Time to produce the kind of display, that we are capable of in this, the most important of fixtures. Time to put the enemy to the sword, and deliver a right good thwacking! Time to bloody the nose of our gallant adversaries, and show them who has the bigger chopper! Craig Bellamy is expected to return to the Cardiff starting line-up and captain the side against Swansea. Forward Andreas Cornelius remains sidelined but Craig Noone should be available after an ankle problem. Rick Ashley Williams skippers Swansea after his return from injury against West Ham went to plan, but winger Pablo Hernandez picked up another thigh problem against the Hammers and is out. Jonjo Shelvey is available after a hamstring injury. South Wales is all set for an historic occasion, as the rival cities of coal and copper clash in the top division for the first time. It'll also be the first time the RED-birds and the Swans have come together - all still a bit too weird for this traditionalist I'm afraid. I was lucky enough to have been at their last meeting in 2011, won for Cardiff by a Craig Bellamy beauty at the Liberty Stadium, and now count it as one of my favourite fixtures. Fiery and passionate in a way that's unique to its region - it's everything a local derby should be. Mark Lawrenson "I know all about the rivalry between the two teams, and I know they have never met in the Premier League before, but I hope their supporters keep some perspective - I would like to read about what has happened on the pitch, rather than off it, in the newspapers." Trying to look beyond the game's 'one-off' nature, Cardiff desperately need a win, especially at home, with Manchester United and Arsenal the next two visitors. They've lost their last two at the Cardiff City Stadium and their only win in four home league games - the 3-2 victory over Manchester City in August - is becoming a distant memory. In recent history, they haven't fared too well at home against Swansea either, winning just one of their last seven meetings in Cardiff. For Swansea this is game 18 of the season already, and although I'm tempted to say that juggling European football with the rigours of the Premier League is having an effect - the stats show otherwise. After nine league games, Michael Laudrup's team have an identical record to last year (W3, D2, L4), and their only defeats have been to the famous or in-form - Manchester United, Spurs, Arsenal and Southampton. It's my first time watching Cardiff live this season and, with next year's World Cup and this month's England v Chile game in mind, I'm greatly looking forward to seeing their midfield enforcer Gary Medel - particularly in this game. He racked up 11 club red cards in the previous four seasons, including derby dismissals for Boca Juniors v River Plate and for Sevilla v Real Betis. Incredibly, he's yet to be booked in Cardiff colours! After Angel Rangel's suggestion that the Chilean midfielder was overpriced this week, perhaps Sunday will be the day. Head-to-head This is the first top-flight meeting between the sides. The last two meetings - in the 2010-11 Championship campaign - ended in 1-0 away victories. Mike Dean returns to Cardiff to referee for the first time since a 2-2 draw in April 2009, in which he was hit by a coin thrown from the home section and then awarded a controversial late penalty to the Bluebirds. Cardiff Cardiff kept only their second Premier League clean sheet last weekend, against Norwich. The Bluebirds have faced more shots (174) than any other team in the Premier League this season. They have not won a home fixture since their famous 3-2 win over Manchester City in their first home game (D1, L2). Only Aston Villa and Manchester United (both six) have gained more points from losing positions than Cardiff this season (four). Swansea Swansea have only won two of their last seven games in all competitions. Only three of Swansea's 12 Premier League goals this season have come in the first half. The Swans are unbeaten against bottom-half opposition this season (W3, D1). Michu has scored two Premier League goals this term - at the corresponding stage last season he had six. Wilfried Bony and Michu have scored more goals between them (13) than the entire Cardiff squad combined this term (12).
Excellent thread MM, can't wait for the game, finish work at 4 Sunday so it will be a dash to get to a screen. I think its to close to call but l can feel a 0-2 to the Swans. When it comes to a chopper competition you'll find our lads are all hung like donkeys with balls of steel! Enjoy the game but not the result. STID.
The South Wales derby is nearly upon us A local rivalry, a national pride, a global stage. There is no escaping it. What was once the almost private dispute of two clubs and cities separated by much more than 40 miles of motorway, has the world waking up to just what Cardiff City and Swansea City is about. Even for the two men charged by their communities to create new idols and history over 90 minutes on Sunday, there is an acceptance they are about to step into something quite, quite different. At one time there was the need to talk-up the significance of the South Wales derby, to shout loudly of its worth of a fixture to watch out for in terms of intensity and incident. But, as the two sides prepare for a first top-flight meeting in 101 years of hostilities, no more is there the worry of being overshadowed by others. Michael Fed-up had no qualms in singling out the special buzz of this game, even as a man who has experienced each side of El Clasico with Real Madrid and Barcelona. As the Swansea manager spoke on Friday in a Liberty Stadium boardroom, the framed Barcelona shirt on the wall behind him did not stop him giving due credit to this Welsh version. Malky Mackay was not dissimilar in his assessment. The Bluebirds’ boss Glaswegian drawl reminded of his Old Firm background, but he did not follow the route of his predecessor and claim this is just another game. On the contrary, it means everything. To either side of the Welsh divide. But that this was more than just a match was always known to those brought up on a derby diet of Colin Hudson and Mel Nurse, of John Buchanan and David Giles, Matt Bound and Simon Haworth, Darren Pratley and Craig Bellamy. The fact it suddenly has the platform of the Premier League means many more throughout the globe are about to find out just why there is no escaping the excitement and why there many here yesterday as keen to discover what their leaders of men had to say as the leader of the UK Government on his trip over the border. They each said the right things: Mackay refused to accept the glossy new status of the showdown outshone the lower league meetings of the past while Laudrup – who once carried the hopes of Catalans and Madridistas with equal pride – claimed to know exactly the degree of responsibility it was to represent his half of this Welsh divide. Each spoke of keeping focus, be it against off-the-field issues or amid the chaos of noise and nerves of the game, but Mackay and Laudrup will know it is not they who will be in the cameras’ focus where mistakes are magnified and goalscorers guaranteed their place in folklore. It will be the men they send out at Cardiff City Stadium who must make it happen, who must shoulder the hopes of their fans and protect them from the worst fears of seeing the other side have their day. Their time for talking will be at an end tomorrow, the onus then on their players to do the right thing in the glare of an unforgiving derby spotlight. If – as convention dictates – form goes out of the window, so does logic as the fact that only three Premier League points are at stake. Beneath that is an absolute demand that if they cannot win, they must not lose, either But that will inevitably be the case should either step away from the style and shape that got each side to this new, higher place in the derby’s history in the first place. Perhaps the pressure is more on Swansea, in that case. For the first time in 15 years they go into the game with the title of Wales’ No.1 team, their Capital One Cup crown underlining such a status and having established themselves as a team to be admired for the way they play. The little ‘uns, as Sam Hammam once dubbed them, have grown up and must use their maturity in terms of the Premier League and big games if they are to win. As key as always will be one of the few Swans left who remember what it was like to look up the pyramid at Cardiff, Leon Britton the man who will be central to keeping the team’s collective calm on the ball. Leon Britton was sent off in the 2008 derby Cardiff, though, have their own ethos, the kind of unified desire, determination and doggedness that blew away the Championship last year. Yet the hosts will be under their own element of pressure to put the pressure on. Supporters have accepted a stand-off, sucker-punch approach in some games this term but it is hard to imagine 25,000 home fans being able to stomach seeing Swansea stroke their way to dominance of the ball. If Cardiff are to succeed, Britton must be in the sights of Mackay’s midfielders as much as Swans golden star Michu. Swansea, though, are more used to high-pressing than before, meaning there could be a battle of wills on the wings; Laudrup’s full-backs are extra offensive players and will exploit the space on the flanks should things be congested in the middle with that man Michu not exactly the shy and retiring type as he will look to provide the passing option in the final third, be it as the frontman or with his runs from deep. Cardiff have their own talisman in Bellamy, a player who will lead by example in terms of the non-stop running needed to knock Swansea out of their passing swagger. And there should be no shame in the Bluebirds looking to utilise their set-piece strength given it is the most obvious weakness of those in white, Swansea not the stongest in the air and needing to negate the delivery threat of Peter Whittingham. Peter Whittingham's delivery will be key. That said, you could look everywhere for the individual battles, for the weak-links that will be exposed on either side when the intensity of the derby asks questions of the most talented, of the most steel-minded. There is no hiding place normally, let alone when the world is watching. There is nothing like the South Wales derby, the local rivalry taking its place on the biggest stage. It is here – there is no escaping it. Who will win? If the two teams are at their best, Swansea will come out on top. But the fact is they have been below that level this season and the Cardiff City Stadium factor needs to be taken into the equation. Which leads you to think of a draw. A result which will suit everyone... and no-one. But it’s going to be great finding out. Just ask the world.
Fantastic post that, I have been quietly confident over the last few days, but reading that has brought nerves into play. I honestly am excited, I feel like a 10 year old waiting for Santa to arrive on xmas eve night, with my mam and dad screaming at me to go to sleep. But I cannot help it, I am just so bloody excited, the South Wales derby, being broadcast and viewed around the world on prime time TV. Millions will be tuned in to watch our lads go head to head. I just hope as a Jack, that the men in white come out on top, not only for the points, but so I can relax for the next few months knowing we don't have to deal with you guys rubbing it in, which is what makes this game so great, the risk of losing.
Mr Swan mate, what dis say? Jamie Redknapp: "Cardiff have been proved since then, they're not that good a side either really
Sparkey would be one of the youngest on the Jacks board. If Swanselona really is 10 he brings the average age down over there to around 80 I reckon.
I haven't been 10 for almost 2 decades Bet Sparkey has been old for a lot longer than that though And Masky, it doesn't really have to make sense, its a quote that Redknapp made, he had just been talking about West Ham(?) and then came out with that.
Ivor Allchurch and Mel Charles...two greats to come out of Swansea and star in the colours of Cardiff City!
Young enough to be most of the groovy gangs Greatgrandson. I hope someone has told you theres no Santa by now?
View attachment 27411 Nicked this off our board, rumour has it this is where Aber will be watching the game
Good OP Masky Twitchy bum time has arrived....form is out the window at derby time but I honestly feel we have been a better away side for some time. First goal is critical and I fancy us to get it and the bragging rights come work/the site after 6pm Sunday. Form is temporary but class is permanent Usually I would say good luck to an opposing team, but it would be disengenous for me to do it here, so....CMON YOU JACKS !!! 2 - 1 win to Swansea ....and hoping also that the only thing grabbing headlines is the game !!
NEWS FLASH>>>>>> After the 'success' of the red scarves, Vincent Tan is demanding all Cardiff fans wear shoes made of Lego....so when they step on a piece of broken Stadium, instead of getting a sore foot, they at least feel a little bit taller. Just read this on WOL. Is it true?
