Monday 29 September 2014

Cardiff City 2 Sheff Wed 1 - Winning IS FUN!



The Pops pulled out of this one suffering from what can only be described as C.C.A.D (‘Cardiff City Aided Depression’). 

He says 'Man Flu' but we all knew what he meant.

Given how dire visits to the stadium had been lately, luckily pre match myself and his replacement Sam had Prozac to hand (if required) and loads of Werther's Originals / Cookies.

Pre match over a brew we noted the arrival of proposed new manager Russell Slade strolling through the corporate area of the ground unnoticed. In a giant room of a few thousand City fans, nobody bar me batted an eyelid as Russ strutted through with a bodyguard. 

Perhaps this will change soon if he ever gets appointed.  


The Bluebirds were a revived different team from the helpless drips that played midweek in the cup and it seemed that Youngy and Gabbs’ (above) subsequent hairdryer treatment had worked. 

A few minutes in, Fabio busted a lung to clear a shot off the line with a shin to prevent us going behind and this moment turned the game. After a month of laying down to die, City were finally fighting.

It was two lads who we've been on the backs of lately who came up trumps with the goals, Sean Morrison (who also scored an own goal after the restart to pull Wednesday level) and Anthony Pilkington whose sharp volley secured City's first league win since mid August.  

It could've been more of course with the introduction of loan signing lunatic Ravel Morrison who had a slick thirty minutes from the bench (below). 


City have lacked a nasty streak for some time and to see a player who would happily turn up to fight Gary Medel in a car park coming off the bench is a breath of fresh air.

Ravel might be a nutter (potentially carrying a knife in his sock) but he’s got the toes to win games too and drag our sorry rears up the table. 


As we know, in the Championship, there are seven hundred games a week, and this week is no different with tricky away games at Brighton and Blackpool coming up.  

Will Russell Slade be appointed by then? The way it’s gone so far I would say no. It seems City are struggling to finalise the deal for Slade for whatever reason. 

With Youngy and Gabbs laying into the team and getting results though it isn't a massive problem is it? 

Wednesday 24 September 2014

Cardiff City 0 v Bournemouth 3 - Too Much To Stomach



We left in rage on 70 minutes. 

Not since the infamous play-off defeat to Reading during the DJ era have I witnessed a performance with such little fight from a City team and we are now a club in crisis. 

Crisis of leadership, crisis of values and crisis of confidence. Who knows where this turmoil will end but it will not be promotion. 


The depths to which the so-called 'strongest squad in the Championship' sunk in the gruesome opening half hour was too much to stomach. 


Football (particularly Cardiff City FC) makes you suffer on times and right now I cant even look at it, never mind contemplate turning up for more on Saturday v Sheffield Wednesday. 

The City admin crew need to get this new coach appointed sooner rather than later to give them time to sort this lifeless s**t out.

Tuesday 23 September 2014

CCFC Manager Hunt Gets Weird!


Well everyone, it appears it’s pretty darn easy to get an interview for the current Cardiff City Manager’s vacancy.

A decent record on ‘Football Manager 2014’ will apparently make you a contender for the role in Vincent Tan’s eyes as the City board attempt to further understand what football actual is.

The list of supposed ‘candidates’ to succeed Ole Gunnar Solksjaer and drag our sorry backsides up the league is uninspiring at best with almost each subject requiring a thorough googling. 

In fact, given the substandard quality on said grim list of doom I'd even prefer to stick with caretaker managers and club men/legends Scott Young and Danny Gabbidon. 

These lads may be inexperienced but do actually give a shiznit. 


So, why haven’t City identified local warrior Tony Pulis as a candidate? If not only for the way he pronounces the word ‘mark’ (‘Maaaaaaaaark’!). 

An obvious capable successor is ready and waiting for a call but the board are too clueless to see what’s in front of their eyes. 

The Premier League manager of the year is apparently not good enough but the League One equivalent is? 



Another classic facepalm moment is imminent for City fans. 

Brace yourselves. 

Monday 22 September 2014

Llantwit Fardre FC Reserves 2 v Ystrad Stars 3


Above: Dressing room psychology. 

There are two ways of looking at this defeat.

One, I scored my first goal since my return, a 25 yard Peter Whittingham-esque top corner peach. The other way is that I scored my first goal since my return, a 25 yard Peter Whittingham-esque top corner peach.

At this point, to avoid being a complete wang, I should point out that the result was disappointing. 

Particularly considering we missed at least 478 chances, one being an open goal from 3 yards (not me) and then later conceded a comical own goal whilst poor Alan tried to avoid posting himself defending a corner. 

I also feel I should serve up some excuses for the defeat (our first at home this season)…

Ystrad Stars have struggled in the league table BUT…

We only had eleven players (no luxuries such as subs to aid weary legs).

Several lads were forced to play out of position.

At least 25% of our team were hungover and/or still p**sed from the night prior. 


Prior to this latest setback was the humiliating 12-3 bitch-slap from Ynysybwl Athletic last week - a game I missed while watching Cardiff City also get smashed. (I always add I that I missed the game when referring to this one) 

We need to sort our s**t out with the following factors permitting: 
Number of players available 
Alcohol consumption of said players on night prior

Stay tuned. 


Wednesday 17 September 2014

Cardiff City 0 Middlesborough 1 - #OLEOUT


The tide has turned on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and it seems fans patience (mine included) has run the f**k out.

Some fans sat around us have gone from grumbling quietly to themselves on Saturday to standing up and shouting ‘WAKE UP OLE’ and ‘SORT EM’ OUT SOLSKJAER’ red-faced at the top of their lungs three days later.

Four winless games and the manner of Saturday’s capitulation against Norwich has been insulting to fans but last night’s defeat was confirmation that Ole can’t coach his team. After the weekend the players had a point to prove and fans were expecting a reaction on the pitch after the standard hairdryer treatment they all deserved.  

A quick aggressive start was in order but Ole sent his team out half asleep and we were 0-1 down within 120 seconds to a soft goal. 

For the next thirty minutes I found it hard to even look at what Ole had put on the pitch instead opting to examine my shoes and eat two packs of Starburst... 




Many questioned the Norwegian's motivational skills last season when the chips were down and last night was evidence that this area is seriously lacking in a time of need.

While the players sulked around the pitch clueless wishing they were somewhere else Ole stared aimlessly into the abyss with folded arms and as the clock ran down and points slipped away he puffed out his cheeks and scratched his head.

During breaks in play the players approached the technical area for a drink and instructions from the Manager – there weren't any. 


The blood and guts of the Championship will swallow many a coach whole and fans knew it would be a rough season, but the club have built a squad to rival any in the league. 

They just need coaching...

And Ole isn’t up to the task. 

Being tactically naïve is one thing but not being able to galvanise the group is the clearest indication yet that we’re in trouble with this guy steering the ship. 

Time to ring Tony Pulis (top / bottom pic) a coach with integrity who demands desire or you're out. A street-wise man's man who can drag us up the league with no bulls**t. 

If ringing doesn't work I would suggest emailing him and If that doesn’t work perhaps turn up at his house. If he’s not in, wait outside in the car or pop a note through the letterbox. 



Monday 15 September 2014

(Pathetic) Cardiff City 2 Norwich 4

Football changes quickly, massaging your soul one minute and slapping you across the mush the next.

Take the title of the post below this one for example - That team lost 12-3 on Saturday!  

Then there’s Cardiff City FC, the gift that keeps on giving! 


Just when you think the club can’t shock or embarrass fans anymore, the team deliver one of the limpest most lifeless second half performances I’ve seen… ever.

So, why did this City team switch off to such an extent they threw away a two-goal lead and lost in circumstances which were bizarre - even by Cardiff’s standards? What happened?

What makes the Norwich turnaround especially difficult to accept is how well City played in the first half of course. Against a strong side, fancied by many for promotion, the Bluebirds controlled the game with slick passing, flair and desire.


Peter Whittingham orchestrated everything from his quarterback role and big Kenwyne Jones up front was winning battles he had no right to win. The bluebirds were hungry and the crowd were purring, witnessing the most eye catching attacking football perhaps ever witnessed from the home team at this stadium.


Then the half time whistle went.

Whilst myself and the Pop (above) supped a half time coffee, I can only imagine Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was handing out cigars to the players in the dressing room and telling them the job was done. 

He might have also been showing everyone Youtube clips of his best moments from his playing days and showing the lads how many keepy-uppies he can do. 

Whatever happened in the dressing room didn't work.  

As Solskjaer looked on from the dugout (hands in pockets) Norwich threw everything at us as we slowly retreated back down the pitch. Inevitably they grabbed one back and then two to pull level.

At this point Solskjaer acted by making one of his classic baffling substitutions, leaving City with FOUR central midfielders on the pitch and replacing our biggest threat (Kenwyne) with a player lucky to be on the bench (Maynard).

These strange decisions were made with arguably our best striker (Adam Le Fondre) and most creative attacker (Mats Daehli) sat next to him on the bench. 


At this point much of the Grandstand engaged in a simultaneous facepalm moment.  

It’s strange for a man famed for his ability as a substitute in his playing days that Ole often misreads his substitution choices.

Norwich brought on Cameron Jerome who in turn bullied our back four who rolled over for their tummies to be tickled. 

Where were the leaders? 

From a commanding position, the whole operation had capitulated and by the time I’d unwrapped my next sweet we were looking at a demoralising 2-4 defeat on home turf.  




For the first time since his appointment in January, on Saturday it seemed like larger sections of the City crowd are beginning to lose patience with Ole Gunnar's management. 

He’s a likeable fella is Ole, who seems to be able to deal with the club politics and media well. The thing is though, no matter how experienced he was as a player, his coaching experience falls short, needing time he doesn’t have.

Don’t forget though, football can change quickly and tomorrow City play Middlesborough. 

By 10PM tomorrow City could have clawed back some pride, or on the other hand Ole could be under a tad more pressure not only from the furious support but from Lord Vincent Tan and his henchmen. 



Monday 8 September 2014

Llantwit Fardre FC Reserves - We Don't Lose!


The Fardre 2nds kept on truckin’ this weekend with a classic ‘ugly’ 1-0 win overcoming some slapdash (facepalm-worthy) refereeing and a decent Nelson Cavaliers AFC team. 

The boys dug deep for the clean sheet with Sweeney (above back middle) saving a penalty with a shin and the back four throwing limbs at shots, putting their plumbs on the line. 

You take what you can and this week it was a scrappy goal from a corner scuffed in off Smo's head. With this advantage and both teams missing chances, the Fardre suffocated the life out of the game and took the points from a game so ugly it could give Freddy Kruegger nightmares. 

Four games down and we’re still undefeated, winning three and drawing one. 

Next up: Ynysybwl Athletic


My personal post match ache-o-meter is again off the scale and should my legs return from the dead by midweek i'll be chuffed. 

Monday 1 September 2014

Llantwit Fardre FC Reserves Venn Diagram


It appears obvious now that Llantwit Fardre FC Reserves might just be awesome on several counts. See above Venn diagram.