Ipswich do it again

The Dark Avenger that is Ipswich boss Roy Keane brought his team to Cardiff again and spoiled the day with heading home three points richer. It was Ipswich first away win since beating Cardiff City 3-0 back in April the last game played at the old Ninian Park. A win that day would have been enought to see the Bluebirds into the play-off.

Dave Jones will be under more pressure than Roy Keane tonight. Keane enjoys the backing of his board and the majority of the fans, while Dave Jones is emerging support expect for the Chairman. It will be interesting tomorrow night at the open meeting at the Municipal Club, City Road at 7pm were chairman Peter Ridsdale will meet the fans. It should be a heated night with the future of the manager creping to the top of the questions.

There is not must to say about today’s performance but clueless which goes to the manager and players alike. Cardiff have now lost three games on the trot and are only still in touch with a play-off spot because other results have gone there way.

Cardiff face a big run-in to Christmas facing Preston next Saturday who have a drop in form who if they lose at Blackpool tomorrow we see the seaside’s jump over us in the League table, if Preston were to win they would be level on points with Cardiff.

We then face to tough away trips to West Brom and Middlesbrough followed by in form Leicester at home. Not a run in for the weak hearted and it could be a manager killer, could it apply with Dave Jones? If I remember, right Ridsdale told fans back in June that he was not afraid to sack Dave Jones and mention the Christmas/New Year period has an important time.

Managers after match reaction

Cardiff manager Dave Jones:
"The players never made the right decisions after the break and it was a game we should never have lost.

"When the crowd went against the players they started to panic and some of them never wanted the ball.

"The midfield and front line were non-existent and we hardly strung two passes together.

"When you are fighting hard to get something out of a game you have to win the ball in tackles and we didn't even do that.

"I have seen two stoppable goals go in and we need to hold onto the ball more and make the right decisions.

"Players will make mistakes but it is how you respond to them that count and everyone in the dressing room is responsible as that was our worst performance at this ground.

"At the moment we are easy to break down but we are not a bad team collectively.

"We have to do better and if the players pull their fingers out we can soon get back on track."

Ipswich manager Roy Keane:
"I've had my share of luck here at Cardiff in the past but with the chances we had I think we deserved to win.

"It was an open game but at half-time I told my players it would be a test of character and they have come through it well.

"The subs played a big part in the victory and although I have been disappointed with results to date I have never lost faith in the squad.

"Jon Walters has been a good leader over this difficult period and he scored a superb equaliser while Jon Stead is starting to make a habit of scoring vital goals for us."

Bristol City away in the FA Cup

Well the luck of the drew was not with the Bluebirds today, a home draw in the 3rd round of the FA Cup would have been nice and a payday with one of the Premiership big boys could have give everyone a happy smile.

What have Cardiff to look forward to, a Severnside derby with a visit to Bristol City a few weeks before the same fixture in the league, bring it on.

The Bristol City/Cardiff was the 25 fixture out of the pot the next was Reading v Liverpool so close to pulling one of the big four. That least this game is winnable but that will only tell when Dave Jones decides how he serious he takes the game, will he weaken the team for the sake of the League.

City v Ipswich team

Marshall
Kennedy, Matthews, Hudson, Gyepes,
Whittingham, Rae, Ledley, Burke,
Chopra, Bothroyd

Subs: Enckelman, Quinn, Gerrard, Etuhu, Taiwo, Scimeca, McCormack

Like expected Bothroyd and Matthews are playing with Gerrard starting on the bench.

FA Cup draw today

It is the third round draw this afternoon and we are in it so who will we get. Most fans would want Manchester United home or a nice fixture with Chelsea; I want a cup run and one of those two in the final. Chairman Peter Ridsdale will be looking for a payday so he would WANT one of the big four at home with TV cameras and a replay would do nicely.

There are a few non-league clubs in the mix looking for the payday Blue Square Premier outfits Forest Green Rovers and York City won there games yesterday with five other non-league clubs, including Staines Town, may also be in the hat depending on games yet to be played.

Ipswich tomorrow

With Cardiff not playing again today it is another Sunday kick-off for the Bluebirds, it was a drop down to seventh in the League table after today’s results. If Cardiff beat Ipswich in tomorrow’s 3pm kick at the Cardiff City Stadium they will go back to fourth.

The last time Ipswich played Cardiff it was the last home game at Ninian Park they came that time and spoiled the party with a 3-0 win. There is no party planned tomorrow but will Ipswich be sending the home fans miserable again, let us hope not.

Cardiff City boss Dave Jones is set to have a trio of injured players fit for tomorrow, he will be boost by the return of Striker Jay Bothroyd (knee), centre-back Anthony Gerrard (calf strain) and full-back Adam Matthews (groin). Matthews was link to a rumour in one national paper to be leaving the Bluebirds for Manchester United in January for £5 million, but Dave Jones quickly put that to bed, he is staying.

Cardiff’s loan striker Kelvin Etuhu is well on the way to full fitness he could well be there for next Saturday’s home game against Preston. He as impressed the Cardiff manager in training last week after his return from his club Manchester City were he underwent rehab on this injury.

Matthews to follow Ramsey to the Premiership (Rumour)

In the Sun, if you can believe it are reporting that Manchester United have sown up a deal to sign Cardiff City young defender Adam Matthews. The deal, if true would see the Bluebirds bank £5 million for the 17-year-old who has only played 12 championship games.

United are alleged to have beaten Arsenal to Matthews signature who were joined in battle to buy the young Cardiff players.

If the deal has been done then Matthews would have played his last game for the Bluebirds the club would not want to risk him getting injured. So if Matthews is on the pitch Sunday the whole story is dead, if he is not then Cardiff City fan will put two and two together and look forward to the January transfer window.

It is not the first time these two have locked heads over Cardiff City talent both clubs fought it out for Aaron Ramsey. It was expected United would win the race but he end up at Arsenal.

Cardiff City boss Dave Jones refused to comment only saying: “I will not comment on speculation about my players. First it was Jay Bothroyd going to Aston Villa, then Peter Whittingham was off to Sunderland, now it’s Adam being spoken about.

“All those players are still here.”

More bad news

According to the South Wales Echo the Football League are keeping a ‘watching brief’ over the clubs tax debt. The League bosses are waiting to see what the nature of the debt is and if any rules have been broken Cardiff could face a transfer embargo. A new rule for this season that if a club falls behind on tax payments will have a transfer embargo until the debt is cleared.

Chairman Peter Ridsdale is adamant a deal as been done with Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs for the money owed to be paid back. Football League representative told the Echo, “Regarding Cardiff City we are currently monitoring matter in relation to recent events.”

It would seem off the back of this story the relationship between the Echo and the Cardiff City chairman has hit the buffers. When the paper phone to get some clarification on the story Ridsdale refused to comment with the paper alleging Ridsdale said: “I’m not talking to you or any of the reporters at the Echo.
“What you have published is despicable and I will not be talking to anyone at the South Wales Echo.”

Cannot see Peter Ridsdale being happy with the headline on the back page of the Echo today it is bound to get a bad reaction from the fans.

Two out ..... none in

On well the loan transfer window has closed and it looks like the club did not paid the phone bill they have only been received incoming calls today. Like predicted no new signing for City boss Dave Jones but he did do some business.

Warren Feeney is gone to Sheffield Wednesday until December 28th on loan. There is no word on either of the official websites if the deal could be extended if the loan proves is a success, I would not think there would be no problem with that. Dave Jones told the CCFC website: “Warren is one of several of our players who need to be playing regularly. This loan should get him some match action.”

While Feeney new boss Brian Laws told the official SWFC website: “I am really pleased Dave Jones has allowed Warren to join us on loan because he's an attack-minded player with a lot to offer in the final third and he will give us a boost going into the festive fixtures.”

Has predicted Tony Capaldi has joined high-flying Leeds the loan deal is until the beginning of January the deal could become permanent. Like Feeney, he is looking for first team football after his drop down the picking order at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Capaldi is available in Leeds FA Cup game with non-league Kettering according the LUFC Official website.

Leeds manager Simon Grayson said: “Tony is a good experienced left-sided player.
“He’s a left-back and with Hughsey picking up an injury on Tuesday, we are a little bit light in that area so Tony gives us a boost. He can also on the left in midfield so there’s an option there.
“Again he will provide us with some good quality competition at a busy time of the year which is what I was looking for.”

Interesting last hour - Malaysian on board

In the space of a few minutes two stories have flashed on to the news wire, one was expected but the other was unexpected and than one to make the unexpected one go away.

The unexpected was broken on the Wales Online website say Cardiff City had won a ten-week breathing space in the London High Court today over monies owed to the taxman. The club has 70 days to pay the undisclosed debt. Around an hour later the Official Cardiff City website, the club were insisting the court case was to withdraw the threat of a wounding up order after the club had already arranged to pay the debt to the taxman.It would be a disaster for the club to be wound-up to much good work has been done over the last few years, the new stadium, training ground and on the pitch an FA Cup final, top of the table football all good in my books.

Only a few weeks ago there was talk of the club been debt free by 2011, with Chairman Peter Ridsdale said recently that there is a need to sell at least £5 million in the summer to help keep the club on an even keel.

The arrival of Malaysian tycoon Dato Chan Tien Ghee who joined the board today could change that. The promised investment should not be far behind. There is talk of a 25% stake in the club to start with however; the funds maybe be earmarked for the Langston debt.

Announcing the news on the Official website a clubs spokesman said, "Dato Chan's appointment reflects the continuing confidence that we have in the opportunity that exists for Cardiff City within Asia and will see us extend our youth development."
On his appointment, Chan said, "I am very proud to be joining the board of Cardiff City. I believe together with the existing board, I can provide Cardiff City with the additional resources to reach its aim of the Premier League.

Two City players on the way out (Rumour)

Dave Jones the Cardiff City boss is desperate to clear some players out before the loan transfer window closes on Thursday clearing the way for some new faces at the Cardiff City Stadium.
The rumour mill is up and running with Tony Capaldi linked to a move to Leeds before the Thursday deadline. Only today, he was rumoured to want a move in search of first team football.

Speculation is rife that Cardiff City defender come makeshift midfielder Tony Capaldi will join Leeds United before the loan transfer closes this Thursday. He is not part of Dave Jones plan struggling to find a spot at left back with Mark Kennedy in that spot.

Sheffield Wednesday are rumoured to be interested in Cardiff’s Northern Ireland striker Warren Feeney who has been out of favour with Cardiff boss Dave Jones from the day he signed his three year contract with runs out in the summer. Wednesday boss Brian Laws is looking for a loan striker and if Feeney does join he will see one familiar face in Darren Purse who was a summer signing from Cardiff.

Feeney was a target of Leeds in the summer but the deal fell through after the player failed the medical, but he is now fit and looking for regular football. There is nothing official today at these rumours but it would be douthful Dave Jones would stand it the way of these loan deals as he is looking to bring in a few loan deals himself.

McNaughton back in the treatment room

Any thought of Kevin McNaughton being fit for Sunday’s game with Ipswich have been dashed with an announcement on the Official Cardiff City website he will be out for two weeks.

It will come as a big disappointment to the defender whose whole season as revolved around the treatment room, but for the 21 minutes he was on the pitch on Saturday. The clubs medical staff are investigation a back injury that they suspect could be causing hamstring trouble.

McNaughton is hoping to be back in contention for a place for the game Preston on December 5th.

Capaldi wants away (Rumour)

According to the Daily Mirror defender Tony Capaldi is not happy being sideline and has thrown down the gantlet to Cardiff Boss Dave Jones, either play me or sell me.

Capaldi has been restless for time with the lack of first team football, last season he played a hand full of game. His season he has only played six-league game because of injuries to another players. He believes here as no future at the Cardiff City stadium as he is not in Dave Jones plans.

He could well be out-of-favour with the manager and marginalised to the bench, he has had his problems with a section of the crowd that have never warmed to him. Capaldi, 28, said: “I need to be playing regularly to get the best out of myself.
“If I’m not needed and I have to move on then fair enough. I would love to stay at Cardiff and play, but I might now just have to move on. Since the FA Cup Final, with injury and the rest, it has not really happened for me here.”

Who is fit for Ipswich??

Let us hope so, Jay Bothroyd will be fit for the Ipswich game next Sunday. The Cardiff striker missed the 1-0 defeat at Barnsley Saturday with his troublesome tendonitis of the knee which have been given him problems for some time now. Manager Dave Jones said: “Jay trained and wasn’t quite ready – around 80% fit.”

Another Cardiff player on the mend is loan striker Kelvin Etuhu who picked up his injury way back that the bringing of September against Newcastle. He has been back with his club Manchester City to receive treatment but started back training with the City today. Jones said, “We will assess Kelvin over the next couple of days and see where he is in fitness terms.”

With only 21 minutes under his belt this season it was a sad sight to see Kevin McNaughton limping along the touch line after he pull up with a leg cramp and will be having scan has a precaution. He is upbeat about being fit for Ipswich but Dave Jones is not counting his chickens yet saying, “Kevin’s leg cramped up and we hope it is no more than that.”

On the up side, defenders Adam Matthews and Anthony Gerrard could be fit for the game a bonus for the City boss with the run up to Christmas all-important. There are a lot of game coming up top of the table clashes with West Brom and Leicester along with Preston and Middlesbrough who are in touch with a play-off spot and only a win away from the Bluebirds.

The other three games are Ipswich, Plymouth, and Peterborough are the teams occupying the bottom of the league table now, but who knows what will be the outcome of these games and teams before December 28.
Cardiff City
Nov 29 v Ipswich (H)
Dec 5 v Preston (H)
Dec 8 v West Brom (A)
Dec 13 v Middlesbrough (A)
Dec 19 v Leicester (H)
Dec 26 v Plymouth (H)
Dec 28 v Peterborough (A)

First, one is Roy Keane’s Ipswich Town who have been bottom hugging the League table all season until recently when they managed to move up a place.

HAVE YOUR SAY ON FRED KEENOR STATUE

HAVE YOUR SAY ON FRED KEENOR STATUE


I have to say I like No1 the one with the cat, they are all good but that is the one for me. I like lt because it is not like the normal football statue.

Happiness turns to disappointment

There was no listening to the radio or watching Sky Gillette Soccer Saturday for me today, the game turned up live on the internet, could the day get any better. The game was courtesy of an Arab TV station but with English commentary, the beauty of the internet.

There was little to get excited about in the first half the about the only chance of the half came from Cardiff striker Ross McCormack. The loss of Kevin McNaughton was a big disappointment, did not last long, just 20 minutes in fact. It was his first game of the season since his injury in the Celtic friendly. He did not look to healthy as he slowly made is way along the touchline, Dave Jones sent on Paul Quinn as replacement. The both defences had the game under control for the first half has the free scoring Cardiff attack looking blunted, could the loss of Jay Bothroyd through injury so crucial to the team. It has been a long held belief with a section of the fans that Chopra and McCormack cannot play together in attack.

The weather was not helping the game it was pissing down and I for one was glad to be sitting at home with laptop. The second half start started with Cardiff looking like they were going to up the tempo and had a few half chances, one to Chopra and the other one minutes later with McCormack. That was about it, Barnsley came close, but the game was dead and looked to have 0-0 written all over it. However, there is was always injury time. This three to four minutes has help Cardiff on to victory in the past but it has also been our downfall, well today it was the latter.

Cardiff gave away a free kick with round a minute to go to the final whistle. The ball was about 20-yard out from the goal, the Barnsley player knowing there was little time left blasted the ball into the Cardiff wall and was deflected off a jumping Michael Chopra to leave Cardiff keeper David Marshall wrong-footed and beaten.
Oh well I could see it never looked like it was going to be our day
After the match Cardiff boss told the press,

"It is disappointing to lose any game and to lose it with virtually the last kick of the game is hard to swallow.
"It is cruel but we have things to learn and we must learn them quick as we should have been satisfied to take a point.
"We should have just shut up shop with 30 seconds remaining instead of having players charging forward as when they kicked it forward we were out of shape.
"The ball bounced up and hit Mark Hudson on the hand and while some referees will give it, some won't.
"Maybe the wall should have done better, maybe the chargers should have done better - but it was the only mistake in the game when defences were on top.
"The goal was a cruel deflection but we have to take it on the chin and bounce back."

Team v Barnsley

At the end of the international games, it looked like Cardiff would be near enough full strength but the last few days have seen a number drop out of contention for the Barnsley game.

Marshall
McNaughton, Hudson, Gypes, Kennedy
Burke, Rae, Ledley, Whittingham
Chopra, McCormack

Bench: - Enckelman, Quinn, Wildig, Magennis, Comminges, Scimeca, Feeney

The team is what was expected but for Bothroyd there was a small chance he would be fit with the club calling it 50/50.

Stephen McPhail

Cardiff City have announced on the official website at Stephen McPhail has been diagnosed with a stage one malt Lymphoma, as a pseudo lymphoma. He will now undergo treatment for up to three weeks with a possible return to football by the end of January.

The club has asked the City's fans and the media to respect his family's privacy during this difficult time. Like all Cardiff fans I wish him a speedy recovery.

Gabor Gyepes gets his first league start

Cardiff fans have some bad news to mull over this afternoon ahead of the Barnsley game, with Adam Matthews ready out for the game the Official website announced boss Dave Jones as lost the services of Anthony Gerrard.

The Cardiff defender is out with a calf injury meaning Dave Jones will turn to Gabor Gyepes as his replacement, who as yet to play a league game this season. His only games for Cardiff this season were in the League Cup, he played in the 3-1 victory over Bristol Rovers and the 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa.

Dave Jones said on the Cardiff City website, “Gabor has always been involved. He’s around but it’s unfortunate that you can only play 11 men with the others champing at the bit. I hope. If Gabor gets his opportunity I would expect him to take it try and keep hold of the shirt and keep Anthony out.”

It will be all changed in the back four with Gyepes and McNaughton joining Hudson and possibly Kennedy, but there is more than enough experience to cope.

http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10335~1880709,00.html

Whittingham - is he ready for Barnsley

The South Wales Echo has noticed the Peter Whittingham story that Sunderland are rumour to be interest in the midfielder, a story that has been doing the rounds for over a week now on the internet. Sunderland plan to have scouts out of the Barnsley game tomorrow and a upbeat report back to Sunderland boss Steve Bruce could see a £3 million offer slapping on the table come January for Peter Ridsdale and Dave Jones to mull over.

Whittingham should be back for the trip to Barnsley fingers crossed, after he missed the derby game defeat to Swansea before the international break. There is no reports of his recovery hitting any trouble and the player himself has been upbeat about is chances of being ready for Barnsley.

There have been many rumours about the clubs finances recently especially on the Cardiff City based messageboards. It been said before all the players have a price and if it is match the club will consider it but Chairman Peter Ridsdale believes those days are ending. The hoped is that new investment plus stadium revenue will see the club go debt free and get the Langston loan from around the clubs neck. The other debt is to property developers Paul Guy and Mike Hall and loans towards helping build the new stadiums.

Until the club offloads the debts we will have to sell it’s simply fact and we have to live with it, Whittingham and Ledley could have offers made for them in the January transfer window, one could go, or both stay, that is football in the lower leagues.

I support Ridsdale to get in sorted

Who is Langston? Anyone else borrowed money of them or is it just Cardiff City? What is Sam Hammam’s involvement with them? Is he Langston? Is it the normal for football clubs to borrow money from invisible investors? Why have the Football League not taken an interest in this loan fiasco?

So many questions, very few answers because everyone is sitting around waiting on Sam Hammam, the only contact with Langston, he would like being centre of attention just like when he was Chairman. The man who is in control today Peter Ridsdale is hopeful of new investment soon with two parties interested in putting money into the club. The Malaysia property magnate Dato Chan Tien Ghee as been around for a few months and another individual or group have showed a possibility in investing has well, things could be looking up for the Bluebirds.

However, there is the catch to any good news when it comes to the Bluebirds and investment, Langston, it is a stone around our neck. It constantly there, hanging around to derail any progress being made with Sam Hammam the puppet master sitting in the way. I hope Ridsdale is right and a deal is close and we can kiss Langston and Hammam good-bye.

The club plan to pay off Langston plus a debt to property developers Paul Guy and Mike Hall, making the club debt free possibly for the first time ever. It would be great for the club but on the other side of the coin, a debt free Cardiff City would be attractive to a host of potential buyers.

I am backing Peter Ridsdale to come good on his words he brought us the new stadium when it looked and he will get the debt sorted, it is just great to have a chairman who wants to be a chairman. I listened to him on the Cardiff City’s phone-in show on GTFM sponsored by St David’s Travel yesterday, and believe he really wants the best for Cardiff City.

Matthews heading for the treatment room???

Some bad news from the Wales under 21game tonight, Cardiff defender Adam Matthews came off with a foot injury according to the Cardiff City Official website.

The club will have to wait to see the extent of the injury pick-up at the start of the second half. City boss Dave Jones will now have to wait and see what his medical staff find when they check for any damage. Depending on the outcome, it could see him missing the trip to Barnsley Saturday.

Could the young defenders bad luck but good luck for Kevin McNaughton, he has return from injury. One thing for sure Matthews will do anything to be in the starting line-up Saturday

Darcy Blake the Cardiff City player on loan at Plymouth Argyle featured in the whole game but Aaron Morris remained on the bench in the 2-1 defeat to Bosnia-Herzegovina.

McNaughton back

Cardiff City boss Dave Jones will be spoiled for choice this Saturday when it comes to team selection. Nearly all his squad is fit and raring to go with the exception of on loan striker Kelvin Etuhu from Manchester City who was reported to be looking for a return to fitness in time for the Ipswich game.

Kevin McNaughton is back and will be hoping for a quick return to first team action after his long laid-off through injury he played 45 minutes in a reserve game against Hereford yesterday. He has not started a first team game this season since his injury in the Celtic friendly. He has only a bench appearance in the Palace game to is name so far but a calf strain saw him back in the treatment room.

McNaughton can play on the right or left of the back four, but the left his is favoured position he will need to dislodge other Adam Matthews who has been occupying the right-back spot or Mark Kennedy on the other side of the defence. If Dave Jones makes no changes to the back four that were on duty against Swansea, they will have to watch their backs with McNaughton on the bench.

Talking about his season so far the Cardiff defender said: “This injury has been a nightmare. It’s the longest I have ever been out.
“I’ve had a couple of hamstring injuries during my career, but the longest I’ve been out before this was eight weeks.
“I need to get back in action, I’m hopeless as a spectator.
“I went to the Swansea match and didn’t enjoy it at all, although the result certainly didn’t help.
“The nearest I’ve been to the first team this season was when I was on the bench against Palace, but I didn’t get on the pitch.
“Now I’m looking forward to Barnsley. The lads have done a brilliant job to get us into third position and if I’m picked, I want to help us push on from there.
“I’m feeling good. The half I played against Hereford United yesterday was another step forward for me. The big thing for me is to get match practice because you can only get so much out of training.”

Magennis and Dennehy

Two Cardiff City players were on international duty last night Josh Magennis was with the Northern Ireland Under-21 who lost Czech Republic but the young City striker was bench for the whole game. He did play his part in the 1-1 draw with Germany last Friday and had a few chances, before coming off with round 20 minutes to go.

The other player was defender Darren Dennehy who is on loan with Hereford until January. He was in the Republic of Ireland Under-21 squad at played Armenia; they lost 4-1 with Dennehy playing the full game. Since joining the Bluebirds from Everton back in June 2008 he has yet to play a game for Cardiff, in fact all is playing has been while on his two loan spells with Hereford and the under 21’s.

Matthews knuckling down to his job with City

Adam Matthews has not finished with international duty just yet; tomorrow he should be playing a major part for Wales under 21squad against Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Welsh youngsters need a win to cement their position at the top of the table. Saturday Matthews was an unused substitute for the Welsh senior teams’ victory over Scotland.

The young Cardiff City defender has expressed his desire one day to follow in the footsteps of former City player Aaron Ramsey. There was a rumour at the weekend that Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has asked his scouts to keep a watching brief on Matthews’s development.

Matthews knows the only way a move like that will happen is if he get his head down and concentrates on establishing his place in Dave Jones’ plans. That seems to have happen with him keeping summer signing Paul Quinn out of the starting line-up along with injury hit Kevin McNaughton, but one injury or one missed game through suspension or through a bad game, and that could all change.

Talking about his rise from obscurity to first team player, he said, “It’s been a bit mad. At the start of the season I was just expecting to train with the first team at Cardiff and get a few substitute appearances.
“But with Kev’s injury I’ve had a chance to start and I believe I’ve put my claim in to be first choice even when he comes back. I want to keep my place and keep doing well.
“I’ve had a lot of support. The players at Cardiff are always good with the youngsters and the manager has helped me a lot as well.
“I don’t think there’s any doubt that being involved with the first-team has helped me step up a lot quicker than I thought I would.”

Come fly with me - Middlesbrough v Cardiff City

Back in September, I wrote an article about Swansea City hiring a plane to fly up to the Newcastle game well it would seem that Cardiff City are to offer the same kind of option for Cardiff City fans.

The Bluebirds have struck a deal with Strachan Sports Travel to supply 118 seater plane to fly Cardiff fans to the Middlesbrough game. The price depends on the plane being full (see links below for prices and full details)

I can see it could popular with some fans and it is a novel way to travel to the game, a number of fans already make this trip on commercial flights. If this trip is successful, the games to Newcastle and Ipswich could also be on the cards.

Official Cardiff City website
Strachan Sports Travel website

Feeney looking for first team fooball

Cardiff City striker Warren Feeney wants away from Cardiff City to find regular first team football and will be seeking a move in January if the chance comes up. The Northern Ireland striker will be out of contract in the summer anyway and has only made a brief appearance from the bench since regaining his fitness a few months back.
Since joining the club on a three-year contract from Luton he has played next to no part in the plans of boss Dave Jones and was quickly loan out. First to Swansea and that was followed by a season loan with Dundee United.
Swansea wanted to sign him but he picked up an injury and was sent back to Cardiff. That Dundee they wanted to sign him but could not afford his wages. In the summer Leeds, where close to signing him but the medical picked up a problem, so the deal was off. After the disappoinment he had a hip operation to fix the problem uncover at the Leeds medical keeping in the treatment for the start of the season.
Feeney through all his up’s and down’s has managed to keep his place in the Northern Ireland squad and feels he needs first team football to help him secure is place on a permanent basis. The player told the Belfast Telegraph, “I was gutted over the summer with what happened, but I am not one to sit back and look at the past, these things happen in football,” said Feeney.
“The window is coming up in January and we'll see what happens there and take things on in the New Year.
“I want to get out there and I need to get playing to feel good about myself again. I've another six weeks to go and then I'll be looking to get something sorted out.”
“It's been frustrating since the last time I played at Windsor in March and April,” said Feeney.
“The move to Leeds fell through because of the problem with the hip, but that's sorted now and I managed to get myself back ahead of schedule, because I was told I wouldn't kick a ball until the end of October and I was back three weeks before that.
“I'm not one who is going to sit there and pick up the money, I wouldn't do that because I want to play.
“Last season I was up in Scotland on-loan to Dundee United, I was playing and I enjoyed it and I think you could see that in my performances for Northern Ireland.”
Attention turned to 2012 almost immediately after September's 2-0 home loss to Slovakia. The players are now starting to think about the qualifiers and Feeney is ready for the stiff competition for places up-front, with Healy sure to return.
“David Healy has been phenomenal for Northern Ireland, he still is and he is the first one to say 'well done' to the boys who were playing,” said Feeney.
“That's what friendlies are for, everyone wanted to play against Serbia and it was Nigel's decision over who started.
“We have good strikers in the squad and come the next series of qualifiers everyone will be chomping at the bit again to play.”

Ridsdale to face the fans

Cardiff City fan and author Annis Abraham Jnr has announced on Facebook he has arranged for Cardiff City Chairman Peter Ridsdale to attend an open meeting with fans. The meeting will take place at the Municipal Club, City Road for Tuesday December 1st 7pm.

With rumour and counter rumours about the state of the club in particular the clubs finances or the lack of them , it will be a chance for fans to listen and have their say. There is little place for Chairman Ridsdale to hid in this kind of meeting and in the past meeting has enjoyed the support of most fans by simply saying how it is.

The meet is open to all fans ‘No ticket required’ but I would recommend you get there early in case of a large turnout.

Arsenal tracking Matthews - (Rumour)

Could Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger be casting his eyes towards the Cardiff City Stadium and Adam Matthews, that one for the rumours doing the rounds today?
The young City defender progress has been spectacular to say the least after getting his chance of first team football. He as stamp his authority on this position in the Cardiff defence, is keeping players that are more experienced on the bench, and has been receiving rare reviews.
If Arsenal are giving him the once over, I would not be surprised if others clubs were checking him over. International football is just around the corner he was on the bench for the Scotland game but it will not be long before he gets that first senior cap.
The academy production line has done the club and boss Dave Jones well; the best of the lot so far was on show Saturday against Scotland, Aaron Ramsey. Sold for £5 million with two of the biggest manager in the Premier League vying for his signature, Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson the young City midfielder who plumed for London and Arsenal. Ramsey is well on the way to being a £10 million plus player if he is not already.
As long as Matthews keeps his feet on the ground he could a long way and help Cardiff out in the future.

International round up City players- Welsh under 21's

Looks like Cardiff City players have come international break weekend but we still have the under 21 game midweek with Wales and Northern Ireland having games.
Young Cardiff striker Josh Magennis played in Friday night’s game for Northern Ireland under 21’s against Germany. The game ended 1-1 with Magennis start the game but was sub in the 62 minute.
Three Cardiff City players were involved in today Wales v Scotland, Joe Ledley start the game for Wales until he was sub in the 80 minute he had a solid game yet David Marshall in goal for Scotland had a torrid open to the game has Wales scored three goals in the first 35 minutes. The goals were not just be put down to the City keeper there was some shoddy defending as well to be addad to the mix. Cardiff striker Ross McCormack was on for the last 28 minutes, he came close to reducing the score line.

Left on the bench new Cardiff City sensation Adam Matthews did not collect his first senior cup nor did another City player Darcy Blake who is on loan to Plymouth now.
Warren Feeney was also in action with Northern Zealand. He cannot get a start with the Bluebirds, but he was in the starting line-up for his country against Serbia.
It is not over for the young City players they have under 21 duties again midweek, Magennis should be involved in Northern Ireland game, while most of today’s team that beat Scotland could be in the team to play Bosnia-Herzegovina the senior team was that young.

The Under 21’s could well give Welsh fans the finals we have been dreaming of since 1958, it would be a start to bigger finals maybe. If Wales were to win on Wednesday they would be seven points ahead of second place Hungray having played two games more.

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• Wales 3 Scotland 0: match report (telegraph.co.uk)

Whittingham - Award/Sunderland

Peter Whittingham's form last month earn him the Players of the Month award for October today. Scoring seven goals in October including his first ever-professional hat trick in the 4-3 victory over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane plus some Man of the Match performances. He beat Leicester's Chris Weale, QPR's Adel Taarabt and Swansea's Alan Tate to win the award.
His form in front of goal has even surprised him say last month, “I wish I knew the secret of scoring the goals at the moment, it just seems the ball is following me about.
“The ball is just falling for me and I’m just happy that I’m in the right place at the right time.”
Whittingham took over as chief penalty taker from Ross McCormack at the start of the season and scored five from the spot and five other goals with two more goals in the League Cup giving 12 goals so far this season.
The rumour about Sunderland’s interest in Whittingham as reappeared in the North East press. Sunderland have maintained a watching brief on Whittingham in recent months according to the Chronicle Live
The news (rumour) out of the Cardiff City Stadium is that Cardiff need to sell in January and could it could be the wrong time to have scouts checking out your start players.

Jordon ..... It was fing handball

Long before little Diego and the ‘Hand of God’ in the 1986 World Cup when he helped the ball out of the path of English goalkeeper Peter Shilton, there was a greater injustice that involved Wales and Scotland.
It happened in of all places Anfield. Crowd trouble at Ninian Park the previous year against Yugoslavia mean the FAW were ban from using the home of Cardiff City for the Scotland game. Wrexham was deem to small for the biggest game involving Wales in sometime, victory for the Welsh and they would be within touching distance of qualifying for the 1977 finals in Argentina.
The Welsh bosses decided in their wisdom to go for Anfield, so the game was set for the 12 October 1977. Next, there was to get a ticket for the game has it was not at Ninian Park those wanting to go had to write off to get a ticket. Luckily, we got ours and we booked up on one of the British Rail specials.
First, it was supposed to be a home game, but once you were anywhere near to the Anfield ground, it was like spot the Welshman. The streets were full of Scottish fans, I did not see any of this so call celtic brotherly love, far from the contrary we were spat that, even pissed on out of windows, and there was quite a few punches in the air. It was so naughty outside the ground the Police pushed us into the ground to be confounded by even more Scottish fans.
The Hand of Anfield surrounded
Wales were putting up one hell of a fight on and off the pitch the game was open and both sides had several chances but in the 78th minute Wales’s whole campaign was derailed when Scotland striker Joe Jordon and Wales defender David Jones rose together to challenge for the ball after a long throw by Scotland’s Asa Hartford. Handball no way, it should have been a free kick to Wales, not a penalty to Scotland. It was clear to see Jordon jump with is arm outstretch and punch the ball, the French referee Robert Wurtz or was that McWurtz gave the penalty and it was not long after Kenny Dalglish adding a second goal to kill off the Welsh dream.
What gets my back the most is that he refuses to own up to it being hand ball even went one of his son played for Cardiff City he was asked, but a was still unwilling finally put pay to the controversy. After the Argentina v England Maradona claimed the 'hand of God' guided his hand for his dubious first goal against England.

The Welsh team on the night
Wales: Dai Davies, Rod Thomas, Joey Jones, John Mahoney, David Jones, Leighton Phillips, Brian Flynn, Peter Anthony Sayer, Terry Yorath, John Toshack, Mickey Thomas.
Att: 50, 850 at least 30,000+ Scottish fans

You can what I mean round 2:50 into the video below

Whittingham ready for Barnsley?????

Although I hate the international break period as a rule, this time it could have given Cardiff boss Dave Jones a helping by giving time for some of his squad time to heal from their injuries. It will not help Stephen McPhail who is months away from match fitness.
The official website had a shout interview with Peter Whittingham today. He missed the Swansea game with a knee injury picked up in the previous game against Nottingham Forest. The break has brought him some breathing space and he is looking to return for the Barnsley trip a week Saturday. He told website: "The physios will look at me on Monday and decide whether I can go back to full training the next day. I'm hoping against hope the answer is yes. I was disappointed to miss the Swansea match, but the international break this weekend has given me a bit of time to get over the injury.
"If we had been playing a match this week, I wouldn't have been running, and I wouldn't have made the squad."
Whittingham will be hoping to joining his team mate and joint-top scorer Michael Chopra at Barnsley. Chopra also missed the Swansea game through suspension after picking his fifth yellow card against Forest, which mean a one-match ban.
Loan signing Kelvin Etuhu is on the road to recovery and although he is not expected to be fit for Barnsley game, he is looking towards Ipswich home on November 29 has a target.
That will bring the City up to near full strength if the players on international duty do not pick-up any injuries tomorrow.

Premier League statement - Rangers and Celtic

The Premier League have shut the door on Rangers and Celtic crossing the border to join the much talked of new Premier League format.

The statement, "Bolton Wanderers submitted a discussion paper detailing ideas concerning the restructuring of the Premier League into two tiers with the inclusion of Celtic and Rangers," read a Premier League statement.

"The clubs welcomed the additional input into an ongoing process, however, they were of the opinion that bringing Celtic and Rangers into any form of Premier League set-up was not desirable or viable.

"The other relevant ideas contained within Bolton's paper will now be taken forward as part of the wider strategic review being undertaken by the Premier League since November 2008 with the aim of providing recommendations before December 2010."

The Premier League clubs will now consider whether to introduce a two-tier system as part of a wider strategic review in December.

There are a few of ideas floating around mainly concerning relegation from Premier 2 and the Football League. One is play-off games home and away between the two leagues while some want strict ground criteria of a 25,000 + all seater stadium with Premiership standard facilities.

This is how I think the two leagues would look base on today’s league table.
-Premier One
Arsenal, Aston Villa, Birmingham, Blackburn, Bolton, Burnley, Chelsea, Everton, Fulham, Hull, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Portsmouth, Stoke, Sunderland, Tottenham, West Ham United, Wigan, Wolverhampton Wanderers

-Premier Two
Southampton, Leeds and Norwich from league one, there would be 27 teams to squeeze in to a league of 20. The Premier League have talked before about inviting clubs in this league.
Bristol City, Cardiff or Swansea, Coventry, Crystal Palace, Derby County, Ipswich Town, Leicester, Middlesbrough, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, Plymouth, Queens Park Rangers, Reading, Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday, Southampton, Watford, West Bromwich Albion, Leeds, Norwich

Has you can see I can only see one of the two Welsh league team being in the league, scary. I can also see the whole why a Welsh team in a English league Crap getting a airing again especially from the teams who miss-out Any change to the structure of the Premier League would require the approval of 14 of the 20 Premier League clubs, as well as the FA.

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• Celtic and Rangers denied the chance to enter Premier League (telegraph.co.uk)

Two players linked (Rumour)

Only yesterday I was writing on this Blog about the upcoming January transfer window and just what are Chairman Peter Ridsdale, and manager Dave Jones plans for January a bit of buying and selling.
In today’s press, two named players are being associated with the Bluebirds, only rumours for the time being. In the Daily Star an old favourite name has cropped up, Daniel Cousin rumoured to have become a target again. It is not the first time his name has been link with the club, back in July and August he was close to signing for Cardiff, or so his agent told the press at the time.
According to the Daily Star, Cardiff would have to hand over £800,000 for the striker Hull City, a fee that could just be out of the reach of the hard-up Bluebirds. The Sun are indicating that Cardiff want to take the 32 year-old striker on loan before making the move permanent. Cousin has only started one game this season back in August and only lasted 20 odd minutes into the game, a 5-1 massacre for Hull against Tottenham. In his only other game against Liverpool he came off the bench for another massacre, this time a 6-1 defeat.
The Cardiff boss Dave Jones is looking at Ipswich Town midfielder Owen Garvan as possible cover for the injured Stephen McPhail so the Sun newspaper is reporting. He (Garvan) was one of a number of players who your transfer listed by boss Roy Keane after the West Brom defeat back in August.
Despite being a fans favourite the midfielder was told in no uncertain terms where is future doesn’t lay, Keane recently saying, “Owen may be that player for many of our supporters. “But he is not doing enough right now to get into the team. “I watched him at Watford in the reserve match on Monday and he still did not do enough and won't be considered for Saturday's Championship game at Reading. “Yes he has talent, but talent only counts for around five per cent of what is needed to become a success as a professional footballer. “Owen has had his chances, and more chances could still come. But at the moment he needs to do more. And he knows that.”
Cardiff boss Dave Jones is looking initially that a loan deal looking towards making it permanent in January.

What will the January transfer window bring

The transfer window will open in only 51 days and what will chairman Peter Ridsdale and manager Dave Jones be doing, buying hopefully or securing some loan deals.
From day one they will need to get stuck in because the January transfer window can go crazy with desperate managers looking for someone to save their season from disaster. When was get news out of the club about possible movement into the transfer market it normally comes with a health warning, reduce the wage bill.
First there will be a need to have a clear-out, first would be Joe Ledley if anyone is interested in him. He doesn’t want to be here, his head is in the sky with dreams of the Premier League he would be better off help Cardiff into the Premiership. The others I would put on a clearout list would be,
- Tony Capaldi - sell
- Miguel Cummings - sell
- Darren Dennehy - sell
- Gavin Rae - sell
- Aaron Morris - loan
- Darcy Blake - loan
- Aaron Wildig - loan
- Solomon Taiwo - loan
- Josh Magennis - loan
- Warren Feeney - ?
Depending on the clubs plans there would be a few more I would put in the sell bracket, Gabor Gyepes and Mark Kennedy but it’s all to do with finances – costs, wages and other things. The club would get little in the way of transfer fees but it would mean some money would be freed up to pay wages. If Ledley or anther high value player was sold (doubtful) the money could be put into new players, but the club are more than likely be delving into the free transfer market.
There are a number of young players at the club who need first team football to sharpen them up and putting them out on loan would be useful.
Tony Capaldi revealed today he is ready to leave the Bluebirds and look for a new club because he wants first team football and told the South Wales Echo, “I’ve spoken to the gaffer and we’ll see what happens from here. If I’m not needed and I have to move on then fair enough. We’ll see what happens in January.
“I would love to stay at Cardiff and play, but I might now just have to move on.”

Toshack calls up City defender

Injuries in the Welsh squad for the Scotland friendly has lead Welsh boss John Toshack to call-up Cardiff City defender Adam Matthews.
It’s been a meteoric rise for the 17-year old right-back Matthews since signing professional forms with the Bluebirds back in January. Making his debut this season coming off the bench in the 1-1 draw at Blackpool, he just hasn’t looked back and is keep £300,000 new signing Paul Quinn on the bench. He scored his first goal in the 4-1 victory over Watford in October.
Cardiff will have four players involved in the two squads, in the home dressing room midfielder Joe Ledley and Matthews while in the away dressing room goalkeeper David Marshall and striker Ross McCormack.

Will Ledley ever signing

That’s it, the Swansea game is done and dusted that is until April at the Cardiff City Stadium and we can only hope David Jones reads up on what derbies are all about.
Joe Ledley! There is still no sign of him signing the new contract he was offered months ago; it’s all goes quite again. If I was him I would be outside Chairman’s Peter Ridsdale mansion with pen in hand this morning ready to sign on the dotted line. Based on his form this season Peter Ridsdale should start to think about cutting the monies involved, double his current contract - simply he’s not worth it and the money could be better spent.
If the midfield is holding out for the January sale’s to test the transfer market, he should think again because like in the summer where he got no offers just rumours, it could happen again. He is nowhere near a Premiership player has he was a season or so back he is living on his past, he would be lucky to get offers from a Division One club at the moment. A six million pound player we would be lucky to get a million pound offer for him, and be grateful to bank that.
The club have missed out on a big pay today on Ledley with the best hope now being the tribunal if it goes to that. His contract runs out in the summer and he could be playing with fire, if something was to happen to him like a long term injury he could find himself with nowhere to go.
On the table for him to sign is a double were present contract offer, with a get out clause if the valuation of the club is met what more can the club do? By not signing the contract Ledley is losing out on thousands of pounds a week. Could the downturn in his form be linked to all the contract nonsense? Ledley has said in the past he has no problem with the situation and it’s not affecting his form buy if he wants that big move he will need to be the performances in.

Three points lost and more

The Cardiff City boss Dave Jones after match verdict just goes to show he just doesn’t get it. Ok we lost out on three points but the fans lost out on a lot more, pride in their team. Derby games are special and you just cannot treat them like a normal league game, Swansea were playing a Derby game today with all the blood and guts you need in them kind of game. While Cardiff were prepared and sent out like it was an everyday league game.
He (Jones) said he was disappointed to lose but not many City fans believe him, he disappointed in the players while the fans think he has a lot to answer for. That the end of the day the manager and the players pick up their wages for today’s joke performance but 1800 City fans paid good money to be at the game.

Dave Jones said, "I'm disappointed to lose but I'm no more disappointed because it is a derby game, it's just the bragging rights go to them.
"But we must pick ourselves up, get going again and not worry about this game because we're okay and a decent side it is today we haven't played as well as we could have.
"It was an awful start for us and we didn't get close to their players, maybe nerves got to one or two of the players. It was a great fight back but we didn't kick on. We had a lot of possession and hit the bar but the three goals we gave away were dreadful.
"We never had any creativity about us and couldn't get any tempo going but full credit to Swansea who have the points and now we must wait until the return match to get this one out of our system.
"Any time you lose you let the fans down but we have to put up with it today and the season doesn't end with two derby matches so we have to fight back in our next game."

Bragging rights for Swansea

Leon Britton, Joe Allen, Lee Trundle, Catherine Zeta Jones, Keith Allen, Enzo Maccarinelli, John Hartson, Harry Secombe, your team gave us a right good kicking

Only one team wanted the win today and they were not wearing blue. The Swansea players were up for it from the start and they piled on the pressure. After going two up so early it just look to be all over. Credit to the City pulling the two goals back but even then Swansea still looked to want the game more.
Even with Michael Chopra and Peter Whittingham if they were available would have made much of a difference; the game was lost in the first 20 minutes. The first goal by Nathan Dyer was helped by a mistake from City keeper Marshall and the poor marking helping out Darren Pratley with the second. Cardiff somehow managed to fight back and level the game which was a bit of a miracle. Under three minutes it took them to square the game up, Jay Bothroyd split the Swansea defence to fire home, and before the Cardiff fans had a chance to settle it was 2-2 when Mark Hudson managed to head in from a tight angle at the back post.
It looked like Cardiff was going to take the upper hand but the home team stood firm soaked up the pressure and started to turn the pressure around and went in at half time the stronger.
I do not know what the managers said at half time but the home team came out fighting giving Cardiff players little chance to play the ball, maybe Dave Jones told them to settle for the draw or something. Ross McCormack banged a beautiful taken free kick that hit the upright with the Swansea keeper well beaten I just wish it had gone in; it could have changed the game around. It was not long after that at Swansea took the lead when Darren Pratley got his second of the game. After that Swansea never looked out of control of the game has the final whistle got closer you just knew there were no more goals in Cardiff. That the end of the game the Swansea players and fans looked like they had won the war, they had. Let’s just hope Dave Jones was watching and could see what it means, that was what the game meant.
I said it before Swansea wanted the game more while City players never seem to understand what the game means to both set of fans. Cardiff boss Dave Jones needs to take some of the blame for this game, playing down the derby match fever. Yes at the end of the day the game is about three points but this game is about a lot more, you would have thought after last season he would have got that.
He was brought up on Everton/Liverpool derbies if you can call it a derby; it was called the friendly derby. Some players now could face a tough time for Cardiff fans as a backlash to the game. Somehow we are still third in the table but there are nine clubs below Cardiff who are just a win away.

Team v Swansea

Marshall,
Matthews, Gerrard, Hudson (capt), Capaldi,
Kennedy, Ledley, Rae, Burke,
Bothroyd, McCormack.

Subs: Enckelman, Gyepes, Quinn, Taiwo, Scimeca, Feeney, Commingues

Cardiff City are without Peter Whittingham but Jay Bothroyd was fit to start

Nasty put down

Cardiff City striker Jay Bothroyd open a bit of a can of worms when he had a pop at Swansea a few days ago in the local press. Today Swansea midfielder Leon Britton got personal and fired one back according to the South Wales Echo.
Britton who claims to have known the City striker since they were kids and played together with the England schoolboys had something to say on the matter of Bothroyd. He was reported has saying, “I have known Jay since I was 11 or 12,” Britton said, “and he is not the brightest of lads.
“I was with him at Arsenal and I played with him for England schoolboys, so I know him well.
“He has had trouble in his past. I remember at Arsenal he got subbed in one game and he threw his shirt at Don Howe. That was the end of him at Arsenal.
“Jay is no stranger to controversy, and he was probably just looking to get a reaction with what he has said about us.”
“To be honest, he probably doesn’t know where Cardiff are in the table, never mind where we are.”
It's still not sure if Bothroyd will be playing today after a injury scare was revealed yesterday but if he is there could be a very frosty handshake between the two players.
Went Bothroyd signed for Cardiff the fans took awhile to appreciate him, he was not a regular goal scored but his work rate and his ability in and around the box have won him legions of fans and received plaudits from media watchers.

Lee Trundle You Fat Bastard

Sorry about the crap vid but it's the song I love and dedicate it to Lee Trundle

We could go top

Cardiff can go top of the table for a few hours at least tomorrow if they beat Swansea and depending on other results. We really need Leicester to beat West Brom or even a draw would do it and Newcastle to lose at home to lowly Peterborough.
It also goes the other way if we lose to Swansea it would see us drop down the league if other results go against us, it so close at the top end of the table everyone is in the same boat.
The media are back after last Sunday’s game being shown live on the BBC, this week it’s the turn of Sky Sports. The show starts at 12:30pm with a kick off 15 minutes later. While on BBC1 football show Football Focus the game is one of the featured reports.
With yet another international break upon us Cardiff next game is not until the 21st November when the Bluebirds travel to Barnsley.

Injury woes before big game

Things look to be going tits up on the eve of the big Welsh derby between Cardiff City and Swansea, for the Bluebirds that is with reports of injury problems to key players.

Cardiff will be without star striker Michael Chopra through suspension, it’s also rumoured his strike partner Jay Bothroyd and joint top scorer midfielder Peter Whittingham are both giving manager David Jones cause for concern. Both are reported to be suffering from knee injuries and this would be a massive blow to Cardiff City.

They have both have missed training this week and have undergone intensive physiotherapy in a bid to be fit for the game. They might need a late fitness tests to be passed fit for the game. If Bothroyd is not fit, the only option for boss Jones would be Warren Feeney, has Ross McCormack is already earmarked to replace leading scorer Chopra. It will be the Scottish striker’s first start in three months. Who would come in for Whittingham if he too was unavailable? Could Tony Capaldi or Soloman Taiwo do the job, both of whom have not played a part in first team action since the end of September?

I hope it’s a case of mind games from Cardiff BOSS Dave Jones a head of the game.

More bad new news for Cardiff City on the official Cardiff City website it reporting that Stephan McPhail could well need a operation after tearing a thigh muscle in the 1-1 draw with Forest on Sunday. He could be out for up to eight weeks, more bad news.

What in the name of a stadium

With the Newcastle owner looking to sell the naming rights to his club it brought up the old chestnut of the name rights of the new Cardiff City Stadium and to be honest I dreading what our stadium could end up named.

You hear the name St James Park and you automatically think of Newcastle United, Black and White stripes and the North East not the sportsdirect.com@St James' Park Stadium. When we make the trip to Newcastle later in the season I can see the Cardiff manager gave a pre-match talk about how tough playing at the Sports Direct bah, bah, bah stadium he will just say St James Park. The Newcastle owner his hoping using his companies name will attract a big stadium sponsor for next season.

The rights of our stadium are out there to be grub and have been for a while with no takers. I would be happy if a well-known brand was to be interested but I would still call the stadium the ‘Cardiff City Stadium’ but if the club do find someone it bound to be some internet betting company from the Far East. How would we feel if the stadium was called ‘The 666.com stadium’ god it would be a sad day for Cardiff City fans? Even Chelsea is reported to be interested in looking into the naming rights of Stamford Bridge.

There are some choice ones around British football mainly in non-League but overseas it’s on another level,
- B2net Stadium the name of the soon to be completed new stadium for Chesterfield.
- Home Depot Center (USA) home to Los Angeles Galaxy.
- Dick's Sporting Goods Park (USA) the home ground of another MLS team Colorado Rapids.
- Dairy Farmers Stadium (Australia) home of A-League North Queensland where Robbie Fowler is plying his trade.

These day everything as a price in football the whole game is a commodity from the bottom up with cash separating them, from pounds at the bottom to millions at the top of the tree. But now safe is football that the very bottom of the football ladder teams is folding. I will not be long before teams higher up the non-league ladder start to be focred to shut up shop even in the league, Accrington Stanley come close this week until the League Two outfit narrowly avoided a winding-up order on Tuesday after repaying the remainder of the £308,000 owed to HM Revenue and Customs. Bet they would love a sponsor for their stadium and would not care about the name.

Well I can live with any name because I will never use it and hope Ridsdale and the board find a sucker soon, we need the money

Saturday and Swansea is doing my hand in

How bad do you want it, a question asked of me early today. Just how bad do I want to see the City win on Saturday and see off the Jacks?
What is it worth?

A win is a win - the game is about three points and that’s what the game means to me points. I want Cardiff to win every game they play this game of course as a bit extra spice to it because it a derby, there are bragging rights up for grubs A game like this can sustain fans for a while but if someone was to tell me if City were to lose the two derby games and get promoted, I would snap their hands off and take the promotion and I thing 99.99% of all Cardiff City fans would be happy with that. But that is all wishful thinking and to get promoted you have to get more points than anyone else at the end of the season.

The war of words have started with Cardiff City striker Jay Bothroyd put the knife into their new manager claiming they are weaker than last season and miss old manager Roberto Martinez. While Swansea players Leon Britton and Ashley Williams are reported to be refusing to be drawn into playing mind-games but even that is playing mind-game.

Freaky or what a year ago Saturday Cardiff were away to QPR it was a crazy game that saw the Bluebirds lose 1-0 and have two players sent off defender Darren Purse after around 30 minutes and another defender Miguel Comminges was red carded just before the end of the game. Cardiff manager Dave Jones was not happy labelling the ref unfit to to referee in the Championship, the referee in question was Lee Probert who’s happen’s to have a job for Saturday, referee for the Swansea v Cardiff City game.

Hot stuff

Only in America ....................... Why not here in Cardiff
Lingerie British style football it could work maybe Sky Sports can see the future. We need a good summer sport to fill in the long summer break.

The new stadium needed Ridsdale more than Hammam

The retiring council chief executive Byron Davies gave a small insight in South Wales Echo to why he would not back Sam Hammam’s to build the new stadium.

Allow full of praise for Hammam’s passion but it was the business plan the was the stumbling block there was also the trouble in finding tenants for the shopping centre part of the development and the refusal to provide the three-year projection of its finances that the council wanted to see. Mr Davies and council leader Rodney Berman were inundated with dire warning from the club going under without the new stadium.

But for Hammam the stadium was to be finish by August 2006 but the lack of faith in the business could not be overcome until the arrival of Peter Ridsdale.

The interview in the Echo states, “When Sam Hammam came on the scene we had a few years that were interesting – even for me. I’ve been involved in lots of different negotiations but this was a new dimension.
“Sam did sell us his passion for doing something but he didn’t have a business end of him that in any terms made a lot of sense. I liked the guy’s passion. I liked his ambition and where he was going but I didn’t like his business plan. We had to get change because I thought that the whole vision for what could be achieved there was fantastic.
“He (Ridsdale) recognised that the business plan didn’t stack up as it was. That was the first dose of realism that I had seen, He was quite a revelation in teams of doing business."
With Ridsdale on board along with developers PMG and the financial backers plus funding guarantees in place the council were will to give the go ahead within two months of Sam Hammam leaving the club.

LINK TO STORY

McMormack ready for Swansea

Ross McCormack got ready for the Swansea game by scoring in yesterday's behind closed door friendly against Exeter City.

He had a good run out before being take-off in the second half in the 2-0 victory the other goal was scored by Tony Capaldi the game saw a number of fringe players play. Kevin McNaughton played he his still continuing his long grind back to full fitness, he was a regular first team player last season but an ankle injury during a pre-season friendly against Celtic saw him sidelined. An appearance as an unused substitute during a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace mid October is all his season adds up to so far.

McCormack told the official website "I was always going to play some part today.
"I would have been happy to go on for 90 minutes, but the decision was made to take me off, and I was happy to go along with it. It's a day off tomorrow and then I'll train Thursday and Friday to make sure I'm ready for the match (against Swansea)."

Warren Feeney is taking up his regular place in the Northern Ireland squad to face Serbia at Windsor Park during the November international break. After the Swansea game there will be yet another international break because of the World Cup play-off games meaning a two week break from league football.

We have seen three periods of breaks for international so far and thank god it’s the last this is I can see why Cardiff City boss David Jones don’t take the team away for a short break and play a friendly Championship rivals Derby County are taking a break and playing ADO Den Haag. Derby boss Nigel Clough things it would be good for the players and keep his players sharp.

McPhail out longer than expected

It was hope that Stephen McPhail would only be out for two weeks on an initial assessment but on the official Cardiff City website tonight it was announced he would be out for 6-8 weeks.

This is a bitter blow for the player, club and the fans since his return from his last injury he has battle hard to win around most of the fans that had become disillusion with him.

Speaking on the Official Website manager Dave Jones said, “It’s bad news about Stevie and he’s a big loss because he’s won the fans over again. He was already doubtful for the match at Swansea on Saturday, but a scan has confirmed”

Suspension and injuries hits Jacks game

What do you get for five yellow cards football? A one match suspension. So when leading goal scorer Michael Chopra picked up a yellow card towards the end of the Forest game to add to the four he had already collected , he the manager and the fans knew what that meant a Saturday off for the Cardiff star strikeer with him missing the big Welsh Cardiff City v Swansea derby.

There was some misunderstanding that Chopra could play against Swansea has it was believe that his suspension would not kick in until after seven days, but it was later found out to be not the case.

On the injury list is Stephen McPhail who was lead off against Forest after only 25 minutes with a reported “popped” thigh muscle, and could be out for two weeks. Jay Bothroyd needed treatment during the game but stayed on the pitch but will but have treatment on his knee. Bothroyd could but fit for the Swansea game but everyone will have to wait and see.

Cardiff boss Dave Jones has options with cover for Chopra with Ross McCormack waiting in the wing for his chance after coming back from injury. He is yet to start in the starting XI since his return and as been parked on the bench with only limited playing time.

In the case of Stephen McPhail it could be as simply as using Gavin Rae who replace McPhail in the 1-1 draw with Forest Rae put in a good performance while if Bothroyd who picked up a knock was to miss the game there would only be Warren Feeney left for Dave Jones to call on for the clash at the Liberty Stadium clash.

Dave Jones said, “Macca popped his thigh muscle and I would doubt whether he will be fit for next Saturday.
“It’s disappointing to lose Chops, but that gives Ross his opportunity.
“Jay had a kick on the knee and as he fell his studs caught on the surface, he twisted it. But I believe our only concern is Steve McPhail.
“We will check that out today, he will have a scan and see the extent of the damage.”

It’s all eyes on the Swansea game now there is a lot at stake with bragging rights between the two sets of fans it was all square in the league last season two draws allow Swansea did win the Carling Cup game.

Whittingham for Sunderland (Rumour)

‘Score goals and they will come’ ............... It just could be happening to Peter Whittingham who is scoring for fun at the moment and his exploits have attracted the rumour mill . In today’s Sunday People the Cardiff player is being linked with Sunderland no mention of a fee involved.

It’s mentioned he could be a possible January target for Steve Bruce who must be attracted be the Cardiff winger’s recent form and goal tally.

If this is more than a rumour they would have to match the clubs valuation for the player has chairman Peter Ridsdale and manager Dave Jones are often fond of reminding the fans, all players have their price. It would be highly unlikely that Cardiff would want to sell in January based on the current position of the club. We can except more rumours with the January transfer window nearing so far along with Whittingham, Jay Bothroyd has been linked with Aston Villa who will bw next.

Dato Chan Tien Ghee to invest in the Bluebirds

It was announced on the BBC just before kick-off at Malaysian property magnate Dato Chan Tien Ghee who is at the Forest game is to invest 10% in the club initially with an option for more investment.

Talking at halftime chairman Peter Ridsdale told the BBC, "We've been talking for some months, he's indicated he will make an initial investment in the next few weeks.
"If the initial investment means that there will be greater investment early in the new year, well so be it."
"He's [Dato Chang] working with us, so it's a friendly investment and that's got to be good for Cardiff City."

Team for Nottingham Forest

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, Gyepes, Feeney, McCormack

The only change is on the bench Gyepes for Comminges

City v Forest (Team News)

Cardiff City will be looking for all three points today against Nottingham Forest at the Cardiff City Stadium in front of the BBC cameras the game is live on BBC Two starting at 4:45pm later today, kick-off 5pm. The Bluebirds did the double over Forest last season and beat them 2-0 at home and 1-0 at their ground in fact the last time Forest beat the City was in 1976/77 season.

There is will no doubt that Cardiff City boss Dave Jones will keep faith with the starting XI that did so well beating Sheffield United last weekend. The City boss is likely he will stuck with the defence that let in three goals at Bramall Lane.

Possible starting line-up

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

Dave Jones could make some changes to the bench but three players are out of contention with injuries full-backs Kevin McNaughton, Tony Capaldi and striker Kelvin Etuhu