I remember when we last played Manchester United back in the seventies. A 0-1 defeat at home, and a battering away...They had just been relegated, seems impossible to imagine now....too big too big to go down weren't they? Courtesy of WOL., Nathan Blake So can lightning really strike twice? Having upset Manchester City 3-2 in their first Premier League home game, Cardiff City fans will be asking themselves if they can do the double and beat their neighbours United. It’s a tough call because from one to 16 United are as strong as anyone and don’t be fooled by what people say about them since David Moyes succeeded Sir Alex Ferguson in the hotseat. They are full of quality players, whoever they put out, and the way Ferguson has built up the club means Moyes just has to run with it to be successful. It’s not like it was at Liverpool 20 years ago when Graeme Souness ripped it all up and the club lost the knack of winning trophies. But what you are seeing now is that Ferguson was worth 20 points a season to United. It’s not that those players were afraid of him but he had a massive influence just being there. You could sense that with referees and linesmen, as he would be down on them like a ton of bricks if decisions went against United. That’s not happening this year. The script has been ripped up and everyone starts again, that’s why I feel Arsenal are the hardest team to beat this season because of the manager and his longevity there. Ferguson may not be in the dug-out these days, but for Cardiff fans and the city itself it’s still fantastic to have United in town. As a player you go into this sort of games knowing it’s more than average, it was the same playing Liverpool or Arsenal in my day and also Man City and Chelsea now. It’s always a big occasion and I remember playing the United of Beckham, Scholes and Cole after we were promoted at Bolton and lost 6-0. It really hurt our confidence and took us a while to get over it. I don’t see that happening to Cardiff but it’s massively important that you keep playing in the manner you are used to and you don’t get carried away by the occasion. Cardiff proved against Manchester City they can compete against these players but they must have a strategy and a game plan to upset the apple cart once again. This is where Malky Mackay earns his corn because he must try to conceal some areas of the pitch and use others, where perhaps United are slightly vulnerable these days. Mackay must develop some sort of strategy apart from the very real threat of setpieces, because you’ve got to have more than that in 90 minutes against opponents like United. When you do get the chance to probe you’ve got to create opportunities and penetrate. There’s no point sitting back and allowing your goal to be peppered like it was in the Tottenham game, you’ve got to do more than simply cling on because players like Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie will profit. But Cardiff are capable of causing problems and someone like Fraizer Campbell, a former United player, is quick enough to test Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Jonny Evans. Ferdinand and Vidic have got bags of experience but, like Patrice Evra at left-back, are not as quick as they were. So the City full-backs, especially Kevin Theophile-Catherine on the right, has got a big part to play. If the Cardiff widemen come in off the line and move inside then the full-backs have got to overlap. I also want to see Peter Whittingham get his passing game going like he did in the Championship because he’s got the ability to do that, but at the moment I feel City are relying on Gary Medel’s passing game. Whittingham has to bring the full-backs into play and even possibly the likes of Jordon Mutch, Craig Bellamy and Peter Odemwingie in a third-man running game. It would also be nice to see Andreas Cornelius add another dimension after injury, possibly coming off the bench against United. Of course, the main threat will come from Rooney and van Persie who I put ahead of Liverpool’s Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge and level pegging with Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero and Alvaro Negredo as the best strike partnership in the Premier League. But I’m hoping we get the chance to see my old Wales teammate Ryan Giggs play against the Bluebirds in his home city in the week he turns 40. What Ryan has done in the game is amazing and his longevity is just incredible. He didn’t have any hamstrings when I played with him so it shows how good Ferguson’s man-management was that he has had such a long career. Welsh fans would be in uproar when Ryan didn’t turn up for friendlies but it probably put another four or five years on his career. Obviously he’s not as quick as he used to be, but he has still got a turn of pace and I wouldn’t be surprised if he played on for another year. Moyes won’t be thinking of sentiment on Sunday and Ryan might not start the game, but it would be marvellous just to see him have a 10 or 15-minute cameo. I’m sure the atmosphere will be the same as the Man City game and the players must believe they can get the same result. It could be one of those where you can keep tight at 0-0 and then profit from a setpiece. Or you might create three chances and score three goals. Either way I’m sure it’s going to be a memorable occasion.
I barely remember the last game we played against them, it wasn't very memorable but in those days they really were in trouble for a while.
We have a definite disadvantage on Sunday, what with all our internationals on duty, flying all over the place....should be given a two goal lead in my opinion...very unfair! Courtesy of WOL Gary Medel will complete a 7,000 mile round-trip this week to make Manchester United’s first visit to Cardiff for nearly 40 years. Chile star Medel, who was outstanding in central defence in his country’s 2-0 victory over England at Wembley, faces the might of Brazil in Toronto in the early hours of tomorrow morning British time. After keeping tabs on the likes of Fred, Hulk and Neymar, Medel will make a transatlantic dash to join up with his City team-mates on Thursday. Medel, who was named after Spurs striker Gary Lineker but grew up in the Chilean capital Santiago as a United fan, will be in his more familiar deep-lying midfield role on Sunday - but still with the intention of shutting out the in-form Wayne Rooney for the second time in a week or so. “Chile are a top team who can make an impact at the World Cup finals,” Rooney said after England’s defeat to the impressive South Americans. “They have quality players – including Sanchez and Medel – but we were disappointed to lose.” Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli has been delighted with Medel’s progress at Cardiff with the World Cup finals just around the corner next summer. “Gary has settled in really quickly and that’s a tribute to his ability and aggression,” said Sampaoli. “Gary is a decent player and will be recognised for those qualities as time goes on with his club. “He is playing a more defensive role with us compared to his club because we rely on him for his physical presence and his strength is a marker in midfield rather than being creative.” While Medel and Kim Bo-Kyung, whose South Korean team have a friendly in Russia tonight, are already boooked in for the World Cup finals in Brazil next summer, Icelandic captain Aron Gunnarsson goes for gold in Zagreb this evening. Gunnarsson’s role will be to tame Croatian creator Luka Modric, the ex-Spurs star now at Real Madrid, after the first leg in Reykjavik last Friday ended goalless. A win for Iceland will mean City have three players in Brazil next summer with centre-half Steven Caulker still hopeful of earning a place in the England squad. Robin van Persie Malky's men could be set to face a Manchester United side without star striker Robin Van Persie. The frontman is one of a long list of injury concerns facing United manager David Moyes ahead of his trip to the Welsh capital for this Sunday’s Premier League clash. As well as Van Persie, centre-halves Phil Jones and Nemanja Vidic, striker Danny Welbeck and midfielder Michael Carrick are also all injury concerns. But it is Dutchman Van Persie who is potentially the biggest name to miss out on playing Malky Mackay’s men. The 30-year-old marksman scored the winner as United overcame Arsenal last time out in the Premier League. He was then due to represent Holland in their friendlies against Japan and Columbia, but withdrew from the squad stating he was suffering with a toe and a groin injury. Dutch coach Louis van Gaal has raised questions about the frontman’s general match fitness. Van Gaal commented: “Van Persie called me on Sunday and we discussed the situation. “He didn’t really have a holiday this summer, because he had to go to Asia with United. He just went on and on. “It’s smart to keep in mind what that does to a player. Even if we had an important match, I wouldn’t have played him this time.” Moyes may be mindful of Van Persie’s injury worries on Sunday. United, have not yet qualified for the Champions League knock-out stages and face a big match at Bayer Leverkusen just three days after their trip to the Welsh capital. England international Jones is also a doubt for Sunday. The centre-half came off in the second-half of the 2-0 defeat to Chile on Friday with a groin problem and has now been sent back to his club. He will miss tonight’s friendly for his nation in Germany. Fellow centre-half Vidic though looks likely to win the battle to feature against the Bluebirds. The Serbian came off just before half-time in his side’s victory over Arsenal with concussion. Vidic walked from the pitch, but was later examined in hospital before being released. Welbeck and Carrick will definitely miss Sunday’s clash. Welbeck could now need surgery on a knee problem that has seen him miss United’s last six games and he could be absent for more than a month longer than first thought. The 22-year-old could go for keyhole surgery if his condition does not improve after further treatment. Carrick is out until Christmas at least with his Achilles problem. Marouane Fellaini also faces a length spell on the sidelines, United’s summer signing could be out for up to ten weeks when undergoing surgery required on his left wrist. Right-back Rafael is also a major doubt for the Cardiff match with his on-going ankle injury.
Welshman I can remember the game, it was in the mid 70's, i was about 13/14 at the time. The only word to describe the whole occassion was. CARNAGE. Aggro time at its finest. The Man Utd fans had the whole of the Bob Bank. I shyte you not.
Looks like Cornelius is almost ready to play! http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24990353 Quite excited to see him get a proper run of games. Doesn't say whether he'll be likely to play against Man Utd, though.
1974 we told there could be trouble so quite a few of us from the Rhondda wore steel cap boots, as ronny said they were in the bob bank, the cleaners must have made a fortune with the number of coins thrown. please log in to view this image
I was pretty young then too and can't remember much about the actual football or the trouble but give me a year or two and I was there. I think I was 12 or 13 when I sneaked off to my first away game in Shrewsbury as it wasn't too far away, wouldn't be allowed to happen nowadays obviously. I'm 50 tomorrow so I'm sure someone will tell me when it was.
Ryan Giggs is in line for an emotional start against hometown club Cardiff City this weekend after Manchester United were plunged into an injury crisis just days before the champions’ clash with the Bluebirds. Cardiff-born Giggs, who turns 40 later this month, has been restricted to just 180 minutes of Premier League action this season as he undertakes an incredible 24th season at the top of the game. But United boss David Moyes looks set to turn to the Premier League legend to solve a midfield headache – meaning Giggs will face his hometown club for the first time in a peerless 23 year career. Moyes will be desperate for three points at Cardiff City Stadium on Sunday as he looks to keep pace with Premier League leaders Arsenal after a slow start to the season, but he will have to cope without a string of central midfield options. The Scot – who replaced Sir Alex Ferguson as Red Devils chief at the start of the season – was already without key man Michael Carrick after the 32-year was ruled out for up to six weeks with an achilles problem. But Phil Jones was yesterday confirmed as being sidelined with a ten-day absence likely after he was forced to withdraw from last night’s England friendly with Germany with a groin injury. Jones featured in the middle for United in the 1-0 win over Arsenal before the international break, and with Belgium star Marouane Fellaini potentially going under the knife for wrist surgery (Sparkey had the same problem), and Brazilian Anderson remaining a bit-part figure under Moyes, the ex-Everton boss will look to the experience of Giggs to partner Tom Cleverley against the Bluebirds. Wayne Rooney could be asked to play deeper for United’s first visit to Cardiff City Stadium, although Moyes has previously stressed how keen he is to stay further up the field where he has rediscovered his best form this season. And in a career full of landmarks, it would see Giggs’ mark his 666th league game for United against the club from where he hails. Giggs has played for Man Utd in Cardiff previously, featuring in cup finals at the Millennium Stadium, while his last game in the Welsh capital was a part of the Team GB Olympic side that bowed out of the 2012 Games in a penalty shoot-out at the same venue. Moyes is also without striker Danny Welbeck for the trip to South Wales with a knee injury, while Robin van Persie withdrew from the Netherlands squad complaining of toe and groin injuries, although the Dutch star is expected to recover to lead the line against Malky Mackay’s men. Mackay will be tonight sweating on his own international stars coming through their respective matches unscathed, Aron Gunnarsson, David Marshall, Kim Bo-Kyung and Gary Medel expected back at the club’s training ground over the next 48 hours after being on duty for their country over the past week.
Hope it is an enjoyable match with some goal mouth action for our forwards for a change; I suspect though it will be a defensive first policy with the long ball to Campbell and set pieces as our best chance to score. City should really pile into them early doors but will they?
Cardiff striker Peter Odemwingie has recovered from a minor muscle injury, while Aron Gunnarsson is fit despite hobbling off for Iceland on Tuesday. Andreas Cornelius, sidelined since August by an ankle injury, is also fit. Manchester United are without Michael Carrick and Phil Jones because of respective Achilles and groin problems. The Red Devils will assess strikers Robin van Persie and Danny Welbeck, both of whom withdrew from international duty because of injuries. MATCH PREVIEW Cardiff City against Manchester United isn't a fixture with a particularly rich history, illustrated by the fact this will be the first meeting of any kind between the clubs since March 1975, some 38 years ago. Go back a bit further though and there's a date of significance for Manchester United fans, because it was 60 years ago that the legendary Duncan Edwards made his debut for the club in a match against this weekend's opponents. Mark Lawrenson "Bluebirds boss Malky Mackay has got his players well drilled and well prepared for whoever they play. "Mackay and his staff obviously do loads of work on the opposition and their players follow his instructions to the letter which is great. That gives them an outside chance against most teams, and they also have an outside chance of staying up." He was just 16 when supporters got their first glimpse of his ability in the first team, but it came on a day when Cardiff ran out 4-1 winners at Old Trafford. Sir Matt Busby once said he felt Edwards was "the most complete footballer in Britain - possibly the world". We'll never know how good he could have been of course. His life was tragically cut short at the age of 21, following injuries sustained in the Munich air crash. United have seldom lacked for top-class players, and the likes of Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie will be the star attractions as Cardiff host the Red Devils in the top flight for the first time in over 50 years. Cardiff have already claimed a couple of worthy scalps at home this season, beating 2011-12 champions Manchester City plus Welsh rivals Swansea City. David Moyes will know this has the potential to be a boisterous and awkward afternoon if Malky Mackay's team are given half a chance, but United have won the last three in the league and are unbeaten in nine in all competitions as they start to get into their familiar stride. MATCH FACTS Head-to-head The clubs have not met in a competitive fixture since March 1975, while the last top-flight encounter was in February 1962. The Red Devils have won the last four meetings. Cardiff's last win in this fixture was a 3-0 victory in a top-flight match at Ninian Park on 26 November 1960. Cardiff City Cardiff are looking to record back-to-back home wins in the top flight for the first time since April 1962, when they defeated Birmingham and then West Ham. Seven of their nine league goals this season have been scored after half-time. The Bluebirds have conceded six goals from outside the penalty area this season, a league high coming into the latest round of matches. Steven Caulker has blocked 19 shots this season in the Premier League - seven more than any other player (prior to this weekend). Manchester United The Red Devils are unbeaten in nine league and cup games (W6, D3). They have won their last three Premier League fixtures. Prior to this weekend, Robin van Persie was the leading Premier League scorer in 2013 with 19 goals. The Dutchman has scored in each of his last four top-flight appearances. Not only has van Persie scored more goals than any other player in the Premier League since the start of 2011-12 (63), he's also hit the woodwork the most often (19).
good luck today, i will be watching and hoping for a good game, It's 11 players V 11 players with cardiff having home advantage...Anything can happen and if Malky has his game plan right then cardiff can get something out of this. remember the pressure is all on them as favorites so go out there and make sure you act as the 12th man but most of all the players turn up and not get over awed on who they are playing...looking forward to a good game with the welsh coming out on top....
Come on lads you can beat this pile of ****e today Hope you get up for it like the City game longer it goes 0-0 the more they'll start ****ting themselves
