Kean on Ipswich with Roy gone 04/03/2011
Posted by NB in Cardiff City, season 2010/11.Tags: Adam Matthews, Daryl Murphy, Ipswich Town, Jason Scotland, Jon Stead, Jonathan Walters, Paul Jewell, Peter Whittingham, Ross McCormack, Roy Keane, Wigan
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Roy Keane might not have done very well overall in his time as manager of Ipswich Town, a reign that ended when he got sacked in January 2011, but during his two years in charge at Portman Road Ipswich was a nightmare opponent for Cardiff. With Keane now gone I’m optimistic about our chances of a win in front of the SkySports cameras Saturday!
Welcome to Parkin as Iversen makes his mark 04/01/2011
Posted by NB in Cardiff City, season 2010/11.Tags: Andy O'Brien, Crystal Palace, Dave Jones, Jon Parkin, Leeds United, Preston North End, Ross McCormack, Steffen Iversen
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A warm welcome to Jon Parkin! I think the signing of this experienced striker was a god one, as we desperately need a golascorer at present. However I hoped for a long time that Dave Jones would bring in Steffen Iversen. The 34 year old Norwegian international played well and scored the winning goal on his debut for Crystal Palace tonight against Parkins’ old club, Preston, and I think Iversen will prove a great signing for Crystal Palace. For all I know Dave Jones might have been after Iversen, but it was predictable that he ended up in a club from London, as that’s where his family lives.
A bit surprising to see Cardiff miss out on another transfer target, Andy O’Brien, as the Bolton defender opted to sign for Leeds where he’s been on loan this season. What bad things has Ross McCormack been saying to O’Brien about Cardiff I wonder?
It was nice to see all the teams above Cardiff lose points Monday evening, but not so good to hear of all the uncertainty with injuries and illness ahead of the Tuesday showdown with Leeds… It’ll not be a walk in the park like the away fixture, that’s for sure!
Andy O’Brien
Comings and goings 27/08/2010
Posted by NB in Cardiff City, season 2010/11.Tags: Andy Keogh, Craig Bellamy, Daniel Drinkwater, Gavin Rae, Jason Koumas, Jonathan Meades, Lee Naylor, Martin John, Moss FK, Ross McCormack, Seyi Olofinjana, Tom Heaton
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Amazing how we’ve gone from transfer embargo to having eight new Cardiff players come in (Heaton, Drinkwater, Koumas, Olofinjana, John, Naylor, Bellamy and Keogh).
Now it’s time for players to move out as well, with Ross McCormack’s transfer to Leeds probably just being the first of a few players moving on before the transfer window closes next week.
Gavin Rae is probably the next to leave, and it’s neither surprising or a great loss with the midfielders we now have in our squad.
It was nice to see Jonathan Meades get of to a flying start for Moss here in Norway (never mind the red card), and it seems he’ll be important for them in trying to avoid relegation and hopefully he’ll develop as well by playing regular first team football although the level is a lot lower in the Norwegian first division than in the Championship.
It’s a bit sad to see a great talent like Ross McCormack leave, but considering his behavior both on and off the field and him not being able to follow up the great promise of the first season and very likely not being able to break in to the starting eleven this season, I guess it’s only right that he leaves. Personally I lost the respect for McCormack when he was so desperate to leave us last summer, and it’s easy to see now that Cardiff should have cashed in on him back then as we would probably have got a lot more money for him than what Leeds are paying now (although we don’t know exactly what the fee is).
Andy Keogh is another excellent and exciting loan signing. With Michael Chopra now injured for maybe as long as ten weeks the timing of his arrival was perfect.
Koumas showing glimpses 13/08/2010
Posted by NB in Cardiff City, season 2010/11.Tags: Craig Bellamy, Dave Jones, Jason Koumas, Jay Bothroyd, Michael Chopra, Ross McCormack, Seyi Olofinjana
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Cardiff City 4 Burton Albion 1 AET
It was a bit surprising that we needed extra time to see off Burton Albion from League Two at Cardiff City Stadium, but at least the extra time gave Jason Koumas some valuable playing time and he showed glimpses of what quality he brings to the team.
Well done to Ross McCormack on scoring two good goals, but Koumas’ perfect through balls to McCormack and then Chopra shows that once match fit Koumas will add a much needed dimension to Cardiff’s attacking play. Players like Ross McCormack and Michael Chopra need passes like Koumas can deliver and although McCormack might be on his way out Chopra, Bothroyd and whoever else plays up front will benefit from Koumas’ intelligent play. Not to mention that he’s likely to get a few goals himself as well.
I look forward to tomorrow’s match against Derby, where I’m sure newcomer Olofinjana will make his debut, and in the mean time I’ll continue hoping for Craig Bellamy being presented as our latest signing. With him now confirmed being out of Manchester City’s 25 man squad I ‘m quite optimistic that he’ll become a Bluebird after his recent statements even though there are lot’s of big clubs trying to get a hold of him. What a signing that would be…
Disappointing start 08/08/2010
Posted by NB in Cardiff City, season 2010/11.Tags: Dave Jones, Gavin Rae, Jason Koumas, Jay Bothroyd, Michael Chopra, Peter Whittingham, Ross McCormack
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Cardiff City 1 Sheffield United 1
A 1-1 draw against Sheffield United might not seem that bad, but it was the performance more than the result that was disappointing today.
Cardiff started the match OK, but once the visitors took the lead it all looked very gloomy. Even when Sheffield United had Lowton sent off shortly after the goal City showed a lack of pace, movement and creativity going forward that doesn’t bode well for the season ahead.
Only when Jay Bothroyd excellently managed to score seventeen minutes into the second half did Cardiff spring to life and we really should have managed to get a second goal to win the game. Bothroyd’s goal came from nothing, and Michael Chopra showed class rounding the goalkeeper and producing a perfect pass to Bothroyd who did very well to place the ball in the back of the net with two opponents just in front of him and two more on the goal line.
Ross McCormack looked very lively and positive coming on for Gavin Rae, but it was not nice to see McCormack and Chopra having a quarrel after the latter had failed to pass to the former when it was obvious to all he should have done so just a few minutes prior to the equalizer.
One thing I found a bit strange was that Dave Jones named only four subs. Was it perhaps to show we’re short on players? Surely Jason Koumas could have been on the bench even though he was not going to play, and there must be some youngsters who would have gained valuable experience by being involved on the match day and sitting on the subs bench without coming on?
I hope Dave Jones and his staff will use the coming week well including the Carling Cup game versus Burton Albion so that we come out better in the difficult away game against Derby. Before then we hopefully might see a few new players arrive, and sadly maybe Peter Whittingham leave for Nottingham Forest.
No fears 05/04/2010
Posted by NB in Cardiff City, season 2009/10.Tags: Anthony Gerrard, Chris Burke, Chris Gunter, Dave Jones, David Marshall, Joe Ledley, Kelvin Etuhu, Nottingham Forest, Peter Whittingham, Robert Earnshaw, Ross McCormack, Stephen McPhail
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Nottingham Forest 0 Cardiff City 0
An away draw against Nottingham Forest is definitely a point gained, and it’s great that having beaten both Leicester and Swansea recently Cardiff have shown there’s no need to have any fears in meeting these teams again should that happen in the play offs.
I got to watch the game thanks to the live streaming at bet365.com, and despite the game ending all square it was an eventful and fun match to watch.
Cardiff had to play without the injured Peter Whittingham which made way for Joe Ledley in the starting eleven. Chris Burke is still injured, so Kelvin Etuhu took place on one wing and Ross McCormack on the other. Etuhu deserves a mention, as he had a very good first 45 minutes making some brilliant runs showing his Premier League class.
There were two former Bluebirds in Forest’s line up: Robert Earnshaw and Chris Gunter. It was a nice gesture from the former when he just after missing a chance in the first half did the Ayatholla at the request of the Cardiff following.
There were chances both ways before the break. Cardiff looked particularly dangerous on corners and set pieces, but sadly couldn’t convert any of them into goals.
The first half also saw two “suicide attempts” from City. The first let Earnshaw through one on one with Marshall after a ball strangely being played high back into Cardiff’s own half by a City player. You would expect Earnie to score given a chance like that, but Marshall saved brilliantly. The second one came as Stephen McPhail wanted to take a free kick quickly in Forest’s half ignoring the two Nottingham players standing in his way only a meter or so in front of him. The ref let play continue probably thinking he’d punish McPhail for being stupid enough to take the free kick too fast, and Forest immediately attacked and nearly scored.
In the second half there was another “suicide attempt” as City gave the ball away near the goal, but again David Marshall pulled of a world class save.
Towards the end there was an unbelievable situation when Gerrard and Marshall – yes, that’s two Cardiff players – literally got in the throat of each other. What stupidity! They should have been booked the pair of them, and judging from Dave Jones’ reaction he’ll probably give them a deserved talking to. It was Gerrard who started it when he in a not very friendly way told Marshall he should have shouted for the ball. Marshall reacted and it was embarrassing to see them not being able to calm down and leave the discussion for after the match. Going off the field after the final whistle you could see them shaking hands and smiling, but a bust up like that doesn’t happen unless there’s some underlying reason.
Four league games to go now and Cardiff are still fourth with a six point gap down to in form Blackpool in seventh place. Sadly Swansea, Leicester and Blackpool all won today, so we’re not there quite yet. Apart from the incident involving Gerrard and Marshall though City can at least go into the final games feeling confident.
22nd of May 22/03/2010
Posted by NB in Cardiff City, season 2009/10.Tags: Chris Burke, Darcy Blake, Dato Chan Tien Ghee, Dave Jones, Gabor Gyepes, Heidar Helguson, Paul Quinn, Peter Whittingham, Ross McCormack, Tony Capaldi, Watford
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Cardiff City 3 Watford 1
What a good weekend this was!
I know I maybe shouldn’t have, but after this victory I had to check when the Play Off final takes place. In case you shouldn’t know, it’s on Saturday the 22nd of May.
There were good news off the field with reports that the meetings held with the potential Malaysian investor Dato Chan Tien Ghee, or “TG” as he’s become known, had gone well.
Then, on Saturday, my tickets for the away game against Crystal Palace arrived, so now I can look forward to going to the match without worrying whether or not the tickets will arrive in time.
Later on Staurday the other Championship results on Saturday were very favourable for the Bluebirds. Doncaster and Sheffield United, the two teams right behind Cardiff, drew against each other. Swansea could only draw, and Leicester and Coventry drew.
It was then all just a matter of Cardiff taking advantage by beating Watford, and although it was an even game that I understand could have gone either way based on the first half play and chances, City showed strength by first going one up early on thanks to a beautifully taken McCormack goal. Then, having survived until half time having seen Watford very nearly score, a good header by our goalgetter Peter Whittingham after a perfect pass from Burke put City in control.
I read Nathan Blake’s comments about the subdued atmosphere at Cardiff City Stadium. I don’t feel in a position to have an opinion on that as I didn’t even get to listen to the match on Cardiff City Player, but watching the highlights today I thought the player’s celebration of Whitts’ goal seemed a bit subdued. Have they become too used to him scoring, or did they feel so in control of the game that they took the goal for granted? Luckily they didn’t step of the gas to much though, and it was joyfull how Chris Burke both showed skill and had luck in putting the game beyond Watford with City’s third. Former Lillestrøm player Heidar Helguson pulled a goal back for the Hornets, but it still ended in an impressive win, especially considering City’s back four in the second half consisted of Quinn, Gyepes, Blake and Capaldi. That bodes well for the remaining games!
On final note about some of Dave Jones’ post match comments. I think he’s absolutely wrong in saying other results don’t matter and that he doesn’t take notice. I seem to remember Jones publically sighing with relief when City during the recent bad spell somehow managed to stay in the Play Off zone thanks to other results going Cardiff’s way. So while he’s right to say City’s players should concentrate on themselves and their own preformances he doesn’t have to pretend results elsewhere doesn’t matter! Should City experience another bad spell before the end of the season other results might be what keeps us in the Play Offs, and I don’t think Dave Jones should ignore that.
