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March 27, 2008

Swansea Signing Williams?

There's been rumours of it all week but it seems Swansea WILL be signing Stockport's Ashley Williams before Thursday's loan transfer deadline.

The highly-rated defender made his Wales debut last night in the comfortable win in Luxembourg and was expected to head straight to Swansea for talks after landing at Cardiff Airport.

The chances of a move for the 23-year-old have been played down all week by Swansea, both manager Roberto Martinez and chairman Huw Jenkins distancing themselves from a deal to land some much-needed defensive cover.

But it is understood there is a strong possibility of a loan move being thrashed out to beat the midnight deadline - with a view to a permanent deal at the end of the season.

The composed, ball-playing centre-back has courted interest from various clubs all year but Stockport are reluctantly accepting Williams will now move on sooner rather than later.

And after having their fingers burned by going public over moves for centre backs before (Dean Leacock and Roger Johnson anyone?) perhaps Swansea are just staying schtum over the whole thing for fear it might not happen.

The only thing we do know for sure is to watch this space.


 

March 21, 2008

Points Away . . .

The Swans couldn't quite make it a great Friday - although as I'm writing this they're still ten points clear after their draw in Southend.

But I'm one of those that believes in the old saying that points away - promotion in May.

And even if the March return of results might have dampened hopes of record-breaking seasons, it's still been enough to keep top-two rivals at bay.

Talking to a few of the players on Tuesday night and they clearly knew how important a result it was against Rovers.

And the fans should acknowledge it too because it could have been quite easy for that team to slip into a nervous wreck of a side after the first signs of a blip.

They didn't, they got the win, taken a decent little point from their trip to Roots Hall and now face a home clash with Bristol Rovers in front of the Sky cameras.

For me, it says a lot about the mentality of Martinez's men.

Wrexham and Cardiff wins tomorrow will go down quite nice with the chocolate feast awaiting most of us too.



 

March 19, 2008

Reggae Boy Hall Music to the Ears of Wrexham Fans

Paul Hall is a Wrexham hero already - after all, he did score against Chester.

But he's also won the hearts of a few Dragons followers for his comments last week that he's fallen in love with the Racecourse outfit.

The ex-Jamaica international was genuine in his sentiment too, even though it's all too easy for veterans like himself to just be picking up a pay packet at this stage of their careers.

With his World Cup days with the Reggae Boyz a while back now, Hall might not have had the pick of the clubs to move to in the January window.

But he sure as anything didn't have to choose a side - to all those who don't know the club - are everyone's favourites to drop into the non-league 'abyss'.

Same too for Danny Sonner and Carl Tremarco.

Still, it seems I've caused a bit of a stir with some Wrexham supporters for suggesting a selection of fans are worried that those on short-term deals, with no ties to the club, didn't think these guys had the heart for a fight. Not in the same way Wrexham boy Neil Roberts would have.

I mean, short-term deals mean they would be out of the door anyway should the Dragons go down.

That doesn't seem to be the case anyway at Colliers Park, but - no matter what some have said - it is a whispered worry of some.

I heard it myself while taking in a post-game pint at the Centenary bar.

It might not be a majority, but there were some.

Thankfully, their fears are unfounded.

Brian Little's boys are big on heart - now they just need a points tally to match.


 

March 12, 2008

Platini's Hope for Cardiff

Cardiff's - and Welsh football's – ongoing European saga has taken another twist after Michel Platini weighed in to the Bluebirds Uefa Cup conundrum.
The Uefa President, the top man when it comes to European football, has added his support to giving Cardiff a European place should they capture the FA Cup.
At the moment, the English FA are standing their ground and saying there’s no way they would allow City to take one of their European spots.
And there’s not a lot the FAW can do about it as Cardiff aren’t playing in their competitions.
Uefa have always said the FA CAN nominate one of the Welsh clubs for Europe as our story from a few weeks ago points out.
And despite the stubbornness from Soho Square, it will be interesting to see what they do next now Platini has got in on the act.
Platini holds cup competitions in high esteem and was only recently denied his plan to push cup winners into the Champions League rather than the Uefa Cup.
Whether his words have any impact is another matter, but at least it puts a bit of pressure on the FA.
And – best of all for Welsh football – it puts our issue in the national spotlight for a little while.
Now Monsieur Platini has just got to give us the green light to get the Big Three back in the Welsh Cup so we could see Wrexham and Swansea given the chance to return to those big European nights and we’ll all be saying Merci.
Plus, there’s the small matter of Cardiff first beating Barnsley and then either Portsmouth or West Brom. Simple huh?
But, you know what they say, with every small battle is the war won!


 

February 3, 2008

Freakish Free Kicks . . .

This week's paper has had a look at a selection of set-pieces that stunned soccer supporters.

I mean, we just had to after Christiano Ronaldo's free-kick against Pompey.It was one of those moments that just prompted me to text mates simply to ask "Did you just see THAT?!"

It was special - but it won't be the first or the last time we'll all sit open-mouthed at a bit of brilliance or bewilderment with the ball.

Here's Inside Sport's pick (with thanks to You Tube) -

Roberto Carlos v France 1997

Ernie Hunt v Everton 1970

Thierry Henry v Chelsea 2004 - a few goals in.

Paul Robinson v Watford 2007 - although you have to wait and watch some of the highlights of England blowing it in Croatia first.

Ronaldinho v England 2002


 

February 1, 2008

Cardiff's Pressing Issue . . .

You may know or not know (or perhaps not even care) that the Press are persona non grata at Ninian Park at the moment.

All media are currently banned from talking to City's players since our sister paper the Echo published an opinion piece by ex-Bluebird David Giles.

Now I've already discussed my views on what was said, but my comments are just like Gilo's - an opinion.

Yet Cardiff's players, rightly or wrongly, reckon the original article overstepped the mark.

Continue reading "Cardiff's Pressing Issue . . ." »


 

January 27, 2008

Cardiff New Stadium Cash Boost

Just to add to something in today's paper. . . .

Peter Ridsdale has revealed Cardiff's income will almost double thanks to their new stadium.
But the club will have to wait five years before making any cash from their new Premier Club plan.

Cardiff launched their Premier Club initiative this week, with the new home of the Bluebirds boasting exclusive seats and hospitality for 2,250 corporate fans.

It follows an extremely successful model at Swansea’s Liberty Stadium and is expected to generate huge sales.

That will come as an added boost to new revenue that chairman Peter Ridsdale predicts could hit as much as 45 per cent.

But the club won't see any of the cash generated from the Premier Club until 2014 as it has already been earmarked to repay investment made by PMG.

Ridsdale said: "The club had to put down 30 per cent of the cost of the project and when I came we had no cash.

"So what we have essentially seen done is PMG put in cash and we are paying them back with the first five years of Premier Seats.

"So our income for the first five years will come from other corporate hospitality, the income from the Blues, the added sponsosrhip opportunities, and our own crowds.

"We can't quantify the increase yet because we haven't fixed the prices of seats but our business plan given to the council shows revenue growing from 35 - 45 per cent - but I think it will be more."

Ridsdale also revealed he is in dialogue with four companies over naming rights for the new stadium - monies from which are scheduled to pay back some of the Langston debt.


 

January 19, 2008

Wise After the Event . . .

There's been quite a bit made about the news Robbie Fowler could be out for the rest of the season.

Cardiff aren't confirming that yet - but the fact he's on crutches for at least the next two months suggests he'd have a job fitting any football before the campaign end in May.

And with that in mind there's been some calls for Cardiff to boot the striker out of Ninian Park.

Now Fowler hasn't been anywhere near the hit many were tipping when he signed on a free in June.

And at reported £20,000 a week, it was never going to be a cheap crack at getting Fowler firing.

But let's be honest - there wasn't many not in agreement that it was a deal worth doing at the time.

There's no point being smug now - and how on earth can a club, especially with the financial uncertainty of Cardiff, be in a position to write off contracts like that willy-nilly. I mean, what would potential new recruits think of the prospect of being told to leave if they pick up a lengthy injury?

But what is a surprise is there is already talk of Fowler staying for a second year and that doesn't seem sensible on any level.

It's not about cutting your losses, but it might be a case of learning from mistakes.


 

January 15, 2008

Hats Off to Swansea . . . and Cardiff

You had to feel for Luton last Saturday - and fair play to Swansea, they obviously did.

Luton's fans had turned up having seen two of their best players sold - including Wales international David Edwards - just two days before the game.

And 24 hours prior to kick-off they were left reeling from the news Kevin Blackwell had resigned and would be leaving on February 9, effectively giving a one month's notice.

Supporters and media alike were even more confused when Lewis Emanuel was named as a sub even though he was supposed to have joined Lincoln on loan.

But the Hatters fans were defiant and gave a lengthy chant declaring "Luton Town will never die" against the backdrop of the 3-1 defeat and the financial worries.

If any set of supporters knows what it's like to see your club go through the mill it's Swansea's, and in a break of play they turned and applauded the home fans and their efforts.

In return, the whole of Kenilworth Road then applauded Swansea's gesture. In a sport that often gets a bit murky and underhand, it was a refreshing sight.

So hats off to Swansea, but also to Cardiff who are on a resilient run of form at the moment.

Just a couple of points off the play-offs and a world away from the troubles of just a few weeks ago.

It's amazing how worries (Langston have not gone away, remember) are easily forgotten when the team are picking up results.

There's still work for Jones to do, of course. The ever-changing Championship league table can see teams slide down as quickly as they can spring up.

The criticism of Jones and his side back in December was right, though, even though he has changed things around.

But the calls for his head were always premature - and I think I went on record for saying that.

Still, now's not the time for feeling smug, Dave. There's plenty of work still to do with plenty of time to do it in.


 

January 8, 2008

Back with a Bang. . .

It's been a while - but trust the FA Cup to get the blogging blood stirring again.

Havant & Waterlooville didn't quite land the knock-out blow to Swansea on Saturday, even if they did have a guy called Rocky playing up front.

But looking at this picture, thanks to the excellent www.scfc.co.uk (scroll down about half way to the ninth image), you can see they had a good try of flooring Darryl Duffy by other measures.

Now I'm up for the cup as any man, but you don't want to see this kind of thing on park pitches let alone Semi-pro or the Football Leagues.

No wonder Roberto Martinez was a bit annoyed after the final whistle, claiming the part-timers were out to rough the Swans up.

Looks like the replay is going to have a bit of edge about it - and that's before the possibility of Liverpool in the next round came about.

There's a good chance the game at Westleigh Park will be televised, with every neutral in the country behind the Conference South side.

It's all adding up to another test of Roberto Martinez's managerial skills - the majority of which the rookie has passed with flying colours so far.


 

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