Personally, I hope we do see more of Kasper or look elsewhere but Michael Oakes gets support off Dave Jones.
In games for City so far, he's been fair though but, here's another pun, Oakes doesn't exactly pull up trees.
Cardiff boss backs keeper Oakes
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Jones and Ridsdale heading to Scotland?
Rumours are that City are looking to raid North of the Border once more - a popular avenue for Dave Jones have gone there to get the likes of Steven Thompson, Gavin Rae and Kevin McNuaghton in the past couple of years.
With talk that Thommo could be heading back north, could he be used as a makeweight in any deal? One thing's for sure, we certainly ain't got £1.5M to by anyone as this story suggests that 1 player may be valued at.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/sport/football.html?in_article_id=505602&in_page_id=1779
With talk that Thommo could be heading back north, could he be used as a makeweight in any deal? One thing's for sure, we certainly ain't got £1.5M to by anyone as this story suggests that 1 player may be valued at.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/sport/football.html?in_article_id=505602&in_page_id=1779
BBC's LOWDOWN ON CHASETOWN
It'll be jst like the old days this weekend, the whole country will be against us ... at least it ain't for hoolie reasons!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/7153541.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/7153541.stm
DAVE JONES - Joe could go, Kasper may not be back and we need not sign anyone
A suitable Happy New Year message from the boss then as, for the first time this season, we can briefly talk (or dream) of a play-off shot. Ain't life wonderful?
From today's Western Mail
http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/footballnation/football-news/2008/01/02/jones-unable-to-ease-fears-over-ledley-s-ninian-future-91466-20303954/
From today's Western Mail
http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/footballnation/football-news/2008/01/02/jones-unable-to-ease-fears-over-ledley-s-ninian-future-91466-20303954/
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
CHAMPIONSHIP: CARDIFF CITY 1 PLYMOUTH ARGYLE 0
TUESDAY JANUARY 1st
CHAMPIONSHIP - Game 26/46 - at NINIAN PARK
CARDIFF CITY (1) 1
Ledley
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE (0) 0
AND THE BLUES GO MARCHING ON, ON, ON!!
Cardiff started the New Year just as they finished the old one ... with 3 points thanks to a Joe Ledley winner. This time, a hard fought, unglamorous, gritty but fully deserved 1-0 against a poor Plymouth side who were physical, limited and had you wondering how they started the day in 6th place and a play-off spot.
The win rounded off an outstanding holiday programme where City collected 10 points out of 12 and only the incompetence of overtime played allowing Watford an equaliser on Boxing Day prevented it being a maximum. However it's a fantastic recovery by Dave Jones and his rejuvenated side who have a new found character and resilience about them as underlined by the stats.
Three successive home wins after City could only manage that many in the previous 8 months, 5 wins in the last 7 games after we could only manage a paltry 4 in the first 19, 2 defeats and 5 clean sheets in the past 11 matches and after 7 defeats and 1 clean sheet in the first 15 Championship fixtures.
Few could see this turnaround and transformation coming but Cardiff have miraculously turned themselves around from ominous relegation candidates to, dare I mention it?, play-off chances now standing 11th and only 3 points away from the top 6. Quite incredible but that's the Championship this season. It's average quality in truth - I already fear for whichever 3 get promoted out of this season's crop - extremely inconsistent and there is no outstanding side so any hard working team able to put a few results together - as City currently are - can fly and shine. It's been turmoil this term on and off the pitch at Parc Nin but, at last, Cardiff are starting to meet expectations and how good it all feels.
Dave Jones - serving a 1 match touchline ban - named an unchanged team which included Captain Steven McPhail of whom DJ caused so much confusion after suggesting he was suspended for this game after his 5th yellow card at the weekend (it will be served in the cup at Chasetown instead_. His selection also meant that Thommo. now available after a 3 match ban. started from the bench with Aaron Ramsey, now on a pro contract, making way. City therefore fielded Schmeicel, McNaughton-Johnson-Purse-Capaldi, Whittingham-Rae-McPhail-Ledley, Parry-Hasselbaink. Subs were Oakes, Blake, MacLean, Purse,Thompson.
Argyle always strike me as a mid-table side and certainly confirmed that impression in the corresponding fixture at Home Park shown live on Sky where City came away with a 2-2 draw fighting back only after their own ineptitude saw them go two behind. However they proudly took the 170 mile trip to South Wales in 6th spot. Manager Ian Holloway dumped them for Leicester recently but it saw old boss Paul Sturrock return.
They've got there with solid rather than spectacular runs of form but have pulled the odd eyebrow-raiser including previous away wins at Charlton and Watford. Christmas saw them collect 4 points from 2 homes games but lose at QPR before this one. Today's loss saw them pegged back to 7th and 2 points ahead of City.
Supported by a strong following of 1,400 who were as subdued as their team apart from baiting Tony Capaldi, which unlike the earlier fixture, seemed to inspire him this time. Plymouth were Larrieu, Connolly-Timar-Seip-Hodges, Norris-Halmosi-Martin- Abdou, Ebanks-Blake, Easter. David Norris is tipped for a move with rumours of Norwich about to offer £1.5M for him, he was outshone by Joe Ledley. Up font, Fairwater boy and Wales international Jermaine Easter partnered Ebanks-Blake and maybe he would have been better spending the afternoon in Fairwater.
The crowd was 14,965, many nursing hangovers to get there for a 1pm kick-off on a day with no public transport, but Canton pubs were still packed pre-game as it wasn't coffee or soft drinks being downed.
The game was a battle but City are in fighting mood these days and got the upper hand from the off. Playing good football, stopping Plymouth's breaks at source and easily looking the better side when they kept the ball down, their key problem was coming alive in the final third as they were struggling to create openings, the final ball was not quite good enough or in JFH's case, it was bloody awful..
The chances that did arrive in the opening half-hour were Steve McPhail having a crack, his shot was blocked but an attempted clearance hit him and rebounded inches over, Roger Johnson (who else?) got up at a corner and was blocked, another Johnson header across goal at the far post could not quite be turned home and Hasselbaink hit the roof of the Canton Stand with an effort as accurate as his woeful distribution all afternoon.
Plymouth offered little in response other than Ebanks-Blake appearing to think it was a WWF contest as he laid into Johnson and Loovens and three times, went through them as they were mid-air clearing headers. Dangerous but he earned no more than a talking as he did when he twice kick the ball away. Lee Martin, on loan form Man U, woke up everyone with a 25 yard hit that flew narrowly wide with Kasper scrambling.
On the half hour however, joy at last, all we need is a team of Joe Ledley's! Joe, showing power, energy and flair more than most who appeared to be showing signs of tiredness with the Xmas programme, motored down the left and, to his credit, Tony Capaldi advanced with him and created the overlap. Played in, Capaldi was now advancing on goal and for the first time in his CCFC career and against his old club, had a shot! Good one too low across goal which Larrieu could only Parry, the ball fell to JOE LEDLEY who purposely picked his spot and placed home between goalie and 2 defenders for his 4th City goal of the season but what turned out to be his second successive winner for the Bluebirds.
Ledley celebrating at the Canton Stand end with that "aeroplane wings" shuffle he's been doing for Wales and City. If Craig Revell-Horwood were there, I think it would score a 1 (or 0.1) as far as goalscoring celebrations go. What is that all about?
I think the script was that City would now go onto show their difference in quality but they appeared to relax and were almost hit from the restart when Norris' 20 yarder appeared to hit the inside of the post, strike Schmeicel on his back as it flew across goal and go out the other side for a corner. We are enjoying luck that we were missing earlier this term.
In another scare and escape, Ebanks-Blake pulled the trigger as he got behind City's defence but the inspirational Roger Johnson bravely put his face in the way to head behind and got a boot, treatment and several stitches for his troubles. City fought like tigers, Gavin Rae acting an emergency centre-half, until he returned and then Glenn Loovens spent the last couple of minutes hobbling badly after another challenge, our centre-halves were certainly in the wars but, to their credit, they always came back for more and dominated.
One brilliant Schmeicel placed goal kick beat the entire Plymouth back-line and set Parry free but City were unable to capitalise, his cross was just about cut out.
Plymouth fans raised their last chant of the afternoon - an anti-Hasslebaink tune with the same sentiments we had about Ebanks-Blake. Watching Jimmy's awful display which included failing to move for the ball, failing to jump for headers, no hold up play at any time and still moaning at others in top of his terrible distribution, I was wondering if any City fans joined in with them?
The only shock was, after a few stoppages, the ref only found 2 minutes of added time. If only we had him at Watford last week!
H/T: CITY 1 PLYMOUTH 0
If there was little telling action to write about in the first half, the second half produced even less. It was scrappy, ugly and a battle with both sides looking jaded but bottom line was Cardiff looked hungrier to hold onto what they had than Plymouth were to strike back and that won the day. I wish City could kill teams off, make they undoubted better football tell and take their chances more clinically when they arrive but they are failing to do that at present and, today, they missed three golden chances for the killer second goal which would have made life far easier.
City started well, Jimmy failed by a fraction to get a boot to the ball meeting a Rae lob which the keeper gratefully collected, Peter Whittingham narrowly failed to meet a super Parry cross but he didn't really show enough determination to get there first and Parry himself fired wide.
Plymouth made a double like for like sub on 55 with Doumbe replacing Timar who seemed to tweak his hamstring last 1st half and Nallis on for Man U loanee Lee Martin who was playing well and showed disgust coming off which included storming straight down the tunnel. Perhaps he was enraged he missed that infamous Man U Xmas party to be stuck in deepest Devon!
Cardiff had a major escape on the hour when Roger Johnson got wrong side of Easter - one of his bad habits which he is eradicating - lost out on a bounced header and Easter was away when he really shouldn't have been but Schmeicel came to the rescue spreading himself with his brilliant star jumps, the shot hitting his body and going behind for a corner. Many would have been beaten.
With Jimmy now at snail's pace and the ball coming back at us, his change was obvious. Bringing on MacLean instead of Thommo was not as we really needed someone to hold p play and give Plymouth's defence something else to think about. The bloke behind me shouted out, "Oh no, we're taking off someone who won't jump and bringing on another who's the same". Within moments, he was proved right.
However a few minutes later on came Thommo to a huge reception for Peter Whittingham who was very disappointing to partner MacLean with Parry switched wide. Whitts was thoroughly disappointing and did little today, he's either superb or not in it, this one was the latter. He's done very well recently but has to find better consistency. Thommo's more abrasive style was soon getting at Argyle who had their last throw of the dice with Nadjim Abdou replaced by Lucas Jutkiewicz - those Devon/Cornish names eh?
How City didn't finish them off, only MacLean can explain. Played through on goal by a truly outstanding Joe Ledley ball as he popped up on the right, it looked easy but he lacked all confidence but placed his effort right at Larrieu, he had to do far better than that. Parry was ext through but in attempting to replicate goals where he's cut inside ad blasted across goal, his effort was easily cut out then MacLean missed another sitter after, once again, Ledley did brilliantly to set him up, this time he blazed wide.
Joe was awarded man of the match and was a class apart once more but I would have given it to Kevin McNaughton the Magnificent who, second half especially, handed out a lecture in first class defending. How many headers did he win against guys bigger than him? How many times did he turn like a compass leaving opposition players floundering behind him? How many times did he knock the ball against Plymouth men to win throws and goal-kicks to relieve pressure? His passing was brilliant and he topped it all with a magic moment with an overhead dummy as, facing goal, he flicked the ball up over his and Ebanks-Blake's head, went around him and left him for dead.
It underlined the new found attitude in City that would have seen us unable to close out and win ugly in games like these only a few weeks ago. The spirit is immense, the work ethic is great as we chase and close down all over the field and our players are putting their bodies on the line as exemplified by skipper and much improved Steve McPhail who threw himself to block one shot, he's working so hard on top of the pretty stuff he does and even Tony Capaldi, it must be said, is much improved, this was probably his best outing for City.
Three minutes added time was all going to plan until a thrown level with our 6 yard box and everyone there. In it came, a header flicked it in and Jutkiewicz flicked an overhead kick at goal but through the melee, enter Schmeicel the hero to charge out spread himself again in the middle of everyone and block it. Brilliant, brilliant work.
Another good win, the celebrations on and off the pitch emphasising the joy and pleasure at how City have turned things around and are rescuing what had been a miserable and disastrous season. As we celebrated, Ali on the tannoy rushed out an announcement of thanks for Kasper Schmeicel as his official loan ended. Despite newspaper suggestions to the contrary, it did sound as if that was it and it will be a huge blow as, without question, Kasper has been one of the pivotal players in our resurrection and seen our back line improve immeasurably. If it was your last, thanks Kasper, you won't be forgotten here.
Costs:
Tickets: (2) £38
Travel: £5
Programme: SOLD OUT - here we go again
Food/drink: £8
Total: £51
CHAMPIONSHIP - Game 26/46 - at NINIAN PARK
CARDIFF CITY (1) 1
Ledley
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE (0) 0
AND THE BLUES GO MARCHING ON, ON, ON!!
Cardiff started the New Year just as they finished the old one ... with 3 points thanks to a Joe Ledley winner. This time, a hard fought, unglamorous, gritty but fully deserved 1-0 against a poor Plymouth side who were physical, limited and had you wondering how they started the day in 6th place and a play-off spot.
The win rounded off an outstanding holiday programme where City collected 10 points out of 12 and only the incompetence of overtime played allowing Watford an equaliser on Boxing Day prevented it being a maximum. However it's a fantastic recovery by Dave Jones and his rejuvenated side who have a new found character and resilience about them as underlined by the stats.
Three successive home wins after City could only manage that many in the previous 8 months, 5 wins in the last 7 games after we could only manage a paltry 4 in the first 19, 2 defeats and 5 clean sheets in the past 11 matches and after 7 defeats and 1 clean sheet in the first 15 Championship fixtures.
Few could see this turnaround and transformation coming but Cardiff have miraculously turned themselves around from ominous relegation candidates to, dare I mention it?, play-off chances now standing 11th and only 3 points away from the top 6. Quite incredible but that's the Championship this season. It's average quality in truth - I already fear for whichever 3 get promoted out of this season's crop - extremely inconsistent and there is no outstanding side so any hard working team able to put a few results together - as City currently are - can fly and shine. It's been turmoil this term on and off the pitch at Parc Nin but, at last, Cardiff are starting to meet expectations and how good it all feels.
Dave Jones - serving a 1 match touchline ban - named an unchanged team which included Captain Steven McPhail of whom DJ caused so much confusion after suggesting he was suspended for this game after his 5th yellow card at the weekend (it will be served in the cup at Chasetown instead_. His selection also meant that Thommo. now available after a 3 match ban. started from the bench with Aaron Ramsey, now on a pro contract, making way. City therefore fielded Schmeicel, McNaughton-Johnson-Purse-Capaldi, Whittingham-Rae-McPhail-Ledley, Parry-Hasselbaink. Subs were Oakes, Blake, MacLean, Purse,Thompson.
Argyle always strike me as a mid-table side and certainly confirmed that impression in the corresponding fixture at Home Park shown live on Sky where City came away with a 2-2 draw fighting back only after their own ineptitude saw them go two behind. However they proudly took the 170 mile trip to South Wales in 6th spot. Manager Ian Holloway dumped them for Leicester recently but it saw old boss Paul Sturrock return.
They've got there with solid rather than spectacular runs of form but have pulled the odd eyebrow-raiser including previous away wins at Charlton and Watford. Christmas saw them collect 4 points from 2 homes games but lose at QPR before this one. Today's loss saw them pegged back to 7th and 2 points ahead of City.
Supported by a strong following of 1,400 who were as subdued as their team apart from baiting Tony Capaldi, which unlike the earlier fixture, seemed to inspire him this time. Plymouth were Larrieu, Connolly-Timar-Seip-Hodges, Norris-Halmosi-Martin- Abdou, Ebanks-Blake, Easter. David Norris is tipped for a move with rumours of Norwich about to offer £1.5M for him, he was outshone by Joe Ledley. Up font, Fairwater boy and Wales international Jermaine Easter partnered Ebanks-Blake and maybe he would have been better spending the afternoon in Fairwater.
The crowd was 14,965, many nursing hangovers to get there for a 1pm kick-off on a day with no public transport, but Canton pubs were still packed pre-game as it wasn't coffee or soft drinks being downed.
The game was a battle but City are in fighting mood these days and got the upper hand from the off. Playing good football, stopping Plymouth's breaks at source and easily looking the better side when they kept the ball down, their key problem was coming alive in the final third as they were struggling to create openings, the final ball was not quite good enough or in JFH's case, it was bloody awful..
The chances that did arrive in the opening half-hour were Steve McPhail having a crack, his shot was blocked but an attempted clearance hit him and rebounded inches over, Roger Johnson (who else?) got up at a corner and was blocked, another Johnson header across goal at the far post could not quite be turned home and Hasselbaink hit the roof of the Canton Stand with an effort as accurate as his woeful distribution all afternoon.
Plymouth offered little in response other than Ebanks-Blake appearing to think it was a WWF contest as he laid into Johnson and Loovens and three times, went through them as they were mid-air clearing headers. Dangerous but he earned no more than a talking as he did when he twice kick the ball away. Lee Martin, on loan form Man U, woke up everyone with a 25 yard hit that flew narrowly wide with Kasper scrambling.
On the half hour however, joy at last, all we need is a team of Joe Ledley's! Joe, showing power, energy and flair more than most who appeared to be showing signs of tiredness with the Xmas programme, motored down the left and, to his credit, Tony Capaldi advanced with him and created the overlap. Played in, Capaldi was now advancing on goal and for the first time in his CCFC career and against his old club, had a shot! Good one too low across goal which Larrieu could only Parry, the ball fell to JOE LEDLEY who purposely picked his spot and placed home between goalie and 2 defenders for his 4th City goal of the season but what turned out to be his second successive winner for the Bluebirds.
Ledley celebrating at the Canton Stand end with that "aeroplane wings" shuffle he's been doing for Wales and City. If Craig Revell-Horwood were there, I think it would score a 1 (or 0.1) as far as goalscoring celebrations go. What is that all about?
I think the script was that City would now go onto show their difference in quality but they appeared to relax and were almost hit from the restart when Norris' 20 yarder appeared to hit the inside of the post, strike Schmeicel on his back as it flew across goal and go out the other side for a corner. We are enjoying luck that we were missing earlier this term.
In another scare and escape, Ebanks-Blake pulled the trigger as he got behind City's defence but the inspirational Roger Johnson bravely put his face in the way to head behind and got a boot, treatment and several stitches for his troubles. City fought like tigers, Gavin Rae acting an emergency centre-half, until he returned and then Glenn Loovens spent the last couple of minutes hobbling badly after another challenge, our centre-halves were certainly in the wars but, to their credit, they always came back for more and dominated.
One brilliant Schmeicel placed goal kick beat the entire Plymouth back-line and set Parry free but City were unable to capitalise, his cross was just about cut out.
Plymouth fans raised their last chant of the afternoon - an anti-Hasslebaink tune with the same sentiments we had about Ebanks-Blake. Watching Jimmy's awful display which included failing to move for the ball, failing to jump for headers, no hold up play at any time and still moaning at others in top of his terrible distribution, I was wondering if any City fans joined in with them?
The only shock was, after a few stoppages, the ref only found 2 minutes of added time. If only we had him at Watford last week!
H/T: CITY 1 PLYMOUTH 0
If there was little telling action to write about in the first half, the second half produced even less. It was scrappy, ugly and a battle with both sides looking jaded but bottom line was Cardiff looked hungrier to hold onto what they had than Plymouth were to strike back and that won the day. I wish City could kill teams off, make they undoubted better football tell and take their chances more clinically when they arrive but they are failing to do that at present and, today, they missed three golden chances for the killer second goal which would have made life far easier.
City started well, Jimmy failed by a fraction to get a boot to the ball meeting a Rae lob which the keeper gratefully collected, Peter Whittingham narrowly failed to meet a super Parry cross but he didn't really show enough determination to get there first and Parry himself fired wide.
Plymouth made a double like for like sub on 55 with Doumbe replacing Timar who seemed to tweak his hamstring last 1st half and Nallis on for Man U loanee Lee Martin who was playing well and showed disgust coming off which included storming straight down the tunnel. Perhaps he was enraged he missed that infamous Man U Xmas party to be stuck in deepest Devon!
Cardiff had a major escape on the hour when Roger Johnson got wrong side of Easter - one of his bad habits which he is eradicating - lost out on a bounced header and Easter was away when he really shouldn't have been but Schmeicel came to the rescue spreading himself with his brilliant star jumps, the shot hitting his body and going behind for a corner. Many would have been beaten.
With Jimmy now at snail's pace and the ball coming back at us, his change was obvious. Bringing on MacLean instead of Thommo was not as we really needed someone to hold p play and give Plymouth's defence something else to think about. The bloke behind me shouted out, "Oh no, we're taking off someone who won't jump and bringing on another who's the same". Within moments, he was proved right.
However a few minutes later on came Thommo to a huge reception for Peter Whittingham who was very disappointing to partner MacLean with Parry switched wide. Whitts was thoroughly disappointing and did little today, he's either superb or not in it, this one was the latter. He's done very well recently but has to find better consistency. Thommo's more abrasive style was soon getting at Argyle who had their last throw of the dice with Nadjim Abdou replaced by Lucas Jutkiewicz - those Devon/Cornish names eh?
How City didn't finish them off, only MacLean can explain. Played through on goal by a truly outstanding Joe Ledley ball as he popped up on the right, it looked easy but he lacked all confidence but placed his effort right at Larrieu, he had to do far better than that. Parry was ext through but in attempting to replicate goals where he's cut inside ad blasted across goal, his effort was easily cut out then MacLean missed another sitter after, once again, Ledley did brilliantly to set him up, this time he blazed wide.
Joe was awarded man of the match and was a class apart once more but I would have given it to Kevin McNaughton the Magnificent who, second half especially, handed out a lecture in first class defending. How many headers did he win against guys bigger than him? How many times did he turn like a compass leaving opposition players floundering behind him? How many times did he knock the ball against Plymouth men to win throws and goal-kicks to relieve pressure? His passing was brilliant and he topped it all with a magic moment with an overhead dummy as, facing goal, he flicked the ball up over his and Ebanks-Blake's head, went around him and left him for dead.
It underlined the new found attitude in City that would have seen us unable to close out and win ugly in games like these only a few weeks ago. The spirit is immense, the work ethic is great as we chase and close down all over the field and our players are putting their bodies on the line as exemplified by skipper and much improved Steve McPhail who threw himself to block one shot, he's working so hard on top of the pretty stuff he does and even Tony Capaldi, it must be said, is much improved, this was probably his best outing for City.
Three minutes added time was all going to plan until a thrown level with our 6 yard box and everyone there. In it came, a header flicked it in and Jutkiewicz flicked an overhead kick at goal but through the melee, enter Schmeicel the hero to charge out spread himself again in the middle of everyone and block it. Brilliant, brilliant work.
Another good win, the celebrations on and off the pitch emphasising the joy and pleasure at how City have turned things around and are rescuing what had been a miserable and disastrous season. As we celebrated, Ali on the tannoy rushed out an announcement of thanks for Kasper Schmeicel as his official loan ended. Despite newspaper suggestions to the contrary, it did sound as if that was it and it will be a huge blow as, without question, Kasper has been one of the pivotal players in our resurrection and seen our back line improve immeasurably. If it was your last, thanks Kasper, you won't be forgotten here.
Costs:
Tickets: (2) £38
Travel: £5
Programme: SOLD OUT - here we go again
Food/drink: £8
Total: £51
Media Cardiff City v Plymouth Argyle match reports
Sportbox.com
Cardiff 1-0 Plymouth
BBC
Cardiff 1-0 Plymouth
Plymouth official website report (they love us!)
http://www.pafc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10364~38 851,00.html
ICWales.co.uk
http://tinyurl.com/ywkw8x
Cardiff 1-0 Plymouth
BBC
Cardiff 1-0 Plymouth
Plymouth official website report (they love us!)
http://www.pafc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10364~38 851,00.html
ICWales.co.uk
http://tinyurl.com/ywkw8x
My New Year Message to City Fans
Stupid and cheesey but if you’re up, getting over your hangover and not left home for the Plymouth game, you can see my message wishing all Bluebirds Worldwide a Happy and Hammam Free(!) 2008 on the big sign at Piccadilly Circus in the morning.
So pop over Pic Circus now or see it here between 11 - 11:15
http://www.coca-cola.co.uk/piccadilly/sendmessage.aspx
So pop over Pic Circus now or see it here between 11 - 11:15
http://www.coca-cola.co.uk/piccadilly/sendmessage.aspx
Blwyddyn Newydd Dda (Happy New Year)
Just got up. The morning after the night before.
Had a party at home, not too manic ... or so I thought. But my head is buzzing and the recycle bin is overflowing with cans & bottles. That explains my panda eyese then.
Wishing you and yours a very happy and joyful 2008.
Had a party at home, not too manic ... or so I thought. But my head is buzzing and the recycle bin is overflowing with cans & bottles. That explains my panda eyese then.
Wishing you and yours a very happy and joyful 2008.
Monday, December 31, 2007
ALBUMS - My Great and Crap of 2007
THE QUALITY
Justin Currie – What Is Love For?
Quite possibly, my favourite album of 2007. Ignorance only pidgeon holes Justin as the sideburn wearing leadman of Del Amitri but that would be neglecting what a great songwriter he is, what underated vocals he has and what an outstanding twisted lyricist the man is. Few write better lyrics, especially about his take on love, life and relationships.
Quite possibly, my favourite album of 2007. Ignorance only pidgeon holes Justin as the sideburn wearing leadman of Del Amitri but that would be neglecting what a great songwriter he is, what underated vocals he has and what an outstanding twisted lyricist the man is. Few write better lyrics, especially about his take on love, life and relationships.
What Is Love For could almost be John Lennon’s unwritten album musically , it contains several stand out songs of beauty but listen to those lyrics which rip into his take of love and experiences and all rounded off by the 7 minute rantathon on the UK in 2007 that is No, Surrender (listen to that track on his my space website http://www.justincurrie.co.uk/).
Fantastic stuff.
Super Furry Animals – Hey Venus!
So ironic that get experimental whilst with Sony and now, at Rough Trade, they provide their most melodic album since Radiator. I love SFA, I love this album.
Athlete – Beyond The Neighbourhood
Glorious album, brilliant song and one which should have caused a massive public stir for them but it’s largely failed to do that. Those who have heard it will know how great it is musically, those who haven’t are missing a gem.
Manic Street Preachers – Send in the Tigers
Far from their greatest but undoubtedly their best for a very long time. Stripped down, rocked up, great tunes. What the Manics do best.
Modest Mouse – We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sink
Johnny Marr or gee-tar and a fantastic album of great sounds and songs. Massive hit in US, even though it’s hardly AOR or MOR fayre, but another that slipped under the radar in UK.
Kings of Leon - Because of the Times
The Southern Strokes have now surpassed The Strokes. Three albums in and they continue to get better and better. On Call must be a contending for the best rock single of the year, so atmospheric.
Air Traffic – Fractured
Whoever thought Bournemouth would spawn a promising indie band but Air Traffic have a highly listenable album and can only get better ... I hope. Well worth checking out if you've not yet heard them.
Lemonheads – The Lemonheads
I love Evan Dando’s country drawl, I love his jangly guitars and I love his continual slices of fantastic 3 minute or less pop rock songs. Resurrecting the Lemonheads name, this album didn’t disappoint in the slightest and stands comparison with his early work. To top it all, a suitably brilliant and typically disorganised Cardiff gig too where he played song after song with no apparent running order.
Silversun Pickups – Canavaras
Fantastic layered Californian melodic rocking. Only too sorry I missed their gig in Cardiff this year but can't wait for their next release.
Foo Fighters – Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace
Dave Grohl and the Foos always do what is says on the tin, they seem to be the House Band for Rocking The UK and know they’ve hit on a winning formula. Another brilliant listen of an album and a Foo-kin' outstanding gig in Cardiff in October to boot.
Muse – Black Holes and Revelations
Have to confess I couldn't get into them for a long time even though I own their early material but I've got to love them over the past year or two. Thoroughly enjoyed their latest offering.
Datarock – Datarock
And now for something completely different. A strange album with twists and turns of style in each song from Norwegian robot-rockers who put the dance into indie
Pigeon Detectives – Wait for Me
Hull funsters who show the Kaiser Chiefs how much they've lost their way and what a one-trick pony they were so now wear their crown.
Hull funsters who show the Kaiser Chiefs how much they've lost their way and what a one-trick pony they were so now wear their crown.
The Editors - The End Has A Start
Don't think I'll ever rave about them but this is a pretty decent listen that's had plenty of airings in my ears.
Don't think I'll ever rave about them but this is a pretty decent listen that's had plenty of airings in my ears.
IAN BROWN - The World Is Yours
A take it or leave it artist for me but his latest offering is one I've enjoyed more than most. Good work.
A take it or leave it artist for me but his latest offering is one I've enjoyed more than most. Good work.
The "You're shit and you know you are"
WHITE STRIPES - ICKY THUMP
As much as I love Jack's musicality and adore the title track, you get the feeling the wheels are coming off. If it is, it won't be the end of Jack and there's a great legacy in their material.
KAISER CHIEFS
From Leeds and could be in decline quicker than United. Their last single was called Everything Is Average Nowadays ... everything except Kaiser Chiefs that is, they've now shit.
THE HOOSIERS - The Trick to Life
Sparks ... ahem ... without The Sparks. Two catchy singles but an album of mostly dirge.
HARD-FI - Once Upon A Time In The West
The Clash wannabees had a Mick Jones-eque first single in Suburban Knights but they failed to deliever on their second album overall.
MY GIG OF THE YEAR
DEVO at Shepherd's Bush Empire in June. Got back from honeymoon, unpacked then charged up to London to see Mark, Jerry, Bob 1 & 2 looking portly but as tight as ever to send the boiler suited, flower hatted, stocking faced packed Empire into singing and dancing heaven. Those boys know how to perform and put on a show and the 17 year wait to see them back here saw us fully rewarded. A night I will never forget and still smile fondly at the memory of. What a group!
HAPPY NEW YEAR MUSOS!
Schmeicel set to stay on for longer
I love Sven Goran Eriksson.
F***s up England, serial shagger, let's us have Kasper and now looks like he's changed his mind and going to let us keep up for longer. The man can do no wrong in my eyes! :>)
Today's South Wales Echo:
Sven's new year gift to Cardiff City
F***s up England, serial shagger, let's us have Kasper and now looks like he's changed his mind and going to let us keep up for longer. The man can do no wrong in my eyes! :>)
Today's South Wales Echo:
Sven's new year gift to Cardiff City
Sunday, December 30, 2007
MERTHYR MAWR - for a walk mawr!
Went to Merthyr Mawr sand-dunes for an extended walk to do something about the excess pounds on my belly - on top of the excess pounds already there! - and to get the stir-crazy mutt an over runabout along with the family.
I've only been in summer before and while I love it, it can be tortuous climbing the sand hills as the ground falls away beneath you in blazing heat between wind-protected dunes. Remember when Cardiff City used this as their pre-season training base?
I wasn't sure what to be expect but one of those non-expectations was having to pay to park. £1.50 and the place was buy too with a mobile snack bar now in place.
To my surprise, the walk was much easier with the sand damp and tougher in winter and the cooler weather. So enjoyable, we walked all the way to Ogmore Beach and back, I think I struggle to get halfway in summer.
If you're bored and looking for something different to do, I'd certainly recommend it. Got a feeling I'll be back there before long too.
Loads of pics here
View photos
VARIOUS MEDIA PRESTON v CARDIFF CITY match reports
Sporting Life > JONES HAILS CARDIFF REVIVALLancashire Evening Post > Preston NE 1 Cardiff City 2
Sunday Mail > Ledley leads Cardiff home
BBC > http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/7157326.stm
ICWALES > http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/footballnation/football-news/2007/12/29/bluebirds-continue-away-form-91466-20296465/
Preston official site > http://www.pnefc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10362~38812,00.html
Saturday, December 29, 2007
CHAMPIONSHIP: PRESTON NORTH END 1 CARDIFF CITY 2
JOE LEDLEY celebrates his winner in front of the City faithful
(pic by Mike Morris of http://www.cardiffcity.com/)
CARDIFF CITY ended a year of trauma to end 2007 powering into the top half of the table - and an incredible 10 points above the relegation zone - with a show of strength and character to fight back from a half-time deficit to win 2-1 at Preston's Deepdale for the first time in 21 years and 10 visits.
The Bluebirds made one change - Hasselbaink for MacLean - and started well in the same vein when they were cruelly denied victory at Watford in midweek but were rocked to go behind on 5 minutes to a superb Simon Whalley shot. From the restart, Preston should have doubled their lead and proceeded to fail to take three or four more golden opportunities in that opening period.
City had more of the ball and looked more accomplished but showed nothing in the final third and were out of sorts at the back. They would have been relieved to get to the interval only one goal behind.
The 2nd period however was a different story. Cardiff dominated from first whistle to last and levelled matters on 53 minutes, the new cult hero Roger Johnson with a thumping header and from then on, there only seemed to be one winner with radio airwaves resounding to noise of the superb travelling City following of upto 1,500 according to Radio Wales (surely it wasn't that many?). That winner arrived on 67 as Joe Ledley showed his pace, strength, class and skill as he surged forward, could not be shaken off his run by St Leger and drove home in front of the delerious City fans.
It could and should have been more, Preston should have had a man sent off but the important fact was that City held on for a fully deserved victory which leaves the home side in the bottom three and City amazingly in 12th and just 5 points from the play-offs. When you think of those 90th minute equalisers against us (at least 3 in the league) and last minute penalty misses, we could have been there despite our poor form and results.
Next up is a New Year's Day shoot out with high flying Plymouth - a test that will really show if we are capable of climbing higher or not.
Until then, HAPPY NEW YEAR!
The Bluebirds made one change - Hasselbaink for MacLean - and started well in the same vein when they were cruelly denied victory at Watford in midweek but were rocked to go behind on 5 minutes to a superb Simon Whalley shot. From the restart, Preston should have doubled their lead and proceeded to fail to take three or four more golden opportunities in that opening period.
City had more of the ball and looked more accomplished but showed nothing in the final third and were out of sorts at the back. They would have been relieved to get to the interval only one goal behind.
The 2nd period however was a different story. Cardiff dominated from first whistle to last and levelled matters on 53 minutes, the new cult hero Roger Johnson with a thumping header and from then on, there only seemed to be one winner with radio airwaves resounding to noise of the superb travelling City following of upto 1,500 according to Radio Wales (surely it wasn't that many?). That winner arrived on 67 as Joe Ledley showed his pace, strength, class and skill as he surged forward, could not be shaken off his run by St Leger and drove home in front of the delerious City fans.
It could and should have been more, Preston should have had a man sent off but the important fact was that City held on for a fully deserved victory which leaves the home side in the bottom three and City amazingly in 12th and just 5 points from the play-offs. When you think of those 90th minute equalisers against us (at least 3 in the league) and last minute penalty misses, we could have been there despite our poor form and results.
Next up is a New Year's Day shoot out with high flying Plymouth - a test that will really show if we are capable of climbing higher or not.
Until then, HAPPY NEW YEAR!
CARDIFF NEW INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING POOL PHOTOS
Click Below Link
To See All Pics
Was around Cardiff Bay this morning so decided to have a nose at the new International Swimming Pool and leisure suite due to open St David's Day 2008 whose glass building has emerged on the skyline in recent months, the Empire Pool finally being replaced almost a decade after being demolished.
The photos are taken outside through the glass which was quite dirty so apologies for glare but discovered that the building is divided into two halves - a formal swimming pool half (with three parallel pools) and a leisure pool half with 3 large slides and other features. I believe a gym and other leisure facilities are on site but there were not visible from the exterior.
3 days to the transfer window and Ridsdale says Ledley is not for sale ...
... so now I'm worried.
I'm touched by his assurance that he's not for sale until the end of the season. Wonderful!
Echo story
CARDIFF City’s clear message on midfield dynamo Joe Ledley is: “He ...
I'm touched by his assurance that he's not for sale until the end of the season. Wonderful!
Echo story
CARDIFF City’s clear message on midfield dynamo Joe Ledley is: “He ...
UFO's in CARDIFF !
And, no, it wasn't a rare sighting of Jason Byrne or Robbie Fowler challenging for a header ... as if!
http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/cardiff-news/2007/12/29/ufo-casebook-91466-20294207/
http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/cardiff-news/2007/12/29/ufo-casebook-91466-20294207/
Friday, December 28, 2007
SALES - WHAT A WASTE OF TIME & RIP OFF
They used to be the January sales, now they start before Christmas. They used to be a genuine sale, now it's a retail opportunity to fleece us. I am so cynical about them.
Does anyone really enjoy them or get anything worthwhile in them anymore?
Had the misfortune of being dragged around town (Cardiff) with the family today. Don't think I saw any worthwhile bargain in any shop and nothing you can't get for cheaper on-line.
Sale stock is largely tat nobody wants and increasingly, stock they've put out especially for the sale that wasn't in the shops anyway pre-Xmas. Suppose you can get some clothing deals but nothing to get excited about. Yet, despite heavy rain, the place was packed out with lost souls and the tills were ringing and with queues too. We are mugs!
It ended up costing me as I took the family to lunch. As much as ever and without discount of course!
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