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.
After a summer of bad news and the club in the doldrums, while then problems remain, the club have finally managed to release some shackles in the nick of time.
Having resolved some of its immediate financial debts (to the tax man, former players and transxfer fees to other clubs), the Football League lifted the club's transfer and player registration embargo on Friday afternoon.
This enabled the registration of goalkeeper Tom Heaton and on loan midfielders Danny Drinkwater (from Manchester United) and Jason Koumas (from Wigan). It also enables the club to try and arrange new contracts for existing personnel, defender Kevin McNaughton being one who agreed a new deal but it could not be registered under embargo.
However it may well be a temporary reprieve as Cardiff's problems are significant and may well take a long time to overcome. It is believed the club face major financial demands in September- after the transfer window closes - which may see the embargo return.
Relieved manager Dave Jones said, "It’s a good thing for the club the embargo’s off. We just have to move now as quick as we can to bring the players in we’ve been chasing. Everything seems to be sorted, but we could be hit again over the tax issue. We can’t rule us being hit again with an embargo. If I can four new faces before the transfer window closes, and keep the ones I have, then we will be in good shape.”
Various names have been banded about with some said to be training with the club already but nothing has materialised so far.
Meantime the N-Power Championship season opened last night with promoted Norwich being surprisingly outplayed and beaten at home (2-3) by relegation-fancied Watford. 10 more games are being played today before Cardiff open their season in front of Sky tv cameras at home to Sheffield United tomorrow lunchtime.
Ridsdale: I love you and need you to bail me out. Jones: As long as you pay me £800,000 as year, I love you too
After a private spat which became public news, CardiffCity boss Dave Jones, coach Terry Burton and Chairman Peter Ridsdale shook hands on their differences yesterday.
The trio along with defender Mark Kennedy became involved in a furious row with Ridsdale entering the changing room after City’s calamity-ridden 3-0 defeat at Preston last weekend – apparently, a regular event – but The Riddler took over Dave Jones’ slating of the team and allegedly did so himself.Ridsdale was swiftly berated by his manager and staff in no uncertain terms.
Not sure about you but I can’t understand why Jones allowed Ridsdale in the ‘inner sanctum’ of the team dressing room at any time.
However each party had their say yesterday and have moved on.One problem resolved, one million more remain then!
I don't think we'll be allowed to concentrate on the football only at Cardiff City anytime over the remainder of this season and, quite likely, beyond that too.
Wales Online this morning carried an interview with Bluebirds boss Dave Jones after he met reporter Mark Bloom earlier in the week and opened up, for the first time, on his feelings over the so-called 'Golden Ticket' farce in which supporters £3M for advance season ticket sales were apparently used to clear debt and he did not get promised funds for new players.
It seemed a good interview, a fair and balanced piece and was mainly dominated by Dave Jones' quotes such as these;
“I was let down and angry, I am disappointed with what happened because I didn’t get what I wanted.”
“I have a working rapport with the chairman. I can have an argument with the chairman on anything, but I will not let things fester because that is when things break down. Of course I’m disappointed, of course I’m angry. I’m sure the chairman is too, because he couldn’t give me what I wanted."
“I have not fallen out with the chairman. Have I had arguments with him? Yes, over a host of different matters, but I have arguments with my coaching staff, too. That’s the way it is."
“My rapport with the chairman has not changed one bit. I was not happy with what went on. I think everybody was let down. Even the chairman senses he let people down because he couldn’t do what he wanted to do. Look, it was a massive letdown, I don’t think people realise how big it was. I had discussions with the chairman – but what can you do? He is down because of everything that has gone on while he is in the hot-seat."
“I have never thought of walking away from this job. There are a lot of things I have locked horns over and the hierarchy have said no to, not just the chairman but also the board. So, while you are disappointed, you get on with the job.”
However it would appear the Gaffer took exception to the interview being published. Despite admitting that he was not misquoted, he was reportedly abusive and banned Wales Online - Echo and Western Mail newspapers - from a press conference while confusion currently reigns over whether they are also banned from matchday press facilities.
As if that isn't sideshow enough, more (so far unconfirmed) reports this evening tell of a new winding up order by a Gwent based catering company apparently owed £700,000 for catering equipment supplies at the new stadium. It is well known privately the list of contractors and creditors for the new stadium are long and wide but this one may just head the list.
More as it arrives.
Tomorrow, City with their depeleted squad and walking wounded, take on Barnsley lookingfor 3 points to stiffen their play-off challenge under almost impossible circumstances and aiming to avenge a last kick of match defeat at Oakwell earlier in the season.
Reviews Cardiff's excellent performance in the weekend F.A. Cup defeat at Chelsea, looks ahead to tomorrow night's home clash with West Brom and includes an excellent interview with 'the Gaffer', Dave Jones.
** Jones hails Cardiff fans ** Cardiff City manager Dave Jones tells BBC Wales football reporter Rob Phillips why he pleased that Cardiff fans stuck by their team despite the off-the-field problems at the club as they beat Doncaster 2-1 this afternoon. http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/8489422.stm
Boss Dave Jones rues Cardiff conceding a late equaliser as Gavin Williams'
92nd-minute goal earns BristolCity a 1-1 draw in a snowy FA Cup third round.
Cardiff City boss has responded to messageboard users and Peter Ridsdale e-mailers calling for his head after a week in which City lost at home to then bottom side Plymouth Argyle and then drawing at current bottom team Peterbough United after leading 4-0 at half-time by time them to get a reality check.
However, understandably, Jones hit back telling the media pack that, We’re fourth from top, not fourth from bottom, the only thing I can say is I’m glad I’m not fourth from bottom in this part of the world! I’ve not been there, but I’d hate it, people have to take a reality check sometimes. "
DJ added, "The only way to amend what happened at Peterborough is to stay in the top six. I’m a good manager – fourth in the league – and work hard at what I do. Some people want change because of embarrassment (losing a four-goal lead), but if they want to know about embarrassment they should have their picture blasted all over the papers for 18 months. I’ve been through that and if these people did so too then they could tell me what embarrassment is all about. I could not do anything about that, but I can do something about what happened at Peterborough. I trust my players, I believe in them and now it’s time to move on.".
If it's time to move on Dave, can you make a start by stopping harping on about your past?
The problem is that the real issues has been missed amonsgt the sensationalism.
- Why has Jones continually presided over City sides that have collapsed and/or conceded late goals costing results?
- Why does DJ never deal with sides changing formations and tactics chasing games which far too frequently sees our midfield overrun and unable to cope which loses us a fair number of points every season?
- Why does he only ever blame his players when things go wrong but never look at himself?
Ah well, we'll have to wiat until the next time it happens. Given Cardiff City and Jones' record, it's likely to be a matter of time before it does.
The internal inquest into the Xmas Disaster that was CardiffCity has gone into overdrive today.
Losing a home game to Leicester City as the club had not got around to commissioning the boiler for undersoil heating was embarrassing enough and made The Bluebirds a laughing stock but that pales into insignificance with the post-Christmas results.
Defeat at home to bottom of the table Plymouth who hadn’t scored in 6 games, all in front of Cardiff’s biggest home Boxing Day crowd for 40 years, was unacceptable but could be dismissed as a fluke and ‘one of those games’ after City missed half a dozen golden opportunities but were denied by defensive and goalkeeping heroics too.
However yesterday’s capitulation at Peterborough, who themselves became bottom club, is inexcusable and leaves the club, its manager and players with no hiding place.To lose a 4 goal half-time lead defies belief but as the blog as shown in the past 2 days, City and Dave Jones have a history of collapses and losing late goals that shows no sign of being arrested.
One unbelievable aspect has been Dave Jones’ decision to publicly lambast Jay Bothroyd and it is understood the pair were due to meet up today – 24 hours before Jones sees the rest of his battered squad.Maybe there is more to this than meets the eye because how a striker, who was withdrawn with City still 2 goals to the clear, can be blamed for failings at the back is beyond me but he has been singled.
Jay scored a wonderful first half goal band did appear to be one of many players who thought the job was done at the interval and stopped their performance level but many will feel that others were far worse.However Jones was uninterested in how bad Jay’s injury could be, commenting that, “"I haven't spoken to him, don't want to speak to him, don't want to speak to any of them at the moment. I haven't asked him and don't want to ask him because he's one of those players who decided to do it his way and his way isn't good enough.”
As for the rest of the shambles, Jones has hinted he may now wheel and deal with some personnel by saying, “One or two, if we can do it, we'll change them.We need to get players in because the players, in the second half, didn't do what we expected of them.But maybe one or two of them just decided that they think it's a bit easy and one or two, if we can do it, we'll change them."
Cardiff’s cashflow problems appear to be no better than ever with the Malaysians continuing to stall on any investment, some even believing their future involvement in the club is in jeopardy.No wonder City are therefore appealing to fans once again to invest in season tickets with the club pledging to use those funds for new recruitment in January.They are aiming to raise £3M in season ticket sales by Friday with their interest free, price freeze for 5 years and full refund if City are promoted this season deal.
I’ve renewed mine and I truly hope it brings strengthening so the team can have a good crack in the second half of the season but it does sound like desperation, doesn’t it?
Dave Jones is the Championship's longest serving manager having been in the Bluebirds hotseat since May 2005. It would be churlish to deny he hasn't progressed the club on and off the pitch and the Wembley 2008 F.A. Cup Final appearence is something I will take to my grave.
However there are justifiable questions as to whether he can take us further and deliver us to the promised land. We collpased last season under his charge and many are speculating whether yesterday's surrender at Peterborough is a fatal blow to this season.
One damning aspect of Dave Jones' charge is a seemingly never ending ability to close out games. Yesterday on the blog, I listed a number of occasions where it has happened just within the past 2 months. Over his time, I speculate Cardiff City have dropped points in the last 15 to 10 minutes and upto 30 occasions - it vastly outweighs the occasions we've grabbed late results.
However I've taken a look at City's best (or worst) collapses with Dave Jones. This list is compelling and damning.
28/12/09 Peterborough away 4-4 draw after leading 4-0 half time
29/11/09 Losing 2-1 at home to bottom club Ipswich after leading with 15 mins to go
2008/2009 Gifting added time equalisers away at all the Championship’s top three – Wolves, Brum and Reading
23/08/08 2 up and rampant at home to Norwich with 12 minutes to go and we ‘escaped’ with a 2-2 draw
19/01/08 Cruising to a big win at leaders West Brom but we lost a 3-1 lead in the last 12 minutes with the leveller being a great Roger Johnson o.g.
02/10/07 3-1 up at Sheffield United with 5 minutes to go, we drew.
12/09/06 Plymouth away, three up with 21 minutes to go and we drew thanks to 2 own goals
27/08/05 Two-nil up at home to Wolves with 16 to go, we drew and held on for dear life at the end
I meet Riccy Scimeca March'08 after City win at Middlesbrough in the F.A. Cup Quarter-Final
CARDIFF CITY’s central midfielder Ricardo Scimeca today announced his retirement as a professional footballer leaving Bluebirds followers feeling a sense of shock and sorrow for one of the game’s true gents.
Scimeca has been forced to admit defeat in a virtual 30 month battle to overcome continual knee and groin problems just a fortnight after making a starring comeback.
In that game, City turned to Riccy in a crisis after 4 successive defeats and a depleted side but, starting his first game for 16 months, he starred as City overcome Preston. Three days later, he was performing similar heroics at West Brom helping City to a 2-0 win but having to come off at half-time feeling the effects.
It has emerged he had an op yesterday and facing another lengthy period out of the game, he has been forced admit his time is up.
Scimeca, aged 35, next summer gave sterling service to all his former clubs – Aston Villa, Leicester, Nottingham Forest, West Brom and over the past 4 years with Cardiff City. He amassed over 400 appearences (76 for Cardiff) and scored 17 times, 6 for City.
Talking to the club official website, www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk, Scimeca said, “Whatever the temptation to go on and to try again, you can't ignore what your body is telling you. I've had a good career - it's been great. I feel it's better to be grateful for that rather than think about my regrets about not carrying on as a player. Facing the lads and telling them I was finishing was one of the hardest things I have done. I welled up a little bit, but that's to be expected.”
"There's a feeling of relief as well but it was very hard to make that decision. It had to come at some stage. I wanted to be the one to make the decision, and it's come earlier for me than I would have liked, but that's the way it goes."
City boss Dave Jones added, “We are saying goodbye to a great professional and one of the nicest men in football, it's been a tough decision for him to take and we wish Riccy, his wife Laura and their family all the very best for the future."
I was lucky enough to meet Riccy a couple of times and even stood with his father-in-law, wife and children during an away game at Birmingham.
We all love flair and quality (especially Chris Burke’s recent herculean efforts) but good sides have to show far more than that. Therefore, it was fantastic to watch City only allow Middlesbrough to play in front of them on Sunday and defend as if their lives depended on winning every challenge and being there first for every loose ball too. And it was the same story at West Brom and against Preston in the past week. Each time, it was also with the added disruption of losing key players both before and during those games as well.
Is this really the same group of players who did anything but that in those awful defeats and performances at Swansea and at home to Ipswich and tossed away the play-offs at the end of last season? After those 4 successive defeats in Novmeber, at least one Cardiff City player admitted to some complacency amongst the squad which is pretty damning. Manager Dave Jones is now demanding more of the same rmeinding his men that they have now set the standard.
While I am sure City will continue to have inconsistencies – just like the rest of the Championship – if they show that spirit, standard and tenacity for the rest of the season, it may yet bring a most fantastic reward.
Congratulations to the Cardiff City management and squad … now keep on doing it.
Cardiff City boss Dave Jones tells BBC Wales Football Editor Ian Gwyn Hughes why his defenders provided a foundation for the 1-0 Championship win at Middlesbrough.
However the win has come at a cost as Cardiff head to high fliers West Brom on Tuesday evening without Jay Bothroyd who has a 1 game ban for his 5th booking of the season and have major doubts over Michael Chopra who is unwell and Joe Ledley who suffered a groin injury in the victory.
It's a tough enough contest as it is but to go without 3 key players would be doubly damaging to their hopes.
