Stress Is A 2-0 Lead

See this? This is the kind of behavior I was putting up with at the Sheffield Wednesday game this Saturday. After a late night before at the work party, the ol’ man was feeling tired and he didn’t mind letting people know about it. Fellow fans passing by chuckled to themselves observing him nod off during pre-game chat. As most parents with young children will testify though, patience for ‘tired’ moans is limited after your latest night in seven years of broken sleep. Thankfully, the game started and the Pops’ legs mustered the energy to get himself to his seat. 

The Sheffield Wednesday game was many things but most refreshingly it was certainly entertaining with crazy shifts in dominance, lots of chances and even a few knuckle ups. After a first half of enduring pressure and playing on the counter, City were playing effectively in the style of an away team as Wednesday pushed them back. The 2-0 score at the break didn't flatter the Bluebirds but after squandering what seemed like several thousand clear chances, the game wasn’t killed off and the Owls wormed their way back in. 

A few individual defensive errors later and shamefully the score was tied at 2-2. Fans can blame Russell Slade all they want but when players cant be arsed to track a runner and he walks into the box and scores, that’s the player’s fault (This time it was Aaron Gunnarsson). 

For the second home game in a row then a 2-0 lead and two points were let slip away, highlighting the team’s lack of ruthlessness and the need for more street-wise play to shut down games. Performing in patches as appose to seeing through a job has become a common theme... And speaking of that theme, on to Tuesday. 

Thankfully, prior to the Brentford game, the Pop arrived at the ground with his standard 12 hour sleep in the bag, ready for the game, with half time Toffee Crisps in his coat pocket. Like City, he needed to up his game too & he knew it.

The players came out of the tunnel to the Star Wars theme but with a few minutes to go, the fans wouldn't have minded being in a galaxy far, far away. Wild boos rang down from all corners of the stadium as Cardiff had, somehow, contrived to give away a two-goal lead for a third successive home game. Through excessive face palms my my forehead was hurting and the natives around us were losing their minds. 

Then, just as restlessness turned to rage and fans prepped to leave, little Fabio skips to the by-line and pulls one back for Kenwynne Jones to scuff one in off his shin for an injury time winner. Quite what the atmosphere would have been like for Russell Slade had Jones not scored when he did would have been interesting. 

That winner though only masks the problems on the pitch for City at the moment, and although he likes to pass the buck, the Manager himself is certainly not blameless with some odd substation decisions and lack of game management costing the Bluebirds. 

It's not often you win 3-2 in injury time but leave the stadium disheartened. 

Bluebirds 2 Burnley 2 > Unlucky or Naive?

It was the kind of rain that could get through to your pants if you’re not dressed appropriately. The kind of relentless downpour that favours slide tackles, long ball tactics and men rather than boys.

After a lame display up at Derby last week, City came out pumped for this one. Unlike recent weeks, the tempo was cranked right up and the ball was being knocked about in a slick fashion around the water logged pitch, with two touch and even one touch football! Not only was it a relief to see but it could even have been categorised as ‘entertainment’. For real - no joke. 

New loan player Tony Watt looked positive and carrying tools other current front players don’t have like pace, a directness and desire. City were not only creative and bright but dug in deep when needed in mental weather.

Sure, the result in the end felt like a cruel defeat but was it just bad luck or was it down to poor 'game management'?  

At 2-0 up, you could claim the substitutions could have been handled with a bit more care and perhaps the game could have been suffocated in midfield like most streetwise teams would. It’s clutching straws blaming Russell Slade for this one though after a rare piece of poor goalkeeping from Dave Marshall and a weird deflected injury time own goal from a usually reliable Matt Connelly. 

City need to move on though and take this performance to Bolton on Saturday, a team all over the place at the moment, and a winnable away game if we go there with ambition. Forget being functional on the road and looking for a ‘good point’ – Cardiff need to keep the tempo up, be ruthless and take the ‘W’.  

Shout out to the boy who attended his third City game with us and is yet to see a defeat. His reaction to conceding in injury time was of pure frustration as he prowled our empty seats angrily – This created mixed feelings for a Father who could be pleased to see he cared but also knowing he might need to get used to frustration.

On route home in car came some great quotes that only a six year who had just seen Cardiff could make:

‘Dad, why didn’t the defenders kick the ball away to stop the goal?’

‘Dad, why was Tony Watt subbed off?’

‘Shall we go out for tea?’ Was my response. 

Woah, Goals! > Bluebirds 2 Reading 0

Last time I brought Isaac along to watch the Bluebirds was the first game of the season, where City played out a cagey 1-1 draw with Fulham. What I’ll remember from that day was the boy being more absorbed in his sweets than the game and while he enjoyed visiting the stadium, he resorted to playing Angry Birds on my phone to null the boredom - I couldn’t blame him.  

It’s been tough trying to sell the game and Cardiff City FC to the boy without nudging him into a world we all know and (sometimes) love – particularly with City being quite unattractive these days and with Russell Slade in charge. 

With the wife away for the weekend though, this Saturday he was joining us again – this time armed with a comic, more sweets and my phone charged to the max. 

After a bleak midweek showing in Leeds, and a recent run of not scoring, I didn’t give Cardiff much chance of a win here. Nevermind scoring TWO goals and putting on a decent display for the boy!

With growing knowledge, this time Isaac took the game in, commenting sagely on how good City were at getting corners and even applauding substitutions! Granted, he shielded his ears from the noise when City scored but progress must have been made as Angry Birds was surplus to requirements. The amount of treats consumed on the day though reached phenomenal levels and will remain between us for fear of his Mum finding out and getting me in a head-lock.  

Saturday saw a refreshing shift from young urchin Joe Ralls who finally got to play in his preferred central role, after the Manager had the change forced on him with injuries and the ever-present Peter Whittingham suspended.  

Fans had been calling for this for months of watching Slade expect Whittingham to run every game. What Whitts brings to the table is clear but picking him persistently unmerited for his set play delivery alone and expecting his legs to dominate the midfield sluggers of the Championship every week (when we’re usually overrun in the middle) is asking for trouble. Whittingham is a gem who needs some thought and wiser management could see him play less and deliver more.

His understudy and potential heir Joe Ralls embodies the modern midfielder who runs around a lot and can do lots of things pretty well, without excelling at anything (Think Jordan Henderson). Ralls is clever, can see a pass, he’s got iron lungs and doesn’t shy away from a tackle either. Then there’s his set play delivery which led to two assists on Saturday. Slade has a decision to make for the next game at Derby as to whether Ralls stays central or Whittingham returns. I speak for most in saying I would like to see Whitts fight for his spot and keep Ralls in. 

Another rough win for City against a quality side even saw a begrudged change in formation towards the end as shape changed to a shutdown 4-5-1. The goals again came from set plays though (two headers) with City looking far from creative - albeit with a higher tempo. What most fans were discussing though was where we would be without David Marshall who was quite unreal… again. 

The criticism for the Manager from both the support and the media remains unrelenting, and even when we win 2-0, it’s our goalkeeper’s performance that got the praise, not Russell Slade. His pursuit of praise may never come though as anything but a top-six finish for Cardiff is a failure this year and that’s what Slade will be judged on. Whether the bald one likes that or not, that’s what it boils down to. It’s time for him to let the results like this one do the talking, ignore social media and stop getting so defensive when asked tough questions. 

Slade and the team's biggest achievement on the day was the one that pleased me most though and that’s Isaac asking to come again. He assures me he still prefers, NFL, Wrestling and Basketball, but the victory worked for him. Best get the sweets in. 

THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE AIMING FOR

Lots of hype about City's back line at the moment but it seems like the whole team has forgotten how to create and most importantly... hit the onion bag.  

Cardiff City 0 Wurzels 0 - Drab AF

Attendances may be LOW at the moment with games looking like they’re being played behind closed doors as backdated punishment for an owner killing supporter’s souls. BUT… we’re always in the house and this Monday we saw the Bluebirds take on our carrot crunching tractor driving neighbors from across the Severn River.

In a lifeless 0-0 derby, City could still have nicked all 3 points at the death when Sammy Ameobi outrageously missed an open goal, failing to wrap his stick insect legs around a cross. With the hair of a strong independent black woman, Sammy ghosted into the box as the stadium arose in unison to celebrate the winner, only to see the ball smash against the advertising boards to a collective groan / mass facepalm. 

Seriously though, Ameobi's hair does need looking at. Credit him for being bold but the Flock of Seagulls roadkill vibe clearly isn't working. 

In a match which gave so little, we could still have gone home buzzing though. Fine margins define success in this sport, and if that chance was converted, fans would be amped and talking about promotion. Instead though I sat forlorn in the old man’s car on route home silent as the Lighthouse Family came out the boombox. 

It’s frustrating games like this where football tests you, toying with your emotions and patience. You take whatever positives you can though and ours were based around half time burgers and Moam sweets.  

City aren’t scoring goals but the defence has been tight. It’s hard to buy into what Russel Slade has been banging on about in the press though claiming that over a season '15 clean sheets will get you in the play-offs’. We’ve got six so far but wouldn’t it just be easier to score a f**king goal Russ?    

At least there was the Cardiff Devils. On Sunday night watching ice hockey in a tent in front of 3,500 people the noise was at least a hundred times louder, the game was faster and we left smiling.

With a tricky schedule in November, it’s time for the Bluebirds to step things up or it’ll be treading water in mid table again.  

#FacePalm 

Cardiff City 1 Boro 0 > Bluebirds Get It Done Ugly

Most things I wasn’t expecting last night happened.

Firstly, the bluebirds, facing a mean Middlesbrough defence and a team on the charge for promotion dug deep. In a scrappy game City went ugly drawing upon all the team spirit they gained from orienteering in the summer to get the ‘W’ via a weird own goal.

This kind of gross win is a pleasant indicator as to where the team are at heading into winter. Last year they may have had their pants pulled down - this term though they appear a tougher cookie fighting in the mud. 

This guy (below) was at the game with me. Occasionally he would look up from his phone to ask me for a sweet. At 59 years old the Pops has discovered social media and is loving life in this respect. 

When Cardiff got the ball bundled in the net in the 86th minute the bench went crazy and Russell Slade appeared to be turning to make a point to a section of fans sat behind his technical area with a 'I told you so' finger wag and some beef.  

Whoever rattled Russell's cage did a decent job as it didn't stop four minutes later at full time with Slade appearing to ask the fan (or fans) to make their way to pitch level so he could presumably headbutt them. 

Whatever the circumstances, many City supporters around us were loving Russ losing his s**t and showing some passion. 

If anyone knows the story please get in touch.

Respect to Trolls

Paul Trollope. 

Fabio > He Deserves A Drawing

The little fella who has more passion than most and a shorter fuse than Michael Douglas in Falling Down. Fabio Da Silva has gone from an outcast lurking in the shadows to a starter at City and my player of the year so far. 

With 11 Fabio's City would be promoted by now! 

Hull Defend Like Beavers to End Bluebirds Run

Last night’s frustrating defeat ended a strong six game unbeaten start to the new season for Cardiff City, in a bitchy game which highlighted lots of positives despite the lack of points.

Following Saturday’s drab post international break 2-0 win grinded out against Huddersfield, the Hull game was always going to be a bigger test and a chance to measure where we stand when put up against a fancied promotion chasing beast.  

As expected, Hull were strong and well organised but it was City who took the fight to them, forcing openings and set pieces but without the cutting edge or ruthlessness to break them down.

Despite just 36% possession, it was Hull who took their chances though and shut down the game. You could say it was a smart away team performance getting the job done but in boxing tongue you would have to award the Bluebirds the fight on points.  

With the scoreboard flattering Hull, there were lots of positives to take from the performance though with the team looking sharper and better tactically perhaps than ever before under Slade and but for some hideously unfair refereeing decisions (particularly penalty appeals) things may have been different and my throat wouldn't be sore from shouting. 

While losing the unbeaten record is hardly a plus, there's no shame in taking much from a performance at home that – if built upon – shows a sign of direction if nothing else. 

Going forward, Russel will be looking for more invention and patience in the final third and there’s a chance to put that right as City travel north to Rotherham on Saturday.  

#TogetherStronger

Another exciting week following Wales as we now stand on the brink of qualification for Euro 2016 next summer. Patience is required to get over the line with only a point needed from games against Bosnia and Andorra coming up in October. 

The dream is on big time. 

#TogetherStronger

In other news, some flag designs are being freestyled. 

Things Looking Up at Cardiff City (WTF?)

After a family holiday in North Wales and a lack of recent blog action in the last fortnight, it’s an ideal time to take stock of where the Bluebirds find themselves five games in and with the transfer window done. It’s fair to say, after the giant facepalm of a season last year, many had Russell Slade on borrowed time but credit must be given to the bald one for steering City to an unbeaten August.

Slade bore the brunt of stick from supporters last year (me included) for not only lame results and dire 1980s style tactics, but it’s there to see that things have been worked on in the summer and carried into the start of the season. With the sound of disgruntled fans ringing in his lugs, Russell has had a point to prove and after hiring coach Paul Trollope, the style of play in particular is something that has radically changed from a hit and run long ball slug-fest into a neater patient possession based approach.

Granted, City are not playing like Brazil 70 or Barcelona yet but the players appear fitter and better prepared for games, they know their jobs and are starting to click as a group on the pitch. What’s perhaps more significant though is the return of smiles to their mush and what looks like the return of the magical ‘team spirit’ - something which hasn’t been seen around these parts since the Malky era when the whole squad wanted to hold hands, hang out after training and put their bodies on the line for the promotion cause. (Good times) 

A potentially tricky transfer window and ‘#DeadlineDay’ have also been navigated sensibly. After three or four windows of pissing Malaysian money out the window, the balancing of the books has ticked along quietly. Signings haven’t been mouth-watering but it could also be argued that the nucleus of a potentially strong and fruitful squad was already in place (albeit with about 700 too many players). 

For once Cardiff stood firm over negotiations when the big boys came knocking for a star player and Captain David Marshall stayed at the club where he may have been sold for magic beans in previous windows. Slade also saw to clearing some of the deadwood left hanging round like a bad expensive stench from previous regimes including Guerra, Kiss and Velikonja, freeing up more funds for the budget. Striker Eoin Doyle, disgruntled at a lack of game time, was also moved on loan to Preston and took his moaning with him. 

Doyle's wildcard replacement Idriss Saadi was the only fee reported to have been paid by City (£700k) over the summer. It remains to be seen whether this lad can worm his way into the team and perform as good as his YouTube compilation videos (can anyone?). 

All in all, the squad may lack stardust and flair to sell tickets but it still looks functional and as strong as any in the league. 

Above: At the stadium for the Wolves game with the neighbours the other week.

On the pitch, City were not cavalier in their victory over much fancied Wolves a week ago Saturday but the organisation and result was impressive. Following that with another big three points away at Forest has continued the momentum and begun to create a welcome and unfamiliar decent feeling around the club for a change as we head into the international break. 

So, is Russell slowly starting to prove the naysayer supporters wrong? I am chowing down my words as I type this and look forward to feasting on more over the season if this continues. 

CV DJs Radio Episode 6

This latest episode of CV DJs Radio is out now & available to stream on Mixcloud.

As per the norm, first up is Nick's mix of cyber rave vibes before passing the virtual crossfader to @gavinbonson for his jams in the second half. 

Note, the CV DJs Technical Team are currently working on the free DL MP3 option. 

#CVDJs 

(Shouts to Sly for the photo shoot and being a part of CV DJs Radio Episode 6)

QPR 2 Cardiff City 2 > Malone You Beast

Upon signing Scott Malone from Millwall in January for approx £10, most Cardiff fans laughed at Russell Slade when he tried to convince us that the player had been snatched from under the noses of German powerhouse Borussia Dortmund. (Major LOLs all round)

After a patchy first few months though finding his feet in a lifeless team, he's started this season like a beast. Malone may have a hairstyle worthy of a dead arm every time you see him (and a lame tat of Marilyn Monroe on his hand) but he’s made a fine start to the campaign capped with an outrageous injury time equaliser on Saturday. 

True enough, City can’t keep relying on last minute worldies for points but things on the pitch have improved.

Many argued Cardiff deserved a point on Saturday but, given the dominance of the game and the amount of decisions that went against them, they will feel they deserved more. In a white-knuckle second half, City will feel hard done by after seeing QPR keeper Rob Green not sent off for handling outside the box when Antony Piklington was in on goal. And then there was the conceding of the weird double hand ball goal which everyone claimed not to see.  

Despite the s**ty luck, City looked like a unified team that had a plan, kept the ball and were willing to scrap. A refreshing change after last season’s limp slog.

Last year Russell Slade’s team sat in a mundane 1980s style 4-4-2 system and couldn’t hold the ball, resulting in inconsistency and mega grumpy fans (me included). Love Slade or hate him though (I've hated him) it’s clear to see work has been done over the summer. In the three games so far this season, City have mustered 62% (QPR), 57% (AFC Wimbledon) and 54% (Fulham) possession. Granted, this doesn’t earn you points, but it does highlight small improvements the bald one and his staff are making brick by brick. 

Things may have improved slightly but some longer term problems remain, like getting the team selection wrong. How Alex Revel continues to get picked is very mysterious to most who watch Cardiff play - model professional he may be but competent to lead the line ahead of Cardiff’s other striking options is an insane thought. How he started ahead of Sammy Ameobi and Kenwyne Jones at QPR only the bald one knows.

Then, when you add to that Craig Noone is foaming at the mouth to play after two slick goals in two games and is only on the bench… questions need answering.

A strong showing at QPR is pleasing and improvements are there to see, but with a few more tweaks and common sense we should’ve taken home a W. Lets hope more improvement is seen up at Blackburn tomorrow. 

Below: Scott Malone fan art 

Isaac's First EVER 'Proper' Football Match - Cardiff City 1 Fulham 1

This entry here is dedicated to my son Isaac (above) who had a new experience this weekend… his first ever (‘proper’ as he called it) football match.  

Straight after his swimming lesson, I broke the news to him in the car park that we were going to watch City instead of going food shopping with the ladies of the family (A cunning ploy from me to boost the appeal of the event!).  

And to up the ante that little bit more, I also chose this moment to reveal an outstanding packed lunch to take to the stadium, complete with Kinder Hippos, Moams and all the trimmings - I knew what I was doing. You could only really better this if a Transformer was giving us a lift to the game. 

I remember not really enjoying my first game in 1990 (aged 9) and my main overriding emotions being fear for safety (we were stood on the terraces). It took a few games to get into it and it wasn’t until the following June when Wales beat West Germany famously that I got ‘the bug’ for football. At five years old, I'm easing Isaac in very delicately. 

His enthusiasm levels were higher than predicted whilst parking up at the ground, even though on route he had informed me (quite sternly) that he ONLY supports Wales at football and nobody else. Seeing the boy using his own ticket and entering the stadium in the hustle and bustle of thousands of other fans for the first time got me all emotional and nostalgic. Elton John could’ve soundtracked this moment on his piano in the Cardiff City Grandstand foyer and if it was a film it could've been in slow motion for dramatic effect.  

As we know, it can be tricky for a Dad not to come on too strong with sports for their son, and I’ve always been conscious of that going for a drip feed of exposure to the game instead of forcing a season ticket on him. He prefers spaceships, ninjas and Minecraft to sport at the moment but that could change over time of course. 

Watching the game itself, we analysed the new City ‘Bluebird’ mascot’s outfit and the amount of seagulls flying around instead of tactics. A comic and the packed lunch had seen us through till half time but the second half saw the boy getting bored resulting in him playing an emergency game of Angry Birds on my phone in a bid to see us through till full time as City pushed for an equaliser. 

Sure enough, in the 87^th minute, Craig Noone smashed one in from outside the box and the stadium erupted. The scenes on our row were a tad different to the rest of the place though with Isaac only looking up from Angry Birds for a split second to punch the air and then it was eyes back to the iPhone. He would later report to his mum that these celebrations were too loud. 

Overall, Isaac enjoyed lots about his first time at the football - mostly the snacks. If only I could go back to 1990 and read what my Pop put on his blog about me. 

The Year of the Joes

Joe Ralls 

The Reduced Section @ CCFC

With a month left of this slow-burning transfer window, fans are awaiting the latest moves from Cardiff City as things begin to heat up prior to the madness of ‘#DeadlineDay’ ™

With very dramatic transfer windows of the past where Malaysian money was being urinated into the wind and new overpriced diva footballers arriving at the Vale training ground by the hour, the club have had a much needed calm and relatively uneventful one thus far.  

Seeing your club show ambition and investing in making transfers is fun but when you know it’s all going to end in tears it gets a bit frustrating. However, the current squad could be seen by some as strong enough to compete this season if managed effectively. Only really Sammy Ameobi has been drafted in on loan so far and a very handy signing he looks to be.

But what next for Russell Slade, the City Admin lads and the club fax machine? Noises have been made regarding plates spinning and irons in fires for ‘one or two’ additions but we await any further developments on that front.

Lots has been made of the failings and wasted money of previous managers resulting in a group of unwanted players hanging around begging for a move. With the likes of Adam Le Fondre and Javi Guerra not fancied by Slade and gathering dust in the CCFC deperture lounge, it looks certain that these assets will move on. A conclusion to suit all parties it seems.

There are other players in the reduced section too who could well be shipped out should enquiries become firmer, including Kenwyne Jones who has recently been linked with a move to the MLS (We can only hope).

It’s only after these moves are completed and the sales cash hitting the Cardiff bank account that we are likely to see the club make more active strides in this market. After making a loss on each player mentioned there’s been noises from the owner that this is the only cheddar Russell Slade will have to play with for now.

So, regardless of whether Russell is the right man to spend this doe in the market and whether or not his scouting network spans beyond Championship Manager, what do we need? 

Nasty Midfield Maestro

Cardiff have yearned for a warrior marshalling things in the middle since not replacing Gary Medel this time last summer. Kagisho Dikgacoi was brought in but got all sorts of injured (mostly from eating) leaving the gaping hole protected by the likes of Gunnarsson (not clever enough) and Whittingham (not that type of player).

During last season calls were repeatedly made for Russell to change the formation and bring more bodies to protect the middle instead of his beloved 4-4-2 but all we ended up seeing was the middle getting overrun and Cardiff get bullied.

In order to progress this season, this is one issue which needs addressing. The time has come for a maestro to add some bite and if he can take the ball short from our long punting centre backs then that’s a bonus.

Dikgacoi is not the answer (Perhaps he could be after several years of fitness work).

Imagination

Last season was mundane under Slade at times with the straight line 1980s tactics, robotic long balls and static movement. It’s fair to say more craft and creative thinking is required from the front players but do the current group have that? And will they be allowed to indulge in such frivolities?

You could argue that Joe Mason and Ameobi each carry the brain and capability of producing something but not many would argue against City brining in a new versatile playmaker. A bit like a Mats Møller Dæhli but a rebooted one that Slade likes and one who has the hunger and the balls to play in the grimy Championship.

Perhaps Russel could move late on this one and make a cheeky dip back into the loan market. We can only dream. Sigh