The Bluebirds take on the long trek to Suffolk this weekend to face in form Ipswich Town at Portman Road, a fine arena for a team with a fine history. Our brave Bluebirds will be feeling in bullish mood as they head East but can be sure to face a stern test with the Tractor Boys having made a mightily impressive start to life back in the 2nd tier after their promotion last season with 3 wins from 4, the only blot on their copy book coming in the form of defeat to Leeds in their last game, which was also played at Portman Road - the end result being an entertaining 3-4 to the little Yorkshiremen. It wouldn't be doing our hosts a disservice to say that they aren't exactly packed with star names, however, the sum of the parts seems to have stood them in good stead. One or two names will be familiar of course, including Welsh International Wes Burns (a former Bluebird youth player), Aussie International Massimo Luongo and ex-Man Utd youngster Brandon Williams. Gaffer Kieran McKenna has proved to be a shrewd appointment. Since he was appointed in December 2021 he has managed to accrue a win rate of 56.5% across his 85 games in charge. Past Meetings With the Tractor Boys having been spending a bit of time enjoying themselves in League 1, it's been a while since we last met, however, hopefully it'll be a bit of an omen but the Bluebirds ran out winners on our last visit to Portman Road by a 1-0 score-line thanks to a Ken Zahore goal. In the dugout for Ipswich that day was none other than big Mick McCarthy. https://www.skysports.com/football/...0-1-cardiff-bluebirds-maintain-promotion-hunt There was of course our 1-1 draw back in 2016 when big Sol got a little bit annoyed with our Neil.... https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport...kCopy&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar Also our comfortable victory at the CCS back in 2014. Some of the play on display doesn't look too dissimilar to our new evolving style we are now seeing in my humble opinion. What Are The Odds On That? VT is again too busy to pop by and show us the odds this week as he is desperately trying to convince Eden Hazard not to retire and instead have a crack at getting his boyhood team Cardiff City promoted... so whilst he's away Erol has kindly stepped in to provide an update. And whilst he's at it in the press room........ Bulut's Bulletin The gaffer has confirmed that Josh Bowler will again be absent with his injury but should be available after the International break. He is joined on the sidelines by Callum O'Dowda this week with a tendon issue which could keep him out for 2 - 3 weeks. Robbo is apparently struggling with a back issue which can flare up at any point so his involvement is likely to be limited, if we get to see him at all. The scratch team that did such a good job on Tuesday may well have given Erol some food for thought, with Ollie Tanner, Karlan Grant and Rubin Colwill all coming in for praise. Could we see a bit of a shuffle in the pack?? This game probably comes too soon for new signing and soon to be boo boy target for the JB's Jonathan Panzo, though perhaps a spot on the bench may not be beyond him. Top scorer Ike Ugbo may well drop to the bench to make room for the returning Kieffer Moore (maybe, if we're lucky). Well I Never The world’s first commercially available powered lawnmower was built in Ipswich. Produced in 1902 by agricultural machinery manufacturer Ransomes, Sims and Jefferies, the machine was driven by an internal combustion engine. Let's hope we don't cut it fine with our winner on the pitch this Saturday eh? One that surprised me is that "The Tractor Boys" nickname wasn't actually coined until the club's brief period in the Premier League from 2000–01 to 2001–02, when the team regularly competed against more "fashionable" clubs and is seen as self-deprecating humour referring to Suffolk's agricultural heritage. Fair play to them, but let's hope they don't wrangle us sheepsh#ggers too easily!! Sharing The Love A few very familiar and fondly remembered faces here. Neil Alexander One of the finest keepers I've seen play for the City. he joined the Bluebirds in May 2001for a nominal fee of £130,000, with chairman Sam Hammam stating his belief that Alexander had the potential to play at international level in the future. The club had been rejected on several occasions prior to this when attempting to sign a new goalkeeper, failing in bids to sign Andy Marriott, Stewart Kerr and Jamie Langfield, and had originally traveled to watch his Livingston teammate Ian McCaldon, even preparing a bid for the player, but discovered that Alexander was soon to be out of contract and could be signed for a much lower price. He made his debut for the club on the opening day of the 2001–02 season, keeping a clean sheet during a 1–0 victory over Wycombe Wanderers. Alexander remained ever present in league competition during his first season as the club were eliminated in the play-off semi-final by Stoke City. After suffering that play-off defeat during his first season at Ninian Park, in Alexander's second, we again reached the play-offs, meeting Severnside rivals Bristol City. Alexander kept clean sheets in both legs of the play-off semi-final, making his 100th appearance in all competitions for the Bluebirds during the second leg, earning plaudits for his performances which were described as "faultless". During the 2006–07 season he became embroiled in a contract dispute with the club over a wage increase which left him refusing to sign a new contract. Following the club's refusal to offer Alexander an improved deal toward the end of the 2006–07 season, Alexander admitted that he had accepted his inevitable departure from the club, stating "I've got used to the fact now that I'm leaving, but I would have loved to have stayed" and commented that it would be a "sad day" when he leaves Cardiff for the final time. Cardiff manager Dave Jones replaced Alexander as first choice for the last two months of the season with David Forde, his final appearance for Cardiff coming on 31 March in a 1–0 defeat to Sunderland. In six years at Ninian Park, he played over 200 games for the Bluebirds and at the time of his departure he was the longest serving player at the club. Alexander retired from playing in June 2018, and was appointed goalkeeping coach at Dundee United. He left the club in July 2021. In March 2022 Alexander joined John Hughes's Dunfermline Athletic backroom team as goalkeeping coach following the departure of Owain Fon Williams. Due to injuries, Dunfermline registered Alexander as a player for the remainder of the season and he immediately went in to the match day squad versus Arbroath as a substitute. Michael Chopra After becoming frustrated at his failure to make an impact at Newcastle, Chopra signed for Cardiff City in June 2006 for £500,000. During the season, Chopra scored 22 goals in 44 matches. He helped the club remain top of the Championship throughout September, earning the Championship Player of the month for September. He was also featured in the PFA Team of the season. In July 2007, newly promoted Premier League side Sunderland agreed a deal worth up to £5 million, activating a release clause, to sign Chopra on a four-year contract Chopra rejoined Cardiff on loan in February 2009 for the rest of the season, with the transfer becoming permanent at the end of the season. Cardiff chairman Peter Ridsdale said that Chopra was "over the moon" about the transfer. During his second loan spell at the club, he found the net four times. Chopra completed a permanent move on 1 July following the opening of the transfer window for a fee of £3 million. The transfer smashed the club's transfer record which was previously held by the £1.75 million signing of Peter Thorne from Stoke City in 2001. He scored on his debut, netting the first and third goals in a 4–0 victory over Scunthorpe United. Chopra would go on to score in consecutive matches against Blackpool, Plymouth Argyle, Bristol City and Bristol Rovers. In the post-match ceremony, manager Dave Jones commented, "Chopra is on fire, he's scored seven goals already and he's shown he will get the goals if he gets the supply". Chopra finished the season with a total of 21 goals, including a four-goal haul against Derby County. For a second time, he was included in the PFA Team of the Year. Chopra left the Bluebirds in June 2011, penning a three-year deal with Ipswich Town. Alan Lee Alan Lee was sold to Cardiff City in August 2003 for a fee of £850,000, just days after impressing Cardiff manager Lennie Lawrence in a goalless draw on the opening day of the season. Rotherham's manager Ronnie Moore prophesied that "Alan Lee can and will do better than Cardiff". However Lee found himself struggling with injuries at Ninian Park and largely out of first team contention. He scored three goals in 24 games in 2003–04, though he managed seven goals in 43 appearances in 2004–05. However, he was restricted to just two goals in 25 Championship games in 2005–06. In January 2006 he departed for Ipswich Town for £100,000. He was forced to retire due to injury in July 2014, having undergone knee surgery over the summer. So, can the Bluebirds mow down the Tractor Boys and come away with the spoils? Will Ugbo have a go go and can can he score yet again to see us to victory?? Or could we even see Ollie be jolly by tanning their hides and us winning the prize??? All I know is the Bluebird bandwagon should hopefully keep motoring on!! Bloooooooooooooooooooooobirds......
Bloody hell Brizzle, you don't half write some bo110cks. Only joking mun. Another masterpiece mate. I'm a bit concerned about O'Dowda being absent but hopefully we can recreate the style shown at brumingham. Bloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooobirds
Get Bulut to re-chalk those odds Brizzo - City now gone out to 5/1 against. The best non laxative bet would be the double chance of City or a draw @ 13/10 - that's got to be worth a go for the more conservative. I think I'll go for the win though.
No change there Sparkey! Out of interest, have you ever predicted anything other than a Bluebirds win?
Put it this way Irish, whilst I always go for a City win in the prediction league for fun, I've never actually bet them to lose with real money. Maybe the odd double chance when the odds are like today, but that's an exception - no big money involved these days, I've been there and done that. Anyway, I've just put 4 new boots on the X5 which cost me the best part of £1200 so I've got to get it back. Mind you I've made a good start to the season as you will have noticed.
How good was that second goal by Bogle; that midfield interplay with the Tomlin flick was sensational!
No intention of making this excellent matchday thread into a betting related one, but I'm baffled by the options offered. Ugbo is the City favourite to score during the game @15/4, but there are 11 (yes 11 ) Ipswich players on shorter odds to do the same. I can't believe this game is being regarded as so one sided as to dismiss City's chances of coming away with something even if it's just a consolation goal. Rambo and Colwill are both on offer @ 7/1 to notch and if both start, I'll have a few bob on them popping one in. BTW, McGuinness is on @ 20/1 to notch against his old loan club today - I think that might be worth a bash as well.
Back in the day, this was one of my favourite away trips. I used to spend a couple of days with my friends in Woodbridge both of whom are Tractor fans, take in the game and then discuss the outcome with the aid of copious beer and rum. Happy days. Please forgive boring reminiscing by old man.
Tanner gets the nod. Good endeavour from a guy who was on his way out on loan. No Ugbo. That front 4 should cause some trouble.
When you think Robinson and O'Dowda are injured, it shows the depth that's been recruited. It's a long old season.
