Carl Curtis: City Can Build on Great Start to Season
Sat Aug 13, 2011 9:09 am
From his column in the Echo: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... -29226107/
Carl Curtis: Cardiff City can build on great start to season
Aug 13 2011
Carl Curtis, 36, is season ticket holder and a supporters travel group organiser and runs a popular City messageboard http://www.cardiffcityforum.co.uk
WHAT a start to the season!
If I am honest, in the week leading up to the game I did not expect to get anything against the Championship favourites, West Ham.
But the longer the game went on goalless I would have happily have accepted a draw.
Thanks to the tenacity of Rudy Gestede and Kenny Miller’s eye for goal, our season got off to a flying start. A fantastic payback for the 1,000 City fans who made the trip to Upton Park under strict restrictions.
The travel restrictions that Cardiff City fans face more than any other team have to stop, and it is pleasing to know that club are telling each and every club that we will face this season in the league that any restrictions that the away team wish to place on us will be on a reciprocal basis.
Year-on-year arrest figures are dropping concerning City supporters, and last season just 55 City fans were arrested, home and away.
The club and fans have come a long way from the days of football violence and that is shown by the number of police-free games we now have at Cardiff City Stadium.
The first home league game of the season always brings an air of excitement, but the fact it is the Severnside derby will add to the atmosphere, despite Bristol City taking a drubbing against Ipswich.
It is far too early to be talking about the form book, but it is exciting to play two home games in four days on the back of a great result away from home.
Okay, the performance against West Ham was not the best we have seen from a City side. But there have been many changes to the personnel and it is only right that the manager and the team will take time to gel.
When we take into account the six debutants who started, then another two who came off the bench, it adds another positive to the result of a game that Kevin Nolan dubbed ‘Cardiff’s cup final.’
There were a few standout points for myself at Upton Park.
Firstly, there was the work ethic of the team. When we were not in possession of the ball, we chased the ball down and pressurised the West Ham players.
I felt there was togetherness amongst the players to work for each other, and if that continues then I am certain it will stand us in good stead over the course of the season.
Malky Mackay was constantly barking orders at the team throughout the game and the players were certainly taking note of what he wanted them to do.
But, most importantly and what proved decisive, was the substitutions that Mackay made and the impact they had on the game.
Gestede, within minutes of coming on, had a header on goal and then proved pivotal in setting up the winner.
The celebration of the players was fantastic and Miller turning towards the City faithful and doing the Ayatollah was a joy to see.
We have set ourselves a base to build from and, with the two home games in quick succession, we have got a fine chance to make the start of the season one to remember.
Carl Curtis: Cardiff City can build on great start to season
Aug 13 2011
Carl Curtis, 36, is season ticket holder and a supporters travel group organiser and runs a popular City messageboard http://www.cardiffcityforum.co.uk
WHAT a start to the season!
If I am honest, in the week leading up to the game I did not expect to get anything against the Championship favourites, West Ham.
But the longer the game went on goalless I would have happily have accepted a draw.
Thanks to the tenacity of Rudy Gestede and Kenny Miller’s eye for goal, our season got off to a flying start. A fantastic payback for the 1,000 City fans who made the trip to Upton Park under strict restrictions.
The travel restrictions that Cardiff City fans face more than any other team have to stop, and it is pleasing to know that club are telling each and every club that we will face this season in the league that any restrictions that the away team wish to place on us will be on a reciprocal basis.
Year-on-year arrest figures are dropping concerning City supporters, and last season just 55 City fans were arrested, home and away.
The club and fans have come a long way from the days of football violence and that is shown by the number of police-free games we now have at Cardiff City Stadium.
The first home league game of the season always brings an air of excitement, but the fact it is the Severnside derby will add to the atmosphere, despite Bristol City taking a drubbing against Ipswich.
It is far too early to be talking about the form book, but it is exciting to play two home games in four days on the back of a great result away from home.
Okay, the performance against West Ham was not the best we have seen from a City side. But there have been many changes to the personnel and it is only right that the manager and the team will take time to gel.
When we take into account the six debutants who started, then another two who came off the bench, it adds another positive to the result of a game that Kevin Nolan dubbed ‘Cardiff’s cup final.’
There were a few standout points for myself at Upton Park.
Firstly, there was the work ethic of the team. When we were not in possession of the ball, we chased the ball down and pressurised the West Ham players.
I felt there was togetherness amongst the players to work for each other, and if that continues then I am certain it will stand us in good stead over the course of the season.
Malky Mackay was constantly barking orders at the team throughout the game and the players were certainly taking note of what he wanted them to do.
But, most importantly and what proved decisive, was the substitutions that Mackay made and the impact they had on the game.
Gestede, within minutes of coming on, had a header on goal and then proved pivotal in setting up the winner.
The celebration of the players was fantastic and Miller turning towards the City faithful and doing the Ayatollah was a joy to see.
We have set ourselves a base to build from and, with the two home games in quick succession, we have got a fine chance to make the start of the season one to remember.
Re: Carl Curtis: City Can Build on Great Start to Season
Sat Aug 13, 2011 6:11 pm
good read.
Re: Carl Curtis: City Can Build on Great Start to Season
Tue Aug 16, 2011 3:08 pm
Good piece Carl, hit the nail on the head about substitutions and team work 
Re: Carl Curtis: City Can Build on Great Start to Season
Tue Aug 16, 2011 6:39 pm
watching cardiff now is totally different to watching the dave jones cardiff city 
Re: Carl Curtis: City Can Build on Great Start to Season
Wed Aug 17, 2011 7:15 am
You are so right...
Re: Carl Curtis: City Can Build on Great Start to Season
Wed Aug 17, 2011 8:37 am
Merlin wrote:Good piece Carl, hit the nail on the head about substitutions and team work
RIGHT THAT'S IT!!! - IM CONTACTING THE INTERNET POLICE!
Crime: Fraudulent moderator activity!
Watch your back "Curtis"
Re: Carl Curtis: City Can Build on Great Start to Season
Wed Aug 17, 2011 10:46 pm
headshot wrote:watching cardiff now is totally different to watching the dave jones cardiff city
yep i agree and still lots of improvement needed
Re: Carl Curtis: City Can Build on Great Start to Season
Thu Aug 18, 2011 8:53 am
areuwatchincardifscum wrote:headshot wrote:watching cardiff now is totally different to watching the dave jones cardiff city
yep i agree and still lots of improvement needed
Why don't you feck off onto your own forum and worry about the improvements you need to make regarding trying to attract some of the man utd loving Swansea public to your shitty little club with an embarrassing following?
Tit!