That bus cliché: thrice twice is nice!

By: Martyn | March 8th, 2009

You know, one doesn’t turn up for ages, then two arrive at once. As a frequent user of public transport, I can’t actually ever remember this happening to me: more often than not one just doesn’t turn up and that’s that. Nah, my main gripe with public transport is when the hideous lump of glass and metal leaves slightly early when I could do with it being slightly late, or leaving late/trudging along when I desperately need it to be on time. I heavily digress but nevertheless, this cliché is appropriate for the fact that us City fans have waited all season for the team to rattle in more than 2, were unrewarded in every blasted competition for 8 months (if I really wanted to hit the point home and bring last season into the equation, it was 11 months ago when we last scored 3 in a game during a league crushing of Barnsley, ironically of course the team we broke our 3-goal fast against in the week) and then all of a sudden in the space of a sodding week it was thrice twice! Therefore, the whole awkward public transport thing I’ve been attempting to incorporate so very awkwardly seemingly suits aptly, rather like that other famous cliché involving a fitting glove!

Yeeeee-ha, a 3-0 victory over Doncaster Rovers, the most in-form team in the galaxy (maybe) prior to this match really spoke volumes about the ruthlessness and class of this current Cardiff City crop. 3 injuries to key players in the game, 2 of which came in the first half? Pfft, no problem. Classy opposition with no reason to fear us and relegation worries shaken off seemingly for good?! E-Z P-Z.

Rovers showed their technical ability from the off, and it was very enjoyable to watch. Their idea of route one is to switch to the other side of the pitch, before carrying on with their neat little give and go moves. They carved open the occasional chance as well y’know, so it wasn’t Arsenal Class of 08/09 naff sideways and never going anywhere nonsense.

So why did we win 3-0? Two factors. Firstly, our finishing was clinical and the same cannot be said of the visitor’s misfiring frontmen. Secondly, the space afforded to us by Donny’s expansive and positive system and mindset allowed us to use the tools we have to exploit, v. I suppose packing the midfield and neglecting to have or use the ball goes against Sean O’Driscoll’s footballing philosophy, but regardless, he must have known how capable we are at disposing of teams who offer us such holes to plug. Midfield players like Gavin Rae sure as hell ain’t gifted enough to break down walls, but offer a tear and he’ll bundle through with relish.

It was an enjoyable game and the crowd responded suitably. Ninian Park hasn’t been in such fine voice since chants of “WE ARE GOING UP” echoed around back in November two seasons ago. The Grange End were particularly pleased with their latest number; (to the tune of Culture Club’s Karma Chameleon) “Dimi Dimi Dimi Dimi Dimi Konstantopoulos, he swam away, to Cardiff Baaaaaaaay”. This is of course a double wind-up to our rivals Swansea City. They revel in their Swim Away chant which relates to a famous hooligan incident a few decades back. Therefore, incorporating the words of their rather bored and misinformed chant into a song about one of their players leaving one part of the Welsh coast to come to a more prosperous other is sure to push their buttons!

Perhaps after floundering so superbly two seasons ago after leading the league for a good while, a cautious air that has since pierced the mandatory banter, Bluebird and blue themed songs and jovial wit for the last 20-odd months is unsurprising. But yesterday after dealing with such in-form opposition so easily, the realisation that we’re pretty much guaranteed to be in the play-off’s – minimum – was the double-dose injection of excitement needed to raise the roof!

The game was done, dusted and dead after 70 minutes as the Blues had the points in the bag. Donny attacked with a bit of venom in the late hope of something, but City’s minds were only on the warm shower that awaited post-match. With all 3 subs used and a game coming up on Tuesday, there was a paucity of motivation. Thankfully, Donny couldn’t find a consolation goal that would have soured the mood and worsened our goal difference.

Players in rank order

Joe Ledley – For the second game in a row, Joe has been my MOTM. He’s revelled facing two opponents from Yorkshire who have come down here to play football. Titter, that’s a right oxymoron. Ledley’s showing on a showery Saturday afternoon was one of penetrative passing, bite and battle, acute awareness and tactical tightness.

Gavin Rae – Another player who has enjoyed two games of not having to break down teams who park the team bus. Temporarily became MaRA(E)dona when a mazy dribble around baffled opposition players (no Peter Reid in sight) was let down only by a weak finish. Rae has yet to score this season, but the last two games have seen him come as close as ever. A fresh impetus and motivation for the fringe Scottish international has entered his game, and this was epitomised by the classy carrying of the ball that provided the assist for our first goal.

Jay Bothroyd – A welcome return, and displayed all of the qualities that makes us City fans love him. Excellent touch and vision, a wonderful range of precise and incisive passing, and a superb goal to round things off. It was reminiscent of Thierry Henry in his all-conquering prime. A cushioned chest of the ball, before turning to place a volley beyond the admiring and merely diving-for-the-cameras Neil Sullivan. A definite contender for goal of the season in this division, fantastic stuff. Such a shame that injury forced him off towards the end of the first half.

Eddie Johnson - At last, The Prime Minister of South Wales got a goal! A very well taken one at that, and hopefully the next one won’t be 22 games away. It was the usual battling and holding up/laying off stuff besides his one moment of magic and not many do that side of the game better than Eddie at this level!

Gabor Gyepes – Defended resolutely, and that was all we needed.

Michael Chopra – It looks like his hamstring has gone yet again, and that’s a terrible shame because Chopra is bang on form right now. Guaranteeing goals and tremendous work ethic, Chops is truly irreplaceable at this stage of the season.

Mark Kennedy – Another who was forced off with an injury, and that was a real bummer because Kennedy was for once not flattering to deceive. His passing was rarely off-target and he held his own positionally and in combat.

Roger Johnson – Usual Johnson stuff. Great defending, but please gents, keep the ball away from him when we want to launch an attack!

Paul Parry – Saw a lot of the ball in the first half, and initially, he was fully involved and causing no end of problems. However, Donny’s defenders soon responded to the threat and forced him out wide. Touché, thought Paul, as he started to use all his cunning to win some sneaky FK’s. Thereafter, gradually faded until he became non-existent.

Peter Whittingham – His defensive duties are decidedly derelict (either through Dave Jones’s lenience or Peter Whittingham’s negligence), but his class on the ball is so wonderful you do tend to overlook these deficiencies. Saying that, it’s a lot harder to overlook Whitt’s flaws when he spends large chunks of the game under a blanket of anonymity. Along with Parry, suffered most from the lethargic malaise when we’d been forced into using all 3 subs elsewhere.

Ross McCormack – No one is talking about Ross McCormack in the media anymore, and clearly poor liddle Woss ain’t happy. Came off the bench to replace an injured Chopra and offered little else bar a sulky demeanour.

Darcy Blake – He’s still young and clearly there is a career in football for him. But at this or Premier League level? I just can’t see it. His decision making is always questionable, he doesn’t seem to know where he’s supposed to be during opposition set-pieces (this is also where the more senior players must take more responsibility), and his passing is very inconsistent. His athleticism and *bottle* would see him function well at lower Football League level, but you need so much more than that in the dizzier heights.

~~Rhys Weston~~ Miguel Comminges – He’s just horrible. A truly awful football player. He spends so much time forward that the opposition is always afforded space on the counter attack, and when he does get on the ball when we have it he always always gives it away.

Tuesday’s trip to Norwich may be a lot tougher than some think, in spite of their 2-0 defeat to Blackpool yesterday. A mounting injury list is sure to push our still relatively small squad to the limit, and Brian Gunn’s men have the added drive that if the Canaries lose then you’d have to say they and Charlton are both guaranteed to be playing in the Paint Trophy next season. Potentially tough or not however, we have to take a draw at the very least. A team in our position has no excuses no matter how crowded the physio’s room is.