Ok, I appreciate I'm going REALLY early with this one, but I'm not sure I'll have time on Tuesday to get the thread up in time for kick off after lying back in from my scouting mission to Malaga (sadly they're actually away but we may go do a stadium tour if nothing else ) and it's also a slightly briefer one just because I need to finish packing and get a glass of vino down me to celebrate the Bank Holiday weekend! The rewards for the mighty Bluebirds narrowly avoiding becoming a victim of the proverbial "giant killing" is a mid-week trip to the midlands and a visit to St Andrews, the home of newly resurgent Birmingham City. Having looked back over our fixture history, we only appear to have met in cup competition once before with an FA Cup 3rd round meeting in January 1974 - sadly the Bluebirds ended up on the wrong end of a 7 goal encounter against our 1st division opponents with the game finishing in a 5-2 score-line. The Blues have made a good start to their league season with 2 wins and a draw, and comfortably saw off League One side Cheltenham Town 2-0 courtesy of 2 goals form the more gifted of the Bacuna boys away in the 1st round of the League Cup to set up their tie with our valiant Bluebirds. Brum of course also recently announced their own version of the Wrexham Hollywood trail by bringing NFL superstar Tom Brady onto the board - quite how his passing ability will rub off on the Blues will have to wait to be seen but I'm absolutely expecting to see a few fake throws from their players at throw ins and some spectacular attempts at field goals from penalties some time soon. Their squad has been steadily improving but still contains a few old warhorses like Lukas Jutkiewicz and Scott Hogan for our defence to contend with as well of course as successful ex-Bluebird loanee Dion Sanderson. Bulut's Bulletin Obviously it's a little too soon for Erol to have given me a quick call to tell me what his thoughts are for the game, and clearly Saturday's game against Sheffield Wednesday could play some part in team decisions, however, one thig I'm sure we can all be certain of is that the team will definitely be a much changed side again for the cup game, with opportunities for the likes of Rubin Colwil (if fit), Ollie Tanner (if he doesn't feature too much against the Owls) and whoever will most likely have missed out between Ralls and Wintle if my assumption that Siopis will start proves correct. I'd also bank on Meite and Etete likely getting some serious minutes under their belts too. Additionally, if we bring in a new defender, he too cold get thrown in at the deep end alongside Simpson I'd imagine. Goalkeeper wise, depending on Allsop's fitness, we could see a debut for new signing Alex Runarsson. What Are The Odds On That? Just like our 1st choice 11, Vince isn't too worried about the cup either, so he's left his stand in to take us through the current odds. A bit like his own interest though, these odds are subject to change! Sharing The Love Just a couple of names here as I don't want to spoil our league games v the Blue later in the season... Chris Burke He plays on the left, he plays on the right, that boy Chris Burke, makes Routledge look distinctly average... Joining in January 2009 on a free transfer, Burke linked up with former Rangers teammates Gavin Rae and Ross McCormack. He made his debut on 17 January when he replaced Peter Whittingham after 45 minutes of a 1–1 draw with Birmingham City, and scored his first goal for the club on 21 April during a 2–2 draw with Charlton Athletic. He proved a valuable signing and was arguably a very popular member of the team under Dave Jones. Burke left Cardiff after failing to agree a new contract in May 2011. Ernie Curtis A Welsh schoolboy international, Curtis was playing amateur football with Cardiff Corinthians, also working as an electrician, when he joined Cardiff City in 1925. On his signing, he was initially an amateur with the side and featured in the reserve team before being offered his first professional contract in 1926. He made his senior debut for Cardiff on 25 September 1926 in a 2–0 defeat to Manchester United, replacing Potter Smith in the starting line-up. In the following match, he scored his first goal for the club during a 6–3 defeat to Derby County and featured more than 30 times in all competitions during his debut season, which was also limited by an ankle injury sustained in March 1927. As a result he missed the club's FA Cup semi-final victory over Reading, as well as six league matches. Curtis had previously played in all five matches en-route to the club reaching the 1927 FA Cup Final but his injury meant he was unlikely to play in the final. However Harry Wake, who had replaced Curtis in the semi-final, suffered an injury in a league match two weeks before the final which ruled him out. Billy Thirlaway, who had covered Curtis' absence in the league, was also ruled out as he was cup-tied for the game having played in the earlier rounds of the competition for his former club. Curtis was therefore brought back into the starting line-up for the final, becoming the youngest ever player to have appeared in an FA Cup final at the age of 19 years and 317 days. The Bluebirds of course went on to beat Arsenal 1–0 in the final to become the only team from outside England to win the competition. He also helped the club win the Welsh Cup in his first season, defeating Rhyl 2–0 in the final. The following year, Curtis began the season in the first team and also played in Cardiff's 1927 FA Charity Shield victory over amateur side Corinthians on 12 October 1927. However, he gradually fell out of favour and made his final appearance for the club on 5 March 1928 in a 1–0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur. Ernie lived in the city of his birth until he died in November 1992, aged 85. Roger Hansbury Rated at No'20 in a Wales Online article of the greatest Cardiff City Goalkeepers, I recall Hansbury as being a very solid and reliable keeper for the Bluebirds, making the jersey very much his own over a 4 year period with the club. So, can we make our hosts sing the Blues as we dump them out of the cup? Can our 2nd string strike a tune and have us dancing on to the next round?? Or will Erol tinker too much and leave us open to a sacking from the Brady Bunch??? All I know is Wembley, Wembley, we're the famous Cardiff City and we're due back at Wembley..... Bloooooooooooooobirds!!
I was there the day we were dumped out of the cup 5 - 2 in 1972. Quite an experience leaving the ground for a young BT !
Sorry, I have dyslexic fingers 1972 was when we played Sunderland three times in the FA Cup, eventually winning the second replay at a neutral Maine Road. We went on to play Leeds in the 4th round at Ninian, losing 2 - 0. I remember that game too !
Great work Scout Brizzle. We're gonna have to watch out for Brums devastating plays on fourth down and short. I have no idea what I'm talking about but I want a cup run. Bloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooobirds!
I'd almost forgotten that this game is tonight. Brum going well in the league but I wonder what sort of line-up they'll have out.
City not fancied to win this - now gone out @ 16/5. Can't pass that up - £30 on any sort of normal full time win - but does not include a penalty shoot out result.
Just back from Malaga in time for the game tonight (not that we're on TV of course, can't believe we've been shunned for some 2nd rate team from Yorkshire). Planning on going back for a game at some point. Back to tonight and it'll definitely be a "reserve" game so we'll have to wait and see who's 2,Nd string is better on the night. I think WoL may have gotten it right though when they suggest Meite may get another run out. Really hoping Robbo gets some game time though, his absence is really getting concerning!
Penalty shootouts not a problem for us . However, I can't see Ugbo being asked to take one as 12 yards is bit if a distance for him. Perhaps binoculars would help.
Glad to hear that you're safely back from your worldwide diplomatic duties Brizzle. Always good to see a bluebird shirt in far off lands. Hope you had a good time
Excellent time thanks Clingo. Even Mrs Brizzle enjoyed the stadium tour (I think she secretly likes blue seats), though I did have to balance it out by agreeing to go to the cathedral afterwards. Cleanliness is apparently next to godliness, but godliness comes behind footballing religion in my book!!
TEAM NEWS Birmingham City XI: Etheridge; Oakley, Sanderson, Long, Longelo; Sunjic, Bacuna; James, Hall, Stansfield; Jutkiewicz Subs: Mayo, Buchanan, M. Roberts, Hogan, Miyoshi, Cosgrove, Gardner, Khela, Donovan Cardiff City XI: Runarsson; Romeo, Ng, Adams, Tanner; Rinomhota, Wintle, Sawyers; R. Colwill, Etete, Grant. Subs: Alnwick, McGuinness, Semenyo, Campbell, J. Colwill, Evans, Ashford, Wigley, Ugbo.
Both former Bluebirds line up against us... Not sure what to make of our team... Adams or Rino at CB maybe????
I think we posted at the same time Brizzle! I’m a bit worried that we have no centre backs in the team!
Agreed. Our cup run due to come to an end tonight then I reckon, as their team definitely has a much stronger look about it than ours. Bulut must be saving us for a promotion and FA Cup double instead.
As with most of these sorts of games, the individual players look OK. It's how they perform collectively is the question. Hoping Colwill and Tanner show no fear.
