" Cardiff City v Manchester City: Official Match Thread "

Cardiff City v Manchester City
vs

Man City signings
Ins: Stefan Jovetic, Fernandinho, Alvaro Negredo, Jesus Navas.

Outs: Scott Sinclair, Reece Wabara, Maicon, Jérémy Helan, Roque Santa Cruz, Karim Rekik, Carlos Tévez ,Kolo Touré, Wayne Bridge


Possible Man City side:-

......................Hart.......................
Zabaleta....Nastacic...Lescott..........Clichy
.............Toure.....Fernandinho.................
Navas.....................................Silva
...............Aguero.....Dzeko....................

Possible City side:- (My starting 11, what would yours be?)

.....................Marshall.......................
Brayford......Caulker...Huson........Taylor
.....................Medel......................
........Bellamy....Whitts.....Kimbo......
..............Cornelius....Campbell....................

Last 5 games against eachother:-
29 Aug 1983 Cardiff City 2-1 Manchester City League Division Two
24 Mar 1984 Manchester City 2-1 Cardiff City League Division Two
22 Sep 1984 Cardiff City 0-3 Manchester City League Division Two
30 Mar 1985 Manchester City 2-2 Cardiff City League Division Two
29 Jan 1994 Cardiff City 1-0 Manchester City FA Cup

Fact
The last time the two sides met was in 1994 in the FA Cup. Cardiff won 1-0 with a Nathan Blake wonder goal.

Prediction
City 1-1 Man City. (Cornelius)

Cardiff City take on Manchester City in a true Premier League mismatch this weekend.
The Welsh side were defeated by West Ham United on the opening day, while City thrashed Newcastle United in their opening fixture, but boss Malky Mackay will hope his team can rise to the occasion and nick a result from the big-spending Citizens.
City, however, are likely to field a team bursting with star quality, and are clear favourites to thrash the newly-promoted side on Sunday.
However, both Vincent Kompany and Stevan Jovetic are set to miss out for Manuel Pellegrini’s side through injury, while Mackay has a fully fit squad, with the exception of Andreas Cornelius, to choose from.
Key Stats
The last time the clubs met, in 1994, then-Third Division Cardiff beat Premier League City 1-0.
Cardiff have not lost at home since February – when they were defeated by Brighton and Hove Albion.
Against Newcastle on Monday, City completed 90% of their passes – the best ratio in the division last weekend.
Cardiff injury news
Andreas Cornelius will miss out with an ankle injury.
Man City injury news
Vincent Kompany (groin), Stevan Jovetic (knock), Micah Richards (hamstring) and Matija Nastasic (ankle) are all likely to miss out.

MATCH FACTS

- Sunday’s meeting between Cardiff City and Manchester City is the first meeting between the two clubs in 19 years. The Bluebirds were victorious in that last meeting, a 1-0 win over the Citizens in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup in 1994, Nathan Blake scoring the winner.
- This will be the 48th meeting between Cardiff City and Manchester City in all competitions. The Bluebrids have won on 8 occasions when the sides have met, with Manchester City winning 19, drawing 20.
- If selected, Craig Bellamy will face his former club Manchester City where he spent two seasons and made 51 appearances in all competitions, scoring 15 goal.

Bellamy_600

RECENT NEWS

Scott Sinclair – Former Swansea City winger Scott Sinclair left Manchester City this week on a season-long loan deal to West Bromwich Albion.
Sinclair made 15 appearances in all competitions for City last season having joined from the Swans last summer.

TEAM NEWS

Manchester City: It was confirmed on Friday that Captain Vincent Kompany would be miss the clash with the Bluebirds with a a groin strain that looks likely to keep him out of action for the Citizens for up to four weeks, while new signing Stevan Jovetic is also a doubt to head to CCS on Sunday. Defender Matija Nastastic could be set for a return however having stepped up his recovery.

Cardiff City: The Bluebirds will have Andrew Taylor back in the squad having served his suspension that kept him out of last Saturday's opener with West Ham United. Andreas Cornelius also returned to training with the Bluebirds this week and is a part of a fully fit Bluebirds' squad available for selection on Sunday.

KEY PLAYER – Manchester City

Yaya Toure - The one-man engine room at the heart of the Manchester City midfield, Toure has been an ever present in the heart of the Blues midfield since joining the club in July 2010.
Making 134 appearances in all competitions since, scoring 29 goals, Yaya Toure’s combination of strength, pace and technique have seen him become one of the best midfield players in the country continuing that prowess on Monday night as he played a central role in the Citizens opening game victory over Newcastle United at the Etihad Stadium; scoring the third of four goals for the home side on the night.

Toure_600

IN-FORM PLAYER

Manchester City – Sergio Aguero: For Aguero to score 17 goals last season and be seen to have made less of an impact than the previous season perhaps underlines just how impressive the Argentinean strikers’ inaugural season in City’s 2011-12 Premier League winning campaign was.

48 goals in just 89 appearances in all competitions since arriving at the Etihad Stadium from Atletico Madrid in July 2011 perhaps underlines just the kind of pedigree the Bluebirds will face at Cardiff City Stadium on Sunday and he got this season off to the best possible start. A first-half strike, the Citizens second on the night helped secure that 4-0 win over the Magpies.

RECENT FORM (INCLUDING-PRE-SEASON):

Manchester City: WWWLLW
Last time out - Manchester City got their season off to the best of starts with an impressive 4-0 win over Newcastle United at the Etihad Stadium. Looking comfortable from the outset in Manager Manuel Pellegrini’s first game in charge, David Silva opened the scoring early in the first-half before goals from Aguero, Yaya Toure and Samir Nasri completed a comfortable opening three points.

Cardiff City: WDLWWL
Last time out – City made their Barclays Premier League bow at Upton Park as the Bluebirds made their return to the top flight for the first time in 51 years. It was the home side who grabbed the early goal though, Joe Cole firing home with a neat turn and finish to put the Hammers ahead; Kevin Nolan made sure of the victory with his second half strike.

LAST MEETING:

Blake_600

1994 FA Cup Fourth Round, Ninian Park – Cardiff City 1-0 Manchester City
One of the most famous memories for any Bluebirds fan, then third tier City completed a fantastic cup upset at a packed Ninian Park thanks to a Nathan Blake wonder strike in the second half. Manchester City captain Keith Curle had the chance to level from the penalty spot soon after only to be denied by Mark Grew in the City goal to claim a momentous victory for the Bluebirds.

REFEREE: Lee Probert

Lee Probert has been part of the Select Group of referees since 2007, after a successful 11-year career as an official in the Football League.

In 2010, he became a FIFA-listed referee and is now eligible to officiate UEFA Internationals and matches in the Champions League and Europa League.

Read more at http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/art ... YCj00Bo.99

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/foot ... ty-5778736?

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/talking-tactics-how-cardiff-city-5778736?

Love how it says at the start "Our panel of experts", when in reality it's a few men in their 50's sat infront of computers.

The heading is enough for me. Lets hope the V's means we will compete rather than roll over in respect and intimidation.

The heading is enough for me. Lets hope the V's means we will compete rather than roll over in respect and intimidation.

Was thinking the same. I don't want to see us respecting them and inviting them onto us because if we do that they'll kill us.

"Caulker masterclass"

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news ... asterclass

I have no doubt the way our fans will be this season in terms of their ferocity, support and passion -
Malky Mackay
Cardiff City manager

I would go with that line up, seems fair enough. Let's get in their faces and show them no respect...

And that's just on the terraces

http://www.eplindex.com/37808/cardiff-c ... eview.html?

Who's the ref?

Who's the ref?

Lee Probert I think

I put my money on a Cardiff 1-0 win, before looking at stats etc.

As long as we don't get seriously turned over I'm happy

http://www.atdhe24.net/football/14/56/5 ... nline.html

Very impressed with City so far - I had serious concerns about Connolly starting again, and he had a shaky start, but he's slowly improved. I'd stick Corner on around 60m if not at half time, as Campbell has taken a couple of knocks and has gone down once or twice.

Otherwise, we've defended very well.

Hopefully the fans will keep the atmosphere up for the second half - they've played their part so far...

Hopefully some world class wingers are watching and thinking " i fancy being part of that"

What's the atmosphere like?

Take that!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's how you f*cking do it!!!!!