Chopra back tonight?

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!

Jarvis Debuts as a Shrimper

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 Highlights: CARDIFF CITY 2 Hull City 0

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.

Championship match report: CARDIFF CITY 2 Hull City 0

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!

No Bull (ard) at Cardiff this weekend

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.

TRANSFER WINDOW SHUTS - The Stars Stay but Gerrard Goes

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.

Leeds Take Pole Position for McCormack

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.

City search for new striker target as Cousin flees

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.

Olofinjana leaves Tigerish Hull for Bluebird Heaven

Dave Jones today suceeded in landing a key transfer target as Seyi Olofinjana joined Cardiff City on a season-long loan from fellow Championship outfit Hull City. He becomes City’s third loan signing after Danny Drinkwater and Jason Koumas and further strengthens what had been a threadbare midfield and must place question marks over the futures of players such as Gavin Rae, Aaron Wildig and Solomon Taiwo.

Chasing Torres but warming up for City!

Cardiff fans have been craving a midfield enforcer, Olofinjana, with 51 international caps, fits the bill. As mentioned on the blog last night, he featured in half of Hull’s doomed Premier League campaign last season and has moved between Wolves (where he was once managed by Dave Jones of course), Stoke and Hull for fees totalling almost £8M in the past 5 years.

The Tigers need to drastically reduce their wage bill and playing squad being in severe financial difficulties themselves. On £20k per week, it is believed Hull will still pay the majority of Olofinjana’s weekly wage but they realised they had little or no chance of selling their contracted player and this was the best option … all of which helped Jones make the deal.

The player, an unused Hull sub in their win over Swansea at the weekend, is drafted straight into the squad for tomorrow’s Carling Cup home round 1 tie with Burton Albion.

Coming and Going Rumours

Rumours started before the weekend but have gathered plenty of pace today that City striker come wideman ROSS McCORMACK is on the verge of a swap deal with Ipswich's Jon Stead plus £500,000 heading to Cardiff City.


McCormack had a superb 1st season at City after a £120,000 move from Motherwell scoring 23 times and forcing his way into the Scottish national side with man of the match and goalscoring starts.

He seemed to go to his head as he wanted out last summer and a move to the Premier League but, despite interest, no bids were made. The player had a well documented drink drive ban last season after crashing his car in the early hours after an away game and there were always rumours aplenty that he was very fond of Cardiff nightlife which appeared to be the the detrmiment of his career.

However that suffered as Chops and Jay Bothroyd became the club's best strikers forcing McCormack onto the bench and having to play wide which again brought rumblings of him wanting away and also not seeing eye to eye with Dave Jones.

Potentially, with the prospect of being a bit part player again this term, the move could do him good. Fans however will have mixed views about Stead who has never quite delivered early promise and failed in his big Premier League move to Spurs.

However he is a 1 in 3 goal man, provides good competition for our strikers and scored a cracker in Ipswich's 3-1 opening day win at Middlesbrough on the weekend.



There are also soundings that Hull City's 6'4" Nigerian central midfielder Seyi Olofinjana has agreed terms to come to the club. He has moved to Wolves, Stoke and Hull for fees totalling nearly £8M in the past 5 years. He signed for Hull for £3M 12 months ago and featured in half their Premier Leage games at The Tigers were relegated. Needing to cut costs, it is believed Hull are happy to release him on loan or for transfer with them plenty a substantial portion of his wages as he is tied to a long-term deal.


Other names are being linked as Dave Jones appears to be going flat out with his aim to bring in 4 players this week ... watch this space!

What's On? Could it be Watson?

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


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

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

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

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

McCormack bid turned down ... but deal still expected

McCormack tries to strangkle Chops!

Sources in North Yorkshire today confirmed that Hull City's initial bid for unsettled Cardiff City striker Ross McCormack was turned down by Peter Ridsdale. Their bid was believed to be worth £3M.

However Cardiff City have lost patience with McCormack and his agent for their poor behaviour and it is believed they will accept a cut price deal enabling them to bring in 3 or 4 new faces quickly.

Hull share their optimism and believe a deal will be struck after the weekend with the clubs understood to be close to 'splitting the difference' between Hull's initial offer and Cardiff's demand for £5M.

Is McCormack's nose growing or are his pants on fire?

"Oh shit, I've been sussed"

If he wasn't a City player whose behaviour and respect for the club and fans weren't completely beyond the pale, you'd have to laugh at how two faced and ridiculous Ross McCormack has shown himself to be.

When he accepted a 4 year deal doubling his pay to £12,000 weekly at the club last month, McCormack went out of his way to telephone Chairman Peter Ridsdale and thank him for doing the deal. He went on record saying how, "“I want the opportunity to go that step farther than we did last season, along with all the lads, I’m really pleased to have sorted things out.” and bragged about how his commitment was underlined by signing a deal with no release clauses.

Before the ink ran dry, Ross then phoned Peter Ridsdale to inform him that he wanted to talk to any Premiership club if an approach was made but while he denied leaking a story about a tranfer request to Sky Sports, or askign for transfer, his agent remained mysteriously quiet.

As Portsmouth and Hull showed interest, Ross openly stated he would be happy to talk with either but his antics had now undone all the good work and respect earned with City fans and he was roundly booed and abused in a friendly at Swindon Town.

The player did appear to get his head down as no deal emerged and received a warm ovation in the Sevilla friendly last week but he was taking a rest before Round 2 showing his true colours this week.

On Tuesday, Hull Daily Mail carried an exclusive interview with McCormack in which he again confirmed he would like to link with them but that Cardiff were pricing him out of a move.

Under more flack, he took the unusual step of issuing a comprehensive denial and pledge on the official Cardiff City website "I'm happy here and I want to stay. I don't know where those quotes have been dug up from. Everyone seems to think that I don't care about Cardiff and I want to leave, but that's not the case. I'm happy here, so is my fiancée, and we're looking for a new house. I'm upset at these reports. I'm happy and not planning to go anywhere."

He did, though, add a caveat that, "Everyone knows the situation. I had a conversation with the chairman and said that if a Premier League club came in for me, I'd like the chance to speak to them."

Ross however has reached the stage where the more his opens his mouth, the more he embarrasses himself. Hull Dail Mail found themselves gobsmacked by his claims and today responded to his denial in emphatic fashion.



Reporter Jon Mattos felt compelled to set the record straight and leave nobody under any illusions about his source for the story.

The interview was conducted by sports reporter Jon Mattos, who said at no time was any of the conversation explicitly termed off the record. "This was an open conversation and Ross co-operated entirely. We chatted for about 20 minutes, he was very pleasant and we even talked about his friendship with Darryl Duffy and the new stadium at Cardiff. At the end of the interview we wished each other well and at no time did I attempt to manoeuvre Ross into saying something he didn't want to say."

I wouldsay this was probably the final straw but that's likely to be this weekend when McCormack will be involved in the Cardiff City vs Scunthorpe Championship opener where sections of the support will surely let him know their feelings about the way he has conducted himself.

After that, all signs are McCormack will leave the club early next week for Hull City for a £3.5-£4M fee. Whether it's a dream to join a club who already look doomed to relegation in 9 months remains to be seen.

Four days to go and still we don't know how Cardiff City will shape up

Whatever Dave Jones and Cardiff City planned for this summer, you can bet they never counted of having the immediate future of their two biggest value players unknown and be at least 3 or 4 men short of their ideal squad with no new face in midfield at all ... but such is life with The Bluebirds.


The one certainty is that PAUL PARRY has left the club officially signing for Championship rivals Preston North End for £300,000 on Monday afternoon. Dave Jones hinted an immediate replacement would join the club but the wait continues for that.

Parry shared his thoughts with BBC Radio Lancashire after completing the deal and you can listen to the interview at this link.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/preston/8183875.stm

However the biggest talking point of the past 48 hours was another chapter in the Ross McCormack soap opera. In the space of 1 month, Ross signed a new deal, bragged of his commitment to Cardiff until 2013, rang Peter Ridsdale for a casual chat to find out where he was playing, asked to leave for a Premiership club, denied asking for a transfer, lost penalty taking duties after his third successive miss and now after being quoted in the Hull Daily Mail that Cardiff were over-pricing him to prevent him going, he's denied ever saying that too.

Clearly Cardiff need to shift Ross fast or get the player to get his head down and work. The situation is unhealthy and undermining preparations for the big kick off.

This isn't dead by a long way as rumours today are very strong that a transfer to Hull will be completed by next Monday for upto £4M and that Cardiff will be bringing in 4 new players.


More details and information to follow but this is a quick catch up as I've been away since Sunday.

Parry still to decide on Preston, McCormack and City await Pompey move

Paul Parry looked unsure on the pitch last season and it's mirroring what he's doing off it.

Out of contract on 12 months and out of favour at Cardiff City with Parry lovers and haters generally united in the view that a change will do him and the club good, a £300,000 move and a
3 year deal with Preston North End represents an ideal opportunity.

However having spent his entire life in this area and with children here too, Parry is finding it a tough call to make. Possibly because he only recently stated his desire to see out the last year of his contract and make up for what he confesses was an unacceptable season for him on 2008/09.

After 2 days in the North West, Parry returned to train with The Bluebirds today ... and a promise to hold further talks with Preston boss Alan Irvine later today. Any ideas he is wanted by Dave Jones will surely have diminished after the Cardiff City manager says he is reasy to bring in a replacement for him while he apparently also denied Parry the opportunity to be an official at his girlfriend sister's wedding last weekend and made him play in a second string outing at Swindon instead.



Today may also be a D-Day for Ross McCormack. It is now common news that Portsmouth have enquired after him and were encouraged but it remains uncertain whether they have made any bid although fans of the South Coast club believe they are set to meet City's £5m valuation in full with £3.5M of that arriving up front. They may yet find competion from long-term McCormack admiriers Hull City especially after Bobby Zamora yesterday snubbed the deal to join them in favour of staying at Fulham.



With the new season just 10 days away, City will be keen to resolve both issues without further ado so they can plan and get replacements. These have to be resolved instantly.

The Cardiff City Week - McCormack asks to go, Parry set to go, McNaughton crocked and 2 x 0-0's

Hello Everyone

I've been away in Turkey for a week so it's catch up time and, as usual, 1 week with Cardiff City had its usual shares of mayhem and shocks. Life is never dull with the Bluebirds.

ROSS McCORMACK ASKS TO LEAVEHands Up if you want out

The major talking point and disappointment of the last week was forward star ROSS McCORMACK asking to leave the club. This only 2 weeks after signing a "double your money" new 4 year deal with the club, agreeing to no trigger clauses which could self-prompt an early release and excitely announcing on his Facebook page that he "Is Staying AT Cardiff City FC Till At Least 2013!!!". Ross likes exclamation marks in all his posts(!!!). In fact, his Facebook page still currently says that.

However last Thursday night - 24 hours after Cardiff fought a goalless draw with Celtic officially opening the new stadium watched by Hull City boss and McCormack admirer - Sky Sports announced that the diminuitive, tricky Scotsman had submitted a transfer request.

Clubs officials were bemused and spoke out against it while a section of supporters vocally turned on their hero in a goalless draw at Swindon last weekend, many labelling him greedy, many more thinking he may have been tapped up. This from a player loved by the fans after his first season with season scoring 23 times also starring and scoring World Cup winners for Scotland - a sensational return for £120,000.

Today, McCormack broke his silence denying that he has requested a transfer and upset that 'someone' (his agent? at the club??) leaked his intentions to Sky Sports.

He told press that he was unhappy playing second fiddle to Jay Bothroyd and Michael Chopra although he got on fine with those players and being made to play wide to get games. He was also concerned that in a World Cup season and his country in a good position, this may affect his selection with the national side.

Those points are understandable, many City fans agree Ross is being wasted playing wide and City do not like as balanced as Dave Jones uncomfortably tries to fit the three strikers into a system. However Ross knew this last season, he knew it all summer, he knew it when hi8s contract was penned and he had all the time in the world to ask questions and sort his position. To question the club 2 weeks before the new season kick off and disrupt pre-season is poor form.

Cardiff have stressed Ross is contracted to the club and they will be not sell cheap sending out a clear message to any club thinking there is an opprtunity to sign him for a lesser fee. It is believed that figure is circa £5M.

PAUL PARRY PREPARES FOR PRESTONPaul Parry is currently in Lancashire discussing a possible move to Preston North End after Cardiff City agreed a sale worth upto £300,000 last Friday.

It's a sad state of affairs when many Cardiff City fans will say "amen to that" to a player who has been a star for 3 years but who, last season, was poor (and that's being kind). Disinterested with Wales and reiting from international football, Parry often looked disinterested at Cardiff City as well last term and a shaow of the player he can be. He appeared to have added a couple of punds to his frame - although supremely lean by the standards of the average fan! - and lost that ability to get past players. Fans only saw fleeting glimpses of the talent that we know he has and he had become a whipping boy for Cardiff City's failures at the end of the season.

In fairness, Parry himself recognises he had a bad time and has recently spoken of his determination to see out the final year of his contract making up for it with Cardiff City. However it has equally become clear that he is one of a number of men that boss Dave Jones would like to move on if he can and the figure quoted is certainly good business. DJ has declared that he already has a replacement lined up if he leaves.

However that all depends on Parry agreeing to the deal and he appears reluctant with young fmaily and friends in the area and always having lived in the Cardiff to Hereford region. He is due to start a second day of talks with Preston boss Alan Irvine tomorrow.

TWO GOALLESS DRAWS

While I was away, Cardiff took their unbeaten pre-season record to 6 games and still hadn't conceded a goal but they have stopped scoring as well as they played out 0-0 draws with the first team at home to Celtic and with the rest of the squad at Swindon. The blog will update match reports to those games.

SUPERKEV OUT FOR 6 WEEKS

A year has 4 seasons and a season normally has 4 Kevin McNaughton injuries. The fans favourite, a 110%er and Mr Totally Committed "Naughts" sadly crocked himself in the pre-season friendly with Celtic and is set to miss 6 weeks with ankle ligament damage.

That is a blow as Kev was reverting to left back this season but Cardiff have Mark Kennedy and Tony Capaldi ready, willing and able in the wings. Kennedy looks set to satrt the season against Scunthorpe next weekend.

Hull to reconsider approach for McCormack???

Hull City have made some bizarre player decisions this week. The bookie's favourites for relegation to the Championship this term need new firepower but having talked at the start of the week of Cardiff City's Joe Ledley and Ross McCormack, they bought the over-rated overpriced Bobby Zamora for £5M and were also looking at £1.5M Sunderland striker Darryl Murphy who failed to score in 27 outings last season.

Much relief all round that moves for Ledders and Roscoe didn't happen - maybe from the players too! - but having snapped up Zamora, the move for Murphy has collapsed after player and club failed to agree personal terms.

This leaves Hull starting a fresh search for another forward and speculation is rife oop north that McCormack will come under serious consideration. Having just signed a new 4 year deal at City, Cardiff don't need to sell and the price will be high - let's see how it progresses.

Hull stall moves for Ledley and McCormack (but did they offer anyway?)

On a day that Hull City signed Sunderland forward Daryl Murphy, manager Phil Brown hinted that a deal to try and sign both Joe Ledley and Ross McCormack from Cardiff City may progress becuase the price being quoted is too high.

However, by contract, Cardiff City chairman Peter Ridsdale has flat out denied having any approach or offer from Hull but a South Wales Echo report confirms what fans know - that there is a 'log jam' at the club and they can't bring any more players in until others leave.

The most interesting quote of the day came from Hull City manager Phil Brown who told press in Yorkshire that, "Where Ross McCormack and Joe Ledley are concerned, you're looking at players who have done very, very well at Cardiff in the Championship. Yes they would interest us but not at the prices that are being quoted. Until those prices are brought down, if there is such a price, we're not interested. It is difficult when players want to move from a selling club and agents think they can progress them quickly."

The clear inference here is that agents of Ledley and/or McCormack are in talks with Brown and possibly other clubs too.

With Ledley clearly wanting away and Ross wanting a chance in the Premiership despite signing a new 4 year deal with City only last week, the club appear to have accepted both may go but wnat matters sorted quickly.

The newspaper price quoted for the pair of £10M seems excessive but if sold, Cardiff City could clearly introduce some significant signings into the squad and improve the balance sheet which is their way.

The next move appears to lie with City ... or the player agents anyway.

Another day, another load of Cardiff City rumours

Once again, the newspapers are speculating over imminent arrivals and departures at Cardiff City but leading the way is the Hull Daily Mail who report that Hull City are set to bid upto £10M for the Bluebirds duo of Ross McCormack and Joe Ledley and that the club expect to have two players for medicals on Wednesday.

Tigers boss Phil Brown directly named the players but was non-commital over whether they are in his sights saying, "Joe Ledley, Ross McCormack and Daryl Murphy are all names who have been bandied around but it is important that we do our business behind the scenes. "

Hull may find competition in the form of long-term Ledley admirers Everton and Stoke City, both understood to be ready to make their move ... according to the papers of course.

And if Ledley goes, The Daily Mirror have reported Dave Jones already has a replacement lined up in the shape of Liverpool's French 21 year old midfielder Damien Plessis. Cardiff are said to want him on a 1 year loan. He played 5 times for Liverpool last season - twice in the Champions League, twice in the Carlign Cup and 1 Premiership start.

Let's see what tomorrow brings

The Rumour Rounadbout Hits Full Speed

If specuualtion isn't bad enough in the week, you can always rely on the Sunday papers to take it to another level. Once again, they haven't let us down with Cardiff City news.

Of current personnel, it's two big stars and one fading star in the news.

Everton, long-time suitors of Joe Ledley but who have never made any approach, are reported to be ready to bid £3M to £3.5M for the midfield star but they now apparently face stiff competition from fellow Premiership side Hull City who are ready to gazump them and meet Cardiff City's current asking price of £4.5M.

Yesterday, Ross McCormack declared on his Facebook account that "I am staying at Cardiff City until 2013!!!!". Of course, the new 4 year deal also makes sure Cardiff get the price they want sure anyone make a move for the hot property and 24 hours on, it is being reported that Hull City are also ready to bid £3.5M for him after their key terget and exp-loan success Frazier Campbell dumped them at the 11th hour for Sunderland.

City are known to be looking to offload several other players to bring in new faces and it is being reported that Paul Parry is closing in on a move to League One outfit Norwich City whose assistant manager Ian Butterworth knows him well form his time at Cardiff. That deal is being speculated as a possible swap with Canaries midfielder and early summer linked player, Sammy Clingan, coming to South Wales.

If Cardiff sell Ledley and.or McCormack, they they have funds to build and players linked include Wayne Routledge, Dos Santos of Spurs, Zheng who has just left Charlton, Ched Evans to name just a few.


Meantime, the entire City squad - including McCormack, Ledley and Parry - flew out to Portugal for a week's training and 2 informal games. Which perhaps makes it unlikely much, if any, business will be done this week.