St George's Day ... the secondary event of the day

The main anniversary is of course Cardiff City winning the F.A. Cup at Wembley 83 years ago today! Ah ... ... ... I remember it well.

Big Day for Adam Matthews abut a bigger one to come?

Congratulations to Cardiff City starlet Adam Matthews who is celebrating his 18th birthday today.

Matthews has for some time been linked with a move to the Premiership and it was reported that Arsenal and Manchester United had representatives watching him last weekend.

However it is now being mooted that another major Top 6 Premiership outfit are contemplating a deal for the player and they are now emerging as favourites. A fee of £4M has been mentioned in the press for a player who has still started just 14 Championship games. If any deal happens, it will surely be for less than that.

Enjoy your first legal drink Adam! He should do, he 20th appearence for Cardiff last night earned him a £10,000 bonus as part of his contract - now that's what I call a present!!

Rambo becoming a football superstar

It's not gone un-noticed amongst Cardiff City fans that Aaron Ramsey is starting to become a key player for Arsenal, keeps growing in stature and demeanour as a footballer and is proving his potential that was so obvious from his Cardiff City days ... it's frightening to think he has just turned 19 over the festive period.


A midfield maestro, he also scores stunning goals including a cracker in the Gunners 4-0 win at Portsmouth last night. Have a look at it below and also two goals he's scored for Wales this season - 1 for the seniors and 1 for the Under 21's. Quality, quality, quality.


Cardiff City let him go far too cheaply at £4.8M with no sell-on clause, didn't they?

RAMBO v Pompey last night


vs SCOTLAND November



v ITALY Under 21's October

Matthews to Manchester United?

This morning's Sun newspaper are reporting that Manchester United have agreed a deal with Cardiff City to sign starlet Adam Matthews for £5 Million, beating Arsenal to his signature.



Matthews in his first season of prfessional football but, at 17, has started just 12 Championship games for City but is already seen as a key, star player. He has also had a Wales Under 21 debut and been elevated to the senior squad. As if that's not enough, he's also scored for Cardiff from 45 yards out.

Matthews would seem to be a natural replacement for Gary Neville at Old Trafford, very similar in style.

City fans, however, will be dismayed to see another kid leave after half a season of football. All fans love local heroes but the last products of the system - players like Cameron Jerome, Chris Gunter and Aaron Ramsey - have all gone in no time.

Matthews, it would seem, is set to do the same.

Player links to Cardiff City hot up

With Roger Johnson gone, more players set to go and 7 new faces promised, paper talk is hotting up. Here's a quick round up of the latest mutterings for what it's worth since newspaper gossip very rarely equals reality.


OUTGOING
Rumours are circulating that left back Tony Capaldi with link with his ex-Plymouth boss Ian Holloway at Blackpool if they can find the package to match his handsome City package. Holloway briefly tried to take him for Leciester City when he was their manager too.

Premiership suitors are playing a waiting game for Joe Ledley, obviously hoping to get him for a last minute cut price deal after City declined £6M bids for him in January and now find they have a player who can leave for nothing out of contract next season. Arsenal, who have watched him many times, are being linked to him but there's a queue including Spurs, Everton, Stoke, West Ham who have expressed interest but have done nothing to date.

Dave Jones is also willing to offload Paul Parry, Miguel Comminges, Warren Feeney (forgot we still had him after his 2 seasons in Scotland but Norwich are rumoured to be in for him) and maybe Peter Whittingham too while they are willing to listen t offersd for Ross McCormack to raise more funds even though he is set to sign an extended deal.

THOSE LINKED TO CITY
An ever lengthening list includes defenders Paul Quinn (Motherwell), Damien Delaney of QPR who we are rumoured to be competing with Ipswich at around £1M package deal (a price that would seem to rule out any move by City) and another QPR man in Latvian defender Kaspar Gorkss. Another paper link is Millwall defender Zak Whitbread.


With two centre halves required, the names mentioned in dispatches to date are ex-City man James Collins (I don't see him dropping out of the Premiership), a loan move for Manchester United's promising Craig Cathcart who spent time last season at Plymouth and Birmingham City's Liam Ridgewell whose place there is in jeorpardy with the arrival of three new centre halves including Roger Johnson of course.


Cardiff City's midfield engine room has misfired and lack goals for a couple of years and, to me, seem an important area of the side to get right. Links so far are uninspriring. Misfit Liam Miller, a player of talent but who throws it away with poor attitude, is linked but if he wasn't afraid of Roy Keane at Sunderland (who threw him out of the club after continally being late), what chance has Dave Jones got with the 27 year old? Others have been mentioned in dispatches, all with unremarkable goal contributions to the cause. Mayeb it's just me but I thought Charlton's Nicky Bailey or Chinese midfielder could do tremendous jobs for us.


Up front, it's hard to remember Michael Chopra becomes a permanent signing next week for £4M from Sunderland. Fans hold their breath he can rediscover his form, fitness and goals which were all missing in his end of last season loan with us. Eddie Johnson has returned, Ross McCormack appears set to stay but another forward is needed regardless yet the only name linked to date, Motherwell's Dave Clarkson, appears to be on his way Bristol City with Cardiff reportedly declining to follow up initial interest as his price tag has increased to circa £750,000.


More of this silliness over the next few days but, hopefully, we will finally see activity in Cardiff's Arrivals Lounge.

The Worst Football Dive Ever

Pederson of Blackburn at Arsenal last weekend - what a knob!

Tonight's Cardiff City Phone-In Show

This evening's show looks ahead to the massive Molineux clash with Wolves this Sunday but also back at the Arsenal game with some depressing stories of the antics by some of our fans in London.

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You can listen or download here:
http://www.mediafire.com/?tdm3tvmnnnz


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Wales Online look back at Arsenal and look ahead to Wolves

Listen in here > http://www.walesonline.co.uk/videos-and-pics/audio/news-audio/2009/02/17/focus-on-football-can-cardiff-city-bounce-back-from-fa-cup-defeat-91466-22950063/

Ninian Park New Keeper Crisis

The HEAT is ON

Cardiff City have been hit by a new goalkeeping blow as news emerges that Tom Heaton will be out for as long as 5 weeks with thigh damage sustained in the Arsenal F.A. Cup rout.

Ok, I give up, what does rhyme

with Dimitri Kostantopulous??

That it was only a rout and not a massacre was down to Heaton’s man of the match display for City in a game he returned to the side after being sacrificed following apoor defeat at Plymouth last November. The quip is that he was left so unprotected and faced so many shots that it was balls hitting him all night that caused the problem.

It represents a real problem for City as recent regular Peter Enckleman is also ruled out for a further 5 weeks following knee surgery and means that last week’s loan signing Dimi will step straight into the side at Wolves while untried Polish teenager Erwin Sak will be on the bench as he was at The Emirates. Some may feel it’s a blessing in disguise as Dimi has more experience and was recently starring at Swansea who were deperate to keep him before Cardiff moved in.

Elevated to the first team

.. and not facing the Sak!

Speaking to Wales Online, the 22 year old Heaton who also starred in a debut for England Under 21 (yes, I know!) last week said, “I’m absolutely gutted, I’ve had to wait for my chance and now this happens. I was pleased with the way I played at Arsenal, but hopefully I will be back as soon as possible.”

Video Highlights of Arsenal 4 Cardiff City 0 from last night

Found this on YouTube - grit your teeth and bear it lads!

Arsenal 4 Cardiff City 0 - the media reaction

If you're a sucker for punishment or a visiting Arsenal fan, you can read these but I'm not!

Eduardo delight at dream comeback

Arsenal 4-0 Cardiff

Cardiff will recover, vows Jones
Arsenal v Cardiff as it happened

BBC

Best day of my life - Eduardo

Wenger hails Eduardo's return

AUDIO INTERVIEWS

Guardian Unlimited FA Cup: Eduardo double crushes Cardiff

Al Jazeera Eduardo makes perfect return

Observer FA Cup fourth-round replay: Arsenal 4-0 Cardiff City: Eduardo scores two

Telegraph Arsenal 4 Cardiff City 0

ESPNsoccernet Report: Arsenal vs Cardiff City - English FA Cup

Eduardo's triumphant return as Arsenal thrash Cardiff | Arsenal Online

Arsenal 4 - 0 Cardiff City ESPN

Jones praise Heaton for saving Cardiff’s FA Cup blushes

Arsene Wenger tips Cardiff to reach Premiership

Bluebirds shot down by rampant Gunners

• Tom Heaton praised for saving Cardiff’s blushes

• Arsenal v Cardiff City: A fan's view

• Arsene Wenger tips Cardiff to reach Premiership Feb 17 2009

  Cardiff City must take lesson back to the league
• 
  

• ‘We let ourselves down, but it’s not the end of the world’ – Jones
  

Wales Online

Dave Jones disillusioned by City's show at Arsenal

Full audio interview at this link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/7893857.stm

F.A. Cup 4th Round Replay: ARSENAL 4 CARDIFF CITY 0 match report

It was deja vu after all. We should have beaten Spurs a couple of years ago in the F.A. Cup but took a 0-0 and got whalloped 4-0 at their gaffe in a replay. Tonight, history repeated on the other side of North London as Cardiff City never showed up at The Emirates and were lucky to only lose 4-0, it could easily have been double that. It could have been worse ... I could have gone! :>)

I've been consistent that I wanted us out of the cup and I'm pleased we came through with no bookings and no injuries. I always thought Arsenal would see us off with few problems while some ran away with unrealistic expectations.

However I never expected us to be so poor. We looked overawed from very early on, never got tempo, lacked all intensity needed to tackle Arsenal head-on and were naive all over the pitch. I can't explain why we barely showed any passion for it all night. However you know it's a bad night when 2 of your only 3 shots at goal were a mobile phone and a trainer, both thrown by City fans.

Some players with big reputations never turned up at all. The only players who could leave that pitch with credit were Tom Heaton and Kevin McNaughton in my view while Darren Purse did ok. The rest were so sub-standard compared to what we know they can do, they will have nightmares over that.

I felt sorry for those City fans who went but many were there for the experience as it's the league we really need that big away support now and I bet a few of them won't be there for that.

Thoroughly disappointed by City tonight, they let us and themselves down, but I'd rather see it there than anywhere else because, let's be honest, Arsenal isn't even our biggest game this week.

For the record, City were forced to change keepers and give England Under 21 man Tom Heaton a start while Peter Enckleman recovers from an operation. Gabor Gypes was available after his hamstring problem but Dave Jones took no risk and gave Darren Purse a game although Joe Ledley remained captain while new signings Dimi, Chopra and Quincy were all ineligible.

CARDIFF CITY: Heaton; McNaughton-Purse-Johnson-Kennedy; Burke-Rae-Ledley-Parry; Bothroyd-McCormack. Subs with McPhail absent injured were Sak-Capaldi, Whittingham, Eddie Johnson, Comminges, Scimeca, Blake

With several injuries, The Gunners were still able to name a fearsome line-up including Eduardo back after a year out with a horrendous broken leg but only 6 of the permitted 7 subs.

Arsenal: Fabianski, Sagna-Toure-Gallas-Gibbs, Nasri-Song-Denilson-Vela, Eduardo-Bendtner. Subs: Almunia, Van Persie, Ramsey, Wilshere, Clichy, Bischoff.

More than 7,500 City fans assembled in the magnificent Emirates Stadium in a crowd of 57,237 but it soon became clear that the 50,000 home fans were going to enjoy the football while Cardiff, subdued from first to last whistle, resembled training cones. They were as yellow as the shirts they wore as Arsenal, far too easily, passed in and around them and strolled past them was comparative ease.

City had 3 major let offs before Arsenal opened the scoring just past 20 minutes. All too easy as City were collectively caught out of position, a ball was chipped up from the by-line and EDUARDO planted a header past Heaton who had already made 3 superb stops.

By 35 minutes, that lead was doubled as Roger Johnson let BENDTNER go at corner and he placed a free header past Heaton.

Cardiff were so lacklustre in that first half, it was shocking to watch. Maybe it was summed up by them winning corner kicks on each side only for Burke and Parry to hit daisycutters as City couldn't put two passes together and were second best everywhere you looked.

City improved a little after the break but were still completely inadequate. Bothroyd had our only shot at goal, a 25 yarder straight at Fabianski while Arsenal added two more as Rae needlessly bundled over Vele for a penalty that EDUARDO converted for a double and VAN PERSIE wrapped it up in the dying moments. They also hit the woodwork twice, had bad misses and were denied by more Heaton saves.

The final shot count was 23 to 2 in favour of Arsenal and it was 13 to 1 on target.

Gutted by City's display which, at times, lacked passion and pride and that's hard to take coming from a side who have shown those qualities in abundance all season long.

Hoping the boys put this behind them fast - onwards and upwards starting at Wolves on Sunday please. They need to show a big reaction, that's for sure.

Arsenal vs Cardiff City final previews

Less than 12 hours to kick-off and here's a final slection of media previews, player and manager interviews.

Happy reading and C'MON THE CITY!!!

Arsenal v Cardiff

Roger Johnson confident

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/7886857.stm

Arsenal V Cardiff: Arsenal need a trophy says Robin Van Persie
Mirror.co.uk, UK

Confident Kennedy insists lightning can strike twice ahead of ... Daily Mail

We can flippin' beat Arsenal The Sun

Cardiff City must emulate Hull at the Emirates

Wenger says secret to longevity is to show faith
guardian.co.uk,

Tom Heaton has chance to state case Times Online

JONES HOPING FOR ARSENAL MISTAKES
Sportinglife.com

WENGER COOL OVER MISFIRING GUNNERS
Sportinglife.com

Wenger eyes FA Cup run
The Times

Cardiff City cup final a fluke - Arsene Wenger
WalesOnline

Martin Keown’s KEY MEN
WalesOnline

Cardiff City Back at Wembley !!! ... if ...

That's if they win at Arsenal tomorrow (in Round 4) then beat Burnley at home (in Round 5) and then see off Sheffield United or Hull at home in Round 6 that is.



This evening's quarter-final draw featured no fewer than 15 clubs due to a backlog and a number of drawn ties, 5 of them featured in City's tie as ball number 8 for Cardiff City or Arsenal or Burnley will be at home to Sheffield United or Hull.

Tomorrow night at The Emirates may be a Mission Impossible but Cardiff are a strong enough unit to give themselves a chance. Should they pull off a slaying, they would fancy their chances of beating Burnley at home - they visit of the winners - and then Sheffield United or Hull are more than beatable at Ninian Park.

What a farce to have so many either/ors though.

FA Cup sixth-round draw:

Blackburn Rovers or Coventry City v Chelsea

Swansea City or Fulham v Manchester United

Cardiff City/Arsenal/Burnley v Sheffield United or Hull City

Everton v West Ham United or Middlesbrough

Ties to be played on 7/8 March

City 'Gunner' Be Ready for Arsenal !

Finally, after 16 days of thumb twiddling, Cardiff City get to play a competitive football match tomorrow night and they don’t come any tougher than Arsenal away in a F.A. Cup 4^th Round Replay.

City are having an outstanding season and hopes seems unrealistically high amongst supporters, bookies odds of 9/1 for Cardiff putting the challenge into a more valid perspective. I’m sure however they will not fear Arsenal and at least give a good account of themselves.

Cardiff will have one enforced change as Peter Enckleman recovers from ankle surgery giving a chance to England Under 21 keeper Tom Heaton who was dropped from the side early last Autumn having failed to provide the assurance and presence you would like but hopefully time out has seen City working hard with him.

Other than that, new signings Michael Chopra, Quincy and Dimi are all ineligible due to Chops and Dimi have played for Sunderland and Swansea in the last round while Quincy wasn’t signed in time.

Darren Purse will feel hard done by as he was certain to play last weekend at Charlton for a rare outing but Gabor Gypes has apparently recovered from his hamstring pull and is expected to resume service.

Personally, I'm jst hoping we do ourselves justice and the players emerge unscathed ... so we can get back to League business which is what really matters this season!

Some early match previews from Wales Online here:

Cardiff City must emulate Hull at the Emirates

City still in with fighting chance – Bothroyd

Today's F.A. Cup Non-Draw

With Cardiff City's F.A. Cup Fourth Round tie to be decided at Arsenal tomorrow night and four of yesterday's F.A. Cup Fifth Round ties ending in draws yesterday, this afternoon's Quarter-Final draw is set to produce no decisive match up.


Two more ties take place before the draw later this afternoon. CARDIFF CITY are ball number 8 ... and so are Arsenal ... and so are Burnley.


Ah well, at least we're in it!

THE BALL NUMBERS ARE;


1 Sheffield United or Hull City

2 Chelsea

3 West Ham United or Middlesbrough

4 Blackburn Rovers or Coventry City

5 Derby County or Manchester United

6 Swansea City or Fulham

7 Everton or Aston Villa

8 Cardiff City or Arsenal or Burnley

Jacks Join Cardiff City in the F.A. Cup Quarter-Final Draw

Swansea City exhibited their qualities and passing game to ITV Viewers in a F.A. Cup Fifth Round home tie with Premiership Fulham and gained a honourable 1-1 draw.


They were the only side who deserved to win but the game looked a stalemate after an hour and that's how it turned out. There's no doubting they're a good side but I honestly don't believe their defence is as good or strong as Cardiff City's and neither is their forward line although Dyer is a classy winger and Scotland is in red hot scoring form.

The 6th Round quarter-final draw is tomorrow although Cardiff are yet to complete their 4th round tie as they head to Emirates to replay Arsenal on Monday night for the right to play Burnley at home in Round 5.


Will they make the play-offs? Possibly.

Will they finish above Cardiff? No chance.

First Team Friendly: CARDIFF CITY 1 SWINDON TOWN 0

Although kept quiet by City, the official Swindon website has revealed they played a friendly against Cardiff at the Vale Hotel training base this afternoon.

The game was arranged as both sides have been inactive with ecent postponements and City not playing until Arsenal next Monday night.

Michael Chopra got the game's only goal with a free-kick, someone missed a penalty.


Some details from the Swindon Town website:

http://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10341~1552596,00.html

Arsenal absences mount up to face City

A week tonight, Cardiff City head to The Emirates Stadium to face Arsenal and while they will be without Peter Enckleman and maybe wishing it wasn't a great distraction, The Gunners have their own problems.

Eboue was sent off in the North London derby against Spurs yesterday so will miss the game, Adebayor pulled a hamstring so is expected to be out as well, Clichy is injured and is 50/50 already for next week while new record signing, Andrei Arshavin, who many Arsenal fans expected to see debut in the game cannot play as he was not signed before the first game between the side so is ineligible.