STOP SUCKING UP!

After all the drama and lies Cardiff City fans have been force-fed from the club and the owner in the last three years, It's hard to stomach this latest cringeworthy attempt to suck up to us long suffering fans. 

'Retro Shirt Day', as the club have called it for this weeks game against Wolves, is the latest in a new set of PR stunts from the club Office Admin Team to rebuild broken bridges with the fanbase as attendances fall and season ticket renewal dates loom. 

What the club don't understand though is that most supporters see these lame arse kissing attempts as too little too late. Not to mention that, in this instance, most fans who wear shirts to games have been sporting 'retro' blue shirts (and not the red ones) for nigh on three seasons. 

Every game has been 'retro shirt day' to show a flying V to the owner and the board since 2012, so why should this be seen as an 'event' now? 

Most fans may be fickle but they aren't all thick. 

Cardiff City 1 Blackburn 1 - Is There Hope? Yes, There Is Hope

Pre game, myself and the original Doom Monger ™ (my old man) had learnt to lower our expectations of Cardiff City. In light of a few months of the grimmest football you'll ever see, over pre game burgers I hoped half-heartedly for some possession and the Pops admitted to accepting a heavy defeat just to get Russell (#SladeOut) Slade sacked and out of the club. 

Thankfully, what transpired surpassed these expectations by a country mile as displayed in the snap below whereby some fans were seen clapping. 

Regular readers will know that our patience with Slade went a while back & last night saw the first game of his new 'Head Coach' (whatever that means) Paul Trollope (below pic) alongside him in the technical area - Complete with animated instructions, cajoling, arm waving and EVEN info being passed to the players. 

Whether he's Slade's idea or not doesn't matter - it seems to have improved things. 

Slade not giving instructions HAS IMPROVED THINGS - I'll let that staement hang in the air for a bit... 

Or is Trollope's arrival and improved performance a coincidence? No, it is not a coincidence. 

City may have conceded late on last night but can take hope from a number of aspects of the draw, including a lively showing from Matty Kennedy - a young confident pup signed from Everton full of wonderful rare jewels like pace, panache and creativity.  

Lets hope our coaching staff dont suck the life out of him. Research shows this takes approx 4 weeks. 

The tempo from the off was set a thousand times quicker and the Bluebirds were almost unrecognizable from the dire pile of s**t fans were served up last Tuesday in the 0-0 draw against an equally lifeless Brighton team.  

Kennedy’s debut was strong but it was all over the pitch things had woken up, from the pressing to the players appearing to understand their positions - There were shots on goal, crosses into the box and Cardiff EVEN shaded the possession statistics for the first time in what feels like several years. 

Over a half time brew inside fans were quiet and confused as to what they were seeing. Without moaning, most fans in the CCFC hospitality struggle for conversation y'see. 

Sean Morrison (above) powered home a booming header to give City a deserved 1-0 lead in the last ten minutes. Upon the glory of the goal I realised I’d forgotten how to celebrate goals resulting in the fumble of a pack of soft mints. The rarity of the joy added to it's potency. 

Yet perhaps the story of City's season, or of their past two seasons even, should suggest that nothing is ever simple. And as the Pops squirmed in his seat with nerves next to me in injury time it was simple for Blackburn.  

As the visitors threw everything at us for an equalizer, the improved Scott Malone was forced into putting his family jewels on the line for a last ditch goal-line clearance with the ball falling to the limp Craig Noone who could only fall down on the ball presenting it to a ruthless Rudy Gestede to smash home. 

Andy next to us reacted by throwing a Starburst sweet in rage towards Russell Slade. This is signification for Andy as he enjoys his game time sweets.

Now it remains to be seen whether the hope of a corner being turned at City lasts longer than their lead did. Let's hope so.  

Whilst last night was a step in the right direction though fans will reserve judgement until further consistent improvement is made. It’s nice to have a nudge of belief though right?

Is there hope? YES, THERE IS HOPE. 

In Russell We (DO NOT) Trust #SladeOut

Cardiff City 0 Brighton 0 - There Are No Emotions

‘Apathy’ is a lack of feeling, emotion, interest, and concern. It's a shrug or a sigh. 

There’s a desperate lack of feeling at Cardiff City FC right now, from the fans, to the miserable players, to the clueless Manager, to the board and to the fruitcake owner. Nobody gives a s**t anymore and as season ticket renewal deadlines approach, few fans could claim to enjoying a trip to the Cardiff City Stadium in the last year.  

After years of being dragged through the most dramatic of cringeworthy soap operas, everyone’s feeling a bit numb and indifferent like a kid who has seen too many horror films. 

Bankrupt tactically and half asleep on the touchline, current Manager Russell Slade is so far out of his depth it’s frightening and the fact that the board are not willing to relieve him of his duties even more so. Fans are struggling to see not only what the game plan is but what the master plan is.  

Given current form (DLLDLWLLLDD) and league table position, back-to-back away days coming up at Huddersfield and Wigan are looking bigger than they should have a few months ago and the outlook is darker than a goth sith on a moonless night.   

Will things improve? Only if a competent Manager is brought in to replace the current dinosaur.

Plan B being that Big Andy who sits next to me is thinking of bringing Prozac and hallucinogenic drugs instead of mints to the Blackburn game next Tuesday - 

I can’t tell if he’s joking :)  

BREAKING NEWS - Nick Discovers New Star Soccer

It might not look much on the eyes but ‘New Star Soccer’ is an iPad game that has had me addicted in a major way since discovering the little gem on the weekend. 

Hideously addictive and incredibly simple, NSS is part Championship Manager and part Sensible Soccer. Instead of managing or controlling a team though, you’re controlling only yourself on and off the pitch, your quest for personal wealth and happiness is a big part of the game. 

The quite witty 'Lifestyle' part of the game offers you the chance to buy property, cars, Jacuzzis and slick suits among other 'essential' footballer crap. This will increase your 'Happiness' rating making for better performances on the pitch. 'So realistic' I whisper to myself with no irony whatsoever. 

It’s the type of game that my darling wife doesn't take kindly to hearing about. I turn to her in bed of an evening and say interesting things like ‘Hey look, Wrexham want to sign me!’ to which she scowls and turns over.

Sunday night, once the niños were in bed, instead of putting the recycling out or discussing the forthcoming weeks plans with the wife, I was scoring goals for Tenerife in the Spanish segunda. And while my dearest ate her evening meal alone I was negotiating a new boot sponsorship deal and using my wages for half time 'NRG drinks'.

Running the life of a young footballer, you have to make and score goals and use your wages to upgrade your tekkers, buy boots and build your relationship with your teammates and coach. 

The simple swipe controls make gameplay unfussy and arcade-like and as you get better (or worse) on the pitch, clubs will bid for you and you can increase your wages by moving up the ladder.

Complicating matters is the need put aside some of your wages for lifestyle items - mobile phones, cars, even houses. Better houses will help you maintain your fitness, while lifestyle items will help you get a 'girlfriend', which will boost your 'happiness' and help you to play better (Just like real life yeah?).  

You can even visit the casino if you want but be prepared for your reputation to take a knock if you are seen gambling too much.I was even in the press for wearing a cheap tracksuit in public. The heat from this sent my 'happiness' level plummeting. 

The game becomes about managing your resources in a bid to build your skills while keeping everyone happy. It's a classic 'just one more turn' procrastination game that could eat your soul. Forget FIFA, If you've ever played Football Manager, or even Angry Birds, there's a good chance that New Star Soccer will grab you in a headlock. 

NSS - Available on the App store now. 

Go get it & let it eat your life. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Here's me (below) not answering my work phone or email due to an important Spanish cup game on NSS this afternoon - Currently 0-0. 

Window of Opportunity > Part 2

With 25 goals in 33 games so far this season, new striker Eoin Doyle (above) knows where the onion bag is and Cardiff fans will be hoping this ruthless predatory play which has brought him to peoples' attention in League One also translates to Championship level like strikers who've done this in the past such as Jordan Rhodes and Rickie Lambert.

With Adam Le Fondre flopping (3 goals in 21) and (instead of being dropped) being loaned to a Championship rival in Bolton, a striker was high on the agenda for Russell Slade this transfer deadline day regardless of whether he was shopping in Harrods, Ebay or PoundLand. 

Le Fondre arrived from Reading for big cheddar in the summer with a cheeky grin and a rep of being a ‘goal machine’ but it appears Cardiff’s tactics and politics have zapped the boys’ mojo to smithereens. Add to that Maynard being released for being fat, Guerra being loaned out and Macheda generally being rubbish at everything and City’s options have been thin like a Peurto Rican moustache.  

Cardiff City has become a graveyard for strikers in recent seasons but fans hope a new confident striker in Doyle (and the return of Joe Mason from loan) could spark some much needed life up front for the Bluebirds in what is a critical month ahead.   

Along with Doyle was the signing of the two Everton kids, Kennedy a Scottish winger on a permanent deal and McAleny a borrowed forward. Both young puppies and both gambles but coming from Everton they won’t be short on tekkers or gumption. Whether they get near the team though remains to be seen.

This deadline day could’ve been worse for City fans of course with Norwich having a right sniff around Craig Noone and big Kenwynne Jones attracting the odd email enquiry. Not to mention Captain David Marshall whose injury thankfully looks like preventing him being sold. 

Overall, it’s turned out better than most had predicted. All the Bluebirds need to do now is get some points and look to finish top half or face a relegation knuckle up :)