Where has the time gone? I can’t believe that I haven’t posted to this blog since the 17th November last year! So much for my resolution to post more regularly!
The transfer window has just closed without any major signings, although this was not for want of trying. Malky Mackay says that he was very satisfied with the financial backing offered by the board, but he was not quite able to bring in the players he wanted. We know that Malky is meticulous in making sure that he is bringing in the right type of player into the squad, and so far he has done an excellent job - In Malky we Trust!
The loan window opens on 7th February, and we now know the finances are available to make use of this. Our needs are much the same as when I last posted - a fast wide player and another striker (preferably in the Jay Bothroyd mould) are needed, not least because we have been quite lucky with injuries so far this season. We should know soon.
RESULTS (since my last post)
19th November 2011 READING 1 CARDIFF 2
22nd November COVENTRY 1 CARDIFF 1
26th November CARDIFF 1 NOTTINGHAM FOREST 0
29th November CARDIFF 2 BLACKBURN 0 (Carling Cup)
4th December CARDIFF 1 BIRMINGHAM 0
10th December MILLWALL 0 CARDIFF 0
17th December CARDIFF 2 MIDDLESBOROUGH 3
26th December WATFORD 1 CARDIFF 1
31st December NOTTINGHAM FOREST 0 CARDIFF 1
2nd January 2012 CARDIFF 3 READING 1
7th January WEST BROMWICH ALBION 4 CARDIFF 2 (FA Cup)
10th January CRYSTAL PALACE 1 CARDIFF 0 (Carling Cup semi - 1st leg)
14th January DONCASTER 0 CARDIFF 0
21st January CARDIFF 3 PORTSMOUTH 2
24th January CARDIFF 1 CRYSTAL PALACE 0 (Carling Cup semi - 2nd leg)
(Cardiff win 3-1 on penalties)
31st January SOUTHAMPTON 1 CARDIFF 1
We’re still up there!
So - at the end of January, we’re in third place in the table. Only 1 point behind an automatic promotion place, and only 3 points off the top of the table. I’m not going to go into the details of all of the fixtures since my last post, but 3 of those matches really stand out for me. Southampton and West Ham are in our sights!
CARDIFF 3 READING 1 - 2nd January 2012
I like to think I’ve been a bit more positive about the team than some this season, but lots of people sat up and took notice following this performance. Simply put, this was the best performance of the season so far. 3-0 up after 27 minutes against good opposition and this score could easily have doubled during the rest of the match.
I have been saying since quite early in the season that I saw no reason why we shouldn’t finish in the top 6. If we continue to play like we did on this occasion, then there is no reason why we shouldn’t occupy one of those 2 automatic promotion places by the end of the season.
Aron Gunnarson scores the second goal against Reading - picture by Jon Candy
CARDIFF 3 PORTSMOUTH 2 - 21st January 2012
The one that probably should have got away but didn’t! This wasn’t a bad performance, but at times we seemed a bit disorganised and out of sorts. A (thankfully) rare mistake by goalkeeper David Marshall let Pompey back in at half time at 1-1, and when they took the lead early in the second half I began to fear the worst.
However, this team is resilient and certainly plays out to the final whistle. Just as it seemed as if it wasn’t our day, Mark Hudson popped up with an equaliser. I think a lot of fans were satisfied with a point, but then Craig Conway’s quick thinking and thunderous shot stole all 3 points deep into stoppage time. A pleasing win if not a classic performance.
Goalmouth action against Portsmouth - picture by Jon Candy
CARDIFF 1 CRYSTAL PALACE 0 (Cardiff win 3-1 on penalties) 24th January 2012
Who would have thought at the start of this season that we would be having our fourth trip to Wembley? I have regularly criticised the League Cup in my blogposts, and despite our success I still don’t see a need for it in the modern football calendar! However - I can’t wait for another trip! This time against good Premiership opposition as well against Liverpool.
An early goal against Palace on the night, and I thought we had a good chance of going through comfortably. Really, we battered Palace, and on another night we would have won this game 5-0, but the ball just wouldn’t go in the net.
Then - the dreaded penalty shoot-out! When Kenny Miller put that first penalty into the crowd I think many of us thought that it wasn’t going to be our night, but the hero of the hour was Tom Heaton who saved the first 2 Palace penalties. The result was somehow inevitable from that point.
Tom Heaton saves Sean Scannell’s penalty.
This afternoon we play Blackpool at the Cardiff City Stadium. We have to put the Wembley final to the back of our minds for the time being and hope for another 3 points.
