The big freeze

Before reading the official statement from Cardiff City about the five year freeze on season tickets’ I thought it sound a great idea but on reading the statement I am not so excited.

You have until December 31st to renew or buy a season ticket, not the best time to have to part with cash with Christmas to pay for. There is an instalment option to pay via 10 monthly payments’ the clubs’ example, If you were to pay £399.00 for your season ticket it would mean monthly payments’ of £43.32 the total repayable amount of £433.20 at 19.9% APR. The number of season ticket on offer has been capped at 10,000 but I can not see the allocation selling out and I expect to hear the finishing date as been extend for a few months.

So there will be another new category within the hierarchy of the supporters
- Corporate
- Platinum Ambassadors
- Ambassadors
- Season Ticket Holders
- Match Day Tickets

Chairman Peter Ridsdale told the South Wales Echo, “I do hope people see this as a positive and historic step by the club.
“In a time when football clubs often get criticised we want to be seen doing the right thing for our supporters.
“Since I arrived at the club it has been a real roller-coaster ride. There was a time when we feared for the future of the club, but now we are in out wonderful new home, the season has started excellently for us and all the way through that time our supporters have stood by us.
“Now it’s our turn to thank our supporters.
“This really is a football club trying to give something back during a very difficult economic time.
“We believe it is the best offer in the market place from any football club in the country.
“We are currently second in the Championship and we can dream that we might make it to the Premiership.
“I sincerely believe at some point this club will make it up and our supporters could be watching us play the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea in the future for the same price they are currently paying to watch Championship football.”

Some cynical fans thing it’s a quick dash for cash but what interests me is who will pay for it? It must be the rest of the fan base who will have to pay and mostly the non-season ticket holders.

Magennis back at CCS early

Grimsby Town have cut Josh Magennis loan deal and he is now back with Cardiff City. Mike Newell brought him to Grimsby after watching him in a friendly at Hereford and Cardiff boss Dave Jones was happy for his young striker to go out on loan to get some experience. The loan period was for one month with an option to extend but Mike Newell was sacked a week into Magennis deal.

The young Cardiff striker only managed to play two games, starting one and coming off the bench for the other but the Grimsby caretaker boss Neil Woods see’s little opportunities of first team football him or another loan player release. "It's not for anything they have done in a bad way, it's just to be fair to them.
"I think I need to be fair to the players that we've got here first.
"They've been a little bit of a victim of circumstances in the last two weeks.
"They are not going to get into the 18 and I don't think it's fair to keep them here. They both understand the situation."

It's more than likely at Magennis will go out on loan again

Gyepes needs to fight for his place

In the South Wales Echo this morning a frustrated Gabor Gyepes open is heart about the lack of first team football. The Hungarian international frustration lead him to have talks with manager Dave Jones about his situation, he as only played two games this season both in the Carling cup where it is traditional these days for manager to rest key players giving fringe players a run out.

He has not been able to break-up the partnership of Anthony Gerrard and Mark Hudson in the centre of the defence, and during a blip in form boss Dave Jones stuck with Gerard and Hudson. Gyepes dugout a strong partnership with the departed Roger Johnson after he saw off the challenge of Darren Purse last season and could have had the impression he would be the king pin of the defence this season, but was not to be. He told the paper, “I don’t know why I don’t play.
“Before the start of the season the British media wrote that I would have a sure place in the defence.
“Then the team lost many games, but my manager didn’t think of putting me in the team.
“I train hard, try to do my best, but it seems to be useless.”

His lack of club football as not affected his place within the Hungary international squad he was called up for both recent international breaks.

The story has lead to rumours of a bust-up between the player and his manager which he (Jones) has firmly denied. The Cardiff boss Dave Jones has told him it’s down to him to force his way back into the first-team. “Gabor came to see me the other day about all the stuff that was going around.
“Things like that I had fallen out with him and kicked him out of the team, but the truth of the matter is his wife went into labour Friday morning and he flew out to be with her Saturday morning.
“I talked to him. He knows he has to fight for his place like every player at this club. There’s been no falling out, he’s told me he wants to play, but he’s got to fight for his place it’s as simple as that.”

Season ticket price freeze

According to the South Wales Echo Cardiff City chairman Peter Ridsdale is to announce a five-year season ticket freeze which will stay even if the club wins promotion to the Premier League.

Well done Ridsdale and the board on this it true it could add substantial numbers fans to sign up for season ticket holders next season as long as the price is open to new as well as existing ticket holders. No other club has give fans a season ticket freeze for this length of time and it shows that the clubs finances are coming under control.

Has a non-season ticket hold will the club be putting a freeze on match day price or will we be forgetten about. There are lots of reasons why fans cannot buy a season tickets work, illness, distant, personal reasons or simply money but we should still be treated has valued customers and supporters.

Ridsdale stated his hope that the new stadium will be debt free within the next 12 months paid off money owed developers PMG. He has also had a number of meetings with ex-chairman Sam Hammam the only contact with the Langston group who are owed £24m from loans taken out by Hammam during his tenancy with the club. It is rumoured that a deal is close and that both sides’ lawyers are checking fine details hopefully an announcement could happen soon.

Feeney committed to Cardiff

After injury problems Cardiff City striker Warren Feeney is hoping to get his career back on track. For some reason even after receiving a three-year contract Feeney never fitted into managers Dave Jones plans and has been loaned out for most of his time with the Bluebirds.

He spent time with Swansea and they looked to be about to put an offer in for him, but he became injured and that put paid to any move. He then joined Scottish Premiership team Dundee United for a season and they wanted to sign him but with the state of Scottish Football they could afforded his wages. There was some interest in the summer a number of clubs rumoured to be linked with him but Leeds came out on top. He looked to be on the way to the first Division club but he failed the medical.

Fit again now Feeney has recent been on the bench and got a short run-out against C Palace, he has player around 20 minute for N Ireland in a 0-0 draw against the Czech Rep in the World Cup.

Jones has six strikers competing for two spots occupied by Michael Chopra and Jay Bothroyd while Ross McCormack and Feeney sitting it out on the bench with Kelvin Etuhu close to fitness and youngest Josh Magennis is on loan a Grimsby.
Speaking to the South Wales Echo he said, “It was never that I wanted to leave Cardiff City, far from it. But Leeds were offering me a big chance. They are a massive club. With no disrespect to anybody, you won’t find a bigger club outside the Premiership than Leeds. But these things happen.
“I am not a man to look back and worry about what might have been. Things happen for a reason. I’m back with Cardiff City, focused on doing my best and working flat out to make sure I regain match fitness.
“I played for Northern Ireland during the international break and that helped, but I need to play more matches. Thankfully, Cardiff City are arranging a number of reserve team games which helps.”
“The competition in Cardiff City’s attack is hot, but I’ll be ready when needed.
“I am a big believer that teams can never have too many strikers.”
“All I need is a chance and I’ll do everything I can top take it.
“The goal-scoring form Chops has shown is phenomenal and what Jay does for this team has been awesome. Jay is a great foil for Chops.
“I can’t expect to play right now, but I’ll be ready when I’m called.
“This Cardiff City squad can maintain a challenge in the Championship.
“We are in a great position now, but we mustn’t get carried away with anything.
“The City fans are passionate and they can play their part in the chase for promotion.”

Cardiff ex's on show

Two old faces will be on show next Sunday in the live Televised game on BBC 2 that's if they are picked of course by the Nottingham Forest boss Billy Davies.

Ex-Cardiff City defender Chris Gunter who had been with the City since the tender age of eight going through the Cardiff academy and was earmarked has a potential star of the future early on in his career. While he was in the academy he was a regular in the Welsh youth squads has others spotted his potential.

Cardiff City gave him a professional contract aged 17 years-old in August 2006 and it was not long before he made his debut in the 2-0 defeat League Cup defeat to Barnet. With Cardiff in the misted of injury problems Cardiff City boss Dave Jones turn to the youngest in November of the same year and was received good reviews. A few weeks later he was a regular playing in nearly all the remaining games that season which he topped off with a full international cup for Wales in a 2-2 draw in a friendly match against New Zealand at Wrexham

During the summer the young City defender was linked to several Premiership clubs and others and was the subject of two bids from Everton both rejected for failing to meet the clubs valuation. He stared off the new 2007/8 season where he left the previous a first team regular and the same with the Welsh squad.

The rumour of interest in the 17 year-old surfaced again with Tottenham boss Juande Ramos doing the chasing and after they meet the valuation the deal was on. The deal was actually done before the transfer window had opened with Gunter having a medical just before Christmas, Cardiff boss Dave Jones pulled him out of his squad pending the opening of the window on 1st January. Cardiff received £2 million from the London club and he made his debut a few weeks later and only played in a few more games that season.

The start of 2008/9 hit was a bit of a hit or miss with Gunter player mainly Cup and European games as well as a sprinkling of Premiership games. Harry Redknapp was reported to be will to loan out some of this squad out, Cardiff were rumoured to be interested in bring back Gunter to Ninian Park but he went to Nottingham Forest from March for the rest of the season.

The Tottenham boss was more than happy to let Gunter leave in the summer after accepting a bid of £1.75 million bid. Having settled down well with Forest and scored his first senior goal a few weeks ago.

The sale was good business for the club sale but the Premiership was too early in his career the was a lot of compertition for places. it would have been better for him to stay with Cardiff for a few more years.

Another ex-Cardiff City is Robert Earnshaw who has generated over £12 million in transfer fees since leaving back in 2004, £3 million of that into the coffers of the Bluebirds. August 1997 he joins the Bluebirds with one-year YTS contract within a year he was signing a professional contract. He saw little first time football in his first season coming for the bench for several game without scoring the following season he got his start and scored his first goal in the same game v Hartlepool United in the opening game of the 1997/98 season he rest of the season games just dried up.

His hopes of a better 1999/00 season were soon dashed and up to the New Year he played in one game coming off the bench towards end of the Reading game. The then manager Frank Burrows Earnshaw decided to loan out his young striker to Scottish club Morton to toughen up and he thought a few months of a Scottish winter would do that. He made a good loan period playing four games and scoring two goals and while there he got scouted by a Middlesbrough scout. The Middlesbrough boss at the time Bryan Robson contacted Cardiff and asked if Earnshaw could come up for a trial.

The goals were soon hitting the back of the net has by 2001/02 he had become a regular in the starting XI at season he scored 25 goals in total the 19 league goals help the Bluebirds to promotion. The next two seasons were both contrasting in fortunes the first was mediocre Earnshaw only netted 12 league goals but did enough for the then Wales international boss Mark Hughes moving up for Welsh under 21 to the senior squad. The following season Cardiff was on the up again and gained promotion up of Division Two to the first Division. Earnshaw smashed goals for fan and by the end of the season scored 31 league goals meaning he broke the 56-year old club record of Stan Richards.

Most fans loved him one person at Ninian Park loved him most of all, the then Chairman Sam Hammam with clubs sniffing around Cardiff’s young strike the chairman got on his soap box saying Rob Earnshaw was not for sale, we do not sell our future our crown jewels are here to say, we are a buying club not a selling club. Thing where start to smell wrong around the club there was ‘Whalleygate’ incident over an appearance bonus of £50,000 and then off goes Earnshaw to West Brom for £3 million plus some add-ons if they were earned, sale to a club he (Hammam) calling Cardiff’s feeder club months earlier.

After leaving Ninian Park his career to a bit of a nose dive he might have been playing in the Premiership but his goals dried up and the competition to be in the starting XI increase. After two seasons he move on looking for first team football and dropped back into the Championship with Norwich for a fee of £2.75 million (rising to £3.5 million). Goals start to go in regular at Norwich and over the season and a half he played 47 games in total, scoring 27 times. He did enough for Premiership club to come a calling. They paid a club record to sign him of £3.5 million but it turned out to be a disaster scoring two goals in 25 games. After just a year he was off on his travels again the time to his present club Nottingham Forest.

The 'rite of passage'

It was no surprise to me that the Swansea ticket allocation sold out in hours, 1800 was never going to enough to satisfy demand and it will now be down to the Police, not the clubs to see if there are a few more to be squeezed for the visitors. Live on TV, a bubble game, it doesn’t matter it’s a must game for a lot of fans.

I remember back in the 70’s going over to Bristol Rovers it was one of my first ever away games. I didn’t tell my mum or my dad who was a Cardiff City fan that I had started going to away game because of all the talk of trouble/violence at games. I piled on the train at Cardiff Central Station with a few hundred other fans I was lucky to get a seat and sit there surrounded by all this noise has we chugged along the guy across from me asked me if I was going to the match, I told him yes.

I told him that so far only been to Hereford and Bury the season before and plan to travel more this season, my new found friend told me any Cardiff City fan who travels needs to do what he called 'a rite of passage'.

It consisted of grounds you must ‘do’, visit in the other word, Millwall “It’s a must” he told me the hardest ground in the country not a good advertisement for a virgin away traveller, we were playing them is season to. Next up was Chelsea and West Ham another must do trips the best in London, well what do you know we were going Chelsea in a few months. Don’t forget City and Birmingham his friend said, yes Bristol City top day out for a punch-up, we are likely to see them today and Rovers are not bad, but he told me he would much prefer to be going to Ashton Gate tonight. No mention of Swansea they must have been off the radar since I started supporting the City we had not played them in the league only the Welsh Cup.

The train stopped at a station close to the ground near the ground most of my fellow companions were off run down side streets. It was a great game 4-4 and Tony Evans scored all four of Cardiff goals.

I did climbed on the coach for the trip to Chelsea later in the season, scary, lots of running around, punches I was just happy to get in the ground but it was just has scary inside than outside. That the end of the game I was lucky to get straight on the coach and was glad to hit the road and get home. When the Millwall game came around I did the honourable thing I thought about going but stayed safely in bed. I did eventually do nearly all the ground he mention except for West Ham.

Why I love the FA Cup

Few of the Premiership Club’s take Cup game seriousthese days, well until the later rounds at is, playing weaken teams with other priorities occupying their minds like the Champion League and Europe for the top half of the league, while in the bottom, its Premiership survival on the mind of managers and chairman.

Cardiff have had some rope advantages over the years with non-league teams in the FA Cup, some that come to mind are, Hayes 1990/1 all square 0-0 and Ninian Park and lost 1-0 in the replay and few seasons later it was Bath City turn to hep shame on a league club beat Cardiff 3-2 at Ninian Park with no place to hid on the empty stadium. Again a few seasons later it was Enfield who put the Bluebirds to the sword winning 1-0 those days were hard being a City fan.

But you can bet teams in the FA Cup 1st round are excited even tho they know the changes of them walking out in May on final day is nil and then some. Reaching the 3rd is the goal of most and drawing Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and the one they all want Manchester United. The draw was yesterday and the one that stood out to me was, Paulton Rovers v Norwich this is Rovers Wembley.

The non-League club play in Zamaretto South and West to reach this round beating Newport County along the way who must be kicking themselves on missing out on playing Norwich. The big question now is will they be able to play the tie at their Wintefield Road ground, I hope so it’s important for the club, they are also the lowest-placed side still left in the competition. When Cardiff drew non-league Chasetown everything was done so the game could be played at their ground. The capacity of the ground is 2000 and they have average crowds of around 200. The highest attendance at the ground is believed to be 2,000 for an FA Cup match against Crewe Alexandra in 1906.

The tie could well feature on TV as both Sky Sports and ITV Sports have options to show live FA Cup games.

Next two games televised for the Bluebirds

The Bluebirds next two games are to be shown live on TV, next Sunday Cardiff are home to Nottingham Forest with a late 5pm kick- off and the following Saturday it’s the Welsh derby and a trip down west to Swansea for the Bluebirds.

The Forest game will be on BBC 2’s Match of the Day Live the kick off time of 5pm will give the fans plenty of time for pre match festivities, drinks and food and with the form the City are showing the crowd could be sizeable even with the game on terrestrial. TV demands this crazy time but that’s the cost of football these days I can remember the last team every game in the four top leagues kicked off on a Saturday at 3 o’clock.

It’s great to see Cardiff back on terrestrial and playing league football it was a great move by the BBC to join Sky in a deal involving League football. The Championship is an exciting league and hotly competitive but the relegated teams from the Premiership do have an advantaged money wise, but that’s not a guaranteed shoe in back to the Premiership at the first attempt

Sky Sports have the derby game against Welsh rivals Swansea on the 7th November the game itself is fast becoming a regular fixture for Sky since both clubs has been in the same division. The first thing that happens when the fixtures come out the head of South Wales Police lead a delectation to Sky HQ and beg them to host both games.

Since the introduction of the ‘bubble game’ hooliganism has been reduced to name calling and posturing in front for lines of police, but it still takes around half of the South Wales police force to police the game. I can remember when hundreds of fans would roam the street looking for trouble. It is a bid of a myth that fans will stay home at these high profile games and watch the game on TV, Cardiff will stay sale out there allocation for the game

When Cardiff and Swansea last played each other in April the kick-off time was that early some fans were calling the ‘Breakfast game’ it was 11am start at the old Ninian Park.

We are nearly top of the league say we are nearly top of the league

After a storming game at Bramall Lane and some (0k one) results going our way it was a late goal by ten men Newcastle at stopped the Welsh giants from the top spot. Cardiff end the day moving up one place to second in the league into an automatic promotion spot.

In a crazy seven minutes just before half- time Cardiff lost the lead twice after Bothroyd opened the scoring in the 41st minute, within two minutes Sheffield United pulled it level. The ref singled for four minutes of extra time and no sooner had it got underway a challenge on Bothroyd in the Sheffield penalty area saw the ref point to the penalty spot. Up stepped Cardiff's official penalty taker Peter Whittingham it was then 2-1 to Cardiff. There was still to time for another goal and Henderson popped up for Sheffield to level the score with around a minute of extra left, 2-2 all square going in for half-time.

After the start of the second half it was a wait of around 15 minutes into the half before Cardiff took back the lead went Whittingham got his second goal. It was Bothroyd who provided the ball for the City midfielder to slot the ball into the net. Cardiff were now 3-2 up but still pushing forward is was the kind of game you could not sit on a lead and with around five minutes of normal time left up stepped the Bothroyd and Whittingham combination leading to Cardiff fourth goal and it when Whittingham, 4-2 and a hat-trick and the match ball in the bag. It was not over there with one more goal in the game but it went to the home team four minutes into extra time, at the final whistle it ended it was 4-3 and three points.

It was Whittingham first ever professional hat-trick in a season he has been prolific in front of goal, nine goals in six games is an astronomical rate. He is joint top scorer with Michael Chopra in all competitions.

Team v Sheffield United

David Marshall
Adam Matthews, Mark Kennedy, Mark Hudson, Anthony Gerrard
Chris Burke, Peter Whittingham, Steve McPhail, Joe Ledley
Jay Bothroyd, Michael Chopra

Subs: Enckelman, Rae, Quinn, Taiwo, Comminges, Feeney, McCormack

Like expected Cardiff City boss Dave Jones has made no changes in the starting XI at played Tuesday night’s win over Coventry the only change is on the bench Comminges in for Gyepes

1800 tickets for Swansea

Cardiff City have been allocated 1800 tickets for the derby game against Swansea on November 7th, the game will be televised on Sky Sports but the club and the supporters club expect the allocation to sale out within hours of being put on sale. The game will be a ‘bubble’ for the Cardiff fans meaning direct from stadium to stadium with the only stop to meet up with a police escort and received your match ticket.

When the Cardiff City Trust brought up the subject of ‘bubble trips’ when meeting with Cardiff City director Alan Flitcroft he gave an undertaking to travel to a bubble match on a coach with the supporters in order to experience the sort of treatment they receive for himself. Not sure if he has done it maybe Peter Ridsdale should gave it ago.

It was rumoured a month or so back that the Swansea chairman wanted to ban Cardiff fans from the game because of the policing cost of 90,000 for the game but it turnout to be just another rumour.

Cardiff City Supporter Club have put together a travel and match ticket prices - Adults £42, Over 60's £25, Students £25, Unaccompanied under 16s £18, Accompanied with adults up to 2 under16s £12

*** Ticket News *** The club will announce on Monday how the tickets will be distributed

Cardiff v Sheffield Utd

Sheffield United were an hard nut to crack last season with City picking up just one point out for a possible six, beating 3-0 at home and managing a 0-0 draw in Sheffield. The defeat at home was not helped with the Bluebirds going down to nine man within 33 minutes after Gabor Gyepes was sent off on 24 minutes and nine minutes later off when Ross McCormack.

Cardiff will have the same squad for the trip to Bramall Lane that was on duty Tuesday nights 2-0 victory over Coventry and there were no injuries for boss Dave Jones to worry about after the game.

Possible starting XI

Marshall
Kennedy, Hudson (c), Gerrard, Mathews
Whittingham, McPhail. Ledley, Burke
Bothroyd. Chopra
Sub: Enckelman, Rae, Gyepes, Quinn, Taiwo, Feeney, McCormack

Cardiff are unbeaten in the last four games and with a win tomorrow and results going there way Cardiff could find themselves top of the league. Top of the table West Brom are playing way from home and will face Cardiff opponents from Tuesday night Coventry and second place Newcastle and home, where they are unbeaten to Doncaster.

Sheffield United have hit a bad run of games with only one win in the last seven league game that seen them drop down the league table.

Ledley and the neverending contract question

Could there be some movement in the whole Joe Ledley contract stand-off.

The BBC website and BBC Wales are reporting that Cardiff City chairman Peter Ridsdale will have a face to face meeting sometime next week with Ledley’s representatives over his future with the Bluebirds. It well known our star midfielder Ledley has yet to signed a much improved new contract and will be out of contract in the summer an end to this neverending story would be a nice, stay or go.

If the new contract goes unsigned Cardiff will still expect a big pay day via a transfer tribunal in the way of compensation. So either way any club buying Ledley will have to pay big money for his signture. Rumours surrounding hin have dried up, the fact is he didn’t generate one offer in the summer transfer window he and his agent can put it down to the fee Ridsdale wanted, but most of the club linked with him paid the that kind of fees for other players.

January is the crazy time when it comes to transfers especially in the bottom of the Premiership as manager start to panic about league positions and nerves chairman. Cardiff have turned down £6m bids for Ledley one from Stoke in the past but come January who will break cover first or maybe all the managers will look somewhere and sit on their hands.

If any club comes in for him when the January transfer window opens the club stance on their valuation will still be the same. Ledley has on a number of occasions stated he was will to stay with the Bluebirds if they made it into the Premiership.

Swansea to sign new striker

Swansea City boss Paulo Sousa is ready to bring in a new striker to help his present strike-focre who are firing blank. They have only managed to score nine leauge goals so far this season compared with Cardiff City who have scored ‘26’. While Cardiff City have been banging them away with the Championships top scorer being Bluebird Michael Chopra on eleven, not one Swansea player has scored more than two.

After a short search of You Tube Sousa thinks he has found just the right kind of striker who could lift the burden off his goal shy strikers. He is turning Vakhegula Vakhegula star striker 83 year-old Nora Makhubela although she has suffered six strokes she is expected to walk through the medical. "My life has really changed now and I am looking forward to playing for Swansea” she said.

Her agent speaking to the press siad that a number of clubs were interested in signing her and Manchester United nearly stole the Swansea deal but Makhubela was offered guaranteed first team football with Swansea.

Asked in an interview with the Swansea Evening Post about the signing of a 83 year-old South Africa grandmother he simply said, “I brought back Lee Trundle didn't I”

Woman manager in the Football League...... Never in my life time

The Grimbsy’s chairman was fast has lighting to dismiss the rumour that he was about to hire a woman has the new manager of Grimbsy. It was claim the chairman was seen having dinner with Hope Powell the manager of England Woman’s International team and been in the post since 1998 and had a playing career with Millwall Lionesses, Fulham and Croydon.

I don’t think there is a chairman out there who would hire a woman as coach or manager there was a stunt last season at non-league Fisher Athletic. Donna Powell, 27turnstile operator became the first woman to manage a British professional or semi-professional male team at Fisher Athletic, of one week only.

She took a training session and more importantly pick the team she raised £500 for the cash-strapped club for her one game appointment. The game saw the press and TV descend on the game which Fisher lost 2-1and after her moment in the spotlight she was back managing Red Lion Boys under 11's team. However that was not the end of Powell because on the demise of Fisher Athletic a new club was formed Fisher FC and she was handed a job on the coaching staff.

By all accounts Powell is well thought off until she is linked with managing a men’s team became the first woman to be awarded the UEFA Pro A-licence, studying alongside England under 21 boss Stuart Pearce the badge being the highest coaching award available in football. It’s been her ambition to manager in the Football League team and why not, she is a football manager but unless she wins lottery and buys her own team.

Speaking about the story she said, "It's completely unfounded. I haven't been
approached by or spoken to anyone from Grimsby."

Mariners’ chairman John Fenty is equally non-plussed, saying: "I've never spoken to the lady. She hasn't put an application in so we can hardly consider her.
"If people want to apply we'll consider them in due course. All applications will receive a due overhaul and we will go through them in detail.
"Their better attributes will be identified, they will then be short-listed. We will take them forward as a board, interview the shortlist and ultimately decide who is going to be the next manager."

Not a good image of Cardiff (Non football)

Someone’s daughter, sister, girlfriend, wife from today's Sun - un-name today, shamed tomorrow

The knickerless girl was seen in the centre of Cardiff after a heavy session

Etuhu back soon

Kelvin Etuhu the loan signing for Manchester City is set to rejoin the Bluebirds. Cardiff City boss Dave Jones brought him in has cover for Jay Bothroyd on a season long loan but suffered ankle ligament damage in the Newcastle game.

He then was sent back to Manchester City for treatment where he has been making good progress and is about three or four weeks away from full fitness. He only manager four game since joining, three times from the substitutes bench and started against Bristol Rovers in the 3-1 Carling Cup win.

The young Manchester player is high through by his manager Mark Hughes so much so he insisted he signed an extended contract before he was allowed out on loan. Etuhu wanted first team football and a number, including Premier clubs but it was the chance to play more football with a Championship club that one the day.
Cardiff manager Dave Jones said, “They are pleased with Kelvin’s progress and, barring any setbacks, he should be back with us and ready to play next month.
“We are told he should be back after the international break.”

Could the January transfer window bring trouble for the Bluebirds

The Bothroyd story got me thinking about the upcoming January transfer window and how it could affect Cardiff City boss Dave Jones. The scouts are sure to be out and about now looking for players for managers shopping lists.

With Cardiff riding high some players will be catching the eye and the rumours like the Bothroyd one, there will be more. Joe Ledley could be one, with his contract running out that the end of the season some clubs will be thinking there is a barging to be had there. But if Cardiff City and Chairman Peter Ridsdale has his way there will be no bargain to be had, the club wanted £5m or £6m for him. The club are willing to run his contract out if they have to and and take a chance with the transfer tribunal.

Ledley might want Premiership football but so far no manager has put any money on the table since Stoke City way back in the summer of 2008 when the club turned down a £6m bid. There have been pages and pages of rumours surrounding Ledley linking him to just about every team in the bottom half of the Premiership.

Ross McCormack wanted away on the transfer train to the Premiership and for weeks he was constantly linked with Hull City but it all flew through when Hull boss Phil Brown felt the price was just too high and then McCormack got injured. Brown plans to rid himself of a number of players in January could he come back for the City striker, unlike unless he is playing regularly.

On the other side of the coin Dave Jones looks to have unearthed another little gem in young defender Adam Matthews who came through academy and only signed a professional contract in January. Since coming on for Paul Quinn in the 1-1 draw with Blackpool his career has not looked back and become a first team regular and scored his first goal for the City in the 4-0 victory over Watford. How long before managers are sniffing round the youngest or can we keep hold of him for a good few years.

Who knows what will happen, both Chairman Peter Ridsdale and Manager Dave Jones have been honest with the fans about the need to sell players to help keep the club afloat BUT only at their price.

Bothroyd to Villa (Rumour)

It’s not often there is a story in the Daily Star about Cardiff City but there is today a claim that Aston Villa could be interest Jay Bothroyd. According to the paper if England striker Emile Heskey leaves in January Villa boss Martin O’Neill has the Cardiff striker in his sights.

Heskey has found himself benched at Villa at the moment with Villa on a good run of results and he is desperate to play for he can guarantee his place in Fabio Capello’s squad at the World Cup in South Africa this summer. Cardiff could be offered around £3-£4m for Bothroyd if the story is true, but would Cardiff sell.

Bothroyd joined the Bluebirds for Wolves for a measly £300,000 or £350,000, not one of the most prolific scorer of goals, he only scored three goals this season it's his ability to keep hold the ball and spread it around at keeps defenders on their toes. Where some strikers who see their goals dry up can soon find the fans on their backs, fans know when a striker is contributing and show their support.

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CCFC 2-0 CCFC

Cardiff City pulled off a fine win tonight at a wet and cold night at the Cardiff City Stadium against Coventry City. Anthony Gerrard opened the scoring within five minutes of the kick-off, it was his first goal since joining the City in the summer it came via an header the Cardiff defender put the ball in the back of the net.

It was early in the second half before the fans had something to cheer about when Cardiff were awarded a penalty for a challenge on Jay Bothroyd. Since taking over as chief penalty taker from Ross McCormack, Whittingham has been blasting them in and he is just on been scoring pens. This season so far he has scored a total of nine goals, six times of them in the last five games. The crowd tonight was only 19,038 but it is the second game in four days.

Cardiff are still third in the table but results have gone their way tonight with both West Brom and Newcastle lost leaving Cardiff just one point from the top spot. It is very tight at the top with only four points separating the top ten.

Team v Coventry

David Marshall

Mark Kennedy, Mark Hudson (c), Anthony Gerrard, Adam Mathhews

Peter Whittingham, Stephen McPhail. Joe Ledley, Chris Burke

Jay Bothroyd. Michael Chopra

Sub: Enckelman, Rae, Gyepes, Quinn, Taiwo, Feeney, McCormack

Boss Dave Jones decided to go with McPail tonight and drop Rea to the bench.

City v Coventry

Cardiff took all six points off Coventry last season and boss Dave Jones will be hoping to do it again this season starting with three points tonight. Cardiff goes into the game off an uninspiring 1-1 draw at the weekend with Crystal Palace so everyone will be hoping for a major improvement tonight. The visitors lost 2-0 away to Sheffield Wednesday.

On the team front for the Bluebirds Dave Jones has never have so many choices this season with close to nearly his full squad fit. Midfielder Stephen McPhail should be back after having an operation to remove a small lump on his neck the only question is will he start the bench looked really healthy on Saturday, Enckelman, McNaughton, Gyepes, Quinn, Taiwo, Feeney, McCormack. The competition for the bench is just as hard as being in the starting eleven.

Will Dave Jones stuck with the eleven that stated against Palace or will he give McPhail a spot in the starting XI playing alongside Gavin Rae.

Remember Dimitrios Konstantopoulos

There is little chance of Cardiff players looking at the Coventry goal and see the family face to some of Dimitrios Konstantopoulos. The Greek keeper spent some time was the Bluebirds last season after being on loan at Swansea before Ninian Park. He had a hit and miss time with the rivals from the West is last game for them was the FA Cup win over Portsmouth in the third round and he played a blinder.

Swansea wanted to resign him extend his loan beyond the end of the transfer window but the deal was unable to be completed in time due to adverse weather conditions and in step Cardiff City boss Dave Jones to steal the deal.

He signed a deal with the Bluebirds until the end of the season has Dave Jones was having a nightmare season on the goalkeeper front. Tom Heaton was at Cardiff on a season long loan, while Dimi Konstantopoulos and later Stuart Taylor were all brought in during the season while Peter Enckelman along Heaton suffered from a few injuries during the season.

Nice but dim: On-loan Cardiff keeper Dimitrios Konstantopoulos drops the ball into his own net to hand Wolves a late equaliser

Konstantopoulos got his chance in goal away to Wolves at the end of February and with Cardiff 2-1 up with ten minutes to go when he the City keeper scored, in his own goal dropping the ball into his own net. He was still the only fit keeper next game and played well in the 0-0 draw at Ninian Park next up was a 1-0 defeat to lowly Southampton. Two home victories in a row 3-1 against Barnsley and then a 3-0 victory over Doncaster looked like Cardiff was finally pulling themselves together.

The next game was against Norwich who were free falling to relegation all season and everyone looked at the game has another three points in the bank. The game took a turn for the worst when in the first half Konstantopoulos gifted the home team with the opening goal, he failed to clear a long pass and was tackled by a Norwich player who slip the ball into the back of the net. The game finished 2-0 and laid the whole team responsible

Post match he said, “I was disappointed with the whole performance. We failed to get going and handed them the initiative.
“But goals kill you. The first was down to Dimi. He waited for it rather than put his foot through it.
“That deflates you a bit and you have to pick yourself up.
“But we never really got going, we did not create enough and the players did not perform to levels they are capable of.”

Boss Jones didn’t let the grass grow to long after the game he was on the phone looking for a new loan keeper and soon Stuart Taylor for Aston Villa and that was the last he was playing for City.

Bluekilla - Football (It's Here To Stay)

Footballlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

"Nothing would have come out had they beaten us 4-0." Neil Warnock

There is no surprise that the Crystal Palace boss Neil Warnock is still simmering with anger over the allegations of racist levelled at members of his squad, even with everything now drop. Michael Chopra is said to be happy to withdraw the allegation along with Cardiff City who put a statement on their Official website say has far as they are concerned the subject is closed.

The outcome must please the Palace boss who as said from the outset there was nothing for his players to answer over the racist claim. There was a melee at the end of the game with both sets of players involved which continued in the tunnel Warnock told the press after the game, "If any were punches were thrown they would probably have missed."

There is no love lost between Cardiff and Palace over the last few seasons and on Friday the Cardiff boss Dave Jones was demising claims that there would be any few clashes between the two clubs. The last time the two met at the end of last season at Selhurst Park both managers were sent off at half time an ex-player Roger Johnson was elbowed out of the game.

On Saturday incident Warnock said, "They have withdrawn everything now and I am not really surprised in the slightest," he said.
"There is no way any of my players would make racist comments, I would never allow it and they know that.
"We are very pleased Cardiff have withdrawn the allegations but still disappointed and angry that they came out in the first place.
"It angers me personally me when things come out like that.
"Nothing would have come out had they beaten us 4-0."

Luxurious away end

I can remember in the dark old days of away fans being caged behind fences and also remember when Chelsea wanted to put an electric fence up. Fancy having watch the game from in there.... lol

On the club website they say only 100 fans can visit the away end...he he

Statement from Cardiff City

The simply Statement says,

Following the publicity that surrounded comments that were allegedly directed towards our player Michael Chopra after last Saturday's match at the Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff City Football Club wish to draw a line under this issue and to look forward to tomorrow's match against Coventry City.
There will be no further public statement regarding this alleged incident nor any action taken by this club or any of its employees.

The whole issue looks to be closed.

The racist incident is set to run and run

The declared racist incident at the Cardiff City Stadium Saturday between Cardiff player Michael Chopra and a Crystal Palace will be investigated if evidence warrants it.

Both the FA and the FAW could be looking into the incident and will have to wait on the referee’s report before making any comment. The report is unlikely to contain details of the alleged incident which could make any investigate difficult.
If the match officials missed the incident with start on the pitch after the game and carried on to tunnel any investigation will have to rely on statement from the players involved.

Crystal Palace issued a statement on their Official website saying,

Crystal Palace would welcome any FA enquiry into racists’ comments allegedly made by one of our players at Saturday's match against Cardiff City. Crystal Palace is a multi-ethnic club and is proud of its history in this respect.
We take great exception at the outrageous allegations being levied at us by Cardiff City players and management. We would like to make it known that we are 100 per cent supportive in this matter of all of our players and definitive in our belief that none of them would make any racist comments.
As a club we are fully behind the Kick Racism Out of Football campaign, as are all of our players.

Both teams say they would welcome an inquiry into the incident to clear their names with Palace claiming the allegations are ‘outrageous’. Referee Steve Tanner’s report will be handed in sometime early in this week

Cardiff chairman Peter Ridsdale said, “We will wait for the referee’s report and go from there.”
An FA spokesman said, “We are reliant on being provided with witness statements.”
An FAW spokesman said, “We have to look at reports from the match officials and interested parties before any comment could be made.”

Cardiff City boss Dave Jones as called for Palace to retract the statement they released last night (Sunday)stating it was not appropriate and getting their fact wrong. He said, “Crystal Palace have made a statement but we as a football club have said nothing. We’ve not approached anyone or said anything.
“It’s down to one player, Michael Chopra, and he will decide what he will do.
“Palace need to get their facts better. I have said nothing and the chairman has said nothing. We will leave it to the authorities.
“Palace have jumped the gun when nothing has been said. Hopefully Palace will retract their statement.”
This story is going to run and run.........

Best/Worst Football Pundits

While watch Match of the Day this morning my Dad and I got into a conversation, more like heated words about who was the ‘Best or Worst’ football pundits. Recently my 80 year-old Dad acquired Sky Sports open his world to football nearly 24/7 and one thing he found pundits drive him mentel.

We both liked
Alan Hansen BBC
Mark Lawrenson BBC
Chris Kamara SKY
Steve McManaman - my dad like him when he was on Setanta
Jason Perry BBC Wales
Kevin Ratcliffe BBC Wales

We hated
Leighton James BBC Wales
Robbie Savage BBC Wales
John Motson BBC not really a pundit but was hate him just has much
Ray Stubbs BBC/ESPN
Andy Gray Sky - even my dad now prefure fanzone to him
The entire ITV pundit team
Alan Shearer BBC
Ian Wright BBC/ITV

There are a lot more that could have been add to the worst list, lots more but thes are the ones that get our backs up the most.

Cardiff City turn down takeover bid

Ok it’s in the News of the World but today they have a story that Cardiff City turned down a takeover from a ’mystery American’.

Chairman Peter Ridsdale and the Cardiff City board are reported to have ejected a less than £25 million offer for the club over two months ago. Ridsdale believes the club is worth more than the offer made and the other stumbling block was the fact that the American bidder wanted to pay in stages. The offer must have been serious offer as the mystery bidder sent representatives to Cardiff to talk to the club.

In the paper Ridsdale is reported to have said after confirming to the interest, “There has been interest in the club from the States. We’ve received three offers.
“The last one came in August and it wasn’t acceptable. We couldn’t recommend it to the shareholders.
“Some money would be paid straight away, the rest at a future date. This was too risky.
“We don’t know who wanted to buy the club. The negotiations were conducted through an American bank.”

Ridsdale who went to the States last season looking for investment has long said the club could be sold if a serious offer was made and would be put to the shareholder.

Investigate into racial abused at Cardiff City Stadium

There are reports breaking claiming Cardiff City striker Michael Chopra was racially abused by a Crystal Palace player on the pitch which carried on after at the end of the game in the tunnel. Security had to separated a number of player if this incident was racial the Football Association of Wales could call for reports on the incident allow the match officials are reported as on hearing or see anything. So far there has been on comment from Crystal Palace.

Chopra’s team mate Jay Bothroyd said, “I wasn't there but I spoke to Chops and he said one of their boys made a racist comment to him.
"That is obviously not acceptable in this game and it's something I think the referee might have to deal with.
"We were wearing T-shirts today that said 'Kick Racism Out Of Football' and then something like that happens.
"It's not a good example to set for football in general.
"If you call someone a racist name people are going to react and that's happened at the end."

Cardiff City boss was after about the incident and said, "Something's been said which I don't think is right.
"We will see if the authorities want to deal with it."

The only comment from Palace manager Neil Warnock about a post-match fracas said, "If any were punches were thrown they would probably have missed."

He later said. “I think a lot of it was hot air.
“Cardiff are disappointed they didn't win and a few things were said in the tunnel.
“I don't think it would have happened had Cardiff won.
“I told my players to go an applaud our fans in the away end.
“It's not our fault people are waiting for us in the tunnel.”

Interesting Day

Cardiff moved up to third today even after a draw with the help of a few results going the Bluebirds way. Middlesbrough losing at home to Watford facilitating the move from fourth to third with both clubs on 20 points with Cardiff better goal difference separating to two teams.

Cardiff have split the three relegated Premiership who looked to be cosy at the top of the league and West Brom’s win this afternoon put them temporary on the top of the table waiting on the outcome of the Nottingham Forest and Newcastle evening kick-off. The Baggies remained top after Newcastle slipped up at Forest there are only six points separating the top nine clubs so it is still tight for places.

There were over 21,000 in the Cardiff City Stadium and they give the Welsh Guards who were guests for the game a great cheer and so did the Palace fans at the game. Surprised of the day for me was seeing Warren Feeney wearing a Cardiff City shirt again it was one thing I was not expecting to see with is chequered career with the Bluebirds. In the two and a half years he has been with the City he has spent more time in other clubs shirts and dressing rooms than Cardiff’s.

There is a full programme of midweek games this week seeing Cardiff face a home game against Coventry, last season’s head to head saw Cardiff win both games. West Brom face our rivals from the west Swansea while Newcastle are away to Scunthorpe and Middlesbrough are home to Derby.

Team v Palace

David Marshall
Adam Matthews, Mark Hudson (capt), Anthony Gerrard, Mark Kennedy
Chris Burke, Gavin Rae, Joe Ledley, Peter Whittingham
Jay Bothroyd, Michael Chopra

Subs: Kevin McNaughton, Peter Enckelman (gk), Gabor Gyepes, Paul Quinn, Solomon Taiwo, Warren Feeney, Ross McCormack

Joe Ledley is back in the starting lineup has Cardiff put out a strong team for today's game, the bench is looking in better than it's been in a long while gaving boss Dave Jones a number of options.

Joe Ledley still thinking things over

Joe Ledley is back on the back pages of the South Wales Echo, not for signing a new contract but Cardiff City boss Dave Jones trying to sell the contract to him, again.

The stumbling block over his contract has been the valuation that Cardiff has put on is head before they are willing listen to offers; the club wanted around £5 million while the player and his advisors would like it a lot lower. If the contract goes unsigned then Cardiff will be looking compensation through the football transfer tribunal.

The tribunal route has never been profitable for the selling club with their valuation rarely met, but I don’t think a young player under 23 with a resume like Ledley as ever been in front of them. Welsh caps at under 17, 19 and under 21’s along with 31 full international caps with over 200 plus League and Cup games with Cardiff City and captained both his club and country

If Ledley was to take-up the contract on offer he would find himself one the highest played players at the club with a reported £10,000 a week but still has to pick up a pen to sign which is starting to grate with some of the fans. Cardiff chairman Peter Ridsdale had talks with the player and agent recently but it all remains deadlocked at the moment. Ledley wants to Premiership football but on the form he has been show so far this season he will be lucky to find any team in the top flight will to put any offer in.

Boss Dave Jones believes like home team Steven Gerrard who has on a number of occasions told the press, fans and club he only wants to play for Liverpool, Jones believes Ledley wants to also want to stay at his hometown club.

He missed the last two Welsh game with a hip problem but should be ok for the Palace game this afternoon.

Old boys

Bluebirds skipper Mark Hudson’s is hoping to put in a sterling performance against Crystal Palace which could help with winning over a section of the fans who still have to warm to him. He cost the Bluebirds over £1 million from Charlton.

Before he joined Cardiff from Charlton he had spent nearly four years with Palace and had a loan spell with them before that. He was popular while the Londoners play some 100 plus games scoring seven goals from defence and believes Neil Warnock and his team will be a tough test for Cardiff. Talking about his old team he said, “It's always a hard match when you go up against a side managed by Neil Warnock.
"They are on a great run themselves and will be working extremely hard to keep their momentum going.
"Obviously we are feeling confident going into the game but I'll be warning my team mates that they're in for a testing afternoon."
There will be another old boy on show tomorrow if he is picked by boss Warnock, ex-

Cardiff City striker Alan Lee. He cost the then manager Lennie Lawrence £850,000 from Rotherham which could have gone up to £1.2 million with add-ons. His manager at Millmoor at the time Ronnie Moore was decidedly less than ecstatic at the move saying "Alan Lee can and will do better than Cardiff” that was nice of Moore who himself was an ex-City player.

Lee was plagued with injury problems and competition for a place with Rob Earnshaw and Peter Thorne in his way which showed in his playing stats while with the Bluebirds – started 55 games and came off the bench 41 times in all games, for that he scored 12 goals.

Welsh Guards

Cardiff City will have some honoured guests for the game on Saturday against Crystal Palace. Troops of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards have been invited to watch the the game with there families. The troops have just returned from a six-month tour of Afghanistan and lost five members of the battalion, including the commanding officer while on tour.

The troops will be introduced to the crowd while some of their children will be mascots for the day and the club will entertained the soldiers and their families in the Premier Suite.

Chairman Peter Ridsdale said: “I know our fans will be proud to salute them. They are tough people who have been doing a tough job, and our aim is twofold – first to let them know that the public appreciate what they have been through, and then to make them very welcome.”

There are a lot of Cardiff City fans in the armed services and I am sure a great show of support for the troops at Saturday will be appreciated by them all.

Magennis off to Grimsby

Cardiff City’s up and coming striker Josh Magennis will be heading to Grimsby on a month’s loan according to Grimsby’s’ official Website and if he does well there is a possibility the loan could be extended. Grimsby are slugging it out at the bottom of Division 2 just one point off a relegation place.

Grimsby boss Mike Newell jump in for the striker because of a shortage of front runners in his squad through injuries. Newell was at Hereford and watched Magennis score two goals in the 2-1 win. The young City striker is likely to play a part in Grimsby’s game on Saturday against Rochdale and could well start the game. Cardiff City boss Dave Jones wanted to give Magennis some first team experience this season and plan to loan him out but problems with injuries for the Bluebirds put that off the agenda but now that Ross McCormack is fit Jones must have deem the time was right for the loan.

Because of the injuries within the Cardiff squad the 19-year-old forward has had more first team action than even he would have expected having made eight substitute appearances for Cardiff this season scoring one goal. He is a regular in the Northern Ireland Under-21 squad and was in Iceland recently playing a full 90 minutes in the 2-1 defeat.

Only two City on international duly

Cardiff City only had two players involved in international duty tonight, striker Warren Feeney came on for the last 22 minutes of Northern Ireland 0-0 draw with the Czech Republic while Cardiff City defender Gabor Gyepes sat out Hungary’s 1-0 win over Denmark on the bench.

The play-off games are in early November and mean another international break but the only Cardiff City players who could be involved are Mark Kennedy and Stephen McPhail if they were to be picked by their country has the Republic of Ireland qualified for the play-offs.

The whole international games thing will start up almost straight away once the World Cup in South Africa is out of the way with the UEFA EURO 2012 start up in September. The finals will take place in Poland and the Ukraine with the qualifying draw taking place in Warsaw on 7 February 2010.

Bench for Feeney tonight?

The mystery of the non appearance of Warren Feeney at the recent friendly with Bristol Rovers was because he is away on international duty with the Northern Ireland squad.

The Cardiff City striker has yet to play a game this season and only had a short 45 minute stint playing in the Hereford reserve friendly last week but the Northern Ireland boss Nigel Worthington still called him up. The last time Feeney played a full game was back in the first week of May although he did play in the last game of the season coming off the bench towards the end of the game while on loan at Dundee United.

According to Worthington the City striker is itching to play tonight against the Czech Republic but he will have to wait and see what happens from the bench. Feeney has only around seven to eight months left on his contract with the Bluebirds and unless he can impress boss Dave Jones with lots of goals he will be gone come the summer anyway.

Worthington speaking in the Belfast Telegraph said, “Feeno would be a massive, massive gamble and it wouldn’t be right from my point of view to throw him in,” admits Worthington.
“The lad’s been out for three or four months after major hip surgery and only started training a few weeks ago. He’s only played 45 minutes of a reserve game so it would be wrong for me, from Warren’s point of view and the club’s point of view, to over-exert him.
“As much as his enthusiasm makes him fantastic to have around, it’s not right and you do have to think about the player and the clubs.
“If it was a qualifying situation, the thinking might change but I’ve got to look at the whole picture and do what’s right for the player and the club.
“Dave Jones his boss has asked me to use him sparingly and that’s what I’ll do.”

Hasselbaink to Woking????

Ex-Cardiff City player Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has been in the football wilderness since leaving the Bluebirds having hung his boots up after he received no offers of interest after leaving the City. He played 44 games for Cardiff only scoring eight goals while at Ninian Park and is swansong was a FA Cup final but it was another losers medal to add to the one he got with Chelsea.

However he could be making a return to football since leaving the Bluebirds in the summer of 2008 with Blue Square South outfit Woking if a deal can be thrashed out and could sign next week. Hasselbaink who lives nearby has been asked if he would be willing to help the club out.

Woking chairman Shahid Azeem said, “I would love to see Jimmy at Woking because I’m a Chelsea fan, but it must be right for the club, that’s the important thing,” he said.
“He is a big name but it’s at a very early stage – Jimmy has admitted he’s not fit enough and hopefully we can help him.
"He is living locally now and I have invited him to the game on Saturday if he is not doing his TV work.”

Today’s reserve friendly

It ended all square today in the friendly between City and Bristol Rovers with boss Dave Jones giving youth and experience to run-out. Both Kevin McNaughton and Ross McCormack to part in the game which finished 1-1 City losing to a late penalty but there was no sign of Warren Feeney. They both came through unscathed but didn’t play a full game and should be ready to play some part in the Palace game Saturday.

McCormack had a lively game and could well have score coming close on a number of occasions as Cardiff took control for most of the game with Cardiff keeper Peter Enckelman having little to do. McCormack played 75 minutes of the game and wanted to play the full 90 minutes.

City had a few chance before Miguel Comminges open the scoring, he and Solomon Taiwo played a one two with Comminges slotting the ball past the Rovers keeper in the 21st minute. With Cardiff looking the better team it was a surprise there were no more goals it was not for the chances has Cardiff put pressure on the Rovers goal forcing the keeper to make some fine saves. There were six chances throughout the game Riccy Scimeca also had run-out before being subbed.

Cardiff also gave Nick Chan son of potential investor Dato Chan Tien Ghee Nick who was on the bench came on replacing Solomon Taiwo Chan has been training with the first team squad.

Peter Enckelman
Kevin McNaughton – Tony Capaldi – Ricky Scimeca – Aaron Norris
Miguel Comminges – Billy Taylor – Solomon Taiwo – Kai Bichard
Ross McCormack – Jonathan Meades
-----------------

Zac Evans on for Kevin MaNaughton
Stephen Last on for Ricky Scimeca
Luke Cummings on for Billy Taylor
Nick Chan on for Solomon Taiwo
Lee Smith on for Ross McCormack
Ibrahim Farah on for Jonathan Meades
Substitutes on used Jordan Santiago, Kai Edwards

City play Rovers in friendly tomorrow

Cardiff plays their second reserve friendly in five days when they visit Bristol Rovers tomorrow at Memorial Ground at 1:00pm. I will give boss Dave Jones a chance to give a run-out to a number of fringe player and those coming back from injury in preparation of the league season after the international break.

Top of the list will be to excess the fitness of Ross McCormack Kevin McNaughton and Warren Feeney all of whom and returning from injury played a part in the friendly last Wednesday which the Bluebirds won 2-1. One player missing will be scorer of the two goals against Hereford young striker Josh Magennis who is away in Iceland with Northern Ireland’s under 21 squad.

With the shortage of striker options it McCormack the fans hope will regain his fitness and be ready for the Crystal Palace game next Saturday and the Coventry game Tuesday night both games are home so it’s a great chance for the Bluebirds to cermets their position among the teams at the top of the League

Cardiff boss Dave Jones taking to the official website: "Ross is fit and raring to go - now it's a matter of building up his power and fitness. In fact, Ross asked to go on the bench for the Derby match, but our medical team felt the injury wasn't completely repaired.
"He trained on the Friday after the Derby game and was banging balls over the place. So we brought him back on the bench for Watford with the intention of giving him a few minutes late on if we were in a winning position, and that's how it worked out.
"It was a big confidence boost for Ross and I was pleased for him - and he had a big smile on his face."

Rovers boss Paul Trollope who is an English born Welsh international is hoping to give a game to number of his injured player and without a game at the weekend could mix in a number of first teamers. He said, "We have had some decent friendlies already this season and Cardiff always provide a good test,"

Someone has to

After a chance meeting with some Oldham Athletic players while they were on a break in the Cayman Islands this summer Sara Mathew and Amber Allen struck up a strange fascination with the club which has seen the two crazy American girls take their love affair with the Latics to the beyond.

Pic: Amber and Sara

They decided it would be interesting to come over to watch a game and used the Internet to try and familiarise themselves with the game and UK football culture. With their new found passion for Oldham they made the long journey to their new ‘Mecca’ making a video of the journey as they went a long all the way to the home of Oldham Athletic, Boundary Park. On reaching their goal they found the ground shut up and the club shop was about to close and it was a normal northern day, raining it could have been a disaster, but they seem to love it.

They now had to watch their first game and with no home game in their schedule it was off to Millwall, yes your first ever game was at Millwall v Oldham. I took me about ten years after supporting my team, Cardiff City to build up the bottle for that trip but it was the dark days of the 70’s. They had heard the stories of Millwall and were a bit apprehensive has they trudged to the New Den on one cold Tuesday night and to top it off the night ended with defeat 2-0 for their new found heroes.

That could have been the end of it but the story was picked up after the video was put on the Internet and soon the press at Sara and Amber’s door looking for a story has the story when worldwide.

They plan to return in December to watch the Oldham v Exeter and the club has promised to roll out the red carpet for them, they are also making an appearance on the show SoccerAM.

The Oldham-Millwall Story
Latest Latics: Sara and Amber Meet Exeter City

Magennis happy to be playing

The young Cardiff City striker Josh Magennis was happy to score two goals in the friendly against Hereford the other day but was just has happy to have some on field playing time. The Northern Ireland Under-21 striker has yet to play a full game for the Bluebirds since stepping up from the clubs youth academy and the Hereford game was the longest he had played for the City. He has been a regular on the bench because of the injury crisis with Cardiff’s forward line he scored one goal against Bristol Rovers in the Carling Cup. He has also come off the bench another seven times late into the games.

With no reserve fixtures boss Dave Jones and his players have to make do with friendlies which is not ideal, the club should look into it but the cost is the problem running a reserve team is not cheap.

Speaking about the game Magennis said, “It felt great.
“I’ve struggled for game time and it felt good to be out there for almost the whole game.
“Both goals were set up by Jon (Jon Meades), who did a great job when he came on from the substitutes bench.
“He’s been playing left-back, but went on the left-wing against Hereford.
“We’ve played together for the academy team and seem to know where each other is.
“Jon set me up beautifully and I thank him for that.
“The first goal was a simple finish in front of goal from a good low cross, while for the second I made my run, lost a defender, cut inside and thankfully my shot went in.”

It's more than likely the young striker could be loaned out for some first team experience in the coming week with Ross McCormack expected to be fit for the Palace and Coventry games.

Fan names himself after his team

There are a lot of things I would do for my Club to show my love and have done a few but I know when to draw the line, but some are willing to step over the line like a man from North Lanarkshire.

Motherwell fan Frazer Boyle 20 from Coltness just splash out £33 to legally change his name, to Motherwell Football Club oh that’s Mr by the way. He now wants to get a new driving licence and passport as Mr Motherwell Football Club he will have to develop a thick shin because he will be in for lot of jokes and laughter at him. He said, "I am the only Motherwell fan in the house so I don't think anyone understands why I did it.
"My girlfriend isn't too bothered but I'm not sure if she'd be happy maybe being known as Mrs Motherwell Football Club eventually."

While is mother said about the name change said, "When Frazer first said to me I thought he was kidding on, I was ready to give him a clip around the ear.
"He is Motherwell daft and has already been to France and Wales in the past year to watch them; I think that is punishment enough.
"As long as he is happy that is the main thing."

City beat Hereford in friendly

Cardiff had a successful behind closed doors friendly at Hereford yesterday and all the long term injured players had a chance to have a run-out. All three players Ross McCormack, Kevin McNaughton and Warren Feeney started the game and all three played only the first half all are believed to have come through the game without a reaction to their injuries.

After a quiet first half which the Bluebirds are reported to have dominated and it was the same in the second but it was the home side that open the scoring. It was not long before Cardiff was back in the game when young striker Josh Magennis made it all even. The ex goalkeeper turned striker pounced later in the game to give the Bluebirds the lead and the game ended with victory and a 2-1 win. Magennis will now join up with the Northern Ireland Under-21 team before flying to Iceland for a Uefa Championship match.

Dave Jones would like to loan Magennis out to get some first team experience and on this performance any watching scouts will be queuing up to have a word with the City boss. There is another friendly scheduled for next week with Bristol Rovers has Cardiff have no reserve league football and depend on friendly to give fringe players a workout.

The squad on duty at Hereford which also included two trialists, P Enckelman, K McNaughton, T Capaldi, R Scimeca (capt), P Quinn, M Comminges, Z Evans, W Feeney, J Magennis, S Taiwo, R McCormack. Subs used: J Santiago (gk), K Edwards, N Jarvis, I Farah, J Meades, L Cummings, S Last, K Brishard.

The 'Forgotten Striker'

During the Second World War the 14th Army was called the ‘Forgotten Army’ while fighting in the Far East at the Cardiff City Stadium there is Warren Feeney the ‘Forgotten Striker’.

Pic: Very rare picture of Feeney in a Cardiff City shirt

The Northern Ireland striker March 2007, Feeney joined the Bluebirds on loan from Luton Town where he remainder of the rest of the season, he didn’t set the world alight in what games he play. In the summer it was a surprised to see him at after he was signed and with a three-year contract.

He started in the first league game of the 2007/08 the home defeat to Stoke but was taken off mid way through the second half. The next game in the League Cup he started and was again subbed in the second half the following game he was on the bench and came on for the last few minutes. He was than off to international duty with Northern Ireland returned to further on the bench at Coventry coming on towards the end of the game and that was it for is Cardiff City career. Well there was minute or so against Hull and another 45minuts at the end of the season home to West Brom.

For most of the 2007/08 season he ended up playing up the road at Swansea who had snapped him up on loan or playing for Northern Ireland. At Swansea he did well for himself and them scoring goals but pick up a injury just as Swansea were gearing up to make a bid for him. So he was back at the City with some rumored lack of respect to Cardiff fans, it was all to do with an alleged incident of him kissing the Swansea badge after scoring. The player as said many times it just didn’t happen.
He was loaned out before the start of the 2008/09 season this time for the whole season with Dundee United and Cardiff than paid some of his wages after the Dundee United boss said he couldn’t afford him. He had a successful season playing in the Scottish Premier League he didn’t scoring to many goals six in all and two with Northern Ireland.

A groin injury ended Feeney's loan spell not long before the end of the season and on returning back to Cardiff it looked like he would not be here long with Bournemouth and Millwall inquiring about the taking him. The strongest link was with Leeds but he failed a medical and came back to Cardiff. His injury problems look to be over and could get his first run-out with the Bluebirds since April 2008 at the friendly with Hereford today.

Speaking today the first thing Feeney wanted to do was clear up the badge incident and said: “That was a load of rubbish, I never kissed any football badges, it’s not a thing I do.”
He when on to say, “I went to Dundee and Swansea because with Robbie (Fowler) and Jimmy (Floyd-Hasselbaink) at the club all I was doing was twiddling my thumbs and not playing football so I had to move away and play.
“I also wanted to keep the international door wide open as well and I wasn’t going to do that by not playing any sort of football.
“I could have spent two years just picking up a decent wage at Cardiff, but that’s not what I’m all about.
“You can ask any footballer the same thing, it is all about playing football and it is a nightmare not playing.”
“There was a chance to sign for Leeds United but I failed a medical in which it was discovered that I had a growth in my hip that I could have been playing with for the last six to 10 years.
“It had to be sorted out once and for all and I had it done in the summer.
“Now I’ve started back training under the guidance of the City physio Sean Connelly, who has been brilliant.
“I’m close to hitting top fitness and ready to start all over again.”
“In some respects it is almost a fresh start, a new club for me and a new signing for the club,” he said.
“I do have some unfinished business here and I want to start to make an impression.
“One thing I do know is that the dressing rooms are far too quiet.
“I think the lads have missed the banter and the wind-ups that used to go on – I’ll soon get that going again, I’m sure.”

Malaysian talks going smoothly

Cardiff City chairman Peter Ridsdale is not rushing all guns blazing but playing a more patience waiting game over talks about Malaysian investment in the Bluebirds.

Last week Ridsdale hosted a visit of the Malaysian property magnate Dato Chan Tien Ghee who came over for talks after he was invited to pay a visit to the new Cardiff City Stadium. Luck for Tien Ghee his visit coincided with an upsurge in fortunes on the pitch. He watched both Cardiff wins while here over Derby and Watford before flying home to Malaysia.

This is the third meeting between the two parties in ongoing talks and all Ridsdale would only say: “The talks we had went well.
“That’s all there is to be said at the moment.”

He was given a tour of the facilities at the new stadium and after the Derby game he was taken to the dressing room to meet the players.

City play Hereford Wednesday

Cardiff City have arranged for a behind-closed-doors friendly against Hereford United tomorrow at Hereford. Cardiff City boss Dave Jones will have a chance to asset the progress of a number of injury players.

Top of them will be defender Kevin McNaughton who has yet to play a game this season after picking up ankle damage in the pre-season friendly against Celtic way back in July. Jones wants to ‘ease’ him back into fitness and could play apart in the game tomorrow.

Also it will give Jones a chance to run his eye over others in his squad, Ross McCormack was on the bench against Watford and came on for a few minutes at the end of the game but will now be able to have a good run-out before the restart of the season once the internationals are over.

There is also Warren Feeney coming back from injury who the club would like to get fit and possiblely loan him out. Feeney is in the last year of his three year contract with the Bluebirds who has never figured in Dave Jones plans but while away on loan has become a regular in the N Ireland international squad. The club would like to loan-out a few players especially some of the young players for experience so scouts should by present at the game. Cardiff player will have to face Cardiff’s centre-half Darren Dennehy who is on loan with Hereford who will have a chance to show his bosses back at Cardiff what he has learnt while on loan, he is due back in November.

Has well as the Hereford game Cardiff have set-up a game for next week another friendly against Bristol Rovers with an eye to upping the fitness levels of the fringe players before the home league game against Crystal Palace.
Jones told the South Wales Echo, “The current international break gives us the chance to bring all three up to speed after injuries.
“Barring injuries to those away with their national teams we hope to have a full strength squad available when we return to league action.”