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??
OK, some of you may like this - you'd be easily pleased if you did! - but I laughed at this online present.
A battery operated Cardiff City clock with the naffest of poems, last season's kit(!) but, thanks to printing and computers, your name can be added to the picture.
I'd rateher not know the time than have this.
However if you're interested, it's a "cool" £22.95 plus charges at www.theoriginalgift.co.uk.
If Cardiff City were a rollercoaster, Health and Safety would condemn it for being too dangerous and if they were a soap opera, the scripts would be rejected for being too outrageous and the writers would be taking drug tests. Nothing, however, is ever normal or straightforward at this club and they always leave us open-mouthed.
This time last week, after internet rumours with good reasoning, Peter Ridsdale denied that the club were on the verge of a major crisis although it had the usual cashflow problems, he was hopeful that Sam Hammam would agree and sign off a legal deal by the end of the week and then investement was just around the corner, we found out most of the answers today.
Out of the blue came an announcement that the club had fought off a HMRC tax office winding up order in the courts with a 70 day stay of execution to clear its debt of an undisclosed amount ... is it coincidence that ties in with the end of the January transfer window when City can sell its assets? I truly hope so.
Sam Hammam has been stalling, as usual, on the agreement but remains in consultation with the club.
Then, barely 1 hour after this, the club announced that Malaysian businessman Dato' Chan Tien Ghee (TG), after weeks (months even) of discussion as joined the Board of Directors of both Cardiff City Football Club (Holdings) Limited and also Cardiff City Football Club Limited as a Director. At this stage, it is unclear whether he has invested any funds at all but it would appear that he will attract further investment (oh we hope!) from the Far East.
(In fact, I have heard whispers of the name of a potential further Malaysian backer who has access to major resources - time will tell).
Is it only Cardiff City where one minute we hear they're close to collapse and then are being led to believe that the golden future is finally arriving? Incredible.
On the HRMC order, the club issued a statement: It has been inaccurately reported that Cardiff City Football Club face a winding-up order from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, following a court hearing today, Wednesday, November 25.
Today's court action had the affect of withdrawing the threat of a winding-up order rather than imposing it.
For the avoidance of doubt, Cardiff City Football Club have a payment schedule in place with HMRC, and there is no prospect of the club being wound up. This payment schedule was agreed with HMRC some time ahead of today's court hearing.
Cardiff City Football Club have every confidence in their future financial stability and fully expect to be in a position to make further investment in its playing squad in the January transfer window.
On the appointment of TG, the club announced:
Dato' Chan Tien Ghee is Managing Director of Central Malaysian Properties Sdn Bhd, a major Malaysian Property Company currently managing the renowned Lido Boulevard Waterfront Development in Johor, Southern Malaysia.
Dato' Chan's appointment reflects the continuing confidence that we have in the opportunity that exists for Cardiff City Football Club within Asia which will see us extend youth development, attract further sponsorship, broaden our supporter base and through Dato' Chan, his contacts and his partners, provide investment directly within the Group.
Commenting on Dato' Chan Tien Ghee's (TG's) appointment, Cardiff City Football Club Chairman and Chief Executive Peter Ridsdale said: 'The fact that TG has accepted this appointment demonstrates the confidence that exists that Cardiff City Football Club can, with the right level of additional investment, whether directly or through the broader global commercial opportunities, become an established top-flight football club."
Commenting on his appointment, Dato' Chan Tien Ghee said: "I am very proud and privileged to be joining the Board of Cardiff City at this time. Now that the infrastructure is in place, I believe that together with the existing Board I can help to provide Cardiff City with the additional resources it requires to achieve the ambition of attaining Premier League Football and of making Cardiff City a recognised household name across the Asian continent."
Talking on the Cardiff City phone-in tonight, Peter showed why he is regarded as a master politician by being bullish about the future whilst dismissing the day in court.
As much as he would wish to disguise it, today was a highly embarrassing episode which showed a complete lack of financial and corporate management. I can only hope, as Ridsdale claims, that the club have made a payment and agreed a solution with HRMC but when I questionned him why the courts issued a 70 day extension if, as he claims, it all all resolved, he answered, "I don't know".
Do I think it's as simple as Ridsdale has tried to make out? Not for a single minute.
However let's end on a positive note, the arrival of T.G. may be a positive sign. Some City fans are already getting intoxicated believing it is the making of our club and all our problems will be over. Personally, I'll believe it when I see it. After all, if I had a pound every time I heard the likes of Hammam and Ridsdale make a comment that didn't stand up to scutiny or subsequent events and actions, I could have cleared all the club's debts myself!
It is my annual appearence on the Cardiff City Phone-In tonight where I'll be passing my judgement on the club, the season to date and what next.
On air during 7 to 8pm and hosted by former Premiership ref Keith Cooper, it's on GTFM 107.9 FM (Pontypridd/valleys), Radio Cardiff 98.7FM or BroFM 98.1FM (Barry & The Vale).
You can also listen live online anywhere in the world via the station websites (Google them to find them).
Whether we like it or not, the label 'injury prone' is one that will be applied to Kevin McNaughton as Cardiff City's star defender has had continual problems in the past couple of seasons but nothing as bad as this term.
Having missed all the season to date after an ankle injury sustained after collision in a pre-season game with Celtic, his absence was softened by the emergence of Adam Matthews but Kev remains a vital player for City so fans were delighted to see his return at Barnsley last weekend.
However that lasted barely 20 minutes after he pulled up clutching his leg. Early reports from the club suggested he had a back spasm that was being checked out but it has now been confirmed as the more obvious hamstring pull.
City officials say it is a slight tear and that he will be absent for a fortnight. Fingers - and everything else! - crossed he then gets a sustained injury free period.
** On a sidenote, I can never believe how many Cardiff players have hamstring problems, it always seems far worse than any other club.
Speculation is rife that Cardiff City defender come makeshift midfielder Tony Capaldi will join Leeds United before the loan transfer closes this Thursday.
He is third choice left back at City behind Kevin McNaughton and Mark Kennedy and wants first team football while Bluebirds boss Dave Jones has been told he cannot bring any new players into the club until others are moved out.
Capaldi has featured in 9 City games so far this term playing his usual solid but unspectacular football although a gamble to deploy him in midfield due to an injury crisis at Swansea was a disaster but so was the whole team's display that day.
It looks like an ideal move for Capaldi and would certainly suit Cardiff too - can't imagine many fans are bothered if he departs ... but they'll all be praying it means Jones can get a loan man in.
It was only a couple of weeks ago thaty Cardiff City missed successive chances to go top of the league but the cost of the latest poor run is all too evident after Newcastle won at Preston in last night's game completing Championship weekend.
City now find themselves 9 and 7 points respectively behind Newcastle and West Brom and you have to wonder whether we have the ability to get back in touch, Cardiff certainly lack for resources.
Most City fans are wondering if it's also only a matter of time before we slip out of the play-offs with the club now down to 5th, sharing 27 points with teams down to 8th spot and only 3 points ahead of mid-table.
Cardiff's next game is home to Ipswich on Sunday, it's a fair bet they will start the day much further down the league as the Saturday matches are complete which will add pressure to the occasion ... as if they need it.
It's a big and telling period ahead for the club and may well shape the rest of this season.
Rumours are circulating and getting stronger that news of investment from the Far East may be expected in days, if not hours.
Cardiff City and its fans have been down this road many times before - and we will many times again - but this is a potentially exciting and significant development.
The investment is atrongly believed to be coming from Malaysia and maybe worth upto 25% of the shares and possibly with a change in directors of the club.
Announcements are believed to be on the way well before the end of this week ... we'll see.
Bluebirds Scottish international striker Ross McCormack was today banned from driving for 17 months and fined £2,600 after being convicted of driving at almost double the legal alcohol limit.
The incident occured at almost 4am after City's 4-3 win at Sheffield United last month with McCormack coming off the bench to set up the decisive goal.
Police were called to an incident after a luxury Range Rover crashed into fencing outside the Cardiff Bay Harvester restaurant. McCormack drove to his nearby home but was forced ijnto confession after police discovered that his distinctive personalised number plates came off with the impact of the bump ... doh, doh, doh!
Seriously, I hope Ross has learned his lesson. It could have been much worse.
When teams lose and play poorly, it's common place for manager and players to close ranks and claim they were unlucky, didn't get the rub of the green or how they win and lose as a team.
Not so Ross McCormack who told Wales Online exactly what he thought about Cardiff City's efforts in a dismal defeat at Barnsley on Saturday -is it a rare spell of refreshing honesty or is McCormack making waves again with the transfer window soon to re-open as some City fans will speculate?
Either way, I was at the game and can't argue with McCormack's thoughts which include; “I don’t think it was too tough a game to be honest, I just think we made hard work of it, and we got a real sucker punch at the end of it with the goal. It was a bit windy, but that can’t be used as an excuse for not passing the ball. If you play the long ball to two little guys then nothing is going to happen. I was disappointed at the service, disappointed to be taken off, just disappointed all round really."
The weekend proved conclusively that McCormack and Chopra can't play up front together and with Jay Bothroyd likely to return at home to Ipswich on Sunday, McCormack may well be returning to the bench and he's can't be happy about that. Is that what he had in mind when he added, "Personally I’ve had two starts now, but I’m not taking anything for granted. I’ve obviously signed a four-year deal here and like anyone I just want to be playing football".
McCormack said the Bluebirds need to bounce back against Ipswich on Sunday.
And he insisted after a summer in which he was linked with a move away from the club he was now looking to fight for his place in the Cardiff side.
“Two games now and two defeats, so the Ipswich game of course becomes important to us now,” added McCormack.
“We’ve just got to try and put this defeat behind us and move on to the next one.
“Jay had a slight tear to his hamstring, but he should be back for the Ipswich game.
“Personally I’ve had two starts now, but I’m not taking anything for granted.
“I’ve obviously signed a four-year deal here and like anyone I just want to be playing football.”
Now i'M NOT INTO EGG CHASING BUT THIS RUGBY ACTION MUST BE the HIGHLIGHT OF THE SPORTING WEEK.
Rugby fan Stuart Tinner is randomly pulled out of the crowd and wins £250,000 at the Saracens vs Springboks rugby match managing to hit the corssbar with a halway line kick from the side of the pitch too ... and in his socks as he removed his shoes! Then he's mobbed by cheerleaders, what a lucky ******* he is!
CardiffCity manager Dave Jones tells BBC Radio Wales football reporter Rob Phillips why he would have settled for a draw at Barnsley after their 1-0 defeat.
Barnsley manager Mark Robins reveals he did not want match-winner Mark Dickinson to take the last-minute free-kick which eventually beat CardiffCity 1-0 at Oakwell.
CARDIFF CITY fell to a cruel last kick of the match 1-0 defeat at Barnsley, the goal a Carl Dickinson free-kick that deflected off Michael Chopra to give on-loan Stoke defender his first ever goal in professional football. The game, played in heavy rain and a strong wind, was shockingly poor. Devoid of any quality, it would not looked out of place had it been a bottom division match.
Barnsley were aggressive and direct while Cardiff fought a rearguard action with relative ease but shorn of McPhail and Bothroyd and without adequate squad cover or the resources to do anything about it, they were clueless without creativity or craft going forward. City were one dimensional and too often hitting aimless ridiculous long balls for the diminutive talents of Chopra and McCormack to work with. Neither keeper was seriously threatened all afternoon until that last gasp effort. Cardiff deserved a point if only for the simple reason that neither side deserved to win. A game and result to forget ... yes, I know, after Swansea away, another game, performance and result to forget.
******TEAM NEWS******
CARDIFF CITY were hit by a quadruple blow with Steve McPhail, out anyway after a leg op, diagnosed with cancer on the eve of the game and we can only wish him and his family well, the 1,000 Bluebirds at Oakwell chanted his name on several occasions. Jay Bothroyd was out too as his ongoing knee problem finally caught up with him even with a fortnight's break and another surprise absentee was the previously ever present Anthony Gerrard while Adam Matthews was missing at the back having sustained a foot injury on Wales Under 21 duty in Bosnia. In came, McCormack, Gyepes and McNaughton - the latter two making their Championship bows for the season.
A team in City's position with ambition would surely make moves in the loan market, some rivals have indeed done that, but Dave Jones has been told nobody can come until players are moved out so, like it or not, it appears that we will have to limp to the January transfer window ... and who knows whether we'll be in any position to do anything positive at that time? The only chance of that happening appears to depend entirely on Hammam ... oops, Langston(!) ... agreeing a revised pa-off deal and then a Malaysian group - or a mystery one - investing in the club. Ridsdale is hopeful but time seems very tight for all that that to take place.
CITY: Marshall; McNaughton-Hudson-Gyepes-Kennedy; Burke-Rae-Ledley-Whittingham; Chopra-McCormack. An altogether uninspiring and weak sub's bench featured: Quinn, Feeney, Comminges, Scimeca, Magennis, Wildig, Enckleman.
BARNSLEY
Barnsley made an awful start to the season with an opening day draw followed by 5 successive defeats which ended the tenure of the Jack, Simon Davey. In came Mark Robins from Rotherham and he is transforming their fortunes as they've now taken 20 points in 11 games and moved towards mid-table.
Barnsley:Steele; Kozluk-Foster-Shotton-Dickinson; De Silva-Colace-Doyle-Hammill; Bogdanovic-Macken.
~~~~~~THE DAY & GAME~~~~~~
Our coach set off at the crazy hour of 6am - it would be 19 hours before I would get back home too. A couple on the coach were celebrating birthdays and going for the day out and a drink oop north without taking in the game which saw us South Yorkshire, Rotherham to be precise for opening time althought the partying had started long before we had got out of Cardiff.
Good company and music on the coach, it all passed quickly. The bars were very welcoming in Rotherham, although most barmaids I encountered were of dubious quality even with my beer google fixed firmly on. Somehow, trying to get my pal out of the last pub to get back on the bus to the game, we missed it. I caught a train to Barnsley jumped, Lloydey decided to stay. A costly decision as the other drinkers got to Barnsley by final whistle, he stayed in the Rotherham pubs, the police escorted down the M1 after the game so there was no going back for him. Oh the joys of City awaydays!
The palaver (I like that word) meant I missed the opening 20 minutes and having decided to exit the ground at half-time for some warmth and a drink in the nearby Metrodome sports centre, I missed the opening 15 minutes of the 2nd half too. The 55 minutes I had to endure did make me wonder why I bothered watching any of it at all.
Cardiff started brighter but it turned out to be as good as it got with McCormack flicking a Burke cross narrowly wide while Burke himself went wide with another effort but so did McCormack with a quick set piece. The rest of it was pitiful stuff as Cardiff dropped back, midfield were unable to influence the game and in unpredictably poor weather and strong winds, we were to wonder what on earth City have been doing at their plush training complex over the past fortnight as they resorted to thoughtless and aimless long balls giving Chops and McCormack a lost and hopeless cause.
At the quarter point, more calamity as Kevin McNaughton limped out of the action again, the boy seems cursed. In came Paul Quinn and he announced his arrival with a big challenge and yellow card thanks to the histrionics of the Argentinian Collace who must be taking tips of Jordi Gomez.
Barnsley tried creating more pressure but City's defence stood firm, David Marshall having the routine task all half of meeting a soft, slow paced header. With nothing to commend in either side, I left the ground with a few City fans at half-time for the neighbouring Metrodome. Most stayed there. Foolishly, I returned to the game thing it would be all change with City now attacking our end.
City, finally, showed more intent and a willingness to play the ball on the floor but let themselves down by failing to get the basics right completing routine passes. A few too many poor touches and stray passes produced audible groans with Joe Ledley, almost resembling Bluto from Popeye, with his beard, guilty of some terrible attempts to switch play or spread the ball wide.
Barnsley were persistent, one effort deflecting off Gyepes to wrong-foot Marshall before missing by a couple of feet and the keeper then spilled a wicked free-kick carried by the wind and was grateful for a Mark Kennedy overhead clearance.
A sign of how limited and desperate City were came with the appearance of Warren Feeney. A nice guy but he's just not good enough, he wants away, City want him to go yet we were forced to turn to him, for McCormack, to try and win the game because our other striking option was Josh Magennis who was dropped by Grimsby while on loan and then had that spell terminated. How can we consider ourselves as promotion candidates when that's the reality of how it is? As expected, Feeney made no difference at all.
Both sides tried to force the game for a win in the closing stages but in the final minute of added time, disaster struck City as Mark Hudson who put on a decent show otherwise unluckily handled and the ball skidded up off the surface. The yellow card seemed harsh as it was far from deliberate but that all paled into insignificance as DICKINSON took a pot shot with the set piece and his effort hit Chopra, standing alone off the five man wall, deflecting the opposite way leaving Marshall helpless.
There is nothing to add. The defence played reasonably well to nullify the hosts but continue to look fragile and unable to keep a clean sheet. The fact that City have now conceded in added time at the end of a match three times in their last four Championship outings is a sign all is not well too. Midfield were again found lacking. Dave Jones was his own worst enemy in failing to address this area over the summer and it is costing. They all tried, Chris Burke gave his all, but it's just not a strong enough unit, particularly in battles.
Up front, it's becoming a worry that Michael Chopra who was on fire a few weeks ago is now a damp squib. He's working hard and showing quality that will surely bring results but it's now 7 goalless outings for the Championship's leading scorer. McCormack wasn't as sharp as he can be but games will bring fitness and he remains an important player.
City fell to 5th, agonisingly behind Swansea and are now falling away from the top 2 automatic spots without looking as if they have it in them to get it back. The question though is how can City and Dave Jones keep effortlessly going from so good to so bad? Dave Jones at Cardiff City never seems to bring consistency, we're either on good runs or bad runs with no in between. This season is a classic case in point with 10 points and top of the league after 4 games followed by the kick in the teeth that was 4 defeats in 5 and some truly terrible football. Back they came with a 6 game free scoring run netting 14 points and looking the part and now here we are with the side looking ordinary in the extreme with successive defeats and 1 point out of 9.
Next up, City are home to bottom club Ipswich next Sunday. Anyone who can predict whether we will see the Jeckyll or Hyde side of Dave Jones' latest outfit is a better man than me. One thing I do know, thanks to the latest collapses, Ali cannot announce as City run out that we are "still the number one team in Wales".
For the record, the bus boys had a grand trip home including a long stop off in Tamworth. I'm still recovering!
Swansea City beat Derby County 1-0 at Liberty Stadium this evening with a late but reportedly deserved winner to jump over Cardiff City into 3rd spot of the Championship, their highest league placing for 26 years.
Cardiff City get their show back on the road after THAT defeat at Swansea a fortnight ago with a tricky trip to Barnsley tomorrow but are boosted by the return of the Championship's joint leading scorers Peter Whittingham and Michael Chopra who missed that game due to injury and suspension respectively. Kevin McNaughton should belatedly start his season which is timely as Adam Matthews is definitely out after a midweek foot injury with Wales Under 21's.
C'MON CITY.
1. Newcastle P 16 PTS 33 2. West Brom P 16 PTS 31 3. Swansea P 17 PTS 28 4. CARDIFF P 16 PTS 27 5. QPR P 16 PTS 27 6. Blackpool P 16 PTS 27 7. Leicester P 16 PTS 27
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.
A 2 minute slice of SFA pop rock ... just before they play a "Best of" Creation set featuring their first 3 albums at the Coal Exchange tomorrow night.
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.
CARDIFF CITY 17 year old starlet Adam Matthews made his Welsh Under 21 bow in a 2-1 deafeat at Bosnia-Hercegovina last night.
Starting the game however, Matthews was withdrawn at the interval with a foot injury. I have wondered whether Dave Jones would start him in Saturday's trip to Barnsley and this midweek jaunt but I suspect the injury news now makes it a racing certainty that Kevin McNaughton will return to action at right back this weekend while the recent struggling Mark Kennedy will continue on the left, hopefully refresheed by a 2 week break.
Ingenious how they do it - watch how these Japanese punters get dropped into scalding hot water ... at least there's a block of ice on hand to cool them down!
The blog covered a summary of Publicity Pete being uupbeat earlier this evening but now you can listen in, or download, the show and hear for yourself.
Messageboards and forums have gone into overload about the precarious state of Cardiff City's finances in recent days, some wild gossip suggesting a meltdown was imminent, speculation that the potential Malaysian investment was in jeopardy and that Sam Hammam is stalling on a deal to restructure the debts owed to him ... sorry Langston Corporation.
Oh yes, it's been a barrel of fun but the question is, is there fire to go with the smoke.
In separate meetings today, the answer from Peter Ridsdale is yes to a point but not really.
This afternoon, he met Cardiff City Supporters Trust and tonight, he was studio guest on the Cardiff City phone-in and his polished politician style message was the same both times.
Yes; - Cashflow is a problem at Cardiff City but it laywas has been in his time and now is no worse at all. - Hammam did stll returning papers and being in contact with the club but they have now resumed in the past couple of days to the extent that Peter Ridsdale believes the paperwork could be concluded and signed off by this weekend. - With these matters resolved, new investement and changes could quickly roll in. Publicity Pete confirmed he is in discussions with two potential investors and believes they could reach fruition quite quickly.
Hopefully they will allay recent fears but clearly, these problems have prevented Cardiff City getting new loan players to cover the loss of Steve McPhail or a further striker behind Jay Bothroyd so these matters cannot be concluded quickly enough.
Feeney has had more games for Swansea than Cardiff in 3 years as a Bluebird!
CARDIFF CITY striker Warren Feeney has joined Tony Capaldi in publicly declaring he wants away from Cardiff City in the January transfer window. With few exceptions and without malice, most supporters hope they leave as well as they are surplus to requirements, a fair cost on the playing budget and it may enable frsh faces for the second half of the season.
Feeney is a trier but despite his international successes with Northern Ireland, he has never looked a Championship standard striker managing just 5 starts and 7 subs outings in over 2 and a half years with The Bluebirds. City followers have always been bewildered why he was brought to the club on a lucrative 3.5 year deal which expires next summer, those fears have been proven. Always overshadowed completely by other strikers at the club, he has also been affected by injuries.
It was ironic that his only successful times since joining the club has been loan periods elsewhere. However a permanent move to Swansea City after loan success was scuppered by injury, last season at Dundee United was curtailed by more injury and a possible permanent summer to Leeds United failed for the same reason. Now fit again, Feeney has managed one fleeting outing off the bench this term.
Talking to Irish press at the weekend, the likeable Feeney said, “The window is coming up in January and we'll see what happens there and take things on in the New Year. I want to get out there and I need to get playing to feel good about myself again. I've another six weeks to go and then I'll be looking to get something sorted out. The move to Leeds fell through because of the problem with the hip but that's sorted now … … I'm not one who is going to sit there and pick up the money, I wouldn't do that because I want to play."
The storms that battered Britain over the weekend at least made these kite surfers happy as it fulfilled their ambition to clear their local Sussex pier ... check this footage.
Football fans are an impassioned and fickle bunch at the best of times but those who follow struggling Grimsby Town have experienced more lows and woe than most.
Therefore, this open letter to the players of Grimsby Town which appeared on one of their messageboards (www.thefishy.co.uk) sums up how much the game affects us all when our team are just garbage. Very funny too.
Dear Players of Grimsby Town FC
I am writing with regard to my absolute astonishment and disbelief as to the sheer magnitude of your complete lack of talent and failure to carry out the job for which you are paid to do. I am not aware of any swear word or other derogatory phrase in my current vocabulary which comes close to a description of your ‘performance’ (and I use that term loosely) this afternoon, but let me just say that you have collectively reached a level of inadequacy and ineptitude that neither I nor modern science had previously considered possible.
In fact I recall a time, in my youth, when I decided to call in sick at work and instead spent the entire day in my one bedroom flat wearing nothing but my underpants, eating toast and wánking furiously over second-rate Scandinavian porn. Yet somehow, I still managed to contribute more to my employer in that one Andrex-filled day than you complete bunch of toss-baskets have contributed to this club in your entire time here.
I would genuinely like to know how you pathetic little pÃssflaps sleep at night, knowing full well that you have taken my money and that of several thousand others and delivered precisely fúck all in return. I run a business myself, and I believe I could take any 4,000 of my customers at random; burn down their houses, impregnate their wives and then dismember their children before systematically sending them back in the post, limb-by-limb, and still ensure a level of customer satisfaction which exceeds that which I have experienced at Blundell Park at any time so far this season.
You are a total disgrace, not only to your profession, not only to the human race, but to nature itself. This may sound like an exaggeration, but believe me when I say that I have passed kidney stones which have brought me a greater level of pleasure and entertainment than watching each of you worthless excuses for professional footballers attempt to play a game you are clearly incapable of playing, week-in, week-out.
I considered, for a second, that I was perhaps being a little too harsh. But then I recalled that I have blindly given you all the benefit of the doubt for too long now. Yes, for too long you have failed to earn the air you’ve been breathing by offering any kind of tangible quality either as footballers or as people in general. As such, I feel it’s only fair that your supply runs out forthwith.
I trust, at this precise moment in time, that Mr Fenty is in his office tapping away on the Easyjet web site booking you all one-way flights to Zurich, complete with an overnight stay with our cheese eating friends at Dignitas. Don’t bother packing your toothbrush – you won’t need it.
In the event that our beloved chairman can’t afford the expense (understandable given that he’s soon going to have to assemble a new squad from scratch), then I am prepared to sell my family (including my unborn child) to a dubious consortium of Middle Eastern businessmen in order to pay for the flights. Christ, I’ll drive you there myself, one-by one, without sleep, if I have to.
Failing that, understanding that most dubious Middle Eastern businessmen are tied-up purchasing Premier League football clubs, I ask you to please take matters into your hands. Use your imagination, guys – strangle yourselves or cover yourself in tinfoil and take a fork to a nearby plug socket, or something. Just put yourselves and us fans out of our collective misery.
So, in summary, you pack of repugnant, sputum-filled, invertebrate bástards; leave this club now and don’t you fúcking dare look back. You’ve consistently demonstrated less passion and desire than can commonly be found within the contents of a sloth’s scrótum, so frankly you can just all fúck off – don’t pass go, don’t collect your wages, don’t ever come back to this town again.
I look forward to you serving me at my local McDonald’s drive-thru in the near future.
Cardiff City's defence have lacked pace, cover and composure a feww too many times this season and a significant reason for that has been the absence of Kevin McNuaghton who tore ankle ligaments in a pre-season home friendly against Celtic.
Today, he played 45 minutes against Hereford United reserves and although City lost 2-0, McNaughton was in fine form and withdrawn after 45 minutes to save himself for Saturday's trip to Barnsley.
There's a strong probability he will start that game but will it be right or left back? Mark Kennedy has looked jaded and vulnerable recently but a fortnight's break should have recharged his batteries but Kev is destined to play on the left this season. On the right side, Adam Matthews has stamped his mark but he may be rested from time to time and considering he is in Bosnia tomorrow playing for Wales Under 21's, Dave Jones may decide to rest him after getting back.
Either way, Cardiff City followers will be delighted to see SuperKev back in the blue colours at last.
CARDIFF CITY's second string and youngsters surprisingly came off second best against The Bulls, losing 2-0 at the Vale Training Complex.
City included Kevein McNaughton, Riccy Scimeca, Solomon Taiwo, Warren Feeney,Tony Capaldi and Miguel Comminges but it was Hereford who fairly dominated the encounter going ahead in the first 15 minutes and sealing victory with a late goal. In between, there was not a great deal going on for City but with McNuaghton back, it was a worthy run out.
Not content with prising Aaron Ramsey away from the club before he'd played a season's football - with Cardiff City's hierarchy accepting a ridiculous £4.8M fee and no sell on clauses for a player whose worth looks many time more that already - it is being reported that Arsenal are preparing for a similar bid for Adam Matthews in the forthcoming January transfer window.
The 17 year old has had an astonishing rise after not even having a first team squad number last term. He has now completed 12 Championship games, is keeping established players out of the team, has scored from the halfway line, has a long throw that causes problems and is exciting when he joins attacks, is regarded as a key member of our defence and linked up with the Wales full squad for the 3-0 weekend bashing of Scotland to acclimatise him for the future even though he is yet to feature for the Under 21's.
It's therefore inevitable that he will catch the eye. He certainly has the potential and ability to join a top Premiership outfit although Cardiff City fans will hope, for once, we get to enjoy some time with one of our Academy boys instead of lsoing one again at the first signs of interest.
You can listen in, or download, this evening's show via the link below for the latest news and views on the club. The show ended early due to a studio fire alarm.
It’s a decision that will be celebrated by the Kilted Hoardes who demanded nothing less after travelling to South Wales with many exiting long before the game ended. Scotland’s only problem now is can take over and restore their fortunes? Unlike Wales who have also been poor, they don’t seem to have the talent coming through to make the job one to savour.
Still, that’s their problem, Wales suddenly seem to have a bit of a future.
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.
Thoroughly enjoyed this doc of Athlete lead singer Joel and his father retracing the steps of their family who played key roles in World War 2 at Arnhem and insipred Athlete's latest single.
Very emotive ... all the more so watching it on Armistice Day.
Ipswich's out of favour midfielder is being linked with a loan move and a view to a permanent signing to Cardiff City acoording to this morning's Daily Mirror.
With Steve McPhail absent until February and Cardiff City's midfield alarmingly uncreative at Swansea last weekend in his absence, it is natural that Dave Jones could be looking at such a player.
Garvan has not played for the Suffolk side since August, out of favvour with boss Roy Keane and maligned by the fans who cite a lack of pace, but at his best, he can be a similar type to McPhail. He has always shown up well when facing City.
He last played for his club side in an early seasojn 2-0 defeat at Ipswich which sww Keane announce post-game that some players would not play for him again - Garvan was clearly in that camp as he has not even been on Ipswich's bench since. However he declined a loan move to Colchester last month electing to fight for a first team place instead.
At 21, he has experience having started 147 league games for Ipswich and scored 13 times too.
