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Game #31 (or game #1 of our 16 "Cup Finals" in the mind of the Bluebirds Gaffer) sees an in form Middlesbrough team come to fortress (or should that be fought less?
) CCS.The Boro come to us flying high in 3rd spot and boasting just 1 defeat in their last 6 league games, with results having taken a very significant turn for the better under the stewardship of rookie manager Michael Carrick, who remarkably,for someone who wasn't a popular choice as manager, has a pretty spectacular win percentage of 69% from his 13 league games in charge (W9, D1, L3).
However, Boro are also one of the few teams we actually have an opportunity to do a "double" over this season following our entertaining 2-3 win at the Riverside back in September.
That game saw City race into a 3-0 half time lead with goals from Callum O'Dowda, a rasping shot from Mark Harris and an excellent team goal with calm finish from Perry Ng.
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Ahh those heady days of scoring goals, I remember it like it was months ago!
If we needed any kind of indicator as to how times have changed, after this result City sat nicely in 14th spot from our 9 games with a little bit of optimism creeping in given the change in style under Steve Morison, whereas our visitors were sat in 20th spot, just above our little cousins from down the M4.
Last season's corresponding fixture saw the Bluebirds fall to a 0-2 defeat against Neil Warnock's Boro, resulting in then City manager Mick McCarthy get his P-45 from Vincent Tan & the board. He has since had plenty others join that particular club!
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Cardiff City's Managerial Class of 22/23 line up for their next assignments.
Rumour has it that the Ukrainian MoD were gutted to miss out on Mick McCarthy as they were so impressed with defensive strategies.
With Boro having the divisions top scorer in Chuba Akpom (16 goals) AND 2 of the top assist makers in Daniel Barlaser and ex-Bluebird Ryan Giles (7 each) this really will be a test of Sabri & Sol's management skills.
Early Bluebirds Team News
Rejoice!!! It seems that Mahlon (Alpha) Romeo may be back and fit to play again. This could mean a re-shuffle and a switch to a back 3 with Romeo and O'Downda as wing backs, especially with the new height up front in the shape of new boy Sory Kaba.
It seems likely that Connor Wickham will become a fully fledged Bluebird soon, but is unlikely to be considered for this game even if he does get registered in time.
Doubts (yet again) are cast over the fitness of Rubin Colwill. A worrying pattern seems to be emerging for the youngster and one can only hope that he doesn't become the next "Jack Wilshire".
Prutton & Co Predict
The anti-Bluebird duo have once again (though perhaps with more than a little justification) predicted a 0-2 defeat for our hardy lads, stating the gulf in quality between the 2 sides is just too great (the cheek of it).
The bookies too seem hellbent on keeping the doom clouds hanging, with an away win the overwhelming favourite result;
Home Win 5/2 Draw 12/5 Away Win 11/10
Fun Fact
During the 1970s, actor Terry Scott, of Terry and June, managed to drive his car off the end of Middlesbrough's Transporter Bridge and was only saved from the murky waters of the River Tees by the bridge’s safety net.
I knew things were supposedly grim up north but surely it can't have been that bad for the guy???
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Those crazy Boro boys crack me up... the Transporter Bridge, the only bridge in the UK you can bungee from by all accounts.. they just forgot to tell Tel that you are meant to get out of the car to do it!
Sharing The Love
Quite a decent list this week, even with avoiding the names quoted on the away thread...
One interesting name from yesteryear in the shape of Joe Hillier.
After impressing for the club's reserve side, he made his professional debut in a 2–0 victory over Everton in December 1927. He made four further appearances during the season and another four the following season as he acted as understudy to first choice goalkeeper Tom Farquharson.
In January 1930, he was allowed to join Middlesbrough in a triple transfer with teammates John Jennings and Fred Warren. As part of the deal, Cardiff agreed to a clause that would see the club receive a further £250 if both Hillier and Jennings played in twenty league matches for Middlesbrough. When both players reached the tally in May 1933, Cardiff issued a request for the money to be paid but received a cheque for just £50. When Cardiff queried the payment, Middlesbrough produced the agreement paper which included only a bonus of £50, an error that was later revealed to have been made by former Cardiff manager Fred Stewart who had mistakenly written the wrong figure. Cardiff appealed to the Football League, but their claim was dismissed.
Just goes to show, the Club have been dreadful with contracts for a long, ling time!
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So, can the Bluebirds double down and double up their points tally v Boro? Will Carrick come a cropper, forcing the City to say Sory for the goal-fest?? Can the next Kaba off the rank in our strikeforce finally start to taxi us up the table???
All I know is that I'll be there, I'll be there, with my little Pick & Shovel (and a Boro supporting mate) oh I'll be there!
Bloooooooooooooobirds!!!! \0/ <0> \0/ <0> \0/
