A Winter Poem

I found this beautiful winter poem and thought it might be a comfort to you all.

I know it was for me ~ it's so well written and captures my thoughts pertectly!

ENJOY!

" WINTER " a poem by Abigail Elizabeth McIntyre

SH1T!

It's Cold!

The End

A Winter Poem

I found this beautiful winter poem and thought it might be a comfort to you all.

I know it was for me ~ it's so well written and captures my thoughts pertectly!

ENJOY!

" WINTER " a poem by Abigail Elizabeth McIntyre

SH1T!

It's Cold!

The End

Cardiff cITY - HOW LOW CAN WE GO?

A very good article by the sometimes irksome James Corrigan in the awful Wales on Sunday today presents a reasonable description of the state of our club today.

Still hard to work out how we got into such a mess and it's no easier trying to forsee the way out ... if there is one.

Have a read here:
http://tinyurl.com/yu2ozq

IN PICTURES: WALES 2 EIRE 2

Rest of photos can be found here:
http://tinyurl.com/2zr35e

Euro 2008: WALES 2 EIRE 2 (in Cardiff)

Wales signed off their Euro 2008 home campaign with a game that, at most times, would be called entertaining if a little short on quality. However on a chilly afternoon with a crowd of maybe just 20,000 (including 4,000 Irish) it was soulless and numbing to be there. The soul is sucked right ouf of Welsh football right now.

However The Red Dragon can take some pride in their performance as they fought and challenged, never gave up and got the result they deserved. For the Cardiff City fans amongst us, Joe Ledley did will partly in central midfield and wide left but the big shock was right back Chris Gunter - who can't get in Dave Jones' 16 right now and was stood near me at Charlton in the away end last week - was starting at left back and he did well too.

Shorn of Bellamy and Bale to injury amongst others, it was threadbare and, on paper, didn't look as strong as Eire. However Wales deservedly took the lead with a smart move and a far post Jason Koumas header from a superb Ledley cross.

The Welsh youngsters fought like demons but the Irish had some quality going forward and that lead only lasted a few minutes when Danny Gabbidon - one of the few Welsh players to have a poor outing in my view - never lunged at a through ball, Robbie Keane was away and made light work chipping past the advancing Hennessey.

Half-time saw a number of fans leave for the pubs and warmth instead as the game and occasion was a bit of a non-event. My missus left and went home after 15 minutes although she was feeling unwell.

The second half saw Wales applying pressure without really getting anywhere although Shay Given made a couple of superb stops and was definitely the busier keeper all afternoon. Jason Koumas, the game's best player by a mile, was tapped on the tun and got booked for diving. It means he misses Wednesday's trip to Germany and kept his record of somehow missing every Wales away match for more than 2 years.

All that work went to waste when Eire brought on Steven Hunt as sub, 20 seconds later and first touch, our defence criminally failed to clear his cross and Kevin Doyle steered home.

It looked all over and fans, many depressed with Dave Jones and Cardiff City, were discussing what next for Wales and Toshack. However Koumas was trying everything, Given denied him twice, but with a minute to go, late sub David Cotterill charged on a through ball and held off Nicholson until he got into the box then was taken down. Jason Koumas spanked away the penalty beautifully.

Next up is Germany away in Frankfurt. Koumas will be missing and so, I guess, will Karl Robinson who was stretchered off in the first half and seen on crutches in Westgate Street at final whistle. That's going to be a long night for our kids.

BBC report and interviews:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7099901.stm

Koumas complains about his booking:.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_of_wales/7094569.stm

XFM South Wales launch test tranmissions

XFM have started music only test tranmissions ahead of its live launch on November 29th.

At last bringing a decent music and local station to South Wales, it promises much. Transmissions are 106.8 in most areas but can vary slightly around South Wales.

Looking forward to it starting in earnest even if some of its presenters seem a little dubious i.e. 2 from Goldie Lookin' Chain, 2 from Dirty Sanchez, Stuart Cable etc.

http://www.xfmsouthwales.co.uk/

CARDIFF's XMAS LIGHTS

ST. MARY STREET ... quite impressive

CAROLINE STREET ...

well very Caroline Street really

Fans Vent Their Feelings on Dave Jones staying in The Echo

So much for Terry Phillips' stupid non-back page story that Bluebirds fans, in their hundreds, were voting for him to stay.

http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/footballnation/football-news/2007/11/16/dave-jones-should-he-stay-or-should-he-go-91466-20117630/

Lansgtone have their say

Another, only to be expected, the in the CCFC and Langstone (or is it Hammam?) saga.

Serious stuff but, for City fans, also now very boring. You'd have hoped there would have been some progress in the (not so) secret meeting or two between Ridsdale and Hammam but it looks as if both sides are as far apart in their views as ever.

Given the case is due to be heard December 10, it is very wise of Hammam and the club not to respond. It doesn't say much for Langstone solictors that they put out press statements.

Article in today's Times
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article2879949.ece

Chris Kamara's Sun column today
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/sunsport_columnis%20ts/article465001.ece

My random thoughts in response:

Chris

I note your article regarding asking why Dave Jones is under pressure but not having answers.

While I have remained behind him until the last week, here's a few reasons why.49 points from our last 50 games in over a year - everyone remembers the blistering start to last season, few appreciate how bad it's been since which included the worst ever finish to a season in Cardiff City's history last term, form that has carried on so far this season. In football, you cannot on the past, especially when that past was one blistering patch of form out of context with anything else.

Just 1 home win in more than 8 months - is there any manager anywhere with a similar or worse record over this time who still has their job?

Revealing stats such as just once in over two years have Cardiff come from behind to win a game - and that was to bottom of the table Norwich this season.

Jones tells us he has provided City's best ever squad (a laughable claim to many of us) but, even so, persists with the same 11 or 12 every game, regardless of result or performance, with the same tactics and a highly dubious (non) use of substitutions.

Maybe City haven't spent as much as some sides in the Championship but I think he's spent a lot more than you realise but, above that and without question, City's playing budget is amongst the highest in the league.

We could have spent to replace Chopra - and how I wished we had - but Jones agreed to bring in Fowler and Hasslebaink on wages in excess of £2M. Capaldi came for free and is widely known to have tripled his wages from Plymouth.

He bombed players out of this club on a personal whim as he didn't rate and publicly chastised them (notably Chris Barker and Neil Alexander) but replaced them with more inferior players.

We're currently on our 4th keeper trying to replace Neil Alexander since March and the present one (Schmeicel) is simply a short-term loan.

The signings Jones has brought to the club, with a couple of exceptions only, have been poor.

This season, many would argue City's best two players have been certainly Joe Ledley and probably Paul Parry - both were here before Jones.

Recent cash signings cannot get in the side - examples, Willo Flood (on loan in Scotland), Warren Feeney (loan at Swansea), David Forde (3rd keeper), Peter Whittingham (on the bench occasionally), Jason Byrne (hardly good enough to get a game for the reserves, let alone the first team) - that's £850,000 worth of signatures wasting away! There's been a catalogue of horrendous free transfers and Bosmans too.

There are many obvious problem areas in the team - left back (Capaldi), central midfield (Rae and McPhail) and the failings of our legends (Hasslebaink and Fowler) and an overall effect of a side with no pace and a considerable lack of movement who cannot keep a clean sheet for love or money (largely as they have an inability to defend set pieces) but none are being addressed.

You ask "did Dave Jones moan"? He's dubbed Dave Moans around these parts which should tell you a lot.

For the past year, all we've heard is Jones moaning on carious topics, blaming anyone and anything (other than himself) for bad results, bad performances and more.

Where I will agree with you is that Cardiff are not a bad side but that's why the manager has to assume accountability and realise what he's providing simply is unacceptable. Maybe the fact Jones is your mate is tainting your view of the reality here?

This is a club where our passionate support has been remarkably patient throughout this sorry mess but seeing City fall by the week, draining our enthusiasm and even our support (dropping every game and several thousand gone already this season) has reached the point where if Jones won't or can't turn this around, then I am afraid he will have to be changed himself.

Nothing personal, that's how the game works as well you know.

Best Wishes, enjoy your column and your knowledge and love of football at this level.

Nigel Harris

HOUDINI JONES SURVIVES!

Alright Dave,

don't look so happy about it

How the feck did that happen?

No matter how you look at it, Dave Jones should be losing his job at Cardiff - too many reasons to support change at the top, nowhere near enough sadly to support him. Nothing personal, just reality.

There's little doubt Peter Ridsdale's lack of support since the weekend and hot gossip that he indicated he was on the verge of dismissing not just Jones but the entire CCFC coaching set up on Sunday, everyone awaited confirmation today.

Instead came a club statement that they were continuing with their man - a unanimous decision by the Board and key shareholders believed to be Paul Guy and Mike Hall of PMG. To say it left supporters open-mouthed, shocked and accusing Ridsdale and the Board of being bottlers would be a huge understatement. The inevitable conclusion is that this has little to do with football and plenty more to do with City's perilous state with finances, the impending legal case with Langston, even Jones' too cosy relationship with Ridsdale.

For Ridsdale to have set this up and then not executed is quite embarrassing and doe him few favours. Suggestions are that Dave Jones has two games to save himself. He seems like a Dead Man Walking right now.

CCFC club press statement:
http://www.cardiffcityfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10335~1167133,00.html

Hell Hath No Fury Like A City Fna Scorned

20 of the more prominent City fans had an impromptu audience with Peter Ridsdale to express their feelings about the club, the incredible decision to persevere with Dave Jones and other matters. All City messageboard users were invited but it clashed with the Foo Fighters gig so I missed out.

However Dave Sugarman aka The Lone Gunman provided the excellent write-up on the Cardiff City messageboard at www.cardiffcity.com
Link to write up: http://tinyurl.com/25qdov

As a supplement, The Echo also covered the meeting and their accounts can be found here:
http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/footballnation/cardiff-city-fc/2007/11/14/jones-still-best-man-for-the-job-say-bluebirds-board-91466-20105484/

Fans vs Ridsdale - When Two Sides Clash

TRAUMATIC TIMES ON AND OFF THE PITCH AT CARDIFF CITY AND THEY REACHED A HEAD AS PETER RIDSDALE SEEMINGLY CONDUTED A U-TURN (or was it has final decision) AT HIS WEEKEND THOGUHTS TO DISMISS DAVE JONES.

A SXHEDULED SUPPORTERS OPEN FORM THIS WEEK WAS HI-JACKED BY PETER RIDSDALE TO CONFRONT SOME VERY PASSIONATE AND EXTREMELY ANGRY FANS. MY DATE WITH THE FOO FIGHTERS MEANT I COULD NOT ATTEND BUT DAVID SUGARMAN SUMS IT UP TO www.cardIffcity.com
MESSAGEBOARD. HIS POSTING IS REPRODUCED HERE.



Tuesday night’s meeting at the Municipal Club on City Road came about as a result of another meeting at the same venue on Sunday afternoon. At the first meeting, a number of fans expressed their dissatisfaction with the way the local press have been reporting on the events at Cardiff City in recent months.

Some of those who were present are on good terms with the South Wales Echo’s chief sports writer, Terry Phillips, so he was asked to attend a second meeting in which it was hoped that the fans would be given a chance to air their views to the paper.Terry kindly agreed to forego the annual SA Brain Welsh Football Awards ceremony at the Millennium Stadium in order to hear what the supporters had to say, and arrived at the meeting with one of the Echo’s photographers.

Club chairman Peter Ridsdale had apparently been informed about the meeting at some point during the afternoon. He offered to attend and field any questions the fans had on the day that he and the rest of the Cardiff City board had given their backing to under-fire manager Dave Jones, and he left it up to the supporters to decide whether they wanted him there or not.

After a brief discussion and a show of hands it was decided that Peter should be invited to join the meeting. Cardiff City Supporters’ Club official Vince Alm was given the daunting task of keeping order during a gathering that was always guaranteed to be somewhat lively. Those also present amongst a group of nineteen fans included Annis Abraham, Wayne Anderson, Lee Beames, Paul Corkrey, Gwyn Davies, Keith Morgan, Peter Morgan, Sam Murphy and Chris Nelson.

The chairman answered the supporters’ questions for almost two hours in what was an emotionally charged and occasionally angry atmosphere, and in all fairness to the man the only queries he failed to answer were one or two about the nature of the on-going dispute with major creditors Langston. Peter explained that he was unable to give direct answers to those particular questions for legal reasons.

What follows is a rundown of the topics covered during the discussion:

The Manager’s Position
The main talking point of the evening was, of course, the board’s decision to continue to back manager Dave Jones despite an appalling record of just nine victories in forty four Championship matches during the last twelve months. A quick show of hands revealed that eighteen of nineteen fans present thought the manager should have been sacked after the 0-3 defeat at Charlton, while the one remaining fan said that his feelings were fifty-fifty on the matter.

Peter explained that the club’s three-man board had been unanimous in their decision to stick with Jones. He said the opinions of major shareholders Paul Guy and Mike Hall had been canvassed, and that they too had given their backing to the manager, so the vote was effectively five-nil in favour of Jones, although only three of those votes counted officially.

The chairman revealed he had spent two hours with Jones after the board had reached its decision. He said he had made it crystal clear to the manager that the current run of results is wholly unacceptable, and that he expects to see a rapid improvement in form if Jones is to keep his job. Peter refused to put any timescale on how much longer the manager will be given to arrest the current slide, although the clear inference from his comments was that the forthcoming games against Ipswich and Leicester are now of critical importance. A failure by the team to gain acceptable results in those two matches could well signal the end of Jones’ spell in charge at Ninian Park.

Peter mentioned that he had also spoken to a number of the club’s senior players during the day, including team captain Darren Purse, and said that he had impressed upon them the importance of the next couple of matches and, indeed, the remainder of the season. He reported that the players had given the manager their backing, and had resolved to work hard on putting things right.

Several fans bemoaned the fact that Jones had been given another new contract last summer, and some suggested that he has managed to keep his job despite such a poor start to the season simply because the club can’t afford to pay him off. Peter strongly refuted those claims, and explained that a reasonable severance package had already been negotiated as a part of that new contract deal, so money wasn’t one of the major factors that contributed towards the board’s decision.

The chairman said he agrees that recent results and performances have been totally unacceptable, and admitted the situation cannot be allowed to deteriorate any further, but he added that he doesn’t feel there is anyone available right now who is better qualified to turn things around than the man who is currently in the Ninian Park hot seat. He said he considers it would be a bigger gamble to change the manager than it is to give Jones another chance to arrest the slide.

Peter mentioned the on-going legal dispute with Langston, and hinted that even if the board had decided to dispense with the manager’s services it would’ve been almost impossible for them to attract a high-calibre replacement with such an important court hearing only a month away.Mention was made of the fact that Jones often appears totally inanimate in the dugout during matches. A number of fans said they get irritated by that, and prefer to see managers showing a bit of emotion during matches as they feel that has more of an effect on the players. Peter said he could understand that viewpoint, but added that Jones had stated during his initial interview that he is not the type of boss who jumps around on the sidelines, so we’d have to accept it’s just not his style.

Several supporters said they believed the manager’s conduct in recent interviews had left a lot to be desired, and they felt he’s been making both himself and the club look stupid with the some of the comments he’s been making to journalists. Peter said he has already expressed similar views to Jones, and added that he hopes to see a quick end to the manger’s current rift with the members of the local press.

Peter was asked about the circumstances that led up to Neil Alexander leaving the club during the summer. He said that the goalkeeper had been offered a new contract that involved a 50% pay rise if he was selected for the first team and the same basic wage if he wasn’t. The chairman claimed that Alexander and his agent had rejected the offer out of hand, so it was withdrawn. He denied that any previous contract offer had been made to the player, either verbally or in writing.

This statement led to a particularly animated exchange, during which one fan accused Peter of lying – an accusation he strongly and angrily refuted. He said it was no secret that the manager didn’t rate Alexander particularly highly, and that was obviously a significant factor in the contract negotiations. He reasoned that the club were not prepared to pay out considerable wages to a keeper who might well spend much of the season in the reserves.

The Forthcoming Court Case

This subject was not discussed in any great detail for obvious reasons. Peter stated his belief that the club has a strong case, and said the team of lawyers working on the club’s behalf are extremely confident they will win. However, he added that the case is currently casting a dark shadow over the club, and it could drag on for as long as two years provided it gets past the initial hearing stage next month.

He said he still retains a hope that the issues can be resolved with Langston out of court, and hinted that at least one meeting has already taken place between the relevant parties with that aim in mind.Peter stated that the case has so far cost the club around £225,000 in legal fees, and he revealed the initial hearing that had been set for this month was postponed at the request of the court as opposed to either Langston or the club.Club Finances

Among the many facts and figures that he mentioned during the evening, Peter declared that the club had earned approximately £350,000 from the recent Carling Cup match against Liverpool, and said that this season’s break-even crowd figure is somewhere in the region of 14,000.


The Recent Book Launch

Several fans voiced their disapproval of the fact that Peter had taken the manager, three players and various members of staff with him to London for the launch of his book ‘United We Fall – Boardroom Truths About The Beautiful Game’ last week.

The supporters were particularly irritated that the manager had missed a reserve game in order to attend the book launch.Peter responded by saying that the launch had been organized long before Jones had set the reserve fixture up, and the clash of dates happened because City’s opponents, Cheltenham, could only play on the particular day.

He said the manager felt the game was essential to give some of the squad players a run-out, but he was happy to leave his deputies in charge and rely on their reports regarding those players’ performances. Jones also had the game videoed and was able to watch it the following day.

The chairman said all of the first team players had time off scheduled for the day of the book launch as it came directly after the Crystal Palace match, and two of them had already been in London attending to other matters with their agents during the daytime anyway. He added that they had not touched any alcohol during the party, and were back in training as normal the following day.

Peter has clearly been upset by the criticism that has followed this event. He became quite emotional as he told the supporters that the book launch had raised tens of thousands of pounds for a Leeds hospice which is very close to his heart for family reasons, and he was adamant that the manager and the players were right to attend the party.

Communication with the Fans

A couple of supporters expressed the view that Peter is spending too much time these days talking to, e-mailing and texting fans. They suggested that it might be more beneficial for both the chairman and the supporters if he was to restrict his contact with the fans to monthly open forums or something along those lines.

Peter responded by saying that he is fully able to do all the jobs he needs to do for the football club and to answer questions from fans whenever they are posed, so he is happy to maintain his current open door policy.

The Academy

One of the supporters, who works within the club’s scouting system, spoke passionately about the importance of the academy, and asked if the good work which has been done in that area in recent years is set to continue.

Peter said he regards the academy as an essential element of the club’s future success, and that he intends to ensure it will continue to be properly funded and maintained.

A Supporters’ Trust

In what proved to be the final question, Peter was asked if he would support the idea of a supporters’ trust for Cardiff City, and he gave the scheme his backing.


The chairman will have known in advance that he was walking into a lion’s den when he offered to attend Tuesday’s meeting, and so it proved. If he was in any doubt beforehand, then he can no longer be in any doubt whatsoever as to how a significant percentage of the club’s fans feel about the current situation at Ninian Park.

There were some angry men in that room in City Road, and they let their feelings be known in no uncertain terms.

Whatever you think about him, one thing is clear about Peter Ridsdale: he certainly doesn’t lack for courage. It would have been easy for him to keep a low profile after making what was undoubtedly a difficult and unpopular decision, but he chose instead to spend his evening in a dingy room full of disgruntled supporters.

That definitely says something about the man, although I’m not sure what exactly!

Have he and the rest of the Cardiff City board made the right decision regarding the manager’s position? Can Dave Jones and his team get out of the mess they currently find themselves in? Only time will tell.

The general consensus of opinion at the meeting hadn’t changed significantly after the chairman had left the room. Most, if not all of those present still felt that Jones should have been shown the door this week, and that the club has merely delayed the inevitable by not relieving him of his duties now.

However, a couple of wins against Ipswich and Leicester and things may look altogether different in a fortnight’s time. (Following the open forum, five fans from the group were nominated to talk to Terry Phillips in a one-on-one situation about the manager’s position. Those brief interviews appeared in Wednesday’s edition of the Echo along with a report about the meeting with Peter Ridsdale.)

Dave Sugarman14/11/07

Dave Jones position "to be confirmed in 48 hours"

So is the end near?

Peter Ridsdale confirms Jones’ position to be clarified by end of Wednesday

The dust has settled, the Board has met and the overwhelming view still appears to prevail that a change of manager is necessary.

The smart money still says Dave Jones will fall on his sword for a year’s worth of terrible results, some terrible costly decisions in the transfer market and building his own side which appears to have taken City considerably backwards.

Rumours have it that Peter Ridsdale had made up his mind Sunday afternoon to change manager and the whole coaching set up.

However, has some sleep, the club’s delicate finances (and legal matters with the Langstone case now set for court on December 10) or other board members affected matters? We'll soon find out.

Gulp! I've had a night out in BARRY!

Barry - looks best after dark

but best avoided after dark! :>)

I've only lived here for 5 years but, tonight, for the first time other than a party or similar, I went out in Barry for the first time. Brave boy!

I supposed being a Kaidiff-ite, finding it easy and just as quick to get to Cardiff from where I live and not having any great affinity with, or love for, Barry nightlife, it's never held any interest for me.

However there has been investment in the town. An emerging waterfront area, a painfully long time trying to regenerate the shopping area, a cafe area is starting to emerge in Holton Road and the Braod Street area now sports a couple of decent bars and some good restuarants. It has its hidden treasures.

Enjoyed a couple of quiet drinks and a Chinese but was in and out before the madding crowd turned up and, I think, that's another of my hang ups about the place. It's a town with a village mentality - everyone knows everyone and everyone else's business. Everyone seems to be someone's friend, cousin, ex-lover, knows them. I find it a little bizarre that a lot of Barry folk only seem to go out in Barry and rarely venture beyond but I guess what they like about it is what I don't.

You either love that - or get conditioned to it - or you don't. It's not for me. Give me Canton anyday where you can be yourself, go into Cardiff where you can meet people but then move on, travel where you can be yourself.

I think my 'phobia' comes from living in Rhoose for 15 years - loved it at first, resented it later on for many of the views I hold about Barry.

However, have to say tonight made a pleasant change and I'd do it again ... maybe next year!

AND THE NEWSROOM WENT SILENT ... ...

MY GOD - Fowler faces Hip Op

Looks like Our Robbie (hallejuah!) will be spending the fortnight's break due to international football in Germany (thankfully it wasn't last month when Oktoberfest was on!) for a reccuring hip problem.

According to Dave Jones, he's only going for an injection - couldn't he have had that at home? - but no truth in wicked rumours that, with his lack of movement, it's not for hip replacement. Is it being offered as an excuse to give the much maligned Fowler some slack as he is coming in for heavy criticism based on his Bluebird displays?

Maybe it's another reason for Robbie to be rested at Charlton or placed on the bench because he has been massively struggling for City recently. Completely ineffectual in recent matches, barely having a touch and burned out long before the hour mark.

It's a shame to see a football great performing like this at present but with City now in a precarious position, supporters are rightfully unhappy that continuing with two ageing legends in Robbie and JFH is a luxury we just cannot afford.

Link to BBC story:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/7087020.stm

DAVE JONES BOOK of EXCUSES

Surely this Xmas' must have present?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190172099168

Into The Valley - memories of daze at Charlton Athletic

Ah, Football in the 80's

Charlton[s (disused) terrace

It's all doom and gloom at Cardiff City right now but we have a London trip tomorrow, curiously always glamorous to City fans, and it's at first visit to the Valley at Charlton in over 20 years.

Thought I'd share a couple of memories of my previous visits. Nostalgia Freak!

Got fond memories of going there for a season's opening in the early '80's (had to look it up - it was 1983) and we lost 2-0 on a gorgeous day.City had a sh*te side and I wish I could rememeber the name of the local striker we played that day. May have been fresh out of the Welsh League and he looked it too.

"The" sight of course was that bank to on what was the right hand side of the away end, quite possibly the biggest/highest bank/terrace in football anywhere in the world. It was sparesly populated that day but I think the ground held 80,000 in its time and probably took 60,000 on that terrace! Even ski-jumpers would have been sht scared to stand up the top and they must have given out tots of whiskey have way up for anyone going to the back of it.

Sometimes with me, it's not the game but the day that stands out and this one does as our coach spent the whole journey there singing Karma Chameleon by Culture Club!! It must have been just released or # 1 at the time but the boys all loved it - whether into punk, new wave, pop or whatever. Seems surreal now.

The next time was our last visit there in '85. It was on a Tuesday night, Charlton were towards the top, City towards the bottom (much like now then!) and was rearranged after original Saturday date was postponed. City unbelievably thumnped them 4-1, so long ago I can recall Charlton's star man was Robert Lee (later of Newcastle/England fame) and he was a teenager.

I'm sure. News of the World had a big article the weekend after showing how the pools panel got 90% of its predictions wrong and used this result as the prime example as they had, naturally, given a home win for it.

Again, I got memories away from the game and my brother and myself were/still are friends with Paul Parker who was then at Fulham but went onto play for Man U and England and is now a media pundit amonsgt other things.My bro and I travelled up together and went to see Paul and his then wife (originally from Roath, you know!) and spent the day with them. We tried to get Paul to come to the game with us but he didn't want to be spotted and was worried about being a black man in the City end.

Went to the game, I drank, my brother drove. His pride and joy was his converted Mini Clubman with big end, rally bars, rally seats etc - you get the scene. So happy was as he drove awya after a skinful, I told my bro to listen ou for the mother of all farts I was about to let rip. It was a damp squib, a very damp squib as it came with the biggest follow through of all time!

My kid bro went feckin nuts, I was a complete mess.Came home sitting on half a dozn newspapers and the windows open all the way and it stank like nothing.

Of course, after a win like that, City were on the way. Next game was home to Fulham. Paul Parker stayed with us for the weekend after the game and we showed him the delights of Feathers in Barry Island, he pulled too (don't tell his ex tho!) which crowdned a top weekend for him as Fulham done us 2-0.

These are the things I loves with the City.

The Echo makes me laugh

Writing in tonight's Echo, Terry came up with some right gems to explain why Robbie Fowler just ain't doing it for City.

According to El Tel, he's unsure if Robbie Fowler reads internet messageboards but, if he does, then he must stop immediately. Apparently, God is full of running and sharp in training but, come matchday, he suffers with nervous tension playing as if stifled by the critcism at games and on the 'net.

There is, of course, not a shred of evidence Robbie reads the messageboards at all but having played at leading clubs for years and having experienced a lifetime of criticism for certain events and performances in papers, radio phone-ions, tv etc with a career in decline for 5 or 6 years, I'm sure he's got used to it.

Ok, we all know you get extreme views at both end of the spectrum for sure but Terry goes on declare how messageboard users share their views but not their identities.Funny that, I'm sure all users of http://www.cardiffcity.com/ registers e-mail addresses and a significant number of us know each other or of each other.

Some of the story made reasonable reading but some of his claims are, at best, flimsy. The irony also seems to be lost on Terry that he may as well have been talking about his own newspaper.

Following his article, ,The Echo goes on to print fan views including "City fan" slating Steve McPhail and "Ambassador Season Ticket Holder of 35 years" wanting Jones out. The Echo itself has contained an endless number of anonymous text messages and more from its own on-line football forum by similar names in his paper over the past 18 months.

Obviously, it don't count when it's in The Echo.


Terry Phillips' Echo view of the under-performing Fowler
http://tinyurl.com/2ahl25