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Paul Parry, Formerly of Hereford United Now of Cardiff City
Saturday, January 26, 2008
The fourth round of the FA Cup kicked off last night with Barnsley recording a 1-0 win over Southend United at Roots Hall. Most games will be played today but there are a few tomorrow, including Cardiff City's visit to Edgar Street to take on fourth-tier outfit Hereford United. City have quite a good record in games played at Hereford; in fact, they'll take a nine-game Edgar Street unbeaten run (four wins, five draws) into tomorrow's match.
Paul Parry's link to both Cardiff City and Hereford United has featured in stories leading up to Sunday's clash. Chief among them have been accounts of the deal that brought the star played to Cardiff City from Hereford United. A TEAMtalk story, "Turner: Parry Sale Crucial to Bulls," reports that "Hereford manager Graham Turner has revealed the sale of Paul Parry to Cardiff helped save the club from the threat of bankruptcy." We learn that
"Cardiff initially paid a £75,000 fee which rose to £200,000" at a time when, according to Turner, "'Hereford were heavily in debt and the sale of Paul helped us through our darkest days. It stopped this football club going bust.'"
What the TEAMtalk story doesn't say is that Paul Parry put in quite an apprenticeship at Hereford. It all began with a couple of appearances as a substitute during the 1997/98 season, the Bulls first in the Nationwide Conference after they'd been relegated from the league the previous season. The Bulls finished sixth that season. In 1998/99, he saw more action, making 19 appearances and scoring his first goals, three in all, as Hereford finished 13th. In 1999/2000, he made 24 appearances, netting four goals as Hereford rose to eighth. In 2000/01 he made 18 appearances and scored one goal. Hereford dropped to 11th that year.
The next year, 2000/01, he became a regular, making 39 appearances and netting five while Hereford slipped to 17th. In 2002/03, Parry made 37 appearances and made more of an impression as a goal scorer. He netted 10 as Hereford climbed to sixth in the Nationwide Conference, missing the playoffs by eight points. In his last season as a Bull, Parry appeared in 25 games and scored nine times before getting dealt to Cardiff City in January 2004. Graham Turner might just be right about how pivotal the Parry deal turned out to be as Hereford did quite well in 2003/04, finishing second (but losing in the playoff semifinals to Aldershot). The next year they finished second again but lost in the playoff semis, this time to Stevenage. It wasn't until 2005/06 that the Bulls busted through. They finished second yet again but won the semifinals this time around, against Morecambe, then beat Halifax in the playoff final to return to the football league after an absence of 10 years. It would appear that Mr. Parry's contributions and roughly six years of service have had a bit to do with Hereford's rise.
Matt Green Loan Deal Tops List of City Player Moves
Friday, January 25, 2008
Cardiff City have completed a loan deal with Oxford United of the Blue Square Premier that will have striker Matt Green with the U's for the remainder of the season. Chris O'Brien of CCFC Sleeping Giant has the story. He notes that this move "means that Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and transfer-listed Steve Thompson are the only two fit strikers available to Jones." He adds that "with Robbie Fowler and Warren Feeney injured and Steve MacLean signing for Plymouth, surely City will look to loan a frontman by the end of the January transfer window."
While it's true, certainly, that the cupboard's pretty much bare when it comes to strikers, it's also the case that Jones is managing to get through this patch with Paul Parry assuming more of a striker's role, so much so that Thompson is taking a place on the bench. In truth, City still have some depth at striker. Don't forget Roger Johnson. O.K., just kidding. Nonetheless, I wouldn't bet on City looking "to loan a frontman by the end of the January transfer window."
In "Green Goes Blue (Again)," a post to his Bluesy's Blues blog, Nigel Harris observes that "it is perhaps a surprise Green has been loaned again considering the only other fit strikers presently in the squad are Thommo and Hasselbaink." He adds that "perhaps it also indicates he is failing to make the grade with the Bluebirds." For the season, Green has started six games and made three more appearances as a substitute, scoring one goal. The goal came back on November 24 when he scored for Oxford United in a 2-0 win at Kidderminster.
In other player moves, Kevin Cooper would appear to be on his way out of Cardiff City. CCFC Sleeping Giant's Chris O'Brien has the story. Cooper played in four league games for City last season, all as a substitute. In 2005/06, he made 36 appearances and scored two goals.
There's the saga, too, of goalkeeper David Forde. It would appear that Forde was on his way to Bournemouth in a loan deal, but that's fallen through. So, now he's back with City, so much so that he started and kept a clean sheet for the Bluebirds in their 1-0 FAW Premier Cup win over Welshpool this week. Nigel Harris has that story, which he's posted to his blog.
FA Cup Fourth Round Set as Another Premiership Club Crashes Out
Thursday, January 24, 2008
The last three FA Cup third round replays were played on Tuesday night and produced still more surprises. The biggest surprise was that yet another Premiership club crashed out, Fulham losing to third-tier Bristol Rovers on penalties after struggling to a 0-0 draw at a soggy Memorial Stadium. In another upset, third-flight Swindon Town lost on penalties after playing fourth-tier Barnet to a 1-1 draw at Underhill Stadium. A third match went to penalties as well, with Premiership strugglers Derby County barely averting another upset, slipping past Sheffield Wednesday in a shootout after battling to a 1-1 draw at Hillsborough.
Fulham's loss further reduces the top-flight's presence in the fourth round coming up this weekend. In all, only 11 Premiership clubs have survived the third round. There, they will join ten from the second flight, five from the third, five more from the fourth, and one non-league outfit. Here's a list of survivors:
* Premiership. Arsenal, Chelsea, Derby County, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Middlesbrough, Newcastle United, Portsmouth, Tottenham Hotspur, and Wigan Athletc.
* Second Flight. Barnsley, Cardiff City, Coventry City, Plymouth Argyle, Preston North End, Sheffield United, Southampton, Watford, West Bromwich Albion, Wolverhampton Wanderers.
* Third Flight. Bristol Rovers, Huddersfield Town, Millwall, Oldham Athletic, and Southend United.
* Fourth Flight. Barnet, Bury, Hereford United, Mansfield Town, and Peterborough United.
* Non-League. Havant & Waterlooville.
Just to provide a bit of perspective, last season's fourth round entrants lined up quite differently. No less than 14 of the 32 clubs came from the Premiership with another 12 from the second flight. Only four came from the third and two more from the fourth. There weren't any non-league entrants either.
It'd be quite interesting to go back through the years to see how long it's been since so few Premiership clubs have made it to the fourth round. Unfortunately, I don't really have the time to check right now. Maybe later.
Feeney On His Way Back to City?
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
It's a bit hard to imagine but Warren Feeney could be on his way back to Cardiff City. Or at least that's the scenario Mark Bloom is touting in a South Wales Echo story out today, "Feeney Sets Sights on Breakthrough at City." The jist of Bloom's story is that Feeney is on the mend, "recovering from an ankle injury sustained during his spell at the Liberty Stadium," and has noted that, back at City, Fowler is out and MacLean dealt to Plymouth. So, he sees a chance to return to the Bluebirds and "make the first team at Cardiff."
Michael Morris has posted a story on Feeney to Cardiff City Online. Entitled "Feeney Targets City Comeback," Mr. Morris's account reviews Feeney's recent history. Some ways "down the pecking order behind the likes of Fowler, Hasselbaink and MacLean," Feeney "was loaned out to Swansea to get games." While with the Swans, he "proved to be a hit . . . with 6 goals . . . before he was injured. That injury cost him a permanent move down West." Now, "with full fitness expected in about 6 weeks time Feeney is hoping to make his mark at Ninian Park again."
Six weeks is an eternity in football, of course, and it's next to impossible to know where City will be in a month and a half. You'd like to think the Bluebirds will find a replacement for Steve MacLean this month but then it might just be that Feeney is expected back to provide a bit of depth to a beleaguered striker corps that could be in really bad shape by the time the Northern Ireland international is ready to return to action.
City Win at Welshpool 1-0, Advance to FAW Cup Semifinals
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Cardiff City beat Welshpool 1-0 tonight to advance to the semifinals of the FAW Premier Cup. A Jon Brown free kick at the 85-minute mark provided the Bluebirds with their margin of victory. City will now host Newport County in the semifinal.
Ccfcwelshlad posted a report to the messageboard. Here it is:
Starting line up was
Forde
Morris Purse(c) Achmepong Smith
Cooper Carlisle Ramsey Brown
Webbe Green
An absolutely horrendous game!! Pitch was shocking, impossible to play football and the game seemed to just stagger in the middle of the park with both teams giving it back and for to each other.
Good goal from a pretty decent free-kick, by Jon Brown on about the 85th minute.
Aaron Ramsey was a class above. Whilst he maybe didn't implement and deliver what was intended at times, his mind-set for someone of such a young age was fantastic. He'd go driving forward looking for space and pick a pass out from anywhere. His centre midfield partner was Jack Carlisle and he had a decent game very tough in the tackle and just a pain in the ass for the opposition.
The front-line worked hard without actually creating too much, a lot of power and strength and if Tyrell Webbe continues to progress we may have a decent prospect on our hands. He reminds me of Jerome, but has a lot of work still do to.
Both full-back's pushed on well throughout, Aaron Morris, was the only player in the entire squad that I'd never heard of! Matty Smith looked a way of the standard he was setting before his injury, but a lack of match practice probably played it's part.
Finally, my man of the match Jon Brown. Buzzed around the whole of the midfield has a lot of pace, drive and can pick out a pass. Apart from Aaron Ramsey, on this showing, he will be our next big thing.
Paul Corkery (a.k.a. Corky) posted a report to the messageboard as well, along with pictures taken at the match. Michael Morris has put both on the same webpage at Cardiff City Online. You can find both here.
Who Could City Knock Out of the Top Six?
Monday, January 21, 2008
A question came up on the messageboard at Cardiff City Online, "Who are we going to knock out of the top six?" Goats posted the question, then followed with this:
If we are to make the playoffs who do you reckon will slip out??
I can see us making it if we find another striker, if we dont then forget it... .
With West Brom very likely to go up as champs i'd say runner up is wide open... if we had a few more points it would be attainable but maybe not now. Only the wurzels out of the teams around us have to come to Ninian which is a shame, else we may pick up a few more points. So whose going to fall?? Can't see it being Watford or Palace, Charlton, like Ipswich and Wolves have money to spend, so doubt they will slip either.... Looks like we're relying on Stoke (game up there will be crucial it appears) and Bristol... we have to beat both to have a chance... .
top six in may
west brom
palace
watford
charlton
ipswich
stoke or cardiff or bristol
StotRhonddhaBlue replied, "I can see Watford slipping up! and Ipswich's away form is shocking! Game on I say!" Blooooobird69 agreed, saying, "i think watford as well, don't look too good at mo." Freewa;es noted, "I thought WBA also need to come to Ninnan Park. I think both Bristol City and Ipswich are the ones who need to watch themselves. But second place could be a good shout." Logjammer opined,
Bristol, Ipswich, Watford and Charlton are the oes most likely for me. Wurzels will surely drop out of the top spots, they're just not good enough. Ipswich can't win away and that will see to them.
Even though they scored 5 unaswered goals past us I wasn't that impressed with Charlton ditto Watford, although results elsewhere show that these two will probably make the playoffs.
So, all in all, we're a nailed on cert, does anyone know our allocation for Wembley and is it a bubble trip?
As Big as Barcelona offered the view that "Watford, Bristol, Stoke, Ipswich could all very easily go on the slide as could we, but with a decent striker and if we knock 10 years off oakes we'll race to the top."
All in all, then, most contributors to this thread were pretty upbeat about eighth-place City's chances of making the playoffs. My worry is, though, that the Bluebirds haven't fared well against the seven clubs above them and of the five matches they have left against the top seven only two are at home. In truth, if there were a league made up only of the division's top eight, City'd be in eighth place right now, with only six points from nine games played. Granted, many of these games were played before City's recent revival, but one win in nine is still rather worrisome. Here's how such a table would look:
Charlton Athletic - 2.0 points per game (16 points based on a 5-1-2 record)
Stoke City - 1.9 ppg (15 pts, 4-3-1)
West Bromwich Albion - 1.6 ppg (16 pts, 4-4-2)
Watford - 1.5 ppg (12 pts, 3-3-2)
Bristol City - 1.4 ppg (13 pts, 4-1-4)
Ipswich Town - 1.1 ppg (10 pts, 3-1-5)
Crystal Palace - 0.71 ppg (5 pts, 1-2-4)
Cardiff City - 0.67 ppg (6 pts, 1-3-5)
Just so you know, here's City's remaining schedule against these clubs:
Feb. 2 - at Stoke City
Feb. 16 - West Bromwich Albion
Mar. 4 - at Crystal Palace
Mar. 8 - at Ipswich Town
Mar. 22 - Bristol City
For what it's worth, I see West Brom, Charlton, Palace and Stoke making up the top four, with Bristol City managing to hang on to fifth or sixth. I have a sneaking suspicion Wolves will find their way into the playoffs as well. They're only four points out of sixth right now, in other words pretty much in the exact same place as City. I'm imagining City finishing seventh, eighth or ninth. I hope I'm wrong and that the winning continues. If it does, one of the top six will have to step aside!
More West Brom Match Reports and Photos (and a Video Too!)
Sunday, January 20, 2008
As yesterday's West Bromwich Albion v Cardiff City clash was just about the top story in football's second flight, there's lots of coverage of the exciting 3-3 draw to catch up on. So, let's have a look at some of the reports and photos. Oh, and there's a highlights video to check out as well. First, though, the reports:
The Guardian's Richard Jolly has a report entitled "Albion Forced to Accept That Attack is Only Means of Defence." A bit of an odd title, that. He observes that "Cardiff laid challenge to Albion's hitherto undisputed title of the Championship's best footballing team, with Jones saying: 'I don't think there will be many sides who come here and give them a lesson.'" Having quoted Jones, Jolly can't quite bring himself to adopt the view that City have arrived as a footballing side. So, he adds that Jones's statement
"involved an element of exaggeration." Still,he concedes that "Cardiff were lent an aesthetic appeal by their five left-footers, two of whom, Parry and Joe Ledley, provided their goals and ranked as the match's most influential performers."
David Instone has the Independent's report, "Greening's Young Guns Find Target From the Air." Mr. Instone touts the idea that West Brom are the division's footballing side par excellence. "Emirates Stadium regulars may snigger – and those at Molineux certainly will – but it is not so fanciful to regard West Bromwich Albion as the Arsenal of the Championship." So, how are the Baggies the second tier's answer to the Gunners? There's the "delightful attacking; silky smooth through midfield, into feet, round the corner to wingers or overlapping full-backs and often with a stunning end product." There's not nearly as much praise for City here, though we read that "the jet-heeled Paul Parry struck twice superbly."
"Cardiff Tactics Take Wind Out of West Brom" is the title of the Telegraph's report, penned by Matthew Leach. About City's tactics he has it that, "Jonathan Greening, the West Bromwich captain, accused Cardiff of gamesmanship by slowing down the game, so preventing his promotion-chasing side from gaining the necessary momentum that could have snatched them a dramatic winner in a pulsating draw at the Hawthorns." Greening is quoted as saying, "I'd been to the ref a few times. Every time they got knocked they would stay down for a couple of minutes to stop our momentum. I think it was a thing from their manager, telling the players to stay on the floor to stop us in our tracks." Ah, well.
John Percy has the Times Online report, "West Bromwich Albion Fight for a Point." His account begins with a brief sermon on keeping faith with embattled managers, as Peter Ridsdale has done with Dave Jones. City's revival, he contends, "should act as a reminder to chairmen across the country that bringing down the guillotine on the heads of embattled managers does not always provide the solution." He admits, though, that Ridsdale could not "have expected such a remarkable transformation."
Lisa Smith has the Birmingham Post's report, entitled "Fightback Keeps Baggies on Top." Steve Maddeley has the Express & Star's report, "Albion and Cardiff Play Out Thriller." For Maddeley, "There was fantastic drama literally from the first minute to the last, and it barely stopped for a moment in between. There were disruptive injuries, a string of missed chances and an end-to-end flow that made it enthralling; not to mention some splendid crosses and fine goals."
The Express & Star offers another report on the match as well; it's available here. Elsewhere on the Express & Star site, you can find a minute-by-minute account and a collection of pictures.
Nigel Harris has posted a report to his Bluesy's Blues blog, along with a collection of pictures from the big day. Speaking of photos, Michael Morris posted a few to the messageboard at Cardiff City Online. Check them out here, here, here, and here.
Video highlights are available on the Stage6.com website. You can find them here. The video's about six minutes long; you'll find the highlights beginning at about the four-minute mark. You may need to download a player from the Stage6.com site in order to watch the video.
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