Uh oh, game number 13, unlucky for some so they say, question is, will it be the Bluebirds or the dogged Terriers left cursing their luck come 10pm on Tuesday night? Once again we see our hearty band of blue clad men (or maroon clad men more likely) heading north, this time diverting east up the M62 into Yorkshire rather than west into Lancashire as we did on Saturday so that we can head to the John Smith's Stadium and the joys that Huddersfield will have for us. We head into this one on our worst run of form for some time, not having taken 3 points for 3 matches now, with our most recent defeat feeling like a bit of a lost opportunity following a very weak/damp showing in front of goal again. Our hosts however have been proving rather tough to beat, belying their 18th spot somewhat, having tasted defeat just once in their last 6 games (4-1 away at Birmingham), under new gaffer Darren Moore and with the squad still boasting a very experienced squad that includes the flying Leek Sorba Thomas, the terrier like Hogg and talented Michal Helik (3 goals to his name), Josh Ruffels and of course ex-Bluebird Danny Ward (who always seems to do pretty well against us). Goal scoring does seem to be a bit of an issue for them though, so if we can stay tight at the back then we should at least have half a chance. Last season actually saw the Yorkshiremen do the double over our beloved Bluebirds so fingers crossed we go for it and dish out some payback this time around. Bulut's Bulletin Gaffer Erol Bulut says he wants to see a "different" performance from his Cardiff City team when they travel to Huddersfield Town. The City boss was left frustrated by his side's defeat at Ewood Park, which came on the back of Joe Rankin-Costello's 53rd-minute strike, and says he wants to see more from his team when they travel to west Yorskhire. "I said to my players inside, this game, we have to forget," he said "We have to focus for Tuesday, and quick. "So I want to see a different team on the field, to get three points back that we lost [at Blackburn]. With Kion Etete still ruled out with his hamstring injury, all eyes will be on whether Bulut decides to stick with Ike Ugbo up top, despite his declining impact on games recently or to risk throwing Yakou Meite on up top instead, despite the ex-Reading man being yet to notch for the club, or even go with a 'false 9' set up and try Callum Robinson instead in a position he filled for the Bluebirds with some success when he first joined the side. Midfield may also be an area for a shake up (striker conundrum aside) as the creativity has also been a little lacking over the last 3 winless games with the exception of odd 10-20 minute spells. The back line is likely to remain unchanged given the lack of strength in depth and the relatively success of them as a unit. Previous Meetings The last victory we enjoyed on Town's soil was back in 2020, a neat finish from Josh Murphy (don't get to say that too often) a cultured finish from Will Vaulks (nor that) and a tap in for Callum Paterson (ahh, normal service resumed, phew). Oddly enough we scored 3 in 2017 too, with big Ken in his "unplayable" mood, though we did get a helping hand from their keeper. Struggling for footage of our wins in the 1926/27 season when they pipped us to the title so here's a few more to read about. https://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/2018/august/five-of-the-best-city-wins-vs.-huddersfield What Are The Odds On That? I have to say, I think it could be time for VT to give this betting game a break now, we may need to find someone to replace him as he's really not been bringing us much hope or luck, and worse still, Sparkey managed to get better odds on the weekend so a sure sign that fatigue is starting to set in for poor Vince.. one last go Vinnie mate and if we don't win this one then you're out for the foreseeable..... Well I Never Did you know that Sir Patrick Stewart, best known for his roles in Star Trek and X-Men, grew up just around the corner in the little town of Mirfield. He remains loyal to his local roots and was the Vice Chancellor of Huddersfierld University. I believe he went on to have quite an enterprising career but he can't hold a candle to James T Kirk(lees) for local connections surely?? In 1920, the Corporation bought the Ramsden Estate from that family, that had owned much of the town at least as to the reversion of long leases (a minor, overarching interest) since 1599, for £1.3 million. The town became "the town that bought itself". Most of the keynote central building freeholds belong to the local authority. Interestingly their portfolio of properties includes the football ground today. Wonder if the club face rent hikes in line with inflation?? Sharing The Love So, I've decided to keep my powder dry on a couple of shared players and have gone with what could be deemed as slightly 'lesser" lights in some respects, though each has provided moments of joy and despair in their own way. From commanding centre back to commanding the troops Mark Hudson Captain Marvel Mark Hudson signed for the then Championship Cardiff City for a fee of £1.075m with an extra £250,000 possible if the Bluebirds reached the Premier League in July 2019. An ongoing contract dispute with midfielder Joe Ledley led manager Dave Jones to hand the captaincy to Hudson at the start of the season, Cardiff becoming the third successive club at which he had been appointed captain. Hudson made his Cardiff debut in a 4–0 win over Scunthorpe United in the opening game of the season quickly establishing himself in the starting eleven, in the centre–back position, alongside Anthony Gerrard and Gábor Gyepes. Sadly however, his season was dealt a blow when he was ruled out after being forced to undergo surgery on a split ankle tendon at the end of January. After three months on the sidelines, he made his return for the first team, coming on as a second-half replacement for Darcy Blake, in a 3–2 win over Sheffield Wednesday going on to feature in the play-offs as the City lost 3–2 to Blackpool in the final. At the start of the 2010–11 season, loan signing Craig Bellamy was appointed team captain, with Hudson maintaining the role of club captain. Despite again suffering injuries, he played his part in helping Cardiff to the play-offs once again, only to see them lose over 2 legs to Reading. On 13 January 2012, Hudson signed a two-year contract extension, keeping him in the Welsh capital until 2014. He suffered an ankle injury in the January but returned to captain the side in its first ever League Cup final against Liverpool, in which the Bluebirds were beaten 3–2 on penalties. Once again helping the side qualify for the play–offs, Hudson played both legs against West Ham United, which saw Cardiff lose 5–0 on aggregate, ending their season and their hopes of reaching to the Premier League. At the start of the 2012–13 season, Hudson remained as the captain. Hudson made his three-hundredth career league start at Blackpool in a 2–1 victory on 19 January but in the March, Hudson was forced to undergo ankle surgery and was ruled out for the rest of the season. Despite Malky Mackay's hopes of Hudson returning from injury again, it never happened, however Hudson went on to lift the Championship trophy following the 1–1 home draw with Bolton Wanderers at Cardiff City Stadium in May. At the end of the 2012–13 season, Hudson was named PFA Team of the Year, along with Peter Whittingham, as well as winning Cardiff City's Player of the Year. He described winning the league was the 'best moment of his career'. Ahead of the 2014–15 season, Hudson's future at Cardiff was in doubt following their relegation from the Premier League and with him struggling for fitness. He managed to recover from a hamstring injury, in time for the opening game of the season against Blackburn Rovers, in which he set up Cardiff's goal in a 1–1 draw but after making three appearances for the side, the club announced his departure to Huddersfield Town on the last day of the transfer window. His departure came after new signing, Bruno Ecuele Manga arrived from FC Lorient. Later, Hudson was critical towards Ole Solskjær over the way he handled his departure but he has since become something of a cult hero with fans, if only for his singing from the open top bus on the promotion parade! And that brings us on nicely to the nightmare that was....... Anthony Gerrard Gerrard signed for Cardiff City in July 2009 starting the season as first choice centre-back, alongside club captain Mark Hudson. Going on to make 39 appearances and scoring two times in his debut season. Out of favour at the start of the 2010–11 season behind Gábor Gyepes and Hudson, Gerrard was linked with a loan move away from Cardiff City and joined Hull City on 31 August 2010 on a season long loan, with the exiled player going on to be named by Hull City's fans as their player of the season for the 2010–11 season. New signing Ben Turner managed to keep Gerrard out of the squad during the 2011/2012 season but an injury to captain Mark Hudson meant he was reinstated in the squad where he would go on to play in the fateful 2012 League Cup Final which also marked the first time Gerrard played against his cousin Steven Gerrard in a competitive football match. Liverpool of course won the trophy after a penalty shoot-out, during which both Gerrards missed penalty kicks but with Anthony’s being the one that handed the trophy to the jammy Scousers. After the match, Gerrard never played again as his relationship with Malky MacKay deteriorated and on 7 August 2012, Gerrard signed a three-year contract at newly promoted Championship club Huddersfield Town. Anthony Pilkington ‘Pilks’ joined Cardiff in August 2014, leaving Norwich for a reported £1m fee. His first goal for Cardiff City came during a 2–1 win against Sheffield Wednesday on 27 September 2014. He became a regular in the starting eleven until a hamstring injury put him out for several months. Pilkington returned to the starting line up, the following season, eventually scoring his first goal against Huddersfield Town (hopefully an omen) in September. Having shown a bit of a goalscoring touch and with the club short on forwards following departures in the January transfer window, Pilkington was moved into an unfamiliar more advanced role playing as a striker and finished the season with nine goals in total, including braces against Rotherham United and Preston North End, finishing the season as the club's top scorer. In 2017 despite finishing as one of the club's top goalscorers during the season, with 8 goals, he only managed 7 appearances following Neil Warnock's arrival in October, leading to the manager claiming he didn't know whether Pilkington had a future at the club. Despite the uncertainty of his future, Pilkington stayed at the club during the summer of 2017, going on to make a few more appearances for the club before eventually being signed by Wigan Athletic on a free transfer after leaving Cardiff via mutual consent in 2019. I personally will remember him for stunning goal to win a thrilling encounter at Ashton Gate in the Severnside derby (again, hopefully omens there!!) Phil Stant Having been previously bought out of the military by Hereford, whilst serving Stant saw time in the Falklands and was witness to the tragic Bluff Cove Air Attacks, having been aboard RFA Sir Tristram earlier in the day. He had been ordered off the ship the day before to man a nearby trench in Port Pleasant. There he was witness to the Argentinian aerial attack on the two warships and was one of the first on the scene afterwards where he helped wounded soldiers. Stant has described his experiences in the aftermath as "the day I grew up" due to the injuries he witnessed. He remained on the island until July 1982, a month after the end of the hostilities there. He progressed into the SAS and also worked as part of a bomb disposal unit before turning his attentions to football. His experiences in the South Atlantic were the subject of a 2007 ITV documentary, "Falklands 25: A soldier's story". He joined the Bluebirds in 1992 after scoring 26 goals for Mansfield Town as the Stags won promotion from the Fourth Division, transferring for £100,000. Despite arriving at Christmas in 1992, Stant went on to become City's top scorer in all competitions that season with 18 goals. Stant averaged a goal every other game during his three seasons at Ninian Park, including a hat-trick in the 1993 Welsh Cup final win over Rhyl, though this game was mired in controversy following a reported reneging on a bonus due to Stant if he played in the final. Then Chairman Rick Wright had promised hefty bonuses to players if they won the league and while Stant was entitled to only £2,000, as he had joined halfway through the season, most of the players were promised far more. But, as Stant said at the time, £2,000 was a lot of money at that time and he had no qualms about challenging the chairman, who appeared to be reneging on the deal. Ahead of the Welsh Cup final, Stant was faced with a cruel ultimatum. "As we had the pre-match meal in the hotel before the game, Eddie came over to have a private word with me," he wrote. "He pulled me to one side and said: 'Phil, the chairman has said to me that I can't play you unless you drop your claim for your bonus.' "'You're f*****g kidding, gaffer,' I replied, astonished. 'How f*****g low can this get?,' I thought. "'But I want to play, Eddie,' I argued back. After all, I came to the club when they were 10th in the league and my goals, nearly 20 of them, had helped them to win the league and reach the Cup final. "Once again I felt sorry for Eddie. It must have been an awful situation for him to tell his top scorer that he couldn't play in the Cup final. "Eddie went on: 'The chairman says that if you do play then you have accepted his ultimatum.' "'This is f*****g bollocks,' I said. I was being blackmailed. Perhaps life in the army and professional football weren't that different after all. As we made our way to the stadium, I still hadn't given Eddie my answer." Stant walked off the bus, through the changing rooms and out to the centre circle as fans began to filter into the National Stadium. May approached him once again and asked him for his decision. Stant's reply: "The only reason I won't play today is if you don't pick me." He played, of course, and, as every City fan knows, he hammered a hat-trick in that 5-0 drubbing of Rhyl to secure the double for Cardiff. Alas ‘Stantona’ became a bit of a hidden hero after quitting playing and has shunned the limelight and interviews pretty much ever since. So, can Erol avoid the peril of another game without victory? Will we yomp away from Yorkshire leaving the Terriers feeling like puddings as we fly home with the points in the bag?? Might we see Bulut take a turn to the adventurous BBC type line ups or will be the same old story and end up grim up North again??? All I know is Yorkshire isn't everyone's cuppa but I don't think it'll be taking the biscuit if we dip into our talented pool of bench players to try and slam dunk our rivals tomorrow night..... Blooooooooooobirds...
Thanks Brizzle Another work of genius sir Encouraging to read that the boss is looking for three points rather than playing for an away draw. Let's hope he's true to his words. Looking forward to Perry Ng's first hat trick. Bloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooobirds
Another masterpiece Brizzle. Thank you. If Bulut wants to ‘see another team on the field’ he’ll have to wait until January. Meanwhile he needs to get the best out of what he’s got., Hopefully we can come away with a point at least but I fear another defeat is on the cards.
He was one heck of a player. Sadly I personally didn't get to watch him in the flesh too often as I became a dad in 1991 and with little money to our name at the time unfortunately nappies, sudocreme and baby milk/food all had to take priority over travel from Pontypridd to Cardiff and football entry fees.... And do you think my son appreciates the sacrifices I made???? Does he bollox....
4-2-3-1?? Very much more attack minded and what we've been asking for... Let's see if it works now If Erol is right, we could just as easily be 3-0 down inside 45 minutes as 3-0 up...
A bit of poetic licence from Bulut. With Robo and Meite starting our attacking threat is considerably stronger and more creative than it would be if the half dimensional (I'm being kind there) Ugbo started.
Right. The meat pies have arrived, the band will be in after the bingo. In the meantime... Bloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooobirds C'mon
