As I sit down to compose my January blog entry, the team have had a well earned rest in Dubai. Actually, that’s not true, as they were out there for warm weather training. Mind you, you would have thought they would have been better off going somewhere for cold weather training to cope with the wintry blast which has been passing through the UK recently!
2 NEW PLAYERS plus 1
Generally speaking, most observers of the club felt that we needed to sign a new striker and a full back during the transfer window, and that is just what we have done. The arrival of Frazier Campbell from Sunderland is particularly exciting, as he is a class player who has been playing regularly at Premier League level (15 games this season).
Less spectacular but equally important is the re-signing of Simon Lappin from Norwich as cover for Andrew Taylor at left back. Lappin played 2 fixtures on loan before Christmas (both wins), and when released by Norwich Malky moved swiftly to offer him an 18 month contract. It was always going to be difficult to sign a player of the right level of quality who knows that they are only going to be a back-up to the first team, and Malky seems reluctant to put the promising but inexperienced development squad player Declan John into the first team squad at present.
In addition to the above signings, the club has also signed 18 year old Rhys Healey from Welsh Premier side Connahs Quay Nomads. Rhys is seen as a hot prospect for the future, and will take his place in the development squad for the time being.
CARDIFF 0 IPSWICH 0
As a result of our early exit from the FA Cup, there have only been 2 further league games in January. This was our first home draw of the season, and the first time we have failed to score a goal at home. On a positive note, we hardly looked like losing, (although the closest the game came to a goal was an excellent shot from their number 8 which really rattled the crossbar). But, we rarely troubled them either.
Ipswich defend doggedly against the Bluebirds (Pic Jon Candy)
All things considered, it could have been worse. We weren’t at our best, and Ipswich have a good record against us in recent years. Other results went in our favour that day, and as a result we maintained our 10 point lead at the top of the table.
BLACKPOOL 1 CARDIFF 2
A Saturday evening kick off for the benefit of the TV cameras gave us our 5th win in our last 6 away matches. The pitch was truly awful at Blackpool, incredibly bumpy. However, it seemed to affect both sides equally. It was never going to be a footballing spectacle, but Cardiff showed enough class to complete their second home/away double of the season. Particularly impressive was the performance of Kim Bo-kyung, who is looking more and more a class player.
Kim Bo-kyung on the ball against Blackpool.
A late illness meant that Craig Bellamy was unable to play, and skipper Mark Hudson twisted an ankle late in the first half which meant a substitute appearance for young Ben Nugent again. A goal from Kim was followed by a quick equaliser for Blackpool from the long-serving Gary Taylor-Fletcher. But the game was won a few minutes later with a first goal for the club from Tommy Smith, a superb volley which would have gone in even without a deflection!
This was our usual workmanlike performance, with one or two moments of class which was the difference between the sides.
10 points clear at the top of the League!
FEBRUARY BECKONS
5 games now coming up in February, starting with Leeds away on Saturday. We have an amazing recent record against Leeds, and have won 11 and drawn 4 of the 15 games dating back to that FA Cup tie in 2002. Leeds have a decent side, with Neil Warnock in charge. I feel we should get at least a point here, but sooner or later Leeds will win against us. Let’s hope its not this week.
We have the new players, we are top of the league, surely we can’t mess up promotion now, can we?
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