Easy to know where to start this week, because there’s actually some football to talk about!
Just like they did last year, Cardiff City kicked off their pre season programme at Taffs Well. It was 1-0 thanks to an early Anthony Pilkington goal twelve months ago and this time City bettered that by coming out on top 3-0.
These matches are as much PR exercises as anything I suppose, because they represent the sort of meet the players opportunity that supporters would not tend to get at more competitive affairs.
Last year, the amount of first teamers that supporters were able to meet and greet was somewhat restricted because many of them were out on the pitch performing, but, this time, it was different because the only players with first team experience involved were Lee Camp (who, at fourth in the goalkeeping pecking order, will be surely be playing elsewhere by the time the transfer window closes), Rhys Healey, Mark Harris and Cameron Coxe – the last three named must be candidates to be loaned out as well.
This change in policy had been signposted by Neil Warnock during one of his meet the fans evenings last week where he explained that this long, hot summer with so little rain meant that the pitch at Rhwr Dda’r stadium was not in the best of condition and so no first team candidates would be risked.
A couple of asides here regarding what our manager had to say to those supporters in midweek. First, with him having mentioned about Cameron Coxe being called up to the Welsh squad for training before they departed for the game with Mexico in May and with many feeling right back is an area we need strengthening in, it was a little disappointing for me to see him featuring on Friday – last year he started against Taffs Well in a much stronger team than this time and it only added to the feeling I have that his club career did not progress last season.
There was a clue as to our manager’s thinking as to why this should be when he made some pretty scathing comments about the whole Development team set up, calling it a waste of time – I should emphasise here that Mr Warnock’s words were aimed at the system generally as opposed to the situation at his club. There was talk of more friendlies being played by the Under 23s against local non league sides so that the young players can get some experience of playing against mens teams and, you’d like to think that our Premier League status could make it easier for the older members of the Under 23 squad to be loaned out.
Therefore, I’m guessing that the policy of packing the Development team with trialists that we saw last season is going to continue. This is a time of year when there are hundreds of players who have just been released by their clubs looking for a way to get back into the game and, given recent history at Cardiff, it was hardly a surprise to see the twenty two man City squad including ten trialists.
It was Healey who was the centre of attention though in a first half which saw City unable to fully cash in on their dominance because of a series of good saves by home keeper Stephen Hall. Hall was only beaten the once when Healey touched in from close range halfway through the half, but he came out on top against the striker when he saved Rhys’ penalty after he was brought down in the area.
The second half saw another goalkeeper with the surname Hall involved, as Matthew of that ilk replaced Camp (he’s a new signing from Bangor City who was on the books of West Brom at one time) and there was more action in and around his goal as Taffs Well offered more of an attacking threat than they did in the opening forty five minutes.
However, it was still City calling the shots for much of the time, and Healey, one of only three members of the starting eleven who survived beyond half time, made it two when he cut inside a defender to score confidently from about twelve yards out.
I won’t go into any detail on the multitude of trialists involved, but the scorer of the third goal, Scott McLean (a Scottish winger who has played for Kilmarnock, Troon and Albion Rovers), played a couple of games for our Under 23s back in February and did quite well, while Ryan Price (no info on him I’m afraid) provided the assists for both second half goals.
City now head off to Cornwall where there will be virtually a game a night being played through the coming week with the first team and development side playing alternately, but before finishing with Taffs Well, I should mention that the proceeds from the game will be going to Rookwood Hospital and Velindre Cancer Centre.
Not much else to record really. On the transfer front, it’s being reported that City and Liverpool have agreed another loan deal for Marko Grujic “in principle” and it seems that the Serbian international midfielder has expressed a desire to return to Cardiff City Stadium. It’s seems pretty certain that Grujic is one of the two loan players we are being told City are chasing, while the other one is a striker and the suggestion that it could be Artem Dzyuba was given slightly more credence by this piece which includes quotes from a Russian television commentator. Also, a rumour to surface yesterday was that we were preparing an £11 nillion bid for West Brom’s Scottish international winger Matt Phillips – I know our manager likes his wingers, but another one? Really?
Finally, Greg Halford announced on Twitter on Thursday that he was leaving City. I would like to wish someone who never let us down and whose experience proved to be a help at times last season best wishes for the future – here’s what he had to say, I think it says much about the man and the spirit at the club he has left.
Thanks Paul great to see the real footy begin ,lets hope the mirroring of last years pre season ,delivers a mirrored league position , which does look likely with our army of wingers on the books.
I’m still unsure how we will cope in midfield if we don’t make a signing of two , at least the lad from Liverpool and Snodgrass have not been snapped up .
I’m guessing Bennett and Ralls will be our dead ball takers unless one of many new wingers has that skill in the bag ? I mention this as I don’t see us firing in many from open play ,therefore quality in that area is key this season.Perhaps Tomlin will play a part?
I don’t get the development side of things and I feel perhaps Warnock should be more vocal on the best way forward rather saying it simply doesn’t work .
I’m actually getting a big nervous about this seasons challenge as I feel although the defence did well last year how will they cope with a huge rise in pace and quality , our midfield for me does not gave the appropriate armoury, I would like to have seen an old premiership head amongst like them a Milner , Barry or Fletcher.
With regards to the forwards they all unproven at this level, however they do process ability ,lets hope if it gets tough their heads don’t drop too badly.
Glad we have some goalkeeping back as with the forwards Etheridge did improve but this us a mighty leap, and one thing we can be certain of he will be our busiest player this year.
My call is more signings please Neil and Vincent were a bit short on top class quality .
Pilkington and Tomlin both play for the U23’s today. Doesn’t augur well for them!
TEAM NEWS – @CardiffCityFC: Camp, Trialist [2], Coxe, Veale, Brown, P. McKay, Shaw, Wootton, Pilkington, Tomlin, M. Harris.
Subs: Waite, Hall, Trialist [14], Bodenham, Evans.
#CityAsOne ?????? https://twitter.com/CF11Academy/status/1018440498955149312?s=17
Hello Paul
As you know I can claim no expertise about the city but can say that should surely be Rhiw’r Ddar ? Not sure what it means though.
The world cup final lived up to the standard of the tournament I thought. For me France probably deserved the title for their performances throughout though Croatia were unlucky today.
Now the world cup is finished I look forward to the premier league season with a lot more interest than usual.
Thanks Russell, I’d add Hoilett to your list of dead ball takers, but I still think we could see a Snodgrass type specialist come in – there’s Tomlin of course, but I think his inclusion in the team Clive posted for yesterday’s match rather tells a story. I’d definitely go for Milner out of those older heads you mention, but I think he’ll still be in Klopp’s plans for the coming season. Regarding goalkeepers, I may be wrong, but I can see Smithies becoming our first choice.
Thanks Clive, I asked you who Shaw was in the team you posted, well I suppose it must be Braydon Shaw who played as a trialist in the Taffs Well game. So the question is did whoever posted the team get it wrong when they mentioned him by name instead of as a trialist, or did we sign two players from Bangor and he’s signed a permanent deal like Matthew Hall? Also, it looks like Ryan Price, the player who I mentioned as having contributed two assists on Friday plays for the New Saints. I should also say that we beat Truro 2-0 with a goal in each half – the first was scored by Anthony Pilkington, while the second came from one of the McKay twins (it was the defender, who I think is Paul).
Sean, I just copied and pasted the name Rhiw Ddar from the local paper’s match report – I did wonder if it may have derived from Radyr which isn’t too far away, but I’m probably completely and utterly wrong there.
Rhiw Ddar?
I’d assumed it was a variation on good afternoon/good evening.
Prynhawn da/noswaith dda.
Something in between the times of those two greetings…
like “good three o’clock kick off”.
Mind you the language of heaven is not my strong point. And nothing short of a Luger pistol to my head will get me to write “Treforest” with two Fs.
Talking of pronunciation though…I do fight obvious absurdities. Like pronouncing my surname the Chinese way; Rudi Gestede with a hard G; Christ Gunter with the U sounding like the German name Gunther; Repino with the stress on the second syllable instead of the first; and finally M’bappe…with a weird “ay” on the end, even though there is no acute accent over the final E. It has to be Mm/Bap surely?
One final query. Where are the City players based on their West Country tour? Do we know? Are they all in Army Surplus tents pitched on Neil’s farm, singing bonding songs around the camp fire at night? A sensible economy drive, seeing as Champneys in Leicestershire doesn’t come cheap, as I can testify to my cost…!!
Just looked on Google maps. It is Rhiw’r Ddar. Rhiw in a Welsh placename means hill or maybe slope (English equivalent might be rise?) the ‘r means ‘of the’ but what Dar or Ddar means (could be a mutation in there) is I don’t know. If I were to guess I might say it was some weird dialect word for Derw, Welsh for oak but that is definitely a guess. Anyway, this is a football blog so I’ll shut up.
Taffs Well FC’s website has it as Rhiw Dda’r
https://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/taffswellafc/FindUs
https://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/taffswellafc/History
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Rhiw+Dda%27r&rlz=1C1DSGP_enGB510GB510&oq=Rhiw+Dda%27r&aqs=chrome..69i57.289139j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
and yet there’s plenty of references to a district of Taffs Well with the spelling you say!
Dai, you got me thinking of that episode of Dad’S Army where they all were helping out at Godfrey’s old girlfriend’s farm – I suppose it’s a bit early mind.
Interesting. (I think anyway) The fluid spelling of the ground’s name seems to have quite a history, also matches for Cardiff teams of some sort there.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TAFFS-WELL-v-CARDIFF-CITY-SW-Senior-Cup-YEAR-UNKNOWN-early-1990s/153014529557?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D49138%26meid%3D8a3e2346fff84d5b8c735edc22f12f04%26pid%3D100013%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D153023249471%26itm%3D153014529557&_trksid=p2047675.c100013.m1986
Just a word on Rhiw’r Ddar.
When Moy Road crosses the A470, it is called Rhiw’r Ddar. And it passes the ground.
D’oh…!! I should have guessed.
So there we have it. In the fine tradition of football grounds, we find it given the name of the street on which it is situated, to help ensure that away supporters find the ground and help fill the home club’s coffers. As in Portman Road, White Hart Lane, Edgar Street, etc. Where is the imagination amongst these footballing panjandrums…?
In Grimsby, the latest new stadium planned sees it situated next to the crematorium. I have suggested naming it “THE OUT OF THE ASHES STADIUM”. I betcha it will be called something anodyne like “THE GTS STADIUM”
Not there is anything wrong with Blundell Park, actually.
Apols…for my tautology.
That bit at the end of my posting should read “The GTS”… period.
i.e. The Grimsby Town Stadium.
Thus my “The Grimsby Town Stadium Stadium”…is even clunkier than normal…!!
And maybe I was too hard on the “statin’ the bleedin’obvious” stadia names…after all Wembley Stadium, Stade de France, Lansdowne Road, The SCG and the MCG …are iconic names in themselves.
Who knows…maybe “The Cardiff City Stadium” will get to join their ranks one day. But for the moment alas, I cast envious eyes 45 miles down the M4 to The LIBERTY Stadium. Now that is a proper name. But that’s as maybe …
For the moment, ’tis we who have the proper TEAM…!!