http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/article/pre-season-report-forest-green-1-1-cardiff-2549905.aspx http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/...reports/forest-green-1-1-cardiff-city-9666124 Didn't actually go to the game, but reading the above I get the feeling that getting Dikgacoi up and running is going to be crucial this season.
Not an encouraging beginning but I agree if we can get Dikgacoi fully fit he could make a real difference for us. While most of the absentees were mentioned, nothing about Malone?
Some positive comments with one big negative........ .........442!!! Dicgacoi, Ralls and Mason seemed to have caught the eye of Terry Phillips. Hope Slade feels the same as we could do without more of the same in the centre of the park.
These pre season games can be very misleading - just look at the success we achieved pre season in Austria under Ole last year only to fall apart when it mattered in the league. The only thing you can hang your hat on is the result and the comparisons you can make. Swansea go and draw 1-1 last night in Germany against Bundesliga's Borussia Monchengladbach and we draw in Gloucesterhire 1-1 against 5th tier Forest Green Rovers. We should have put them to the sword in reality but it doesn't always go like that' The most worrying thing for me at the moment is far too much reliance being placed on Dikgacoi coming good in the middle of the park this season. For all the positive comments from the guy and the club this past 12 months, the fact is he's been an embarrassment - and an expensive one at that. His reported injury problems haven't helped, but he was fat and unfit when he arrived last season. He's said he wants to stay and no wonder - it looks like we're stuck with him. Arriving on a free, he's got a lucrative contract with us for the next 2 years and no one else would take him on on that money given the shape he's been in.
Do footballers have anything in their contracts which enables their club to show them their door if they can't get fit enough to play at the required standard? You can't legislate for injuries but if self inflicted through improper diet etc there should be a get out clause.
It may be he just isn't 'match fit'. Can't see he could be unfit with all the physio's, conditioning coaches, sports scientists, dietician's etc that clubs employ these days. Surely the clubs staff should be able to monitor him to ensure his fitness.
True Whiffle, but you can lead a horse to water but not make the bugger drink. Or perhaps too much drinking in his case - as an example - not saying he is a drinker!!! If he doesn't have the will to get to the level of fitness needed then surely we can direct him to the exit sign?
He's never been a small bloke tbf. I fully understand how sceptical everyone is regarding him, but as the article eludes to, he is exactly the cm we need. He never had a particular issue with fitness at Palace, maybe last year was just a bad/unlucky year for him? Hopefully from the WOL report Mason's performance will have persuaded the club he should not be sold this summer.
Don't worry - if Dikgacoi doesn't get fit, Slade has got an inovative option up his sleeeve. He'll play Whitts and Gunnar in the middle with two out wide and two up front.
I'm told that what follows in the link below was the best part of the night: - http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/...who-cardiff-citys-mysterious-trialist-9668587 "Do the Ayatollah trialist" and "Can he do it on his own?" Despite everything we still have our sense of humour.
Some players just tend to be heavy but can still be fit. Think he just has a big frame. Not saying there's not more work for him to do. Should have sent him to Switzerland with the Welsh rugby team. Some heavy work going on there. Kill or cure.
I went to the game last night. Good distribution from Dikgacoi and an improvement in his play I saw in his appearances in the the last few Development games of last season. Mason was the standout player for me looking very sharp and scored a nice goal through the keepers legs. Good to see Jon Parkin do the Ayatollah for the City fans and of course the best laugh of the night - Do the Ayatollah Trialist!
I went to our match at Shrewsbury yesterday - no sign of 'Trialist' despite City fans calling for him So I checked the team that played at Carmarthen and there he is First Half Cardiff City: Marshall, Nugent, Blaise, Tutonda, Barnum-Bobb, Veale, Kiss, O’Sullivan, Rees, Guerra, Le Fondre Second Half Cardiff City: Lewis, Watkins, Menayese (Humphries), Abbruzzese, Baker, Burdidge, Southam, Noor, Rothe, Velikonja, Phipps So my question is did anyone here go to Carmarthen and if so what do you think of Trialist Blaise?
