Sunday dinner and footy

Sunday footy today with Cardiff City on their travels to Leeds for a lunchtime kick-off to will be sitting at home with a full Sunday cooked dinner having a nosh.

I official don’t like Sunday kick-off but I am something you just have to get use to when television rules the game. This will be the last game scheduled on TV until the new year anyway

There will be a smaller than usual presents of Cardiff City fans at Elland Road has a large number of regular travelers are boycotting the game. A ticket for the game cost a staggering £36 for an adult and if you were to travel with the supporters coach, the total cost would be £61 pounds. That is before you add a few pints, something to eat, a programme you would barely see any change out of £80 quid.

It doesn’t end there because come Wednesday if you have any money left you could be doing all over again has Cardiff hit the road again to Derby. I might be a bit cheaper to get in, but it would still burn a big hole in your pocket.

It Rovers and I'm happy

Sitting waiting for the draw my brain is telling me it must be Crystal Palace home as the best option of progressing on to the semi-finals, but the rest of me is shouting out Manchester United home or away I don’t care just bring in on.

The draw was advertised for noon, but once again, we had to sit through the normal Premiership drivel. I have no interest in John Terry and Chelsea, Arsenal or any of the others unless we draw them in the Carling Cup. Why do we have to wait until Saturday for the draw? I personally would prefer the draw was Wednesday night after the games.

The master of ceremonies was on hand to guide Charlie Nicholas and Phil Thompson who were on hand to plucking the balls out on the thingy. The former Arsenal playerwould draw the home teams while Thompson was picking the away teams.

First team out was Arsenal who play the resurgent Manchester City making it a tough home game for the Londoners. It was another all Premiership tie next with Chelsea v Liverpool leaving two Premiership teams and two Championship teams left to complete the fixture list. Therefore, when Manchester United came out the hat next I shouted ‘Us’, but it was Palace fans who travel to Manchester . Cardiff were left with the less glamorous of the Premeir League club that wre on offer before the draw, a tie against Blackburn. We did win the draw for the game to be played home.

Blackburn are the most beatable of the Premiership clubs left in the competition and their fans are problem thinking the same about Cardiff. That the time of writing they are bottom of the Premier League table without an away win in the league or cup this season. We have not played them in the League Cup before but in 2005 both club meet in the FA Cup. After a 1-1 draw at Cardiff in the replay, Cardiff lost 3-2 while in the league you have to go back to the 1984/85 season when the Englishman won both games that season.

The expected clamour for tickets may cool a bit but I still think the game will be a sell-out.

Onward- but can we take the next step

CARDIFF CITY moved on to the least eight last night in the Carling Cup after a tense 1-0 over Burnley at the Cardiff City Stadium. Cardiff has not reached the dizzy heights of the quarterfinals in this competition in 46 years and when on to reach the semi-finals they lost 10-3 to West Ham over two legs.

The much-maligned Carling Cup by chairman, managers and fans alike will hot up now with Wembley Way a tad closer. Managers who treat the games as a chance to play fringe players may have to rethink the policy.

Therefore, we know three of the teams that will be in the draw for the draw Saturday during Sky sports Soccer Saturday day show. Manchester United, Chelsea and Championship rivals Crystal Palace another four will come from the winners of

Blackburn v Newcastle

Everton v Chelsea

Stoke v Liverpool

Wolves v Man City

Of them, I expect Newcastle, Chelsea, Stoke and Manchester City to go through would be nice if Liverpool could make it more likely of one of the bigger teams pulling Cardiff. Yes disrespectful the Stoke, but it's simple numbers they would create a bigger payday for the club.

Most fans want Manchester United, but thinking about I would like an all Championship fixture. Palace may be three points and four places above the Bluebirds it would be more of an even playing field. Not a big name are game by a long way however I could lead to a semi-final spot who knows that is the beauty of the Cup.

Which would be better a home or away draw? I would plum for an home game which will bring problems if it was United, Chelsea and one of the other top teams. Not that Cardiff couldn’t stage the game but the demand for tickets. Cardiff City v Manchester United fixture could fill the Millennium Stadium let alone the CCS with its 26,828 capacity.

Come Saturday we will know and then it will start. There will be a clamour for tickets who ever Cardiff draws. It will be the biggest crowd for a League Cup game in a long while. Even if the game is away from home, I can see the away allocation selling out.

Loose link to City

A host of club from the Premier League, Championship and the SPL are rumoured to be keeping a watching brief on Partick Thistle’s left-sided defender Aaron Sinclair.

Only this summer he moved from Montrose to Partick signing a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee. Cardiff City was linked to the player back in September be skysports.com Thistle manager Jackie McNamara said,

“This is I feel a great signing for the Club and Aaron is exactly the kind of player that we should be bringing here. He has a lot of really positive attributes and has the potential to have a really bright future in the game.”

Like most rumours, there is little connecting the Bluebirds and the Scottish lad but someone from the club as watched the game. Tonight Cardiff like most clubs will have scouts out watch games or reserve game looking for the next target.

Andy McCulloch 1972-1974

IN the South Wales Echo’s ‘looking back’ features page beside the picture of rugby fans celebrating Llanelli beating the All Blacks there is a small football story of note.

On this day (1972), Cardiff City paid a then record transfer fee believed to be between £45,000 and £50,000 for striker Andrew (Andy) McCulloch from Queens Park Rangers. That was a lot of money them days for a player who was not a first team regular. The two years he was with the London club, he played 41 games with ten goals to his name.

Manager Jimmy Scoular said,“McCulloch is just the type of player I have been looking for. He’s big and brave and I think he can score goals.”

Scoular was hoping to recreate a JohnToshack/Brain Clark, Clark/Alan Warboys partnership bring in McCulloch and was looking to Bob Woodruff to make duo.

Both previous duos had brought in the goals, but Cardiff were in decline. At the start of the 72/73 Cardiff and Sheffield United entered a swap deal that saw Warboys head to Sheffield and Gil Reece and Dave Powell move the other way to Ninian Park. Not long after that it was Clark turn to leave along with Ian Gibson to Bournemouth for a combined fee of £100,000.

The newly enquired 22-year-old striker was thrown straight into the action against Preston scoring on his debut. He was subbed during the game with Woodruff coming on and scoring two with the game ending 3-0 to the Bluebirds. Have joined Cardiff at the end of Oct and by the end of the season this top score with 14 league goals and 5 goals in all other competitions.

The following season the Bluebirds were struggling again he only managed 10 league goals in 32 appearances and another 4-cup goals. At summer, Cardiff expected a £70,000 offer from Oxford United for the player giving the Welshman a profit on the deal that brought him to Ninian Park.

Go for it Malky

A short break form league football tomorrow night with follow Championship rivals Burnley the visitors to the Cardiff City Stadium for a Fifth Round Carling Cup clash. Cardiff and Burnley have already clashed in the League be it an away fixture at Burnley with the game ending all square at 1-1.

There is some history between the two in the Carling Cup (League Cup) but not relevant to today football it was way back in the 60’s/70’s the two tangled. In fact, Cardiff’s very first game in the League Cup at Ninian Park was back in 1960/61 a game Cardiff lost 4-0 in front of 8,110 fans. It just goes to show the attendances for the League Cup have always been poor. The previous Saturday Cardiff played Bolton at home with nearly 23,000 watching.

History lesson over and back to the present day I hoping Cardiff City boss Malky Mackey goes for it playing his best starting eleven available on the night. If nothing else, a win could see City pulled top team in the final eight, which would bring a good payday and the possibility of a TV appearance if the right name were to come out of the draw.

The Cardiff boss is talking positive about the encounter but he is hoping the game will not go in the extra time and penalties. In the previous three rounds both Oxford City and Huddersfield took the Bluebirds into extra time while in the last round Leicester took the Welshman all the way to penalties a long night out for the fans. The Carling Cup maybe the poor relation up against the FA Cup, but who would throw it out of there trophy cabinet if they were win it. Mackay said

"It's great to be through to this stage of the Cup, I want to go as far as I can.  

"Every game we've played the priority is to win the game in the Carling Cup. 

"Be it Oxford, Huddersfield or Leicester the priority was to win the game and I think you saw that, in terms of it going to extra time and penalties. 

"Players have been throwing bodies on the line and it'll be no different [on Tuesday]... I'll pick a team that I think can go and beat Burnley. 

"You don't want extra time, you don't want extra minutes with players on the pitch like we've had, but at the same time I certainly don't want to dilute the competition in any shape or form."

Both Cardiff and Burnley go into the game off the back of good wins and they drew 1-1 at Burnley in August meaning everything to play for. How bad would most Cardiff City fans fell if City was to lose and Burnley were to pull Manchester United home or away, that's if they over come Alershot and go through to the last eight.

Mackay will be going into the game with some problems up front and without strikers Rudy Gestede (hamstring) and Kenny Miller after he received 20 stitches in a facial wound.

That will leave Rob Earnshaw and Jon Parkin who is available after his loan spell at Doncaster as the only two out and out striker options for Mackay. There is youngest Nathaniel Jarvis and Joe Mason the Cardiff boss could call on, the latter opening his goal account on Saturday, his first since joining in the summer.

Striker linked with Bluebirds

THIS morning Cardiff City is being linked with Manchester United striker Mame Biram Diouf in a loan deal.

According to the rumour United are will to let their player out one loan if half of Diouf’s £14,000-a-week wages are paid. If the loan was to turn into something, more permanent they want £6million for the 23-year-old.

The Senegalese born footballer joined United from Norwegian side Molde in 2009 in a £3.75million deal. He was loaned back to Norwegian club for the remainder of the 2009 season. He is a Senegal international playing ten times and scoring two goals.

Since joining the United he has managed a meager five Premier League appearances all from the bench his only start was this season in the Carling Cup against Leeds, he made one other appearance in the Carling Cup off the bench. He spent last season on loan at Blackburn where he played in 30 league and cup games, scoring six times.

Road to Wembley and we move on

LAST weekend it was the ‘Road to Wembley’ time with a Third Round Qualifying fixtures taking place. This blog started the long and winding road to Wembley with Merthyr Town in the Extra Preliminary Round until they lost to Cinderford and they fell to Eastliegh.

Eastliegh who are managed by former Cardiff City player Ian Baird had a home fixture against Oxford City and were turned over losing 3-1 missing a £7,500 payday. So it Oxford City in the next round and they travel to just across the Bristol Channel to play Weston Super Mare Saturday week.

The route so far Fourth Round  

• Qualifying Sat 29 Oct 2011 Weston Super Mare v Oxford CityAtt

• Third Round Qualifying Sat 15 Oct 2011 Eastleigh 1-3 Oxford City Att 325

• Second Round Qualifying Sat 1 Oct 2011 Eastleigh 3-1 Cinderford Town Att 279 

• (Reply) First Round Qualifying Tues 20 Sept 2011 Cinderford Town 2-0 Merthyr Town Att N/A  

• First Round Qualifying Sat 17 Sept 2011 Merthyr Town 1-1 Cinderford Town Att 309  

• Preliminary Round Sat, 3 Sept 2011 Merthyr Town 1-0 Longwell Green Sports Att 345  

• (Reply) Extra Preliminary Round Wed, 24 August 2011 AFC Bitton 1- 2 Merthyr Town Att 248  

• Extra Preliminary Round Sat, 20 August 2011 Merthyr Town 2-2 AFC Bitton Att 323

A interesting stat

IT had to happen one day and it did when Leicester City run out 2-0 win last night that dropped the Bluebirds into the bottom half of the league table.

Why I hope you are asking is this interesting because it is the first time, Cardiff have been in the bottom half of the league table since 26 April 2008 when Cardiff drew 3-3 at Burnley. That is an impressive record under the reign of former boss Dave Jones.

That’s the kind of form that saw Cardiff just missed out on a play-off spot in 2008/9, reach Wembley the following season and last season another play-off spot finish last season. Will we get another chance of the play-offs this season, who knows but we need to win a few games to be in it.

Games coming thick and fast

WITH another international break starting after the 5 November for the Euro 2012 play-off Cardiff are going to have a busy time on the pitch leading up to it. Between now and then there are four League games plus a Carling Cup game to fit in

Upcoming games

• Saturday, 22 Oct Cardiff v Barnsley, 3pm
• Tuesday, 25 Oct Carling Cup Cardiff v Burnley, R4, 7:45pm
• Sunday, 30 Oct Leeds v Cardiff, 1:15pm Wednesday,
• 2 Nov Derby v Cardiff, 7:45pm Saturday,
• 5 Nov Cardiff v Crystal Palace, 3pm

The weekends game is very important everyone needs to get over the last two games and put the club on track with a win, better still lets see it has a start to a winning run of games. So it’s Barnsley Saturday whose away record this season so far is littered with drawn game expect a win at Reading earlier in the season. Last season it ended all square, 2-2 at the Cardiff City Stadium, another draw or will the three points be banked by the Welshman.

The following Tuesdays’ a Carling Cup fixture against Championship rivals Burnley at home a win for the Bluebirds would see them in the Quarter Finals, closer to a return to Wembley and the possibility of European Football. The big question is how will Cardiff City manager play the game? Will he go all out a play his best possible team or will he rest key players the same with is Burnley counterpart which way will he turn.

I want Malky to go for it put out the best team and get stuck in and go through to the next round where at least six Premier League teams if Man Utd over come Aldershot will go on to the next round with two Championship teams.

Tuesday, 25 October 2011

Aldershot v Man Utd  

Arsenal v Bolton 

Cardiff v Burnley 

Crystal Palace v Southampton  

Wednesday, 26 October 2011

Stoke v Liverpool, 

Wolverhampton v Man City 

Blackburn v Newcastle  

Everton v Chelsea

There league game will see Cardiff up to the international break start with two tough away games against Derby County and Leeds United. Both teams are particularly hot at home on their form right now so by time the games come around they have both have a hiccup in form.

Again going on the form of today Palace are in the top six making home fixture on Bonfire Night another toughie.

The melancholy of mediocrity: The mid-table is where Cardiff City live now (Podcast)

The melancholy of mediocrity: The mid-table is where Cardiff City live now by ViewFromTheNinian

Taiwo loan rumour

LOOKS like Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay has a option to loan out midfielder Solomon Taiwo after skysports.com suggested two League One clubs are interested in the player.

Taiwo is very much a bit part player in the Cardiff City squad and has on started a League game since May 2010 and spent most of last season on loan at Dagenham & Redbridge the club brought him from in a for a £250,000 deal which depend on appearances and was also tied in with promotion. Since he joined in August 2009, he as only played in nine League games plus three Cup for the Bluebirds. His agent Simon Dent said:

"We have had two enquires from clubs that we will discuss with Cardiff in the next few days."

If the rumour is true, I think the City boss would let him go his contract ends in the summer and I can’t see him receiving a offered to extension or new one. Mackay would be unlike to step in his way if a loan deal was on the cards.

There are a number of options open to the Cardiff boss in his present squad and he himself is in the market for a loan player or two.

Cardiff already have two plays on loan young striker Nat Jarvis who signed for Newport County in a month loan deal at the beginning of September, but he is still with Newport so the initial report could have been wrong or it’s been extended.

In addition, out on loan is striker Jon ‘The Beast’ Parkin who joined Championship rivals Doncaster Rover for an initial month loan. He is due back at Cardiff next week if Doncaster doesn’t extend the deal.

Wales game for CCS

Wales who have shoot up up 45 places in rankings Fifa world rankings to 45th place following back-to-back wins have a arranged a friendly against Norway for Saturday, 12 November, which will be played at the Cardiff City Stadium with a 3pm kick-off.

Norway just missed out on a Euro 2012 spot.

 

Euro 2012 play-off games take place that weekend and on the following Wednesday so Cardiff have no game.

Fowler interested in Northern Irish job

Former Cardiff City and Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler is eyeing the Northern Ireland job when the present boss Nigel Worthington, steeped down as expected. It was another former Cardiff City player and Northern Irish striker Warren Feeney, who is credited with the rumour when he was quoted as saying,

‘I’ve been speaking to Robbie and he is very keen on the Northern Ireland job. 

‘He’s an ambitious young manager who believes he has the ability to turn around Northern Ireland’s fortunes and he’ll be applying. 

‘He’s doing well in Thailand but sees the Northern Ireland job as a wonderful opportunity.’

The former English international is head coach with Muangthong United a Thai Premier League team since becoming player coach his record is two wins from two games. There are some interesting team in the same league, Siam Navy FC, Royal Thai Army and Police United FC.

City drop to 12th

IT was nearly a case of da ja vue at London Road last night has Cardiff took on Peterborough. Cardiff last visit ended all square at 4-4, tonight it was 4-3 and unfortunately, it was the home team walking away with the three points. The ground has not been a happy hunting ground for the Bluebirds in fact the last time they had win there was a Division 4 game back in 1986.

The defeat was not help by the young French striker Rudy Gestede limped out of the game after only 15 minutes but Cardiff were 1-0 up at the time. Hopefully he will be fit for the Barnsley game along with striker Kenny Miller. Then in a crazy 5 minutes, it was all change and the home team had, a 2-1 lead and you just knew this night was not going to go to plan.

That was the score at half time, but there was still 45-minute of the game to play so I dump the negative waves and pull out some positive ones instead. It seemed to work as about midway through the second half Cardiff, pull a goal back thanks to Peter Whittingham. Cardiff made it 3-2 with 11 minutes of normal time left when summer signing Aron Gunnarsson scored his first goal for the Bluebirds.

Peterborough equalizer came with minutes to go before full time and surrounded in controversy over a penalty decision again. Unlike Saturday when it went a decision when the way of the Welshman this one didn’t and like Saturday, both managers saw the pen through different eyes.

So it was Squeaky bum time with minutes to go plus what the ref would add for stoppages which turn out to be long enough for someone to score a winner. Pity that would go to the home team making the final score 4-3 leaving the Cardiff side of the game gutted and pointless.

Roll on Saturday and the upcoming Barnsley game where hopefully City fans will get this bitter taste of defeat out of the system with a victory at the CCS.

City need a win

CARDIFF CITY the road for a league fixture with Peterborough hoping for three points and move up the league table. The Bluebirds have only not won on the road since the opening get of the season against West Ham. The other games saw the Welshman collect three points from four games.

The last time Cardiff visited Peterborough’s London Road Stadium was that diabolical 4-4 game when fourth place Cardiff were four goals by halftime only for bottom club Peterborough pull all four goals back. Cardiff were 4-2 up with a minute to go when they made it 4-3 and three minutes late in injury time they squared the game to the amazement of Cardiff City fans everywhere.

Tonight City will be without striker Kenny Miller according to reports while Darcy Blake will be in contention for the match squad. Cardiff City boss Malky Mackay is hoping Miller was be fit for Saturday’s home game against Barnsley. Peterborough are two places and a point below Cardiff on 16pts and come into the game off an away win at Bristol City last weekend.

League footy back on the menu

TWO weeks without league football and it is great to welcome it back, but it will be a hectic time on the pitch for Cardiff City because between today and 5 November they will have seven league and cup games to play. City take on Ipswich this afternoon with Cardiff just over above them on goal difference, but both on 16pts.

Cardiff boss Malky Mackey as made no loan signings when it was expected one or two players could be in line to join the club. However, nothing has materialized there were reports he had received a few knock backs last week.

It looks more than likely during the international break the treatment room as been cleared out going into the break 10 player were out with injuries. All but Kenny Miller and Darcy Blake are in contention for section giving Mackey a headache he will be enjoying.

New points system for Football idea

I have long believed that goals in football and a clean sheet should reflect somehow in the league. That the moment you get a point for a draw plus three for a win, all a bit boring and I feel it is well over due for a shake up. I also feel a team that keeps a clean sheet should also be reward.

My simply idea is to award time that score three or more goals with three points and to reward defenders and goalkeepers with a point for keeping a clean sheet, with a extra point for a score draw.

So how would it work  

Win (3 points), another (3points) if the winning team score 3 or more goal and for a clean sheet (1 point) = 7 points  

Win (3 points), score less than 3 goals (no points), clean sheet (1 point) = 4 points  

1-0 2-1 wins just (3 points) 

1-1, 2-2 etc (2 points)  

0-0 a point

That would throw the cat among the pigeons, giving managers and players a major headache. This would make goals more important than just a simple win. It would shake up promotion and relegation no end with a point up to 7 points up for grabs.

Being a nerdy geek I spent some time making up what the points could look like if it was in use. Some teams fair better than others looking at Cardiff who are on 16pts along with Leicester and Ipswich, under the points system I’m suggesting Ipswich would be on 28pts, Leicester 27pts and Cardiff 24pts

*Note the Hull total should have been 23pts*

In the age of the computer, it should cause no problems in factoring all the data from the games.

Gavin Rae joins Dundee

It has taken awhile but former Cardiff City player Gavin Rae has rejoined Dundee on a short-term contract, until January.

He will join up with another former Bluebird plying his trade with the Scottish First Division club Rhys Weston. Since he was release by Cardiff, he has been keeping fit training at the Cardiff City training ground at the Vale and has received a number of offers.

He looked to be heading back to Scotland after being strongly linked to a move to Aberdeen, but even after the manager saying he wanted to sign him the talk pitted away. There was rumour of interest from the South of the border with no firm information just rumours. There was also talk of a move to America and the MLS or even Australia.

Dundee manager Barry Smith said, "I'm sure having a high profile player like Gavin available for this game has given the players and supporters a lift.

The player himself said, "I've signed until January and we'll take it from there. I still feel I can play at a higher level but this club means more to me than worrying about that."

"I wanted to get back into football and get the buzz back,"

"I know the place and the club has been brilliant for me over the years.

He has declared he is fit for Dundee upcoming fixture against Ross County at the weekend.

Glorious Twelfth

This is not an article about a bunch of toffs blasting away at some little birdies, which happen back in August.

Glorious I hear you asking, well not really, unless like me the day has some meaning to you. October 12 is my Wedding Anniversary a happy day for some a nightmare for others. Out of a conversation ‘did you miss a game on your wedding day’ being bored and nerdy, I went one-step further and got the reference books out.

Oh yes there was a game on my Wedding Day my other love was playing away at Gillingham and while I was happy partying away they were losing 2-0. That got me thinking what happen on the other October 12th throughout the document history of the Bluebirds fixtures. I set go out on the road of discovery.

1912 FAC Merthyr 5-1 Cardiff  

1927 Charity Shield Cardiff 2-1 Corinthians 

1929 League Blackpool 3-0 Cardiff 

1935 League (South) Cardiff 3-2 Notts County 

1949 League (South) Port Vale 0- 4 Cardiff 

1957 League Cardiff 3-2 Derby County 

1968 League Millwall 2-0 Cardiff 

1974 League Cardiff 2-0 West Brom 

1985 League Gillingham 2-0 Cardiff 

1999 FAW Premier Cup Newtown 1-0 Cardiff 

2001 League Cardiff 2-2 Wigan 

2002 League Cardiff 1-0 Wycombe

There was one other a game between Cardiff and Coventry during the Second World War.

By the kick-off of the Gillingham game back in 1985 hogtied and walking out of the church all married and about to become a Saturday afternoon shopper. That is what you get when you marry someone with no interest in the game of football.

Nearly a hundred years of football and only 12 games played on that day, not many if you think of the number of games played.

Roll on the restart of League football

I’m desperate to see the return to league football in the Championship and kiss good-bye to the namby-pamby of international football. League football is the bread and butter to a majority of footy fans and this two-week break is like a desert for some of us.

The whole problem with international football they are never ending, come Tuesday we see the end of  the European Championship until the World Cup 2014 Qualifying starts in September. It was a great victory for Wales Friday night and I hope the good fortune on Tuesday night in Bulgaria.

Next Saturday the Bluebirds will restart their season with a home game against Ipswich who are one place below with both teams on 16 points. Cardiff go into the game off the back of a defeat at Hull but boss Malky Mackey will be hoping to clear out the treatment room for this game. Mackay had as many as ten of his first squad were on the treatment table before the international break.

Has for the visitors, Ipswich, they had a strong 3-1 win over Brighton at home with a familiar face to Cardiff City fans getting two of those goals, Michael Chopra. Has well as Chopra there are two other former Cardiff players in the Ipswich club squad.

Terrace hero Michael Chopra was a summer time purchase for our Championship rivals who stumped up a £1.5 million for the striker. He plying his trade with the Bluebirds no less than four times, first in June 2006 after paying Newcastle £500,000, again after selling him to Sunderland in the summer of 2007 for £5 million he return to Cardiff on loan.

It was a short-term loan from the being of November 2008 until the end of December. There was a hope the deal would be extended until the end of the season but with the departure of then Sunderland boss Roy Keane that all changed.

The new manager Ricky Sbragia stated he wanted Chopra back so back he when on December 31st. However, by the being of February he was back at Cardiff on loan until the end of the season with an option to make it a permanent deal. During all his time with Cardiff, he has been a fans favourite making some 140+ start with 20 odd from the bench with a total goal count of 50+ a good turn. The home fans are sure to give him a warm welcome with everyone hoping he has an awful game.

There may also be a chance to see midfielder Jay Emmanuel-Thomas who was a member of Jones loan legion last season signing during the January transfer window.

He was not overly popular with a number of the Cardiff fan base it was not made easy with the Jones ‘loan shuffle’ trying to fit players in a overcrowd midfield. I did like how he announced his signing on Twitter.

Reports suggest Ipswich paid Arsenal around £1.5 million for his services although the figure generally reported to be undisclosed.

Another old boy is Mark Kennedy in his second season with the ‘Tractor Boys’ signing by Roy Keane during his time with Ipswich in a £75.000 two-year contract deal.

On leaving Cardiff he said,

"I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Cardiff. I would tell any player thinking about joining Cardiff to snap their hand off. It's a great club, with fantastic fans and an excellent manager."

Non City - Dave Jones calls on silent majority to stop bigots - Sunday Express

DAVE JONES knows more than most about the vile fans’ chants that have shamed football.

The former Cardiff boss, now tipped to take over at either Nottingham Forest or Bristol City, was callously pilloried after being wrongfully accused of child abuse. And Jones had to stand by as the cruel taunts that branded him a paedophile threatened to turn his wife and daughters into emotional wrecks

Cardiff City fan too big to fit through turnstyles loses 14 stones - from @walesonline

Paul “Fast Hips” Ferrell has lost an astounding 14 stones within a year after becoming too fat to use a football ground turnstile.

The taxi driver weighed 27 stones when he was forced to use disabled access to watch his beloved Cardiff City play and was so embarrassed the avid fan stayed away for three years. >>>>> Read More

Non City - It's with a 'g' not a 'f'

Listening to the guys on the View to the Ninian podcast struggle with pronouncement of my surname 'Ugarte' I found myself transported back to 1982 and that dreadful day when my proud surname brought me just a shed loads of grief.

There I was happily walking into pub to watch the Northern Ireland v Spain World Cup game with the lads on the TV they were just finishing naming the Spanish team "finally Roberto Lopez-Ufarte" I could have died has the chant 'Ufarte' filled the pub.

It had until then passed under the radar of my mates I had always known about the 'f' word, but would never willingly shared it. Has a kid I would from time to time be called 'Garty Farty', but it doesn't bare thinking about if my surname was Ufarte.

I can take a joke, but all the 'It's your round Ufarte' and Ufarte this and Ufarte that I was forced to the bogs just for a bit of peace and quiet. I missed the goal well I was in the same room as the TV, but there were no big screens just the landlords TV he brought down from his flat upstairs. Although there was someone in our group in a t-shirt with Spain across his chest and he was supporting Spain it was me getting most of agro.

My protest that I was Basque not Spanish cut no ice so there was little I could do, but take the abuse. That the end of the day I'm glad the family came from the valley of the Ugarte's and not the valley of the Ufarte's.

18-year-old midfielder link to City

Skysports.com are linking Cardiff City with Scottish youth international David Hopkirk. The 18-year-old midfielder is a free agent after leaving is last club Hamilton by mutual consent.

The report suggests Cardiff have plenty of competition if they are interested. The player is believed to be training with Premier League club West Brom. According to the article, he has spent time with Rangers before coming down to the Midlands.

Again, according to Sky both Cardiff and Ipswich Town would like him to come along and train with Celtic, Bolton and Birmingham are also monitoring his situation.

He looks to be a popular lad left the Hamilton after they and the player mutually agreed to e release him from his contract. While at the Scottish club, he scored once in nine appearances four game at the start of this season for the first team.

Two books of interest to Cardiff fans

Just in time for Christmas for a Christmas stocking two Cardiff City related books will be on sale this month follow on from the Annis publication Abraham Jnr book ‘My Story’.

First, to be release will be ‘Derby Days’ by Neil Palmer there will be a book signing is October 15th at the club shop before the Ipswich game.

Cardiff Swansea Derby Days celebrates 100 years of this marvellous fixture, warts and all, and tips its hat to unforgettable players and matches. Palmer provides a nostalgic journey through the decades of the derby.

Later in the month the Phil Dwyer autobiography will also be release and he will be hold a book signing before the Barnsley game in the club shop from 12pm.

Dwyer is a legend among Cardiff City fans. A local boy who when on to play and captain the team he supported as a boy. Later he went on to play for his country. He holds the record for the most appearances, a record I doubt will ever be broken.

I look forward to a good read of them both.

International footy - I can take it, but mostly I can leave it

Do I like this ... Not a lot

Tomorrow Wales will take on Switzerland in a Euro 2012 Qualifier, and won't be rushing down to the Swansea Liberty Stadium or fighting the wife for the TV remote, she can watch her soap operas. I will probably watch the BBC live game videprinter to check the score while doing other things on the internet.

I may listen to the game via the internet to drowned out the soap chatter coming from the other side of the living room. Come 9pm, I could flick the TV over and catch the end of the game.

I have never been a great Welsh International football fan I find it interferes with my true love - Cardiff City Football Club. Don't get me wrong I wanted them to win and would love to see them quantify for something one day. Has a youngest I did the old Home International stuff because then it was an end of season competition no interference with the league season. There were no international breaks back then either most internationals were played mid-week and the odd Saturday. Never get me on the subject of international friendlies as I could blow a blood vessel even out of season they get right up my back. I can't understand why I feel like this.

I'm a proud Welshman, honestly who loves his country and football that enjoys Welsh success in any sport.

I have to make a statement here ... I hate Rugby Union internationally or club from the top to the bottom and I just don't care if they win/lose or draw actually I do, I hope they lose.

I suppose I am more interested if they play the likes of England, but only as an armchair fan and I would take the remote control off the wife for that game or another of the world top teams. The last time my hand went in my pocket and paid to watch Wales play was against Romania's game back in 1993 a game they lost.

I'm almost sure most football fans would rather see their own team doing well than Wales, but it is a British thing asking some foreign fans they see both clubs and country on the same level. Could my opinion change I doubt it, if Wales were to reach Brazil and the 2014 World Cup finals, would that be enough to lift my support to Cardiff City level, again I doubt it, but would lift the spirits of Welsh Football.

Little Joey Ralls showed a lot of balls AGAIN (Podcast)

Check out a great podcast from 'View from the Ninian' from Cardiff City fans Adam and Ben. There is some fruity language at times, but great chat about Cardiff City with some catchy jingles.

Little Joey Ralls continued his ball-showing rise with a week Craig David would be proud of. Met a girl on Monday, took her for a drink on Tuesday, signed a professional contract on Friday, and made his wondergoal-scoring league debut on Saturday.

Wowzers. Elsewhere on the pod we debate whether anyone could beat Anthony Gerrard's head in a drop ball situation, we discuss mullets, and we proclaim Filip Kiss to be in dire need of a lobotomy and a straightjacket because he's an actual bloody MENTAL!

All that plus the usual optimism/guestimism nonsense and a visit from a lovely girlwoman in NiniFAN.

DIOLCH YN FAWR IAWN!

Onward to Llanelli and Wembley

How did the cup games get on last weekend with both the Welsh Cup and the FA Cup being player? This blog is now following three teams on the route to the final.

First up the two teams in the Welsh Cup, starting with Splott Albion made the trip along the M4 to Bridgend for the Round One fixture again Bridgend Town. The Cardiff based club when down to two goals either side of half time with gives Bridgend Town another home game in the Round Two against Bridgend Tata Steel.

In the other game Builth Wells travelled to just outside Cardiff to face Dinas Powys it was a home defeat for Dinas giving Builth Wells a home fixture against Taffs Well. Once again, disappointingly there are on attendance fixtures for the game.

The Round Two games are to be played on the weekend of 5 & 6 November

The route so far  

Round Two Now Bridgend Town v Tata Steel  

Round Two Nov Builth Wells v Taffs Well  

Round One Sat Oct 1 2011 Dinas Powys 0-2 Builth Wells Att N/A  

Round One Sat 1 Oct Bridgend 2-0 Splott Albion Att N/A  

Southern Section  

2nd Qualifying Round Sat, 3 Sept 2011 Splott Albion 1-0 AFC Llwydcoed Att N/A  

1st Qualifying Round Sat, 26 Aug 2011 Trethomas Bluebirds 0-1 Splott Albion (AET) Att N/A  

Northern Section  

2nd Qualifying Round Sat, 3 Sept 2011 Brickfield Rangers 1-4 Builth Wells Att N/A  

1st Qualifying Round Sat, 26 Aug 2011 Builth Wells 3-2 Llanberis Att N/A

Meanwhile over the border in England it was FA Cup Second Round Qualifying with Cinderford making the trip to Eastleigh. The game was done and dusted with the home team taking a three-goal lead allow the visitors pull one back close to full time.

Eastleigh managed by Ian Baird who in the early 80’s playing 12 game, scoring 6 goals is have another home fixture with Oxford City making the trip to Eastleigh.

The route so far  

Third Round Qualifying Sat 15 Oct 2011 Eastleigh v Oxford City 

Second Round Qualifying Sat 1 Oct 2011 Eastleigh 3-1 Cinderford Town Att 27 

(Reply) First Round Qualifying Tues 20 Sept 2011 Cinderford Town 2-0 Merthyr Town Att N/A  

First Round Qualifying Sat 17 Sept 2011 Merthyr Town 1-1 Cinderford Town Att 309 

Preliminary Round Sat, 3 Sept 2011 Merthyr Town 1-0 Longwell Green Sports Att 345 

(Reply) Extra Preliminary Round Wed, 24 August 2011 AFC Bitton 1- 2 Merthyr Town Att 248  

Extra Preliminary Round Sat, 20 August 2011 Merthyr Town 2-2 AFC Bitton Att 323

Chief Executive to depart Bluebirds

Well there is a surprise, the news in was expecting out of the club this week was the possibility of some loan signings, but ‘wang bang thank you mam’ up pops a statement on the club website that Cardiff City chief executive Gethin Jenkins will leave the Bluebirds on October 22.

The club's statement read:

"Following discussions with the Malaysian investors, it has been agreed that Chief Executive Gethin Jenkins will leave Cardiff City Football Club on Saturday 22 October 2011.  

"We would like to the thank Gethin for his unstinting work and commitment to Cardiff City during the past 18 months and it should be stressed that this agreement does not reflect any failure in the amount of effort he has given to the Club or his performance as Chief Executive. 

"Indeed while he has been in charge the club has seen the introduction of far more process and structure, including greater budgeting and cost control, staff restructuring, a large increase in commercial turnover, winning family club of the year, the highest average gate in 50 years and bringing stability during the turbulent times last summer. 

"During this summer he also oversaw the recruitment of the manager and the restructuring of the football department. He should be proud of what he has achieved here and we wish him well for the future."

The departing Gethin Jenkins said

"I thank TG for his comments and the Board for giving me the opportunity to represent Cardiff City which I have been proud to do. 

"With the staff here, I think we have achieved a lot in the past 18 months including far better structure and stability within the club. I would like to thank the supporters, sponsors and especially the staff, coaches and players for supporting me during my time here and for embracing the changes we have made.  

"Ultimately football is about opinions and I accept that, however, I am confident the club is in a far better position than 18 months ago. I wish all involved with the club the very best for the future and hopefully the realisation of the dream of Premier League football."

I had doubts when he joined coming from a rugby background the two sports are light years apart with money and infrastructure but I take my hat off to him has worked tireless in his role at the Club.

Blink and you could miss this rumour

It's a sunny Sunday morning here at Dugdale Towers Cardiff, and after a quick glance through the back pages of the Sunday papers are they are bereft of any rumours surrounding players except for an 'itsy bitsy teenie weenie' piece in the Daily Star Sunday  .

They are loosely linking and I repeat loosely linking to Bournemouth midfielder Harry Arter who by the way has only last week signed a three-year contract. The suggestion is that Watford and Cardiff have been tracking him, but there are no comments in the article.

Truthfully, it looks like a page filler kind of a story, a bit of a Jackanroy.

Cardiff City team v Hull City

There is no change in the starting eleven from the mid-week game against Southampton for Cardiff City boss Malky Mackay. The only change is on the bench young Ralls is in for Taiwo

Marshall,

McNaughton, Hudson, Gerrard, Blake,

Kiss, Whittingham, Cowie, Gunnarsson,

Miller, Mason

Bench Parish, Keinan, Quinn, Turner, Ralls