Wembley, Wembley, we’re the famous Cardiff City and the odds are we’re not going to Wembley… It’s cup fever time – who’s excited for this one?? Who Are You? Our run to Wembley this year starts with a home league cup tie against near neighbours Bristol Rovers, the more ‘genuine’ team in Bristol as opposed to those other charlatans that reside practically in North Somerset (quick check to make sure Mrs Brizzle isn’t looking over my shoulder with frying pan in hand!! ). Rovers have been very active in the transfer market this year with a large number of players both exiting and arriving over the summer. Proven experience has arrived in the form of Taylor Moore (defender) from city rivals Bristol City, with Cypriot international striker Ruel Sotiriou a couple of the more interesting arrivals. Ex-Jack Bar Steward Scott Sinclair has been named captain for this season, I'm sure he’ll get a warm reception from the home crowd as usual (more on him later). Rovers are managed by former Exeter and Rotherham gaffer Matty Taylor, with him taking up the reigns at the Mem in December 2023 after the sacking of previous boss Joey Barton in the October of that year. Taylor of course was gaffer at Rotherham during the famous ‘Watergate’ incident, so lets hope the weather holds out for the game this time around! Last Time Out & Form The Pirates upset their ‘bigwig’ opponents claiming a 1-0 victory with a superb 30 yard Chris Lines effort which lit up an otherwise pretty dull game at the Memorial Stadium. Paul Trollop’s Bluebirds let the manager down on his return to his old stomping ground, being unable to carve out any really good opportunities or being wasteful when they did so (the highlights show a rare glimpse of Fred Guonongbe in action with just about our best chance). Whilst it was a ‘scratch’ side that was put out, it’s undeniable there should have been enough quality there to get the job done. Form guide wise (based on the end of last season and a single league game thus far this season), our visitors have had a proper all or nothing time, with 3 wins and 3 losses in their last 6 games, including an opening day 1-0 win at home to Northampton Town. Whilst pre-season isn’t any real guide, we did of course triumph 2-0 at the Memorial Stadium just a short time ago, however, we can most likely expect changes for this one again, especially with the disappointment of a home defeat in our opening game still fresh in Erol Bulut’s mind. In, Out Or No Sign Of Them About After our weekend set-back, and with the cup sadly taking a back seat for us like most teams at our level and above nowadays, it would be no surprise to see quite a few changes for this one. Our ‘long term’ injuries remain just that, but we may see the likes of Alex Robertson and Wilf Kanga get starts in order to help with both fitness and integration into the team and it wouldn’t be a total shock if Joel Bagan gets a run out too. Predicted Starting 11 Alnwick Conte Goutas Bagan Giles Rinomhota Robertson Tanner Colwill Meite Kanga The Odds Bods This game sees a guy who had a big impact on Welsh football, though not necessarily for the right reasons. If a picture could speak a thousand words, I’d suggest that the look on this guys face just about sums up his time with not only us Bluebirds but the Welsh team too… (P.S. Sorry for any PTSD this picture may cause) Top Boy Top Trumps Although I very much doubt he’ll play, our ‘old maestro’ Aaron Ramsey has some competition in this one as far as the age and experience stakes go. Interesting reading based on last season, seems their old boy is perhaps a tad fitter than ours! Match Day Melody Just to stick with the pirate theme, and given the overall feeling that must of overcome us after our last encounter against this sea faring rabble.... (let's face it, we had feck all else to do after being knocked out of the cup!) So, can we get our acts together and overcome our League 1 visitors? The cynic in me says that this one could actually go to penalties, especially of we do play a much weakened teams, but hey, it's all about the push for the play-offs this season isn't it, so if we go out it'll be a case of que sera sera!! Blooooooooooooooooooooooooooobirds!!!
Nice one BB. However for the tune I would have gone for the Captain Pugwash theme. Although urban myths, Semen Stains and Roger the Cabin Boy still give me a little smirk. However a nice jolly little number from the Pistoĺs with a seafaring bent. Bulut has said he will give some of the youngsters a game. Might see King and Ashford get a run out. I'm looking forward to seeing Robertson strut his stuff.
Excellent!! A bonus cup thread from our creative writist. Cheers Brizzle. I doubt it will happen but I think after Saturday, Erol should start with as near to his first team choice as possible. Give the guys more chance to blend. I say it every year that I would like us to have a cup run and this year is no different. Let's go Bloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooobirds.
Of course, if we'd gone with their alternative nickname, we could have had Aretha's rendition of Jumping Jack Flash.
Love your optimism Brizzle. ‘Our road to Wembley begins…’ Let’s hope it doesn’t end tomorrow night! Another great and very welcome extra thread.
Let's see what side Erol picks tonight. I assume there will be minutes for the legs of new signings, a few youngsters and a few squad players. Just hope there's a few experienced players in there to hold things together. I hate wholesale changes. Especially unfair on the youngsters. They need to be in a settled side to show what they can do, not in a scratch side. Come on Erol, mix and match.
A great memory of Peter Hooper, a left winger with a thunderbolt shot. A winger who scored 22 goals from 40 games (42 games back in 62/3). We could’nt buy a centre forward who could do that! One season and he went to Bristol City complaining of home sickness.....or did he meet a young BFB? Also played for their youth side AKA Clifton Athletic.....wasn’t good enough to get into CC’s side! Masky Of Llandaff
Very, very young squad. Cardiff City XI: Alnwick; Kpakio, McGuinness, Bagan, Giles; Rinomhota, Turnbull, Robertson; Conte, Colwill, Kanga. Subs: Turner, ***an-Walcott, Lawlor, Gbadehan, King, Tanner, Evans, Reindorf.
I applaud giving the youth a run out but they seem to have been indoctrinated with the first team’s pedestrian back and sideways football. Robertson is a cut above but Colwill looks disinterested. Why is Rinomota playing?
