Just a very quick one today to bring you up to date with the small amount of footballing news since City last played at Birmingham. Currently, after the Covid related postponement of successive home games against Derby and Coventry, City are next scheduled to play at Bournemouth on Thursday 30th
Steve Morison appeared on Talksport earlier in the week and mentioned that there were more staff with Covid than without it at the club. However, he did say that the plan was to get a couple of days training in before the Bournemouth match, so I’m assuming that the ten day isolation period for most of the players must be ending on Tuesday or possibly earlier.
Certainly, if City are back in action on Thursday, they will be at the start of a really tough looking run of fixtures which sees them play sides currently in the top four in their next three league matches – in saying that, Bournemouth and Fulham the two sides that looked like running away with automatic promotion places at the beginning of the month have both had a dramatic loss of form in recent weeks (they are eleven matches without a win between the two of them).
With some matches being postponed just hours before their scheduled kick offs, it’s impossible to look too far ahead though and although recent Omicron news has been a bit more encouraging, looking forward nearly a week towards fixtures could well be a bit of a fool’s errand when the possibility of a shutdown of sports of the type seen in the first half of last year cannot be ruled out entirely.
There is a bit of welcome news in Wales though with a partial rethink on the Welsh Government’s decision to ban spectators from all sporting contests from Boxing Day because crowds of up to fifty are now being allowed for junior and minor league matches.
There were a couple of games played involving teams that are followed on here last weekend. On Friday night Ton Pentre went down 1-0 at West End in the Ardal Leagues South West, while City’s under 18s got back on the winning trail after a dip in form in recent weeks with a 4-1 win at Bristol City. All of our goals were scored in the first half through Caleb Hughes, Cian Ashford, James Crole with a penalty and Rhys Schwank – the hosts, who also had their goalkeeper sent off, scored the only goal of the second half.
Finally, can I wish all readers a very happy Christmas – everyone’s had two very trying years, but this is still a time to be celebrated.
Hi Paul and Merry Christmas.
It’s a surreal experience commenting on a game that didn’t happen as well as one that’s not going to. Such are the times we live. I think the key part at the moment is where you mention playing sides in the top four. I guess I should be more concerned, and in normal times I would be (especially considering where we are in the table) but strangely I’m calm. I think it’s because of the form of the top two (which is shocking) and all sides will be struggling regarding Covid absentees and training problems.
Is this wishful thinking? Am I being too glass full?
Good morning Paul – Thank you for your greetings and I hoped that you were able to enjoy Christmas, and on behalf of your many followers, I wish you a Happy New Year.
For personal reasons, this has not been a very happy few months, and the fortunes of our beloved Bluebirds has not been a priority. I have been to a few matches, but my oh my, our performances have hardly helped my mood.
Quite what the New year will bring is of concern, but I hope that if we are in the transfer/loan market, then any newcomer that arrives in whatever position has some pace.
Incidentally, Wintle was not included in Blackpool’s side yesterday, nor was he on the bench, Injured (?), or on his way back (?).
Thanks as always for you outstanding writing, and I look forward to more of yiour thoughts and comments in 2022.
I fear you might be Simon, I didn’t see the West Brom game yesterday, but I watched Bournemouth who were deserved winners at QPR to come out of their recent poor spell. I don’t hold out much hope for us on Thursday, but I would have thought the crowd will be quick to turn on West Brom on Sunday if we can stay in the game for half an hour – we really need to rediscover hoe to keep a clean sheet though.
Thank you BJA. Sorry to hear about your recent problems (you’ve been missed on here).
As it turns out, I watched the Huddersfield v Blackpool match on Boxing Day – it was an entertaining game in which Sorba Thomas was a real man of the match candidate. However, the main reason I started to watch it was to see how well Wintle played and, unfortunately, I tuned in a little late so didn’t hear the reason why he wasn’t in the Blackpool party. Of course, I started to wonder if this meant that he was coming back here in the New Year, but, although the Blackpool manager appears to think that might be the case in this article;-
https://www.lancs.live/sport/football/football-news/blackpool-wintle-cardiff-championship-critchley-22578419
it doesn’t sound like Blackpool know whether they can keep Wintle yet and there’s no explanation for his absence on Sunday (Covid?). Don’t think Wintle will address the lack of pace problem you refer to though – I’d say that’s a bit less of a problem in forward areas with the emergence of Isaak Davies, but we could definitely do with some more speed in central defence.