Cardiff City looking to hit the gravy

The article in today’s South Wales Echo shows just how important a place in the Premiership could be worth, £90 million, for just one season including parachute spread over four seasons if relegated. It is a mind bobbling amount and compared with the money for staying in the Championship a drip in the ocean.

Has well as the club the Cardiff of City would receive a financial boost with the fans and worldwide coverage, there is nowhere in the world that the Premiership do not reach. Also Welsh football in general will be able to trade off fact that Wales has a Premiership team.

A finance expert taking about the situation from Laurence Hedditch, partner at Deloitte in Wales, said; “In financial terms, the play-off final offers the winning club the most substantial prize in world football.
“The value is even greater as a result of the Premier League’s increased revenues from international broadcast rights and the proposals to extend parachute payments over four seasons.
“It is a prize which provides the opportunity for sound investment and strengthening the foundations of a club for years to come.
“Whilst some commentators talk of an unbridgeable gulf between the Championship and the Premier League for promoted clubs, the statistics do not bear this out.
“Over the past decade, 17 of the 30 newly-promoted clubs have successfully retained their Premier League status in that crucial first season.”

All Premiership clubs are guaranteed a minimum of £40m next season and more can come via other bonuses all the other teams in the play-offs will be looking at what could hold for them next season. With the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool to play the club that goes up can expect full houses.

Ridsdale’s reign to end

News at Cardiff City chairman Peter Ridsdale is to fly the coop at the end of the season (after the play-offs) according to the Sun newspaper will bring enjoy too many a Cardiff City fan. Some fans will be dancing in the street and planning street parties has many hold him totally to blame for the finance position of the club.

It has to be said the chairman has stated he would leave soon has investment was secured and with Malaysian businessman Dato Chan Tien Ghee agreeing to buy 49 per cent of the club for £6million it is time to go. One of his last jobs at the club will be to pay the taxman a reported £1.9 bill next week. A source close to the Malaysians is reported has told the paper, "Peter can leave Cardiff with his head held high.

"Under his leadership debts have been greatly reduced, there is a new stadium and Cardiff are on the brink of Premier League football.

"He brought Mr Ghee to the table and, because of that, Cardiff will be able to meet their short-term debt problems.

"But it is not unreasonable that when new people come in they want to run the business with their own people."

I am going out on a limb here but of the five years Peter Ridsdale has been at the club he has done a great job. He saved the club when it was minutes away from meltdown at the end of the Hammam era and secured the new stadium and gave his full backing to manager Dave Jones in the face of fans calls for him to go. On the pitch unlike the previous chairman and his ‘crown jewels’ told the fans players need to be sold to help with the running of the club. In the five years Cardiff has battle with the play-offs and reached a FA Cup final all that destroyed over the ‘golden ticket’ fiasco.

In the Sun Malaysian businessman Dato Chan Tien Ghee is reported to be taking a 49% stake in the club allow in the South Wales Echo it is around 40% for his £6 million investment, whatever it is it can happen soon enough. There will have to be a meeting of the Club directors and major shareholders to rubber stamp the investment hopeful today has TG is in the country. There is also an extraordinary general meeting scheduled for the end of May.

Whittingham and West Ham

First it was manager Dave Jones linked with now it is top scorer Peter Whittingham being linked with West Ham. The rumour about Cardiff's star midflielder came from the Daily Mail along with a few otther names as West Ham start to plan for next season. The talk of Dave Jones has the new manager of the East End club has subsided as other names are linked with the job.

Not much of a surprise really after his season a number of teams would be interested in giving him a look his goal have help Cardiff into the play-offs. The midfielder has a year left on his contract but everything depends on what the outcome of the investment, promotion and season ticket sales.

All the players have a price on their heads is a long term statement from the chairman and manager a stay in the Championship would surely see players leaving the club. Last summer chairman Peter Ridsdale said the club need to sell two players but only sold one asked no-one came in for Joe Ledley. If Cardiff do stay in the Championship Ledley will be gone, he is out of contract and free to find a new club in the summer

Far East tour for City

Cardiff City will be touring the land of the Premiership in the summer pre-season the Far East but will there be a Premiership themselves. The Premiership is big business in Malaysia with Manchester United top of the tree and allow they play against local Malaysian teams the ground are full of Manchester United shirts.

The plan is to play two game one against a Malaysian Xl at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur and an un-named team at the moment. This is all to do with the Malaysian backers’ and part of chairman Peter Ridsdale plans to tie up with investment partners and open Cardiff City academies across Asia.

This is not the furthest Cardiff have travelled for a pre-season tour away back 1968 they toured New Zealand and Australia playing twelve game winning all but two which they drew.

All these plans look to lead to a positive outcome to the court date next Wednesday when the £1.9 million tax bill is due to be paid.

Only one league game left then the play-offs

The Championship raps up on Sunday with only two issues to tie up, who joins Cardiff, Nottingham and Leicester in the play-offs and who will be playing in Division One next season Crystal Palace or Sheffield Wednesday. With the play-offs it is a straight fight between Blackpool and Swansea with the Seasiders in pole position after last weekend games. If Blackpool beat Sunday visitors Bristol City they take the last play-off place and they are in form at the moment winning five of their last six games just losing one. While Swansea who welcomes Doncaster have only win two, draw one and lost three in the last six.

At the bottom end of the table both Crystal Palace and Sheffield Wednesday are in the battle of the day, both needing a win to stay up with Sheffield favourites because they are at home. They are expecting a full house for the game with 6000 Palace making the trip from London.

My prediction for the outcome of the play-offs,

Cardiff City v Leicester City

Nottingham Forest v Blackpool

Final

Cardiff City v Nottingham Forest

Wishful thinking on my side, could well be but on form that is the way it should be. The play-offs are not a nice I would have much preferred to see City in the position of Newcastle or West Brom. But the lottery of the play-offs must be the next best thing but manager Dave Jones must be happy to be going into the game with a full squad. There is so much at stake it will be a tense time for all.

Dennehy is back - where next

Cardiff only remaining loanee defender Darren Dennehy has returned back to the club after a successful time with Gillingham.

Since join the City from Everton in June 2008 the young defender has yet to play a game for the Bluebirds. He played a part in Cardiff’s tour of Portugal upon join the club and has been on the bench. He has been loaned out on a number of occasions. He had two spells with Hereford and in January more on to Gillingham.

He has been a hit with Gillingham with the manager saying of the player, "He has been outstanding for us.
"He’s a big player and he wins his headers, he has a decent left foot.
"Hopefully we won’t miss him too much next weekend and the last game because he is a left footer and he plays that position really well. It’s going to be up to someone else to do as good a job."

Dennehy has still a year left on his contract and he must been unsure of is future with the club. If he not in manager Dave Jones plans a move in the summer could be on the cards.

Kei Kamara shocking miss against Los Angeles Galaxy

The vultures are circling

The vultures are circling the Cardiff City Stadium with the season comes to a close, what can they smell 'bargains'. With the club next to broke and living from day to day the only assets left to be strip are the players and some clubs can already sniff a summer sale in the air.

There were a reported 10 clubs with scouts at yesterdays’ game with watch briefs, top of the list would be free agent Joe Ledley who can walk free in the summer. With only a compensation fee to pay for Ledley could go on the cheap, way below the clubs valuation of £6 million. Others must be Adam Matthews Jay Bothroyd, Chris Burke, Peter Whittingham and Michael Chopra all have excellent season and would all be on Cardiff City manager Dave Jones wish list to still be his players next season.

Everything is resting on promotion and the money that would generate, Dave Jones could keep the players he wants and even Joe Ledley could resign. If the tax bill has been pay the club can press on with getting the transfer embargo lifted. Without promotion one or two of the players could be sold depending on the clubs new investment. We can be sure the scouts will make watching the Bluebirds a regular fixture over the next few games.

'TG' back for talks next week

There are two different takes on the story over the investment promised to Cardiff from Cardiff City director Dato Chan Tien Ghee. In the Wales on Sunday they take a positive line while in the News of the World their story talks of ‘hanging in the balance’ it is a paper always ready to but a dampener on a Cardiff City story.

The famous source his talking of the talks between the club and the Malaysians are at a ‘delicate stage’ with TG flying in to discuss the £6 million investment. The source (who is now close to the board) told the paper, “Talks are at a very delicate stage. Every day and hour is vital if Cardiff City is to be saved.

“There are still some significant matters that need to be resolved. But the clock is ticking and there’s no other avenue to go down."

I could dwell on the negative of the story but no onward and upward I have even put all knowledge of the court case out of my mind until reading these articles.

The Wales on Sunday is a much better read for a City fan has they are reporting ‘TG’ will be in the country next week to finalise his investment in the club. He would have been here last week for meeting and to watch the final home game of the season against Sheffield Wednesday but for the volcanic ash cloud shutting down UK airspace.

With wages due and the court case on May 5, and input of cash would be highly welcome and there is hopefully be an extraordinary meeting of shareholders to be called next month to tick all the boxes so the deal can be completed.

Play-offs - It’s Leicester ....... maybe

Today’s results have confirmed who Cardiff will be facing in the play-offs semi-finals Leicester City who secured a place with a 1-0 win at Preston today. Technically Cardiff could finish third but like the bookies do from time to time pay out on a sure thing, I am predicting it will be Leicester and closing the book on it.

Cardiff have played Leicester three times this season the extra game coming from a FA Cup fixture. In the league it was all square between both winning their respective home games and Cardiff beat them in the FA Cup at the Cardiff City Stadium 4-2 leaving the Bluebirds with a plum visit to Chelsea in the next round.

The other place is a straight fight out between Blackpool and Swansea with the Seasiders in pole position after today’s results; both were playing away with

Blackpool at relegated Peterborough and managed a hard fought 1-0 victory. Meanwhile in Sheffield our Welsh neighbour Swansea were going down 2-0, dropping to seventh now a point behind Blackpool. It’s going to the wire, Blackpool just need to beat Bristol City Sunday week. Down the road at the The Liberty Stadium Swansea will have a make or break game with Doncaster it will be 'squeeky bum time' for them will they do a City and just miss-out?

Sunday, 2 May 2010
Blackpool v Bristol City, 1:00pm
Derby v Cardiff, 1:00pm
Scunthorpe v Nottm Forest, 1:00pm
Swansea v Doncaster, 1:00pm

Half-time table 'as it stands'

The half time Championship table

Click picture to enlarge

Cardiff City team v Sheffield Wednesday

Dave Jones as made a few changes from the team last Saturday. Mark Kennedy has been dropped with Tony Capaldi getting a surprised recall. In midfield Chris Burke is on the bench with Kelvin Etuhu playing out wide while up front Ross McCormack is benched with Michael Chopra gets the start.
On the bench both Mark Hudson and Paul Quinn get a spot.

Marshall
McNaughton Gerrard Blake Capaldi
Whittingham McPhail Ledley Etuhu
Chopra Bothroyd

Substitutes
Enckelman, Hudson, Quinn, Burke, Matthews, Wildig, McCormack

Jones + West Ham = Rumour

It’s been awhile since the Cardiff City boss has been linked with another club however in today’s’ Daily Mirror he is linked to West Ham who could be interested in the Cardiff manager.

Favourite for the job is FC Twente boss Steve McClaren who after his disastrous stint has English boss as rejuvenated his career with the Dutch club but with prospect of Champions League football next season would he be interested in a move.

The owners of the London club are reported to be keeping a watching brief on Dave Jones; he has impressed the West Ham's owners David Gold and David Sullivan with his ability to run a tight ship at Cardiff. If Dave Jones plans going to plan there is a chance the two clubs could be exchanging place one up one down. Since joining the Bluebirds Jones as keep the club close to the play-offs and taken them to a FA Cup final and has been astute in the transfer market well.

West Ham are one spot and only three points of relegation not a healthy place to be and it looks like whatever happens stay-up or relegation the present boss Gianfranco Zola time looks numbered.

City still need a win

It is a Sheffield weekend for the two Welsh clubs in the Championship this weekend Cardiff City face Wednesday at the Cardiff City Stadium and our rivals down the road travel to Sheffield and face United.

Wednesday travel to Cardiff with a desperate for points in a relegated position and if they were to lose Saturday and Watford and Crystal Palace win they would be relegated. It will be a hard game both want points Cardiff could still finish third which would be their highest League finish since 1971. On top of that we owe Wednesday one after last season for putting a damp squid on the celebrations for the end of Ninian Park and for helping to deny our play-off place last season.

One side of Sheffield will be happy if Cardiff win, the red side although I bet many a fan will miss the derby game but enjoy the relegation pain of their blue neighbours.

Cardiff boss Dave Jones could rest a few players with a number of players back from injury there is only to games left to give these players a run-out. If Jones was to do this it could have repercussion with Watford and Crystal Palace thinking it would give an advantage to their relegation threaten rivals. But the changes he has in mind if the reports are true is to player first team players no kids.

Meanwhile, Swansea need nothing more a victory over the other Sheffield club to cement their place in the play-off with Blackpool breathing down their neck. Blackpool are away to relegated Peterborough this Saturday and are two points behind Swansea.

Who to play in the Play-offs anyone but.....

I am in full agreement with City defender Anthony Gerrard when it comes to the possibility of facing Swansea in the play-offs. I could do without the pressure has well with my blood pressure.


Some could say I am chickening out but I don’t care about this good for Welsh football crap I just care about the future of Cardiff City. The game would be just too much trouble for Welsh football, no matter how good the police would police the game the naughty side would still get the chance to rear its ugly head. I am sure there are a lot of Swansea fans who feel just the same and would rather play any one but the Bluebirds.

I personal could take it if we lost to any of the other teams but them from West Wales. I am old enough to remember back to the 80’s when they reach the top of the tree, it was hard, but it would be nothing like today with the internet and 24/7 sports coverage it would be a nightmare. It was bad enough when we lost to Stoke in the play-offs back in 2002 with that late goal in extra-time.

But if it was to come about, bring it on and I will have to deal with the result, good or bad if will just have to live with it.

Anthony Gerrard wants to avoid Swansea in the play-offs
Cardiff City defender Anthony Gerrard says he does not want Swansea City in the Championship play-offs because of the extra pressure it would bring.

Chopra transfer rumour

Ipswich are in the market for a striker for next season and low and behold up pop’s the name Michael Chopra. This rumour comes from an unofficial source with no links in the local Ipswich media other than they are in the market for a striker.

The City striker has a year left on his contract and has shown no interest in seeking a move but is likely to be subjected to a number of rumours this summer with the financial position at the club. Promotion is about the only proposition that could deaden the transfer rumours starting.

If Ipswich boss Roy Keane is interested in the City striker it will not be the first time, earlier in the season he said ‘he would have been interested in signing Chopra but his price was just too high’. Keane took Chopra away from Cardiff in a £5million deal to Sunderland back in 2007 but his time there was not that successful. When Keane left Sunderland the new boss loan Chorpa back to Cardiff with a option to buy which was snapped up.

There will be a number of team sniffing around the Cardiff squad in the summer all hoping that the financial position of the club will led to a fire sale with bargains on offer. Hopefully the Malaysians investment will fend off most transfer request if there is no promotion.

The local press are linking the Ipswich boss Roy Keane with 22-year-old Scunthorpe United striker Gary Hooper.

Play-off ticket information

Cardiff City has announced details of play-offs tickets today for the two legs of the semi-final plus details if they were to reach the final.

The dates and opponents are not known but either way the club are expecting heavy demand for tickets for the home leg of the semi-final which will be a full house and a battle for the away leg because of the limited ticket allocation.

Like always ambassadors and season ticket holders will have first chance to get their tickets and what are left will go on general sale on a first come first basis, early queuing will be a must.

See Official Website for full details http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10335~2029814,00.html

Manager's reactions

In his after match interview the Cardiff City boss expressed an interest in keeping his star midfielder Joe Ledley. The midfielder is a free agent in the summer when his contract expires and can find his own club and teams are rumoured to be interested Stoke, Blackburn and Everton are being linked. For Jones to have any chance to keep him Cardiff have to gain promotion.

On Ledley the City boss said, "I've got no problem with what Joe is doing.
"He's in a position where he can pick and choose but he wants to stay here and the only way we'll probably keep him is by getting there ourselves."
On reaching the play-offs, "It's a fantastic achievement but it's only the first part of the achievement.
"It's no good getting there and not having a right good go at it.
"We've got good momentum and we want to keep that going. There's no point taking your foot off the gas.
"The players are a great bunch and they are different to last year. There is a confident quietness about them that was probably missing at the end.
"We've got players coming back who are fresh whereas last year we ran out of steam. Now we can chase down third place."
On the game, "The pressure now begins because we've got there, we wanted to do it our way, we didn't want to rely on anybody else so it meant to come here and we set up to get the win.
"It was difficult. David Marshall's not had a great deal to do. They're a dangerous side - there were lots of shots from distance, but we defended it well again and we got the break.
"It was a cutting edge goal, really, because we broke on them so quick I think we caught them cold and it was a good finish again by Joe."

QPR boss Neil Warnock said, "I told Cardiff to make sure they go up because next season we will be a different ball game.
"We need to get though this season and then look to enjoy ourselves next year.
"You need goals to win games and we don't look like scoring goals. It's frustrating."

City in the Play-offs ..... Guaranteed

Congratulations and celebrations
When I tell everyone we are in the play-offs
Congratulations and jubilations
I want the world to know I'm happy as can be.

Joe Ledley .....HERO....

Cardiff City are in the Play-offs after a 1-0 win over QPR putting last season failure to sleep has Cardiff fans around the world celebrate. Its Cardiff City time now, over the last few seasons Cardiff has been knocking on the door and just missing out. Hands on heart, if you take away the present off the field problems with have had a great time, a FA Cup final and now the Play-offs will it be time to take the final step.

The target now is a trip to London and Wembley at the end of May for the final. However there are four games to play, two in the league and a two leged Play-off semi-final. Before that the club have a date with the taxman in the high court, the club need to sort out the investment and map out a future.

The Malaysian connection ‘TG’ will be back in the country midweek for more talks and to watch the Sheffield Wednesday game. He will see a team only three games from the Premiership and all the means, money and exposure that comes with it.

It’s a three way battle between Leicester, Swansea and Blackpool for the remaining two spots (see table) for the pleasure of joining Nottingham Forest and the Bluebirds in the final four, just be happy it is not us. The season is not over now there is still a final position to play for with Nottingham Forest losing at Blackpool today as given Cardiff a chnace to finish in third place.

Cardiff team v QPR

Marshall
McNaughton Gerrard Blake Kennedy
Whittingham Ledley McPhail Burke
Bothroyd McCormack

Substitutes
Enckelman, Gyepes, Capaldi, Matthews, Wildig, Chopra, Etuhu

Cardiff City boss Dave Jones has made two changes from the last game dropping Etuhu and Chopra to the bench. He has brought back fit again Burke and decided to start McCormack along side Bothroyd.

Squeaky bum time

It would be nice to nail down a play-off spot tomorrow has it would take away some of the tension from everyone involved with Cardiff City. After two 0-0 draws the City need to get some goals and wins under thier belts and go into the play-offs on form. If Blackpool were to lose on Saturday City would join Nottingham Forest in the play-offs anyway.

With only three games left there is something to play for, a final position in the play-offs. If Cardiff were to finish fourth or fifth they would gain the home advantage of in the 2nd leg of the play-off semi finals at home. Cardiff manager Dave Jones will probably say it doesn’t matter, but knowing what you need to do in the second leg is a big advantage.

It should be interesting to see what team Dave Jones puts out tomorrow with all the injured players coming back to fitness. His options over flow for the first time in awhile. City are unbeaten in their last eight matches approaching tomorrows’ game, winning five and drawing three. Rangers form has on been not so good, after a short winning spree of two games when new manager Neil Warnock joined them the last eight game have not been fruitful. They have only won one, their last game, drawing five with two defeats.

Last season with three games to go Cardiff were fifth. However unlike this season it was a lot tighter between the teams vying for the play-off spots, there was only three points between fifth and seventh place. Cardiff has a healthy seven points on seventh place Blackpool.

The play-off schedule
Sat 8 May Championship Play-Off Semi-Final 1st leg (12.45pm kick-off)
Sat 8 May Championship Play-Off Semi-Final 1st leg (5.30pm kick-off).
Tue 11 May Championship Play-Off Semi-Final 2nd leg (7.45pm kick-off)
Wed 12 May Championship Play-Off Semi-Final 2nd leg (7.45pm kick-off )
Sat 22 May Championship Play-Off Final (3.00pm kick-off)

All the above fixtures will be televised on Sky Sports

Focus on football: Cardiff edition

Things looking up for Dave Jones

For nearly the first time this season, well since the opening games of the season anyway Cardiff City boss Dave Jones will be spoiled for choice on the players’ for Saturday’s trip to QPR.

Jones’ season has been plighted with injuries and then there was the transfer embargo meaning he has been forced to run a threadbare first team with players only just recovering from injuries forced to play. Even Dave Jones strongest critics must put their hands on their hearts and say he has done a great job in getting us where we are today. This is two season on the trot he has steered the club into the play-offs and hopefully we will go one better than last season.

Of the players who pick up so niggles against Reading Chopra, Ledley and Etuhu are all expected to be fit. Defenders Hudson and Gyepes are ready for a return which will give Jones a headache with Gerrard and Blake forming a strong partnership in the centre of the defence. Cardiff boss Jones speaking to BBC Wales said, “We have injured players available again and that gives us options. They are a little bit fresher.
“It’s been a hard slog, but now we have big players back with us and regaining match fitness. That is going to be crucial.”

It looks to be going to the wire

With Reading’s 2-1 defeat last night home to Newcastle they are all but out of the play-offs race with only a small chnce of catching Swansea. That leaves five teams to fight it out with only three games left. Cardiff have all but booked a place in the play-offs and if Blackpool were to lose on Saturday that would be enough to extended Cardiff season into the play-offs.

Blackpool has a tough home game on the weekend when Nottingham Forest are the visitors, they have secured there place in the play-offs. Fifth place Leicester could have done enough but still have plenty to play for and the visit of Watford who are only three points off a relegation spot will be testing.

The team with most to worry about is sixth place Swansea they are in the mists of a poor run of form,

On paper Swansea have the easier finish to the end of the season but all teams and players have something to fight for so the paper could be thrown out of the window. Depending on results the teams below eighth place could still enter the race if Swansea does fail to improve their form the door could open up for them.

Ledley transfer rumour

Some transfer speculation surrounding fit again Joe Ledley in the News of the World today. The paper is reporting that the midfielder will move to Stoke City in the summer if the Bluebirds fail in their bid for promotion. This is not the frist time he has been linked with the Potters until last summer it was a bit of a regular rumour.

Ledley is out of contract in the summer and can move anywhere, Cardiff would then have to rely on compensation from a transfer tribunal. He would have to resign for the club if he was to stay. The player himself as said a number of occasions he wanted Premiership football and would prefer if it was with Cardiff.

A number of years ago Stoke tried to sign him with a bid just before the closing to a summer transfer window with a £6m bid. The club would not sell although they were planning last summer to sell but received no offers. The Stoke boss will be hoping to get the player on the cheap with Cardiff counting on the experience for such a young player.

Hammam to sell shares??

Believe it or not because this story is from the News of the World, Sam Hammam is to cut his final links to Cardiff City. The former chairman Hammam still has 1,856,250 in shares with the club and according to the Sunday paper Dato Chan Tien Ghee (TG) and his Malaysian backers are to buy up his shares.

What will also bring a smile to the Bluebirds fans if true the Malaysians have also agreed to settle the Langston debt? Cardiff had set up a payment plan with Langston to replay the £10m debt. A source close to the ex-chairman to the paper, “Sam is more than happy to sell Langston’s share to TG.
“He believes the Malaysians are the right people to take the club forward.”

Some good news about the repayment of the debt to the taxman would be welcome to the court date getting closer and choser (May 5). Hammam is linked with a return to the UK at the end of the month for talks with the Malaysians.

Three games to go and it's getting hot

Both Newcastle and West Brom will be playing Premiership football next season with Portsmouth dropping the other way after two impressive wins leaving just one spot to fill. Nottingham Forest has secured one of the play-off places with a 3-0 win today leaving three places to fill.

Cardiff managed to draw with Reading today and are three points from a guarantee spot in the play-offs and City have three games left to play. If Blackpool who are still seventh were to lose their next game City would pick-up a play-off place. Fifth place Swansea dropped a place down to sixth after losing at Bristol City 1-0 and only two points ahead of Blackpool and the chasing pack. Leicester City move up to fifth after a 2-1 win at relegated Peterborough leaving them four points clear of Blackpool.

The chasing pack looks to be a two horse race Blackpool and Middlesbrough with an outside chance on Reading if they can win them two games in hand. It will also depend on results next weekend allow Reading have a tough at Newcastle midweek and if they lose they will have little hope of the play-offs.

Next Saturday games of interest
Blackpool v Nottingham Forest,
Leicester v Watford,
QPR v Cardiff,
Reading v Peterborough,
Swansea v Barnsley,
West Brom v Middlesbrough,

There are a few game that could help the City out, like a Forest win would see Cardiff in the play-offs.

Cardiff team v Reading

Marshall,
McNaughton, Gerrard, Blake, Kennedy,
Whittingham, Ledley, Etuhu, McPhail,
Chopra, Bothroyd

Subs not used: Enckelman, Burke, Quinn, Matthews, McCormack, Feeney, Wildig

Cardiff boss Dave Jones as called fit again Kevin McNaughton back into the starting line-up with Matthews moving to the bench. In midfield Ross McCormack is also relegated to the bench with league top scorer Peter Whittingham back from injury starting. Chris Burke is on the bench

Semi-final weekend

Around the four nations of the British Isles it is Semi-Final weekend with all the major nation cup competitions are coming to a head.

All the attention will be on the FA Cup the biggest cup competition in the football world for the hell of it I would like to watch a Chelsea v Tottenham final in England. Up north Ross County v Raith would upset most of the Scottish fans but great for the littler clubs. The Prime Minister Gordon Brown is a Raith fan it could be the only chance to win something this year.

In the Welsh final i would plum for Prestatyn Town v Port Talbot as I know Talbot manager Mark Jones. One of the Northern Irish semis will not be played until next weekend Portadown is one for the finalist with me out of the other three I would like it to be Newry City.

The FA Cup
Aston Villa v Chelsea
Tottenham v Portsmouth

Active Nation Scottish Cup
Celtic v Ross County
Dundee Utd v Raith

Welsh Cup
Bala Town v Port Talbot
Bangor City v Prestatyn Town

JJB Sports Irish Cup
Ballymena United v. Portadown
Coleraine or Newry City v. Linfield (playing next weekend)

Sunshine and Reading

Today’s visitors to the Cardiff City Stadium are Reading who at the start of the season were heavily fancied to be in the mix promotion. A poor start to the season saw them at the bottom end of the table until mid February, then they when a winning streak which has seen them climb up the table with a strike of the play-offs. Cardiff beat them earlier in the season and took the three points after a 1-0 and Saturday will be looking to do the same as they look to cement their place in the Play-offs.

The Bluebirds are only two wins from a Play-off spot but that depends on other results. If Cardiff was to win Saturday and Blackpool was to lose the Seasiders would have to win their remaining three games while Cardiff would just need a point to finish off the season in the Play-offs.

The nightmare of last season is still fresh in the minds of everyone connected with Cardiff. With four games to go it looked to be sown up then the trip the Preston, it was a massacre, a 6-0 defeat which did not help the goal difference. Next up a trip to bottom club Charlton with should have gone to form and a win for the Bluebirds but it finish 2-2 draw. The next game was the last ever league game to be play at Ninian Park against Ipswich and their new manager Roy Keane. Balloons, a packed stadium, dignitaries and ex-player, it was another car crash of a performance with the visitors winning 3-0 turning the planned celebration to a damp squib.

Everything then rested on the last game of the season an away trip to Sheffield Wednesday with Cardiff needing just one point or three would have been nice. It history now a 1-0 defeat left the Welshman in seven place missing out on a spot in the Play-offs by one goal, just heartbreaking I can still taste it.

Focus on football: Cardiff edition

Testing times ahead

With only four games left in the season Cardiff City boss Dave Jones has put the Bluebirds in a strong position in the run up to the play-offs. After the nightmares of last season missing out on a play-off spot by one goal know wants’ to see anything like that happen again.
It looks like Dave Jones will be awash with options for the Reading game Saturday with news that Chris Burke, Kevin McNaughton and Peter Whittingham are ready for a return after injury. The three are likely to be in contention for Saturday meaning there should be changes to the starting line-up.
Cardiff have played a lot of games with such a small squad and while players have been playing with injury niggles has rivals brought in loan signings to cover for injuries. With no more midweek games it will give the players an extra time to rest and recover.
Not ready just yet is defender Mark Hudson recovering from an ankle operation and Paul Quinn along with Gabor Gypes could be in the mix for the visit to QPR. It looks like Jones will have a full fit squad if City reaches the play-off. Players who have played so well in recent games will be fighting to keep their places.

These are the last four fixtures
Saturday, 10 April 2010 - Cardiff v Reading, 3pm.
Saturday, 17 April 2010 - QPR v Cardiff, 3pm.
Saturday, 24 April 2010 - Cardiff v Sheffield Wednesday, 3pm.
Sunday, 2 May 2010 - Derby v Cardiff, 1pm.

The remaining games are no walk over Cardiff still have to secure there spot in the play-offs. To finishing in third or fourth place would give Cardiff the advantages of a home tie for the second leg of the semi-final.

Reading has two games in hand and can still get in touch with the play-offs place if results go their way. QPR could still be dragged into the relegation battle they are only three points away from a spot in the bottom three. That the time of write Sheffield Wednesday are in the bottom three and are one of the favourites to take the drop down to Division One. Derby are looking at a mid table finish to their season.

Still a lot to play for

If I had one wish it would be that we were celebrating promotion last night and not Newcastle. To guarantee promotion you have to take one of the two automatic places’ to the Premiership, the play off are a lottery where form is thrown out the window.
When we were promoted to the Championship we finish sixth and were promoted after a play off final win over QPR. Last season fifth place Burnley were the winners of the play-off’s like I said earlier, a lottery.
It was a hard game at Forest yesterday and the point for a draw was fair City were on the back foot a lot but held their own. It was another TV game Cardiff televised three times in just over a week a joy for the armchair fans. Cardiff could have moved up to third with the right result over Forest but it was not to be. The two teams below Cardiff, Swansea and Leicester both won yesterday and is four and five points behind the City. Seventh place is still occupied by Blackpool some six points behind with four games to play.
Joe Ledley got a start for the first time since January after his hip operations but the team is still carried players will niggles. From my spot in my living room Cardiff looked to be hurry to seal the game has they won corner after corner and the wide man were feed in crosses into the Forest box. Chances were few but of those there were poor but for Ross McCormack who had a free kick had to be scrambled off the line.
Forest start to get there head around the game and had one of the best chances went ex-Cardiff strike Rob Earnshaw profited from a Darcy Blake mistake. But the Cardiff keeper Marshall blocked a poor effort from the striker. Most of the best football came in the first half the second was basically a half the odd break has both teams looked to be happy to collect a point.
The second half did liven up with a players bust up problem was it was two players from the same team, City keeper Dave Marshall and defender Anthony Gerrard. The argument kicked off over a cross they both when for, Marshall grabbed Gerrard by the throat and the defender move towards him. Team mates rushed in to separate the pair, a lot of shouting a bit of handbags but there was still a game to play.
Minutes later the two players were brought together again when a ball was floated into the Cardiff box but it was a Forest player who came off worst when Marshall accidently punched him on the nose. The game end in a bit of a furry but end all square a point apiece with still the need for more points to seal a play off place.

Can City go seven unbeaten today

Beating Swansea is history now, bring on Nottingham Forest next.

Cardiff has another chance to shine on TV with today’s game live on BBC 2 kick-off 5:15pm.

Forest like Swansea have been dropping points and only managed a draw on Saturday at Bristol City at one point they were in the chase for an automatic promotion spot. A win tomorrow for Cardiff will see the Bluebirds draw level on points with Forest but if City does win by a margin of two goals or more they would go third on goal difference.

Cardiff boss Dave Jones will be hoping none of this players have any niggles and it looked like the changes made during the Swansea game were tactical not for injuries. So it’s possible the same squad will be on duty for the next top of the table clash. Jones surprise all the Cardiff City fans with the return of Joe Ledley on Saturday a week earlier then suggested my player himself pencilled in the Reading game for his return.

The City Ground has become a bit of a fortress they have not lost a home league game since the end of September. Cardiff have a good record at their ground and won 1-0 last season a repeat of the same score would be ok. Old crowd favourite Rob Earnshaw is hoping to play against his old club but is reported doubtful he was not in the team for the Bristol game.

Chris Burke and Birmingham

First transfer rumour linked to Cardiff in a while pity in about one of our players. According to the Midlands Sunday Mercury the Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish is eyeing Cardiff’s Chris Burke who is odds on favourite to be Player of the season with the Bluebirds fans.

It was McLeish who gave the Scottish international this debut when they were both with Rangers and has long been an admirer on the Cardiff winger and his from this season could well open the eyes of a few managers

The paper is reporting they tried to tempt Cardiff with a £700,000 bid in January allow the club did say they had no bids at the time. Cardiff was looking for £2 million for the player by all accounts. With the clubs finance plight back in January I am surprised they didn’t snap their hands off.

The Midlands are looking to try again on the cheap again because of the cash-strapped position of the club. The only way a summer time fire sale is some really big investment or promotion

Cardiff players show their steel

Done and dusted and Cardiff come out winners of the South Wales Derby in a hard fought game at the Cardiff City Stadium. We have the bragging right in our pockets but more importantly we have the three points after a late, late winner from Michael Chopra.

Cardiff City boss Dave Jones had to five changes from the team that beat Leicester mid-week the surprise of the day was Joe Ledley on the bench it had been though he would be in contention for next week’s game with Reading.

With last night’s results going Cardiff it was the same case today third place Nottingham could only pick up a point at Bristol City and if Cardiff were to win at Forest at Monday they would draw level on points. Cardiff are now eight points clear of Blackpool in seventh just outside the play-off places.

Speaking on the Official Cardiff City Website boss Dave Jones said, "It doesn't matter what I say, everybody thinks I play down the derby matches.
"I do understand what a derby means. I've played in a small one myself on Merseyside. It's important that it's not just about the bragging rights, it's about getting the points, and we'll be trying to do that.
"We know how important the game is and we know how important it is to the fans. Nobody ever plays it down.
"I understand the importance of it more than some people think I do. But at the end of the day, it's about keeping your head, going out there and trying to get the points.
"There's always a bigger picture - the season is not just about two games. I'm sure if you said to any fan at the beginning of the season: 'You are going to lose your two derby games but finish where you want to finish', anybody who doesn't take that is absolutely crazy. But there's a little bit more to it than that.
"There's a lot of pride at stake, a lot of bragging rights, but the most important thing is there are points at stake."

While the Swansea told the BBC Sports, "When you dominate completely the game, when you get more and better chances than them (defeat is difficult).
"But football it's that, we need to turn this moment, not an easy moment... we deserved to win this game.
"We have a lot of games until the end of the season, to keep the position we have now (in the play-offs)."

Cardiff Team v Swansea

Marshall
Matthews Capaldi Blake Gerrard
Whittingham McPhail Rae McCormack
Chopra
Bothroyd

Substitutes
Enckelman, Morris, Ledley, Taiwo, Wildig, Etuhu, Feeney

In Nervous Anticipation

Today is the day, derby day, Cardiff City v Swansea City you can’t get a bigger game in Welsh football. What is special about this game both clubs are fight for promotion the only way this game can be surpassed if they were both make it too the play-off final at Wembley.

The bragging right are important but the three points are what the game is all about, win the points get the rights. If Swansea were to win they would stay fifth and we will still be in fourth place on the same points buy with a better goal difference.

The game is live on Sky Sports TV, but not in 3D although maybe next season when we are in the Premiership. The game is a sell out for both sets of fans and the atmosphere should red hot today but that bit extra bit more is needed. We need to bring some of the old Ninian Park atmosphere into the new stadium, like the Leeds FA Cup game without the pitch invasion of course.

With his troops ravaged with injury the Cardiff City manager Dave Jones will have to wait until the last minute before naming his team. It’s not an easy Easter for the City Swansea today and Nottingham Forest away on Monday and next Saturday home to Reading who are making a later push for a play-off place.

Last night Championship

There were two game of interest for Cardiff City fans last night in the Championship promotion battle.

West Brom was home to Leicester with the game ending in victory for the home side 3-0 consolidating their position in second place. Has for Leicester the defeat keeps them in sixth place with a number of teams bearing down on them.

The other game of the night saw Scunthorpe play seventh place Blackpool. It was a victory Ian Holloway man 4-2 as the closed points between them and Leicester to just one point.

Not long to go

For the true football fans of South Wales the only place to be on Saturday will be the Cardiff City Stadium for what is the biggest game between two Welsh clubs ever. There has been big game between the club before, League games, Cup games and Welsh cup finals but is the biggest for one reason, for either team a win will be a step closer to the Play-offs. That is a chance closer to book the last place to the Premiership, the ‘Promised Land’ too many a club chairman.

There is no guarantee the winner of the game will make in to the Premier League or even the Play-offs there are still games to be played. Could a Welsh club break into the Premier League it would be great for Welsh Football but I have to be biased and hope it will be Cardiff. I think every Cardiff City fan of an age can remember what it was like when Swansea were promoted to the old 1st Division, it was bad.

The comparisons between the old 1st Division and the Premiership are the million miles apart. Before the Premier League it was more innocent, winning the league or a place in Europe and it was not the be all or end all if you missed out. Today the whole league is full of greedy! money is the god but only a few grab the big cash while the rest worry about stay in the Premiership club.

You can bet if a Welsh club were to make it into the ‘promised land’ fans from the relegated clubs will be up in arms about a Welsh team in their Premier League. If it is West Ham, that true East End Boy David Sullivan (born Cardiff/Penarth and once said, "Every single night as a child before I went to bed I would pray for three things. I wanted to be the captain of Cardiff City and Wales, I wanted to be a world champion boxer and I wanted to be a millionaire,”) would probably take Cardiff to court or get some kind of an injunction.

Compared to Swansea who have kept finance stability the City are debt-ridden and on the brink with the need of investment. But on the pitch life is much better even with the size of the squad and the injuries it is a miracle we are in contention and not in relegation trouble.

Cardiff have home advantage but with the injuries they are carry Swansea have to be favourites but the City players have shown there fighting spirit over the last month so and what even eleven boss Dave Jones puts out, they won’t just lay down. Cardiff has just as an important game on Monday with a trip to third place Nottingham Forest.