The Goalie Who Cried

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

20 TODAY - THE AYATOLLAH!!

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

On the night of Friday 14th September, 20 years ago, our favourite Welsh language psychobilly/punk band U Thant were playing a gig at Chapter Arts Centre. Rhys Boore, the U Thant singer was on top form, dressed in his pink lycra catsuit. I remember at one stage we raided a load of crates from the yard outside and wore them as shorts somehow. Rhys had recently started "doing the ayatollah" at gigs, after watching the extraordinary scenes from Iran where thousands of Iranians had created this amazing spectacle by banging their heads as a sign of grief. And we all did it that night too. After the gig, we jumped in the groups' tour van and drove round our mates' houses stealing furniture. If this sounds like a "Fanzine Writers" article, that's because it was 1990. Early the following morning, we left for Lincoln, where City were playing an early season game. We weren't hooligans, we were just a bunch of lads who followed City everywhere. Our pockets were full of pastiche calling cards.... "You have just met The Gregarious Crew." I think we travelled up in a fishmonger's van that morning. It stank, and we lay on bean bags in the back drinking cider. Ex-City striker Steve Thompson sings a song about it and City's 2008 F.A. Cup Final appearence ... eventually The early nineties were a great time to watch football. Post-Hillsborough, there was a unity amongst fans, and hooliganism all but died out. It meant that we could drink and socialise freely in the City centres across the old 4th Division, without fear of trouble. I remember that we had a great time in Lincoln City Centre that morning and sang all the way to the game. The game itself was awful, as most were. It was 0-0 I think, and about 150 City fans were watching from the open terrace in a bit of a stupor. Then from nowhere, a small police riot squad arrived, complete with helmets , visors and a small camera crew. Seizing on the absurdity of the situation, we started performing. Stripped to the waist, we started doing "the Ayatollah" for the cameras. I remember running around the terrace for most of the game, trying to get the rest of the City fans to join in. Some did, but most just called me a t**t. These were the days of inflatable bananas at Man City, boing-boing at West Brom, and a general absurdist reaction to the horrors of Hillsborough and Heysel. Our little crew took to this atmosphere of surrealism with zeal. There were lots of stupid chants at the time, including "I'm Henry the 8th, I am", "Any Dream Will Do", (in tribute to City player Jason Donovan), and various routines involving stripping, hopping and disco dancing. But it was the Ayatollah that caught on, thanks to some happy coincidences which caused big away support in the early nineties. There was the game at Hereford, where Rick Wright had told the English club that City fans would be boycotting the game. 4,000 turned up. I remember the whole traffic jam of City fans Ayatollahing through the windows of their cars, and for me that was the moment I knew it had caught on. There was an end of season Ayatollah fancy dress party at Peterborough where myself and another Ayatollah were encouraged by police to preach from the fences, and judge the great cross-terrace Ayatollah races. The Ayatollah was now firmly established. It all stopped for me at a Welsh Cup semi final at the Vetch in about 1994/5 when I celebrated Chris Pike's winning goal with an Ayatollah performance at the front of the terrace. I was arrested and charged with incitement to riot. I was released after the football spotters told the regulars that I was no troublemaker and video evidence proved my innocence. But that finished it for me. I had never been involved with the police before or since. I could sense that times were changing and there was a return to the bad old days where a nervous police force were clamping down on any form of exhibitionist behaviour. I haven't done the ayatollah for years now, but I still smile a bit to myself when I see it performed, and watch how it has grown and developed from the U Thant gigs. The best Ayatollah ever? Probably the home game against Man City in the FA Cup, 1994, when the TV cameras captured the Bob Bank in full head-slapping action.

Bluebirds worldwide were saddened today as news broke that club legend Brian Clark passed away at the age of 67. Clark’s health had taken a significant turn for the worse in the past year but it was still a shock.

“Clarkie” was my original and boyhood Cardiff City hero whom I always revered and still felt hero worship for even in latter years as he was a frequent matchday visitor either commentating on Cardiff City World or club social events. He was a regular sight walking to and from games with Cardiff fans.

As a player, he was a work-horse and I well remember how he not only helped set up many of John Toshack’s goals at that time, which earned his move to Liverpool, but he usually matched him goal for goal as well and they were often jointly the league’s leading scorers!

He will forever be feted in Bluebirds history as the scorer of one of the club’s most famous goals, a trademark header that saw the club beat Real Madrid in a European Cup Winner Cup quarter-final game at Ninian Park in front of 47,500 official attendance that many swear was several thousand more than that.

That came in 1971, three years after he joined the club from Huddersfield in my first season watching City. His price was £8,000 and although a Bristolian who never lost that lilt to his accent, he was a Welsh adopted son living and working amongst Cardiff fans until his passing.

He was club top scorer for three consecutive seasons, outscoring Tosh, and moved in his later career to AFC Bournemouth and Millwall yet he still wasn’t finished with City and returned to see out his career in 1975 helping Jimmy Andrews’ exciting side win promotion back to the then Division Two.

I had the privilege of meeting him many times in later life and he fully lived up to my expectations unlike many footballers, he always had time for City fans and he was always a gentleman.

I am genuinely saddened at his passing. My sincere condolences to his family and closest friends.

Thanks for the memories Brian, you will never be forgotten.

Clark's winner vs Real Madrid

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.

Cardiff City - Fit for a King?

“I will have something finalised for Marlon in the next seven days,” the player’s agent Tony Finnigan says about stories that Marlon King will join a Championship club but not until after the weekend. The question is will it be Cardiff, Coventry or QPR who are all rumoured to be closing in on him.

King has just been released from jail after the married father sexually abused and assaulted a woman in 2008, that wasn't his first time in trouble or jail. It did, though, see his contract cancelled by Premier League Wigan - who signed him for £5,000,000 - leaving him to a make a new start after his release over the summer.

It's no secret Dave Jones and Cardiff City need a striker as they rely too heavily on Michael Chopra and Jay Bothroyd without sufficient back-up so he would fit ther bill ... bing a free transfer signing!

While he doesn't seem to be a nice guy, he is a successful footballer and should be someone with a point to prove. He has 108 goals to his name and I'm sure the 30 year old will add a few more with whoever he joins.

Read more: http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Coventry-QPR-and-Cardiff-chase-ex-jailbird-Marlon-King-article544291.html#ixzz0vaQtQWsP

Taiwo - from a Bluebird to a Canary

The best Cardiff City fans saw of Taiwo
Play for Dagenham & Redbridge against City!

It is being reported that Championship returnees Norwich City have agreed a deal with Cardiff City to sign midfielder Solomon Taiwo subject to a medical over the next few days.

A gamble signing by Dave Jones last August, Taiwo has had a very forgettable time in South Wales managing just two starts (and one of those where when 9 players were rested in the final league game of the season) and another 6 brief outings from the sub's bench. Cardiff were happy to release him to League One Colchester in January until City's injury crisis and transfer embargo forced hom to stay essentially to help make up the numbers.

Cardiff fans will generally be pleased the club are shipping out a player who did not like he would succeed here and amazed the club are also to reportedly pocket £150,000 too.


I happen to think Taiwo is a better footballer than we ever saw at Cardiff. He was highly rated at The Daggers and his best display of the season was probably the game he played for them against us in the Carling Cup.

However he didn't get much of a chance at City and when he did, he looked like a player with shot confidence.

Lambert at Norwich will have seen him play in the lower leagues and probably recognises that he's worth a punt and can get something more out of him.

However Taiwo is 25 and this will be his 12th or 13th club I think which is ridiculous. He's running out of time to live up to the promise he can sometimes show.

6 out at City but no surprises

Dave Jones told 8 players that they were not being offered and new contracts and they imeediately left the club.

Warren Feeney, Peter Enckleman, Aaron Morris, Josh Magennis and Tony Capaldi while Riccy Scimeca formally retired.

Tony Capaldi always seemed to be out of favour but was the only player to get a decent amount of firt team football this season and will surely get another Championship club quickly. Feeney's contribution was mostly laughable, he was a nice guy but a terrible signing and looks set to drop to League One football which is more at his level.

Joe Ledley is out of contract with a few Premiership clubs showing interest (they would have to pay compensation) and the Scottish "giants?" of Rangers and Celtic offering European football and they could take him for nothing. However City are making a concerted effort to keep the local lad and are reportedly willing to make him a supreme offer.

Miguel Comminges is recovering from major surgery but was allowed a 6 month contract to get fit and then enable him to find a new club and young keeper Santiago was given a 65 month pro contract to prove his case for being City's third keeper.

One final thing - Kelvin Etuhu's loan is over and he has been sent packing to Manchester City. An awful loan who promised much but delivered nothing.

Swansea City mourn as striker passes away

Very sad to hear that Swansea's young Austrian striker Besian Idrizaj, aged 22, died of a suspected heart attack in his sleep at his parent's house last night, which is shocking.

The player arrived ijn this country as a Liverpool signing and scored a hat-trick for them at Wrexham but his stay was brief and it was at other clubs too until Swansea took him on a 2 year deal which still had a year to run.

Idrizaj, who made just 3 appearences this term, is believed to have collapsed on the pitch on a couple of previous occasions.

Thoughts and condolences go to his family, friends and Swans fans who knew him.

Comminges Season Is Over ... (although I never knew it had started)

Comminges: "Did you know an anagram of my name is Cum,ming Goes Mile?"

It’s a sign of a forgotten player when, even in the middle of an absence of players, few fans were enquiring as to the whereabouts of French speaking Guadeloupian defender/midfielder Miguel Comminges. Not only that but of those few who were wondering, today’s news that he is out for months following a cruciate knee ligament injury barely registered a shrug of the shoulders.

The ringlet haired player came with high hopes in the summer of 2008 having just won League One Swindon’s Player of the Season and the West Country club angered to be losing their man on a free transfer Bosman signing.

Miguel featured early season for City but never built on mild promise and left Cardiff fans feeling that he just wasn’t good enough to play at Championship level. He was, however, a regular player managing 7 Championship starts, mainly early season, and another 20 appearances off the bench.

This season, fans can’t even remember what he looks like as he has only been seen in two games against Dagenham & Redbridge in the Carling Cup and Plymouth in the league, both times from the sub’s bench and both games in mid-August – 7 months ago.

Out of contract this summer, Comminges has surely played his last for Cardiff and Bluebirds will wish him well in recovery and, as would seem likely, getting a new club.

Joe to go?

He may be having a poor season, he need need a hip op and a couple of months rest but JOE LEDLEY remains a good player and in demand.

It's a pity that his agent and himself allowed contracts talks to fester for over a year - although some will also blame Cardiff City for that - but he is free to talk to other clubs and arrange a move in the summer.

It is being reported in Lancashire that Big Sam Allardyce is ready to plot a £2M raid for the player valued at £6M by Stoke City last year to take him to Blackburn Rovers and will be making his move in the next 24 hours. Having been pasted 4-1 at Manchester City tonight and faced with arelegation scrap, it may not be a great move for Joe.

Others claim a deal is in the offeing with Birmingham City where one of his best mates, Cameron Jerome, and also Roger Johnson are performing wonders this season. Personally, I can see that happening.

Joe can go now for an agreed fee or leave for compensation in the summer but the nightmare is if he moves abroad as no fee would then be paid, his Scottish agent is mooted to have mentioned Celtic It may get Joe more money now but it's really not a wise football move.

Of course, there's a remote chance he could stay with City but I think the odds are greater than myself wanting to see Bristol City do well!

Blake set to stay in Devon?

As Cardiff City get ready to wheel and deal in the Jnaury transfer window, one deal likely to go through is an extension of Bluebird defender/midfielder Darcy Blake's loan at Plymouth Argyle.



Blake has been with the Championship strugglers since late August but has only managed 7 games, injuries not helping his cause. However he has shown enough for PAFC Director of Football Paul Sturrock to contact Dave Jones about the possibility of keeping him for the remainder of the season.

I'm sure Jones will allow that but, for now, he has advised that, "It was just in a conversation but we have not yet had an official phone call from them."

Two Hearts don't beat as one over former Cardiff City man

When Dave Jones signed Scottish out of contract forward Steve MacLean on a free from Sheffield Wednesday in August 2007, goals were promised. However 7 months and 1 goal later, the player never looked up to the task and it was regarded as outstanding business when Peter Ridsdale sold him to Plymouth for their club record fee of £500,000.

It must be going wide
A rare MacLean shot for Cardiff

Two years on, that has been further proved as McLean managed 41 Championship games for the Devon club but scored only 5 times and has not been on the pitch since September leaving the Green Army looking to offload him but it's proving more of a struggle.

MacLean turned up in Edinburgh this week along with another struggling striker in Izzy MacLeod expecting to sign for SPL mid-table outfit Hearts only to find himself embroiled in a public war of words between club owner Vladimir Romanov and his manager Csaba Laszlo.

Romanov, clearly not excited at the prospect, said, "I do not see anything except publicity for those players. Maybe Csaba Laszlo decided they needed a PR manager. I am not convinced we need them".

Lazlo hit back with, "They don't need a PR manager if you look at their CV. If you look at the table, we have played 18 games and scored 21 goals. That shows where we have problems. The last meeting with the owner was positive and I told him that we need fresh blood up front. My job is to bring players in who would like to come here."

However when asked if he had backing from his owner, he answer, "I'll tell you after the transfer windown butI'm always very positive. If you're not positive, you can't survive in this job."


MacLean, after being on trial all week, has sent back to Plymouth while Hearts owner and manager attempt to sort out their differences. I suspect he won't be going back.

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.

Good Luck with your future Riccy Scimeca.

Two Out as Feeney and Capaldi go out on loan

CARDIFF CITY failed to bring in any player with the transfer loan window shutting firmly today but did get two players off the wage bill for a short time as Warren Feeney and Tony Capaldi both players succeeded in their wish to get away for football and headed to Yorkshire on short-term loan deals.



Tony Capaldi had been linked with a move to League One leaders Leeds United most of this week and that was confirmed late this afternoon.

He has fallen down the pecking order to third choice left back but still managed 9 appearences, his last coming in midfield during the awful 3-2 at Swansea almost 3 weeks ago.

TC is with Leeds until January 4th, there is already talk of a permanent deal, which has been underlined by the fact that Cardiff have allowed him to play for Leeds in F.A. Cup action. Leeds are away at Kettering in Round 2 this weekend.




The blog has covered several times that Warren Feeney has never figured at Cardiff. Despite doing well on the international stage, it appears that he cannot quite cut it at this level.

It was therefore a mild surprise to see fellow Championship side Sheffield Wednesday take him on loan, initially until December 28th. It was just as big a surprise to see him come off the bench for City in the Bransley defeat last Saturday


With Cardiff having no reserve side and both players not generally featuring in the meagre first team sqaud unless a couple go missing, it's in their interests to get out. Good Luck to them both.


It is disappointing that City did not bring in any replacements but the HMRC court order may prohibit that anyway. Peter Ridsdale has promised exciting times ahead with his belief that the Malaysian takeover will see the club active int eh January window ... the question is ... can our current squad, small on numbers and with injuries, keep us in contention until that stage??

McPhail diagnosed with cancer

CARDIFF CITY this evening issued a club statement that midfield playmaker Steven McPhail has been diagnosed with Stage One Malt Lymphona, a form of cancer.




The player has been in prime form for The Bluebirds but recently had an operation to remove a growth from his neck and he is out of action anyway at present following an operation to re-attach muscle to his thigh.


McPhail has won back the support of Bluebirds worldwide for his performances on the field this season after suffering poor form for some time and instantly had their total support to overcome this battle off the pitch too. I can only wish him and his family well.

STEPHEN McPHAIL: CLUB STATEMENT

Cardiff City midfielder Stephen McPhail has been diagnosed with a stage one malt lymphoma, previously known as a pseudo lymphoma.

Treatment is expected to last for three weeks with a return to playing football by January, 2010.

The club requests that the privacy of Stephen, his wife and young family be respected during his recovery.

City want Garvan but there's a problem - money

National newspapers hinted Cardiff City were tracking Ipswich's out of favour Owen Garvan last week and now the local press confirm there is some truth to the story but the current cashflow appears to be dictating they cannot bring him on loan to cover the injured Steve McPhail - which is a blow - and they won't be get him in the January transfer window either until players are moved out.

However at least 3 other Championship clubs are tracking the talented midfielder so watch this space.

Whitt's A Hit

Cardiff City midfield wide man PETER WHTTINGHAM was today announced as the Championship's Player of the Month for October on Sky tv's Soccer AM.

His October was spectacular as he scored 7 times in 4 outings including a hat-trick at Sheffield United, it also extended his scoring run to 6 consecutive games ... simply incredible for a player who usually averages 1 goal every 8 league games.

Congrats Peter.

Capaldi ready to flee Bluebirds nest

Whilst not handing in a transfer request, Cardiff City's TONY CAPALDI today told the South Wales Echo that he expects to be looking for a new club in the January transfer window and is content going to get first team football.

He is, in truth, third choice left back at Cardiff City behind Kevin McNaughton and Mark Kennedy and even then isn't guaranteed a place although he was strangely deployed in midfield by Dave Jones at Swansea last weekend ... it didn't work.



Capaldi told the South Wales Echo today that, "I need regular football now. I can`t just keep coming in every four or five weeks. I`ve spoken to the gaffer and .... we`ll see what happens in January. I would love to stay at Cardiff and play, but I might now just have to move on. It would be sad, but you do have to hold your hands up and say if it`s not meant to be at Cardiff, then it`s not meant to be."


Capaldi joined on a free transfer from Plymouth Argyle prior to the 2007-08 season - although rum,our would have it that he more than trebled his pay and this has prevented him leaving on loan or permanently before now. He struggled at first but played a key role in City's surge to the F.A. Cup Final in 2008 but has never really held a first team place or won over the fans. At best, his is dependable. It's certain he would leave on a free transfer too.


Is it possible he could link with long-term admirer and former boss Ian Holloway at Blackpool or even return to his former club, Plymouth Argyle? I certainly wouldn't rule either out.

Cardiff On The Ball???

Manchester City's number 53 David Ball is a 19 year old 6 foot striker who has yet to make an appearence for the mega-rich club and with their current resources and strikers, it's hard to imagine that he will any time soon either. However MCFC boss Mark Hughes is believed not to want him to leave the club but, hotly tipped as a star in the making, he would be happy to see him loaned out for experience.

However he has impressed in reserve games and has apparently caught the eye of both Cardiff City and Sheffield United who have both been linked with a loan move for the player. Sheffield United have current injury problems while Cardiff need an extra tall striker. City already have one Man City striker, Kelvin Etuhu, on loan for the season and he is returing to South Wales very soon after recovering from injury.

Time to seriously question why so many leg/hamstring injuries?

I asked this a couple of weeks ago and here we go again, another player (Bothroyd) just pulling up with a leg injury.


To my mind, and I'm sure it's reality as well as perecption, this happens far more at Cardiff than any other club. So why?


This season, we've had Kennedy, McCormack, Quinn, Feeney (in training) and now Bothroyd - and we're only 5 games into the season.


Last season, players affected included Bothroyd (twice), McNaughton (twice), Kennedy, Scimeca, McCormack (twice), McPhail, Ledley, Blake and, I think, Parry.


To me, that hints of being more than just bad luck.