" TIME FOR TALKING IS OVER "
Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2014 7:44 am
Weds April 23rd 2014
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=121450
CARDIFF CITY
Shoot.co.uk
Beat Sunderland on Sunday.
For a side that has enjoyed such little previous major success since its existence, recent times on the field have provided countless memories for Cardiff City supporters.
Promotion to the Premier League 12 months ago topped off a five-year-spell which saw the Bluebirds reach three different showpiece finals at Wembley, including a League Cup and FA Cup run which many rank among their finest moments of following the Welsh club.
Now, in the words of manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at least, Cardiff face another cup final – only this time it’s three points at stake, rather than a trophy.
Premier League survival and the £40m windfall with which it brings is the reward for the winner at the Stadium of Light on Sunday lunchtime. Victory doesn’t guarantee City will stay up as such, but with just three games remaining following the clash, it will almost certainly make one of the three relegation spots all-but redundant at the Black Cats’ expense.
The problem facing Solskjaer is the recent success rate in so called ‘must-win games’ so far this season. Since the 2-0 defeat at home to West Ham United in January – the Norwegian’s first league game in charge –
Cardiff have failed to overcome Aston Villa, Hull City, Crystal Palace and Stoke City in the Welsh capital.
If Cardiff are to come away from the North East with a positive result this weekend, then it is imperative that Solskjaer sets out his team in the right manner from the start. After three months at the helm and 17 games, the former Molde manager finally stuck with an unchanged side for the visit of Stoke last weekend.
The great irony of this, of course, is that just two changes were made to the side which picked up a point in the 1-1 draw to the one put together by former boss Malky Mackay. Manchester United recruit Fabio da Silva – who actually put in a performance which resembled that of a professional footballer at long last in his more familiar left-back position – and Norwegian starlet Mats Moller Daehli were the two new faces to a strikingly familiar looking XI.
The debate regarding whether the club made the correct choice in replacing Mackay at the end of last year will continue to rumble on, but surely ripping apart the team week by week, just to essentially settle with the same side with which was left behind, makes the whole decision redundant?
Of course, if Solskjaer can keep the Bluebirds up then none of this will matter. The task is simple: Beat Sunderland on Sunday, take at least a point from St James’ Park the following weekend and hope for the best elsewhere.
Updated Rivals
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=137773
Norwich are not out of it yet, as many will have you believe. A trip to managerless Manchester United on Saturday no longer seems a straight-forward defeat for Neil Adams’ side, while a home clash against Arsenal on the final day also offers an opportunity to pick up some points should the Gunners have fourth-place wrapped up.
Fulham, too, take on a sliding Hull side at Craven Cottage next, and round-off their season with games against Stoke and Palace.
What is for certain is that we are set for another huge weekend of Premier League action as the season edges closer to its climax. Nothing will be officially decided this weekend, but Cardiff “will prepare as if it’s the last game [they] will ever play,” in the words of Solskjaer.
Cardiff have had bad experiences in recent cup finals, but this is one game that simply can’t be lost.
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=121450
CARDIFF CITY
Shoot.co.uk
Beat Sunderland on Sunday.
For a side that has enjoyed such little previous major success since its existence, recent times on the field have provided countless memories for Cardiff City supporters.
Promotion to the Premier League 12 months ago topped off a five-year-spell which saw the Bluebirds reach three different showpiece finals at Wembley, including a League Cup and FA Cup run which many rank among their finest moments of following the Welsh club.
Now, in the words of manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at least, Cardiff face another cup final – only this time it’s three points at stake, rather than a trophy.
Premier League survival and the £40m windfall with which it brings is the reward for the winner at the Stadium of Light on Sunday lunchtime. Victory doesn’t guarantee City will stay up as such, but with just three games remaining following the clash, it will almost certainly make one of the three relegation spots all-but redundant at the Black Cats’ expense.
The problem facing Solskjaer is the recent success rate in so called ‘must-win games’ so far this season. Since the 2-0 defeat at home to West Ham United in January – the Norwegian’s first league game in charge –
Cardiff have failed to overcome Aston Villa, Hull City, Crystal Palace and Stoke City in the Welsh capital.
If Cardiff are to come away from the North East with a positive result this weekend, then it is imperative that Solskjaer sets out his team in the right manner from the start. After three months at the helm and 17 games, the former Molde manager finally stuck with an unchanged side for the visit of Stoke last weekend.
The great irony of this, of course, is that just two changes were made to the side which picked up a point in the 1-1 draw to the one put together by former boss Malky Mackay. Manchester United recruit Fabio da Silva – who actually put in a performance which resembled that of a professional footballer at long last in his more familiar left-back position – and Norwegian starlet Mats Moller Daehli were the two new faces to a strikingly familiar looking XI.
The debate regarding whether the club made the correct choice in replacing Mackay at the end of last year will continue to rumble on, but surely ripping apart the team week by week, just to essentially settle with the same side with which was left behind, makes the whole decision redundant?
Of course, if Solskjaer can keep the Bluebirds up then none of this will matter. The task is simple: Beat Sunderland on Sunday, take at least a point from St James’ Park the following weekend and hope for the best elsewhere.
Updated Rivals
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=137773
Norwich are not out of it yet, as many will have you believe. A trip to managerless Manchester United on Saturday no longer seems a straight-forward defeat for Neil Adams’ side, while a home clash against Arsenal on the final day also offers an opportunity to pick up some points should the Gunners have fourth-place wrapped up.
Fulham, too, take on a sliding Hull side at Craven Cottage next, and round-off their season with games against Stoke and Palace.
What is for certain is that we are set for another huge weekend of Premier League action as the season edges closer to its climax. Nothing will be officially decided this weekend, but Cardiff “will prepare as if it’s the last game [they] will ever play,” in the words of Solskjaer.
Cardiff have had bad experiences in recent cup finals, but this is one game that simply can’t be lost.