Looks like the Cardiff City v Langstone Court Case, due November 21st, has been delayed until who knows?
Never mind, that'll give Peter Ridsdale more excuses for not being able to spend in January and allow more more time to take money from this club while spending most of his time appearing left, right and centre in tv and radio promoting his book on his old club, all for charity. What a hero!
Meantime, Dave Jones and Robbie Fowler - the two personnel most under the microscope - apparently spend the day after the night before in London helping promote the book launch.
Anyone would think all is swimmingly well at Cardiff City.
Link to story:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/7083444.stm
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
City Cock It Up at Home Yet Again, now held by Palace
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 6th
CHAMPIONSHIP - Game 14/46 - at NINIAN PARK
CARDIFF CITY (1) 1
Purse 9
CRYSTAL PALACE (1) 1
Watson (pen) 44
Bluebirds fans walked into Ninian Park after being leafleted to buy bricks for the new stadium (I knew we couldn't afford it!) with your names engraved on them for between £40 and £80. It was just as well there wasn't an instant sale as they would have no doubt found their way pitchside. .
City and Crystal Palace collectively cannot buy a win between them so it was (dis)honours even at 1-1, a result that leaves Cardiff in 19th and only 2 points above the drop zone and Palace in 23rd. The game was every bit as bad as league standings would suggest, looking every inch the proverbial 6 pointer. Entertainment shocking, quality non-existent. Standards so low at times and I was starting to wonder if I'd walked in a time machine and been transported back to City's darkest days in the 80's and 90's, it really was that awful.
Darren Purse lead by example giving City an early lead but, yet again, instead of building on it, City sat back and lost it and their way. Palace's equaliser was an unjust penalty and the refereeing was shocking but don't allow them as excuses, it won't wash with those who endured this encounter. Once again, what we watched was nowhere near good enough from the boys in blue and , in many phases, simply unacceptable.
Cardiff's problems remain so obvious that David Blunkett and Stevie Wonder could see through them and it startles that still nothing is being done to address any of them. The same players get picked no matter what and the words of defence for Dave Jones and from Dave Jones resound increasingly hollow. Little wonder crowds evaporate every match (just 11,781 tonight including 250 from Sarf London), many of the near minority who waited to final whistle again booed Dave Jones and the team off the pitch. They were boos of complete frustration and despair more than abuse but with a solitary home league victory in 8 months and 11 attempts,
It's really not helped by the barrage of cheap talk coming out of Ninian Park. Darren Purse has spent the past few days talking of automatic promotion, Peter Ridsdale trying to give his assurance of a Top 6 minimum finish and back his beleaguered manager and Dave Jones backs his perpetual misfiring, even inadequate, personnel and believes that by giving Fowler and Hasslebaink better service, everything will be alright. Each will only ever be judged by results and performances and I'm afraid it's time for all of them to wake up and stop acting so ignorant and bloody deluded about our problems.
Dave Jones again pedaled the now tiresome line about how brilliant his squad is, one of our best ever, but when it boils down to it, he only ever uses 13 players. Tonight, other than the return of Schmeicel for Oakes, he used the same starters as at Anfield, when he got more carried away about that one-off performance in context of the league than anyone I know.
So Cardiff started with Schmeicel, McPhail-Purse-Johnson-Capaldi, Parry-Rae-McPhail-Ledley, Fowler-Hasslebaink. Subs were Oakes-Loovens-Sinclair-Thompson-Whittingham.
At a time when some have debated about giving youth more of a say in the Cardiff 16 with Gunter, Blake and Ramsey mentioned in dispatches, Neil Warnock threw a 15 year old into the fray with his full league debut in John Bostock and what a good player he looked too even if he needed a note off his mum for the afternoon off school!
If City's start to the season has been awful and getting worse, Palace's has been a nightmare. In 23rd. ex-boss Peter Taylor sacked for his failings and Neil Warnock yet to taste victory in 5 attempts. Scoring goals has been their key problem bests exemplified by Clinton Morrison waiting for his 100th league goal with a 100 not out t-shirt worn under his Palace shirt. It must be stinking as coming on for the 2nd half, it was his 11th blank since hitting goal 99. Warnock's side = Speroni, Lawrence-Hudson-Fonte-Hill, Watson-Bostock-Songo'o-Soares-Kennedy, Scowcroft
Palace’s game plan was very obvious, just as most teams who visit Ninian Park, but we have no answers, the die is long set. Five across midfield, a lone striker in Jamie Scowcroft. It allows City territory and possession but Palace to absorb what little we have to offer since Fowler and JFH play narrow and statuesque leaving our ponderous central midfield with so few options when they are too similar and unable to hurt defences like a Steve Gerrard can. . Very simple but that’s all it takes to stifle City these days. The opening phase was quiet, maybe the tone was set was a Palace player getting injured within 2 seconds - surely a record? - and needing treatment after challenging Rae. Schmeicel was tested early but when City showed rare energy, they showed rarer quality, Palace cracked but how Cardiff must regret not killing the game early.
Joe Ledley advanced left, sent over the first of several stunning deliveries which The Seagulls defence put over the bar, almost scoring an own goal. Paul Parry’s corner was whipped in, DARREN PURSE stormed through the static crowd on both sides and powered a header past the pony-tailed Speroni. One up after 9 minutes and in general control. On our way at last?
No chance but we should have been when a guilt-edged chance was spurned almost straight from the restart with sparkling play as Fowler’s only worthwhile touch of the night sent Rae charging, he played Ledley clear, albeit wide, but instead of going for the angled drive, he opted (or was he instructed?) to roll the ball across the box for Robbie or Jimmy, Palace was grateful to scramble away.
Apart from a later shot by Gavin Rae, which hit the side netting, that was the sum extent of City’s first half efforts despite general domination. The reasons why were the usual factors. Sitting back on their lead, devoid of imagination and creativity in the final third, a series of high hopeful balls which Jimmy, and Robbie especially, will not chase or get and when there was quality delivery, a couple of beautiful Ledley crosses and a Parry ball across the face of goal, we are too ordinary and slow to capitalise. One of them floated inches above JFH and was perfect but he neither moved or jumped for it, so annoying.
The ever enthusiastic Schmeicel caught crosses and quickly advanced to the box or kicked upfield to find absolutely zilch movement or running for his kicks, what a waste of what he can provide. The much maligned McPhail had one of his better games but a valid criticism is that, not once, did he get near Palace’s penalty box to add attacking presence. It’s barely good enough to call one dimensional.
While leading, Dave Jones ayatollahed to the Grange End who called for it. Apart from his management by numbers all too predictable substitutions, that was possibly his only work during the 90 minutes of the game. I know he’ll never shout and bawl at the touchline but if all he’s going to do for matches is pick the same team, do the same subs and stand or lean with arms folded, the least he could do is pay himself and endure it in the stands or terraces with the rest of us as he contributes next to nothing during matches.
The kid Bostok tested Schmeicel with a smart shot on 15 minutes – what a tidy, quality player he looks - and there were ironic cheers when McPhail snapped into a couple of challenges against him. Trust him to pick on a 15 yr old. Bully!
You can hack this blandness if you're winning so the target instead was the eccentric performance of ref Lee Mason who, you can safely argue, gave the critical decision that cost City the win but should never be allowed as an excuse for the crock of sh*te that was anything but Championship football. His first ineptness came when Joe Ledley brilliantly won a corner kick, pacing past a Palace defender and back-heeling the ball off him. Goal kick was the decision, the howls of derision would instantly have made Mason know he had it wrong. Then we saw a free-kick against Rae for a high challenge less, it was knee high! A Palace player handles, free-kick to them. The decisions he gave for pushing in both halves were laughable.
You hoped he wouldn’t influence the result but he did when Soares charged at Capaldi at pace and crashed, quite deliberately and “professionally” a yard or two outside the box. I’m not even convinced it was a foul but, incredulously, Mason awarded a penalty instantly, blowing almost before the boy hit the deck. TV has proved it to be a diabolical call but why didn’t he call on the linesman who was level with a perfect view or why doesn’t the lino help out?
Schmeicel placed the ball in front of him and danced about long before the kick was taken to put off WATSON, Fowler tried to put him off with words but it was perfectly taken, he went one way while Schmeicel, Alexander-like, went the other. By now of course, NP was ringing out with boos, whistles and chants of “you don’t know what you’re doing” and “you’re not fit to referee”. However, in the cold light of day, City have to look at themselves for once again sitting back and allowing a poor team to come at them instead of keeping going when they had perfect momentum. The last 8 times we have taken a lead, we’ve given it away.
Half-time: CITY 0 PALACE 0
It’s been driving many of us to drink but I couldn’t even be bothered doing that and going to the bar to give the club more money. I sat numb through half-time while people kicked balls at a garden shed and two fans won a competition to have haircut on the pitch while the pillock from Kiss FM cackled mic on and mic off all in the name of entertainment. The standard and quality very comparable with the football (I use that word loosely) on display.
If the first half was poor, the second half was only astonishing in its awfulness. Palace, realising we really weren't much to worry about, made 2 changes at the restart and went 4-4-2 with two strikers as Morrison and Ifill replaced Song'o and Scowcroft. However Palace were worse but City have to be grateful to Schmeicel for one superb 2nd half save from Ifill meeting a rising drive top corner bound with a dive and two handed catch. It looked a bit showbiz but his old man would have been proud of that one. Another attack saw Capaldi hopelessly out of position but Rae went to the rescue with a brave block. Other than that, City's defence enjoyed domination with Purse, Johnson and McNaughton all looking strong and Capaldi looking like, well, Capaldi - enough said.
Robbie Fowler was now a passenger but it's either in his contract or Dave Jones' mentality that we cannot make any change until the hour. Sure enough, 59 minutes, Thommo strips and warms up and is on a minute later. He was nearly off just as quick too and he woke up City and the crowd when an energetic burst down the channel to win a deep throw and, clearly hyped up, got into "handbags" with a Palace defender. I thought Thommo was going to get sent off but as he appeared to throw an arm out but it was yellow as was the visitor.
The final half-hour made you just despair at how awful Palace were, how awful the ref was and how awful City were. Cardiff should have won it as they had total domination and all the ball but wasted the chances when they came. Parry was clear on the angle, just like Ledley, as same as before elected to roll the ball across goal but nobody was there and a Palace defender somehow scooped ball over bar standing on line, if only he'd put pace on it. Hasslebaink was even worse, two edge of area free-kicks, both hit directly at Speroni but I screamed as I watched him fail to go for a free header in front of goal from a perfect Ledley ball when he tried to kick instead 5 foot in the air then a similar chance saw him head right at Speroni. It's not good enough for a player of his calibre. "Give them service and they'll score", counters Dave Jones, Hasselbaink and Fowler were given perfect crosses and failed to do a single thing with any.
Over the tannoy came a message for two car owners to leave the ground for their vehicles immediately. Apart from wishful thinking that one would have been Dave Jones' taxi, those guys should be grateful they weren't there to the bitter end. So bad was this that even Warnock never bothered shouting, arguing and stood there passive, is he on sedatives?
The final 10 minutes saw Sinclair replace Parry, City have moments with everyone in Palace's half and Schmeicel looking like he wanted to join them but it was just never going to happen. All desperate, high balls, panic, kick and rush. We weren't good enough to even make our luck. The effort was there, the quality and desire where needed just wasn;'t.
The last whistle saw a chorus of boos and so many targets to aim them at - Dave Jones, the ref, City's performance, certain players, the (non) standard of football.
It is now reaching a stage of farce and where action just has to be taken by Dave Jones. Fowler has to make way, maybe Jimmy too, central midfield has to be broken up as well and there remains a case for Capaldi being left out. The spine and the balance of City is badly wrong and just is never going to change with existing personnel picked every time no matter what. Time to act Jonesy and make big managerial decisions. Be it on your head if you don't because Cardiff fans have now had and seen enough. . I couldn't protest at the game and I'd never boo but I still felt angry next morning, never mind all night afterwards. It is completely unacceptable to persist with his.
Costs:
Tickets:
£37 (2 in the Grandstand)
Programme:
£3
Food/Drink:
£8 - all before the game, not at NP
Travel:
£5
Total Cost for Game:
While JFH and Robbie pocket £30k for that and Dave Jones gets whatever he does, I shell out £53 for that pile of pants. No wonder fans hurt and feel it more.
Monday, November 05, 2007
Review: Joe Strummer Photo Exhibition, Riverfront Theatre, Newport
Working in Newport, I popped along to the city centre’s new(ish) Riverfront Theatre to see The Joe Strummer photo exhibition which is there for the month to coincide with the stage play of “Meeting Joe Strummer” and screening of the new Julian Temple movie, “The Future Is Unwritten”.
I wasn’t sure what to expect but knowing Joe had major connections with Newport and a lifetime#’s worth of work, I thought it would be a large display and collection on view. Instead, after navigating what is the nightmare of getting around major renovation of the roads and area around the theatre which is currently fenced, it was a disappointing experience.
Situated in the theatre's art gallery - probably smaller than a large house living room - the collection consisted of no more than 30 photos including some being duplicated in both walls and a few being no more than blown up Clash album covers. No pictures of Joe around Newport either but, in fairness, the photographer only seems to have known in his later years but there were a couple from Monmouth.
All in black and white, while I'm not arts lover, some could be appreciated as Joe was a photogenic man in his looks and appearance and he has a legacy.
Not the greatest experience but still better than the usual;sandwich and newspaper lunchtime stroll around Asda!
Photos of the photos can be found here > http://tinyurl.com/3yj9fq
Massive Week Ahead for City and Dave Jones
With no City game at the weekend, other action saw The Bluebirds drop 2 places to 19th
The weekend's action saw Cardiff City drop two places to 19th, mere goal difference stopping it being 21st and only 1 point separating them and the bottom three. There is now no hiding place for them and beleaguered boss Dave Jones. Any talk in the camp of play-off and promotion challenges - as Captain Darren Purse did on Soccer AM last weekend - must be banished for now at least as the gravity of City's situation has to be realised
Cardiff's break from the leaague programme with the welcome distraction of that Carling Cup tie at Anfield now a distant memory, they simply have to get results in this week's 2 games before an international break or face the consequences.
It's Charlton away this Saturday but tomorrow has somehow become an early season 6 pointers as City face Neil Warnock's Crystal Palace. The Eagles currently lie 23rd, have failed to win so far under Warnock, their only win since a 4-1 thumping of Southampton on opening day being victory over Sheffield United on September 22nd.
Not that City have bragging rights. That solitary home win over Burnley last month is our only home league victory since March and Dave Jones' men have collected just 8 points from the last 27 available. Jones appears to have the luxury, Riccy Scimeca apart, of a full squad to select from. They now have to perform and get results - simple as that.
It promises to be a tense, possibly make or break night, at Ninian Park tomorrow kick-off 7:45pm.
The weekend's action saw Cardiff City drop two places to 19th, mere goal difference stopping it being 21st and only 1 point separating them and the bottom three. There is now no hiding place for them and beleaguered boss Dave Jones. Any talk in the camp of play-off and promotion challenges - as Captain Darren Purse did on Soccer AM last weekend - must be banished for now at least as the gravity of City's situation has to be realised
Cardiff's break from the leaague programme with the welcome distraction of that Carling Cup tie at Anfield now a distant memory, they simply have to get results in this week's 2 games before an international break or face the consequences.
It's Charlton away this Saturday but tomorrow has somehow become an early season 6 pointers as City face Neil Warnock's Crystal Palace. The Eagles currently lie 23rd, have failed to win so far under Warnock, their only win since a 4-1 thumping of Southampton on opening day being victory over Sheffield United on September 22nd.
Not that City have bragging rights. That solitary home win over Burnley last month is our only home league victory since March and Dave Jones' men have collected just 8 points from the last 27 available. Jones appears to have the luxury, Riccy Scimeca apart, of a full squad to select from. They now have to perform and get results - simple as that.
It promises to be a tense, possibly make or break night, at Ninian Park tomorrow kick-off 7:45pm.
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Calzaghe v Kessler - the photos
Not the greatest pics but it was after a big night out and I was there to enjoy the occasion ... and I certainly did that!
My pics > http://tinyurl.com/34ehu5
However for the best pics, here's the Telegraph's photoshow. Gareth A. Davies of the Telegraph also has an excellent report and round-by-round summary at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/
The Telegraph's photoshow > http://tinyurl.com/27stkj
My pics > http://tinyurl.com/34ehu5
However for the best pics, here's the Telegraph's photoshow. Gareth A. Davies of the Telegraph also has an excellent report and round-by-round summary at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/
The Telegraph's photoshow > http://tinyurl.com/27stkj
For the animal lovers
Some pics of the family dawg and my dad's fish ... exciting eh?
All are here > http://tinyurl.com/2b7qed
LIVING LEGEND!!! JOE CALZAGHE TAMES KESSLER
Joe Calzaghe is the UNDISPUTED Super Middleweight Champion, a hero, a legend and who will now leave boxing as an immortal boxing great and Welsh great.
This was a typical Kairdiff Night Out - loads of beer, an early hours fight and then curry and chips before trying to get home!!
In front of the biggest ever European boxing audience with more than 50,000 in Millennium Stadium (a far cry from the couple of hundred in Splott's STAR Leisure Centre who saw his first pro outing) and fighting at 1:25am, wih the fight going live coast to coast on America's HBO, Joe brilliantly overcame unbeaten Dane Mikkel Kessler to unify the belts, signal 10 years unbeaten as a Champion with an incredible 21 successful defences and remain unbeaten all his professional career totalling 44 fights.
This was a typical Kairdiff Night Out - loads of beer, an early hours fight and then curry and chips before trying to get home!!
In front of the biggest ever European boxing audience with more than 50,000 in Millennium Stadium (a far cry from the couple of hundred in Splott's STAR Leisure Centre who saw his first pro outing) and fighting at 1:25am, wih the fight going live coast to coast on America's HBO, Joe brilliantly overcame unbeaten Dane Mikkel Kessler to unify the belts, signal 10 years unbeaten as a Champion with an incredible 21 successful defences and remain unbeaten all his professional career totalling 44 fights.
CELEBRATE GOOD TIME - C'MON!!!Took the missus to her first boxing bill and her friend - lucky boy with a woman on each arm! - all got into town early but many of the boys had started several hours earlier, especially those who had travelled from far and wide to be there. A perfect sunny day gave way to a mild evening, Millennium Stadium was surprisingly warm.
Last admittance was 10:30 and I popped in not long before that. Got to admit not enjoying huge arena bills - our seats were £75 apiece for middle tier but a good 70 yards away from the ring. There were big screens to watch the close up action. However the occasion and atmosphere being in that crowd was bloody fantastic.
Chief warm up came from Enzo Maccinarrelli who having sent out several hurtful and punishing jabs to his opponent's body but rarely convince. He started awkwardly slipping to the floor in the opening minute and it set the tone. However unbeaten NZ opponent Mohammed Azzoui offered little more than resistance and he gave up on that in Round 4 when he went out and got counted out far too easily.
After Barrie Jones maintained his unbeaten record, despite getting knocked down, it was time for Joe and, boy, was it needed. Most of us had been inside the stadium getting more bladdered on £3 a pint Brains or Carling - the queues at the bar so large, all the drinks were being doubled or trebled. Love it.
A huge entrance and ovation for Joe came after opponent Kessler came to the ring first bringing a couple of hundred Danes to their feet for their man. The "let's get ready to rumble" intro tingled the spine as did the singing of the Welsh national anthem.
The fight was a classic in its way, a battle between two warriors who never wanted to give way, intense and thrilling with the result in the balance for those of us there. It was, without doubt, one of the most competitive fights I've seen between two perfectly matched fighters giving their absolute best.
Joe lost the opening round but showed his class in Rounds Two and Three which had the stadium rocking to "you're not singing anymore" directed at the Danish fans who had earlier been chipper. Joe was unlucky that he appeared to knock Kessler down in Round Three but it was ruled a slip. Up until Round 7, there was nothing to choose between them as far as I was concerned. The heavily tattooed Kessler show what an outstanding Champion he was by hitting back with some thunderous upper cuts only for Joe to soak it up and come back with some epic body shots.
The longer the fight progressed, the more obvious it was that this would go the distance, something most analysts predicted pre-fight. However the expectation was that Joe would be comfortably ahead by halfway.
At 35, Joe now knew he had a hard night's work, had to show he still had the hunger, heart, bottle and balls and didn't he just do that? Switching to pure boxing, where he knew he was the better, his style and class showed as he took the fight away from Kessler. My respect for Kessler was already huge and he gave it everything in the final round, winning it, but knew he needed the knockout and was well behind and beaten but he went out in style.
I doubt anyone ringside gave it to Joe by more than 2 rounds so the judge's decision of 117-11, 116-112 and 116-112 seemed kind but being so far away, you do miss the in-fighting. You also miss Kessler having a badly beaten and swollen face while Joe appeared totally unmarked, another telling factor.
The cheers as final bell and result announcement was epic. What an amazing night.
Frank Warren's review
http://www.frankwarren.tv/drill/News/Articles/2007/11/03/superb-calzaghe-the-no-1.html
Wales on Sunday review
http://tinyurl.com/28kkqt
Last admittance was 10:30 and I popped in not long before that. Got to admit not enjoying huge arena bills - our seats were £75 apiece for middle tier but a good 70 yards away from the ring. There were big screens to watch the close up action. However the occasion and atmosphere being in that crowd was bloody fantastic.
Chief warm up came from Enzo Maccinarrelli who having sent out several hurtful and punishing jabs to his opponent's body but rarely convince. He started awkwardly slipping to the floor in the opening minute and it set the tone. However unbeaten NZ opponent Mohammed Azzoui offered little more than resistance and he gave up on that in Round 4 when he went out and got counted out far too easily.
After Barrie Jones maintained his unbeaten record, despite getting knocked down, it was time for Joe and, boy, was it needed. Most of us had been inside the stadium getting more bladdered on £3 a pint Brains or Carling - the queues at the bar so large, all the drinks were being doubled or trebled. Love it.
A huge entrance and ovation for Joe came after opponent Kessler came to the ring first bringing a couple of hundred Danes to their feet for their man. The "let's get ready to rumble" intro tingled the spine as did the singing of the Welsh national anthem.
The fight was a classic in its way, a battle between two warriors who never wanted to give way, intense and thrilling with the result in the balance for those of us there. It was, without doubt, one of the most competitive fights I've seen between two perfectly matched fighters giving their absolute best.
Joe lost the opening round but showed his class in Rounds Two and Three which had the stadium rocking to "you're not singing anymore" directed at the Danish fans who had earlier been chipper. Joe was unlucky that he appeared to knock Kessler down in Round Three but it was ruled a slip. Up until Round 7, there was nothing to choose between them as far as I was concerned. The heavily tattooed Kessler show what an outstanding Champion he was by hitting back with some thunderous upper cuts only for Joe to soak it up and come back with some epic body shots.
The longer the fight progressed, the more obvious it was that this would go the distance, something most analysts predicted pre-fight. However the expectation was that Joe would be comfortably ahead by halfway.
At 35, Joe now knew he had a hard night's work, had to show he still had the hunger, heart, bottle and balls and didn't he just do that? Switching to pure boxing, where he knew he was the better, his style and class showed as he took the fight away from Kessler. My respect for Kessler was already huge and he gave it everything in the final round, winning it, but knew he needed the knockout and was well behind and beaten but he went out in style.
I doubt anyone ringside gave it to Joe by more than 2 rounds so the judge's decision of 117-11, 116-112 and 116-112 seemed kind but being so far away, you do miss the in-fighting. You also miss Kessler having a badly beaten and swollen face while Joe appeared totally unmarked, another telling factor.
The cheers as final bell and result announcement was epic. What an amazing night.
Frank Warren's review
http://www.frankwarren.tv/drill/News/Articles/2007/11/03/superb-calzaghe-the-no-1.html
Wales on Sunday review
http://tinyurl.com/28kkqt
Just Got In - Calzaghe Does It Again, what a hero!
Amazing I can pen a few notes after a night of beevying but still excited and thrilled.
What a hard fight that was.I think most of us there were surprised Joe won by 4, 4 & 6 rounds.
They didn't seem to be anything in it after 7 but you have to give Joe all the credit in the world for his fitness, brains, hart and balls for taking the later ronds when it really mattered. To do that at his age and several years senior to Kessler was brilliant.Got total respect for Kessler after watching his display too. Not the greatest fight but that was two men unflinching in their attitude and Joe had that extra quality that must now mark him as one of the great boxers of all time and possibly the greatest Welsh boxer ever.
Fantastic Joe. OK, it's close to 4am so bed. NOS DA!
What a hard fight that was.I think most of us there were surprised Joe won by 4, 4 & 6 rounds.
They didn't seem to be anything in it after 7 but you have to give Joe all the credit in the world for his fitness, brains, hart and balls for taking the later ronds when it really mattered. To do that at his age and several years senior to Kessler was brilliant.Got total respect for Kessler after watching his display too. Not the greatest fight but that was two men unflinching in their attitude and Joe had that extra quality that must now mark him as one of the great boxers of all time and possibly the greatest Welsh boxer ever.
Fantastic Joe. OK, it's close to 4am so bed. NOS DA!
Saturday, November 03, 2007
30 YEARS AGO
Thirty years ago this month - November 1977 - The Tubes launched themselves big time in the UK.
Their first tour here and what a start as they sold out Hammersmith Odeon for 10 shows, a record back then.
This tour was recorded for the "What do you want from Live" album.
From The Tubes Project (http://www.thetubesproject.com/) joy this celebratory clip to remind of of how it was 'back in the day'.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQgKT4ffc5I
Their first tour here and what a start as they sold out Hammersmith Odeon for 10 shows, a record back then.
This tour was recorded for the "What do you want from Live" album.
From The Tubes Project (http://www.thetubesproject.com/) joy this celebratory clip to remind of of how it was 'back in the day'.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQgKT4ffc5I
Friday, November 02, 2007
Cardiff City stadium work finally commences
With the new athletics stadium tracks and facilities built and stands now being built, today finally saw work begin on demolition and conversion of the current athletics stadium into Cardiff City's new ground.
The work underway at Leckwith has been immense in recent months but few can get excited about road widening, retail parks and hard hats, this has been the moment that means most to City fans.
A shame therefore that such a monumental occasions that we've waited years to see was so low profile with just Peter Ridsdale and the council leader present, no fans were involved at all. Not the best p.r. by PR.
BBC report
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7075131.stm
The work underway at Leckwith has been immense in recent months but few can get excited about road widening, retail parks and hard hats, this has been the moment that means most to City fans.
A shame therefore that such a monumental occasions that we've waited years to see was so low profile with just Peter Ridsdale and the council leader present, no fans were involved at all. Not the best p.r. by PR.
BBC report
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7075131.stm
Liverpool v City in pictures
Not the best set but I was there to enjoy a big night for City, hey ho
All pics can be found at this link > http://tinyurl.com/2asb5h
Calzaghe - Huge Fight Tomorrow
With City's game at Blackpool this weekend deferred until mid-December, one bonus of that is that I am now able to attend the JOE CALZAGHE vs Mikkel Kessler fight at Millennium Stadium with the added bonus that, after City's recent results, it does give me the chance to experience some atmosphere too.
I love attending boxing and this will probably be the 50th I've time I've attended to support Welsh boys over the years including Kelivn Smart, Robbie Regan, Steve Robinson, Nicky Piper and, of course, Joe. Being present at his mauling of Jeff Lacey in Manchester will forever be one of the greatest sporting nights on my life. It looked extraordinary on tv, being there was an experience and night I will just never forget. It's covered elsewhere in the blog.
Tomorrow is just as big a fight. Two men with big reputations and unbeaten records, both holding different versions of the World title. Can't wait!
Joe's pre-fight thoughts
http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5g4XtFGONTVofTob7XBvdR9sNTPqw
I love attending boxing and this will probably be the 50th I've time I've attended to support Welsh boys over the years including Kelivn Smart, Robbie Regan, Steve Robinson, Nicky Piper and, of course, Joe. Being present at his mauling of Jeff Lacey in Manchester will forever be one of the greatest sporting nights on my life. It looked extraordinary on tv, being there was an experience and night I will just never forget. It's covered elsewhere in the blog.
Tomorrow is just as big a fight. Two men with big reputations and unbeaten records, both holding different versions of the World title. Can't wait!
Joe's pre-fight thoughts
http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5g4XtFGONTVofTob7XBvdR9sNTPqw
Thursday, November 01, 2007
DAVE JONES FEELS THE HEAT & OVERCOOKS
Jonesy -Almost looking happy & animated
Instead of conducting an Anfield relaxed and upbeat press conference , it appears the strains are starting to tell on DJ. Whilst backing his team, he has to, and showing pride in their display, quotes attributed to Dave Jones in various media showed him to be bristly and nasty - which maybe didn't unduly surprise the 'locals' but certainly surprised the nationals, some of whom to quick to pounce on it.
Wishing journalists a “shit journey home” is not going to do him any favours and he’s being a bit naïve if he thinks a great showing against Liverpool’s reserves plus a couple of stars means everything’s now ok.
The problems in the side – especially in midfield and up front – were as apparent as ever. Spoke to Liverpool fans and, to a man, they all commented how we lacked pace, our play and movement was laboured and one-dimensional apart but they did like Parry, Ledley and Purse.
Jones is struggling to take criticism, even when it is constructive. For a man who doesn’t read newspapers (bollox – why do they come up with tired line?), he sure has plenty to say about them and what they’re writing.
Unfortunately, Dave Jones’ problem is that fans may never have played the game professionally but we’re certainly not fools. Many of us have watched City hundreds of times - my count can't be far off two thousand times in 40 years home and away - to have valid opinions and the same will undoubtedly go for those who make their living writing abut it. And if it wasn’t for us paying hundreds of pounds to follow City, Jones wouldn’t have this job.
He loves the praise when he gets it, he should be big, experienced and ugly enough to deal with the opposite. In both cases, it’s very rare you get it when it’s not deserved from a majority.
No words, arguments or insults will turn this around now,
The problems in the side – especially in midfield and up front – were as apparent as ever. Spoke to Liverpool fans and, to a man, they all commented how we lacked pace, our play and movement was laboured and one-dimensional apart but they did like Parry, Ledley and Purse.
Jones is struggling to take criticism, even when it is constructive. For a man who doesn’t read newspapers (bollox – why do they come up with tired line?), he sure has plenty to say about them and what they’re writing.
Unfortunately, Dave Jones’ problem is that fans may never have played the game professionally but we’re certainly not fools. Many of us have watched City hundreds of times - my count can't be far off two thousand times in 40 years home and away - to have valid opinions and the same will undoubtedly go for those who make their living writing abut it. And if it wasn’t for us paying hundreds of pounds to follow City, Jones wouldn’t have this job.
He loves the praise when he gets it, he should be big, experienced and ugly enough to deal with the opposite. In both cases, it’s very rare you get it when it’s not deserved from a majority.
No words, arguments or insults will turn this around now,
just results … so get on with it DJ.
The Echo's headline report
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
On Yer Bike!
Don't know what's the story here? I bet loads of us loved our Choppers where we were kids.
http://tinyurl.com/35mzyo
http://tinyurl.com/35mzyo
Thanks & Congrats Cardiff City & Peter Ridsdale
At last, Cardiff City sign me.
The fee not much but, hey, it's more
than they paid Fowler or Hasselbaink!
While 5,600 Bluebirds (plus the extras in the Liverpool sections) head for shellsuit and tache land tomorrow night, the game being played on a Wednesday meant that Friday's night Championship fixture at Blackpool was shelved.
The way City are performing in the league right now, maybe some of us are grateful for the break. We can also watch the Joe Calzaghe fight instead for some long overdue atmosphere.
However it caused mayhem for those of us with advanced plans to go to Blackpool including travel and hotel reservations which had to be made in advance given it was also last weekend of the illuminations. In my case, it left with a £200 hole in my pocket for pre-booked non-refundable advance train fares.
The hotel cancelled their charges (we have stayed with them before and will again) but to the rescue came Cardiff City and Peter Ridsdale with the magnificent gesture to refund all out of pocket costs as a result of the Blackpool postponement. It wasn't the fans fault for this problem but it wasn't the club's either and I can't think of any other who would help out like this. The club will, in turn, try to get reimbursement from the Football League but decided to refunds supporters regardless of whether this happens or not.
Today came my refund and I cannot thank Cardiff City enough for their assistance and outstanding gesture.
I salute you CCFC and Mr Ridsdale
The way City are performing in the league right now, maybe some of us are grateful for the break. We can also watch the Joe Calzaghe fight instead for some long overdue atmosphere.
However it caused mayhem for those of us with advanced plans to go to Blackpool including travel and hotel reservations which had to be made in advance given it was also last weekend of the illuminations. In my case, it left with a £200 hole in my pocket for pre-booked non-refundable advance train fares.
The hotel cancelled their charges (we have stayed with them before and will again) but to the rescue came Cardiff City and Peter Ridsdale with the magnificent gesture to refund all out of pocket costs as a result of the Blackpool postponement. It wasn't the fans fault for this problem but it wasn't the club's either and I can't think of any other who would help out like this. The club will, in turn, try to get reimbursement from the Football League but decided to refunds supporters regardless of whether this happens or not.
Today came my refund and I cannot thank Cardiff City enough for their assistance and outstanding gesture.
I salute you CCFC and Mr Ridsdale
Monday, October 29, 2007
DAVE JONES - where has it gone wrong?
If I could sum up Cardiff City's and Dave Jones' problems in just 3 words, they would have to be complacency, arrogance and non-accomplishment.
The charge sheet is filling but chief crimes have to be;
The crass decision to let Neil Alexander go without any better replacement signed and sealed. Forde, Turnbull, Oakes, Schmeicel and still we wait for someone permanent.
The self-congratulatory smugness of Jones building City's "best ever squad" without "spending money" while our results tell their own story.
Continually telling us how far we've come and our remarkable progress when we've actually come nowhere at all. Lennie Lawrence left us a mid-table side, Dave Jones has provided exactly the same every year in 3 years save the delights of Koumas and Chopra and that superb start to last season.
The club's foolishness by giving Dave Jones two improved contracts and shares over the past year while we've endured relegation form and Cardiff City's worst finish to a season in their entire history - and given our history, that takes some doing.
Always finding someone or something else to blame and always covering his own backside. It's strikers one week, defence the next. Defence are now his regular target yet these are the players he brought us and he selects nearly the same faces every week no matter what to the extent that you suspect 5 or 6 players have their names pre-printed on his team sheets. That home record is disgraceful but he's never shown any humility about it.
Never admitting his own mistakes such as dropping Parry last weekend (inconsistent but our best player in midweek) whilst forever standing by players like Capaldi, McPhail and Fowler.
The incredible number of inadequate signings - Byrne, Forde, Feeney, Campbell, Capaldi, Redan, Turnbull, Flood (the list goes on).
I'd wish Jones can turn this around - as I believe he's a good manager - but ever since he apparently was offered but declined the job at West Brom last season, he's been a very different man in my opinion. You can pinpoint his moans and attitude, City's decline all coming at the same time.
The charge sheet is filling but chief crimes have to be;
The crass decision to let Neil Alexander go without any better replacement signed and sealed. Forde, Turnbull, Oakes, Schmeicel and still we wait for someone permanent.
The self-congratulatory smugness of Jones building City's "best ever squad" without "spending money" while our results tell their own story.
Continually telling us how far we've come and our remarkable progress when we've actually come nowhere at all. Lennie Lawrence left us a mid-table side, Dave Jones has provided exactly the same every year in 3 years save the delights of Koumas and Chopra and that superb start to last season.
The club's foolishness by giving Dave Jones two improved contracts and shares over the past year while we've endured relegation form and Cardiff City's worst finish to a season in their entire history - and given our history, that takes some doing.
Always finding someone or something else to blame and always covering his own backside. It's strikers one week, defence the next. Defence are now his regular target yet these are the players he brought us and he selects nearly the same faces every week no matter what to the extent that you suspect 5 or 6 players have their names pre-printed on his team sheets. That home record is disgraceful but he's never shown any humility about it.
Never admitting his own mistakes such as dropping Parry last weekend (inconsistent but our best player in midweek) whilst forever standing by players like Capaldi, McPhail and Fowler.
The incredible number of inadequate signings - Byrne, Forde, Feeney, Campbell, Capaldi, Redan, Turnbull, Flood (the list goes on).
I'd wish Jones can turn this around - as I believe he's a good manager - but ever since he apparently was offered but declined the job at West Brom last season, he's been a very different man in my opinion. You can pinpoint his moans and attitude, City's decline all coming at the same time.
And then there were three ... Mike Hall leaves City's Board
Citing a conflict of interest with the legal case about to be tested from which, win or lose, sees his business interests covered.
More details here:
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11688_2834623,00.html
More details here:
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11688_2834623,00.html
Saturday, October 27, 2007
CHAMPIONSHIP: CARDIFF CITY 1 SCUNTHORPE UNITED 1
SATURDAY OCTOBER 27th
CHAMPIONSHIP - Game 13/46
at NINIAN PARK
CARDIFF CITY (1) 1
McPhail 37
SCUNTHORPE (0) 1
Goodwin 55
When The Buzzcocks wrote the lyrics for Boredom, they must have had Dave Jones' Cardiff City in mind with the lines;
You see there's nothing behind me
I'm already a has-been
My future ain't what it was
Well I think I know the words that I mean
Boredom Boredom
An afternoon of apathetic entertainment, rightly described as Novocain football by some afterwards, saw Cardiff City numb and succumb to a 1-1 draw against an organised, spirited but relatively mediocre Scunthorpe side who left South Wales with a comfortable point. Had Scunnie decided to show any ambition, it may well have been all three but that point was clearly all they wanted.
On a day when Dave Jones and his self-labelled "best ever City squad" were on trial, they collectively let themselves and us down yet again. Boos lasting 15 seconds or so at final whistle were largely comparable to City's best moments in the tedious encounter..
The most depressing aspect is not so much that City's performance suggesting that they didn't even appear to be motivated enough to either answer their critics or fight for their manager but the attitude of our fans. fans. We have now become so accustomed to this - 5 points out of 21 this season, just a solitary home league win in 8 months, the life and passion is being sucked out of us.
It was like a funeral parlour, both inside and walking away, I've rarely known us become so disinterested and bored that we can't even get angry by this shocking state of affairs. Only a relative handful can be arsed to scream out their frustrations. Our decline was such that it was entirely predictable this would be a dour, boring grind. A few of us had settled in the pub and had got to the point of debating whether to simply stay there for the afternoon but with tickets already in our pockets, we made the sacrifice. We're all committed diehards, the mere fact we were discussing not bothering going to the game underlines what a sorry mess it all is right now.
Where the hell do we go from here? For all his faults and mistakes made, I'd personally like to see Dave Jones turn this around but the signs are that the tide has turned and it is not in his capabilities to do so. Is it now just really a case of how much more of pain we must endure before drastic action is taken?, After giving DJ not one, but two, improved contracts and shares in the last year, how much does City's financial outlook have a bearing on things?
It's no game to write home about and it's agony to relive the experience but here goes.
You could have argued for Dave Jones to seriously have changed over half the team - and, after all, if he has two players in every position and our "best ever"?(!) squad, then why not? However he changed just 3. Loanee goalkeeper Kasper Schmeicel came in for Michael Oakes, Roger Johnson replaced the completely out of sorts Glen Loovens and Trevor Sinclair replaced Paul Parry, one of our better performers in midweek. His decision (or was a lack of a decision?) to continue with Tony Capaldi, the misfiring central midfield and Robbie Fowler was either brave or foolish but certainly not rewarded and none really repaid his faith, even if McPhail shocked the world by scoring.
You'd never have believed a City side would ever feature the names Schmeicel, Fowler and Hasslebaink would you? But here we were with Schmeicel Jr, McNaughton-Purse-Johnson-Capaldi, Sinclair-Rae-McPhail-Ledley, Fowler-Hasselbaink. Subs were Oakes, Loovens, Parry, Thompson, Whittingham.
Scunthorpe shocked everyone by coming up as League One champions, especially in a division that contained arguably bigger and better squads, which is huge testimony to their work. Having sold the strikeforce which essentially helped bring them here in Andy Keogh (now at Wolves) and Billy Sharp (now at Sheffield United) and having what must be the smallest squad in the Championship, many predicted a huge struggle for them but they arrived at Ninian Park in 9th and 5 points ahead of City giving them all the bragging rights. It puts Dave Jones' and our squad's efforts to shame.
Their side featured those household names of Murphy, Crosby-Butler-Byrne-Youga, Taylor-Cork-Goodwin,Hurst, Hayes-Paterson. Only Kevan Hurst at £200k cost money, other than keeper Joe Murphy, not one of them had previous history of playing at this level. You have to salute them. Maybe the most interesting name was teenager Jack Cork on loan from Chelsea and he's the son of ex-City manager Alan Cork.
To a man, the expectation had to be that City came out 'all guns blazing' to show they're better than the criticisms and vitriol aimed their way. You;d also think they'd be desperate to perform for their under siege manager. What we got was the exact opposite,
Unable to put two passes together, unwilling to show movement, restricted to ball into the air or space nonsense, no communication. Cardiff were as dull and mild as the weather. Bluebirds fans were rendered speechless, the game watched in near silence. And who could blame anyone? The only "shot" at goal and the only work Scunnie;s keeper had to the first half hour came from a punt from our goalkeeper Kasper Schmeicel. It took 20 minutes to have any shot, a rubbish effort from Rae, 25 minutes to win a corner and McPhail's goal on 37 minutes was our only true effort at goal all half. Little wonder I'd resorted to reading The Echo instead to pass the time, there was nothing on the pitch to watch or admire. (Yep, reduced crowd but programmes still sold out before kick-off!)
Until City's goal, the only shot in anger all game had been a poor Roger Johnson touch giving Hayes a free shot at goal, his effort was great and so were Schmeicel's reflexes in tipping over. It was, in fact, Schmeicel who gave us the main cheers, not just because he was one of the very few players who looked fired up and enthusiastic although even he got dragged down long before the end. Nowhere near as big as his illustrious father, he looked the part by making good decisions, always being alert and looking sharp and, boy, can he kick a ball. The likes of Chopra could have dined on his 70 - 80 yard punts without difficulty, Fowler and JFH won't.
The goal was the only other moment to get excited about all half. Both a surprise and a shock as it came from STEVE McPHAIL, not so much Goal of the Season but his Goal FOR the season. This is a week when Neil Alexander saved two penalties, it shows that miracles still happen occasionally.
It came from a move down the right, Hasselbaink took the ball at the by-line just inside the area, twisted and out a ball across the box where McPHAIL was further man forward and deep in the penalty area (honestly, no lies!) to flick a boot out high and divert it across a shocked Murphy from 8 yards. City fans didn't know whether to laugh or cry but you could feel the stands and terraces sway for a moment as 11,000 of us shook our heads in disbelief.
Our only other moments of a dreadful half were a couple of blocked JFH efforts and Robbie (I forgot he was on the pitch) Fowler nodding a corner well over in added time but, by that point, I'd already disappeared to the bar for solace and was watching on the screen.
Half-time: CITY 1 SCUNTHORPE 0
The Iron made a start of 2nd half sub with keeper Murphy replaced by Josh Lillis for what was his football league debut. Visibly small for a keeper and making a nervy start, I thought he'd be tested from the off but we're a charity case these days and didn't bother, Rae had our only early effort, a wild hit into the Grange End.
On 52 minutes, an enforced sub as Paul Parry replaced Kevin McNaughton who signalled to come off. More hamstring troubles? Trevor Sinclair dropped to right back. Three minutes later, Scunthorpe did the inevitable and equalised and, yet again, our defending was pitiful.
There didn't look anything on as Hurst advanced down Sinclair's side and hit what was nothing more than a speculative pass across the edge of the box but Gavin Rae failed to stick a boot out when in front of him and then GOODWIN took the ball far side, controlled and then hit an angled shot across Schmeicel. Where was Tony Capaldi? It also looked a shot you'd expect a goalkeeper to save but I'll have to see it on tv. Their 150 or so fans in the 11,850 went suitably wild.
The difference in attitude and togetherness between the team so plainly obvious when every visiting player, bar their keeper, ran to the bottom corner of Bob Bank and Canton Stand to congratulate the scorer. As was a minute's stoppage later in the game for injury which saw Scunnie players get in groups of 2's and 3's, talking away, pointing around the field. Cardiff's stood alone the entire time, not one of them with a single word to say to any other. Our lot are too busy feeling sorry for themselves. That surely includes our manager too. I don't believe he spoke to any player all game, shouted to the pitch and barely made any appearance in the technical area. He's infamous for propping himself nonchalantly against the dugout but, today, he was mostly retreated well inside it.
It's now beyond a joke. That's 7 times in the last 7 games that City have had the lead (including twice against Preston) but failed to hold onto it. 13 games, 1 clean sheet - Neil Alexander gave us 11 in 37 games last season until Jones arrogantly tossed him aside.
Scunthorpe were more than happy to leave with that result and found it quite easy to hold out for even if Cardiff at least showed a bit more interest, but not too much more, for the final 30 minutes. More a slog than an onslaught. Yet again, Robbie Fowler was out of steam well before the hour mark and removed at that point. As remarked by others, we've fallen a long way when sub replacement Steven Thompson is now the quickest forward at the club.
Joe Ledley was denied however by a terrific save with 20 to go meeting a floated Parry ball at the far post, his downward header was back across goal but Lillis did very well not just to block but deny anyone a follow up opportunity ... as if our players would be alert enough for that. His only other test was a McPhail 20 yarder, that shot and his goal somehow seeing him awarded Man of the Match by sponsors, South Wales Echo. Other than that, he was again no influence on the game at any time. I bet The Echo can still hear the derision when that was announced.
Jimmy tried some piledrivers, all blocked, Thommo and Parry brought routine saves from Lillis and City were denied again 10 minutes from time when Darren Purse's header from a corner was nodded off the line and over by Taylor. That's the sort of goal we've conceded a few times too many already this season.
The only late cheer for me was getting a text off a mate saying he'd given up on us for automatic promotion and couldn't even see us doing a Palace or Sunderland. He was serious too. Scunnie produced mild panic winning a corner deep into added time but Schmeicel was again decisive, coming and cleanly taking.
Final whistle produced those boos, not as loud or as long as it could have been, that passion's gone you see. We couldn't even be bothered to protest outside or chants Jones Out, another hallmark of days gone by. Instead, we were just relieved that we could finally leave, those of us who had bothered staying to the end anyway.
I could write more about our defensive, midfield and attacking problems and a frustrating pillock of a ref who stopped the game every chance and talked to players continually and not restarting the game until he'd had his say for any little thing but I'm sure you've already got the gist of this one.
So here we are 13 games in and it's been a pathetic 5 points out of 21 at Ninian Park this season. Little wonder we're now 17th (only that high thanks to goal difference) and just 3 points above relegation while 6 away from play-offs and 12 from promotion. It is fast approaching time to look what's below us instead of in front of us, especially as no game next weekend means we look certain to drop lower again before we next play. A truly awful state of affairs and it's increasingly hard to see any way out other than a door marked "exit" for manager, players or both and, if it carries on like this, sooner rather than later please.
CHAMPIONSHIP - Game 13/46
at NINIAN PARK
CARDIFF CITY (1) 1
McPhail 37
SCUNTHORPE (0) 1
Goodwin 55
Some rare action
during the yawn-athon
When The Buzzcocks wrote the lyrics for Boredom, they must have had Dave Jones' Cardiff City in mind with the lines;
You see there's nothing behind me
I'm already a has-been
My future ain't what it was
Well I think I know the words that I mean
Boredom Boredom
An afternoon of apathetic entertainment, rightly described as Novocain football by some afterwards, saw Cardiff City numb and succumb to a 1-1 draw against an organised, spirited but relatively mediocre Scunthorpe side who left South Wales with a comfortable point. Had Scunnie decided to show any ambition, it may well have been all three but that point was clearly all they wanted.
On a day when Dave Jones and his self-labelled "best ever City squad" were on trial, they collectively let themselves and us down yet again. Boos lasting 15 seconds or so at final whistle were largely comparable to City's best moments in the tedious encounter..
The most depressing aspect is not so much that City's performance suggesting that they didn't even appear to be motivated enough to either answer their critics or fight for their manager but the attitude of our fans. fans. We have now become so accustomed to this - 5 points out of 21 this season, just a solitary home league win in 8 months, the life and passion is being sucked out of us.
It was like a funeral parlour, both inside and walking away, I've rarely known us become so disinterested and bored that we can't even get angry by this shocking state of affairs. Only a relative handful can be arsed to scream out their frustrations. Our decline was such that it was entirely predictable this would be a dour, boring grind. A few of us had settled in the pub and had got to the point of debating whether to simply stay there for the afternoon but with tickets already in our pockets, we made the sacrifice. We're all committed diehards, the mere fact we were discussing not bothering going to the game underlines what a sorry mess it all is right now.
Where the hell do we go from here? For all his faults and mistakes made, I'd personally like to see Dave Jones turn this around but the signs are that the tide has turned and it is not in his capabilities to do so. Is it now just really a case of how much more of pain we must endure before drastic action is taken?, After giving DJ not one, but two, improved contracts and shares in the last year, how much does City's financial outlook have a bearing on things?
It's no game to write home about and it's agony to relive the experience but here goes.
You could have argued for Dave Jones to seriously have changed over half the team - and, after all, if he has two players in every position and our "best ever"?(!) squad, then why not? However he changed just 3. Loanee goalkeeper Kasper Schmeicel came in for Michael Oakes, Roger Johnson replaced the completely out of sorts Glen Loovens and Trevor Sinclair replaced Paul Parry, one of our better performers in midweek. His decision (or was a lack of a decision?) to continue with Tony Capaldi, the misfiring central midfield and Robbie Fowler was either brave or foolish but certainly not rewarded and none really repaid his faith, even if McPhail shocked the world by scoring.
You'd never have believed a City side would ever feature the names Schmeicel, Fowler and Hasslebaink would you? But here we were with Schmeicel Jr, McNaughton-Purse-Johnson-Capaldi, Sinclair-Rae-McPhail-Ledley, Fowler-Hasselbaink. Subs were Oakes, Loovens, Parry, Thompson, Whittingham.
Scunthorpe shocked everyone by coming up as League One champions, especially in a division that contained arguably bigger and better squads, which is huge testimony to their work. Having sold the strikeforce which essentially helped bring them here in Andy Keogh (now at Wolves) and Billy Sharp (now at Sheffield United) and having what must be the smallest squad in the Championship, many predicted a huge struggle for them but they arrived at Ninian Park in 9th and 5 points ahead of City giving them all the bragging rights. It puts Dave Jones' and our squad's efforts to shame.
Their side featured those household names of Murphy, Crosby-Butler-Byrne-Youga, Taylor-Cork-Goodwin,Hurst, Hayes-Paterson. Only Kevan Hurst at £200k cost money, other than keeper Joe Murphy, not one of them had previous history of playing at this level. You have to salute them. Maybe the most interesting name was teenager Jack Cork on loan from Chelsea and he's the son of ex-City manager Alan Cork.
To a man, the expectation had to be that City came out 'all guns blazing' to show they're better than the criticisms and vitriol aimed their way. You;d also think they'd be desperate to perform for their under siege manager. What we got was the exact opposite,
Unable to put two passes together, unwilling to show movement, restricted to ball into the air or space nonsense, no communication. Cardiff were as dull and mild as the weather. Bluebirds fans were rendered speechless, the game watched in near silence. And who could blame anyone? The only "shot" at goal and the only work Scunnie;s keeper had to the first half hour came from a punt from our goalkeeper Kasper Schmeicel. It took 20 minutes to have any shot, a rubbish effort from Rae, 25 minutes to win a corner and McPhail's goal on 37 minutes was our only true effort at goal all half. Little wonder I'd resorted to reading The Echo instead to pass the time, there was nothing on the pitch to watch or admire. (Yep, reduced crowd but programmes still sold out before kick-off!)
Until City's goal, the only shot in anger all game had been a poor Roger Johnson touch giving Hayes a free shot at goal, his effort was great and so were Schmeicel's reflexes in tipping over. It was, in fact, Schmeicel who gave us the main cheers, not just because he was one of the very few players who looked fired up and enthusiastic although even he got dragged down long before the end. Nowhere near as big as his illustrious father, he looked the part by making good decisions, always being alert and looking sharp and, boy, can he kick a ball. The likes of Chopra could have dined on his 70 - 80 yard punts without difficulty, Fowler and JFH won't.
The goal was the only other moment to get excited about all half. Both a surprise and a shock as it came from STEVE McPHAIL, not so much Goal of the Season but his Goal FOR the season. This is a week when Neil Alexander saved two penalties, it shows that miracles still happen occasionally.
It came from a move down the right, Hasselbaink took the ball at the by-line just inside the area, twisted and out a ball across the box where McPHAIL was further man forward and deep in the penalty area (honestly, no lies!) to flick a boot out high and divert it across a shocked Murphy from 8 yards. City fans didn't know whether to laugh or cry but you could feel the stands and terraces sway for a moment as 11,000 of us shook our heads in disbelief.
Our only other moments of a dreadful half were a couple of blocked JFH efforts and Robbie (I forgot he was on the pitch) Fowler nodding a corner well over in added time but, by that point, I'd already disappeared to the bar for solace and was watching on the screen.
Half-time: CITY 1 SCUNTHORPE 0
The Iron made a start of 2nd half sub with keeper Murphy replaced by Josh Lillis for what was his football league debut. Visibly small for a keeper and making a nervy start, I thought he'd be tested from the off but we're a charity case these days and didn't bother, Rae had our only early effort, a wild hit into the Grange End.
On 52 minutes, an enforced sub as Paul Parry replaced Kevin McNaughton who signalled to come off. More hamstring troubles? Trevor Sinclair dropped to right back. Three minutes later, Scunthorpe did the inevitable and equalised and, yet again, our defending was pitiful.
There didn't look anything on as Hurst advanced down Sinclair's side and hit what was nothing more than a speculative pass across the edge of the box but Gavin Rae failed to stick a boot out when in front of him and then GOODWIN took the ball far side, controlled and then hit an angled shot across Schmeicel. Where was Tony Capaldi? It also looked a shot you'd expect a goalkeeper to save but I'll have to see it on tv. Their 150 or so fans in the 11,850 went suitably wild.
The difference in attitude and togetherness between the team so plainly obvious when every visiting player, bar their keeper, ran to the bottom corner of Bob Bank and Canton Stand to congratulate the scorer. As was a minute's stoppage later in the game for injury which saw Scunnie players get in groups of 2's and 3's, talking away, pointing around the field. Cardiff's stood alone the entire time, not one of them with a single word to say to any other. Our lot are too busy feeling sorry for themselves. That surely includes our manager too. I don't believe he spoke to any player all game, shouted to the pitch and barely made any appearance in the technical area. He's infamous for propping himself nonchalantly against the dugout but, today, he was mostly retreated well inside it.
It's now beyond a joke. That's 7 times in the last 7 games that City have had the lead (including twice against Preston) but failed to hold onto it. 13 games, 1 clean sheet - Neil Alexander gave us 11 in 37 games last season until Jones arrogantly tossed him aside.
Scunthorpe were more than happy to leave with that result and found it quite easy to hold out for even if Cardiff at least showed a bit more interest, but not too much more, for the final 30 minutes. More a slog than an onslaught. Yet again, Robbie Fowler was out of steam well before the hour mark and removed at that point. As remarked by others, we've fallen a long way when sub replacement Steven Thompson is now the quickest forward at the club.
Joe Ledley was denied however by a terrific save with 20 to go meeting a floated Parry ball at the far post, his downward header was back across goal but Lillis did very well not just to block but deny anyone a follow up opportunity ... as if our players would be alert enough for that. His only other test was a McPhail 20 yarder, that shot and his goal somehow seeing him awarded Man of the Match by sponsors, South Wales Echo. Other than that, he was again no influence on the game at any time. I bet The Echo can still hear the derision when that was announced.
Jimmy tried some piledrivers, all blocked, Thommo and Parry brought routine saves from Lillis and City were denied again 10 minutes from time when Darren Purse's header from a corner was nodded off the line and over by Taylor. That's the sort of goal we've conceded a few times too many already this season.
The only late cheer for me was getting a text off a mate saying he'd given up on us for automatic promotion and couldn't even see us doing a Palace or Sunderland. He was serious too. Scunnie produced mild panic winning a corner deep into added time but Schmeicel was again decisive, coming and cleanly taking.
Final whistle produced those boos, not as loud or as long as it could have been, that passion's gone you see. We couldn't even be bothered to protest outside or chants Jones Out, another hallmark of days gone by. Instead, we were just relieved that we could finally leave, those of us who had bothered staying to the end anyway.
I could write more about our defensive, midfield and attacking problems and a frustrating pillock of a ref who stopped the game every chance and talked to players continually and not restarting the game until he'd had his say for any little thing but I'm sure you've already got the gist of this one.
So here we are 13 games in and it's been a pathetic 5 points out of 21 at Ninian Park this season. Little wonder we're now 17th (only that high thanks to goal difference) and just 3 points above relegation while 6 away from play-offs and 12 from promotion. It is fast approaching time to look what's below us instead of in front of us, especially as no game next weekend means we look certain to drop lower again before we next play. A truly awful state of affairs and it's increasingly hard to see any way out other than a door marked "exit" for manager, players or both and, if it carries on like this, sooner rather than later please.
Friday, October 26, 2007
GIG REVIEW: JUSTIN CURRIE (Bristol Academy)
What a fantastic intimate gig by Justin Currie at Bristol Academy tonight, the final date of a brief UK tour and over 5 years saw Del Amitri last performed as a unit. Making up for lost time, this thoroughly entertaining and enjoyable from start to finish.
As befits Justin at the moment, everything is low key but that doesn't stop the man from clearly enjoying what he's doing. The gig itself suffered from poor promotion and an early start/finish (curfew was 9:45pm so the venue could set up ready for an indie club night afterwards). It was nervy when a text arrived from the venue to say it had been switched to Academy 2.
As befits Justin at the moment, everything is low key but that doesn't stop the man from clearly enjoying what he's doing. The gig itself suffered from poor promotion and an early start/finish (curfew was 9:45pm so the venue could set up ready for an indie club night afterwards). It was nervy when a text arrived from the venue to say it had been switched to Academy 2.
Main Academy in Wurzle-land (a basement venue underneath an ice rink) is smaller than the others dotted around the country, Academy 2 is basically the top floor bar area, a long(ish) but narrow area. It was full and very warm in there but hard to tell the exact crowd - maybe 400 to 500 at best. The crowd was a mix of ages and types - including a quite unconvincing pre-op he-she trannie, the sort of "lady" that would still make you think and run away late night with the beer goggles on.
That seemed unfair as the ladies themselves had Justin to admire, my other half was drooling at her first sight having been a Del Amitri listener but never having seen them. The guy looked immaculate in a black suit, shirt, tie, sides and looking as trim as ever despite his extra years - unlike most of us males in the audience. What a bastard! For all that however, he's still very much a man's man too with that self deprecating sense of humour.
Despite the general unsuitability of venue which included little, if any, stage meaning only the very front had any view of the group and mainly glimpses of Justin, the acoustics were superb. The excellent 90 minutes set alternated throughout with tracks from his new solo opus, What Is Love For?, some Del Amitri classics and even a couple of new songs .- one a rock out number called Ready To Be and the other title I've forgotten but a very dark essentially drum, keyboard and vocal number with every line beginning with the word,"Tonight" and Justin popping up and down like a Meerkat as he sang it.
It seemed as if only a quarter of the audience were familiar with the new songs - many buying their copies on the way out - so the Dels archive were always going to hit the spot and it was pleasing it wasn't just singles aired. Amongst those played, from memory, were When I Want You, Before The Tide Comes In, Button On My Clothes, Tell Her This, In The Frame, Driving With The Brakes On, Be My Moonlight, Always The Last To Know, Here & Now and I Won't Take The Blame.
Criminally under-rated, both as an artist, songwriter and vocalist, JC had the audience in the palm of his hand and never let them go. His presence and his voice are exceptional in the live arena.
Loads of between song-banter and even a break in the gig when the audience offered to buy him and his band a drink, Guinness Cold for Justin, A Stella, Jagermeisrer and a Red Wine (you what?) for the drummer if you will. On a many of many high points, new stand out anthem, No, Surrender was Justin circling the front of the "stage" holding just a mic and belting out those lyrics is mesmerising. Driving With The Brakes On resonated with the crowd and all the new 'choons' were well received too, Goldust and The Beatle-esque Something In That Mess were my picks. Finishing with Be My Downfall, I just hope it's not 8 years before we get to see him again.
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