Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Video Highlights - Coventry City 1 Cardiff City 2
**
A controversial late penalty from Peter Whittingham helps
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/8573437.stm
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Coventry 1 Cardiff City 2 match report
A more blatant penalty was missed earlier, City missed a couple of sitters – one of them surely miss of the season and showed quality, character and creativity that was a notch above their hosts.
I drove to the game straight from work in
City were unchanged from the side that lost at Leicester last weekend which meant Kevin McNaughton won his fitness battle but Gabor Gyepes did not meaning SuperKev continued as an emergency centre-half.
Coventry were unbeaten at home in 8 and had only lost 1 in 10 and would have gone above City and took us out of the play-off frame had they won but this defeat, following a home draw to lowly Plymouth last weekend leaves them 5 points adrift of Cardiff having played a game more and they have just 9 matches left. On this evidence, they’ve done well to be close to the top as they never looked as good as City.
The crowd was 16.300 – better than usual when I’ve been there – but the impressive Ricoh Arena (our stadium could have looked as good if we hadn’t cut many corners) is far less than half full with that crowd so they were treated to the empty seats song. City had about 400 fans but we were packed into 1 block behind a goal and to one side instead of getting a large area as in previous visits.
City’s strong start did not equate to Westwood, in Cov’s goal being tested, and the game balanced out. It needed a goal and when it came, it fell against
The Ponderous Mark Kennedy (I’m starting to think his real name is Ponderous Mark Kennedy!) was almost caught out when there was no need and fluffed a clearance out of play. A basic long throw saw a soft near post header and the ball ran the entire 6 yard box with no City defender anywhere to be seen so CLINTON MORRISON had the easiest task of stopping to head home at the far post.
A goal behind when all of City’s games lately seem to depend on the first goal had, in a live table, taken us out of the play-off and left us in real trouble but credit to them for hitting back even stronger than before. Chris Burke, on stunning from all night, was taking the game to the hosts and aided by Steve McPhail’s passing like few can match at this level,
Darcy Blake put a firm free header over the bar, he should have done much better, than McPhail brilliantly picked out Whittingham’s run and he placed home but his and our celebrations were cut short by the offside flag. It was the other end of the pitch to us but looked ok. Bothroyd, working his nuts off and leading by example, also magically played in Whitts but his shot was poor. It was the other end of the pitch to us but looked ok.
However, it mattered little as City levelled 90 seconds later with a smart move, Bothroyd fired across the box and BURKE pounced at the far post to fire high into the net. Ave’it!!
Half-time: Cov 0 THE REAL CCFC 1
A blow saw City return minus McNaughton whose defensive play was outstanding in the first half. Rae came on, Blake dropped back and slotted in as an emergency centre half.
However it was
The ref was annoying both sides with a stream of poor or baffling decisions. I’m convinced he was making wrong decisions against one side at the first opportunity to make up for an error he’d just made for the other side.
The game, for all City’s best endeavours, looked to be heading for a draw – even with the novelty of Mark Kennedy going on a surging 40 yard run into the penalty box (did my eyes deceive me?) but late drama to end it all.
A floated ball to the far post saw Peter Whittingham try to help it back across goal. It struck a defender’s arm 5 yards away. We screamed handball, the linesman flagged for it.
That came moments after 3 minutes added time was announced but it took that time to get the penalty taken. However PETER WHITTINGHAM, cool as you like, hammered it home low giving Westwood no chance. And boy, did we party and celebrate that with the players right in front of us.
Amazingly, from the restart, Coventry got down field once and a cross saw Bell’s lopping header bounce off the bar and bundled away but it was our night, not theirs and deservedly so too.
Final whistle saw Coventry players furiously surround the officials and Anthony Gerrard lose it and attempt to get down the players tunnel to fight someone, other player and City officials had to visibly restrain him. What was that all about?
Cardiff remain 6th but are now 3 points clear of the next side (Sheffield United) with a game in hand over everyone who can catch us and a much better goal difference which may yet be decisive. Ten games to go, 6 of them at home including 3 of the next 4 matches.
Play-offs, like salvation for the club, all of a sudden look achievable just as some began to give up hope. Never a dull moment with City, is there?
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
CARDIFF CITY 2 COVENTRY CITY 0 - Championship match report
The result cemented City into third spot but they now lie a solitary point off top as Newcastle and West Brom both lost. On the other hand, all the sides in third to tenth got victories with just 4 points separating first to tenth.
CARDIFF CITY - After recovering from the removal of a neck growth, the once unpopular but suddenly loved again Steve McPhail returned to central midfield with Gavin Rae dropping to the bench and Kevin McNaughton disappearing out of the 18 suggesting he still isn't quite ready.
City's side - Marshall; Matthews-Hudson-Gerrard-Kennedy; Burke-McPhail-Ledley-Whittingham; Bothroyd-Chopra. Subs: Enckleman-Gyepes-Taiwo-Rae-McCormack-Feeney-Quinn.
COVENTRY CITY appear to be mid-table specialists and there's no reason to suspect it will be any different this season. Some useful players but not enough depth or qualityholds them back under ex-Jack Chris Coleman who was reminded of his origins in song a couple of times tonight. They started the night 4 points behind City and ended it 14 positions behind in the table. They had big midfield blows going into the game withGunarsson, arguably the player who makes them tick, and his partner Sammy Clingan both absent with a suspected broken leg and confirmed broken toe respectively.
The Sky Blues side featuring last season's disastrous goalkeeping loanee 'Dimi the Drop' Konstantopulous on their bench were Westwood; Wright-Cranie-Turner-Van Aanholt; Osborne-McIndoe-Cork-Best; Eastwood-Morrison.
Although not the first night game at the new stadium, it was the first time we turned up in the dark for kick-off. Quite surreal too as the skyline from distance was glowing compared to Ninian Park where you could see the floodlights and its spotlights from miles away. The day was stormy and it was still wet but mainly light drizzle by evening. The crowd was announced as 19,038 although this would have included a fair number of season ticket holders who didn't attend.. It's funny how City overstate crowds when it wasn't so long ago atNinian Park, some fans wondered if they understated big attendances.
Cardiff made what seems to be their customary slow start by conceding a corner inside the first 20 seconds but after early shots were traded, City took the lead in emphatic fashion on 5 minutes. Whittingham's corner on the right just evaded Bothroyd but Kennedy sent it back on the opposite side for GERRARD to head home powerfully into the top corner in style leaving Westwood helpless. Gerrard celebrated his first Bluebirds goal with a running ayatollah followed by a knee slide towards the Ninian Stand. 5.7 for artistic merit, 6.0 for execution.
City were playing some sparkling football going forward but again looked vulnerable at the back, especially to pace, and were indebted to a stunning reflex low save by Marshall turningMorrison 's low angled drive around a post after Freddie Eastwood got behind City and set up his partner. (Eastwood used to be a decent striker and Welsh international but now seems very average).
Other chances came City's way, McPhail hammered over the bar, Chopra narrowly missed through balls while Adam Matthews, in a superb individual display, brilliantly weaved his way into the box, got to the by-line and his skimming ball was just deflected away from two City men.
However, Cardiff then sat back a bit and allowed Coventry to have a lot of the ball and high up the field too. For 10 or more minutes, City were a touch ragged but always in control while Coventry were blunt and did not muster an effort of any note in their only decent spell of the game.
By the interval, City had stepped it up a touch with Burke firing at Westwood and then wide, Chopra two or three times almost getting away and being taken down by a defender as he did get away which produced a yellow card only. A big disappointment, yet again, was our free-kicks were were worse than useless. Bothroyd lazily put one well wide, Whitts well over and a couple after the break were no better either. They really need to work at them.
Half-time: CITY 1 COVENTRY 0
Cov restarted attacking towards their hardy band of 200 or so fans - is that all? - and nearly had a breakthrough as Morrison turned Hudson and left him for dead but City's skipper recovered to make an inch perfect last gasp challenge as the forward was ready to fire.
That let off seemed to inspire City as they tore into the visitors with right back Van Aanholt had a torrid time as sublime Chris Burke runs and skills beat him time and again. When it wasn't Burke, Matthews was skinning him. In sheer panic as Burke was at him another time, he stood in the way for a yellow card and was withdrawn not long afterwards looking stunned and bewildered. However City failed to profit from those attacks but they certainly buoyed the crowd and created a stirring atmosphere.
Just before the hour, the contest was effectively finished as Coventry hit the self destruct button with Cranie's underhit back pass sending Chopra away, Westwood did brilliantly to stop his effort but Chops sqaured the loose ball for Bothroyd who was brought down as a clearence rebounded onto him. A couple of minutes delay and a yellow card passed but PETER WHITTINGHAM was unphased and stroked home the resulting spot kick, Westwood sent the wrong way. Incredibly, it was Whitts 9th of the season and his 6th in 5 games. He's catching up Chopra fast!
The final half hour seemed to be a case of how many City would add but, surprisingly, that never happened as Chops put wide twice and also hit the bar with a sublime lob. The best opening, perhaps, fell to the visitors as a ball sent Eastwood away with Gerrard looking completely out of position standing off him and giving him full sight of goal but his low effort was straight at Marshall.
There were other moments of skill and movement, Burke teasing his new marker and a Matthews ball down the line oozed class but the main entertainment for Cardiff fans was "supporting"Hussey a replacement Coventry defender. He has just joined the club on loan and it appeared that the other Cov players didnn't know him and he jumped up and down waving his arms in the air screaming for the ball but was ignored as the ball was sent to the opposite side a couple of times. City fans loved it and startedmimicing him then cheered his every touch and there was a magic, if surreal moment, as he attacked City's defence with Cardiff fans roaring him on. Sadly, he ignored pleas to do the ayatollah and, better still, to do theHussey which involved frantic arm waving.
Competent, professional, fairly routine victory but thoroughly entertaining to watch.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Pain in the Neck - McPhail out for Palace game
The official Cardiff City website (www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk) has this evening confirmed that midfielder Steve McPhail - who has been in prime form recently - will be absent for Saturday's home encounter against Crystal Palace due to recovery after an op to remove a growth in his neck as hinted on this blog early today.
McPhail told the official site that,"I knew I had to have the operation to remove a growth in my neck ... and expected to be out for 10 days or so, which would have meant I was available to play against Palace but the operation took much longer than expected because the growth was much bigger than they thought. A sample has been sent away for tests, but I'm told there's nothing to worry about". However McPhail hopes to return for the game against Coventry City on Tuesday.
Cardiff now hope to call up Joe Ledley but he missed Wales' World Cup games with a hip injury.
Cardiff injury doubts for Saturday
It would be understandable if Dave Jones is desparate to retain the same starting eleven used in both games but doubts persist over two players.
In midfield, news has emerged that Steve McPhail had a neck operation last week and, at present, still has the stitches inserted. He has been training and wants to play but it may be touch and go. If he is absent, Joe Ledley would be expected to start but he is a doubt too having missed Wales' games with a hip injury.
Meantime, at the back, Mark Kennedy is a doubt as well with continued hamstring twinges which has plagued him all season. However City have cover there as SuperKev - Kevin McNaughton - is ready to belatedly start the season and has successfully come through two reserve outings during the break.
Cardiff City are at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday and then Coventry City next Tuesday.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Roger Johnson - now Cardiff say sell, sell, sell !!!
Of the 3 "stars" the club would like to sell to raise funds, interest so far has only been shown in Roger Johnson, probably the player the club would most like to keep.
Joe Ledley, his contract in its final 12 months, must move but it appears his suitors - and there are several Premiership clubs in that category- are waiting until to last minute to make their move, no doubt designed to get him at a cut price way way below the £6M declined bid from Stoke in January. Private hints in May were that his transfer to Everton were a near formality but nothing since. Wonder what's happened?
Ross McCormack is about to sign a new 4 year long-term deal but still looks set to play second fiddle to Michael Chopra or pushed wide. Is it healthy for player or club?
That brings us back to Roger Johnson. Cardiff has declined 2 offers of £5M from Birmingham City after the Midlanders offered a derisory amount up front and the rest in performance-related stages over 4 years. Cardiff apparently, had indicated they wished to have £4M up front and that seemed to be the end of that especially when Birmingham signed Scott Dann from Coventry City.
However news emerged late last week that Birmingham were retaining interest and now, despite further offers, Peter Ridsdale and The Bluebirds are indicating a willingness to do business in the media and dropping the upfront fee to £2.5M hinting they wish the deal to be completed this week.
Johnson - the new captain in waiting - would be a big loss but at 26, he deserves his chance in the Premiership as much as Cardiff City need the money his sale would provide.
More developments are likely through the week.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
RJ set to go away?
A week ago, Bluebird followers breathed a sigh of relief as Birmingham City signed Coventry's Scott Dann for a package fee of £4M which appeared to end their interest in Cardiff City's talisman centre-half Roger Johnson after the club had declined bids of £3.5M & £5M with only a small portion of that money offered upfront.
However it emerged earlier this week that The Brummies had maintained their interest in Johnson and now City fans are worrying again as national papers claim the clubs have now agreed that £5M fee (with Birmingham now doubling their upfront payment to £4M) and that the player wishes to leave for his chance in the Premiership as well.
It has been clear that Cardiff's end game has been to sell Joe Ledley and cash in on Ross McCormack this summer (and there's every chance of those deals taking place) but that they wished to retain Johnson who is tied to a long-term contract and promote him to Captain as a sweetener. Now the club are faced with the prospect of losing all three stars.
It would signal a huge influx of cash - how much of that would be reinvested in the team is anyone's guess but nobody believes Ridsdale's claim that it will be every penny. However can we ever hope to push on if we lose our star players year after year and gamble of free transfer/low fee replacements hoping for one or two to be jewels?
Neither Birmingham or Cardiff have commented on any development so we will just have to wait and see but this does sounds ominous I'm afraid.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Cardiff City start new season home to a Swear Filter
The consequences of their awful play-off collapse and ruin of Premiership Dreams are now abundantly clear. A few weeks ago, we were dreaming of Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea visiting the new Cardiff City Stadium ... instead we open up to Scunthorpe and Dagenham & Redbridge!!!!
The fixtures offer Cardiff a chance of the flying start to the season as first away is Blackpool (can't believe we're going there in the main August holiday season) followed by Bristol City at home and Plymouth away. A good haul of points looks possible.
Newcastle is the keynote fixture as they visit Cardiff on September 12 with City heading to Geordie-land in February. Meantime, Swansea games correspond to last season with Cardiff off to Jacksville in late November with the return fixture at Easter.
One pleasing aspect is that there are 5 midweek away fixtures but all are close journeys meaning all can be made with an early finish rather than time off work when we visit West Brom, Bristol City, Coventry, Reading and Plymouth.
Cardiff City and all clubs are arsey about fixtures lists being published (citing copyright and similar crap) so I can't publish them here. However you can view them at this link (I'm being just as arsey as not directing you to the official site which also has them!).
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/fixtures/default.stm
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Brummies sign Danns signalling the end of their chase for Roger Johnson
Not sure how the player feels but Cardiff City fans will be pleased to hear that having failed in two headline bids of £3.5M and £5M bids for Roger Johnson (although the mainly performance and Premiership survival components meant the guaranteed money for Cardiff was a fraction of that), Birmingham City turned their attentions to their 2nd choice of Coventry's Scott Dann.
The deal officially for an undisclosed fee is though to be worth £4M - again, the fee largely dependent on numerous factors.
Good Luck to him and them, I'm pleased Roger stays for now.
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Cardiff City and Cov in Poundland bidding war sensation
Can Ridders, with all his problems, top it with another 50p???? Probably not if he's got to pay tax on top. :>)
http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/coventry-city-fc/football-r umours-gossip/2009/06/03/coventry-city-want-norwich-city-s-f c-sammy-clingan-92746-23776235/#sitelife-commentsWidget-bott om
Coventry City want Norwich City's FC Sammy Clingan
COVENTRY CITY are weighing up a £1 swoop for Norwich City's Sammy Clingan, according to reports.
Chris Coleman will offer the defensive midfielder a £1m escape route to stay in the Championship - and is weighing up an early summer move for the Northern Ireland international.
The Mirror reports that the 25-year-old will quit the Canaries following their relegation to League One.
Cardiff City will battle it out for Clingan, who is a set-piece specialist.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
He Swam Away to Hartlepool Bay-ay-ayyyy
Dimi The Drop
Playing for Cardiff but ...
Helping Wolves to Promotion
It's been a while since Dimi and catch featured in the same sentence!
Monday, May 18, 2009
Swansea close in on Cardiff goalie rejects
TOM HEATON proved a good shotshopper and has potential but wasn't quite the answer for Cardiff. Although he expressed a desire to stay, it was never going to happen and with Swansea keeper Dorus De Vries in a contract wrangle, he is being seen as a good replacement. I'm sure he would do a good job for them too but he needs development.
Dimi The Drop on the other hand was only denied being the worst Cardiff City goalkeeper in my lifetime by the never to be forgotten solitary performance of Peter Zois.
Zero at Cardiff, Dimi is a Swansea hero for his failures with us but also strong loan showings with the Swans. A touted loan move next season to lower league Hartlepool seemed appropraite but Swans may step in. On the evidence of what I saw, I hope the Swans get him!
Thursday, May 07, 2009
I THINK WE'RE A LOAN NOW
Four players were on loan at the club - three of them goalkeepers! - and all have been seen back to their clubs with a thanks but no thanks message. None of them can look back on their loan time with great satisfaction.
GONE
im for the 16 but, bizarrely, threw him on as a last straw against Sheffield Wednesday for 15 minutes last weekend.
The rumour mill would have it that Quincy and Dave Jones fell out, there had been internal friction. All we do know is that his loan from Spartak Moscow didn't come cheap and was undoubtedly money wasted.
GONE - THANK **** FOR THAT!
GONE but what happened?
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Egg Chasing Hoolies
| |
| Rugby Fans Clash Ahead Of Ricoh Rugby Games - Coventry City FC ... |
Top of the excuses will inevitably be it was
Top of the excuses will inevitably be it was Cardiff and Swansea football fans who went there because their clubs weren’t playing, I can see it already!
Saturday, February 21, 2009
City now 8th as rivals falter yet again
For the 3rd successive Saturday,
Tonight, City stand in 8th place and out of the play-off zone for the first time in ages yet they have at least 4, and upto 5, games in hand on everyone around them knowing winning the lot will take them top and winning just one is good enough for 4th.
The automatic promotion race has been thrown wide open and suddenly looks do-able as 2nd place Birmingham slipped yet up, this time beaten 1-0 at Coventry and lucky it wasn’t worse than that. The Blue Noses have taken just 10 points from their last 9 games and, despite their lofty position, have rarely played well all season long causing plenty of anxiety.
Even better, 3rd place
Then Preston, who were 4th, were demolished 3-1 at
Swansea fought back to beat Doncaster at home and now trail Cardiff on goal difference only while Burnley had to settle for coming from behind to draw at relegation-threatened Norwich.
Those afternoon results were better than anyone could possibly have hoped for but it got even better by night as QPR, who visit
It’s now
|
| Team | P |
| W |
| D |
| L |
| GD |
| Points |
| 1st | Wolves | 33 |
| 19 |
| 6 |
| 8 |
| 21 |
| 63 |
| 2nd | Birmingham | 33 |
| 17 |
| 9 |
| 7 |
| 11 |
| 60 |
| ========================================== | ||||||||||||
| 3rd | Reading | 32 |
| 17 |
| 8 |
| 7 |
| 30 |
| 59 |
| 4th | Bristol C | 34 |
| 14 |
| 11 |
| 9 |
| 7 |
| 53 |
| 5th | Preston | 34 |
| 15 |
| 8 |
| 11 |
| 3 |
| 53 |
| 6th | Sheff Utd | 33 |
| 14 |
| 10 |
| 9 |
| 14 |
| 52 |
| ========================================== | ||||||||||||
| 7th | Burnley | 34 |
| 14 |
| 10 |
| 10 |
| 1 |
| 52 |
| 8th | Cardiff | 29 |
| 13 |
| 12 |
| 4 |
| 15 |
| 51 |
| 9th | Swansea | 33 |
| 12 |
| 15 |
| 6 |
| 13 |
| 51 |
| 10th | Ipswich | 34 |
| 13 |
| 11 |
| 10 |
| 11 |
| 50 |
| 11th | QPR | 32 |
| 12 |
| 11 |
| 9 |
| 2 |
| 47 |
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Happy Night for City as Play-Off Rivals Falter
The Wurzles of Brizzle Zity had enjoyed 7 wins in 8 games to rise to 7th but fell to 8th after a 1-0 loss at the Championship's other form side of the moment, Doncaster Rovers. Donny scored inside 4 minutes and had few problems holding out for victory although the visitors missed a couple of excellent chances. Ha ha ha.
What's this? Is Swansea City's bubble bursting? Just as the whole country were praising Swansea City and they were high on the back of an unbeaten run of 16 games stretching back to mid-November, The Jacks crashed 2-0 at Watford, the Londoners starting the evening in the bottom three. Both goals came in the opening half-hours and Swansea were well beaten, never looking like finding a way back into the game. Ha ha ha.
Finally, Burnley avoided defeat at home to Coventry City by the skin of their teeth with Chris Eagles netting a 90th minute equaliser in a 1-1 draw. By all accounts, they deserved that result however.
City now head Burnley - who now stand 7th - by a substantially better goal difference, Bristol City - now 8th - by 1 point and Swansea City - who stayed 9th - by 3 points. More than that, Cardiff now enjoy 4, 4 and 3 games in hand respectively plus a better goal difference over them.
What a good night it was then!
| LATEST TABLE | P | GD | PTS | ||||
| 1 | Wolverhampton | 33 | 21 | 63 | |||
| 2 | Birmingham | 32 | 12 | 60 | |||
| ------------------------------------------------------------------- | |||||||
| 3 | Reading | 31 | 32 | 59 | |||
| 4 | Preston | 33 | 5 | 53 | |||
| 5 | Cardiff | 29 | 15 | 51 | |||
| 6 | Sheff Utd | 32 | 14 | 51 | |||
| ------------------------------------------------------------------- | |||||||
| 7 | Burnley | 33 | 1 | 51 | |||
| 8 | Bristol City | 33 | 5 | 50 | |||
| 9 | Swansea | 32 | 11 | 48 | |||
| 10 | QPR | 31 | 4 | 47 | |||