I met this bloke with a didgeridoo and he was playing Dancing Queen on it. I thought, 'That's Aboriginal.'
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This lorry full of tortoises collided with a van full of terrapins.. It was a turtle disaster.
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I told my girlfriend I had a job in a bowling alley. She said 'Tenpin?' I said, 'No, permanent.'
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I went in to a pet shop. I said, 'Can I buy a goldfish?' The guy said, 'Do you want an aquarium?' I said, 'I don't care what star sign it is.'
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I bought some Armageddon cheese today, and it said on the packet. 'Best before End'
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I went to buy a watch, and the man in the shop said 'Analogue?' I said 'No, just a watch.'
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I went into a shop and I said, 'Can someone sell me a kettle.' The bloke said 'Kenwood' I said, 'Where is he then?'
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My mate is in love with two schoolbags. He's bi-satchel.
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I went to the doctor. I said to him 'I'm frightened of lapels.' He said, 'You've got cholera.'
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I met the bloke who invented crosswords today. I can't remember his name, its P something T something R.
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I was reading this book today, The History of Glue. I couldn't put it down.
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I phoned the local ramblers club, but the bloke who answered just went on and on.
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The recruitment consultant asked me 'What do you think of voluntary work? I said 'I wouldn't do it if you paid me.'
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I was in the jungle and there was this monkey with a tin opener. I said, 'You don't need a tin opener to peel a banana.' He said, 'No, this is for the custard.'
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This policeman came up to me with a pencil and a piece of very thin paper. He said, 'I want you to trace someone for me..'
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I told my mum that I'd opened a theatre. She said, 'Are you having me on?' I said, 'Well I'll give you an audition, but I'm not promising you anything..'
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I phoned the local builders, I said to them 'Can I have a skip outside my house?' He said, 'I'm not stopping you!'
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This cowboy walks in to a German car showroom and he says 'Audi!'
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I was driving up the motorway and my boss phoned me and he told me I'd been promoted. I was so shocked I swerved the car. He phoned me again to say I'd been promoted even higher and I swerved again. He then made me managing director and I went right off into a tree. The police came and asked me what had happened. I said 'I careered off the road'
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I visited the offices of the RSPCA today. It's tiny: you couldn't swing a cat in there.
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I was stealing things in the supermarket while balanced on the shoulders of a couple of vampires. I was charged with shoplifting on two counts.
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I bought a train ticket to France and the ticket seller said 'Eurostar?' I said 'Well I've been on telly but I'm no Dean Martin.
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I phoned the local gym and I asked if they could teach me how to do the splits. He said, 'How flexible are you?' I said, 'I can't make Tuesdays or Thursdays.'
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I went to the local video shop and I said, 'Can I borrow Batman Forever?' He said, 'No, you'll have to bring it back tomorrow'
JASON KOUMAS has given his first official interview after returning to The Mighty Mighty Bluebirds telling Cardiff City player (the video section of the official club website) that it was the only place he wanted to be.
Hoping to rekindle his hugely successful loan 5 seasons ago, the 30 year old said, "It`s great to be back, it's probably been a long time waiting to be honest and I can`t wait to get started. I`ve had a bit of a tough time at Wigan, especially the last few months. I`ve been injured, been out a lot. I`ve just gone a bit stale there. It was agreed that I wanted a change. I spoke to Dave Jones quite a bit and told Wigan there was only one place I will go to and that was Cardiff."
So why Dave Jones?
"He just lets me play, he gives me a freedom. I enjoy playing for him, he`s got great coaching staff. He is the reason I`ve come back here - it`s definitely Dave Jones and I can`t wait to get started again."
However Koumas revealed that he is upto 10 days away for playing so will not feature in Sunday's league opener at home to Sheffield United, Tuesday's Carling Cup tie with Burton Albion and possibly next weekend's first awayday at Derby County.
Would you believe it? After weeks of doom, gloom, misery and bad news, Cardiff City are starting to redeem themselves just as the season is to kick-off with tonbight's announcement that JASON KOUMAS has signed a 1 year loan deal and can play once the embargo restrictions are lifted.
Koumas earned legend status in a 1 year 2005/06 loan spell with City scoring some stupendous goals and putting on some of the best performances I have ever seen from anyone in a City shirt.
In his last spell at City, Koumas played 42 league matches and scored 12 - all of them stunners! He created many more.
At Wigan since 2007 after they paid £5.3M for his services, he played 75 Premier League matches but fell out of favour with boss (and ex-Swansea manager Roberto Martinez) so did not play any league match in 2010.
Now, still 30 years of aghe, Koumas is back to hopefully do it all over again. Is it a mistake to return to a place of former glory. We'll soon find out but it has ignited City fans - this was the fillip they needed.
The last time Koumas was seen in a City shirt, what great memories
The sound bites are encouraging that, finally, Cardiff City are making moves to lift the transfer embargo which is in place due to outstanding debts.
The embargo has crippled City pre-season and badly unsettled fans and players alike. New faces Tom Heaton and Danny Drinkwater haven't been able to complete registrations and cannot play competitive football until the embargo is removed, current players cannot sign new contracts and Dave Jones is helpess to bring in badly needed extra personnel for his squad.
However the Malaysians yet again appear to be dipping their hands in their pockets when other won't and have removed one of the three hurdles causing the embargo by paying off players who left the club this summer, many owed one month's pay.
City now have to settle a £1.3M tax bill and pay Charlton £500,000 balance owed for the OTT fee for Captain Mark Hudson. However it appears this could all be concluded in the next couple of days. If it is, the lift it will give the club would be enormous. Here's hoping then.
“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.
Cardiff City are believed to have declined Nottingham Forest's perceived "trying it on" offer for Bluebirds creator and scorer Peter Whittingham.
Whitts incredibly bagged 25 last term and was in Championship team of the season in a year in which he fianlly lived up to his undoubted talent.
The player, in all honesty, should be worth circa £3M but out of contract in 12 months and with City dealing with cash problems, Nottingham Forest launched a formal bid of £1M. Cheeky would be an understatement.
While I got a sneakly feeling City may consider any serious offer, it's no surprise that one was batted away.
City's big league kick-off, a Sky tv game against Sheffield United this Sunday lunchtime, is fast approaching but still we don't know who half the side will be.
With an embargo still in place until City sort out some taxing matters and debts to other clubs, Tom Heaton and Danny Drinkwater cannot be in the squad, other triallists and potential signings cannot be added and new contracts cannot be signed off for 8 key players out of contract next summer. Add in Steve McPhail being injured and Jay Bothroyd withdrawn from last Staurday's friendly loss to Deportivo La Coruna having missed just about all pre-season and it's a squad literally down to bare bones which is no way to start a season.
However strong rumours persist that, thanks to the Malaysians investors, those debts will be resolved this week. At this stage, City fans can only pray that comes to fruition.
It is also hinted that 30 year old diminuitive Celtic defender Lee Naylor is linking up with the club today for training and will sign as soon as the embargo is lifted too. The player is well known to Dave Jones having been part of his Premiership squad at Wolves so the link is no surprise. Potentially, he's a worthy replacement for Mark Kennedy and would represent good business by the gaffer.
Cardiff’s Big Weekend has been a major event for several years but while I have nil interest in the vast over-priced fairground that appears around Cardiff City Hall, the free mini music festival is always worth a look.
Friday night is local group night but I was already committed to a work social night so missed Los Camesinos and The Blackout (not that I had real desire to see them), Saturday was World Day and headlined by the reggae cheese of Chaka Demus and Pliers but yesterday’s bill came to a crescendo with ATHLETE and FEEDER, two groups I like musically and love live.
The Council may ban alcohol being permitted on site (you can buy plenty inside at £3.50 a pint) but they still permit hoardes of local chavs, p*ssheads and kids who can only text speak and abuse. However found a good spot and enjoyed.
Athlete were outstanding running through what was essentially a Greatest Hits style set. How they’ve never been as big as the likes of Snow Patrol, Coldplay and co, I’ll just never know as I find them far better. Musically they were tight and superb and highly appreciated by the crowd.
Feeder are regarded as a Welsh band led by Newport’s Grant Nicholas so the crowd built up for their set and was seriously packed as they arrived on-stage. I’ve never seen it so busy there. They came on late with problems and the sound was never right for them all night, not that too many cared. Their set was a mix of hits, tracks from their rock roots return Renegades and a couple of fan faves.
Both were superb but Athlete shone brightest as far as I was concerned.
I’m not ready for this, I still haven’t got over Wembley and those B words … Bloody Blackpool.And the Summeris Horribilis at Cardiff City fires nobody with enthusiasm and passion to get going again but here we are, still in July (but a cloudy Cardiff day) heading to CCS to watch City take on one time Spanish wonders Deportivo La Coruna.
And what a dreadful summer it’s been, the only comfort is that finally (I hope) we have investors looking to run the club as a viable business but that means a sorry mess for the time being as they attempt to unravel the untold damage caused by and Messrs Hammam and Ridsdale.When I saw certain noteworthy fans (and the usual suspects) were meeting Hammam and laughably drumming up support for him to re-enter the club, it was one of the few times in my life I seriously questioned why I bother with City.How desparate.
To date, a number of deadbeats have gone (half of whom should never have been here in the first place – yes, I mean you Feeney!) and the local hero left midst acrimony as Joe Ledley opted for instant riches - and no compensation for his hometown club – and forgot what he really wanted was Premier League football – as he joined Celtic.Their Champions League embarrassment and imminent exit before the season starts does feel like good karma but best wishes Joe and thanks.Others may want to leave (Chopra) or may yet leave (if the club are offered enough cash upfront).
The tax man is owned money, Sunderland are owed money, Charlton are owed money, Motherwell are owed money, former and current players are owed money so City find themselves under transfer embargo unable to sign anyone, unable to confirm new contracts for existing players.I’d far prefer it if the embargo just meant that we weren’t allowed to play Mark Hudson until Charlton were paid off.However City are now able to play Man U loan man Danny Drinkwater simply because the squad is below 20 players.
It’s unhealthy but it’s clear to see why the Malaysians need and deserve time to undo the endless wrongs.We may have to accept patience and consolidation for a while but, nevertheless, the football side cannot be neglected in the meantime as the club is nothing without that.
Canton pubs quiet pre-game, plenty of pavement room walking to the ground and the club not announcing the attendance were all give away clues of a crowd of 5,000 or less (hard to tell what it was from my seat) with Ali booming out his usual request to make some noiiiissssseeee met only by muted responses and seagulls circling.
Jay Bothroyd has missed most of pre-season but declared his readiness 24 hours earlier yet he was absent again, a worry with the season 8 days away for such a pivotal player.For most City fans, it was the first sightings of the shaven headed Drinkwater who impressed in patches (but still needs to learn how to ayatollah – just resting your hands on your head isn’t quite right Danny!) but, the question was, who was the tall Jason Fowler left back lookalike?
Thanks to mobile phone technology, we soon discovered it Toni Kallio (a 32 yr old Swiss player just released by Fulham who played 8 times for Sheff Utd last season on loan – was he Swiss Toni??).The player showed a couple of decent touches but was either well off the pace or had no pace (I suspect it was the latter) and was caught out quite easily.
City’s first half side was Marshall; McNaughton-Blake-Hudson-Kollio; Burke-Rae-Drinkwater-Whittingham; Chopra-McCormack.
For the opening segment, they acquitted themselves well.Competent at the back, Rae and Drinkwater doing well in the middle and a bit of zip up front.The Spaniards, rather predictably, liked to have the ball, pass it around without great purpose at times as long as they kept and bided their time for openings.City tended to be a touch more direct and break and that nearly produced the opener as Ross McCormack was clear but never quite looked confident enough and sent his effort bouncing narrowly wide.
The pattern of the game established from the start, the only thing that really changed after the midway point of the first half was a drop in pace and intensity, typical pre-season fayre so, sure enough, we got to the interval without either keeper having a single piece of work to do other than the odd goal kick.The only mild entertainment was the “Los Herculinos” keeper doing passable sounding impressions of cartoon character Mexican Roadrunner as he barked occasional instructions to his team-mates.Anyone got a pillow?
Half-time: CardiffCity 0 Deportivo La Coruna 0
Half-time talking point amongst the faithful was the catering and beer prices being put up again.£3.30 for a pint FFS, £2.60 for a Clarks Pie.That’s enough to ensure I’ll wait until after the game unless gasping during the season.When the newly approved pub is built outside, I’m quite sure several of our flock will leave at the interval and head there for a drink instead.
The teams returned for the 2nd half with City changing Marshall for the ultra vocal Tom Heaton (quiet Tom, some of us were trying to snooze as the sun came out and glowed on us) while triallist Kallio must have got three X’s from the judges and the next audition contestant was sent on.
We now had Gregory Vignal (29 year old Frenchman who has been a bit part player in the past few years for Liverpool, Rangers, Southampton, Portsmouth and Birmingham for whom he started 6 times in the Premier League last season).Vignal was short enough to be a City defender and passed out of defence well, he also got forward more than Kallio but was also caught out at the back.In truth, neither player really impressed but Vignal likely edged it.
The game was now at complete stalemate with Cardiff with neither side really creating anything but the Spaniards getting a couple more shots in (but wide) while a procession of changes took the last remaining flow out of the contest.Over the next half hour, City also introduced Gerrard, Gyepes, Matthews and latest Academy prospect Nat Jarvis.
City fans were now just chatting amongst themselves paying scant attention to proceedings on the pitch but out of the blue, the Spaniards pinched a win in the final 7 minutes with a very well worked goal in which City’s defence were carved wide open.
The one big name in Depotivo’s team, Juan Carlos Valeron, has come on as a late sub and immediately made impact as his pass found City (and Vignal) nowhere on the left, three lightning passes saw Caleron in front of goal and certain to score yet he laid it across goal for another sub, DIONI, to do that at the far post instead.
Some City fans headed for the exits (it wasn’t to beat the crowd away) while those who stayed on saw City almost level it as a cross from the left (Vignal?) evade two defenders in the middle and fall perfectly for Jervis (serenaded by some fans with ‘Are you Bothroyd in disguise?’) but he wasn’t expecting to get it, the ball hitting his shin and then side netting.
That, thankfully, ended City’s worst pre-season for many years.Hapless was not the word.Having to arrange a camp and friendly last-minute in Portugal after the Malaysian tour fell though, City did beat BathCity in the opener but promptly lost everything else.
Next week, we’re off again with a tough home opener on Sky to Sheffield United and fears of a rough old season could be founded even if Cardiff are effectively only Ledley (and, arguably) Kennedy down on last season’s team which was good enough to be at the top end all season.
It’s clear City still need cover for Jay, a central midfielder of some substance and a left back for starters.
They may yet have to accept having none of those at all.
Since the blog took a hibernation, DEVO my first music love, relased a new album Something for Everyone, their first for 20 years and instantly showed with groups of the same genre how it's done.
Had a summer hiatus and am still not over the Blackpool loss at Wembley.
Cardiff City seem to be the never ending soap akin to Eastenders, it's full of farce, pain and misery but I still love'em.
Today sees the first and only home friendly against Spanish outfit Deportivo La Coruna and with the league season starying next weekend, here we go again.
It’s being reported this evening that Ipswich Town are returning with their third, and possibly final offer, for Cardiff City striker Michael Chopra, a bid exceeding £4M which may reluctantly force Dave Jones’ hand to sell the player.
Chops had a hit and miss season with The Bluebirds after his £4M capture from Premiership Sunderland but is a fans firm favourite and still managed 21 goals in 2009/10 despite two barren spells.
Ipswich boss Roy Keane, his manager at Sunderland, sees Chops as the perfect foil for their prospect 17 year old striker Connor Wickham and help Ipswich put in a promotion bid. Having declined a second bid of £3.75M last week, it is claimed Dave Jones will sell and turn to Swindon Town’s Charlie Austin as a replacement.
Austin had a sensational season for the League One side scoring 19 in 29 starts after arriving from non-league Poole Town.
Cardiff fans will be disappointed and hope it doesn’t happen but is it a sign of more prudence and business sense in the running of the club?
Griffin's a right back, spent the second half of last season on loan at Reading when they went on that fantastic run from a relegation spot to play-off challenger and doesn't seem to be wanted by Stoke.
They reckon Cardiff are offering the better financial package but appear to be bankiong on the fact he was there last season to help their cause.
From the Wokingham Press Royals fight Cardiff City for Andy Griffin By Jonny Fordham June 04, 2010
Reading FC are still confident of landing Andy Griffin despite interest from Championship rivals Cardiff City.
Dave Jones's beaten play-off finalists have the financial edge on Royals, who have been trying to sign the Stoke City right-back since he ended his successful spell on loan at the club last month.
Although Reading are unwilling to pay a fee, director of football Nick Hammond could offer the promise of a cash windfall if Griffin helped the club win promotion next season.
One of the nationals claim Celtic have offered him in excess of £20k weekly. That's about the minimum I expected bearing in mind they get him for free. It's still a bargain package.
However, as I suspected, he's not rushing any decision and is apparently going on holidays to Portugal for a while anyway. He may yet also visit clubs in Greece (Panathanaikos) and Turkey (Galatasary and Fenerbache) as well as Rangers having also been to Roma in Italy.He's either collecting AirMiles or getting as many bargain flights with Ryanair as possible!
It's interesting that with so many Premier League clubs reportedly interested, none seem to be making any move so far while this is going on.
Personally, as much as I'd love Joe to stay, I don't believe we could or should compete with those sort of wages and I suspect Joe is just not willing to spend another year in the Championship, he's ready to push on now.
I just hope he makes the right football choice, not the richest money choice and, of course, I do hope he goes tro the Prem and Cardiff City get some benefit from it too.
Joe Ledley seems determined to clock up air miles while he decides where his footballing future lies. After visiting Glasgow on Monday to see Celtic comes news that he's off to Rome and talks with AS Roma tomorrow.
No doubt his agent has been touting him and the attractiveness of no fee being involved for Cardiff City if he leaves for a new club in Scotland or Europe. I just hope Joe makes the right decision and it is a footballing one.
It must now be increasingly unlikely that he will stay at Cardiff. Both fans and the club would ideally like him to go to the Premier League where he has many admirers too so don't be surprised if he checks out more clubs before making a final decision.
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.
As Cardiff City fans dream of the (still remote) possibility of Craig Bellamy donning a Bluebirds shirt next season, they may now have to face the nightmare of losing star and icon Joe Ledley to Celtic for nothing!
Ledley has been in VIP talks with the Scottish SPL side today and is already believed to be heading north to Celtic Park for a tour and further discussion.
Cardiff City would dearly like to keep Joe but he is out of contract and attracting the interest of several Premiership sides but it would cost them compensation which does not apply if Joe moves to Scottland. Celtic believe this gives them the edge as they can offer higher wages gambling that they can cash in by selling Joe to the Premiership in 12 months time. For Joe, Celtic offer Champions League football.
Scottish sources are very positive that a deal is very close.
It may be a story with more talk than reality but Cardiff City's aim to somehow bring Craig Bellamy to the club had a touch more realism about it as the player himself told BBC that if Manchester City do not wish to keep him, he does not wish to consider another club in England or Europe and becuase his family live in Cardiff, it would limit his next move to only one place.
It seems incredulous Bellamy, after a stunning Premiership season, would want to drop to the Championship with Cardiff but he has fallen out with the manager (Mancini) and with a couple of the Board members too so there is repair work to be done.
Cardiff could not afford a transfer fee or Bellamy's wages so any move despends solely on it somehow being a loan or Bellamy managing to sever his contract.
I still think he will resolve his problems at Manchester City and probably last longer than Mancini anyway but jhis quotes today will spark another round of gossip and, in South Wales, mild excitement.
The Sarf Lan-danners of Millwall won today's League One play-off final at Wembley beating Swindon 1-0, recovering for their play-off final defeat 12 months ago, to become the 24th team in next season's Championship.
It has a distinctly nostalgic feel about it - not necessarily in a good way -with Cardiff City, Leeds United, Millwall, Portsmouth, Swansea City and Bristol City all in the same division.
The 'look' last time all these clubs were on equal terms
A real throwback to the 1970's and, no doubt, media will be quick to pick on on the potential for problems. In fact. I've already heard 1 national radio station discussing exactly that.
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.
For as long as I’ve been alive, Cardiff City have talked about a new start, a dream, transparency, keeping the faith and the end of its problems … and then of course, we get the reality and crisis until a rescue or takeover is mounted and we’re promised the very same things.
However, Cardiff City Football Club, despite having to resolve its jumbo-sized debts courtesy of the regimes of Sam Hammam and Peter Ridsdale who both spent unwisely with other people’s money, do finally seem to be on the verge of something exciting and which could have the necessary stability behind it.
Time will tell if this is another phoney chapter or the greatest era yet in modern times with the club as today’s EGM needed just 15 minutes to formally approve the investment of T.G. and Vincent Tan while formally saying goodbye (and informally saying good riddance!) to Peter Ridsdale, Keith Harris and Alan Flitcroft.
THE SPECIALS sing Dawning of a New Era in homage to T.G. and Cardiff City of course!
In came a new Board with T.G. as Chairman, Vincent Tan is onside too along with Steve Borley, Alan Whitely and Paul Guy. Gerthin Jenkins was confirmed at new Chief Executive and we have a new Finance Director too.
In what will be seen as a marker and statement of intent, T.G. said how proud he was to head the club and that it will be 2 nations united (Malaysia and Wales) but that he is aiming for a Top Two place as he couldn't put himself through the play-offs again. He promised an exciting future but emphasised how the club must control its finances.
Time will tell if these fine words are backed up by investment for a major promotion assault but for now, let's just be thankful Ridsdale has gone and the club can look forward. That'll do for me!
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.
A Leicester fan signs his "tribute"(?) to Yann Kermogant's fantasticaly stupid penalty last night at CCS that cost his side the two legged tie and sent Cardiff City laughing, singing, crying and dancing all the way home knowing just 90 minutes at Wembley stands between them and the Premier League.
A superb performance by Cardiff, controlling the first half, fighting a rearguard action in the 2nd, applying a spell of pressure which led to a wonderful goal and holding out against a late onslaught takes them one step closer to Wembley and 2 games away from a historic date with the Premier League.
3,000 Bluebirds, myself included, sang their hearts out in a Walker Stadium crowd of almost 30,000 making most of the noise and atmosphere as Cardiff recorded a hard fought but deserved win as City created more and better chances with Chops hitting the post, Jay hitting the bar, other close shaves but Dave Marshall had to produce two stunnignlate saves to preserve the lead.
The winner, on 78 minutes, came from a Peter Whittingham, wide angled, 25 yarder which comprehensively beat Foxes keeper Chris Weale at his near post. A stunning strike which was Beckham-esque and would still be talked about had it been netted by a Brazilian or a Premier League star ... which Whitts might be with City next season! That was his 24th of the campaign, truly incredible.
The 2nd leg will be at a seething passionate Cardiff City Stadium on Wednesday night.
I always found it, in keeping with that crooked spire, one of the weirdest away towns to visit as the pubs were quaint, the townsfolk contained some of the ugliest folk I’ve ever seen (many resembled a scientific chemical test gone wrong), a fair portion of the home fans were the nastiest around hanging about on street corners looking out for Cardiff fans to pick off (a classic small town mentality amongst them) and one bizarre experience where my brother completely lost the plot in a way I’ve never seen before or since (thankfully). He went AWOL after the game, somehow ran the 7 miles from the town to the M1 and was picked up on the M1 hard shoulder. Only in Chesterfield!
However there were highlights as the ground, including;
A big open away end
Chesterfield fans running a full length terrace towards us at half-time until City ran over and banged on a corrugated iron fence separating them and us (the deafening thudding from City fans was enough to send them scarpering 100 yards quicker than they ran towards us and into another terrace behind the opposite goal).
Danny Gabbidon scoring a back-heeled flick at a corner as we headed to promotion
Gareth Ainsworth doing cart-wheels, back flicks and bowing as he was felled for free-kicks
A game where it peed down non-stop and monsoon like on us and every City fan was soaked through from head to toe. I’ve only ever been wetter at a football match once in my life (Chelsea in the early 80’s) made worse as we were 2 up early on (Kevin Evans scoring a 30 yard cracker in front of us) but we ended up drawing.
It's been announced that DEVO#s new album, the first in more than a decade, will be released on June 15th.
DEVO fans were allowed to vote for their favourite 12 tracks from a list of 16 so the final order is awaited. However the simple but effective album cover has been shown - Eat My Helmet indeed!
Two stunning goals from Jay Bothroyd helps play-off bound Cardiff City to defeat Sheffield Wednesday and increase the Owls' relegation fears. (UK users only)
Cardiff City’s leading scorers Peter Whittingham and Michael Chopra have been recognized by their fellow pro’s by being named in the PFA Championship Team of the Year.
Whitts has had an unbelievable season scoring 23 goals, quite amazing for a left winger and more than doubling his career goals tally. Chops has netted 17 but has not been as effective in front of goal for some time but the voting takes place in January which is when he was the Championship’s leading scorer.
Players from just 5 clubs were named with Swansea City’s Ashley Williams set to be the only player from a club outside the Top 6. :>)
Championship team of the year:
Lee Camp (Nottingham Forest), Chris Gunter (Nottingham Forest), Fabricio Coloccini (Newcastle), Ashley Williams (Swansea), Jose Enrique (Newcastle), Graham Dorrans (West Brom), Peter Whittingham (Cardiff), Kevin Nolan (Newcastle), Charlie Adam (Blackpool), Andy Carroll (Newcastle), Michael Chopra (Cardiff).
Relegation outfit turned play-off challengers have flown up the Championship with 9 wins in 11 games and showed they're now a good outfit in drawing 0-0 at the Cardiff City Stadium at the weekend.
While it was mathematically possible that they could have passed Cardiff, any remote chance ended this evening as The Royals lost 2-1 at home to Newcastle, a result which also confirms The Georides as deserved league Champions. Kevin Nolan blasted a first half double before Reading were brought back into the game courtesy of an own goal but it wasn't enough.
Cardiff need 3 points from their final 3 matches to confirm their play-off place and may not even need that as that depends on rivals winning every match.
A game that probably sent Bank Holiday viewers into an armchair early evening snooze was irrelevant as Cardiff City took another step to scuring their place in the play-offs for the Premiership as they held Nottingham Forest to a goalless draw at the City Ground in a match televised live on the BBC - a result that confirmed Newcastle United's return to the Premiership at the first attempt.
The result was fair, both sides had strong spells, both had chances, both looked happy enough with the draw and both understandably eventually looked tired - in Cardiff's case, iheir small and depleted squad were playing their 10th match in 31 days and 4th in 10 days .
City needed the point with all 5 sides who can still overhauling managaing afternoon wins ahead of Cardiff's 5:20pm, kick-off but this result keep them in 4th, 4 points ahead of Swansea in the next spot and, more importantly, 6 points in front of Blackpool, the side in 7th with just 4 games remaining.
Once again, Cardiff had to send out a patched up side with minimal options on the bench. Along with Burke, Hudson, Gyepes and McNaughton, Peter Whittingham was absent with injury today as well but Joe Ledley was starting for the first dual since his January dual hip op. McCormack and Etuhu were asked to be the widemen.
Nottingham Forest had equalled a club record with 12 successive home wins and City's point prevented them breaking it but at the same time, they narrowly avoided 7 successive away defeats at the weekend. That away form left them looking for promotion via the play-offs, like City, but it could have been more. They have done well in their first season up from League One under Billy Davies but certainly have spent to be where they are too.
Despite the travel, late kick-off and live tv, 1,300 Bluebirds travelled to Nottingham and were heard clearly throughout amongst the 22,185 crowd.
City made a superb start and controlled the game for the first half hour, looking for more organised, composed and creative their their hosts. A barrage of corners, crosses and efforts on goals, Camp forcing a Ledley shot and then a Blake down header over the bar while McCormack's inswinging free kick had to be scrambled off the line.
Forest struggled but had the best two chances of the half, both resulting from Cardiff mistakes. Darcy Blake missed a header on halfway allowing forever City legend Rob Earnshaw away on goal but Earnie's effort was blocked by Marshall. Earnie, never forgetting his roots, ayatollahed a couple of times for City fans. Then a McPhail free-kick error sent Forest away on the break with Cohen somehow playing an air shot to miss the ball sent to the far post.
The second half was more undistinguished than the opening period but Cardiff rarely threatened and Forest had their moments. However the main talking point was an amazing late bust up between City keeper Dave Marshall and defencer Anthony Gerrard who argued over a cross, squared up, pushed and handed off each other - arguments rain over whether that was plain stupid and awful or showed how they care for the cause. A couple of minutes later, the two tangled again for a cross but Marshall punched away and gave opposiing Dexter lackstock a bust nose too - good enough!
In between, Marsahll made a couple of smart stops and one excellent save denying Blackstock clear on goal after another Blake mistake. There were some niggly moments and bookings for both sides.
This was Cardiff's first 0-0 of the season but, today, everybody was happy enough with it.
Although their destiny is entirely in their hands, Cardiff City fans (and manager and players if they're honest) will take an interest in other results.
Two Championship games were played today with contrasting fortunes from a Bluebirds perspective.
In a lunchtime game, Blackpool scored 3 late goals to win 4-2 at Scunthorpe and continue their recent impressive run as that was their third successive win. By way of total contrast, Leicester City suffered their fourth successive defeat to go from play-off certainties to the most vulnerable Top 6 side. Those results leave The Foxes just 1 point ahead of Blackpool with 5 games each to go.
Cardiff's lead over Blackpool has reverted to 5 points as their depleted side go into a massive Easter programme at home to 5th placed Swansea and away to 3rd place Nottingham Forest tomorrow evening and Monday evening with both games live on tv (Sky and BBC respectively).
A DEVO rarity - it was only ever a B side to The Day My Baby Gave Me A Surprise - but this has always been one of my DEVO faves, I just love the sheer rawness and chaso that comes with it. So I'm delighted to have seen this 1977 version of the song.
You'll love it or hate it, I think it's fan-bloody-tastic!
