Another Horror Show

I am now convinced that City have to be the most inconsistent Championship team of the season. Fellow fans of other Championship clubs who avidly follow this league, must be pondering our mercurial results along with the poor bedraggled and bemused Cardiff fans who now have to put up with this detritus every week. You simply do not know what to expect when the team steps foot on the pitch anymore. 2009/2010 is already turning into a season of extremes : Spanking Bristol City at home in spectacular fashion, walloping Watford away, winning out at Bramhall Lane, the double horror of Ipswich and Plymouth, and now the capitulation at London Road.

I seriously believe that Dave Jones needs to take his players to see a top sports psychologist, because some, if not all the players have issues with their mental game. How can a team of 11 professionals simply fold like a pack of cards. The team already lacks a physical leader of such, someone who can lead by example, pick his troops up and drive them on, and now it seems there's no mental strength either. Are players still haunted by the demons of last season? If so, perhaps they need an exorcist.

I'm giving Soccer Special a miss from now on when City are away !!

You've gotta laugh

When the final whistle went, I didn't have my head my hands like those around me, I wasn't looking on in abject despair. I was quietly laughing, chuckling away to the boys, thinking 'they've only gone and done it again'. Forget McIntyre or Brydon. This was the biggest belly laugh this Christmas.

Mind you the signs were there and slowly building up during the game. Misses in the first half, Chopra and Bothroyd wasting good chances, these now are tell tale signs that 'it's not gonna be our day'. That early nerve settling goal didn't come today, so it was inevitable that the panic was going to build until a mistake was made. Quinn's pitiful clearance let in Sawyer with a deflected shot. I don't know who it was (possibly Hudson or Gerrard), but one of them was flat out face down in the 6 yard box in utter disbelief that Plymouth who posed absolutely no attacking threat whatsoever managed to put the ball in the back of Marshall's net.

Then the real, bonafide, material panic sets in, as the players realise they've got 6+ minutes to try and save their blushes once again. But it didn't happen, and the bumper Boxing Day crowd left shaking their heads. What a time to serve up a Christmas turd.

The Jekyl & Hide character once again reared it's ugly head. After away wins against the Baggies and the Boro (which quite frankly stunned every supporter) something had to give. I thought that something would be home to Leicester, but the pitchgate debacle put pay to that. Losing at home to Leicester wouldn't have been so bad as they are a good side. No, what the players were really waiting for was to serve up their Christmas turkey against lowly Plymouth.

Speaking of turkey, it looked like referee Phil Gibbs had tucked into one too many Christmas dinners over the festive period.

Roll on Monday against the Posh. A win there, and we'll all forget that Boxing Day 2009 ever happened. Lose, and we've lost to all four of the bottom clubs. Just how big can that weight of expectation get.

Chin up

Merry Christmas Plymouth

What a Carry On

So yesterdays game against Leicester was postponed because it was 'a bit cold', and the pitch at our state of the art new stadium was frozen. Add this debacle to recent others and your nothing short of a Carry On film (Carry On Cardiff City, if you like) with Ridsdale as Sid James, the biggest joker of the lot.

We've already had the embarrassment with the 777 ball shirt sponsorship where seemingly no-one deemed it important enough to obtain a license.

Then came the brush with the tax man with the threat of a winding up order from the heavy handed HMRC that saw Ridsdale on the back foot yet again

Last week we had the enterprising scheme of fans becoming public benefactors effectively paying for new players in the January transfer window with the 'incentive' of watching free Premiership football 'if' promoted.

And now 'pitchgate'. The official line is that the final commissioning of the undersoil heating system was incomplete and not fully operational, but rumours abound that they can't afford to switch it on. I can't believe the club is so naive to go into the winter without the undersoil heating in place. I can imagine Ridsdale watching the weather forecast each night and praying for temperatures above freezing. I'm not having a pop at the groundstaff, but how difficult was it to get this game on. Newport County's game went ahead !!!

It all smacks of penny pinching, and just what exactly is going on with the Malaysians. Are they putting their hands in their pockets or not and why is the Cardiff City Marketing Department having to dream up elaborate ways to entice fans to buy new season tickets before Xmas. We'll all be tempted by another carrot in the new year.

So keep a close watch on the ground now as when the lights go out Ridsdale will be looking for some schmuck with 50p for the meter.

Unbelievable

Back on Track ?

Let's hope so. Didn't go to the game personally (I found something less boring to do instead) but by all accounts it was an 'ugly win'.

Our next 3 games involve top 6 opposition and are basically massive games. Next up is West Brom tonight. I think we can really get something out of this game. If the Jacks can win there then why can't we.

Middlesbrough away on Sunday is also a crucial game with the Boro buoyed by their away thrashing of QPR.

Leicester on the 19th completes the sequence, and if they win I'll see it as a Xmas pressie from the club to me. I'll take 5 points from these 3 games quite happily. Anything more would be superb.

It's like watching your team slowly descending into hell

Things are so atrocious I simply cannot be motivated (just like the players) to type many words into my computer, apart from

WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON ?

We're all saying the same thing (Rae is crap, Ledley needs to move on, Bothroyd's lazy) so something needs to be done about it. Something's gotta give. The creaking ship must creak no more., and I for one am starting to agree with the 'DJ out' brigade.

Done, Field or Andrews

The maquettes are in, and its now down to 'us' to decide. I like Done's and Andrews' ideas, and if I were to stick my neck out I'd say Done wins it for me. I like the context of Trixie the cat, and along with Roger Andrews' statue, they both have character with their faces having expression. I'm afraid Field's idea wouldn't look out of place on the back cover of the Mail on Sunday magazine.

There isn't really an iconic image of Keenor that we all know and love, so I think Done's idea may go some of the way towards this.

I think either 1 or 3 would look great outside the CCS, and judging by early poll results, it might just.

Brian Sewell

Swansea 3 Cardiff 2

Taiwo....the new Comminges ?

Poor Solomon. His contribution Saturday lunchtime was nothing short of calamitous. The poor lad is going to take a lot of stick over his performance at the Liberty and will no doubt see himself slip down the midfield pecking order. I sat and watched from the comfort of my armchair as he lost possession a few times, and then began giving the ball to Swansea as if he was on their side. Some Swansea fans must've thought we'd dragged him off Caedelyn Park that morning.

I for one was quite eager to see this guy in action when he signed as I thought he was the midfield muscle we needed in the middle of the park. But it's looking like he can't fight his way out of the preverbial paper bag. I'd rather see Old Man Scimeca on the park instead.

1 out of 3 ain't so bad for DJ

So he's lost out on the South Wales footballing bragging rights (for the time being), and the Bluebirds have been beaten in what turned out to be mixed affair at the Liberty, but at least Dave Jones goes home down the M4 not totally empty handed. He's picked up another Championship manager of the month award. Taking 10 out of a possible 12 in October, he's got one over on the sharply dressed Senhor Sousa (who looked more like the man from C&A) who was also up for the award. Let's hope the manager of the month curse doesn't strike again.

Cardiff 1 Notts Forest 1

Pre match mood : Fairly confident. Had the QPR game in the back of my mind

Prediction : 0-0

First half : Took us some time to find a rhythm and get in the game. Forest started brighter, and with a 5 man midfield it was going to be difficult to dominate. The TV cameras had obviously given Ledley something to play for. Let's make it clear, IT WAS NOT A STONEWALL PENALTY BILLY DAVIES. Matthews unintentionally and accidently clips the Forest players heels. Mind you Forest were playing some tidy neat football at this point and my memories of the QPR were rearing their ugly head. Lee Camp made two good saves to deny Whitts and Ledley, but I thought if we scored things would settle down. We didn't, and Forest went in at half time the better of the two. The 10 man melee as a result of Whitts v Gunter was good fun. It was just as well Gunter stayed out of it because it looked like he wanted to thump someone.

Second half : We had Forest on the back foot for most of this half. Matthews and Burke were again linking up nicely and our goal was inevitable. It was a shame we couldn't turn the screw and finish them off, but then Cardiff did what Cardiff do very well - go one up and then sit back and let visiting teams come straight back at them.

Thumbs Up : Ledley putting in a good performance for a change - made the assist for Bothroyd's goal.

Thumbs Down : Sitting back and inviting Forest to come at us with 10 minutes to go. Chopra stupidly getting booked to miss the Swansea game. Hudson still looks like a carthorse.

Crowd highlight(s) : "Oh scabby scabby. Scabby scabby scabby scabby Nottingham" Wasn't the best of nights.

Man of the Match : Big Both. Things just seemed to click for him, and he spent far less time on his arse than usual

CCFC Verdict : Disappointing to concede in injury time, but that's what you get when you sit far too deep. And we're far too slow reacting to anything. We have the reactions of a large government department. Form now goes out the window for Saturday's derby day. I'm just glad McPhail is not playing. Missing out on top spot is no big deal in my opinion. We're still way up there in the mix in what is turning out to be a wide open Championship. When you're at the top of the pile, the only way is down.

Watching back some of the game later that evening, the BBC seemed to make the half time analysis feel like an advert for Cardiff City : Roll up roll up, successful South Wales team seeking investment at Championship level. Worth a punt before they possibly make it into the Premier League. Team, manager, stadium and infrastructure already in place, you'd be mad to miss out. It's a football match, not Exchange & Mart.

Visitors Verdict : I've got a lot of time for Forest and was quietly impressed with them. I can see why they're unbeaten on their travels. WIlson and HMS Wes Morgan look a bit suspect at the back, but the midfield stand out. They look hard to beat....don't concede many, but don't score many. Maybe their undoing but I'd expect to see them in the play off spots or very close by come May 2010.

Sheff Utd 3 Cardiff 4

Prediction : 1-0

Thumbs up : The boy Whittingham. He's become a real match winner now. He hasn't scored so many since the under 8s. He's ghosting in and popping up all over the place. The way City are attacking at present and the way defenders are getting dragged out of position with our myriad of attacking options, clearly suits him.

Thumbs down : Defending. Hudson's back header was poor to let in Henderson. But then again when you score 4 away from home and win, these things tend to get overlooked.

In Conclusion : I hope it was one of those results that now has the other Championship contenders sit up and raise an eyebrow. A crazy game...even the brief highlights on the City website looked manic. The way the ball fell at Bothroyd's feet for the opener (Chris Morgan smacking the ball at James Harper's arse) was comedy gold. I'm sure Forest at home on Sunday will be an altogether different prospect.

Cardiff 2 Coventry 0

Pre match mood - Assured that 3 points were on the cards. Even the light rain couldn't dampen spirits.

Prediction - 3-0

First half - Started very lively, and the perfect start came in the 5th minute when Gerrard headed in from close range. City found their stride and played some lovely football, the ball fizzing around on the wet surface. Bothroyd had decided to take part tonight and was soon hunting down clearances. Chances came aplenty and more goals looked certain

Second half - Stepped up a gear which was good to see. Coventry just couldn't seem to put any passage of play together, and when they did, Morrison and Best looked lame upfront. Burke was skinning anything in front of him, and Matthews ventured forward assuringly. The penalty was just desserts for the consistent pressure we were piling on. Should really have been 4 or 5 at the end of the night.

Thumbs up - The way Matthews and Burke were linking up was excellent. The boy Matthews had another fine performance and seems to get better every time I see him. It was nice to see the ball on the deck for most of the game for a change. When City kept it simple they were far more direct and were running rings around the Coventry defence. Must mention Marshall too. He too is looking like a good signing. He goes about his business with minimal fuss, is a good shot stopper and can kick a ball too. We may finally have sorted out the goalkeeping headache of recent seasons.

Thumbs down - Free kicks. I can't remember a decent free kick so far this season. There's no middle ground, it's either blasted straight at the wall, or troubling the fans at the back of the stands. Midfield could've got stuck in a bit more earlier on. Ledley could've been more effective.

Crowd highlight(s) - The second half ribbing of poor Hussey desperately wanting the ball out on the left. "Do the Hussey Hussey", and strangely cheering him on when he attacked Stan down the left. I laughed so much I genuinely had tears in my eyes. Crowd improv at its best.

Man of the Match - Quite a few contenders for a change, but I'd go with Gerrard. He looked solid and commanding at the back. He's developing a good partnership with Hudson, but lets keep things in perspective here....it was only Coventry

CCFC verdict - Professional and business like. No frills, got into a stride early on, pushed on, stepped up through the gears and finished the job.

Visitor's verdict - Poor. Just a bad away trip. I don't think they'll go down but they may find themselves caught up in the relegation dogfight come the end of the season.

Cardiff 1 Crystal Palace 1

Pre match mood : Really upbeat, 3 points in the bag

Prediction : 2-0

First half : Palace were certainly the better team in the first 15. They looked quick and sharp. After Hudson's blunder I really thought Palace could capitalise on this and have us in real trouble. But we looked threatening going forward also and I never for a minute thought we weren't going to score. Chopra's first touch had deserted him today. Two weeks ago he would've been putting those chances away. Bothroyd was in bone idle mode again !!! and our midfield was AWOL again.

Second half : Soon became flat, turgid, lifeless and scrappy. It really reminded me of many of their home performances last season where they looked busy but nothing was happening. Ledley again was anonymous and really starting to piss me off. Begs the question, how much we were missing McPhail (now there's something I never thought I'd write). By the hour mark, Palace looked like they had settled for the point (and who can blame them, the way they play). Burke was the only one again who looked like he wanted the ball, and when he had it he was prepared to run at the Palace defence. McCormack's appearance looked hopeful, but after 10/15 mins he was trying to hard, and sitting on the shoulder of the Palace centre halves waiting in vain for a cleverly dinked ball over the top which quite frankly was never going to happen.

Thumbs Up : Coming back from a goal down I suppose. Again Burke looked sharp with his unrelenting desire to run at the defence. Why can't some of the others take a leaf out of his book?

Thumbs Down : Jay 'Bone Idle' Bothroyd. I honestly don't like slagging our players off, but the massively inconsistent way he's playing at the moment is a real concern. His absence on Tuesday against Coventry may be a godsend. And crap refereeing.

Crowd highlight(s ) : The lone voice who tried in vain to start up 'I'd rather wear a turban than a rose'. It was never going to work but it was a good laugh watching him try.

Man of the Match : Purely based on his first half performance, Whittingham. Second highest goal scorer who seems to think he's a centre forward.

CCFC Verdict : We never play well against the uglier teams in the league. They get stuck in, but we never do. We should've and could've won that game fairly comfortably. Yes, N'Diaye should've been sent off, but I'd rather see City play against 11 than 10 (remember Reading at home last season). After scoring 10 in the previous two, something was going to give. A good City performance seems to hinge on so many different variables all coming together at the right time. It's like the planets realigning to create something celestil. When we're crap, we're all crap. When we're good, we're all good. There's pressure on for Tuesday's game. Another draw will be disappointing.

Visitors Verdict : A typical Neil Warnock team. Hard, gritty, unpopular, and totally lacking in any skill. Palace have no money to make any big signings, they make do and mend with what they've got. They're ugly and uncompromising and they know it. and take pleasure in it. Their big amateurish lump N'Diaye personified the team. They're not going up and they're not going down, but they revel in the ability to put a few noses out of joint week in week out. Nobody stood out. I thought Freddie Sears was distinctly average, and Neil Danns couldn't hit the preverbial barn door. Unfortunately Palace are one of those Championship teams we all have to put with.

We must be paying Burke too much !!

If Chris Burke is driving around in one of these, then we are paying him too much money. This is supercar territory of around 75-80k. A good player though he is, I didn't picture him driving an overrated Audi. I would've thought he was more of an SUV man myself.

The love affair between footballers and cars has always fascinated me. I think you can tell a lot by the cars players choose. Sportscars = flash, SUVs = road safety/have children, Exec cars = style/luxury. Then again, some players earn so much they can go out and buy one of each.

I also read that Burke has split from his partner (sorry to hear that Burkey) so perhaps it's his way of getting through the pain and he's looking for something flash for the lay-deees. It must be kind of odd to pull alongside an Audi R8 at the lights, look across and see the diminutive Scot peering over the steering wheel. I wonder if Gavin Rae still has his Q7.

Watford 0 Cardiff 4

Prediction : 1-1

Thumbs up : Continuing the goalfest (10 in 2 games). First win at Watford in 39 years. Bothroyd ending his barren spell. McCormack on the pitch albeit for a minute or so, and chomping at the bit to be playing. I was on a stag do in Amsterdam so this result made the taste of victory even sweeter Saturday night.

Thumbs down : Nothing related to the performance. I hope the international break hasn't come at the wrong time with City flying and on a roll.

In Conclusion : After a crap spell, things are on the up again. Players are back from injury, so the squad is looking healthy and competitive. Back in the play off spots and on the up.

Cardiff 6 Derby 1

Pre match mood : To be honest I was dreading it. I was expectiing a limo wreck of a game....Derby scoring first and then City panicking and chasing the game

Prediction : 1-1

First half : Very sound. Fairly solid at the back, never really troubled. It was good to see Bothroyd up for it for a change. He was chasing down defenders, applying pressure from the off

Second half : The goals just kept coming. Nobody there Tuesday night would've expected to see City score six in light of their recent performances. Just a shame Bothroyd couldn't get himself on the scoresheet.

Thumbs Up : A good game from McPhail. He got stuck in, broke up play and turned provider for Chopra.

Thumbs Down : Letting Rob Hulse score. It was a soft goal in reply and caught City's defence napping at the start the second half. In light of the fact that Derby were so poor, they shouldn't have scored it at all.

Crowd highlight(s) : Mostly the banter aimed at Robbie 'Lily' Savage.

Man of the Match : Has to be Chopra. You can't deny a MOM to a player who puts away 4 goals with clinical ease.

CCFC Verdict : A good night out. Six goals to the good and a drubbing that I wished I'd put a bet on.

Visitors Verdict : Very poor. Hapless up front, created little, Robbie Savage was awful....spent much of the 90 minutes just shuffling the ball from side to side. Simply had a bad night. Wrong time, wrong place.

Sheff Wed 3 Cardiff 1

Prediction : 0-0

Thumbs up : N/A

Thumbs down : Another poor performance. Discipline. 4 yellows and 1 red, but saying that Mr Oliver clearly has a different agenda if he's booking Hudson in the 3rd minute. Misfiring strikers. Decisions not going our way. It's easy to make excuses when the team is not playing well.

In Conclusion : This result only heaps more pressure on Tuesday's home game with Derby. More of the same against them and we'll truly be in the shit and this will be the point when I start worrying about the coming season. I'm disappointed that there'll be no loan signings. This was an ideal opportunity to stick a rocket up some of those players arses.

It just goes to show how much the team is missing McCormack and McNaughton. The way things are going McNaughton might find himself in the centre of defence. Hudson has been found out for what he is - slow, clumsy and error prone. I know he cost us 1 mill and we have to play him, but why not drop him and partner Gerrard with the giant Hungarian. I wish DJ would make some bold decisions instead of keeping faith with a faltering team.

Say what you like about his formations and tactics, the buck passes him and now stops with the players. I really thought we'd get something out of this game bearing in mind what occurred here last season. What better way to exorcise those demons, but it looks like Sheffield Wednesday have just added their name to our list of bogey teams. Roll on Tuesday, where I could be watching in delight, or through my fingers.

My eyes can see but I can't believe....

....what happened out there on the pitch today. I've cogitated and deliberated at length about whether to fill this space with a damming critique of today's game, but you know what...I'm fed up with saying the same things over and over again. I got quite a fair bit off my chest summarising the Newcastle game and I don't want to simply regurgitate the same old same old. All 11 of them plus subs need shooting today, and bringing Scimeca on was tantamount to throwing the towel in. So instead I'm just posting a picture of a pile of horse manure which I think adequately sums up today's performance.

Reading 0 Cardiff 1

Prediction : 1-1

Thumbs up : Back on track. Bouncebackability. Couldn't be a better time to play Reading away due to their dismal home record. Up to 4th and mini rut over.

Thumbs down : McFailure again. This guy is a fecking walking disaster zone. His sending off just made the last 15 minutes even more difficult for his team mates. Come January, ship him out Paul Parry style. He's not even a squad player now. Come on DJ, give big Sol a full game. This guy could a shot in the arm to our ailing midfield

In Conclusion : Great result, especially remembering back to this fixture last season when their keeper scored in the hundredth minute of extra time. Reading are a totally different team now. Don't rate Brendan Rodgers at all. I honestly think Reading are going backwards with him at the helm. Anyway, renewed confidence going into Saturday's game against QPR. Perhaps Briatore can fix it for us to win.

A-Z Cardiff v Newcastle

Absolutely awful away kit : What were they thinking?

Basics : Couldn't get them right. Passing, crossing. It's back to the training ground.

Chant of the day : "You're supposed to be in jail" aimed at Newcastle prison fodder Joey Barton.

Deteriorating : Ledley's form. There was a moment in today's game where he rashly just booted the ball into touch making a clearance. It was if he was saying what he thought of his new contract. I think his heart and soul for the club has gone, and if he goes in January his value could be cut price.

Edge : Both teams lacked the cutting variety

Fans : Both sets were superb. Created another superb atmosphere.

Gears : We rarely got futher than 3rd gear, Newcastle looked comfortable in 3rd gear.

Hair : Coloccini's poodle afro. I thought Dirty Den's dog Roly was playing for a minute.

Into them : We just never got....

Jay : Where do we start? I could fill volumes writing about this guy. For me he has to be one of the most frustrating players to watch. So far this season I think he's been well off his game, but today he plumbed new depths of laziness. There must some Opta Index stats on how much gametime he spends on his arse, of which he needs a rocket up it. We need an on loan striker to compete for his place. In some ways I wished he hadn't been fit for this game because it could have meant mixing things up a bit, and playing a different way.

Kelvin : Looked lively and direct. The complete antithesis to Bothroyd

Left : Or lack of it. Whittingham was anonymous (again), kept cutting inside and his link up play wih Capaldi was pretty much non existent.

Midfield muscle : Where is it? We could've done with some today. I was hoping Taiwo was going to make an appearance.

Nile Ranger : What kind of name is that?

Outnumbered : Newcastle seemed to get everyman behind every ball at every opportunity. They set their stall out as the away team, got to pretty much every ball quicker, created sod all, soaked up the pressure, and it worked

Penalty : Stone wall apparently, but there's a visually impaired man from the West Midlands to blame for that

Quinn : Puzzled as to why he was playing. Matthews has been in good form, did DJ think he was not experienced enough. Quinn looked slow, out of his depth and occasionally inexperienced today.

Reading : We really need something from Wednesday night's game. Bouncebackability

Set pieces : I lost count of the number of free kicks we were awarded, but we never looked like scoring on every one.

Tactics : DJ's stubbornness. Was he really happy with what he was seeing on the pitch in the last half hour. Only making one sub. Or does he think that the players on the bench we not good enough. No plan to combat an away team packing the midfield.

Unhappy with ref : DJ's not a happy camper

Va-va-voom : Could've done with some of that today

Watertight defence : Newcastle's...not ours !

Xylophone....what else !

Yellow : Far too much two tone vomit yellow on show today.

Zidane....Could've done with him today

Cardiff 0 Newcastle 1

Through the medium of poetry

Ridsdale meets some Cardiff fans with news from his Far East trip

Ledley goes on a French city break and injures his hand in a slip

Continued talk of Cousin coming to bolster the striking line

There is no need for his Premier greed, he's a total waste of time

Darcy's gone for some Argyle fun to get his game on track

A young Pole left most bereft, has anyone seen Erwin Sak

Rae is summoned to the Scottish squad for their big clash against the Dutch

But Burley calling on in form Burke was obviously a touch too much

So the Geordies wait with five wins straight to prove they're no Premier flops

Will Harper advance and stoop down low to deny the in form Chops

On Sunday eve will we believe what happened before our eyes

A table's glance, a little dance, as upwards Bluebirds rise.

All is quiet on Deadline Day

Well...what a surprise. The transfer window slams shut and Ledley remains at Cardiff City for the forseeable future. All the talk of the smaller Premiership clubs coming in for him, came to nothing. Wolves looked the most interested party with Mick McCarthy being a 'fan', but no bid was tabled. Ridsdale has put the closed sign up, switched his ansaphone on and popped off to see his Malaysian chums and there ridiculously long names. Apparently there was a caveat in the answer message for anyone interested in McPhail to contact Ridsdale immediately on the Skyphone whereby he'd accept their offer.

So Joe, when PR comes home it's time to pick up his monogrammed pen and put your name to your new contract, then knuckle down, play like you mean it, and help get City out this god forsaken league.

And well done Sky Sports for yet another transfer deadline day completely over-sensationalised. At one point I thought the excitable scot Jim White was going to explode in a ball of D-day delight all over the lovely Georgie Thompson and her white dress. I'm quite impressed though with your nationwide network of reporters hanging around outside football clubs and training grounds peering into sports cars and 4x4s that pass by. I'm just glad an entire day of speculation and gossip draws to a close.

Doncaster 2 Cardiff 0

Prediction : 1-2

Thumbs up : Not sure there is one. I suppose we've got our first defeat of the season out of the way and out of the system. Boro lost too !. Still 2nd

Thumbs down : Bothroyd limping off early. Let's hope it's not serious, but he has 2 weeks to shake it off. Complacency, finishing, defending. Being caught by a second sucker punch and not being able to get back into the game.

In Conclusion : These defeats are inevitable. The fact that it's sooner rather than later I think is a good thing. Jones will address the complacency issues when the team see the DVD in the week, and we'll all move on

Observer Sports Writer boldly sticks neck out

Cardiff 3 Bristol City 0

Pre Match Vibe : On top of the world. Nothing but a win

Prediction : 2-0

First half : 2-0 up. Looked like it was going to be one of those afternoons in the first half hour...especially as we were trying to walk the ball into the net. A goal was due, albeit an own one, then Chopra's strike and goal celebration were absolute top drawer. We were playing some terrific football, with Chops having a hand in everything with his Midas touch.

Second half : More of the same, Burke and Rae bombing forward. Rae's finish was sublime. Should've been more.

Thumbs up : Where do you start. Chopra is unstoppable, Burke's turning into a real handful, Rae's getting forward, a solid performance from Adam Matthews, good shot stopping from Marshall. Gerrard looking like a no nonsense sort of centre half.

Thumbs down : I'm not interested in the negatives. Some had an average game, but it's days like these when you gloss over those sort of things.

Crowd Highlight : Realising that the away support were still there after 75 mins.

Man of the match : Chopra, Rae, Burke....you decide

CCFC verdict : We are purring. Massive win, great game, scoring for fun, keeping clean sheets. We played them off the park today and it's been a while since we've done that. Loved it

Visitors verdict : I honestly thought they were poor. They had their chances. Were unlucky with a shot hitting the post but never looked threatening. Nothing went right for them. Even the ref was getting in their way.

In Conclusion : Still not getting carried away. Just basking in the glow and enjoying the football. Remember these days because at some point during the season things ain't gonna go our way.

Plymouth 1 Cardiff 3

Prediction : 1-1

Thumbs up : The continued excellent start by Chopra. First senior start for Adam 'Stan' Matthews

Thumbs down : I suppose Capaldi being sent off, but it's academic as Kennedy should be returning

In Conclusion : Superb result. Fine away win. Banana skin avoided.

Good early form continues

The trip to Home Park could have been a potential banana skin in the waiting....remember last season. But we've come out of the blocks like Usain Bolt Berlin style, while Plymouth look more like Dwain Chambers chasing Jamaican shadows. Was a good time to play the Pilgrims and it's one banana skin well and truly thrown thrown in the trash. The weekend visit of the Wurzels looks very tasty indeed, what with them showing early promise and now sitting in 5th.

Chorpa's start is very promising....very promising indeed. 6 goals in 3 Championship games is only 2 off his grand total at Sunderland. We're starting to see some return on the 4 million summer investment.

Injury crisis, what injury crisis. We lose a diminutive Scottish striker for up to 2 months, a Scot and an Irishman pick up knocks, and it's panic stations. Yes, the Plymouth bench resembled a youth club more than football club, but it's giving these spotty teenagers good experience. A first senior start for Adam 'Stan' Matthews is great in my view. If he keeps this up, we can sell him to Spurs for 3 million in the January transfer window.

The lack of midfield reinforcements still worries me greatly...enough to wake me screaming in cold sweats at 3am (no that's the medication). I know these things take time, but the transfer clock is TICKING.

It's still very early doors yet and I'm finding it very hard to get carried away... like most grounded supporters, but the future's bright. The future's very bright...hi-vis away kit yellow to be exact.

It's 3 games into the Championship, and I'm gonna stick my neck out already.

1st - Middlesbrough

2nd - Sheffield United

Play off winner - the mighty Bluebirds

I've just had a vision of the future

Let's fast forward to July 2010. Sunderland have just finished a fairly respectable 15th in Steve Bruce's first season in charge. Michael Chopra has just bagged himself 28 goals to be the Championship's top scorer. Cue frantic speculation about Chopra's return to the north east after only one season.

"I love Sunderland", he quotes. "Don't get me wrong, I love Cardiff City just as much like, but my heart's in the north east. I'd love to go back to Sunderland and prove that I can make it in the Premiership. I know my time there was pretty disastrous but I've got a point to prove. All my demons are behind me, and I feel I can become the player the all the Sunderland fans wish for "

Outgoing Cardiff City chairman Peter Ridsdale accepts a £3 million pound bid for him and says that the club is sorry to see him go, but Michael feels passionate for his homeland and it was very difficult to keep him here.

Cardiff City incidentally, finished the season in an unbelievably-history-repeating itself 7th spot after a 1-0 defeat away to Derby.

Blackpool 1 Cardiff 1

Prediction : 0-0

Thumbs up : Marshall. Great saves, especially from Euell.

Thumbs down : McCormack being stretchered off with a torn hamstring. He's gonna be missed.

In Conclusion : One hard earned, battered and bruised point. Although Blackpool is one of those places where we should be coming away with 3 points.

Cardiff 4 Scunthorpe 0

Pre Match Vibe : Confident, buoyant, slightly apprehensive (first day nerves)

Prediction : 1-0

First half : 3-0 up. What can you say. A bit sloppy first 10 minutes, but after we settled down some nice football was on show

Second half : Honestly thought we'd add another 2 or 3, but the numerous chances created just couldn't be converted. Foot was definitely off the gas as expected.

Thumbs up : Chopra (looked sharp, up for it and tracking back) Burke (his brief spell caused problems)

Thumbs down : Bothroyd was off the pace. Didn't feature as much as he usually does

Crowd Highlight : Singing 'We Are Top of the League' after half an hour. You've got to admire that confidence....and we are !!

Man of the match : Chopra (it's a massive season for him, and he's off to a flyer)

CCFC verdict : Good all round performance. Even McPhail had a decent game. Defence looked tight, if a little shakey in places. Looked settled and not nervy like what we're used to.

Visitors verdict : They're not a bad side really. I think they'll stay up....just. After promotion they've got nothing to lose. McCann, Woolford & Wright looked useful.

In Conclusion : Off to a flyer. We've beaten Scunthorpe that's all. Let's no get carried away

WANTED : New Midfield

Noise, Bhoys and New Joys

So the moment had come. The new era, the new stadium, and hopefully a new successful chapter in the CCFC story. I've driven past the stadium more times than I care to remember, from its ground-breaking to its final completion, but this was it. A watershed moment. The first chance to get inside and soak it up.

My first concern was whether or not my stadium card was going to work or not. I had visions of it being swallowed up with an angry queue forming behind me whilst I grovelled with a steward to let me in. Alas, this didn't happen, and my passage through the turnstiles was as smooth as a Terry Thomas one-liner. It wasn't though for the poor soul in front of me who's card just didn't want to play ball, and then had to plead his case to the on hand friendly steward. And 6 turnstiles serving the Ninian Stand!!!

There was a little bit of the wow factor when I walked up the steps into the ground. I've seen countless pictures and 360 panoramic views on the Interweb, but they don't measure up to actually experiencing it for yourself. The first thing that really struck me was the quality of the pitch. It looked superb, very baize like, and with no camber, the illusion is that it looks bigger. I sat down just as the game started, happy to miss all the preamble guff.

As for the game itself, it was pretty irrelevant. I was more interested in peering around the ground in detail, and with the 'fun and games' developing between the sets of fans, the action on the pitch was now pretty trivial. Fair play to the Celtic fans, they never shut for the first 45 and added to a cracking atmosphere.

Player wise, the two stand outs were Burke and new boy Gerrard. The scouser made some excellent tackles early on, and looks very capable at a higher level. When Burke came on in the second half it was good to see him running at the opposition. Something he was doing at the end of last season but to no avail. New boy Quinn looked comfortable, not particularly quick, but his positioning looked good. As for the rest, it was business as usual. Ledley looked like his mind was on other more important things (move to the Prem probably) and Big Both and Chops linked up well occasionally.

All of half time was spent queuing for a pint of generic stadium lager and wondering just what kind of world we live in where a packet of Quavers costs a quid. Anyway, there was no rush to immediately retake our seats for the 2nd half, so we carried on supping and taking in our new surroundings.

The game petered out to its natural conclusion, and as the final whistle went and the players had barely left the pitch, on came the Cardiff City Formation Lawn Mowing Team for a quick cut. That new grass must grow quick.

So all in all an enjoyable evening out. Some new joys and a few grumbles (i.e no big screen yet, woefully inadequate PA system) which I'm sure will be in place for the Scunthorpe game, but signs of good things to come.

New chant for this season - "Sit down if you hate Swansea"

Bangor City needs you !

If your sat there wondering where some of the old Ninian Park seats are ending up, then wonder no more. The ones that haven't been snapped up by supporters or chucked in a Sloper Road skip have been bought up by Bangor City. They've bought a 1000 to be precise, along with 600 that were given to visiting Chasetown.

Bangor City wants the seats to increase the capacity of their Farrar Road ground as the move to a new ground is on hold. Problem is, they need a bit of manpower to help load the seats onto the waiting wagon. So come Saturday if your not shopping with the Mrs, looking after kids or watching Saturday Kitchen, then make your way down Sloper Road to Ninian Park (that's the old one across the road from the new shiny one) for 9am sharp, and give the guys from Bangor some much needed help.

And I thought that old seats went to a nice sanctuary in the country where they saw out their days.

Defensive Trio

So that's the defence sorted for the coming season then. Three signings in a week, with the additions of Mark Hudson, Anthony 'Gezza' Gerrard and Paul Quinn. It looks as if Mark Hudson will be the preferred partner for the giant Hungarian on account of his transfer value, but I think Gezza may turn out to be something of a bargain, especially if his he's given his chance, and I for one think he would make a better defensive partner.

Paul Quinn is the latest signature and joins the ever growing Scottish contingent of McCardiff City. His antics off the pitch are a worry. To say he's a little hot-headed would be an understatement and it seems that he's a magnet for trouble - hitting someone, getting hit, getting robbed on holiday. I hope he keeps his head down and stays out of this magistrates courts. He was also sent off twice last season for Motherwell, but let's give the lad a chance.

Weird Beard on his way to Cardiff

Could be one of the most bizarre Cardiff summer signings ever. The Mark Hudson deal is all but formalised. Sources close to Ridsdale have exclusively revealed that the chase for 'defender' Mark Hudson was all just some massive smokescreen to hide the fact that the man who's actually putting pen to paper is in fact the American songwriter and producer of the same name.

His role at Cardiff City remains unclear, but it is widely suggested that he will be providing vocal training to the players, staff and generally anyone else who he thinks requires his services. Perhaps he'll have us all singing in three part harmony down at the CCS.

You may remember this guy from previous series of the X Factor. You couldn't miss him. He was the vocal coach on Sharon Osbourne's team, and each week he sat behind her, usually in a purple suit with matching purple facial hair.

His role may not go down too well this season (especially with the more tone deaf players) but I'm sure he'll add a little colour around the place.