Down in a Hull 16/03/2012
Posted by NB in Cardiff City, season 2011/12.Tags: Anthony Gerrard, Hull City, Joshua King, Kevin McNaughton, Robert Earnshaw, Seyi Olofinjana
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Cardiff City 0 Hull City 3
Norwegians will get the headline pun. After the good away win at Bristol City on Saturday, I thought we had turned the corner and envisioned three home wins to come. After our poor performance and grim season worst home scoreline of 0-3 against Hull, we fell out of the Play Off places and figuratively into a hole (which is hull in Norwegian) that we need to climb out of pretty fast if promotion is still to be a possibility this season.
Back in top six: now for three straight home wins to stay in the mix 12/03/2012
Posted by NB in Cardiff City, season 2011/12.Tags: Bristol City, Hull City, Joshua King, Seyi Olofinjana
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Bristol City 1 Cardiff City 2
It wasn’t the best of performances from City this season and we even needed two own goals to win, but it was three very important points secured and they were particularly welcome coming in the televised Severnside derby!
Six in for Drinkwater 06/04/2011
Posted by NB in Cardiff City.Tags: Aaron Ramsey, Daniel Drinkwater, Manchester United Supporters Club Scandinavian Branch, MUSCSB, Seyi Olofinjana, Watford
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What “United-Supporteren”, the publication of Manchester United Supporters Club Scandinavian Branch (MUSCSB), writes doesn’t usually interest me that much. The magazine does however dump into our mailbox eight times a season as my eldest son, the United supporter, is a member of MUSCSB.
One recent article in “United-Supporteren” did however catch my attention, as it was an exclusive interview with former Cardiff loanee Danny Drinkwater after his loan move to Watford.
Beaten by Ipswich again 08/03/2011
Posted by NB in Cardiff City, season 2010/11.Tags: Aaron Ramsey, Dave Jones, Ipswich Town, Jimmy Bullard, Martin Fulop, Seyi Olofinjana
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Cardiff City 0 Ipswich Town 2
“I don’t know how we lost it because the first half we’ve absolutely battered them, but we’ve got to put the ball in the back of the net.” That was the words of Dave Jones after Cardiff lost 0-3 at home to Ipswich on the 25th of April 2009, but he could just as well have uttered them after the game against the Tractor Boys on Saturday.
Another massive win as “frantic February” ends 27/02/2011
Posted by NB in Cardiff City.Tags: Aaron Ramsey, Cameron Jerome, Craig Bellamy, Dave Jones, Hull, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Michael Chopra, Roger Johnson, Seyi Olofinjana, Stephen McPhail
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Hull City 0 Cardiff City 2
This was a massive win, as will all wins from now until the end of the season be, and it marked the end to the seven game “frantic February” resulting in 4 wins, 2 draws and 1 defeat. That’s 14 points from 21. Not too bad, but is it enough as Cardiff chase automatic promotion?
Great win, but emergency when Ramsey leaves? 25/02/2011
Posted by NB in Cardiff City, season 2010/11.Tags: Aaron Ramsey, Anthony Gerrard, Arsene Wenger, Dave Jones, Leicester City, Seyi Olofinjana
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Cardiff City 2 Leicester CIty 0
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger dampened the celebrations after the superb win against Leicester Tuesday when he announced that Aaron Ramsey, Man of the Match and goalscorer against the Foxes, is to return to Arsenal after Saturday’s match against Hull.
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“Olof” to the rescue 14/02/2011
Posted by NB in Cardiff City, season 2010/11.Tags: Abdisalam Ibrahim, Dave Jones, Jason Koumas, Marvin Emnes, Scunthorpe, Seyi Olofinjana
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Cardiff City 1 Scunthorpe 0
In a match where Cardiff huffed and puffed but didn’t seem able to get a goal, Seyi Olofinjana thankfully came to the rescue when he powered home a header five minutes before full time.
Sweet revenge after just 24 days 27/01/2011
Posted by NB in Cardiff City, season 2010/11.Tags: Adel Taarabt, Craig Bellamy, Dave Jones, Dekel Keinan, Jay Bothroyd, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Kevin McNaughton, Lee Naylor, Mark Hudson, Paul Quinn, Peter Whittingham, Seyi Olofinjana, Watford
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Cardiff City 4 Watford 2
Just 24 days after City’s embarrasing 1-4 at Watford, it was time for sweet revenge as the Hornets came flying in to Cardiff.
If the December defeat wasn’t enough to make the Cardiff players aware of what threat Watford were posing, then the visitor’s run of seven victories in a row should be.
Dave Jones handed a debut to Jay Emanuel-Thomas in a line up that as expected looked a lot different than versus Stoke in the FA Cup replay, but perhaps even more pleasing than the introduction of JET was the comeback of Jay Bothroyd after eight games out injured. The England international had a fairly quiet game against Watford, but he scored his 16th goal of the season in impressive fashion, and his his scoring record of 14 League goals in just 18 games is excellent. Bothroyd got injured in the second half, but hopefully he’ll be fit to start against Reading on Tuesday.
Eager to see City’s attacking onslaught as we went three goals up after only half an hour, and curious to see how we then let in-form Watford get back in with a shout, I decided to for the first time try Cardiff City Player’s offer to watch a recording of the whole match. It’s a bit strange to watch a game where you know the outcome and when the goals are coming, but it gives you a different perspective and without the emotions and tension that comes with watching matches live it’s easier to take a more analytical approach to the viewing.
Although a good and entertaining match, I wasn’t too impressed by the tempo in the game. There were periods where the ball was knocked about with pace and good runs were made, but there were just as many periods where the players seemed to slow the tempo down by taking their time on set pieces and throw ins.
JET had a decent debut and I look forward to see more of him in a Cardiff shirt. Seyi Olofinjana had a good game, which was nice to see as I’ve heard from those who’ve seen most games this season that the Nigerian has started to fade after impressing when he first came to Cardiff. Craig Bellamy was always a threat going forward, and I thought Mark Hudson had a good game in the center of defence. I don’t think there can be much question about Lee Naylor having to make way for Dekel Keinan when he probably enters the starting eleven on Tuesday with Kevin McNaughton likely to play on either left back or right back should Dave Jones choose to drop Paul Quinn to make way for Keinan. Quinn, by the way, has a bit surprisingly got himself into the side lately, and I thought he did OK against Watford. Another player I would like to mention is Peter Whittingham. He’s top class, and I’m really glad he didn’t go to Nottingham Forest in the summer.
It’s still a very close race in the Championship. I feel Q.P.R are very much favourites for top spot, although I have not given up hope that we might end up as champions. I watched parts of the game as Q.P.R. come from behind to beat Coventry on Sunday, and I must say Adel Taarabt is one player I would rather have seen playing for us. Next to Craig Bellamy he is the most exciting player in the Championship, and I don’t understand how Tottenham could let him go.
Nottingham Forest have started to sneak up from behind, and can actually overtake us should they win their game in hand.
Luckily Swansea only drew Saturday.
Only one more game to go before the Welsh derby now!
Scrappy. Not too unhappy. 19/01/2011
Posted by NB in Cardiff City, season 2010/11.Tags: Aaron Wildig, Andy Keogh, Craig Bellamy, Dave Jones, Gavin Rae, Jason Koumas, Jay Bothroyd, Jon Parkin, Kevin McNaughton, Lee Naylor, Michael Chopra, Peter Whittingham, Seyi Olofinjana, Stoke City, Tony Pulis
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Cardiff City 0 Stoke City 2 AET, FA Cup 3rd round replay
This was a very scrappy game with a disappointing result at the end of it.
There are a couple of reasons why I’m not too sad though.
Firstly, I got to watch the game online on FA TV, and win, lose or draw, I always enjoy watching the Bluebirds play! My warm thanks goes to Stephen Fowler and his UK Proxy for placing me virtually in the UK and thereby enabling me to enjoy the stream at thefa.com!
Secondly, yesterday’s replay was more draining than anything for the players. That’s not what we need at the moment with the heat on in the Championship, although Dave Jones did rest players like Bellamy, McNaughton, Whittingham, Olofinjana and Bothroyd (assuming he was fit that is) plus he put Chopra on the bench.
Stoke boss Tony Pulis also let a lot of second string players start, and while on the one hand you would expect there to be a bit less quality on the night considering the team selections, I was on the other hand surprised that there wasn’t more spark and enthusiasm from a lot of those who got their chance. One should think they were eager to prove to their managers that they belong in the starting eleven.
The first half performance from the Bluebirds was about as weak as I’ve ever seen, and I was a bit surprised that neither the players nor City’s manager and coaches failed to see how Cardiff time and time again got stuck on the right hand side when it was obvious that they had to shift play to the left where Stoke seemed more exposed and Lee Naylor had a decent game. I also question why there weren’t any tactical changes when we were trailing by the one goal. Surely we could have put more bodies forward and thereby perhaps have created something? And why did Parkin and not Keogh get substituted when Chopra came on? Why didn’t Jason Koumas even figure on the bench? But I’m not a manager am I, and I expect Dave Jones to have had an answer to all my critical questions!
It was sad that Stephen McPhail got injured (hamstring), but at least that meant a rare outing for Aaron Wildig and gave us the unusual midfield pairing of Wildig and Gavin Rae. The latter did not do much to stake his claim for a place in the team by the way.
I think we should have had a penalty when Michael Chopra went down in the penalty box at the end of normal time and had we gotten a penalty and a goal we surely would have won.
Stoke now go on to play a not too glamorous fourth round tie against Wolves. Cardiff go on to concentrate on the League. I for one am happy with that.
On-field joy and off-field woe 12/01/2011
Posted by NB in Cardiff City, season 2010/11.Tags: Craig Bellamy, Dave Jones, FA Cup, Jay Bothroyd, Jon Parkin, Leeds United, Michael Chopra, Peter Whittingham, Robert Snodgrass, Sam Hammam, Seyi Olofinjana, Simon Grayson, Stoke City
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Cardiff City 2 Leeds United 1
Stoke City 1 Cardiff City 1
What a convincing win against in-form Leeds, unbeaten since our last meeting back in October when we outplayed them winning 4-0 at Elland Road! Cardiff’s form in the mean time has been quite the opposite, and as the pressure mounted both on the players and manager Dave Jones and teams have started to overtake us in the table, this win meant a very welcome return to second place.
A great eight minute Craig Bellamy goal after a perfect one-two with Peter Whittingham set City off to the perfect start, and in the first half it was all Cardiff. I wonder what those in the crowd not having seen the Bluebirds play since the last home game, the victory against Coventry, made of it all! It’s pretty hard to fathom how the two catastrophic defeats away at Watford and Bristol City could happen.
In the second half against Leeds Cardiff let the visitors back into the match, and after a clever tactical substitution by Leeds manager Simon Grayson, Leeds’s equalized through a well placed shot by Robert Snodgrass.
Michael Chopra had however had a cup of coffee on the pitch (!) earlier in the game, and the caffein seemed to kick in just at the right time as the striker converted a perfect Peter Whittingham pass from deep in his own half into another City goal from a difficult angel. Great skill by both players, and with only ten minutes remaining we incredibly managed to hang on to what must be one of the most vital wins this season.
Next up was the third round FA Cup tie away versus Premier League side Stoke City, and I honestly felt beforehand that I wouldn’t bee too sad should we lose. The FA Cup final back in 2008 was nice, but nothing else than promotion matters this season. One could just take a look at Cardiff’s bench against Stoke to see that our current squad is thin and doesn’t need more games than the already tough Championship fixture list provides.
It was good to see Dave Jones rest Bellamy and Olofinjana, and the fact that our starting eleven (with Jay Bothroyd still out injured) was far from our best makes the 1-1 draw pretty impressive. I’d hoped for a Jon Parkin debut, but he still hasn’t recovered from a minor knee injury. Yet again Chops was our goalscorer, and hopefully he’ll shake of his ankle injury to keep on scoring as we go into the decisive second half of the season.
I wouldn’t be too surprised if we beat Stoke in the replay at the Cardiff City Stadium, and then we (probably) face Wolves away – as we did on our way to Wembley back in 2008!
Off the field Sam Hammam is threatening to force his way back into the club. I used to be a fan and admirer of Hammam, but I’m sorry to say that reading about his possible return to Cardiff City, I get nothing but bad feelings. How he through the company Langston was in a legal battle with Cardiff City was not a very pleasant experience, and I think Mr. Hammam should realize that his time at the club is history. Hammam himself says that a return to City would be controversial and that fans would be divided in their view of the matter. At present I’ll admit to being in the anti-Sam camp.
It was sad to see Craig Bellamy hitting the headlines for the wrong reasons again tonight. Although it’s not yet publicly known exactly what happened, it seems I was a bit to hasty in declaring Bellamy’s time as a villain over…
