World Cup qualifier: WALES 1 RUSSIA 3

Yet another depressing Welsh campaign at least saw the last home game produce entertainment for the meagre 14,505 crowd ..... and 2.000+ of them were Russian.

Wales battled hard, showed quality, flair and imagination at times and certainly had the Russians rattled but 2 late goals - just when Wales were in the ascendency and looking most likely winners - settled it.

It left fans having to take the positive of an encouraging display, an undeserved score (and maybe result) against the Euro'2008 semi-finalists and hope for the future ... only problem is, we seem to have said this after every campaign all of my life. At least I'll be entitled to a bus passes and OAP ticket prices when we finally have our day!

John Toshack doesn't endear himself to the public for so many reasons but one had to be his negative tactics. 4-5-1 again - with a little man who can't hold the ball in Bellamy up front - even though it was a 'must win' with 3 centre backs and a deep midfield that, at times, made us look 9-0-1!

Jason Koumas is the latest player to retire on the eve of a game ... this is now a regular event ... but saying he wanted to prolong his Premiership life at just 29 is a touch ridiculous. One thing's for sure - Koumas, for all his brilliance, has never seemed committed to the cause. Promising youngsters Jack Collison and Simon Church both missed out to, coincidentally, bury their fathers but it was still an ultra youthful side - Hennessey, Gunter, Collins, Williams, Gabbidon, Ricketts, Edwards, Stock, Ramsey, Ledley, Bellamy. Subs Not Used: Myhill, Eardley, Cotterill, Morgan, Evans, Earnshaw.

The opening spell was emphatically Wales' - corners, shots, saves, near misses and some superb play. However Russia turned it around and managed to get around or behind us into double figures by the interval as well as a single goal lead as Arshavin threaded a precision pass to one of their many Ov's - Semsov - to fire home.

However it was a different story after the break as Wales hit back and pressured the visitors into panic. Ginge - James Collins - superbly flicked home and equaliser on 55 at the near post and Ramsey, Bellamy, Edwards and Gunter all went close. The Russians were hanging on, surviving a penalty appeal and having to overhead kick on the line. There was niggle with on and off the ball altercations but Wales stood firm.

It was all highly encouraging until 19 minutes from time, Russia got a soft and silly free-kick, the Welsh compounding that by ju,ping over a mishit edge of area hit that gave Hennessey no chance.

Wales tried to respond but Russia were in no mood to let it slip again and sealed their win with sub Pavyunchencko firing home in added time.

Wales are set to finish and be stranded in 4th spot ... it's not good.

Derren Brown predicts the Lottery Numbers but never sussed me out!

Incredible to just watch DERREN BROWN on live tv reveal he predicted 6 out of 6 Lottery Numbers correct. His predictions on balls on view all the time couldn't be turned and revealed until the draw was complete but nobody and nothing was near them. There must be a trick but it was incredible to view.

So how come he got everything wrong with me?

I met him at a conference a few years ago and he tried some of his tricks on me and some colleagues - not long after his first Channel 4 series.

He tried to guess my mother's surname - wrong!

He wanted to work out an object I was drawing - I'm cack-handed writing so he was facked!

He attempted to work out my last holiday and then a number and letter I was thinking of - wrong!

He moved onto the rest of the table and got them correct. He never came back to me!

THE SPOOKILY TIMED 09:09 09/09/09 BLOG POSTING

This message appears for no other reason than to highlight the time and date ... simple things and simple minds eh?

Speech Debelle wins the Mercury Prize Award - no shock it's a shock?

It's no surprise that the Mercury Prize winner was a surprise. They tend to go for underdogs and not a mainstream artist.

Now I got eclectic tastes and it ain't bad but ground-breaking and different? Surely it's just Lily Allen meets The Streets or is it that I don't get it??


Speech Debelle's performance last night.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/musicevents/mercuryprize/2009/nominatio ns/speechdebelle/video7.shtml#emp

Newcastle preparing a 4 man midfield for Cardiff trip

If Cardiff City have progressed, then it's about time Dave Jones found a way to overcome teams set up like this ... City have been very unconvincing faced with this formation over the past couple of seasons.


From thr Evening Chronicle, Newcastle

CHRIS HUGHTON has revealed he will have no qualms about packing his midfield again for Newcastle United’s trip to Cardiff City on Sunday.

The Toon’s stand-in coach, who has been nominated for the Coca-Cola Championship’s manager of the month, has limited choices when it comes to his attacking options with Peter Lovenkrands unfit and Shola Ameobi out with a foot injury.

In recent Championship matches he has fielded a five-man midfield using Nile Ranger as the lone striker in attack.

However, with Kevin Nolan and Danny Guthrie having fired in four goals in their last three matches, Hughton is not too concerned about a lack of creativity.

“What we do have are lads in midfield capable of scoring goals. Danny Guthrie is a good striker of the ball. Kevin Nolan is used to being in those positions. Nicky Butt is a big, big player and Alan Smith has been doing a great job. If you are able to create more from midfield then even better.”

Nolan has looked reborn in the second tier so far this season, and has admitted he is loving life on Tyneside. Guthrie vowed at the start of the season not to rest until he had helped United back into the Premier League.

Hughton added: “What we have are players who can play in those advanced positions. They enjoy getting into those positions. Once they do that they give us opportunities to create and score goals. That’s what they are doing at the moment."

Hughton will also be without Jonas Gutierrez for the cruncher in the Welsh capital.

Chancellor holds court at Cardiff City Stadium

Quite bizarrely, Alistair Darling, the Chancellor of the Exchequer chose today to announce how his Labour party would reign in public spending to reduce the record deficit should - and that's a big should - they win the next General Election.


Of all places to do it, it turned out to be at Cardiff City's new stadium. Maybe Cardiff City's mountainous debts and the financial prudence of Peter Ridsdale were his inspiration points ... or maybe not!!


His speech commenced with words of praise for change in Wales and he added, "And this change is symbolised by this magnificent new stadium – and the early success in this first season here of Cardiff City. "

Scriptwriters eh? Bet he didn't have an effing clue!

Ridders meets the Merthyr Masses

Last night, Peter Ridsdale agreed to informally meet 250 Cardiff City fans at the Brunswick pub in Merthyr. They wanted to ask him questions about finances, the stadium, players coming and going and more.

As always, Publicity Pete went on a charm offensive and whilst not ducking any questions and leaving the crowd singing his praises and highly impressed, left with no major news but plenty of information.

A summary report - initially posted on Cardiff City.com by user Mr. Davies - follows:

Ridsdale - is this an ok look for Merthyr???

Ridsdale on.....


MALAYSIA

Ridsdale came back from the trip yesterday (Sunday). It is his second trip over to the far east on the clubs behalf. He feels that his conversations with the people in the far east will lead to investment in the club.

Not a takeover, but investment which would help pay off historical debt and put new cash into the club to help fund the playing squad. Also, it will be a stepping stone into the far east, which is a massive market. He said looking into the possibilities of far east investment was well worth the price of air fare. He's expecting further announcements to come in the next few weeks, all positives for the club. He believes the deal in Malaysia came bigger than he imagined and is part of the solution to pay the debt, Ridsdale also said that he'd be willing to discuss with anyone about eradicating the debt at the club as one single strand (Malaysia) will not solve everything.

The possibility of a deal came about when a businessman from the far east was trying to secure a trial at a club in the English League Pyramid. Most clubs laughed off the possibility but Cardiff City took him on trial, and although the trial was somewhat curtailed due to the bad weather (snow) that happened at the time, the business was impressed by the way the club treated his son, and with what he saw when he came to watch City vs Nottingham Forest. He and Ridsdale have kept in contact since via e-mail, and Ridsdale recieved an e-mail inviting him to Malaysia to discuss business.



DAVID SULLIVAN

Ridsdale believes this was just Mark Bloom sensationalism. He said if David Sullivan was interested in investing in the club, he has Ridsdales number and he'd imagine he'd go to him directly, rather than to the Echo first. He said he new it wasn't right due to the figures quoted. He said it's impossible to just buy 75% shares in a club, because after a certain point you'd have to go for a full takeover. Can't see it happening. Ridsdale did say however, that if someone comes in with an offer which is right for the club he'd be more than happy hand over the reigns.



THE DEBT

Ridsdale stated the clubs current debt stands at 25 million. He said they owe 15 million to Langston and 9 million to PMG for the stadium build. The other debt is from future transfer fees and from the day to day running of the club. The Langston debt was considerably higher, but, through negotiations, he's managed to get it down to 15 million. Ridsdale also said he gets calls from a 'certain someone we all know' about when the Langston debt will be repaid. Ridsdale also believes that he can further reduce the Langston debt through ongoing discussions with Sam Hammam.

Whilst he's looking into the far east for investment to help pay the debt, the door hasn't been closed on any deal in the States. He touched on his trip to the US in the summer, saying he had an indicitive offer from banks in the US to discuss the debt and the possibility of taking over the clubs debt. At the time, the figures quoted were unacceptable to the club but they are still in talks, and Keith Harris was in the States on behalf of the club whilst Ridsdale was in Malaysia. Ridsdale said that the club, although still in debt, the club is in a healthy position and has more assets than liabilities on the balance sheet, which is a long way away from where we were when he came to the club when on the friday before the second game of his spell, against Gillingham, he had to go to the tax office and persuade them not to put the club into administration. Thats how close we were. He said James Collins, Danny Gabbidon and Jobi McAnuff were all sold just to pay the tax man.



SPONSORSHIP

Peter Ridsdale announced that a sponsorship deal had been struck and he approved the logo for the shirts that afternoon and they should be on the players shirts for the Newcastle game on Sunday. He wouldn't give away the name of the sponsor though.(Interestingly, one of the sponsors touted was a bookmakers/gambling company. Ridsdale also announced a deal that afternoon with a bookmakers to have outlets in Cardiff City Stadium).

As for Stadium sponsorship, the club are in talks with a far east company about naming rights/sponsorship for the stadium. He expects to make an announcement in the near future.



JOE LEDLEY
Ridsdale thinks that Ledley has mixed emotions. He said while being a Cardiff boy, he wants, understandably, to play in the Premier League. He said every player wants to play in the Premier League and Joe is no different. The club have offered Ledley a contract, over four years, doubling his current wage. The contract has an escape clause that will let Ledley leave for a pre-determined price should a Premier League club come in for Ledley while Cardiff are playing at Championship level. If Cardiff themselves get promoted, that clause becomes null and void. He has heard nothing from Ledley or his advisors other than he'd be happy to talk about a deal. Ridsdale will be doing everything to make Ledley sign the new deal.



DANIEL COUSIN

With Jay Bothroyd out injured, Ridsdale was asked by Big Sam if there was any truth in the rumours about Hull's Daniel Cousin coming to the club to play in the target man role, as Bothroyd will be a massive loss to the team. Ridsdale agreed with Sam about Jay being a big loss to the team, and that they are better with him. He also agreed that they need a target man at the club and will be doing his utmost to bring someone in during the loan window. He said Kelvin Etuhu, in from Manchester City, is a talented player, but is a naturally wide player.

As for Cousin, Dave Jones has looked at him twice, once while he was still at Rangers, and once at Hull, but both times it was decided he wasn't right for the club. There was talk about a possible swap deal in the summe with Ross McCormack going the other way, but that was just talk from the players agent, who represents both Cousin and McCormack.



PLAYER SALES

Ridsdale says that player sales in the past have been for survival. Kavanagh, Collins, Gabbidon, McAnuff, Chopra were all sold to keep the club going. Now the club sell players when it's right for the club, like Ramsey and Loovens. They turned down a 6 million pound bid last year for Joe Ledley, and could anyone ever imagine Cardiff City turn down a 6 million bid for a player??

Roger Johnson left because he wanted to go. He personally phoned Peter Ridsdale and asked him to go. Interestingly, he trained with CCFC for a week after sealing his transfer to Birmingham, and after training in the new stadium and seeing how the club was moving on, on his last day, he left teary eyed wondering if he'd made the right decision in leaving.

Also, Ridsdale has said he has never sold a player from under Dave Jones feet, as Jones sanctions all transfers at the club.



THE NEW STADIUM

The new stadium cost 65 million, including the building of the new athletic stadium and for highways improvements around the ground. Ridsdale said its a stadium to be proud of. He said the budget for this season is an average around 18,000 per game, and that will leave the club showing a small profit. Last season, the budget was 13,000 at Ninian Park and when they showed their business plan to Deloittes, the accountants, they doubted the club could reach 13,000 per game at NP. They avergaed 18,400. As for the ground share with



The Cardiff Blues,

Ridsdale said that he was invited to meet the council and was told that the council were giving the club a 40 million land bank and was asked entertain the possibilty of a ground share with the Blues. A 20 year agreement was struck which see's the Blues pay Cardiff City and annual rent, all their own match day costs and 25% of the annual cost of running the stadium for all events.



The Premier Club was brought up by a number of disgruntled people, saying they're aggrieved that they have paid up front, plus a monthly fee for the Premier Club seats while the club are selling them on a match per match basis for prices as low as £65. Ridsdale answered this by saying that the Premier Club members have signed a 5 year commitment and that includes a price fix, so were the club to get promoted, they get Premiership football at the same price, and buying the seats over 5 years is a good long term investment.

As for selling the seats on a match basis, Ridsdale said he wants people to use the opportunity to see what the Premier Club is all about and that hopefully, after having a taster, would commit to buying long term Premier Club seats. The Stadium can get to a capacity of 35,000 without touching the current roofline, although the club still have planning permission to increase the capacity to 60,000 should the clubs success warrant it. As for Ninian Park, everything has been tied up and the NP will be knocked down this autumn to make way for a new housing estate called Ninian Park.



THE WELSH FA

Peter Ridsdale is meeting with David Collins of the FAW on Thursday about the possibility of switching or hosting Wales International fixtures at CCS. Ridsdale said he will assist the FAW and Wales wherever he can. He said they've paid 1 million for the deso playing surface and that it would be able to cope with International games as well as the regular football and rugby played on it, and thay he would be delighted to accomodate Wales. On the possibilty of leaving the FAW and joining the English FA, Cardiff City have been invited by Mahwinney and Treismann to join the FA and Ridsdale would like the club to join as it would be beneficial to everyone, but it is in FIFA's hands and he awaits their decision. He can understand why the FAW want to keep CCFC under their banner but as the only way CCFC could qualify for Europe is playing in the English system its the logical move.



TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS

Ridsdale says he won't be happy until all travel restrictions on Cardiff City supporters are lifted. He said there is no reason for fans to be subjected to bubble trips, or the sorts of arrangements we have become accustomed to. Unfortunately, though, he said just as it seems we are geting there, incidents like Birmingham away last season occur and puts us back to square one. Ridsdale announced that, after discussions with Police, Bristol City will no longer be a bubble trip due to the good behaviour on both fans parts over the last few ties. That is a move in the right direction but he will not be totally satisfied until all restricyions are lifted.

He understands Cardiff - Swansea, but he was in charge of Leeds for large scale games against Manchester United and ther were no bubbles and the games went without incident. He will be working towards making sure fans are not subjected to anymore restrictions.



KEITH HARRIS

Ridsdale stated Keith Harris role within the club is to use his network of contacts to gain access to funding, as through funding is the easiest way to pay of debts.



MICHAEL CHOPRA

The Michael Chopra deal was a bold decision for the club, Ridsdale said, but it's a good deal as Chopra is doing the business. Despite figures bandied about, the club have paid 500,000 upfront for Chopra, which could eventually rise to a maximum of 3 million. This has nothing to ndo with any monies owed to us by Sunderland, as that deal was concluded and paid up.



LAST SEASONS COLLAPSE

Ridsdale denied 100% that Dave Jones lost the dressing room. He said after the Burnley game it was almost as if everybody assumed we were in the play-offs and took their foot off the gas and were not psychologically prepared for the last 4 games of the season. Ridsdale was telling people at the time that something was not right and that what happened was inexplicable and unacceptable and he let people know, in no uncertain terms, that he would not put up with a collapse like that again and that 7th place is not good enough.


and finally.... CARDIFF CITY SUPPORTERS

Peter Ridsdale thanked the Cardiff City fans for their loyalty, and said it was a privelage to be chairman of the club. He said over the last 3-4 years, the supporters have taken the club forward. They have been outstanding and perhaps don't get the credit they deserve. He said his proudest moment in football was when the CCFC fans stayed behind at Wembley to watch Portsmouth lift the FA Cup and that on that day, Cardiff City fans gave the FA Cup back to the fans where it belongs, and we recieved worldwide praise for it.

"Handy" Ledley faces up to bandaged football

CARDIFF CITY star Joe Ledley faces playing in the next few weeks wearing a cast ... but he's used to it having done it last season.


Then it was a finger dislocation in a home game with Crystal Palace. This time it was a holiday mishap as Joe slipped in Paris on a mini break with his girlfriend as Ctiy players were given 4 days off last week.


Ledley's cast is being prepared and, with referee approval, he will wear it when Wales play Russia on Wednesday night at Millennium Stadium.

Alvin & The Chipmunks cover DEVO

Dananananaykroyd cover DEVO's WHIP IT

Scottish Indie Boys Dananananaykroyd are the latest of numerous groups to cover a DEVO 'choon'. Predictably it's Whip It and it's true to the original but good fun.

CARDIFF NOW IN 3D on Google Earth

I've never thought of Google Earth as anything more than a novelty but a new dimension has been added with a new tool that shows select cities in 3D. This week, Cardiff became the latest city to be added.

You need to download Google Earth application - http://earth.google.com/


However this Video gives a quick overview.

Aaron Ramsey wonder goal slays Italy

Fantastic win by Wales Under 21's over Italy tonight crowned by a wonder Aaron Ramsey goal - watch his backheel flick then an awesome finish. Cardiff City foolishly undersold him and don't it show.

4,500 tickets for Villa

CARDIFF CITY today announced that Bluebird followers have 4,500 seats at Villa Park for the glamour Carling Cup third round tie against Premiership side Aston Villa to be played Wednesday, September 23 (7.45pm k.o.).

City can expect to sell that allocation quite easily and they go on sale to Ambassadors and Season Ticket Holders from Monday morning. Prices are good value - Adults £20, £15 OAP's and £5 for Under 16's.

Booji Boy does a Bank Job??

You got to smile at this DEVO-esque bankrobber.

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2009/09/fbi_sweating_oldies_robber.php

Scimeca is not a Wanna-BEE

It's been confirmed this evening that Cardiff City midfielder Riccy Scimeca has declined a 4 month loan deal with League One Brentford.

Scimeca has been plauged by injuries for a couple of years and that includes more problems already this season. Riccy has managed just 2 league appearences totalling 5 minutes in the past year and had a brief appearence as sub in last midweek's Carling Cup win over Bristol Rovers.

It's a fairly safe bet that he won't appear in the Championship for Cardiff any time soon as he's fallen further down the pecking order so a loan deal seems good for player and club especially given City have no reserve side and rely on very occasional informal friendlies for squad players.

However Riccy has chosen to stay and I hope it turns out to be wise.

The Barry Whale

A 33 foot long minky whale got washed ashore onto rocks at The Knap today - some say it died yesterday, some a couple of weeks ago. It was the biggest thing to happen in Barry since Wetherspoons opened ... a landmark day then! :>)

I got there early evening just as they got it off the rocks at high tide and brought it to shore ... I'd avoid tun...a sarnies locally for a few days if I were you!

The last time such a large whale got washed ashore in South Wales was in Aberthaw when I was a kid ... I was there too. There is no link, honest.

Credit Crunch Transfer Window sees no change at Cardiff City

There may have been some anticipation, there may have been some fear but, as Peter Ridsdale suspected, the current transfer window closed today with no deals involving Cardiff City and very few in general. None of the big clubs made any move and the biggest transfer was ex-City man James Collins moving from West Ham to Aston Villa for £5M.


Of course, there were rumours during the day - the biggest reported by newspapers and websites was that Wolves were offering £5.5M plus Sam Vokes on loan for Joe Ledley but that turned out to be nonsense. It would appear there were no enquiries for any Cardiff City main player although rumours would have it that Riccy Scimeca declined a loan move to League One Brentford.


One deal did affect City. Polish goalkeeper Erwin Sak left the club by agreement and promptly signed for Conference fellow Welsh side Wrexham. Sak, at 19, had been with the club for 3 years but never got close to a breakthrough leaving cynics to suggest we don't need Poles as stadium construction is complete!


So City will face Newcastle next game with the same squad but have been buoyed by the news that Jay Bothroyd is likely to be available after his injury scare.

The Barry Whale gets Towed Ashore

Transfer Deadline Day but No Activity Expected at City

The transfer window for 2009 slams firmly shut at 5pm today but Cardiff City supremo Peter Ridsdale is already on record as expecting no deals to take place involving the club.


There are no current enquiries for any players and of the most saleable assets, Ross McCormack faces another month out of action while Joe Ledley is about is sign a new deal to remain at the club.


Manager Dave Jones would dearly like 2 or 3 more players but revised that to just one at the weekend but without players leaving, he knows that is remote. Fans are also concerned if City now face Jay Bothroyd being absent for a while but there is always the loan market which remains available to the club.

Ridsdale told Wales Online: "I don't expect any more players coming in. As far as anybody going out, that is out of my control. If anybody comes in with a bid which matches our valuation of a player we would consider that. But, if I was a betting man, I would think the squad at Doncaster will be the same as that for the match against Newcastle."

Sullivan Rumour Dismissed - now there's a surprise

No sooner had the South Wales Echo - for the umpteenth year running - created a rumour citing an inevitable 'close friend' source that David Sullivan was looking to invest in Cardiff City, the club themselves have today moved to dismiss it.


Chairman Peter Ridsdale confirmed he followed up the story by contacting a known link to Sullivan but was given the firm rebuff that, "I asked someone who is close to David Sullivan to speak to him. And I was told the stories are not true and he had no interest in investing in Cardiff City Football Club."


At least, for a change, it isn't going to be spun out in the press for a while before the standard 'not now' line appears and amen to that.

Full Championship Table after 5 Games

Position	Team	Games	Goal Diff	Points
1	Newcastle	5	7	13
2	West Brom	5	4	11
3	Cardiff	5	7	10
4	Middlesbrough	5	6	10
5	Bristol City	5	0	10
6	Preston	5	5	9
7	Sheff Utd	5	4	9
8	Sheff Wed	5	5	8
9	Leicester	5	1	8
10	Blackpool	5	3	7
11	Derby	5	0	7
12	Coventry	5	-1	7
13	Watford	5	0	6
14	Doncaster	5	0	6
15	QPR	5	0	6
16	Crystal Palace	5	-1	5
17	Nottm Forest	5	-2	5
18	Reading	5	-3	5
19	Swansea	5	-3	5
20	Scunthorpe	5	-10	3
21	Peterborough	5	-4	2
22	Plymouth	5	-5	2
23	Ipswich	5	-5	2
24	Barnsley	5	-8	1

City back in 3rd as Toon Army go top

In a Bank Holiday Monday night game, Newcastle United beat Leicester City 1-0 in front of 38,000 at St James Park to leapfrog Cardiff City and grab pole position in the Championship.

Danny Guthrie scored the all important goal early in the second half but with Newcastle visiting the Cardiff City Stadium next game on September 13th, it sets it up nicely for a massive clash. The public are responding with less than 2,000 tickets now available for that game, half of them in the Premier Club seating balcony.


TOP of the TABLE tonight

Position	Team	Games	Goal Diff	Points
1	Newcastle	5	7	13
2	West Brom	5	4	11
3	Cardiff	5	7	10
4	Middlesbrough	5	6	10
5	Bristol City	5	0	10
6	Preston	5	5	9
7	Sheff Utd	5	4	9

5 SECOND MOVIES

I think I'd watch more long films if they were like this!!!

MILLION DOLLAR BABY

BATMAN

TITANIC


THE SIXTH SENSE

Doncaster 2 Cardiff City 0 - how the press saw it

Bad day at the office but Bluebirds must be given benefit of the doubt

WalesOnline

We deserved Doncaster result: Bluebirds skipper Mark Hudson

WalesOnline

Jones critical of 'sloppy' Bluebirds

WalesOnline

Bluebirds left Don in the dumps

WalesOnline

Cardiff suffer a 'reality check'

BBC Sport

Doncaster 2 Cardiff 0

Sportinglife.com

Cardiff suffer defeat at Doncaster

WalesOnline

Bothroyd concern for Bluebirds

Yahoo! Eurosport

Doncaster 2-0 Cardiff

Sunday People

Rovers beat leaders

Vitalfootball

Doncaster 2-0 Cardiff

Sportbox

Doncaster 2 Cardiff 0

TeleText

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.

Bothroyd Injury Scare

Most Cardiff City fans will tell you that JAY BOTHROYD is a pivotal figure in the side and we'd look a different outfit without him as he is perfectly suited to our system.


Those words proved prophetic at the weekend as Jay limped away within the opening 10 minutes, Cardiff were fairly battered and made to look ordinary in the extreme - a 100% contrast to everything served up beforehand this season.


To make matters worse, there are now genuine concerns that Jay may be spending time out injured as he felt something behind the knee. The club are organising urgent scans fearing Bothroyd's hamstring may have been affected.


Bothroyd was twice absent last term with hamstring trouble and it was interesting to hear Dave Jones moaning on Radio Wales last Saturday night with rambling remarks about it being 'not good enough, hinting about being 'unprofessional' and talk about looking into how Jay warmed up. It deeply suggested that Jay didn't prepare properly.


Cardiff now enter a two week break to sort this out but the worries are that he will be missing for longer, something City can ill afford.

Video Lowlights: Doncaster Rovers 2 Cardiff City 0

Click the link if you can bear to watch

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/8229694.stm

Why David Sullivan's like Father Xmas (he's linked to City once a year)

With news that the Gold Brothers and David Sullivan were about to be bought out at Birmingham City, I thought it would be only a matter of time before The South Wales Echo printed a story claiming he was interested in Cardiff City and yesterday we finally got it. The reaction of Cardiff City fans varied between yawns and talk being cheap. You see, we've been here before.

Soon to be seen in Cardiff???

Sullivan, worth £650M according to the Times rich list for his porn/newspaper empire, and about to be handsomely paid off when the sale goes through is likely to be looking for a new club. Time after time, year after year, over the past two decades, The Echo have - dutifully some would say - published a Sullivan story claiming he's a Cardiff fan and would love to buy the club one day when the time is right. This despite, nobody ever seeing this Cardiff fan ever at any of our games and some stories that thePenarth-born mogul never went as a kid either. However there was an ill-feted ham-fisted attempt by his brother Clive to take on the club in the 90's that collapsed almost as mysteriously as it had begun.

The Echo have managed to speak to a contact of Sullivan who said of course he would be interested. Peter Ridsdale''s reaction? Call me David.

Whether he will remains to be seen as newspaper stories are also linking him to West Ham with the Gold Brothers (which is the Gold Brothers boyhood club and close to Sullivan'sEssex home), Norwich City and at least 4 or 5 others.

Just like Vince Alm of the Cardiff City supporter's club, "I'll believe it when I see it". However there's no denying he could provide the club with more stability and help kick it on again.

In the meantime, Peter Ridsdale is due to return to Malaysia next week on his World Tour to refinance Cardiff City. It would appear to be an opportunity to hold more talks rather than a commitment yet.

Manager of the Month
Just look at what you would have won
with victory at Doncaster!

DAVE JONES on video

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/8229240.stm

DONCASTER's SEAN O'DRISCOLL on audio

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/doncaster/8228969.stm

Actual Call Centre Conversations

Customer: 'I've been ringing 0800 2100 for two days and can't get through to enquiries, can you help?'.
Operator: 'Where did you get that number from, sir?'.
Customer: 'It was on the door to the Travel Centre'.
Operator: 'Sir, they are our opening hours'.
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Samsung Electronics
Caller: 'Can you give me the telephone number for Jack?'
Operator: 'I'm sorry, sir, I don't understand who you are talking about'.
Caller: 'On page 1, section 5, of the user guide it clearly states that I need to unplug the fax machine from the AC wall socket and telephone Jack before cleaning. Now, can you give me the number for Jack?'
Operator: 'I think you mean the telephone point on the wall'.

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RAC Motoring Services
Caller: 'Does your European Breakdown Policy cover me when I am travelling in Australia ?'
Operator: ' Doesn't the product name give you a clue?'

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Caller (enquiring about legal requirements while travelling in France ):
'If I register my car in France , do I have to change the steering wheel to the other side of the car?'

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Directory Enquiries
Caller: 'I'd like the number of the Argoed Fish Bar in Cardiff please'.
Operator: 'I'm sorry, there's no listing. Is the spelling correct?'
Caller: 'Well, it used to be called the Bargoed Fish Bar but the 'B' fell off'.

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Then there was the caller who asked for a knitwear company in Woven.
Operator: 'Woven? Are you sure?'
Caller: 'Yes. That's what it says on the label; Woven in Scotland '.

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On another occasion, a man making heavy breathing sounds from a phone box told a worried operator:
'I haven't got a pen, so I'm steaming up the window to write the number on'.

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Tech Support: 'I need you to right-click on the Open Desktop'.
Customer: 'OK'.
Tech Support: 'Did you get a pop-up menu?'.
Customer: 'No'.
Tech Support: 'OK. Right-Click again. Do you see a pop-up menu?'
Customer: 'No'.
Tech Support: 'OK, sir. Can you tell me what you have done up until this point?'.
Customer: 'Sure. You told me to write 'click' and I wrote 'click''.

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Tech Support: 'OK. In the bottom left hand side of the screen, can you see the 'OK' button displayed?'
Customer: 'Wow. How can you see my screen from there?'

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Caller: 'I deleted a file from my PC last week and I have just realised that I need it. If I turn my system clock back two weeks will I have my file back again?'.

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There's always one. This has got to be one of the funniest things in a long time. I think this guy should have been promoted, not fired. This is a true story from the Word Perfect Helpline, which was transcribed from a recording monitoring the customer care department. Needless to say the Help Desk employee was fired; however, he/she is currently suing the Word Perfect organization for 'Termination without Cause'.
Actual dialogue of a former WordPerfect Customer Support employee. (Now I know why they record these conversations!):

Operator: 'Ridge Hall, computer assistance; may I help you?'
Caller: 'Yes, well, I'm having trouble with WordPerfect.'
Operator: 'What sort of trouble??'
Caller: 'Well, I was just typing along, and all of a sudden the words went away.'
Operator: 'Went away?'
Caller: 'They disappeared.'
Operator: 'Hmm So what does your screen look like now?'
Caller: 'Nothing.'
Operator: 'Nothing??'
Caller: 'It's blank; it won't accept anything when I type.'
Operator: 'Are you still in WordPerfect, or did you get out??'
Caller: 'How do I tell?'
Operator: 'Can you see the C: prompt on the screen??'
Caller: 'What's a sea-prompt?'
Operator: 'Never mind, can you move your cursor around the screen?'
Caller: 'There isn't any cursor: I told you, it won't accept anything I type.'
Operator: 'Does your monitor have a power indicator??'
Caller: 'What's a monitor?'
Operator: 'It's the thing with the screen on it that looks like a TV. Does it have a little light that tells you when it's on??'
Caller: 'I don't know.'
Operator: 'Well, then look on the back of the monitor and find where the power cord goes into it. Can you see that??'
Caller: 'Yes, I think so.'
Operator: 'Great. Follow the cord to the plug, and tell me if it's plugged into the wall.
Caller: 'Yes, it is.'
Operator: 'When you were behind the monitor, did you notice that there were two cables plugged into the back of it, not just one??'
Caller: 'No.'
Operator: 'Well, there are. I need you to look back there again and find the other cable.'
Caller: 'Okay, here it is.'
Operator: 'Follow it for me, and tell me if it's plugged securely into the back of your computer.'
Caller: 'I can't reach.'
Operator: 'Uh huh. Well, can you see if it is??'
Caller: 'No.'
Operator: 'Even if you maybe put your knee on something and lean way over??'
Caller: 'Oh, it's not because I don't have the right angle - it's because it's dark.'
Operator: 'Dark??'
Caller: 'Yes - the office light is off, and the only light I have is coming in from the window.
' Operator: 'Well, turn on the office light then.'
Caller: 'I can't.'
Operator: 'No? Why not??'
Caller: 'Because there's a power failure.'
Operator: 'A power......... A power failure? Aha, Okay, we've got it licked now.
Do you still have the boxes and manuals and packing stuff your computer came in??'
Caller: 'Well, yes, I keep them in the closet.'
Operator: 'Good. Go get them, and unplug your system and pack it up just like it was when you got it. Then take it back to the store you bought it from.'
Caller: 'Really? Is it that bad?'
Operator: 'Yes, I'm afraid it is.'
Caller: 'Well, all right then, I suppose. What do I tell them??'
Operator: 'Tell them you're too f --- ing stupid to own a computer!!!!!'

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It was 31 Years Ago Today ...

GULP - On this day in 1978, DEVO's debut classic album Q. Are We Not Men? A: We Are DEVO! was released and launched themselves onto the world scene.

The album included the DEVO classic tunes Jocko Homo, Mongoloid, Satisfaction and Uncontrollable Urge plus this classic take on modern rock'n'roll with synths, Come Back Jonee.

Rock'n'Roll Strops Ain't What They Used To Be

Patrick Wolf goes ballistic in Berlin. Hardly the Sex Pistols is it??

Championship: Doncaster Rovers 2 CARDIFF CITY 0 report

SUMMARY
CARDIFF CITY and Michael Chopra may have started the season on fire but they were firmly extinguished at Doncaster's Keepmoat Stadium today as the complete unpredictability of the Championship when anything happens and anyone can beat anyone occurred again. Omens meant nothing - going into this encounter, Cardiff were free-scoring, unbeaten and top of the league. Doncaster were struggling, had only scored 2 all season, hadn't won a game and had never beaten any top of the table side at their new ground. Yet City were well beaten and can have nocomplaints other hold hold an inquest into why they didn't turn up on the pitch until the game was already out of reach.

17 minutes after kick-off, Cardiff found themselves without an injured Jay Bothroyd, two goals down and played off the park for the entire half. The second half finally saw City wake up but only a bit and chances missed meant there wasn't even a consolation goal for the 1,200+ travelling fans in what was a deeply disappointing afternoon and display. However City remain second (for now - Newcastle are still to play this weekend) going into the fortnight's international break which still sets up a drooling clash next game with Newcastlevisiting the new stadium on September 13.

TEAM NEWS

Donny had one or two absences but the 11 starters were generally their first choice side on a mission to make up for their 5-1 midweek home hammering vs Spurs in theCarling Cup. Not sure you'd swap any of them for their Cardiff counter-part. DONNY: Sullivan; Chambers-Roberts-Shackell-Lockwood; Oster-Spicer-Stock-Woods; Coppinger-Hayter.

Dave Jones made one change from the side that demolished Bristol City last weekend as Paul Quinn found himself squeezed onto the bench with TonyCapaldi , available after suspension, at left back which Quinn covered last week while DJ decided to keep Adam Matthews at right back instead of return Quinn to his natural role. CITY: Marshall; Matthews-Hudson-Gerrard-Capaldi; Whittingham-Rae-Ledley-Burke; Bothroyd-Chopra: Subs included new £250k signing Solomon Taiwo joining Enckleman-Etuhu-Gyepes-Magennis-McPhail-Quinn.


MATCH REPORT

This was a game whose result was decided almost before it had begun. The game started at a frantic pace but Doncaster were passing and moving the ball better - they were doing a Cardiff on Cardiff. Within a 8 minute spell, the destiny of the game was decided.

On 9 minutes, City were rocked as Jay Bothroyd was taken off to be replaced by Etuhu with Dave Jones making post-match comments suggesting there may be a problem behind the knee and that he was unhappy with Bothroyd's preparations. Not sure what that was about but I'm sure more will come out. Etuhu ran and worked hard but common consensus was that Cardiff had no Plan B without Jay being the pivotal outlet for the forward play.

Three minutes later, the absence told again as a Donny corner saw LOCKWOOD have a free header which went in off the far post. He was the player Bothroyd would have marked at set pieces. This was the first time City had fallen behind in any game this season.

Then, on 17 minutes, a lucky Donny goal but one that completed a 12 pass move. The end of it though saw a sliced effort headed for the corner flag, Stock kept it in, anothermishit shot had the ball hit an offside looking HAYTER and hold up perfectly for him to fizz a shot into the top corner giving Marshall no chance again.

The rest of the half saw Donny buzzing and outplaying City although Marshall wasn't really tested. However neither was Sullivan at the other end, Cardiff managing just a solitary corner and frustration for that 45 minutes in which Jones criticised too many of his players for not being up for the battle and starting at full pelt. Didn't he say the same things after the side clung onto a point atBlackpool a fortnight ago - the only difference being we hung onto a draw that day?

Half-time: DONNY 2 CITY 0

Cardiff were brighter in the second half and had chances to have recovered. However their play was more frantic than the recent quality we have been enjoying but Michael Chopra will wonder how he missed a virtual sitter to add to his blazing start as well as a couple of half chances andEtuhu will feel the same. In the last minute, he somehow headed over a Ledley corner standing almost on the line. Taiwo was given the last 20 minutes for Whittingham and Magennis the final 10 for Burke but it changed nothing.

However City remain second (for now - Newcastle are still to play this weekend) going into the fortnight's international break which still sets up a drooling clash next game with Newcastle visiting the new stadium on September 13.

Megan Fox's School Anti-Bullying Message

Bloody hell, I love this woman even when she's talking crap!

Carling Cup offers Villa, Villa Night

CARDIFF CITY have been drawn away to Aston Villa in the Third Round of the Carling Cup, a draw greeted with some joy and anticipation amongst the Bluebirds faithful.

While a tough tie for City, the players will enjoy visiting the venue and so will City fans as few will have been there before other than to watch other sides - the last time the sides met was in 1975.

The full draw is;

Arsenal v West Brom

Chelsea v QPR

Bolton v West Ham

Barnsley v Burnley

Hull City v Everton

Leeds United v Liverpool

Manchester United v Wolves

Manchester City v Fulham

Sunderland v Birmingham City

Peterborough United v Newcastle United

Carlisle United v Portsmouth

Nottingham Forest v Blackburn Rovers

Stoke City v Blackpool

Scunthorpe United v Port Vale

Preston North End v Spurs

Aston Villa v Cardiff City

Adam Matthews The Graduate

One of the huge plusses of Cardiff City's outstanding start to season 2009/10 has been the emergence of teenage defender Adam Matthews.

He served notice with a goalscoring performance in a pre-season friendly against Chasetown but injuries to Kevin McNaughton and Paul Quinn have enabled him to burst onto the scene with a league debut in City's draw at Blackpool, the away win at Plymouth where he also went close to scoring and a superb display in City's supreme demolition of Bristol City.

Rejected by Swansea City's Academy after injury, their loss is City's gain. His rise underlined by a call up to Wales Under 21's.

So what does Matthews think of his meteoric jump into the first team? Talking to WALES ONLINE, he says, "Playing in a team doing well rather than struggling helps, but I didn’t expect to play as well as I have. Now I have to work on keeping that standard up. I’m young and I haven’t set myself a target on appearances this season. Right now, I’m happy to be in the squad and learning from the other lads.”

He is also full of praise for Cardiff-born club talisman Joe Ledley commenting, "All the boys are good to me and helped me get through the early games and the gaffer (Dave Jones) chats to me on a regular basis about how I am doing but Joe has helped me a lot. He talks to me on the pitch and off. He’s been a great help. Joe’s a Cardiff boy and I’d love to follow in his footsteps."

Adam - you're already on the way to doing that. Keep it going son.

It's The End of the World

AKRON's World of Rubber - used as the backdrop for DEVO's famous The Truth about De-Evolution and Jocko Homo movie - is to close next week in Akon, Ohio.


''Well, there you go,'' said Devo bassist Jerry Casale, when told of the museum's closing. ''This is total proof of de-evolution. What's the world come to when no one cares about rubber?''


The video of Jocko Homo is embargoed from YouTube at present although countless live performances exist. In difference to the charged version, I like this chilled out offering from 1988 followed by their truly devolved version of Satisfaction.

Enjoy!

Video of the Week - LEVEL 42, Leaving Me Now

Now I know it's not populist to admit a liking to Level 42 especially for an old punk like myself but back in the day and before they exploded, I was quite into them. Not as much as my funk brother but even so.

Went to a few early Cardiff gigs of theirs and they were brilliant nights. The only gigs I ever attended where I pulled!

So here they are playing Cardiff St David's Hall in 2006 doing one of their ballads - Leaving Me Now - which is one of the few slower songs I really love.

Joe Set To Stay at Cardiff City

Cardiff City and Joe Ledley are finally in discussions and believed to be close to completing a deal for a new contract ... one that it would be appear has been conducted without the meddling of Joe's agent.



Dave Jones has described Joe's impact at Cardiff City as being similar to Steve Gerrard at Liverpool so is desperate for him to stay at the club. With the transfer window set to close on Tuesday but no offers or enquiries yet from an Premiership club, Welsh Captain Joe is set to stay with the club anyway so a deal will offer him more money and allow City the security of having Joe under contract.


The deal is there to be done and needs to be sorted for the sake of player and club.

DAVE JONES' THOUGHTS ON JOE ABOUT TO TAKE A NEW CONTRACT AT CITY

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/8226678.stm