CAN LIGHTNING STRIKE TWICE ?

Nathan Blake.

Sunday Nov 17th 2013.

So can lightning really strike twice?

Having upset Manchester City 3-2 in their first Premier League home game, Cardiff City fans will be asking themselves if they can do the double and beat their neighbours United.

It’s a tough call because from one to 16 United are as strong as anyone and don’t be fooled by what people say about them since David Moyes succeeded Sir Alex Ferguson in the hotseat.

They are full of quality players, whoever they put out, and the way Ferguson has built up the club means Moyes just has to run with it to be successful.

It’s not like it was at Liverpool 20 years ago when Graeme Souness ripped it all up and the club lost the knack of winning trophies.

But what you are seeing now is that Ferguson was worth 20 points a season to United.

It’s not that those players were afraid of him but he had a massive influence just being there.

You could sense that with referees and linesmen, as he would be down on them like a ton of bricks if decisions went against United. That’s not happening this year.

The script has been ripped up and everyone starts again, that’s why I feel Arsenal are the hardest team to beat this season because of the manager and his longevity there.

Ferguson may not be in the dug-out these days, but for Cardiff fans and the city itself it’s still fantastic to have United in town.

As a player you go into this sort of games knowing it’s more than average, it was the same playing Liverpool or Arsenal in my day and also Man City and Chelsea now.

It’s always a big occasion and I remember playing the United of Beckham, Scholes and Cole after we were promoted at Bolton and lost 6-0. It really hurt our confidence and took us a while to get over it.

I don’t see that happening to Cardiff but it’s massively important that you keep playing in the manner you are used to and you don’t get carried away by the occasion.

Cardiff proved against Manchester City they can compete against these players but they must have a strategy and a game plan to upset the apple cart once again.

This is where Malky Mackay earns his corn because he must try to conceal some areas of the pitch and use others, where perhaps United are slightly vulnerable these days.

Mackay must develop some sort of strategy apart from the very real threat of setpieces, because you’ve got to have more than that in 90 minutes against opponents like United.

When you do get the chance to probe you’ve got to create opportunities and penetrate.

There’s no point sitting back and allowing your goal to be peppered like it was in the Tottenham game, you’ve got to do more than simply cling on because players like Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie will profit.

But Cardiff are capable of causing problems and someone like Fraizer Campbell, a former United player, is quick enough to test Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Jonny Evans.

Ferdinand and Vidic have got bags of experience but, like Patrice Evra at left-back, are not as quick as they were.

So the City full-backs, especially Kevin Theophile-Catherine on the right, has got a big part to play.

If the Cardiff widemen come in off the line and move inside then the full-backs have got to overlap.

I also want to see Peter Whittingham get his passing game going like he did in the Championship because he’s got the ability to do that, but at the moment I feel City are relying on Gary Medel’s passing game.

Whittingham has to bring the full-backs into play and even possibly the likes of Jordon Mutch, Craig Bellamy and Peter Odemwingie in a third-man running game.

It would also be nice to see Andreas Cornelius add another dimension after injury, possibly coming off the bench against United.

Of course, the main threat will come from Rooney and van Persie who I put ahead of Liverpool’s Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge and level pegging with Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero and Alvaro Negredo as the best strike partnership in the Premier League.

But I’m hoping we get the chance to see my old Wales teammate Ryan Giggs play against the Bluebirds in his home city in the week he turns 40.

What Ryan has done in the game is amazing and his longevity is just incredible. He didn’t have any hamstrings when I played with him so it shows how good Ferguson’s man-management was that he has had such a long career.

Welsh fans would be in uproar when Ryan didn’t turn up for friendlies but it probably put another four or five years on his career.

Obviously he’s not as quick as he used to be, but he has still got a turn of pace and I wouldn’t be surprised if he played on for another year. Moyes won’t be thinking of sentiment on Sunday and Ryan might not start the game, but it would be marvellous just to see him have a 10 or 15-minute cameo.

I’m sure the atmosphere will be the same as the Man City game and the players must believe they can get the same result.

It could be one of those where you can keep tight at 0-0 and then profit from a setpiece. Or you might create three chances and score three goals. Either way I’m sure it’s going to be a memorable occasion.

I dont see us as huge underdogs at home to united. granted if van persie is on the pitch it can turn on its head at any time. But they will find it hard to break us down and if we nick something off a set piece, we could potentially go 2 up against the run of play or survive an onslaught

Depends on what team Man U put out for me with the Champions League the week after.

I would be happy if lightning struck once as long as it hit Tan.

I would be happy if lightning struck once as long as it hit Tan.

Fairplay, you are very consistant mate!

I would be happy if lightning struck once as long as it hit Tan.

Fairplay, you are very consistant mate!

Sorry, I know it was a cheap shot but I could not resist. If Tan did get stuck by lightning then knowing our luck it would alter his DNA and turn him into a bigger monster than he already is (if thats possible)

I would be happy if lightning struck once as long as it hit Tan.

Fairplay, you are very consistant mate!

Sorry, I know it was a cheap shot but I could not resist. If Tan did get stuck by lightning then knowing our luck it would alter his DNA and turn him into a bigger monster than he already is (if thats possible)

He only needs a can of 'SA' and he is in his blue kit with 'Visit Barry Island" across the front videos speak the truth!