A slightly more brief pre-match thread than normal for reasons that shall be revealed in due course... On paper this could be our toughest test of the season thus far, a trip to 5th place Preston North End, straight after an international break, facing a team with the joint 4th best home form having suffered just 1 reverse (a heavy 4-0 defeat to WBA), however, North End are only team inside the top 10 with a negative goal difference – a real contrast to last season when they seemed to be very tight at the back. Last time out saw a 2-0 defeat in a tight game that also saw Jak Alnwick sent off late on, the 2nd game on the bounce that we’d had our keeper sent off after Ryan Allsop’s red card v Bristol City the game previous (the one where Ng took over the gloves and kept a clean sheet). The Lilywhites have previously been a bit of a bogey side for us (I won't mention the year they pipped us to a play-off spot... ) but in recent years our form against them actually hasn't been too bad with us having to go back another 9 games to find a previous defeat prior to last season's slip up. Bulut's Bulletin With the international break barely over Erol will be having to count all his ducklings back into the camp to assess everyone's fitness. One scare that has arisen is the prospect of Siopis having picked up an injury whilst away on duty with Greece but not having featured in either of their games - if this transpires to be true then it is almost certain we'll see a return to the Ralls/Wintle partnership in midfield one would think. What Are The Odds On That? With VT's luck finally having run out for our home defeat to Norwich, the task of getting us all geed up again falls to our Ken who has some temptations for those that like to live dangerously.... Sharing The Love This week we have a couple of teammates from a famous Bluebirds cup victory (close your eyes BfB) as well as 2 misfiring strikers (ok I know, we have lots of those but not ALL of them have played for Preston too!). Eoin Doyle Signed from Chesterfield in February 2015 for an undisclosed fee after scoring 38 goals in 84 games across league 1&2, Doyle made his début in a 1–1 draw at Hillsborough against Sheffield Wednesday, later scoring his first goal in March against Birmingham City. Doyle went on to score 5 goals in 17 appearances during the remainder of the season. Despite being a regular in the Cardiff side the previous season Doyle was sent on loan to Preston North End for the 2015–16 season on 1 September 2015, and made his debut as a substitute against Derby County on 12 September. It took Doyle a month to find the back the net, where he scored the winner against Nottingham Forest. Doyle then signed permanently for Preston for an undisclosed fee on 29 June 2016 after never really having been given a real chance with the Bluebirds. His goalscoring prowess would really come to the fore though when joining Swindon on loan in the 2019-20 season, netting 23 goals in 23 games in league 2. Ron Healey Healey began his career with Manchester City. Following an apprenticeship with City, he signed professional forms for the club in October 1969 and he made his debut at 17. As he was the understudy to the English international goalkeeper Joe Corrigan, he only played 30 times for City between 1970 and 1974 before moving to Cardiff City in March 1974 after brief spells with Coventry and Preston, making his debut in a 2–2 draw with West Bromwich Albion. On his arrival he shared the no.1 spot with Bill Irwin before eventually managing to claim the spot as his own. During the 1975–76 season he helped the club to win promotion to Division Two after finishing as runners-up behind Hereford United. After a spell with Bangor City, he retired from the game through injury. After his playing career, he worked at Manchester Airport and then for British Steel before becoming a prison officer at HMP Styal, where he spent more than 12 years. He also set up a successful football coaching business, Just 4 Keepers, with his son Scott. On 18 June 2018, Healey tragically died after collapsing on a cycle ride. Eddie Johnson Joining on loan from Fulham for the 2008–09 season in August, Johnson would make his debut for the club during a 2–1 victory over Milton Keynes Dons in the Football League Cup. He went on to make his league debut four days later as an eighty-fifth-minute substitute in a 0–0 draw with Sheffield United. Johnson really struggled for any form, despite often vociferous backing from the Bluebirds faithful. However, he finally had a breakthrough week when he scored his first goal in British football on March 7, 2009, in a 3–0 victory against Doncaster Rovers (I was there as I’m sure many of you were… USA, USA, USA). Just four days later Johnson was named man of the match for his performance in Cardiff's 3–1 victory over Barnsley and a month later, when Cardiff hosted Derby County, Johnson scored his second goal of the season and added an own goal during injury time as the Bluebirds rolled to a 4–1 victory. Johnson's goal for Cardiff also meant that he was the last Cardiff City goalscorer under the Ninian Park floodlights. Johnson returned to Fulham from Cardiff City for the 2009–10 season after becoming somewhat of a minor hero despite his lack of goals for the City. Johnson is currently working for his USSF A license and has coached younger Americans such as Christian Pulisic. Peter Sayer Born in Cardiff, Sayer began his career at his hometown club Cardiff City, making his debut against Hull City in September 1974. He went on to play a further nine matches in his first season before suffering a broken ankle in a match against Southampton which kept him out for nearly a year, returning at the end of the following season to play a handful of games as Cardiff clinched promotion to Division Two. He established himself in the side the following year and helped the club to avoid relegation, as well as famously scoring the only goal of the game when Cardiff knocked Tottenham Hotspur out of the FA Cup in 1977 (Ron Healey also featuring). Sayer left Cardiff midway through the 1977–78 season for £100,000 to sign for Brighton & Hove Albion. He helped the club win promotion to Division One in his first year but, after starting the 1978–79 season as a member of the first-team, Sayer found himself replaced in the side by Mark Lawrenson. He remained at the Goldstone Ground until the end of the season when he was sold to Preston North End for £85,000. After his retirement, he returned to work for Preston in their football in the community department. He later worked as a bar manager at Preston golf club. Now purported to be working for an Italian Takeaway called Puccini in Penwortham. So, can the Bluebirds bounce back and make things all quiet on the Preston front? Can we avoid a North End nightmare and nab all 3 points?? Or will we dig deep at Deepdale to drag ourselves to victory??? All I know is I'll be in Vienna for a long weekend with Mrs Brizzle, flying out Friday and returning Monday night hence the brief thread tonight and what will likely be an even briefer thread for the WBA game in due course (I know, I know, priorities right??? You try tell the missus that - problem is I guess I still owe her being as her lot gave us 3 points only a few weeks ago!!) Bloooooooooooooooobirds!!!
You call that brief? The book I am reading has smaller chapters than this. Another fantastic thread, thank you Brizzle. Hope you and Mrs B have a lovely time in Vienna. However it means nothing to me. I don’t think I’ll be tempted by Ken’s odds for a Cardiff win but no doubt Sparkey won’t resist a double your money. Personally I’d take a draw.
Morning folks seem to remember Eddie Johnson was abysmal when he played for us and during the time Sayer was with us never actually saw him play for the club think it probably coincided when I went on a one man strike to protest against the rubbish we were playing at the time. Sayer ended up running the Bluebell pub at the top end of Fishergate My match thread will be on shortly apparently may be a tad cold this weekend so I suggest you bring a pair of gloves
Enjoy some Zachertort but not too much. Lovely read too..and if WBA is as "short" as this one we will be well pleased and looked after!
Cheers Maclad... The last time I travelled up to Deepdale was (from memory) around 87 or 88 I think. Plastic pitch, terrible weather, downpours of rain and a roof that did little to protect us from it... went up the embodiment of good health (ok, that may be stretching it slightly), woke up the next day feeling like I had the worst bout of man-flu in the World... But, have to say, the home fans were a great, friendly bunch in the pub beforehand. I can't remember if we drew or lost but was fun nonetheless.
Been only once - all I recall was Michael Ricketts hitting the bar, we lost, it was freezing cold and the traffic was terrible
Great work again Brizzo. Enjoy Vienna pal - absolutely magical place within the "innere stadt" ring road. Don't bother much outside that though other than Maria Theresa's fabulous Shoenbrunn Palace just up the road in Hietzing - can be a bit of a sprawl otherwise. Spent many an evening back in the 80's/90's wandering around the old inner city arcades, stubels, restaurants and coffee shops. You must pop into Cafe Landtmann just for the experience. Maybe a lot of historical hype over the magnificent period decor but I always felt I was in an episode of Poirot.......... Gawd, it's awful to think those times in my life were probably 30/40 years ago.
Excellent write up as usual BB. Not sure if you're referring to my dislike for strikers who rarely score or Sayer's wonder strike. As for Eddie you could never fault his effort, enthusiasm and work for the team. That was evidenced by the crowd roar when he notched his couple of net busters. Perhaps for the wrong reasons he is, nevertheless, a legend who won't be forgotten. Unlike one of our current encumbents. As a Spurs fan 76/77 was a terrible season. Out of the cup in the third round and later relegated. Sayer's goal accelerated the rot. It was all the more surprising when Spurs had the mercurial Alfie Conn and a good striker in John Duncan. It got better the next season in Div. 2 when a young Glen Hoddle started pulling the strings and the next year the Argentine invasion of Ardiles and Villa occurred.
Cheers maclad. Our biggest concern is having Blobby Madley as ref. He has not been a good omen for us recently, as bad as the refs for England and Wales this week. He seems to have a very loose understanding of the rules, I.e. giving opponents everything and us sod all. What is Preston's experience with Mr. Madley? Can we take any comfort from his appointment?
I’m more worried that Langford is there, can’t remember any faux pas by Bob although his brother gave an excellent non penalty at Villa once
Bulut's Bulletin Update... Just before I fly out... https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport...kCopy&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar
Cardiff City XI: Runarsson; Ng, McGuinness, Goutas, Collins; Siopis, Ralls; Bowler, Robinson, Grant; Meite. Subs: Alnwick, Panzo, Romeo, Rinomhota, Adams, Wintle, Tanner, Colwill, Ugbo.
