Match Day Thread Season 2023 - 2024 - Match # 45 - Middlesbrough Home

This Saturday sees the Bluebirds final home game of the season when we welcome visitors from Teeside in the shape of Middlesbrough.
The Boro come to South Wales' Capital Club in 9th place, just 1 point and 2 places better off than the Bluebirds, creating a game that becomes a duel for a top 10 finish.

Up until their last game Boro were on an impressive 9 game unbeaten run, however, that was brought to a halt up at the Riverside on Monday night by a Leeds Utd side hell-bent on gatecrashing the top 2 promotion spots, with Leeds racing into 2-1 lead after going behind early on, only to see Boro once again equalise. Leeds once again restored a 2 goal cushion, only to see the home side once again grab another and really pile on the pressure towards the end... sadly for Boro it wasn't to be and the game finished in a 3-4 defeat for the home side.
That defeat ended any hopes our visitors have of a late play-off dash and so Michael Carrick will once again be pitting his wits against a Cardiff side again next season (though just who will be at the helm for the Bluebirds remains to be seen).

Our very own Bluebirds of course will have been buoyed by our late show with a youthful side against high flying Southampton last Saturday, but that win once again only goes to highlight the inconsistent nature of our team, it's very much a case of all or nothing with the team right now - we just don't do draws!!



Last time out saw Boro end Cardiff’s then winning run (we had won 4 on the bounce going into the game at the Riverside) but Boro themselves were starting to build up a head of steam following a rocky start to the season, winning their previous 2 going into the game.

It was a tight affair with the Bluebirds maybe shading things but with neither side really doing much until the opening goal in the 56th minute… the 2nd coming late on in the 84th minute as Boro broke quickly on the counter against a Bluebirds side looking for an equaliser.

Bluebirds gaffer Bulut was slightly aggrieved at the end, claiming Boro’s opener had come via a missed offside decision. Seeing it back it's hard to disagree with him!

Bulut's Bulletin
Is there really ever any substitute for youthful exuberance and excitement??? Well at Cardiff City FC, yes, normally there is, with age and experience normally prevailing over such whimsical fancies, however, with a dearth of injured players still in the treatment room, hobbling around the training ground or even probably already packing bags to go on holiday then there is every likelihood that we will see either a continuation or even an expansion on Satuurday's young squad.
It has been said that both Mahlon Romeo and Ollie Tanner were both just 'cramp' injuries on Saturday, but whether they have suitably recovered or not remains to be seen.
As the week wears on, no doubt more updates will become available but it would be no surprise at all to see Cian Ashford, Raheem Conte and Luey Giles all involved again this weekend with perhaps even young Joel Colwill getting some game time following his substitution from an U-21 game against Peterborough yesterday after an impressive display up until then.

I will also call out Famara Diedhiou who gave an impressive cameo on Saturday, scoring one to get us level and working the harder in that 30 minutes than we've seen across all his other appearances put together. Will he get the nod to start? Sorry Fammy, I hope not, no offence but we need to look some more at our permanent recruits in my opinion.

What Are The Odds On That?
Having gone early with this thread I'm sure the odds will change but I bumped into this guy who was just dropping his CV off at the CCS, apparently he's always been a City fan thanks to his old man... he's always dreamt of working for the club of his dreams one day, so who was I to deny him chance to pretend he was gaffer for a little bit??


Well I Never
Well I never - No sarky comments this time around - just a chance to enjoy some of our previous encounters against the Boro.... let's face it, if you didn't know beforehand, our record against them is none too shabby!

Look out for a Bluebird legend popping up to score against us, a Woodruff howitzer, a pearler from King and a Brian Clarke 'Ugbo' finish!!

Sharing The Love
This week sees a mix of the good, the average and the ugly (ok, bit harsh on on of our ex-centre backs but ya' know......)





Sammy Ameobi
Ameobi joined in July 2015 on a season-long loan. He made his debut for the Bluebirds on the opening day of the 2015–16 season as a substitute in place of Alex Revell during a 1–1 draw with Fulham, before being handed his first start three days later in the first round of the Football League Cup, playing 73 minutes in a 1–0 victory over AFC Wimbledon before being replaced by Kadeem Harris.
His only goal of the loan spell came in the third league game of the season, a 2–0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Ameobi made 39 appearances in all competitions during his loan spell with Cardiff as the club fell short of a play-off place, but only 11 of these were starts. Cardiff manager Russell Slade stated that the club felt the need to manage Ameobi's playing time as the winger was suffering from asthma and had been struggling to breathe in training sessions during the early part of his loan spell prior to a change of medication to manage the problem.
Towards the end of his loan spell, Slade described Ameobi as an "enigma" and commented "Sammy has fantastic ability, we watch him in training every day, but not always has he transferred that to the pitch." – a statement that I think pretty much sums him up perfectly.

Released by Boro at the end of the 2022 season with no sign of him since.



Joe Bennett
Bennett joined in August 2016 a free transfer from Aston Villa. After suffering a calf injury, Bennett was forced to wait two months before making his debut in a 2–1 Severnside derby victory against Bristol City on 14 October.

His first goal for Cardiff came in March 2017, in a 3–1 win over Ipswich Town and he concluded the season, with a brace against Huddersfield Town on the final day.

During the summer of 2017, fellow Championship side Fulham met a release clause in Bennett's contract. However, he rejected the move to stay in the Welsh capital, with manager Neil Warnock confirming that Fulham's offer contained a significant wage increase.

He was famously sent off and derided by the footballing ‘public’ on social media (i.e. morons behind a keyboard) following two yellow cards in an FA Cup match against Manchester City on 28 January. Bennett later issued a public apology for the first bookable tackle on Leroy Sané, which left the opposition player injured, though not seriously enough for the German to miss the Work Cup that year. During the 2017–18 season, Bennett helped the club win promotion to the Premier League after finishing as runners-up in the Championship, making 40 appearances in all competitions. At the end of the season, he was handed a new three-year contract with the club.

Ahead of the 2018–19 season, Cardiff signed fellow left-back Greg Cunningham from Preston North End to provide competition for Bennett. He described Cunningham's arrival as "motivation" to him, with the pair sharing the role in the opening months of the campaign though he’d see off the challenge with Cunningham fading into a bit part player during his time with the Bluebirds.

Prior to a match against Arsenal in January 2019, Bennett's father suddenly died. Electing to play in the match, Bennett played the full 90 minutes in a match described as "emotionally charged" in the first fixture since the disappearance of Cardiff's new signing Emiliano Sala in a plane crash. He finished the campaign having made 30 appearances in the Premier League as Cardiff suffered relegation to the Championship.

On 31 August 2021, Bennett joined League One club Wigan Athletic on a two-year deal following his release from Cardiff. Now with the ex-Bluebirds club at Oxford Utd and still going strong.

Very much an underrated player for the Bluebirds, pretty much always a 7 out of 10 type of player!



Neil Cox
Following his release from Watford, Cox joined Cardiff City in 2005. He spent one season at Ninian Park, being hampered by injuries and the form of central defensive pairing Darren Purse and Glenn Loovens, making 27 league appearances and scoring twice, both goals coming during a 3–0 victory over Stoke City on 11 February 2006.

Cox revealed post-match that he was also harbouring quite the injury, but had soldiered on to score the two goals for his side: "I banged my shoulder and now there's a little bit of bone sticking out of it, that's all I know, the physio knows a bit more.

"I've seen a specialist, I'm alright, just got to get on with it. I did used to strap it up before a game, but I was in too much agony afterwards."

Ironically, Cox had in fact replaced teammate Glenn Loovens in the starting lineup due to injury, only to pick one up himself:

"Glenn was playing really well and Pursey was playing really well and I was sitting there on the bench.

"You get your opportunity and you've got to take it, and that's what's happened, it's disappointing for Glenn as he's had a good season, but everyone's got to play for their places."

Carrying on despite his injury, Cox continued to play for the Bluebirds only days later against Luton Town, playing for the full 90 minutes in a 3-3 draw at Kenilworth Road.

In April 2006, with his contract ending on 30 June, Cox expressed his desire to stay at the club, stating "I'd love to stay at the club. I've enjoyed my year" but he eventually departed for Crewe Alexandra.

Last seen as assistant manager at York City.



Joe Hillier
Born in Bridgend, Hillier was working as a butcher while playing for local amateur side Bridgend Town when he was offered a trial with Football League side Swansea Town. He was retained by the club as an amateur for the 1926–27 season but never played for the first team. The following year, he signed for Swansea's local rivals Cardiff City. After impressing for the club's reserve side, he made his professional debut in a 2–0 victory over Everton in December 1927.

He made four further appearances during the season and another four the following season as he acted as understudy to first choice goalkeeper Tom Farquharson.

In January 1930, he was allowed to join Middlesbrough in a triple transfer with teammates John Jennings and Fred Warren. As part of the deal, Cardiff agreed to a clause that would see the club receive a further £250 if both Hillier and Jennings played in twenty league matches for Middlesbrough. When both players reached the tally in May 1933, Cardiff issued a request for the money to be paid but received a cheque for just £50. When Cardiff queried the payment, Middlesbrough produced the agreement paper which included only a bonus of £50, an error that was later revealed to have been made by former Cardiff manager Fred Stewart who had mistakenly written the wrong figure. Cardiff appealed to the Football League, but their claim was dismissed.

Hillier went on to make 63 league appearances for Middlesbrough before finishing his professional career with Newport County.

See, even then we had a history of undertaking legal battles with other clubs!


So, can the Bluebirds bash Boro to bag the points at the CCS? Will we see another Ashford 'Woodruff howitzer' like late winner once again?? Will Erol unleash the kids and see us gatecrash the top 10???

All I know is I'm gutted to be missing the game, if last Saturday was anything to go by it should be another cracker.....

Blooooooooooooooooooooooooooooobirds!!!!!!!

P.S. apologies for going early with this but I know I have a busy week ahead and will be in London on Saturday to watch a mate (and fellow Bluebird) sing at the Royal Albert Hall no less!! See, us Bluebirds are a cultured lot!!

 

With Ng probably out lets play a really young side. Horvarth Conte Phillips Goutas Giles Ralls Siopsis J Colwill Tanner R Colwill Ashford.

 

Thanks Brizzle.
Hope you have a good time.

 

Fab Brizzle.

I didn’t see Brian Hillier play. Did anyone here see him

ps Kavanagh with brown hair

 

While even I didn't get to see Hillier play, I once worked with a lady that was married to his grandson.
I bet you all feel better now that you know that. zzzzz

 

I want us to win this please. For the first time in a while we can get to finish the season above both of our local rivals. Therefore, plenty to play for and the gaffer should put out the team he believes can do it.
Bloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooobirds

 

As he was originally from Bridgend as I am, would that grandson's name be Andrew?

 

My memory isn't good enough to be honest but it's not a name that immediately springs to mind. I do however remember that they lived in Newport at the time.

 

Cheers - probably not then.

The Andrew of that name I know (is/was an architect) lives near to me and would be of that sort of age - very nice chap too.

 

From WoL....

Bulut delivers injury update

Erol Bulut has confirmed Yakou Meite has suffered a grade two tear on his calf and will be out for the remainder of the season.

He joins a significant number of players who are not going to be able to play against Middlesbrough this weekend, with the likes of Perry Ng, Mark McGuinness, Aaron Ramsey, Jak Alnwick and Callum O'Dowda all ruled out for the season, too.

But the Cardiff manager said he had no new injury concerns other than Meite ahead of Saturday. He explained that Ollie Tanner and Mahlon Romeo would be OK for this weekend, having had to go off due to cramp against Southampton.

Bulut also added that Callum Robinson and Josh Bowler were both back in training and would be available for selection for the Middlesbrough match, having missed out of the last game through illness.

Due to his long list of injured players, Bulut is once again looking to use the younger talent at the club and hopes they were encouraged by seeing Luey Giles and Raheem Conte come on against Southampton.

 

Well good luck to all involved tomorrow. I hope it's a positive experience for the youngsters and that the crowd is loud in it's support of them.

 

Unsure whether he’ll give more game time to all the youngsters versus a very decent Boro side, may be different at Rotherham though assuming the game’s on

 

Only Deadhead left to play centre forward.

 

May 1966. Greg Farrell and all that.
Happy days.

 

What a wordsmith!!! Thank uou very much for this write-up.....another gem!

 

City odds drifting out - 16/5 now.............

 

Perhaps we should experiment without one. A few goals in the rest of the squad I reckon. It would need a change in how we set up of course. Trouble is, if it's not perfect first time, Erol will be hung out to dry again. I hate Amazon culture.

 

I think we should adopt the under 7s approach to footy. Everyone chase the ball. Fill the team with young legs and then just swamp wherever the ball is. At least its a recognisable tactic.

 

Well, at the risk of doing this to death, I reckon it you want a clearly defined, progressive and effective style, you need the players to carry it out. We're a bit lacking in that at the moment.
Five decent signings early in the window to help develop the style and to bring the youngsters with them.
But for today, let's just hope we've got a squad !

 

Cardiff City: Horvath, Romeo, Goutas, Phillips, Tanner, Siopis, Ralls (C), Turnbull, Bowler, Ashford, Diédhiou.

Substitutes: Turner, Giles, Lawlor, Conte, Sawyers, J Colwill, Wintle, Antwi, Robinson.