Neutral visiting - who sincerely hopes you both survive as I think the Welsh presence is really refreshing in the Premier League. Think your post is one of the fairest and most balanced on this thread. There are rumours that the Swans are after Lukaku on a season long loan - if they get him (and also strengthen in other areas and in depth generally) then I think they could be in for a very interesting season indeed. If they are not able to strengthen then opposing teams will be better placed to combat the previously 'unknown' successes of last season. I actually think the European campaign may aid Laudrup's recruitment. For Cardiff _ I think you have a really astute young manager who will already have identified the areas that will need to be strengthened - think you need a real goal scorer - I love Bellamy (accept that he's a bit of a **** as a human being - but if he's in your team you just have to love his passion and winning mentality) - but you'll need more than him - and you need to get someone far better than the likes of your previous strikers - Bothroyd etc. Good luck you both
Problem is you have now have them on your side, that programme the other day was pretty polished, I think Huw paid them off....
We certainly need an out and out goal scorer but they are a bit thin on the ground these day. At the moment we have Maynard, Campbell, Gestede & Velonijka. Maynard & Campbell are similar style players so not sure how MM will play that little scenario. Gestede is a big lump and is no more than cover (imo) and Velonijka hasn't broken into the firt team yet and I am not sure he will but time will tell. Bellamy is now a Cardiff legend and a lot of his charity work goes unreported, he's great to have in the side to help the youngster along and bollock players when they are not trying. He will probably take up one of the wide roles and I don't expect him to feature in every game. The general feeling is we need 4-6 players, a striker, 2 midfield, a centre back and full backs. Will be interesting to see who comes in.
Shot yourself in the foot there son, mentioning Cardiff and swansea in the same sentance .......................of course they will want to your capitals club ,lets be fair they will look at both places first...;O)
Well I hope you get the right frontman, who can hack it in the Premier League, Graham was a Championship top striker the season we signed him, but he has struggled to handle the pace of this league if the truth be told, and I cannot see him lasting long at Sunderland, think he'll go back to the Championship.......
I think either Campbell or Maynard will start the season up front. Unless we manage to sign a top striker and by top I dont mean Kenwynne Jones.
I think that is more than a little unfair. People see the snarling face, but don't look any deeper than that. See if this changes your view. http://www.craigbellamyfoundation.org/ His money, and as importantly, his time. Most people don't hear about him spending Christmas day with his family in Sierra Leone, handing out presents to the people in his accademy.
Swansea City Wales's premier footballing outfit 9th Cardiff City worshippers of all things Michu 14th
Forget all the banter and other nonsense, I don't know about anyone else Mabs but I would settle for those positions after our first season in the Prem. As for Cardiff/Swans results though, that is something else.
bridgend as long as cardiff continue to buy 1 or 2 players to consolidate each season i dont see any problem with cardiff establishing themselves in the premiership
Fosse! The boy has grown into a man fella. Craig is the driving force of this team. Watch him now in any game and see the respect he has from City players and opposition.
remote - I take the point - and my comment was actually meant to be seen as 'tongue-in-cheek' (have a closer look at all my comments on him) - although I will admit that I wasn't aware of his charity work and i thank you for the detail. The press are all too ready to expose the less likeable traits in footballers but rarely give much publicity to the good they do (unlesss you've got a whole PR machine behind you like David Beckham. Our unsung hero is Emile Ivanhoe Heskey - yes he had his critics wherever he went - some justified some, let's just say not always stemming from a footballing basis. You may recall that we went into administration and needed £500,000 to stop from going under. Gary lineker was the figurehead of the campaign to save our club and whilst he gave his services freely there is some doubt that he ever dipped his hands in his own pockets. Heskey on the other hand gave £100,000 as an outright and absolute contribution. He actively avoided commenting about it until he eventually had no choice having been coenered by a papparazzi - all he would say on the matter was, to paraphrase, 'Leicester City gave me the opprtunity to be a professional footballer." - may not have been everyone's cup of tea as a footballer but is a legend in the eyes of Leicester City fans for what he did of his own volition when the club was on its knees.
Fosse, Heskey always came across as a nice fella. Not the greatest player but the press built him up something rotten then, when he didn't flourish in the English shirt, dismanteled him publicly. Well that is my view of what scummy press did. Top man for his contribution to Leicester.
I saw Heskey at Spurs must be 10/12 years ago. He totally demolished Sol Campbell who was one of the best cb's in those days. And it was pure physical prescence not elbows in the face or anything like that. The game was a 1 - 1 draw but my abiding memory was Heskey's performance. I think his only weakness was an overall lack of goals per game. All told he was probably too nice a guy for the top level of the game.
Spot on Bridgend - he took some incredible stick from opposing defenders at times, but whilst he would battle (fairly) I can't ever recall him making a 'nasty' challenge ... and I think you need that streak of nastiness to make it at the very top. I remember Steve Walsh, our very 'uncompromising' centre-half, being asked about his toughest physical battles with opposing forwards - I thought he'd highlight somone like Steve Bull, coz one of them always seemed to walk when we played Wolves LOL - to my surprise he gave a special mention to Dennis Bergkampf - said the guy would always catch you with an elbow or sly kick in a 'tender place' etc - he could "really look after himself" according to Walshy.
Yes, someone else said that about Bergkamp on Talksport earlier this week - can't remember who though, might have been Jason Cundy? I can't stand the sneaky players, I much prefer the old up and at 'em types like Bully and Steve Walsh. You knew what you were getting and where you were going to get it. Probably suited my game when I played on the Cardiff and Newport parks many moons ago.
That's the issue Fosse, some actively seek the attention though a lot of it is for self. Others shun the publicity and do a lot of unseen work. Bellamy has his demons, but he does a lot for those less fortunate than himself. I always respect those who give of their time. Sticking your hand in you pocket is often the easy option, especially when there is a lot in that pocket. Becks gave his last year's salary to charity. Good on him, but how much of that was to avaoid the tax? If he gave up a weekend to do something for someone I'd respect him a whole lot more. I'm sure there are many more than Bedllamy who do good work, it's just not the news the papers want, they'd prefer to give someone a slating. Respect for Heskey from what you are saying.
As much as I want to dislike Bellamy, it's impossible because of his charity work and off the pitch he is a hell of a nice guy.
