropped into centre midfield and spent the whole evening trying to dink a ball over the top for Bothroyd. I’ve had more fun in a dentist’s waiting room than watching that.

None of the midfielders got close to the strikers, let alone make a run beyond them and all too often, Cardiff had too few players in and around the box which helped make it easier for Palace on a night when City’s tactics were as suspect as their commitment.

Andy Keogh once again looked shocking. No partnership whatsoever with Jay Bothroyd, I’m assuming he was instructed to play behind Jay and nowhere near him. Either way, take his Millwall winner out of the equation, and he’s really looking a poor signing. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry when I saw him beaten in a 25 yard sprint against 37 year old Edgar Davids who played well and surprised me by how small and diminutive he was.

With all that on show – you can add in Burke running his nuts off but failing to produce and Jay holding, turning away and circling but getting nowhere – and a sub’s bench offering no real options to the unfolding problems, City actually succeeded following Saturday’s poor display in the win over Millwall with an even worse one.

It looked like a home banker and I was even more confident of a City win at kick-off with news that Gabor Gyepes and Steve McPhail were dropped to the bench, Blake was moved to centre back, Olifinjana was back from injury and Koumas was starting alongside him in a line up that read Heaton; McNaughton-Hudson-Blake-Naylor; Burke-Koumas-Olifinjana-Whittingham; Keogh-Bothroyd.

Cardiff’s injury problems were more than matched by Pal-arse who were missing 8 key players. David Wright, Darren Ambrose, Sean Scannell, Anthony Gardnet and Lee Hills were already on the treatment table but joined by Jon Obika and Adam Barrett who were both injured in the weekend’s 5-0 hammering at Derby, a result affected by an early red card to powerful Everton loan striker James Vaughan who was also absent starting his 3 match ban. Before 20 minutes had elapsed, they had lost another two as well with former Roger Johnson attempted assassinator Claude Davis pulling a hamstring and Neil Danns crocked after jumping for a corner against Tom Heaton.

Palace had lost all 4 previous aways without scoring and conceding 12 and looked limited with two banks of four playing deep and playing very close together yet Cardiff had no idea how to get past, through or around them and once the visitors realised how limited City were, they attacked with invention.

Cardiff started brightly but little did we know that the highlight of that spell - Tom Heaton catching the corner, crocking Danns, punting the ball downfield to see Burke close in on goal and hit a shot that was too close to Speroni who blocked it with ease - would be Cardiff’s only worthwhile attacking moment of the night.

The half was as drab as the dull night and drizzly swirling run, Cardiff becoming more and more laboured producing little for the 22,000 crowd (250 or so from Palace) to sign about.. Many of the crowd near me were taking their entertainment from watching a lone bat flying around the stadium.

Tom Heaton had to save smartly from Own Garvan’s first half header (yep, from a cross after Naylor was left behind) but excelled second half with his stops from Bennett and an incredible save to beat out Counago’s far post header from 3 yards blocking on the line (And, yep, both those headers were from crosses on Naylor’s side as well). A couple of crosses zipped in or across City’s box but Hudson, Blake and McNaughton dealt with them as, yep, they were all from the left.

Dave Jones had 7 subs but none you fancied to change the game – however surely Rae or Wildig should have had a chance at the expense of Koumas or Olifinjana??? - so his only move was to give the otherwise ignored Paul Quinn the final 10 minutes as Naylor limped off.

The frustrated and quiet crowd were remarkably patient and tried to lift City with support but found themselves reduced to pointless appeals for penalties and free-kicks, mostly for Jay falling about and hacked off with a Premier League ref (Steve Tanner) who gave Jay and Burke two harsh yellow cards.

Cardiff have now put together four poor back-to-back performances and if they continue in this vein, no way will they remain in the Top Two positions. They need to regroup and put in a massive, better effort at Barnsley on Saturday ahead of a two week international break.

Right now, I’m pleased with our league position but what I’m watching really is just not good enough.

Chopra back tonight?

2010-09-28T06:43:00.003+01:00

Cardiff City's list of missing big hitters may finally see a reduction as the players start to return to fitness and full training.

Alhtough rumours have been about the return of Seyi Olinfinjana for some time, he may miss out again this evening and return for the visit to Barnsley on Saturday. Oli has been out since a foot injury sustained in the Hull home win on September 11th.

However there is speculation that Michael Chopra may be on the bench for tonight's hom,e clash with Crystal Palace. Chops was the victim of an unpunished appalling challenge in the home demolition of Doncaster on August 21st. At the time, he was reported as likely to be out for 2 to 3 months but he has responded very well to treatment and is back in full training. If not in the squad tonight, Chops is almost certain to be in the Barnsley squad on Saturday.

Of the others, Craig Bellamy is unlikelyto be risked in this week's games as he is still not back in full, impact training although there is a small chance he could feature at Barnsley. If he misses out altogether, that may rule him out for Wales Euro'2012 double header with Switzerland and Bulgaria next week. City fans - and management - would be concerned to see him in those games having not played for City since August 28 and having played no football this month other than Wales defeat in Montenegro at the startb of the month, a game which appears to have accelerated his problems. Cardiff have a heavy October fixture list and will need Bellamy for that so 2 Wales games in 5 days before it is a real worry given his problems.

The other key players - Chris Riggott and Danny Drinkwater - remain on schedule to be considered for Cardiff's first game after the international break which is Bristol City at CCS on October 16th.

Thankfully, City have no new problems after the weekend win over MillwaIl and will be strong favourites to complete a South London double with tonight's visit from Crystal Palace.

If Cardiff think they have problems, they can think again. Palace will have 8 key players absent and have lost all 4 away trips this season failing to score and conceding 12. Home banker then ... it had better be!

Tornado 1 Train 0

2010-09-28T00:01:00.000+01:00

Video Highlights: CARDIFF CITY 2 Millwall 1

2010-09-27T23:56:00.000+01:00

BBC Sport - Football - Highlights - Cardiff 2-1 Millwall
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/9034933.stm

Andy Keogh's last-minute header seals all three points for Cardiff City against 10-man Millwall (UK users only).

Going, going, finally gone ... Ridsdale

2010-09-27T23:12:00.004+01:00

IF ONLY HANDCUFFS WERE ON HIM

It is being reported that Peter Ridsdale will receive his final payment in mid-October finally taking him off the gravy train that he rode for as long as possible at Cardiff City. Ridsdale will prefer to remind the public how he removed Sam Hammam, created a play-off challenging side, took City to a F.A. Cup Final and oversaw the arrivals of the Malaysians.

However Cardiff fans know it came at a very heavy cost which nearly saw the club collapse. Fans will also remain bitter over how Ridsdale treated them badly and seemed to mislead them which ultimately brought about demos earlier this year to vent their feelings.

T.G. and key investor Vincent Tan are supposed to have driven a hard bargain and, in the process, hopefully delivered a more secure and forward looking Cardiff City and show that they’re here for a while, not just a one season tilt.

Ridsdale was entitled to nearly £1M to leave the club (I’ve no idea how he managed such an outrageous amount on top of everything else he plundered) but the Malaysians are reported as having him settle for £500k but also made it a condition that he sold his shares to them.

PR’s shares were also controversial. Buying them at 15.69p, a price nobody else could get near, he also had a stadium completion bonus which were converted into shares at an incredible 11.11p giving him over 4.5M shares, 10.1% of the stock.

However, TG and VT are believed to be buying them at 5p. Their larger stake in a club they kept in business and have turned around dramatically makes for fantastic news.

Jarvis Debuts as a Shrimper

2010-09-27T23:09:00.003+01:00

Cardiff City prospect Nat Jarvis made his football league debut at the weekend but for Southend United rather than the Bluebirds.

Jarvis, 19 next month, featured in several pre-season games and made a favourable impression on City fans, particularly for a display at Notts County. However with 8 new signings, he is clearly not going to be involved this term unless there is a major crisis.

It slipped under the radar that he was loaned to League Two Southend but his debut came at Hereford when he got on the pitch as a 77^th minute sub with his side already leading 3-1 which proved to be the final score.

He is one of three Cardiff players currently on loan joining Anthony Gerrard (Hull) and Martin John (Newport).

Video of the Week - MASTERS IN FRANCE, Little Girl

2010-09-27T22:54:00.002+01:00

I know nothing about Masters In France other than they’re a Cardiff group, their last single (Greyhound) was a Radio 1 single of the week and their new single featured in this video features Joe and Enzo Calzaghe plus a postcard to Romilly Road, Canton which is where I was grew up.

The song is pretty good too … … … …

The Goalie Who Cried

2010-09-27T10:04:00.000+01:00

Got to laugh at this keeper who gifted the opposition a goal and then ran off in pitch to cry!

Championship match report: CARDIFF CITY 2 Millwall 1

2010-09-25T23:28:00.000+01:00

CARDIFF CITY still misfiring and still missing their big hitters still recorded a late, late 2-1 win over Millwall and climb back to 2^nd spot in a Championship. The winner came from an otherwise poor (and he wasn’t the only one) Andy Keogh flicking home an 88th header finally taking advantage of playing 10 men for 50 minutes.

An action packed 1^st half saw the visitors early lead swiftly cancelled out by Jay Bothroyd who went on to miss chances that should have got him a hat-trick while Trotter was sent off FOR The Lions and Whittingham had a penalty saved for City. The second half, though, was tedious as a shockingly poor Cardiff never made the extra man count and had run out of ideas until Keogh popped up.

It is admirable that South Wales Police and the club are working hard to reduce restrictions for travelling fans. A compulsory “bubble” coach only fixture for many years, Millwall fans were allowed to travel independently and collect their match tickets at a rendezvous in Cardiff West Services. To still encourage coach travel, Millwall nobly charged £10, enough to entice far more fans that would otherwise have visited, nearly 1,200 supporters came down when they normally bring just a couple of hundred.

However the negative aspect of this arrangement was that kick-off time was brought forward to midday and it will be the same again when home to Bristol City in 3 weeks. While the change should be applauded, it is an annoyance to see 22,000 Cardiff fans inconvenienced to benefit easier arrangements for away fans. Fortunately, my boy’s Saturday match was brought forward 2 hours to a 9am kick-off (other sides could not change their times) but it meant I couldn’t catch up with pals for a pre-match drink and chat.

Cardiff’s injury problems are now into their second month. It has been possible to name a sick note X1 but it’s the absence of pivotal players which are hurting. Danny Drinkwater and Michael Chopra are rumoured to return in another 3 weeks, Craig Bellamy maybe sooner although it was a shock to learn this week that he still had not trained with the side since returning from Wales duty, new centre half signing Chris Riggott is some way off fitness levels required, Kevin McNaughton must have his own cubicle reserve at A&E and Jason Koumas strives for match fitness. The big shock, though, was Seyi Olifinjana who was strongly fancied to be back in the fold, not making the 16 again and another shock came as Tom Heaton replaced Marshall in goals. Four games since these problems brought two very average performance home wins and two poor away performances and defeats.

With limited options, Dave Jones named the same ten outfield men who lost out at Ipswich. City: Heaton; McNaughton-Hudson-Gyepes-Naylor; Burke-Rae-McPhail-Whittingham; Bothroyd-Keogh.

Mee-Waw from Sarf Larndarn are back in the Championship after 5 years thanks to achieving what Cardiff couldn’t last May, winning a Wembley play-off final. They have started well until home judders in the past week – a 6-1 pasting at the New Den by Watford and midweek Carling Cup loss to Ipswich - sent them into this clash looking to restore confidence but they were only 2 points behind City in 9^th spot at kick-off. Their away form has been mixed, a stunning 3-0 opening day win at the Wurzels but followed it with defeat at Leeds and a draw at Nottingham Forest.

After ex-Jacks Manager Paolo Sousa saw off City at Leicester and ex-Jack Jason Scotland killed any chance of a result last week at Ipswich, it was the return of another former Swans boss, Kenny Jackett, to try and achieve a hat-trick of sorts over us. More connected interest came in the form of London’s Welsh striker Steve Morison while ex-City (and ex-Barry Town) keeper David Forde, a hapless figure in his time at Ninian Park, was making his 100^th consecutive start for The Lions. No City fans would have predicted he’d be back in the Championship achieving that feat when he departed South Wales and, on the evidence of his erratic display in this game, I’m still wondering how he achieved it.

Cardiff started brightly and had Millwall on the back foot penned in their own half but their first break out on 10 minutes saw them score and, again, ask plenty of questions about City’s defending which was just not good enough. The impressive new Welsh international Steve Morison who troubled City’s defence all afternoon burst past Gabor Gyepes and was denied by a last gasp Mark Hudson challenge but failing to shape up, the ball ran loose for Kevin Lisbie to skin Naylor with far too much ease and square for SCOTT BARRON to turn home centre of goal completely unchallenged.

Millwall fans celebrated and were vocal but the kids in the Family Stand were giving it to them and getting it back. Quite surreal.

For a while after the goal, Cardiff struggled and second best anywhere you looked in midfield and showed few signs of getting into the game.

However drama was to follow starting with Jay Bothroyd’s equaliser on 25, Tony Naylor’s long throw causing havoc (perhaps his only positive moment of the game) as it was allowed to bounce in the box, Whitts nearly got a shot away but the ball ran loose for JAY BOTHROYD to place past Forde from close range. It was Jay’s 7^th of the season, already more than halfway to beating last year’s total.

City finally brightened up and Jay should have had a first half hat-trick as two shots fizzed wide, a superb Whittingham run and cross set him up for a perfect far post header but he placed it to close to Forde and then a dazzling move and another fantastic Whittingham urge saw him teed up on the edge of the box with an inviting goal but he steered wide.

A significant moment came just past the half hour as Trotter who was playing really well caught Darcy studs out on the ankle, a careless rather than malicious challenge for which he had an instant red card. Darcy recovered from what initially looked a serious injury after almost 5 minutes of treatment.

That added time brought it own drama as Peter Whittingham was bundled down cutting inside the last defender – easy penalty I thought, not so thought others – only to be denied his spot kick by Forde, more of a good save than a bad miss. It leaves Whitts still looking for his 1^st goal this term having netted 26 last season.

Half-time: City 1 Millwall 1

The 2^nd half promised much and delivered next to nothing. Millwall dropped deeper but still carried a threat partly thanks to Morison but Cardiff’s defence, shorn of the protection offered by Oilfinjana and with two slow centre-halves, are shaky enough to give any side hope. Worst culprit, again, was Tony Naylor and there should be a debate on the merits of him getting starts on current form. Beaten with ease several times, shocking distribution, struggling to stop crosses, Millwall saw him as a weakness and attacked mostly on his side.

Up front however, City offered next to nothing and never showed they had an extra man out there. Stuck between boredom and frustration, it was hard work just watching it.

Jason Koumas replaced Steve McPhail (McPhail’s name being announced as he walked off the pitch was the only time all afternoon that I realised he was on it in the first place) and I thought he would find the time and space to make a telling pass or run, he didn’t.

Keogh shot narrowly wide falling, Koumas saw a shot blocked on the line and, as I recall it, that was the sum extent of telling City moments in the half until, 2 minutes left, Bothroyd took the ball on the touchline, drifted in, sent a ball in the box and ANDY KEOGH’s deft flicked header found the far corner of goal perfectly. His first goal for 13 months which he celebrated in shirt off run to the corner routine as City fans went ballistic and Millwall’s stopped all their celebratory gloating thinking they’d achieved a result. Now they had to put up with “One nil and you ***ed it up”.

There were plenty of players to be concerned about – Naylor, the Gyepes-Hudson partnership, Keogh – and only Jay, Blake and McNaughton who played reasonably well as well as Gavin Rae who once more looked useful from the bench. Will City go up or even stay in contention playing like this? Not a chance. The sooner the big hitters are back, the better as we look very ordinary without them.

The Most Stupid Goalkeeper Ever

2010-09-20T00:05:00.000+01:00

Johnny Owen, The Merthyr Matchstick Man remembered 30 years on

2010-09-19T03:00:00.000+01:00

It really doesn't seem that long ago and I didn't realise he was still just a kid and only 23 at the time but today marks the 30th Anniversary of Johnny Owen getting knocked out and sent into a coma against Pintor in L.A. and subsequently losing his life a few weeks later.

An amazing man, quietly spoken and puny looking, yet he was a boxing great and a warrior in the ring.

My one abiding memory of Johnny was outside the ring as he used to holiday every summer with his family at Fontygary caravan site in Rhoose. My parents had a caravan there too as I used to stay there every weekend and through the summer.

Johnny, even though on holidays, would go on punishing runs and training regimes daily, sometimes morning and evening, and a few of us used to watch him and try to keep up with him. We had no chance.

His training at Fonty often ended at the "99 steps", a winding and different height set of steps from the cliff to the beach near Aberthaw power station. At my fittest - and I was once upon a time - my mates and myself used to times how quickly we could get up them. It was lung bursting stuff and we'd be knackered and lying on the grass at the top after 1 attempt ... Johnny Owen would run up and down them 10 times barely breaking sweat!

RIP Johnny, never forgotten you, never will.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/9005070.stm

Business News

2010-09-19T00:04:00.000+01:00

Bellamy still out as City heasd to Ipswich but Oli and Jay back

2010-09-18T06:32:00.002+01:00

It is believed that Cardiff City flew to Ipswich yesterday without Craig Bellamy, despite media hints of his return, but that Seyi Olifinjana and Jay Bothroyd were with the side.

If true and they play, it can only be good news for City as both are pivotal players in the side.

Bellamy is expected to be back for the Milwall home clash next weekend but Danny Drinkwater is set to be absent for another 3 weeks and Michael Chopra a week longer.

Although unconfirmed at this stage, the match is set to be streamed live on the Bet 365 and William Hill websites so worth check it later.

Slam Dunk with a difference

2010-09-18T00:03:00.000+01:00

Gulp!

2010-09-17T00:03:00.000+01:00

Video Lowlights: Leicester 2 Cardiff City 1

2010-09-16T07:55:00.001+01:00

BBC Sport - Football - Leicester 2-1 Cardiff

Two second-half goals from Wales midfielder Andy King gives Paulo Sousa his first league win as Leicester boss. Available to UK users only.

Worth watching the 1st minute just to see Naylor's goal but avoid the rest of it!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/9003207.stm

Woman With Gorgeous Melons

2010-09-16T00:02:00.000+01:00

20 TODAY - THE AYATOLLAH!!

2010-09-15T00:01:00.001+01:00

Gulp, hard to believe it's been with us for that long but it has. Phil Stead aka Eric The Red tells how a legend was born.

On the night of Friday 14th September, 20 years ago, our favourite Welsh language psychobilly/punk band U Thant were playing a gig at Chapter Arts Centre. Rhys Boore, the U Thant singer was on top form, dressed in his pink lycra catsuit. I remember at one stage we raided a load of crates from the yard outside and wore them as shorts somehow. Rhys had recently started "doing the ayatollah" at gigs, after watching the extraordinary scenes from Iran where thousands of Iranians had created this amazing spectacle by banging their heads as a sign of grief. And we all did it that night too. After the gig, we jumped in the groups' tour van and drove round our mates' houses stealing furniture. If this sounds like a "Fanzine Writers" article, that's because it was 1990.

Early the following morning, we left for Lincoln, where City were playing an early season game. We weren't hooligans, we were just a bunch of lads who followed City everywhere. Our pockets were full of pastiche calling cards.... "You have just met The Gregarious Crew."

I think we travelled up in a fishmonger's van that morning. It stank, and we lay on bean bags in the back drinking cider.

Ex-City striker Steve Thompson sings a song about it
and City's 2008 F.A. Cup Final appearence ... eventually

The early nineties were a great time to watch football. Post-Hillsborough, there was a unity amongst fans, and hooliganism all but died out. It meant that we could drink and socialise freely in the City centres across the old 4th Division, without fear of trouble. I remember that we had a great time in Lincoln City Centre that morning and sang all the way to the game.

The game itself was awful, as most were. It was 0-0 I think, and about 150 City fans were watching from the open terrace in a bit of a stupor. Then from nowhere, a small police riot squad arrived, complete with helmets , visors and a small camera crew. Seizing on the absurdity of the situation, we started performing. Stripped to the waist, we started doing "the Ayatollah" for the cameras. I remember running around the terrace for most of the game, trying to get the rest of the City fans to join in. Some did, but most just called me a t**t.

These were the days of inflatable bananas at Man City, boing-boing at West Brom, and a general absurdist reaction to the horrors of Hillsborough and Heysel. Our little crew took to this atmosphere of surrealism with zeal. There were lots of stupid chants at the time, including "I'm Henry the 8th, I am", "Any Dream Will Do", (in tribute to City player Jason Donovan), and various routines involving stripping, hopping and disco dancing.

But it was the Ayatollah that caught on, thanks to some happy coincidences which caused big away support in the early nineties. There was the game at Hereford, where Rick Wright had told the English club that City fans would be boycotting the game. 4,000 turned up. I remember the whole traffic jam of City fans Ayatollahing through the windows of their cars, and for me that was the moment I knew it had caught on. There was an end of season Ayatollah fancy dress party at Peterborough where myself and another Ayatollah were encouraged by police to preach from the fences, and judge the great cross-terrace Ayatollah races. The Ayatollah was now firmly established.

It all stopped for me at a Welsh Cup semi final at the Vetch in about 1994/5 when I celebrated Chris Pike's winning goal with an Ayatollah performance at the front of the terrace. I was arrested and charged with incitement to riot. I was released after the football spotters told the regulars that I was no troublemaker and video evidence proved my innocence.

But that finished it for me. I had never been involved with the police before or since. I could sense that times were changing and there was a return to the bad old days where a nervous police force were clamping down on any form of exhibitionist behaviour. I haven't done the ayatollah for years now, but I still smile a bit to myself when I see it performed, and watch how it has grown and developed from the U Thant gigs. The best Ayatollah ever? Probably the home game against Man City in the FA Cup, 1994, when the TV cameras captured the Bob Bank in full head-slapping action.

Championship match report: Leicester City 2 CARDIFF CITY 1

2010-09-14T23:58:00.000+01:00

On paper, Cardiff City going into the game in 2^nd spot with four successive wins, averaging over 2 goals per game and without a goal conceded in more than 5 hours should have had few problems dealing with Leicester City in 23rd, without a win and scoring less than a goal per game. On grass, it was a different story as The Foxes avenged last season’s F.A. Cup and Play-Off defeats to the Bluebirds with a thoroughly deserved 2-1 victory … and it could have been more.

King Power – whoever they are – sponsor Leicester City and it was King Power that won the night too with classy Welshman Andy King scoring two excellent goals after the interval to turn around an interval deficit from Tony Naylor’s excellent fluke, a 35 yard hammered cross from the touchline flying into the top corner.

Cardiff were fitting square pegs in round holes and using players short on match fitness with 5 pivotal players absent who surely would have changed the game while, in central midfield, they were forced to use Rae and McPhail whom have misfired as a duo for a couple of years so no surprise it happened again. However there is no reason for despondency with City still in 2^nd and still 2 points clear of those in early season pursuit.

This was Cardiff’s 3^rd trip to Leicester in 8 months as the sides met 5 times last season in league, play-off and F.A. Cup action. City lost at Walker’s Stadium in the Championship (one of only two defeats in the previous 11 visits before this one) so the 150 or so trip is now well known to travelling Bluebirds yet over 1,000 turned up again. They were all thankful for no road problems and good weather leaving behind the all day rain and winds at home for blue skies and sun.

Seyi Olifinjana had not sufficiently recovered from a weekend foot injury, Gavin Rae replacing him was the only change from the side that beat Hull last Saturday but it effectively made Cardiff weaker again. Craig Bellamy had not recovered from his swollen knee either with Dave Jones not ready to take any risks so early in the season. Others still missing were Danny H2O, Chops and Jay-B. City: Marshall; McNaughton-Hudson-Gyepes-Naylor; Burke-Rae-McPhail-Koumas-Whittingham; Keogh.

Leicester’s poor start, they were in the bottom two pre-kick off, has put pressure on ex-Jack boss Paolo Sousa. Agent Sousa’s ability to make Swansea dull and toothless angered their fans but delighted Bluebirds everywhere and he was threatening more of the same with the Foxes. However a good weekend draw at Coventry when they were unlucky not to win combined with the return on loan of fans favourite Martin Waghorn from Sunderland sent them into this encounter with more hope and, let’s be honest, we know they’re a good side with good players.

They also made one change but it was deliberate as centre forward battering ram Steve Howard who mastered Mark Hudson when the sides last night was given the chance to do that again. Leicester: Ikeme-Neilson-Morrison-Berner-Hobbs-Oakley-King-Dyer-Wellens-Howard-Waghorn.

There were larger than usual spaces in Walkers but it’s a big ground and the crowd was 20,510. The City enclosed section behind a corner flag was packed but as an overspill happened at kick-off, they allowed us more space.

One difference this season was their fans closest to us were joined at the very back of the stand by a 20+ stone topless bloke hammering a bongo – he was Fat Boy Drum. And fair does to them, they were in good and sometimes humorous voice, getting involved in plenty of banter and made a good noise although chants about Dave Jones were out of order.

Cardiff started reasonably well looking clam and assured without creating threat but an early sign of what was to come happened as the usually reliable Kevin McNaughton under hit a back pass sending Dyer away but he was denied by Gyepes. However Dyer, possibly the best and most influential player of the night, went on to have a fantastic night skinning SuperKev with pace and skill time and again. I think he was beaten more in one night that he may be all season.

Yet it was City who took the lead on 26 minutes, possibly against the run of play, with a freak but wonder goal. City brought the ball out well from the back, Tony Naylor burst forward on the touchline and Jason Koumas spotted then found him with a wonderful pass, NAYLOR advanced to 40 yards out from goal and unleashed a whipped ball clearly aiming for the far post but it sailed through the air with power completely deceiving Ikeme and flying home. Naylor seemed embarrassed and did not celebrate … not until City fans asked him to ayatollah anyway! Any time he touched the ball for the rest of the half, cries of shooooooot went up.

Cardiff enjoyed their best spell of the game after the goal playing some delightful football, in charge as Leicester tried to attack and threatened to increase their lead with whipped Whittingham corners causing real problems, Koumas going close from distance and, another time, bursting clear through the middle but his lack of fitness told as he was caught while a superb move and a fancy bit of Whittingham skill gave the otherwise anonymous Keogh clear sight of goal but he hit straight at the Foxes keeper.

However Cardiff also survived two let offs before the interval as a Waghorn corner was missed by Marshall and headed away by a defender with Howard’s follow up header being headed of the line by Keogh. Just about on half time, Dyer beat Naughts again and his ball across goal saw Waghorn fail to make a connection at the far post.

Half-time: Leicester 0 Cardiff 1

Before the game, I’d happily have taken a point on hearing the team news. At half-time, I hoped we would hold on for a win and maybe add to the score and make it more comfortable but it turned out to be neither as Leicester significantly upped the tempo and their work-rate and Cardiff were unable to match it with inevitable consequences.

Fast and furious from the restart, Leicester truly battered us and City looked dazed. With five in midfield, we still looked outnumbered but that was also due to players who were fast running out of steam. Gavin Rae, Steve McPhail and Koumas were way short of full match fitness while Burke had one of his poorer shows and Whitts, after an impressive opening 45, could do nothing right after the break. It left Keogh completely isolated and having no chance with hoisted balls towards him while being surrounded by two centre halves of 6’2’ and 6’5.

We looked like midgets against giants and, to make it worse, City were now failing to hold the ball on the rare occasions they got it and were making mistakes everywhere you looked.

Leicester have failed to score before 52 minutes all season and, bang on cue, they equalised in that very minute. After heavy bombardment, Wellard hoisted a ball into the box and nobody covered the run of KING, ghosting into the box, whose flicked header gave Marshall no chance.

Disappointingly, there was no Cardiff response at all to the setback and Leicester seemed only to intensify their pressure. Hudson and Gyepes, so comfortable before the break, were now being beaten and with midfield barely competing, Cardiff stayed level only thanks to Marshall making a double save and then a couple more. Praying for them to run out of steam, it was clearly Cardiff who had and they were behind on 68 minutes. A sweeping move and a sweeping finish with KING placing home superbly.

Dave Jones’ bench offered minimal options and the only changes were Blake and Wildig replacing McPhail and Koumas, the departing players were out on their feet. The incoming players, especially Wildig giving everything to burst forward and support Keogh, were understandably not able to make any impact at all.

City did get forward a couple of times in the closing stages, Keogh might even have levelled had he gambled and a stuck a leg out as Chris Burke’s shot flew across goal, another effort – after he swapped sides with Whitts – flew high and wide but it was very easy for Leicester to close out the game and how they never added a third when Marshall tried a play a quick goal kick to Naylor and gave it straight to Dyer who somehow hit the post instead of netting, I’ll never know.

The mood amongst City fans was subdued, they all knew we were a well beaten side but there was great disappointment that they failed to get something from the clash having been ahead at the break and their failure to make a decent fight of it second half.

Nobody was really bad for Cardiff but nobody had a good game either, they were individually and collectively very average over the 90 minutes but with high hopes that at least two of the missing five will be back for Ipswich away this weekend, Cardiff will be in a good position to go again and they’re more than capable of that.

In Pictures: Leicester City 2 Cardiff City 1

2010-09-14T23:14:00.000+01:00

Foxes Test Tonight

2010-09-14T04:35:00.004+01:00

Cardiff City travel to Leicester City tonight for the first of two testing away games in five days still unsure of who will be playing for them.

Having managed to overcome Hull with relative ease at the weekend without key players Craig Bellamy, Jay Bothroyd, Danny Drinkwater and Michael Chopra and losing king midfielder Seya Oilifnjana, they would like some of them to return.

Cardiff beat Leicester in last season's play offs

More of the same tonight please lads!

Chops is recovering well from his ankle injury but will be out for another month but the others are all in line for fitness tests before the Walkers Stadium “crunch”. Suggestions are that Craig Bellamy and Seyi Olifinjana are winning their battles but that Jay Bothroyd and Danny Drinkwater will porbably not be available.

However manager Dave Jones has assured supporters that even if Bellamy is absent again later, his problem is not as big a worry serious as some weekend speculation had it. "It is not a serious injury with Craig, there is nothing wrong with his knee structure but he does have a bit of fluid. He has had an injection to help it settle down."

Leicester are seeking revenge from last season’s play-defeat but have started the new season badly without a win so far and are currently 23^rd with just 2 points placing new boss, ex-Swansea manager Paulo Sousa, under pressure from discontented fans. However Cardiff fans would love to see City add to his agony but they are showing signs of improvement drawing 1-1 at Coventry last weekend and, by all accounts, being unlucky not to have won.

The Ecstasy and The Agony

2010-09-14T00:01:00.000+01:00

Watch this goalkeeper celebrate scoring and then sees what happens to him within 30 seconds!

2010-09-13T22:44:00.001+01:00

Little and Large Cymru Style
The old boss meets the new boss

As every Welsh fan speculated whether they preferred someone else or not, Brain Flynn was appointed this morning as Wales' caretaker manager for the next two Euro 2012 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Switzerland in October. If successful, there is little doubt that a permanent offer would be made.

Flynn, now 54, has had a highly successful spell as Wales Under 21 manager, most of the current squad having worked with him at that level which should make an easy transistion. His Under 21 coaches Alan Curtis and David Williams are also stepping up which presumably means Dean Saunders and Roy Evans will leave the set up.

The new boss is understandably buoyant, "Naturally, as a very proud Welshman, this is a job that I have always wanted to do, I realise that initially it is only for two games, but I shall give it my all to try and achieve results and stake a claim for the job on a permanent basis. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with John Toshack in the Wales setup and feel that we have made great strides to establishing a side for the future.”

Video Highlights: CARDIFF CITY 2 Hull City 0

2010-09-13T09:56:00.001+01:00

BBC Sport - Football - Highlights - Cardiff 2-0 Hull

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/8991914.stm

Seyi Olofinjana's first-half strike against his parent club guides Cardiff City to a win over Hull as the Welshmen continue their unbeaten league start.

Video of the Week - KINGS of LEON, Radioactive

2010-09-13T01:01:00.000+01:00

With a new album. Come Around Sundown, out October 18th, Kings of Leon have just released a video for their first signle culled from it. Radioactive is out shortly.
.

It's Behind You

2010-09-13T00:01:00.001+01:00

The trick here is to check the bank worker on the left hand side of the tv pundit and watch his pc screen!

Watch The Birdie!

2010-09-12T00:04:00.000+01:00

Championship match report: CARDIFF CITY 2 Hull City 0

2010-09-11T21:50:00.001+01:00

No Bellamy, Bothroyd, no Chopra, no Drinkwater and, during the game, no Olifinjana either but a sign of Cardiff’s squad strength was that they still managed to overcome Hull City 2-0 and with relative comfort too in a game that won’t live too long in the memory after another home sell out crowd, 24,083.

It was a scrappy affair so little wonder BBC’s flagship Football League Show decided not to make it the main match, as scheduled.

However given the whole midfield and attacking spine of City’s team was missing, it has to rank as the most worthy victory of the season and sends out another powerful message with City 2^nd on goal difference only behind QPR, 2 points clear of the chasers and 5 points ahead of the side outside the play-offs and Cardiff’s 4^th successive league win, the first time that the club have managed such a feat for 4 years.

It seemed like fate that Seyi Olifinjana, on loan from Hull who still pay almost two thirds of his wages, scored the winner nipping in front of Anthony Gerrard on loan from Cardiff. Victory was wrapped up by the rarest of items, a Gavin Rae goal, late on in a contest in which Cardiff were hardly threatened all afternoon.

With those absentees, City had only one available striker in Andy Keogh who made his full debut in a 4-5-1 system. Also starting their first league games of the season were Jason Koumas and Steve McPhail while Kevin McNaughton returned form his latest injury as Dave Jones’ side lined up Marshall, McNaughton-Hudson-Gyepes-Naylor; Whittingham-McPhail-Olifinjana-Koumas-Burke; Keogh.

It was only just over 3 years ago that Hull won on the last day of the Championship season with a win at Ninian Park to avoid relegation to League One. Yet they were promoted to the Premier League next term, survived first time but on and off field problems saw them return to this level.

Their start has been far from spectacular with an opening day home win over Swansea but it’s 4 league and cup defeats plus a draw since but manager Nigel Worthington was back in charge after missing their last game and was hospitalised with chest pains. This latest defeat on the road means they are now 27 matches dating back to March 2009 and they have now lost all 4 away games this term.

Despite getting rid of big names and big earners as they grapple with massive financial problems and being saddled with Jimmy Bullard taking home almost £50k a week for training with the youth team, they still have enough decent names on their team sheet with players like Koren, Daniel Ayala (on loan from Liverpool), McShane and Craig Fagan returning from injury, Barmby and Kilbane. However, on the evidence at CCS, they looked far off being a team.

Hull City: Duke; McShane-Ayala-Gerrard-Dawson; Kilbane-Ayala-Barmby-Koren-Gracia; Koren

The pattern of the contest emerged in its earliest stages with Keogh a lone front man working hard but finding it a struggle to win the ball and when he did, a bigger struggle to find any City player within 10 to 15 yards of him to lay off to. He’s not that type of player but, even so, he gave both Hull centre halves a tough afternoon, Gerrard and the spoiler Ayala would have been trounced had Bothroyd and Bellamy been available.

On a pitch with lines cut across the pitch but different shaded circles all over (what is it? Steve McPhail turning points?), City should have scored early when Whittingham brilliantly beat three opponents in the tightest of spaces then played the ball across the face of the box but McPhail’s stabbed left footer rolled just wide of the far post with Duke beaten.

The opener was on 20 minutes as Burke won a free-kick on the touchline, Whittingham whipped in the perfect ball and OLIFINJANA powerfully heading home beating Gerrard and getting between both centre halves.

Cardiff settled to play some superb football without having the cutting edge and McNaughton was so unlucky on a charge that beat 3 men before his low shot bounced off the far post while, at the other end, Marshall had to make two saves, both from chances originating from Lee Naylor’s wayward distribution.

Cardiff were on top and deservedly winning at the break but there was little to report.

Half-time: Cardiff 0 Hull 0

Half-time entertainment was 50 or more cheerleaders performing a messy routine, more entertaining was Ali playing The Beatles’ Money Can’t Buy Me Love and dedicating it to Wayne Rooney.

The second half was a strange affair with the game played at a canter. Cardiff were more than happy to protect what they had while Hull surprisingly showed no urgency, desire or creativity to want to get back into it.

Half chances came and were all Cardiff’s as Keogh almost flicked home at the near post and Koumas went close twice, an angled drive and a mid box volley before going just wide of the same post.

Hull offered nothing so made changes and there was worry as Arsenal’s on loan Jay Simpson, scorer of 2 for QPR in a win at Cardiff last season, seemed able to turn Mark Hudson with far too much ease but City’s defence, despite rarely being worked, were resolute and undoubtedly chuffed to record their third successive Championship clean sheet – a run which has not seen them concede for over 5 hours of football.

Olifinjana, having signalled to the bench, made way early second half for Gavin Rae having again been so influential. However Jason Koumas, far less influential and anonymous for the most part, was replaced by Wildig with 15 to go and those subs made an impact. Rae did well after a poor first touch back which almost sent a Hull player in on goal while Wildig, looking much stronger, more than played his part too.

The pair were involved in the second goal that finished it on 81 minutes. A long Naylor pass, Keogh winning a rare flick down, Whittingham brought the ball inside, Wildig took a pass and flicked a delightful reverse pass and GAVIN RAE stabbed home from 6 yards, the ball travelling through keeper Matt Duke’s legs.

A lovely move which Ali announced as “Gavin Rae’s first goal of the season”, forgetting to add it will be his last goal too!

Cardiff threatened to add a third but never did and coasted to final whistle. A test they passed with surprising ease given how they had to re-adjust but certainly no classic.

Still, it was worth a celebration and a few of us took to the Napier, the Cardiff City karaoke was excellent and ended up with Mr Statto (John Heyda) and Mike Morris amongst others in an Indian restaurant that doesn’t sell drink which sent us running to off licences and Tesco for our Cobra’s!

You've Been Dumped

2010-09-11T00:01:00.000+01:00

Fight Time: Snake v Mongoose

2010-09-10T00:05:00.000+01:00

Toshack Press Conference as he quits managing Wales

2010-09-09T14:42:00.000+01:00

Toshack leaves Wales ... but only by mutual consent

2010-09-09T13:51:00.000+01:00

And so, as widely predicted since last weekend, John Toshack finishing as Wales team manager was finally confirmed in a lunchtime press conference today but the sting in the tail was that it has to be by mutual consent with Tosh making it clear that he didn't want to go now and was fully expecting to be at the helm for next month's crucial double header at home to Bulgaria and away in Switzerland.

Tosh, though, was in a very large minority who felt that it would have been appropriate, it surely would be untenable for any quitting manager to stay in charge of any country.

The press conference video will follow in a separate post but in it, Toshack stated, "I didn't decide to finish at moment. I was quite prepared to go on for next two matches ... I wanted to assess after three games."

However he added that, "We have come to the agreement though that it may be better for all concerned that a change is made now. I think Wales are still very much in this group. I hope the new man can win next two games" but extraordinarily added it may have been better to have kept him in case those games don't go well ... an incredibly negative argument for him to have continued.

Toshack made it known after last week's defeat and terrible performance that he was ready to go but the seeds were sown late last year at an away friendly in Croatia in which 14 players pulled out. "All the injuries have made it very difficult. Instead of pushing on we have gone the other way. I was disappointed we had 14 players missing for (that game)".

The search now begins for a replacement and it's needed in a rush but no news was forthcoming today although the media would seem to want Ryan Giggs, John Hartson has thrown his hat in the ring and Stoke manager Tony Pulis said it is too early for him ... diplomatically ruling himself out.

However my opinion on Tosh who had a very respectable Wales record but followers will know his main successes only ever came in friendlies and he proved to be as poor as anyone in competitive games. Too stubborn and arrogant, out of touch with the modern game - a damning condemnation for someone I wanted to have the job and who was very critical of previous Wales managers when he was a pundit.

"Judge me on the World Cup 2010 campaign" Toshack once famously said. The decision took too long to make but that judgement has now been made.

Nottingham Forest Chief Exec defends persual of Whitingham

2010-09-09T05:24:00.003+01:00

Nottingham Forest, so close to Premier League promotion, last season are a club under fire from within for failing to build on that this term.

A poor start with 3 points from 4 games, a failure to do any transfer business in the window and a manager apparently at loggerheads with the Board has produced a lot of anger from their fans.

It is, however, their public chasing of Cardiff City's Peter Whittingham and Swansea City's Darren Pratley that has caused them most trouble with Forest Chief Exec going onto BBC Radio claiming both men wanted to join his club but were being prevented from doing so.

Both South Wales clubs declined all offers and claim both players would prefer with their current clubs making formal complaints and expressing their anger over an approach that many felt tantamount to "tapping up".

Mark Arthur was forced to make a full and unreserved apology and, now, for the first time has talked about it as the criticism from his own fans refuses to go away. Rather lamely, he says both clubs decided to keep the players despite them being in the final year of their contracts and he has to respect that, the same as they held onto players in a similar situation.

The full interview with the deluded fool can be seen here:

http://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10308~2146874,00.html

D-Day for Tosh and Wales

2010-09-09T00:08:00.000+01:00

Yes, I know we were bloody awful again

THE FAW are holding a press conference today, called in the aftermath of Wales' disastrous Euro'2012 opener, a 2-1 defeat in Azerbaijan, and manager John Toshack advising that he was ready to quit the job.

The FAW, notoriously slow moving and seemingly unable to think for themsaelves at times, need to act quickly and be decisive and I would hope this conference is a sign of that.

The question is, have they tried to convince Tosh to stay on or, if he is going, will they allow him more games before getting a replacement as some newpapers have speculated. Then, of course, there is the small matter of who replaces himn and how dynamic and ambitious they are but that's not for today I guess.

In my opinion, if Toshack is going, then he must go now. No half measures please. The eyes of Welsh football fans are on you FAW, don't let us down.

Lights Out

2010-09-09T00:01:00.000+01:00

No Bull (ard) at Cardiff this weekend

2010-09-08T12:29:00.003+01:00

After a 2 week break due to an international break, Cardiff City supporters are looking ahead with relish to the return of club football with a big home clash with Hull City this weekend, a game reported close to sell out (apart from the Premier Club top tier of course).

There was some anticipation of a midfield battle featuring the return of England international Jimmy Bullard in Hull City's midfield but that appears to be over after he was omitted from a Hull reserve outing this evening at Gateshead. Paper talk up north believe it was essential that he took some part in that game but they now report that Bullard is showing showing any great fight or appetite to return to the Hull city side.

Hull got thesmelves into a terrible mess, panic buying Bullard for £5M and paying him £45k a week. Somewhat predictably, he got injured during last season as Hull were relegated from the Premier League.

Desparate to offload the player for financial prudence, Bullard has preferred to sit on hi9s contract as a stand off has been in place with the player banished to training with the youth side, having played no football since last April and having declined a season long loan move to Celtic in the summer due to "ridiculous financial demands".

With the transfer window closed and the player stuck on Humberside for a few more months, Hull have offered an olive branch but presumably for Bullard to play 14 more games maximum and his contract triggers a massive pay rise after 15 more games. His return, however. if it happens at all, will have to wait for another time. Seyi and Drinkwater would have embarrassed him anyway!

Cardiff City, Michael Chopra apart, should be able to select from a full strength side with no major problems from players on international duty.

Wales Euro'2012 Task Made Tougher

2010-09-08T07:20:00.004+01:00

While Wales had the night off last night, four group opponents were in action with the winning sides from last Friday night (England and the surprise package of Montenegro) managing to win again and putting daylight between themselves and the rest.

The results were
Bulgaria 0 Montenegro 1
Switzerland 1 England 3

England, as suspected, look likely to run away with the group leaving the rest to fight it out for a runner-up spot. If Wales had a bad start, Bulgaria's now looks a complete disaster and they are Wales' next opponents in Cardiff next month. Montenegro are appear to be in pole position but, without doubt, there's a lot of fotball yet to be played. The question is, are Wales able to get back into contention.

Current Group G Table

Posn	Teams	Pld	Pts
1	England	2	6
2	Montenegro	2	6
3	Wales	1	0
4	Switzerland	1	0
5	Bulgaria	2	0

Fight!

2010-09-08T00:08:00.000+01:00

(N)ice'n'easy

2010-09-07T15:48:00.002+01:00

When Live TV Goes Bad

2010-09-07T00:05:00.000+01:00

Video of the Week - WEEZER, Buddy Holly

2010-09-06T09:26:00.001+01:00

Weezer were back in the country recently to remind us just how good they are. A new single, Memories, and album, Lost, are out soon but while waiting, here's a stripped down performance video of one of their classics.

Tosh Off, manager set to quit Wales (but he may have a farewell first???)

2010-09-06T07:25:00.002+01:00

It is being reported that John Toshack is to resign as Wales manager in the aftermath of last Friday's spirit sapping 1-0 Euro'2012 opener defeat in Montenegro in which every player in the red shirt, with a possible exception or two only, produced performances way below their club form and reasonable expectations.

Tosh was demoralised after the game cutting a lonely figure and is believed to have informed colleages and the FAW of his intention to quit and also recommending Manchester United's Ryan Giggs as his successor. He is expected to formalise his resignation during this week.

Under Toshack, Wales have been mediocre during his 6 year tenure and have lost 6 of their last 9 internationals. The occasional friendly success and strong result (such as a World Cup draw in Germany) is undermined by the realisation that the only nations Wales have beaten in competitive matches are the equally poor, or even worse, outfits of Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Liechtenstein, Northern Ireland, San Marino and Slovakia.

However, one of the curious aspects, is that reports suggest that he may yet stay on for another two games, the double header at home to Bulgaria and away in Switzerland late next month.

Cards on table, I thought John Toshack would do a good job for Wales but it's been anything but. He found out, to the nation's cost, that his old school ways no longer work in the modern game.

Aloof from the fans, infuriatingly old-fashioned (the only manager without a mobile phone?), lacking respect from his players (with, it seems, all bar one of his senior men 'retiring' during his regime) and in terms of competitive results, taking us backwards. In my entire lifetime,

I had some hope last Friday that new campaign and emerging youth would finally show some progress but, insteasd, it had all the hallmarks of Wales going absolutely nowhere.

Wales have never been successful and only shown rare glimpses but, even so, I have never known such apathy towards our national side. The pride and the passion doesn't show itself in the squad or with the manager (not doubting it must be there mind) but that has transferred itself to the public.

Thanks to Tosh for finally realising he will not be able to bring about improvement but if he is resigning, thewn let'sd put him out of his misery. I don't want him around for next month's games so we have more of the same. We must have a different mentality and approach and at least try and make a fist of this campaign. If Tosh stays on, there will be nothing for the new guy to work with and we're reduced to, effectively, another 2 years of friendlies.

The FAW need to pull out all the stops to get a replacement on board now. If Brian Flynn isn't a serious candidate and we can't get someone permanent in time, then I'd still be tempted to manage the next two games as he knows the players having brought them through.

Just no more Toshack please!

The Human Toilet

2010-09-06T00:04:00.001+01:00

Stjarnan, who recently brought the fish being caught goal celebration to the world, are at it again. Training must be hard work there! :>)

Justin Beiber - His Fan Hits The Sh*t!

2010-09-05T00:03:00.000+01:00

On the'ead missus!

2010-09-04T00:01:00.001+01:00

This took place last week on German Sky Sports

Friday Night Failures: Euro 2012 qualifier: Montenegro 1 WALES 0

2010-09-03T23:00:00.000+01:00

My Facebook status at Final Whistle summed it up better than any match review will do on here. It read, "I can't decide if that Wales show was shocking or appalling but it was truly crap".

Wales entered a new campaign full of hope, a feeling that the promising young players who have now amassed plenty of caps will now show their quality, but one match into the campaign, those hopes are already in tatters.

As usual, there were absentees (notably the long-term injured hot duo Aaron Ramsey and Jack Collison, the short-term injured Darcy Blake and the always injured Danny Gabbidon) but you would still have backed the side to have at least secured a comfortable point and wished for more but certainly not less.

The side in Podrica was Wayne Hennessey, Sam Ricketts-Ashley Williams-James Collins-Chris Gunter; David Edwards-David Vaughan-Craig Bellamy-Joe Ledley-Gareth Bale; Steve Morison.

Eyebrows were raised at manager John Toshack's 4-5-1 style formation was Millwall's Steve Morison as the target with Gareth Bale advanced along with Craig Bellamy but it gave the visitors pace and skill and for the opening 20 minutes, it all looked very promising as pressure was created, the game was played in Montenegro's half and half chance were created but wayward shooting and the final pass not coming off meant the Montenegro keeper was not tested at all.

From midway through the half, Montenegro found some momentum and Wales looked very poor at the back and with it, the game turned and was lost.

When the goal arrived on the half hour, Wales had already got away with a couple of close scrapes and it had been coming but what a poor one to concede as Montenegro skipper, Roma's VUKCEVIC skinned a "couldn't be arsed" looking challenge from James Collins and then beat Hennessey at his near post, the keeper caught out as he anticipated a shot across him.

A golden chance fell to Craig Bellamy in the final moments of the half but if Wales performance was shown in just one moment, it was Bellers lethargically firing horribly high and wide.

I'm afraid it was a similar story in the second half, the home side looking very comfortable and their keeper having no work to do. Wales did push on and won a couple of edge of box free-kicks but wasted them. Montenegro always looked more likely to get a 2nd but Wales got anything.

With 15 minutes to go, James Collins' miserable night was complete as he took an elbow to the face which may have caused him jaw, eye, cheekbone problems (he is still being assessed but is in a sorry way by all accounts) and there was a final flurry as sub Simon Church headed against the bar on 90 minutes and then has one disallowed in added time for offside as he turned home a rebound after Ledley got in Wales only shot on target of the night.

The most shocking thing for me is that no player emerged with any credit, they all looked a shadow of the players they are, producing nothing like their club form. How can that be explained?

Next up is Bulgaria at home next month but Wales have sucked all interest out of their campaign already. Pre-game, the squad had been calling to play England at Cardiff City's ground instead of Millennium Stadium. If it carries on like this, it may as well be over the road at Leckwith Athletic Stadium.

Does She Know or Doesn't She Know??

2010-09-03T00:03:00.000+01:00

Listen to this commentary and thrilling climax, it tickled me

So Fit and, thankfully, So Stupid

2010-09-02T00:04:00.000+01:00

100 YEARS OLD TODAY ... (well it would have been if still here) ... NINIAN PARK.

2010-09-01T00:07:00.000+01:00

My Place of Worship

It is 100 Years Ago Today that Cardiff City opened Ninian Park. The occasion, an exhibition game against Aston Villa, saw City beaten 2-1.

Programme from Ninian Park's first ever match
100 Years Ago Today

However the place went on to have many more famous days, nights and events and will never be forgotten by all those who were visited - whether a home or away fan.

The Greatest Day of Pope John Paul's Life
... he's in Ninian Heaven

It is a pity the ground made way on its 99th birthday for the new Cardiff City Stadium and Ninian Park has all bar disappeared today with new houses and only some signs of old stadium rubble but that's the price of progress.

Happy Birthday Ninian Park ... thanks for the memories.

Ninian Park in 1910

GONE BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN!

With the transfer window closed, don't forget Harry Redknapp's NOT a wheeler dealer

2010-09-01T00:05:00.000+01:00

As he told Sky last weekend ... he is though! :>)

And here's the midnight news

2010-09-01T00:01:00.000+01:00

The disappearing world of local newspapers

2010-08-31T23:21:00.004+01:00

While not overly shocked to see the circulation of both newspapers has dropped 10% in the past year, I was really surprised to see how low their circulations are.

The Echo shifts 37,000 copies while the Western Mail, a national, sells just 29,000.

I popped into my local newsagent yesterday morning who doesn't even stock it. "No demand", he said. And maybe he has a point when other morning papers seem to have double the contant at half the price.

Of the 84 local papers in UK, 83 have declining sales although the online activity is thriving.

Are local newspapers dying a slow but, perhaps, inevitable death?

Shot of the Day

2010-08-31T23:17:00.001+01:00

What an amazing tennis shot by Roger Federer at the US Open last night, check this out and marvel.

TRANSFER WINDOW SHUTS - The Stars Stay but Gerrard Goes

2010-08-31T23:07:00.003+01:00

Cardiff City fans spent the day on tenterhooks, monitoring online news and messageboards hoping for the best and their wishes were fulfilled as the club held onto all its key personnel.

It is believed, despite all the rumours, that no Premier side made late moves for Bothroyd or Burke, Nottingham Forest never made one final increased offer for Peter Whittingham.

It means City can crack on with the Championship assault and will keep their personnel intact until January at least.

However in the final hour, before the window shut at 6pm, one player did depart as centre half ANTHONY GERRARD left for a season's loan with fellow Championship outfit Hull City.

Gerrard has been injured, out of form and out of favour with stories mingling of bust ups with the City hierarchy. As the club ponder moves for Chris Riggott, Danny Gabbidon and Calum Davenport, it was obvious that Gerrard was falling down the pecking order.

One consequence of the move is that Gerrard can play against Cardiff as Hull reciprocated allowing City star man Seyi Olifinjana to play against Hull. The side ironically meet in their next Championship fixture at CCS when action resumes after the international break on September 13th.

Video of the Week - MANIC STREET PREACHERS, (It's Not Love) Just The End of War

2010-08-31T06:57:00.002+01:00

For reasons best known to themselves, The Manics have prevented the official video of their new single being embedded on blogs and websites so here's a live version at a private Hammersmith gig of a tune that is a genuine grower.

The official video link follows and is worth watching just for seeing Michael Sheen getting down to some serious tonsil hockey with Anna Friel, what a lucky boy!!

http://youtu.be/hRacII5WXpk

Transfer Window D-Day

2010-08-31T06:09:00.004+01:00

The Summer Transfer Window shuts firmly at 6pm this evening so 12 hours to go on what may, or may not, be an active day but will there be inward or outward moves at Cardiff City?

Having already brought in 7 men, mostly loans, Dave Jones has conducted most of his business already but is still hoping to add "one or two more". It is a fair bet those players will be centre-halves but those deals may not take place today.

Chris Rigott, already training with the club, and Calum Davenport, also linked, are free agents so do not need to be signed today. Both have injury histories and represent gambles, City are understood to be arranging a friendly tomorrow to run the rule over Riggott and maybe Davenport too.

Unlike at is seems, one shock move could see out of favour Anthony Gerrard heading to Premier League West Ham United in some sort of swap move with a homecoming for Bluebirds star, and another injury prone centre half, Danny Gabbidon. Gabbs has just pulled out of Wales' squad for their Euro 2012 opener in Montenegro on Friday but has played in the last two games for the beleagured Hammers ... who, erm, got hammered.

However most concern will be on whether any star men leave with the likes of Peter Whittingham, Jay Bothroyd and Chris Burke all in new contract talks but out of deals next summer making it vital to9 tie them down fast or risk, a la Joe Ledley, losing them for nothing. Whitts, in particular, has been linked to Nottingham Forest who are rumoured to be weighing up one final fling for him. City really do not want to lose any of these men and fans will be counting down the minutes until 6pm.

Others who may go could be Gavin Rae (Leeds or Derby showing interest), Steve McPhail (Ipswich may move for him) and other squad members like Taiwo and co but, again, these players may leave on loan at some time after today rather than find a permanent move now.

Eyes down then and let's hope for the best.

The Most Obvious Handball and Penalty Ever

2010-08-31T00:04:00.000+01:00

Portsmouth 0 CARDIFF CITY 2 video highlights

2010-08-30T07:30:00.002+01:00

Jay Bothroyd strikes his sixth goal of the season as Cardiff City go joint-top of the Championship.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/match_of_the_day/8953829.stm

Karaoke Time, singalong people!

2010-08-30T00:04:00.000+01:00

Who's That?

2010-08-29T00:01:00.000+01:00

Edinburgh Festival's Top 10 Puns 2010

2010-08-28T00:04:00.000+01:00

1) Tim Vine "I've just been on a once-in-a-lifetime holiday. I'll tell you what, never again."

2) David Gibson "I'm currently dating a couple of anorexics. Two birds, one stone."

3) Emo Philips "I picked up a hitch hiker. You've got to when you hit them."

4) Jack Whitehall "I bought one of those anti-bullying wristbands when they first came out. I say 'bought', I actually stole it off a short, fat ginger kid."

5) Gary Delaney "As a kid I was made to walk the plank. We couldn't afford a dog."

6) John Bishop "Being an England supporter is like being the over-optimistic parents of the fat kid on sports day."

7) Bo Burnham "What do you call a kid with no arms and an eyepatch? Names."

8) Gary Delaney "Dave drowned. So at the funeral we got him a wreath in the shape of a lifebelt. Well, it's what he would have wanted."

9) Robert White "For Vanessa Feltz, life is like a box of chocolates: Empty."

10) Gareth Richards "Wooden spoons are great. You can either use them to prepare food. Or, if you can't be bothered with that, just write a number on one and walk into a pub…"

McCormack move to Leeds completed

2010-08-27T21:52:00.002+01:00

Scotland international striker Ross McCormack has joined Leeds United for an undisclosed sum from Cardiff City with the deal completed at lunchtime.

Rumours has it that he left for just £300k, a healthy profit on the £100k paid to Motherwell when Cardiff signed him but a far cry from the £4M bid turned down from Hull this time last year.

However Ross' star has waned with off field self inflicted problems affecting his football and he found himself completely out of contention this season so better to lose his £8k a week wage than keep him. I'm sure City will have a suitable sell on clause for a player very capable of settling down and rediscovering the football that electrified City and Scottish fooball fans - good luck to him!

In just over 2 seasons with Cardiff, he netted 33 goals from 88 appearances, including two goals from three sub appearances so far this season but his second season was nowhere near the standards he showed in his first year.

It's Behind You!

2010-08-27T00:02:00.000+01:00

Wales Online preview City at Pompey this weekend and Wales imminent Euro2012 campaign

2010-08-26T22:28:00.001+01:00

Useful things to do with a hairdryer # 2

2010-08-26T00:10:00.000+01:00

Should have gone to SpecSavers!

2010-08-25T22:48:00.000+01:00

Keogh is a Bluebird

2010-08-25T22:34:00.004+01:00

Last night's speculation turned to today's confirmation as Cardiff City announced this evening that Wolves' Eire striker ANDY KEOGH has signed for the club. However it is a season long loan rathert than a permanent purchase making Keogh the 8th signing of 5th loan signing of this season.

Still 24, Keogh was signed by Wolves from Scunthorpe in 2007 and had 79 starts plus 37 sub outings in the league with the Molineux club, netting 24 times. He played a half in Wolves opening Premier League win over Stoke 12 days ago.

There is speculation over where he could play and how he will fit into this City side which is packed with attacking talent ... and speculation over whether his arrival may mean the departure of a name player but we'll soon know I guess.

Keogh move to Cardiff confirmed by Wolves

2010-08-25T00:23:00.002+01:00

Following their Carling Cup victory over Southend United last night, Mick McCarthy has revealed striker Andy Keogh was not in the squad as "It's a racing certainty that (he) is to join Cardiff City.

McCarthy left the Republic of Ireland international out of his side's Carling Cup win over Southend on Tuesday, ensuring the player is not cup-tied.

A permanent transfer, Keogh would become Cardiff's 8th signing of the summer following Craig Bellamy, Seyi Olofinjana, Danny Drinkwater, Jason Koumas, Lee Naylor and Tom Heaton in south Wales.

Keogh has scored 49 goals in 180 competitive appearances for Leeds, Scunthorpe, Bury and Premier League Wolves since 2004.

McCarthy told Wolves' website: "Andy has been fabulous here both for me and this football club. It's a good move for him to go to Cardiff and good luck to him. It was my decision to let him go but he goes with our best wishes and warmest regards"

McCormack's move to Leeds expected to go through today

2010-08-25T00:13:00.002+01:00

CARDIFF CITY forward Ross M,cCormack will be meeting Leeds United boss Simon Grayson today with a view to finalising his permanent move to the Elland Road club.

A deal has been agreed between the clubs for an undisclosed fee (believed to be up to £750k) while personal terms are understood to be agreed in principle already too. If it proceeds, McCormack would debut for Leeds at Watford on Saturday.

There is also paper talk that a double deal may take place with Gavin Rae also moving to United.

Meantime, City's latest striker target is understood to be Wolves Andy Keogh who has been on Dave Jones' radar for a while. A cut price transfer is supposed to be close to being confirmed.

Pink turns black'n'blue

2010-08-25T00:10:00.000+01:00

Check this bizarre rock accident in Nuremburg to Pink last month.

Carling Cup Round 2 report: Peterbough United 2 CARDIFF CITY 1

2010-08-24T23:10:00.003+01:00

Forty Four years after both sides were losing League Cup semi-finalists and 8 months on from THAT 4-4 draw, Cardiff City suffered another second half collapse at London Road to crash out of the Carling Cup.

Two-one was the final score with Cardiff failing to capitalise on a one sided first half having only Jay Bothroyd’s 5^th goal of the season to show for total domination and they regretted that as the tide turned 2^nd half and Cardiff’s defence cracked badly to allow Mackail-Smith (74) and Boyd (87) to take Posh into Round 3.

This season is surely all about the League only but the Carling Cup has taken Cardiff to Anfield and Villa Park in the last couple of years, useful money spinners. However plans were rocked before the game with news that Blake and Chopra could be out injured for a while, McNaughton was injured too whilst Craig Bellamy did not travel. Ross McCormack was apparently at the game but, on the verge of being sold to Leeds United, he was not involved.

However the line-up and front six was still strong enough as Cardiff played 4-5-1 with Heaton; Matthews-Hudson-Gerrard-Naylor; Burke-Koumas-Olifinjana-Drinkwater-Whittingham; Bothroyd. It was a team that should have done the job and seen City through.

Peterborough have started the season well enough in the quest to bounce back into the Championship after May’s relegation with three high scoring win and one high scoring defeat but were under the cosh from the off in front of just 3,800 fans, three hundred from South Wales.

City had chance after chance but, somehow, never really extended Joe Lewis in goals as moves were too elaborate or the finishing wasn’t as smart as the set ups. Koumas (twice), Bothroyd (twice), Drinkwater (twice) and Burke were all guilty of not taking advantage of good openings but after enough warnings, Cardiff grabbed the lead just past the half hour. The impressive Jason Koumas advanced smartly down the right and his far post ball was powerful headed home by JAY BOTHROYD.

Shortly afterwards, Seyi Olifinajana went off – hopefully no more than a precaution – and Steve McPhail came on immediately having two clear chances himself but failing to take them. City should have been out of sight by the interval, their failure to do so cost them.

H/T: POSH 0 CITY 1

If the first half was all about Cardiff, it was almost the reverse story after the break with Tom Heaton having to make two excellent early saves and City on the back foot.

However they seemed to be surviving the storm although rarely threatening to get the killer second goal which always encouraged the hosts and it all went wrong with 16 minutes to go as clever interplay played in McKail-Smith with finished with style.

Game on and Cardiff should still have won it as the ref failed to award a penalty as Jay Bothroyd was pulled back inside the area then Burke wasted a one on one type opportunity.

Extra-time beckoned which was unwelcome but City were saved the extra half hour as BOYD crashed home a wonderful winner.

Both goals conceded came from shambolic defending with City’s centre halves at fault. If it acts as a reminder to Jones how me must bring in strength at the back, maybe it will have done Cardiff some good.

A poor result, a bad defeat and questions to be answered. However Portsmouth away this Saturday is the one that really matters to the club and the fans, let’s hope lessons are learned from this needless loss.

Video of the Week - The Jim Jones Revue, High Horse

2010-08-24T06:32:00.000+01:00

Got to admit, came across these guys very recently but what I've heard, I love.

Punk rock blues at its best.

This is a new single out today, rock'n'roll has returned, what a great sound!

The Dancing Copper

2010-08-24T00:07:00.000+01:00

Michael Chopra out for 2 to 3 months

2010-08-23T23:30:00.002+01:00

Hvaing been the victim of an unpunished horror flying studs out tackle to his leg in the Doncaster match, Michael Chopra today learned that the injury will keep him out until October at least.

This message has been posted on his Facebook account in the past few minutes, "Injured 2 to 3 months out fucking gutted how the fuck the ref did not do anything I'll never know".

Get well soon Chops, your club needs you!

Leeds Take Pole Position for McCormack

2010-08-23T23:02:00.003+01:00

Leeds United appear to be closing in on out of favour Cardiff City forward Ross McCormack who has found himself further down the pecking order at The Bluebirds with Craig Bellamy’s arrival. Thoughts that City may hold onto the player with news that Michael Chopra could be absent for 6 weeks with an injury in Saturday’s win over Doncaster were removed when It was revealed he should be back within a fortnight.

Roscoe’s agent Willie McKay confirmed, “We have been given permission to speak to Leeds as well as two other clubs about Ross”. Other clubs known to be linked to McCormack include other Championship outfits Ipswich, Hull and Burnley but two are rumoured to have floundered due to Ross’ current wages of £7k+ weekly.

Hello Loovens, Goodbye Gerrard??

2010-08-23T22:58:00.002+01:00

During Saturday’s memorable victory over Doncaster, word spread around Cardiff City fans like wildfire that centre-half Anthony Gerrard is heading for the exit door for a season’s loan at League One Sheffield Wednesday with Celtic’s Glen Loovens returning through the entrance on the same deal but there appear to have been no developments so far.

Gerrard’s move remains likely to happen, the player slipping out of the first team picture and rumour would have it, out of Dave Jones’ thoughts too. His only appearance this season in the Carling Cup victory over Burton saw a poor display in which he was at fault for Burton’s goal. However Dave Jones’ mate, Alan Irvine who is boss at Sheffield Wednesday, was playing it down this evening saying, “"I am surprised to hear that one. I would expect that Anthony Gerrard's under contract which would require there to be a fee involved, and we don't have any money."

Loovens’ situation is more intriguing. Cardiff and Celtic have agreed the loan deal leaving it to the player to decide. He also finds himself out of favour with new Celtic boss Neil Lennon bringing in new centre halves. City fans would love to see him back but he is reported to be playing poorly.

However the story has moved on with Loovens preferring to fight for his place and declining City but then promptly being removed from Celtic’s squad as they beat St Mirren 4-0 yesterday with Joe Ledley scoring the opener, his first for The Bhoys. Gossip had it that Loovens stormed away from Parkhead when told of the decision but that’s being played down today with Celtic claiming that he had an injury.

Don’t therefore be surprised to see Loovens back with the Bluebirds, sooner rather than later.

Video Highlights: CARDIFF CITY 4 Doncaster Rovers 0

2010-08-23T22:25:00.000+01:00

BBC Sport - Football - Highlights - Cardiff City 4-0 Doncaster Rovers

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/8934877.stm

Craig Bellamy stars on his Cardiff City debut as he creates two goals and scores a stunning free-kick in the Bluebirds' comprehensive win over Doncaster Rovers (UK users only).

You've been McNuggeted

2010-08-23T00:01:00.000+01:00

Wow, I think the words I'm looking for is over-reaction. Watch how this "lady" deals with the news that it's still brekky time in McDonald's so she can't have Chicken Nuggets. Cl;assy chick obviously.

Drunk Woman Gets A Shock

2010-08-22T00:03:00.000+01:00

Check this at 35 secs!

Drunk woman in Venice Beach with a surprise ending - watch more funny videos

Championship match report: CARDIFF CITY 4 Doncaster Rovers 0

2010-08-21T20:58:00.000+01:00

As debuts and hysteria events go, this was one that met and surpassed the dreams. Cardiff City fans, still revelling in true fantasy football as Craig Bellamy returns home, had to pinch themselves again as Doncaster were demolished 4-0. City’s last signing of such extraordinary magnitude, the legendary John Charles, scored a 70 yard free-kick to crown his debt, Captain Bellamy made it a day never to be forgotten either creating 2 (one of them a 60 yard assist with a pass from near a corner flag as City defended) then striking the most stunning 35 yard free-kick late on. City’s other goals were by Jay Bothroyd (2) and Chris Burke.

To put his result into context, it was Doncaster’s biggest defeat since being in the Championship and their first four goal loss in the league since beating beaten at home by the same margin in January 2008 League One ironically by … Swansea.

Yet there were few signs of this outcome in a first half that Doncaster edged on points for a sizeable period while Cardiff battled for the right to play their football and City also had to cope with the loss through injury of both Michael Chopra and Kevin McNaughton inside the first half hour.

After a week of what felt like unprecedented drama and fervour (and that alone takes some doing with the soap opera that is Cardiff City) which also grabbed national and international attention, it felt a relief to be going to watch football instead of talking about it. It also felt surreal to believe Craig Bellamy, a Premiership superstar at the height of his powers, had elected to come home but he certainly had as thousands of extra shirt and season ticket sales plus a home sell out crowd showed only too well.

The difference was also noticeable in Canton bars. Opening home game, I walked into a half empty Admiral Napier and was served instantly. Today, I had to barge my way through the crowd … that was just to get inside from the street. I’d also never seen the pubs empty quite so early either, everyone wanted to be there to see the moment Bellamy led out the team but not just that, it was also to pay their respects to Bluebirds legend Brian Clark.

The sights and sounds were spine tingling as the teams were led out with Bellers at the front. The crowd was 24,027 and the poignancy of the occasion was heightened again as the club paid full tribute to my boyhood idol, true legend and all round nice guy Brian Clark who sadly passed away recently after illness. He will never be forgotten for scoring the goal that beat Real Madrid, surely the greatest night in club history, but I will always remember him for far more that that. That minute’s applause and chants of there’s only one Brian Clark with both teams and former team-mates Bobby Woodruff, Don Murray, Steve Derrett and Gary Bell on the pitch with the big screen showing some magical memories was very fitting … even if Dave Jones wearing his black armband over his white shirt did look slightly, and very unintentionally, Nazi.

Darcy Blake was injured warming up having rolled on his ankle so swiftly replaced by Adam Matthews but, with all other players available including Kevin McNaughton after his concussion/hospital trauma last weekend, the questions were who would Bellamy replace and what formation would City deploy?

It was the unfortunate Chris Burke, last week’s match winner, who found himself on the bench as City stayed 4-4-2 with Bellers on the left and Peter Whittingham switched to the right. Such has been City’s activity in the market that they went from 4 subs only in the league opener a fortnight ago to what must be City’s strongest bench ever.

CARDIFF: Marshall; Matthews-Blake-Hudson-Gyepes-McNaughton; Whittingham-Olifinjana-Drinkwater-Bellamy; Bothroyd-Chopra. The subs were Heaton-Gerrard-McCormack-Rae-Koumas-Burke-Naylor.

Doncaster are of one the Championship’s least fashionable but most likeable clubs. They play football as it should be – their passing and movement is often exceptional as Cardiff found out last season getting beaten away but having a lucky last minute home win at CCS. Some fancy Donny as this season’s Blackpool as they started well enough with a comfortable opening day win at Preston but they needed an added time penalty to avoid home defeat to the hapless Wurzels last week.

So to the game and after all that build up, Bellamy could. Maybe should, have opened inside 2 minutes as City’s first slick move saw Chopra taken out by an horrendous Thomas flying studs in challenge but play moved so fast, few saw it as the ball was worked by Jay to Bellamy who hooked over as O’Sullivan ran out to block.

Chops needed prolonged treatment and also limped off for more later while the game was in play but in between came so close to opening the scoring as he latched onto Jay’s flick on, tried to lob veteran keeper Neil O’Sullivan whose reflexes belied a player who turned 40 last season.

However it was Donny who opened up the better with the game being played at a furious pace that was never going to last. Passing and moving the ball as they can, they were exposing Cardiff and creating plenty of problems, one shot missing by a whisker and Marshall having to be at full stretch to turn away two other efforts.

Cardiff’s problems increased as Kevin McNaughton limped off inside 20 minutes followed by Chopra who could not recover from his knock (and may now be out for up to 6 weeks) but City’s bench showed its power as they were replaced by debutant Lee Naylor producing a very pleasing debut and Chris Burke showing how to respond to being dropped with, arguably, a man of the match display. Cardiff also matched up Donny’s 4-5-1 with Peter Whittingham tucking in and running the show and the tide turned with it.

Within 4 minutes, Cardiff were ahead. Danny Drinkwater fed Craig Bellamy and his first time daisy cutter across the box from the edge of the area found BOTHROYD whose flick took a lucky deflection off Donny’s Thomas and left him one on one with O’Sullivan to finish coolly stroking the ball wide of him.

Half-time: CITY 1 DONNY 0

The proverbial game of two halves, City were now able to open up and show their mighty attacking quality. I personally felt Donny had worked so hard in the first half, they had run their legs off to a certain extent and while Cardiff could go up a gear, the visitors could not respond. However they so nearly levelled it as a fluke Coppinger cross deceived Marshall and bounced off his crossbar.

It was a sideshow to what were three stunning second half goals. Donny can question their defending but no denying each goal was a classic in its own right.

The second and decisive goal on 62 minutes was almost a tribute to Brian Clark. Chris Burke, back to his very best, got the ball wide, ran at defenders, dummied past one and got to the by-line before crossing to the far post for BOTHROYD to send a towering header back across goal into the top corner. Clarkie would have been smiling looking down at that. It was Jay’s 4^th of the season as he sets about beating last season’s 13.

Any thoughts Donny could still make a game of it were banished 6 minutes later and in incredible style. Bellamy won the ball by the corner flag with City defending. As he belted it up field, it looked like a clearance but the ball cleared Donny’s defence and sent CHRIS BURKE clear. He would never be caught and finished with real aplomb as he fired home high from just inside the box leaving O’Sullivan motionless. CCS was now truly rocking.

Job done, game over, the contest looked now resembled a training match but had one moment of humour as City put together 20 or more passes before nearly scoring with each pass greeted with an ole only for Donny to get the ball and do their best to replicate with their beleaguered support doing the same, volume 50 times quieter.

Bellers is a long way from match fitness and blowing frequently but came alive on the ball but his afternoon finished in amazing style. Winning a free-kick 35 yards out on the left side of goal, BELLAMY let fly with the ball seemingly accelerating en route to beat O’Sullivan and hammer in off his far post. It was truly an extraordinary moment, the noise and celebrations in the crowd simply fantastic.

Before he departed for a standing ovation, he got booked for dissent (I think the ref just wanted his name in the book) but that still left time for Jason Koumas to show how devastatingly good he can be with some superb touches and passes.

However this was a team display where every player performed really well, apart from those already mentioned, I was especially impressed by Olifinjana in midfield who only plays 25 yards either side of halfway and doesn’t veer too far left or right but the game can’t pass him by there and he is an anchor, the type of general the side have been missing for too long.

The frightening thing is that you suspect this side will only get better. They are still working on their shape, they are still getting to know each other. Even the City pessimists are optimistic!

As Lou Reed sings, it’s such a perfect, I’m glad I spent it with you. Final whistle saw the heavens open and the mother of all downpours, City fans left CCS truly singing and dancing in the rain. What a day, it will never be forgotten by anyone there.

You Can't Beat A Bit of Bully

2010-08-21T00:04:00.001+01:00

City Storm The Castle

2010-08-20T23:05:00.001+01:00

A mementous week was ended by Cardiff City, in comnjunction with Championship sponsors N-Power, flashing player, squad and club images onto the walls of Cardiff Castle tonight.

It's never looked better!

Whitts move to Forest back on?

2010-08-20T06:40:00.002+01:00

Today's Daily Mail is reporting that PETER WHITTINGHAM has held talks with Nottingham Forest over a proposed £1.8M move.

Out of contract next summer, City need Whititngham to pen a new deal now or sell. They can't really afford a repeat of the Joe Ledley walk away for free that happened this summer.

Middlesbrough are also reported to be interested but Forest appear to be in pole position if he goes.

Personally, I truly hope he stays and takes a new deal with Cardiff, he's a key player and a class act who, in truth, is too good for the Championship and should be performing at a higher level. If he leaves, it should only be for Premier Leage and not a rival. I also value him at more than £1.8M.

I'm thoroughly enjoying watching Whitts play lately, he's a class above. Not scored yet this season but helped set up Burke's winner at Derby and Jay's equaliser at home to Sheff U.

Hope he takes a new deal with City instead.

Here's your effing weather

2010-08-20T00:02:00.002+01:00

BBC weather man Thomas Shafernaker got caught out on Tuesday when he aimed a gesture at the newsreader just as live cameras switched to him.

Watch his schoolboy attempt to pretend he was rubbing an itch and the reaction of the news readers.

City search for new striker target as Cousin flees

2010-08-19T22:18:00.003+01:00

Earlier in the week, stories were strong that Cardiff City and Hull City had agreed a player swap in principle with Ross McCormack heading to the Tigers with City hoping to get French striker Daniel Cousin.

Whilst terms were agreed for McCormack, Cousin was less keen as he earned £18k weekly, Cardiff were offering to pay half of that and Hull were refusing to make up the shortfall. But it's now all change as Cousin has gone to Greece to play for Larissa (I'd never heard of them before either!) leaving any deal for McCormack dead in the water.

However it is now understood that City are looking for a similar swap with Derby County, this time with Rob Hulse coming our way. Cardiff need cover and competion for Jay Bothroyd and Hulse fits the bill perfectly.

All Clear, Bells is registered

2010-08-19T19:51:00.000+01:00

After a crazy day on Wednesday with Craig Bellmay's arrival hearalding an immediate £400,000 injection into the club with 500 new season tickets, 3,000 shirts (selling out all stock) and thousands of extra ticket sales for the next couple of home games, the Football League chairman Greg Clarke puit his face on Sky tv demanding more information on how Cardiff were financing the deal and adding in many choice comments about how to handle business and finance.

Like Motherwell Chairman John Boyle, the man is an ultimate hyprocrite. As Leicester Chief Executive, he put that club into administration owes millions of debt which creditors only ever saw a fraction of. Cardiff, unike these people, have never gone into admin and always paid creditors.

The matter was swiftly resolved - the league seemed to be making up a new rule so it could hardly be srtopped - but has left Cardiff seething about how it was handled with the Chairman going to media without ever approaching the club. I understand the FAW, Football League and Cardiff City have held held powered private conversations about the Foootball League conduct in this matter.

City: Why point fingers at us?

2010-08-19T07:47:00.002+01:00

CARDIFF CITY, instead of being praised for pulling off the loan deal of this or any other season at Championship level, have been on the receiving end of flak - mostly from newpspaper, radio and tv shows that specialise in shock values!

Mike Morris of Cardiff City.com has produced an excellent response which I've re-printed here followed by my observations. What do you think?

PEOPLE IN GLASS HOUSES

The amount of stick thrown in Cardiff City's direction in the last 24 hours has been shocking.

Not everyone is against us. We have received some goodwill messages from Man City fans, some reasonable and balanced coverage from some of the tabloids, broadsheets and tv/radio stations but there is an underlying current of resentment about our signing of Craig Bellamy. Some of the comments from the more gutter radio shows have been jaw-dropping.

I think there is an element of disbelief from the EPL that we took one of their star players. An element of jealously from the Football League that we have made ourselves favourites for promotion but moreso the thing that wrankles them is that we were close to going bust a few weeks ago and now we have signed a player who reportedly earns around £90K a week.

Instead of looking at our current situation or what we have been trying to achieve we get backpage headlines like the one from the Daily Express "How can a club which has faced 4 winding-up orders sign £85,000 a week Craig Bellamy".

Well if they did some resaearch they'd find that Man City are paying most of his wages. Cardiff are paying a percentage. All perfectly legal and within the loan rules. Loan moves happen all the time. Parent clubs tend to pay the bulk of the wages. Same thing happening here. No need to threaten his registration or to throw ones toys out of the pram.

The carefully planned outburst from the Motherwell Chairman shocked the football world nearly as much as Bellany signing for us. He called us cynical for not paying our bills. Actually, I agree to an extent. We should not still be owing Motherwell. We are tackling these debts and that one in paticular has not yet been fully resolved. The matter should be sorted soon but it does beg the question of the hypocrisy of a man who saw his airline company go bust leaving thousands stranded and out of pocket, click here, and the same chap was at the helm of Motherwell when they went into administration leaving their creditors with just 15p in the pound, click here.

Cardiff City did not take the easy option of administration and a chance to get away without paying everyone but instead chose (thanks to the new investment from Malaysia and from current directors) to tackle the debts head on.

Portsmouth, the tax man claims, owes £37m to HMRC. Cardiff City owe then the July payment at most. Just about all the footballing debts have been settled by the new reigime at the CCS. The random borrowings by Peter Ridsdale are being sorted, the debts to other clubs are being covered. The players/staff wages are all upto date and the tax man has dismissed his intended high court action because we have delivered the money we promised.

We still have a debt, mostly to Langston (Sam Hammam's interest) but it's a fraction of the debt owed by some top Premier League sides but crucially it's a debt we are facing and not bailing out from by taking the administration route.

Maybe the Football League should be investigating Crystal Palace who went into admin, have offered their creditors a couple of pence in the pound and are now about to sign Edgar Davids. They should still be investigating how Portsmouth can get away with settling already mega rich players bonuses while leaving the tax man to fight for scraps.

Cardiff's signing of Craig Bellamy has close on paid for itself already. We don't know the exact amount Cardiff have to pay in wages but it's thought to be £20K a week. 24 hours after his signing we sold nearly 4,000 shirts @ £40 each, 500 season tickets @ £300 each and the gate will be increased by about 5,000 @ £20 each on Saturday.

Roughly that's about £400,000 on the back of him signing. 20 weeks of wages brought in from the first 24 hours of business.

The man pays for himself. Cardiff have not paid a penny in transfer fees this summer. Season long loans for Olofinjana, Koumas, Drinkwater and Bellamy. Free transfer for Tom Heaton. Upto 10 players leaving who are now off the wage-bill. At the same time debts settled by re-structure or in some cases the exchange of debt to shares in the club.

The football world should be applauding the efforts of TG, Vincent Tan, Steve Borley etc for their dedication to honouring what we owe while at the same time making Cardiff City Football Club a force in the Championship and hopefully becoming a Premier League by the end of the season.

Cardiff City have made a statement of intent this week. We've shocked the football establishment and they don't like it.

Keep them stones in your pockets people.

Excellent piece although, as I see it, the bottom line from football, media and assorted "personalities" has not entirely been hatred, ignorance (even though much of it is) but envy.

The club have pulled off an audacious deal but, in Bellamy's case, we were the only club ever likely to. As City have rightly said, any other ambitious club in the Championship would have moved hell and earth to do eactly the same if they had such a chance.

I also got a funny feeling we'll see a few more Prem stars in the Championship once final squads are announced. Aaron Ramsey looks set to be one such player - will anyone moan then? Davids to Palace after they hit the wall is another good example.

However, boot on the other foot, if Bellers had gone to another club on loan and one who have had more than their fair share of troubles, I can't help thinking Cardiff City fans would have had plenty to say themselves and little of it complimentary. It happens.

I well remember the general outcry on here about how Stoke "cheated" their way to the Premier League with all the loan singings they had a couple of years ago. Now we're playing a similar game - and it's not before time that Dave Jones used the loan market cleverly! - we applaud it.

Whoever said it's a funny old game has it spot on!

Naylor becomes new signing number 7

2010-08-19T07:19:00.003+01:00

CARDIFF CITY have reportedly completed the signing of free agent left back Lee Naylor.

Naylor, a former player of City boss Dave Jones at Wolves, has just completed 4 seasons at Celtic playing 100 SPL games and signing off with a goal as The Bhoys beat deadly rivals Rangers 2-1 in the final game of last season.

The player has been trainign with Cardiff for some time and the club have always wanted him to put pen to paper but he delayed a decision hoping to attract a Premier League outift. Now however he has chosen the Bluebirds but may face stiff competition as Kevin McNaughton has been outstanding in that position and the club last week signed Canadian English-born prospect Martin John.

The Crashproof Bike

2010-08-19T00:12:00.000+01:00

Cardiff City fans celebrate Bellamy's arrival

2010-08-18T22:28:00.000+01:00