The Bellamy Effect

After a hiatus, what better time to resurrect a Cardiff City blog than now. The arrival of Craig Bellamy has no doubt created a buzz around the club, on and off the pitch, so without getting too carried away, Cardiff City are going places.

His arrival at the CCS is undoubtedly one of the transfer coups of the year, even topping Calamity James's move to Bristol City. If I'm honest I never ever thought the club would get their man, but as the weeks went by and Man City announced their Premier League squad, the rumour mill whirred back into action and the 'Bellamy rumour' had gained a few more legs. The talk of the town last Tuesday was that 'he's signed on a season long loan', so the message boards stepped up a gear, text messages flew back and forth, and if I'm honest, I never got much work done that day.

So to the much anticipated debut against Doncaster Rovers. I generally look forward to all Cardiff City home games, but with this one, I couldn't wait. A bumper crowd, and unforgettable atmosphere, the local boy coming home and a potent attacking line up. These were the ingredients of Bellamy's Cardiff City fairytale being told in front of us. The fitting tribute to Brian Clark justifiably added to the poignancy of the occasion too.

Doncaster started brightly with Brian Stock pulling the strings for them. He was linking up well with Simon Gillett and both were soon carving out some nice chances. The threat of Doncaster gatecrashing the party looked palpable. But Bellamy was showing his class on the left wing. Linking up nicely on a few occasions with Drinkwater and Olofinjana, it was inevitable that goals were on their way. And they were. Bothroyd's goal sealed an even first half. Even Lee Naylor's reluctance to do the Ayatollah added some humour to the proceedings. After someone showed him what to do, Naylor obliged with a brief rendition to the cheers of the crowd.

It's safe to say that we ran away with the second half. Apart from a Doncaster effort skirting our cross bar, I can't really remember a threatening shot on goal. When they brought on ex Bristol City man Steve Brooker with ten minutes to go, they'd basically thrown in the towel.

Just after the hour mark it was all the B's. Burke, Bothroyd and Bellamy. Bothroyd's comfortable header for the 2nd, Burke slotting away a 60 yard Bellamy assist for 3, and then the icing on the cake. Bellamy's own contribution to his party - a 30 yard Premier League class free kick that had Neil Sullivan scrambling - was pure Roy Of The Rovers.

Not even the walk home in the pouring rain dampened any spirits. A dream debut, a clean sheet, a party unspoiled, and some passing neat.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. The Championship is just three weeks old, so it's time to stay grounded. But I don't blame anybody who wants to tip us for promotion. Good times are ahead.

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.