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15 Top Cardiff City Web Sites
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Late Earnshaw Goal Lifts Wales Past Hungary 2-1
Wednesday, March 31, 2004
Robert Earnshaw scored a 81st-minute goal to lift Wales past Hungary 2-1 in Budapest tonight, a first away win for the Red Dragons in 18 long months. Mike Morris reports that Earnshaw has now scored seven goals in 11 international matches and has a total of 30 goals for club and country this season.
Krizstian Kenesei's penalty shot put Hungary ahead at the 10-minute mark but the two sides were level only a couple of minutes later when a Jason Koumas free kick of 25 yards tied the game. Earnshaw got the winner when Zsolt Low sliced his clearance kick and the City striker pounced on his error to slot home the winner.
John Ley has the match report for the Telegraph, "Brawl Mars Fine Wales Success." The unpleasantness to which Ley refers included "ugly scenes at the end when all 22 players massed in the centre-circle." So much for the concept of the "friendly" then. The Sporting Life site has a report as well.
Gavin Allen has a match report for the South Wales Echo, "Chancers in Budapest." In another Gavin Allen story, "Sparky is Spitting Mad," Wales boss Mark Hughes rips the
"continual provocation" directed at his players from the Hungarians. The Western Mail's Ian Hunt has a story on Mark Hughes's success with a 4-4-2 formation, "Earnie Hammers Hungary." Delme Parfitt's South Wales Echo story, "Earnie's Record Speaks for Itself," has more to do with Danny Gabbidon's night at right back and the story of the penalty shot he conceded early on. Aled Blake's South Wales Echo Story, "'Hughes' Players Showed True Professionalism'," features a number of quotes on the match from one John Toshack.
Table-Topping City Reserves Win at Swindon
Tuesday, March 30, 2004
Cardiff City Reserves took a big step towards securing the Pontins Combination League crown with a 2-1 win at Swindon Reserves. The win gives City a five-point lead over runnersup Plymouth with but four games still to play.
Mike Morris has a brief report on the game. He notes that Stuart Fleetwood and Gavin Gordon got the goals for the Bluebirds, and that Andy Campbell hit the post with a penalty shot. Sean Wozencroft has a more detailed story on the match at CCFCSleepingGiant.com.
Unbeaten Arsenal Battle Man United to 1-1 Draw
Sunday, March 28, 2004
Arsenal will be unhappy that they had to settle for a 1-1 draw with Manchester United at Highbury today. Thierry Henry's brilliant 30-yard blast put the Gunners in front at the 50-minute mark but an unmarked Louis Saha popped in an equaliser from close range with four minutes to go in regulation time to win a point for the defending Premiership champs. The win gives Arsenal a new record - 30 straight without a loss to begin a season. The Gunners are now 22-8-0 for 74 points, now five ahead of Chelsea (who are 21-4-5) and a dozen up on Man United. The Red Devils are at 19-5-6 and 62 points. One could say, then, that the draw cost the Devils their last slim chance of winning the Premiership. You could say that but talk about belabouring the obvious.
The Guardian's Kevin McCarra has a report on the match. For McCarra, "The visitors never matched Arsenal's slickness but it was not unreasonable for them to have finished on level terms." Henry Winter has the Telegraph's report, "Arsenal Let United Off the Hook."
The two clubs meet again next week at Villa Park in the FA Cup semifinals. Right-minded footy fans must now face up to the prospect, next weekend, of having to play Red Devils fan for a day. What's the alternative? Arsenal's becoming the first club ever to reach four consecutive FA Cup finals? Arsenal's becoming the first to win three in a row since Blackburn Rovers did it back in the 1880s? Arsenal's winning a third league-and-cup double in seven years? Do we need all of this? I'd say no and hope Man United can stop them before all of this gets totally out of hand.
Bluebirds Rally to Beat Sheffield United 2-1; Robinson Nets Winner
Saturday, March 27, 2004
Cardiff City beat a top-six club at home for the third time in five Saturdays today, coming back to top Sheffield United 2-1 before 13,666 at Ninian Park. In registering back-to-back league wins for the first time since mid January, City climb to 10th in Division One, their best position in the league table since beating Bradford back on January 17. City's overall record shows 15 wins, 10 draws, and 13 losses, good for 55 points. They're seven points behind sixth-place Wigan, who drew 1-1 at Watford.
Sheffield United's Peter Ndlovu opened the scoring with a brilliant volley in the 25th minute but City were level just before halftime when Blades keeper Kenny failed to handle a 25-yard Richard Langley drive. Given the chance to scoop up the ball, Kenny tried instead to palm it away. That didn't work, though, and the ball found its way over the line to even things up. John Robinson's left-footed volley in the 63rd minute, his first goal for the Bluebirds, put the home club in front midway through the second stanza. City looked the more likely to score after that.
In his match report, Nigel Harris spared few superlatives where City performances were concerned:
Tonight though, the Bluebirds were irresistible and fully merited winners. Nobody could argue that but Blades boss, Neil Warnock did. The man would win a Gold Medal in this summer's Olympics if whingeing was a sport. Maybe on reflection, Warnock will realise his side were distinctly second best because every City player hit form at once. Each stood up and got counted making it possibly the best overall team display of the season. City showed pace, tempo, skill, passion, spirit and the grit and character to fightback from a 1-0 deficit which was undeserved anyway.
Nigel went on to put the win in perspective of the season as a whole:
The big win, and the emphatic style in which it was earned, seemed to finally confirm how we've arrived in Division One and are learning. Next problem to solve, despite some renewing talk of a play-off challenge is finding consistency as we have just about successively won and lost every game in the last 6 weeks. Encouragingly however, this completed our first back-to-back league victories since Rotherham and Bradford were put away in early January.
The two managers saw the match quite differently, a Mike Morris story juxtaposing their remarks. Do you detect any basic differences in these post-match comments from winning gaffer Lawrence and loser Neil Warnock? Lawrence: "I'm very proud of the way we played. They're a difficult side to beat and I'm so pleased we came back from a goal behind to win." Warnock: "We didn't deserve to lose but goals change games. I was disappointed because they got away with a lot of things."
Listers certainly saw a difference. Of Warnock, Matt Gabb asked, "Am I the only one who thinks that he is a first class arsehole?" Matt added:
Some of his comments after Saturday are unbelievable. Blaming everyone but himself and his players. Apparently they shouldn't have lost and our players were "getting away" with everything all day. It's no surprise he is one of the least liked people in football, especially in Division 1 where he seems to have made enemies wherever he's been.
On the same subject, Ant observed:
Watching the game on Sky, I'm at a loss as to what Warnock is moaning about. The ref correctly spotted Lee's handball goal when others may have missed it.
But he let Grey off with a yellow when he clearly shoved his boot into Langley's face.
The free kick leading to our equaliser was also unquestionably correct. Just look at Ndlovu's hand around Lee's leg/knee. There was no debate in the Sky
studio. The only other decisions of note were the continual offsides against CCFC, some of which were borderline . . . but in Warnock's favour.
Wales on Sunday has a report on today's win, "Here's to You, Mr. Robinson." The SportingLife.com site has a report as well.
Chelsea and Arsenal Draw in Champions League Tilt
Thursday, March 25, 2004
Chelsea's winless streak against Arsenal stands at 17 today. That's because the Gunners rallied from a goal down to pull out a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge in the first-leg of their Champions League quarterfinal tie last night. A goalkeeping blunder by Arsenal's Jens Lehmann allowed Eidur Gudjohnsen to put the Pensioners in front at the 52nd-minute mark but Robert Pires headed in the equaliser seven minutes later to give Arsenal a valuable away goal and the edge going into the second-leg to be played at Highbury April 6.
Kevin McCarra of the Guardian has a match report, "Pires Finds Answer for Arsenal." For McCarra, "Chelsea were much improved against their habitual tormentors, yet still not quite good enough." He adds that "though it was Chelsea's 17th successive match against Arsenal without a win, they have at least learned from all that dismal experience. Claude Makelele gave an outstanding display of his craft and their sharp interceptions and discipline prevented Arsenal from attaining familiar fluency." Barry Glendenning has the minute-by-minute report. Paul Hayward has the report for the Telegraph, "Pires Gives Arsenal Upper Hand." For Hayward, "After three 2-1 defeats already against Wenger's team, Ranieri's men responded manfully to the red menace. . . . From Chelsea there was industry and pride, if not quite the fluency of Pires, Henry and Bergkamp."
In other first-leg action yesterday, Real Madrid spanked Monaco 4-2 at the Bernebeu to take command of their quarterfinal tie. After Squillaci put Monaco ahead just before the break, goals from Helguera, Zidane, Figo, and Ronaldo gave Real a comfortable cushion before Morientes got one back for the French League side. Michel Walker has the Guardian's report, "Ronaldo Crowns Real Comeback." Sam Wallace has the story for the Telegraph, "Ronaldo Lifts the Real Madrid."
In matches on Tuesday, AC Milan whipped Deportivo La Coruna 4-1 at the San Siro and Porto dispensed with Lyon 2-0 at the Estadio do Dragao. The Guardian's Chris Taylor has a brief report on Tuesday's two contests.
City Crash Out of FAW Premier Cup, Losing on Penalties at Wrexham
Wednesday, March 24, 2004
Cardiff City crashed out of the FAW Premier Cup tonight, losing on penalties at Wrexham after the two clubs drew 2-2 after extra time. Wrexham rallied twice from a goal down to send the match to penalties, which they won by 7-6 count. After both clubs hit all pf their first six penalties, Tony Vidmar missed one and Steve Roberts nailed his to put Wrexham in the finals, where they'll meet the winner of the Rhyl-versus-Swansea semifinal.
Alan Lee's nifty lob put City in front in the 34th minute but Chris Llewellyn scrambled home an equaliser at the 74-minute mark. Then, after an impressive Andy Campbell volley put City back in front with about 10 minutes to go a Chris Armstrong header got Wrexham level again in the 89th minute.
In a website reaction story on the match, Matt Gabb described the contest as "a substandard performance by a lacklustre City." He adds that "Cardiff can have no complaints, Wrexham thoroughly deserved their victory. They wanted it more from start to finish and are worthy finalists."
In his match report, Nigel Harris minced few words:
Cardiff City threw away what must have been their last chance of silverware - ok, a lump of wood with some metal on it - as they twice threw away the lead with giveaways in normal time of a game they should have won, failed to take advantage of an extra man through extra-time and fall out on sudden death penalties of the altogether-pants FAW Premier Cup.
Most disappointing is that, as Nigel notes, "City were missing a few for different reasons but fielded probably their strongest side ever in this competition apart from a final victory two years ago." He adds that "City went for it in a 4-3-3 style with Alexander, Croft-Vidmar-Collins-Barker, Langley-Bullock-Whalley- Lee-Gordon-Campbell. Alexander, other than his brief sub appearance in the recent Coventry game, was making his first full start for 16 games." The Western Mail has a report as well, "Wrexham Victors as City Crash Out."
Listers were none too pleased with Alexander's performance. John Marenghi had this to say:
Here's a mathematical equation for you - Alexander + penalty shoot-out = victory for opposition. Thank goodness we didn't go to penalties for the play-off final, there would have been only one outcome.
In fairness he did dive the correct way for the winning penalty but couldn't keep it out. Thought he should have done better with Carlos Edwards penalty which was hit high and straight - he got something on
the ball but was already going the wrong way so stood no chance of saving it. What was of far more concern was the way he flapped at the ball for 2 crosses for the goals - whats happened to the confident young keeper who played so well in those end of season play-off matches.
Of the others thought Barker and Gordon were poor, Bullock very average, Fish didn't look good enough, Langley frustratingly inconsistent (Edwards looked better than him) - the rest okay but too many didn't look bothered which was a real shame for the City supporters who did go and gave great support.
Another lister, Aidan MacG. added these observations:
He was truly abysmal last night, at fault for both Wrexham goals never mind the penalties. He cost us the game on his own. He anyone ever rated him as a
keeper? Personally I have never thought of him as anything other than third division standard. He is not a particularly good shot stopper and doesn't command his area. if he is Scotland's number three Scotland has problems. The really scary thing is we were 5 minutes away from a penalty shoot out in the playoff final with him in goal. Magetson a merely competent goalie has shown his limitations.
As for penalties he is so bad that if I were the manager I would have substituted him in the last minute for the substitute goalie, or indeed any of the outfield players. Saw it done in a FA replay last season and the team that did the last minute substitution won the penalty shoot out.
Campbell seemed to have a very good game particularly in the first half (was flicking over to Arsenal Chelsea in the second) and took his goal well, he
is worth persevering with. None to impressed with Bullock who looked ordinary worth a few more games though as we have nothing to lose.
Manager Lennie Lawrence wasn't too happy either. Check the BBC Sport story, "Bluebird Back-Ups Blasted."
Bonner and Bowen Sent Packing
Sunday, March 21, 2004
The South Wales Echo reported yesterday that Mark Bonner and Jason Bowen have been transfer listed by Lennie Lawrence, who has told them that they can "leave for free."
The story, "Bluebirds Show Bowen and Bonner the Door," states that "the news will send out shock waves among Bluebirds' fans who are still disgruntled at City's slip from play-off contention." More to the point is the story's noting that "Bonner has not featured since the clash with Preston at Ninian Park on December 9, while Bowen has been limited to just two Carling Cup appearances."
Bonner came to the Bluebirds from Blackpool, where he was highly regarded by Tangerines fans. He played in 31 games for City in 1999-2000, 24 in 2000-01, 29 in 2001-02 and 14 last year. The started 14 games this year and subbed in six. He scored one league goal for City, back on November 25, 2000, in a 3-2 home win over Hartlepool.
Jason Bowen came to City from Reading in 1998-99 and appeared in 17 games, scoring twice. He was City's top scorer in 1999-2000, netting 12 in 39 contests in that ill-fated season. He was a prominent figure in 2000-01 as well, coming in third on the goals list with 12 in 40 games. After that season, though, his appearances and goal totals tailed off. He netted five in 25 games in 2001-02 and three in 11 in 2002-03. This year he managed to get into only two League Cup games, both as a substitute. He did not score in either match.
Own Goal Lifts City to 1-0 Win at Crewe
Saturday, March 20, 2004
An own goal charged to Crewe keeper Ben Williams proved the difference today as Cardiff City got back to winning ways with a 1-0 win at a windy Gresty Road. The goal came about in the 70th minute when a 25-yard Gary Croft lob came down against the post and rebounded off keeper Williams and into the net. The own goal was hard on Williams, a loan player from Manchester United, as he made a number of fine saves. The win puts City back into the top half of the table, in 12th place.
In his website reaction piece "OG Despair as Keeper Hands Points to Bluebirds," Mike Morris observes that "City were subjected to some pressure but Crewe were not able to create too many chances. Margetson did not have to make the same amount of saves the Crewe keeper did in the first half." After the goal a bit beyond the midway point of the second half, "City saw out the game with Crewe not having the ability to force any major concerns on the City defence." Mike describes the win as "a welcome three points that still allows the more optimistic amongst us to try and calculate how many more games we'd need to win to make the play offs." More to the point, though, "we are now on 52 points and while not mathematically safe from the drop it would take a miracle to see us go down."
In his match report, Matt Gabb praised the Bluebirds' effort, especially late on:
The work rate of the midfield on Saturday was exceptional. With 5 minutes to go I noticed Whalley, Langley and Robinson all running full pelt to get back behind the ball after a City attack broke down. The character and spirit of the side on Saturday was what got us the result, as there was little good football on display in the trying conditions. Langley . . . put in a much improved performance to silence his doubters.
The Western Mail offers a detailed match report entitled "Lennie: There's No Comfort Zone." The ICWales site has the Press Association / TeamTALK report as well. There's a report, too, at the CreweAlex.com website.
More on Jekyll & Hyde City
Thursday, March 18, 2004
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. A story of right and wrong, of joy and despair. A story so horrible, so terrible that it can take you to the very edge of madness. O.K., I admit it. I just swiped these lines from a website devoted to Robert Louis Stevenson's classic. But how could I resist when these words capture so well the
performances of Cardiff City FC so far this season?
City have done a great Dr. Jekyll impersonation in the first half, all brilliant science in holding opponents scoreless to halftime in exactly 75% of their games. Then it's time for the monstrous Mr. Hyde to come out after the break and undermine much of that first-half excellence. Of the 47 goals City have conceded so far, 74% have come after half time.
Here's more on these Jekyll and Hyde Bluebirds:
* City have let in but 12 first-half goals. Only one of the other 71 Nationwide clubs has conceded fewer goals before the break, Bristol City with 10. Two other clubs are tied with City for second place in this category, Torquay and Wigan.
* On the other hand, only two of the other 71 Nationwide clubs have conceded more second-half goals than City. Brentford have let in a staggering 41, including a mind-boggling 22 in the last 15 minutes of play. Ipswich have let in 36. City are tied for third in this category with Walsall and Wimbledon, all three clubs with 35.
Wimbledon have played only 35, though, compared with City's 36 and Walsall's 37.
* Of the goals City have let in, 74.4% have come after the break. That's the highest such percentage of all 92 league clubs. Walsall are second in this department at 70% (35 of 50), Manchester United third at 68.9% (20 of 29), Aston Villa fourth at 68.8% (22 of 32), and Brentford fifth at 68.3% (41 of 60).
* It is the case, by the way, that most clubs concede more goals in the second half than in the first. In fact, of the 92 clubs only 19 have let in more first-half than second-half goals. Among these 19, the clubs with the lowest percentage of goals conceded in the second half are Bournemouth at 32.4% (12 of 37), Wycombe at 38.3% (23 of
60), and Yeovil at 40% (18 of 45).
* Among Nationwide clubs, the stoutest second-half defenders are Bournemouth with only 12 let in, Norwich with 14, and Doncaster Rovers with 16.
45-Minute Matches
Wednesday, March 17, 2004
Cardiff City FC might want to consider lobbying the FA for a change in the rules regarding the length of football matches. Playing full 90-minute games hasn't worked out too well for the Bluebirds this year; in fact, City's performances after halftime this year have done
quite a bit of damage to a most impressive string of first-half displays. Here's why City should try to persuade the FA to end games at halftime:
* If all games so far this season had been stopped at the midway point, Cardiff City would be holding down an automatic promotion place! They'd be in second place with 57 points from a 13-18-5 record, just two-points behind West Ham United.
* To go with their 57 points, City could show a +15 in the goal difference column with a GF/GA figure of 27/12. That +15 figure would be the best in Division One.
* Until Tuesday night, when Reading scored two first-half goals, the Bluebirds had gone eight consecutive league matches without letting in a goal before the break. Before last night, you'd have to go all the way back to January 10, and the home match against Rotherham, to find the last time City were scored on in the first half.
* Incredibly, City had another string of eight straight league matches without letting in a first-half goal earlier on in the season. That streak began with the third game at Forest back in August and carried through to the end of September and the 0-0 home draw with Wigan. City had yet another such stretch, of six games, beginning with the 0-0 home draw with West Ham on October 25 and ending with the 1-1 home draw against West Bromwich on November 25.
* City have played 36 games so far and have blanked their opponents in the first half in 27 of them. That's exactly 75% of the time.
* It's a good thing that City's standing in Division One doesn't hinge on their second-half play. If second-half records alone were to count, City'd find themselves in 17th place, a mere five points above the drop and home-and-away contests against Doncaster Rovers next year. The Bluebirds would have but 40 points, from an 8-16-12 mark and a goal differential of -5 based on GF/GA figures of 30/35.
* After magnficent performances against Sunderland and Norwich followed by decidedly less impressive showings against Coventry and Reading, City are looking like an out-and-out Jekyll and Hyde outfit. That on-again-off-again aspect of their play is no more evident than in the difference in their defensive stats before and after the
break. City have conceded but 12 first-half goals, a whopping 35 second-half goals. Only one club in Division One has let in more second-half goals than City, Ipswich Town, who have conceded 36 but made up for that by scoring 43.
* City's second-half shortcomings are making second-half comebacks impossible. In fact, City are one of only two clubs in Division One who haven't picked up a single point in matches where they've trailed at half time. Tuesday night's loss was the fifth such defeat this season. At 0-0-10, Stoke are they only other club without a point
from such matches.
Last Playoff Hopes Gone After 3-2 Loss to Reading
Tuesday, March 16, 2004
Cardiff City's hopes of making the First Division playoffs were slim indeed prior to tonight's home tilt with Reading. Those faint hopes are all but gone now, following a devastating 3-2 defeat at the hands of the Royals, whose Dean Morgan struck the killer blow with a last-gasp header in injury time. Robert Earnshaw and Lee Bullock scored for City, Bullock's coming in his Bluebird debut to level the match at 2-2.
In his report on the match, Nigel Harris characterised the game as "quite surreal":
An astonishing game that finished well over two hours featuring three different referees, a host of talking points but when the hysteria died down, the reality that yet again we gifted a game. Incredibly, every goal City conceded was a free, unchallenged header in or around the 6 yard box (how many times has it cost us this season?). Each scorer getting their first ever Reading goal. . . . Our defenders took dogging to extremes as they stood around watching Reading score to get a right roasting off Lennie.
Putting the loss in statistical perspective, Nigel adds:
Most supporters realise City fall short of the necessary quality and abilities that separates the main runners from the also-rans (that's why we're 14th). It's very obvious that our midfield and defence require major surgery this summer and there must also be a rebuilding of the Ninian Park fortress. This was City's 8th home defeat to a First Division side with 6 in the league (only 3 rivals fare worse) and 2 more in cup ties. The record has deteriorated over the past 4 months with just 3 wins in the last 13 appearances at home and 6 defeats. City are the equal 2nd leading scorers in the division with 57 but it's now 28 goals conceded in City's last 17 league games, no wonder we've fallen well adrift.
In his website reaction piece, "City 2 Reading 3 How Bizarre, Mike Morris served up these observations:
We missed Paul Parry tonight, John Robinson did well in his place but I'm afraid their was a poor performance from Langley on the right hand side.
Gabbidon was playing every position on the pitch in cavalier fashion and not really succeeding in any of them and Earnie and Lee were not getting the right sort of service.
Now of course we will go and beat Crewe and be looking at the league table again to see whether we can actually still make the play offs.
Reading did their job tonight, allowed us to run around like fools without actually doing an awful lot and they took heart from our poor defending of crosses.
Skipper Kavanagh Lost for Remainder of Season
Monday, March 15, 2004
Cardiff City have lost skipper Graham Kavanagh for the rest of the season. In his story on this very bad news, Mike Morris reports that Kavanagh "will undergo surgery today on his ankle. The operation and subsequent recovery time means the Irishman will miss the rest of the season." Mike adds that the veteran "was initially hurt when playing for Ireland, he was fouled by QPR's Marc Bircham and had to be subbed just 10 minutes into his Irish return. Kav missed 6 weeks of the season then. He has been in pain with the ankle and last week was unable to train."
Early Goals the Difference as City Top Norwich 2-1
Saturday, March 13, 2004
Cardiff City made early goals from Paul Parry and Robert Earnshaw stand up as the Bluebirds beat table-toppers Norwich City 2-1 today at Ninian Park. Parry's first goal for City came at the 17-minute mark; three minutes later Earnshaw scored from a Parry cross for a two-goal lead. Norwich got back into the match eight minutes into the second stanza when substitute Leon McKenzie put a Phil Mulryne cross in the back of the net. City were able to hang on from there, though. The loss ended the Canaries' seven-game unbeaten streak and marked their first defeat away from home since way back in October. City remain in 14th place.
In his match report, Nigel Harris
summed up the match as follows:
It was the archetypal game of two halves as a rampant Cardiff tore Norwich apart in the first half. A 2-0 interval lead could easily have been 4-0 or 5-0, that‘s no exaggeration. Norwich inevitably hit back in the second period. They scored early to make it tense but despite heavy pressure, Margetson only had to deal with a couple of awkward crosses and watch one dangerous effort go wide as City’s tenacity and determination saw them home all aided by a singing Ninian Park 110% behind them.
In his wrap-up, Nigel adds that "It was a stirring, passionate showing, a throwback to the old days when we love City most - they gave 110% honest effort and worked, worked, worked from first to last." In his website reaction story, Mike Morris observed that, after McKenzie's goal, "there was unease as City had to fight off the Norwich attacks. At the time I found it extremely nerve-wracking. Now after the game, I realise that Norwich didn't actually force Margetson into a save. Margetson made two stunning catches from crosses but that was it."
Reserves Lose at Bournemouth
Thursday, March 11, 2004
Cardiff City Reserves took a seven-game Pontins League winning streak into last night's match with Bournemouth Reserves at Dean Court. That streak ended right there, though, as City fell by a 3-0 margin. As reported by Mike Morris in his story on the match, "Derek Holmes scored a hat trick" in the win, "only Bournemouth's third of the season." Also, according to Mike, "There were a couple of shouts for City penalties, one of which saw Gavin Gordon booked for diving, but it was not Cardiff's day."
City starters included Lee-Barrett, Anthony, Taylor, Cronin, Huggins, Bowen, Bonner, Parkins, Jerome, Gordon, and Fleetwood. Subs listed included Kift, Attard, Jenkins, Jacobson, and Hartley.
Lee Bullock Joins Cardiff City
Wednesday, March 10, 2004
Midfielder Lee Bullock joins Cardiff City today, on loan from Third Division strugglers York City. Mike Morris has the story for Cardiff City Online, "City Taking Bullock on Loan." Mike's report offers the following salient details:
A fee believed to be an initial £75,000 has been agreed and will be paid if Cardiff want to keep Bullock in the summer.
Bullock will be eligible to take part on Saturday against Norwich if selected.
Lennie Lawrence has been linked with a move for Bullock for a couple of months and the 22 year old was closed to signing in January.
He has started 155 league games for York City and this season has scored 7 goals. In total with cup and subs appearances he has racked up 188 matches.
The Western Mail's Mario Risoli has a story on City's new signing, "Lee Can Rise to City Challenge, Says Nogan." The Nogan in question is Welsh forward Lee Nogan, who has led the Minstermen in scoring this year with eight league goals, Bullock netting seven. Bullock played his last game for York City last night and Terry Phillips of the South Wales Echo has the story on his Bootham Crescent farewell, "Bullock Signs Off From York With Defeat."
Bullock's first year in the football league, 1999-2000, saw him appear in 24 games for York. The next year he scored his first league goals, three in all for York in 33 games. His goal total rose to eight in 2001-02 when he appeared in 40 games for the Minstermen. Last year, he got into 39 games for York and scored six. Terry Phillips has a story on Bullock's time at York, "Bullock's Three-year Love Affair with Bluebirds," that details his "warming" to Cardiff City when he "witnessed the 'awesome' sight of Bluebirds fans celebrating promotion" back in April, 2001, on the day Cardiff drew 3-3 with York to clinch promotion to the Second Division. Bullock is quoted as saying, "I couldn't believe how many fans travelled up from Wales - they were awesome. The atmosphere was like nothing I had ever experienced before.
Their fans filled the ground and I can remember going out onto the pitch and thinking 'wow'."
Gunners to Meet Man United in FA Cup Semifinal
Monday, March 8, 2004
Arsenal and Manchester United will meet in the FA Cup semifinals. That's the big news coming out of today's draw for the final four, which has Sunderland meeting the winner of the Millwall-Tranmere replay in the other semi. The semifinals will be played on the weekend of April 3-4.
An Arsenal-Man United semifinal has to grab plenty of headlines, and will no doubt cue lotsa stories recounting the extraordinary drama of their last meeting in the semis in '99 (Giggs's wondergoal and all that). The draw gives us another big story too, though. For the first time since the formation of the Premiership, a second-flight club will play in the final. Millwall, Sunderland, or Tranmere will be that club. That's news. The last time a club from outside the top flight got to the final was in 1992, when Sunderland lost the final tie to Liverpool.
There's a lot at stake for Arsenal, of course. With a win over the Red Devils, they would become the first club to appear in four consecutive finals. If the Gunners win the cup, they'd be the first club to win three straight since the 1880s. Given what Arsenal could achieve this year, I'm delighted that the drawmeisters have thrown this little obstacle in their way, even if it means we'll have one of the more anticlimactic, lacklustre finals to look forward to. For more on the draw, check this Christopher Davies story for the Telegraph, "Big Guns Could Meet on All Fronts."
Arsenal and Man United Reach FA Cup Semifinals
Sunday, March 7, 2004
Premiership powerhouses Arsenal and Manchester United captured FA Cup quarterfinal wins this weekend, the Gunners romping past Portsmouth 5-1 at Fratton Park while the Red Devils dispatched Fulham 2-1 at Old Trafford. Henry and Ljungberg scored two goals apiece for Arsenal, while Van Nistelrooy got two for Manchester United. The other two semifinal berths will be filled by Nationwide clubs, this after Sunderland edged Sheffield United 1-0 at the Stadium of Light and Millwall drew 0-0 with Tranmere at the New Den. A 15th-minute goal from Tommy Smith was the difference for Sunderland; the big star in the Millwall-Tranmere draw was Jon Achterberg, the goalkeeper for the Merseysiders.
This weekend's results set up a scenario for tomorrow's semifinal draw that's identical to last year's. A year ago the four semifinalists included two Premiership clubs, Arsenal and Southampton, and two Nationwide outfits, Sheffield United and Watford. Had Arsenal and Southampton drawn each other, a second-flight club would have been guaranteed a place in the final for the first time since 1992. Now, with these results, there's a chance, again, for a Nationwide club to reach the final tie.
Idle City Stay 14th
Saturday, March 6, 2004
Cardiff City had the day off today. The Bluebirds were scheduled to play Millwall at the New Den but the Lions are busy this weekend with Tranmere Rovers in the FA Cup quarterfinals. So, City had to spend the day lolling about their hotel lobby. It's probably just as well that City don't have to play Millwall today. The Lions are pretty hot, having gone 5-1-1 in league play since drawing 0-0 at Wigan back on January 10. Add in two FA Cup wins and they're 7-1-1 in their last nine. That's hot.
City stayed in 14th place so they weren't hurt too much by not playing. West Bromwich were the day's big winners. They clobbered Coventry 3-0 at the Hawthorns to pull level with Norwich on points at the top of the table, Rob Hulse netting his first goal since November to help the Baggies. Wigan held on to third despite a 3-2 home loss to Crewe. Dean Ashton's hat trick lifted Crewe, who pull to within two points of City. Wigan had to play much of the game with 10 men. Sheffield United didn't play but stayed fourth. (They're playing Sunderland in the FA Cup quarterfinals this weekend.) West Ham drew with Walsall 0-0 at Upton Park to hang on to fifth place. Ipswich were not scheduled and remain sixth. The top six clubs' point totals look like this: Norwich 64 points, West Bromwich 64, Wigan 57, Sheffield United 55, West Ham 54, and Ipswich 53.
Idle Millwall stay in seventh place. Reading, in eighth, pick up a point with a 2-2 draw at ninth-place Crystal Palace. Lloyd Owusu scored both goals for Reading. Preston North End climbed to 10th following a 1-1 draw at Burnley. Stoke were idle and drop to 11th, while Coventry remain 12th and Sunderland 13th. Point totals for these clubs are as follows: Millwall 53, Reading 53, Crystal Palace 51, Preston 50, Stoke 50, Coventry 49, and Sunderland 48. City have 46 points.
Long-Serving Scott Young Forced to Retire
Thursday, March 4, 2004
Scott Young, Cardiff City's longest-serving player, has been forced into retirement. Back problems have ended the career of the Tonypandy native, who first appeared for City back in the 1993-94 season and played in 227 games for the Bluebirds, scoring 22 times. The central defender scored 10 of his 22 in the 2000-01 promotion campaign, a season that saw him appear in 45 City games.
Young will be remembered best, of course, for his glorious late goal against Leeds United in the FA Cup third round match at Ninian Park in January 2002. His goal gave City a 2-1 win that night and the scalp of the Premiership's first-place club at the time. Mike Morris's story on Young's retirement, "Scott Young Forced to Quit Playing," features a picture of Young scoring the winner against Leeds. Scroll down the page just a bit to find the picture.
Terry Phillips of the South Wales Echo has a report, "Retiring Bluebird Stays on Payroll," that details Young's battles with injuries and his disappointment at not getting the chance to play Division One ball this season. Lister John Marenghi expressed the same disappointment in a post to the mailing list, noting that it's a "shame he never got the chance to play even a few minutes of 1st division football," but that "that goal against Leeds will always be a great memory." Another post to the list, by Matt Gabb, fills in some more details:
The last competitive game he played for us was the 3-3 draw at Tranmere on 14 March 2003. And his final goal for the club was in the 2-0 win at Brentford on 4 March 2003.
It's a real shame that he has to pack it in at the age of 28. I'm sure that even if he wasn't going to play for us again in division 1 he could have played elsewhere without problems.
Top Scott Young moments were both in that Leeds game, the goal, but also the fantastic tackle on Viduka.
The 12 goals he scored in the 2000/1 promotion season have also got to be a highlight (including 2 away at Macclesfield, and 2 at home to Shrewsbury in
the last home game of the season).
Matt is so right about that tackle on Viduka. It was superb.
The South Wales Echo has another story on the retirement, "City Defender's One Big Regret," in which Young admits that "the 'missing link' in his soccer career is a full Wales cap." Young did play "at Under-21 and B levels, but he missed out on playing in a full international." There may be regrets but there are a lot of great memories too. A special player.
Lennie Rants and Raves After Coventry Debacle
Wednesday, March 3, 2004
City manager Lennie Lawrence was just a bit put out by the Bluebirds performance in losing to Coventry 1-0 last night at Ninian Park and the papers are loaded with Lennie stories today. Here's a sampling:
* Terry Phillips has a story for the South Wales Echo, entitled "Furious Lawrence Roasts Bluebirds." Phillips begins by noting that "Lennie Lawrence was angrier than I've seen him in more than two years with Cardiff City," then reports that the manager "admitted he was 'embarrassed' and 'gutted' by an inept team performance which lacked guts, fire and character."
* Manager Lawrence wasn't terribly pleased with Kavanagh's electing to take last night's penalty - and then missing it. In "Lennie Rages Over Missed Spot-Kick," Terry Phillips reports Lawrence's saying that "Graham Kavanagh is banned from taking penalties for Cardiff City." Apparently, Lennie was more than a bit surprised to see Kavanagh taking the penalty. "I was staggered Earnshaw did not take it - that will not happen again," said Lawrence. "I have no idea why he didn't take this one." Interesting, eh?
* Phillips completes his Lennie Lawrence trifecta of stories with "Lennie's Shame at Loss." In this one, the manager is reported to have "lost his temper in the dressing room after the match for only the second time in the two years he has been in charge," admitting that "'this is my worst, my lowest moment apart from the play-off defeat against Stoke City - and that was a freak result'."
City Lose to 10-Man Coventry 1-0, Fall to 14th
Tuesday, March 2, 2004
Cardiff City fell to a 10-man Coventry City 1-0 tonight at Ninian Park, a Gary McSheffrey penalty in the 71st minute giving the Sky Blues the win. Coventry played a substantial chunk of the match a man short, Peter Clarke having been sent off after only 25 seconds. That's right, 25 seconds. The sides were evened up, though, halfway through the second stanza when City keeper Martyn Margetson was sent down the long blue tunnel for bringing down Julian Joachim in the penalty area.
City's best chance came shortly before half time when Graham Kavanagh missed a penalty. The loss drops City into the bottom half of the table, to 14th place.
The paragraph you just read might make the defeat sound routine, but by all accounts, this could well have been the worst City performance of the season. In his report, Nigel Harris minced few words, contending that "City played as though half asleep. Knowing they had to win to keep the last flickering hopes of a play-off challenge going, they played as though they were involved in a pre-season friendly." What did Nigel see? "No energy, no passion, no fight, no balls, just content to stroll around with short passes going nowhere. Completely clueless." For Nigel, a sure sign that something had to be very wrong was that "the most animated, passionate one around was Lennie going absolutely berserk in front of the dugout - showing more of his feelings in the opening 45 minutes of this game than he had done in the entire previous 2 and a bit years! The only determined running came from the visitors."
Lister Matt Gabb offered these observations in a post to the mailing list:
The early sending off (two footed tackle which I only picked out after three replays on "Soccer Special" when I got home last night). Then we played ok
for 20 mins, passing the ball neatly and making Coventry run around. We then got the penalty, Gabbidon chopped down in the box after a lovely lay off by Lee and run into the box. Kavanagh took it, apparently because Earnie missed the last one and they alternate between them. It was right in
the bottom right corner but the keeper got a hand to it. After that we never looked like scoring, every throw in was backwards, every pass was sideways. Kavanagh had a poor game, Whalley watched the game pass him by, and so we had nothing in midfield other than the option to pass the ball
wide to Parry (behind him all the time obviously), and hoof long crosses to an out of sorts Alan Lee.
Coventry did really well with 10 men, keeping possession when they had the ball, no just hoofing it up to Joachim. When Joachim broke through after a crap pass out of defence, he skinned Gabbidon and Vidmar and Margetson inevitably brought him down and they got a penalty and he was rightly sent off. The penalty was put away no problem, and after that was the real shambles of the night.
Lister John Marenghi had this to say: "The starting 11 seemed okay (I would have picked Langley ahead of Whalley but I guess he wanted to give Whalley a chance) but no-one apart from Robinson (and to a lesser degree Parry, Vidmar and Gabbiddon) performed with any credit last night." He adds, "Kavanagh was completely off-form last night though Nigel's criticism that he was acting as a spoilt child and wanted to take everything could also be interpreted that he didn't hide and did try to influence the game even though he was playing badly."
Happy St. David's Day!
Monday, March 1, 2004
It's St. David's Day in Wales today. It's a day when, as First Minister Rhodri Morgan says, "Welsh people, whether in New Zealand or New York, Vladivostok or Vancouver, will be celebrating Wales and all that is best about being from there." There will be a lot going on too, as noted in the Wales on Sunday story, "St. David's Day Will Be Celebrated in Style." It'll be a sad day too, though, as Welsh great John Charles will be laid to rest today in Leeds.
Today will mark, as well, the launch of a new Welsh whiskey, Penderyn, a product of the first Welsh distillery in over a century. For more on this big event, check the Western Mail story, "Spirit of Enterprise is Alive - and Distilling in Wales."
On this special day, the Western Mail's Mario Basini looks back about 100 years to "the most successful period in modern Welsh history," in "Wales: A Nation Reborn ." For Basini, "the national values forged during the golden era that straddled the 19th and 20th Centuries have all but disappeared." Still, "it is not all gloom. The lives of many thousands of Welshmen and women are more prosperous, more comfortable and freer than ever before."
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