Culture Vulture Zine : July 2015

Thursday 30 July 2015

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

Wednesday 29 July 2015

Pre Season Light Entertainment - Cardiff City 2 Watford 1

After a dry summer of football based starvation, we can all be thankful that the new season is emerging in the distance - No longer a mirage and now a reality.

It’s from now that we’ll know what we’re doing each weekend and it’s from now that we’ll have reasons to get out of family visiting and kids parties.

It’s now that we can stop mowing the lawn every half hour and it’s now that we no longer need to fill the entertainment void with DIY and ‘conversations’ with the wife.

Sighs of relief can be heard across the land as the football has returned.

Last night was classic pre season – a low key atmosphere with a sparse crowd but exciting all the same after the break. With our senses refreshed after a stuffy and tense season last year, one might notice the scent of the grass, the newly painted interiors of the building or the new ridiculous blue dug out formula one chairs.

In true corporate style, the punters around us in the Rioch Lounge were overheard analysing the new bar stools and sofas while supping red wine instead of how the summer has gone football-wise.

This is Paul (below). He also wasn't at all happy about the new modern decor vibes and was disappointed in the club for not emailing him for his professional opinions prior to the works commencing.

Even Manager Russell Slade (the one who gets stick on here) has gone for a new vibe this season it seems (see below) by ditching the trackie and cap in favour of a slick suit and fresh tan (Shouts from the stands of him having a job interview were a bit harsh at this stage though I thought).

The game itself was played at a decent tempo (for pre-season) and there were lots of positives for Cardiff. The obvious one being little Joey Mason, who appears to have returned after the summer with a full upgrade installed. Not only is the once exiled Joe smashing pre-season goals in but he’s looking fitter, stronger and hungry. Mason’s two goals were taken with confidence but it was his movement and all round shift that impressed.

Then there was the refreshing sight of some flair and class in the team in Sammy Ameobi who played with freedom like a man who could control an up 'n' under punt with his Mohawk. He may be built like a twig but the boy’s got tools and is a point of optimism for the weeks ahead.

Also, wandering around the pitch and built more like a fridge or wardrobe was Kagisho Dikgacoi. A Solskjaer signing Injured for the whole of last season, he’s looking heavy and filling his kit shall we say. There were glimpses of what he could offer if you looked closely - he' s a massive unit and you wouldn't want to run into him but Dikgacoi was poor in possession and looks like he needs to do a few more years of pre-season before he finds his lungs.

It may have been Russell Slade’s same old 1980s formation but City moved the ball quicker and played with more patience. The centre backs did look for the long knock but it was noticeably reduced from last season.

A soft goal aside, the back five looked pretty comfy but it will be a more solid beast with the likes of Bruno Manga, Ben Turner and Dave Marshall returning.

Slade’s got a fortnight till things kick off ‘for real’ and to fine tune the starting squad but I for one feel ‘above average’ about this season ahead.

Monday 20 July 2015

CV DJs Radio Episode 5

This new CV DJs Radio jam features the first ever CV DJs demo track ‘Ode to Russell Slade’, Nick’s sampled a vasectomy info vid and Gavin has themed-up using tracks linked to the number 10 (Wales’ new FIFA world ranking). It's good honest.