Who To Join Us

The play-offs have left me in something of a pickle. Which is never somewhere anyone wants to be. Unless you like pickles, you’re Eric or are indeed a pickle. None of which applies to me.

So now I’ve got your attention with such a ridiculous intro, I’ll explain my predicament. Pickle, wisely I thought, evicted there as I didn’t think you’d appreciate the phrase “explain my pickle”. I digress, I’m rooting for Reading in the play-offs. Simple enough, except they have a player who is numero uno in my list of wanted players.

So now you see my pickle. (Sorry.)

I’m Available

Well who would have thunk’d it.

They only went and did it. Only departed the Championship with sails set for the Premier League. Thanks, in no small part to Cardiff doing their usual bottle job, again thanks possibly in another small part to a night on the bottle. The City sides of old would have fallen apart at the very thought of being on the brink of “one win and it’s yours”.

The mid-table mediocrity years weren’t half easier on the ticker, but few would swap it back.

But this will come at a cost. Every player and their dog will be listed as a target by the tabloids. Every agent whose fading player wants one last hurrah will be making themselves as prominent as Alan Smith’s ex-girlfriend. (Click that link. I implore you to.)

Keeping Up With The Joneses

Forty-odd games and it’s come down to this. A straight shoot-out between us and the pride of Wales. (If the Swans take exception to that, have a quick glance at the table, fellas.)

I don’t think I can take it anymore.

The ball is unquestionably in our court but it won’t be a simple winner as Cardiff are far from down in the tramlines. But by the looks of it, that icy subject of luck is on our side, Jackson’s got the bruise on his stomach to prove it.

The FA are on neither side, although come QPR’s little date with powers that be we may be re-thinking that notion. Certainly, Mr Jones and Mr Warnock, they’re not moving our fixtures to spite you. The Pompey game was moved months ago, around the same time the police decided they couldn’t afford to police on a Good Friday. They are making cuts don’t you know.

Flying High

*Listening to Ray LaMontagne – When The Sun turns Black*

I know I said I had turned over a new leaf this season and I would be optimistic. And I am. I have.

Ish.

After today’s three-goal win at Ashton Gate Norwich now sit in third, a point off the dastardly borrowing/spending Cardiff. Now I am delighted by this, after all there are 20 teams below the mighty Yellows.

It does mean though that we will now have those Norwich fans who are expecting us to only go upwards this season. These people also think Chris Martin is over-rated, Paul Lambert is tactically inept (although he could sub 10 minutes earlier, but its worked) and that ticket prices should be the same price as a Freddo and Dip Dab.

Oh and that Bryan Gunn made this team and we would be 10 games played 10 games won. Or 10 and 0 if we’re in Yankland.

The feel good factor is big, and of course I do like it and I’m not putting a downer on things. It’s a superb start and the best for years. But I don’t like the thought of fans believing that playoffs would be a disappointment. It’s the opposite. Granted the media don’t help.

I’m Just Looking

*Listening to Arcade Fire at Reading*

It’s been a bit quiet around these parts lately. All I can say is I got Tiger Woods’d. He’s put himself in my life, won me over and I can’t stop myself from going back for more. I’m talking Tiger Woods 07 on PS2. Not that.

Yes I’m back on PS2, and what.

Anyway, yesterday was the day clubs are told to save their pocket money until January. Well, supposedly. And the loan window opens again soon for those lucky enough not to be in the Premiership so it’s a bit of a false dawn.

Cardiff and QPR can bring in even more quality players to help decide which of them wins the league and which will come second.

Come on Bellars, we started your career buddy.

My old haunt, Stoke, were the best, and most surprising movers in the window. No doubt everyone who reads this has some disdain for Jermaine Pennant, but he has something to prove in this division. Eidur Gudjohnsen in a Stoke shirt? He may be 31 but he’ll certainly do a job

And Marc Wilson impresses on every outing, getting shot of Lawrence in the process is canny business. At least Tuncay won’t look so out of place now he has people who know how to kick a ball to an appropriate target.

All Holds Barred

*Listening to Suspicious for the Winter – Empty Streets*

Well ain’t that a relief. It’s August and the football’s back.

Typically, Norwich failed to get off to anything like a flyer, but  at least we are a full five goals better off than this time last season, eh? Optimism has crept up on me recently from somewhere, it’s sure to escape midweek when we no doubt crash out of the cup in something of a whimper. We’re no cup team.

The omens were against City from the off though, playing on TV and first game of the season are games rarely won by Norwich.

I think I may have missed something during pre-season, when did the rule come in that tackling was now outlawed? Not that anyone’s told Andrew Crofts though, especially last week against Everton.

Take Cardiff’s 1-1 draw with The Blades. Matthew Lowton, the next of their talented full-backs it seems, went in for a crunching 50-50 but was just beaten to the ball. Nothing malicious, just a good-old hard challenge from both players. Then over trots Premiership referee Peter Walton brandishing a red card.

It seems to have been getting worse  year on year but this could be breaking point. Then again, maybe it’s because of last seasons jaunt in League One, where that would have been a free-kick at best.

When you take into account diving, feigning injury, getting other players booked and the like, football is in a very bleak way.

So excuse me while I watch Pakistan fail to catch a cold instead of that pointless game at Wembley. There are too many tears for me.

Dear Joe Ledley, Oh dear….

*Listening to When the Saints go marching in – Louis Armstrong*

There is a cruel reality in football called the Scottish Premier League. Indeed, for a player to move to it and claim it to be a step up can only mean he has been left with no other option. Well unless you had been plying your trade in the Conference or had another day job as a plumber.

So for Cardiff born Joe Ledley to move to Celtic in the summer and claim it to be a move in the right direction tells its own story. On his induction at Parkhead, Joe may as well have begged for mercy in front of the cameras as he rolled out the usual ‘Celtic are a massive club and I get to play in the Champions League‘ lines whilst holding back the harsh reality of the situation.

It can be further compounded by the fact that Joe arrived back at Cardiff Airport, less than a day after being filmed grumpily ambling through Glasgow Airport to take a look around. Not all that impressed then Joe? Ultimately it was a case of ‘Celtic?.. Does anyone else want me? No… I guess it’s Glasgow then…’.

Indeed when it became apparent that he would not remain a Cardiff player after that play-off final defeat to Blackpool (still feels like a dagger to the heart to say that), it all looked so rosy for Ledley. Roma were sniffing around, apparently willing to take a punt, with Premier League Everton and less desirable Stoke City also considering the compensation required to give Joe his chance at the Premiership.

Barcelona 2-0 Cardiff

*Listening to: Fenech Soler – I Need Love*

I can’t imagine that anyone has got over the midweek Champions League wonder match between Arsenal and a beautiful Barcelona side at the Emirates Stadium, and a first half hour Barca exhibition in particular – if you have you are no football fan I know.
It took just thirty seconds for the Catalan’s to get into their stride, with an instant eye for goal, Barca’s array of attacking brilliance was simply breathtaking. Quick pin point passing combined with technical ability and unquestionable pace ensuring Arsenal looked like talentless schoolboys, shellshocked that someone was dominating them at their own game.

And that is what would have hurt Arsenal the most on Wednesday night, not just the fact they were simply outclassed in all areas of the pitch, but the way Barca did just that. Even the Gunners most highly skilled players like, Fabregas, Arshavin and Nasri looked a cut below at times.

Yet aren’t Arsenal seen as the most enjoyable highly technical team to watch in the Premier League? If that is the case, then the UK elite has quite clearly fallen behind that of the Spanish La Liga. But then again, on
the basis of Wednesday night, no-one could keep with Barcelona.

More impressive to me, is the Catalan’s construction of their side over the past few seasons. There is no big money sheikhs behind Barcelona, looking to buy all the best players in the world (on paper) hoping to throw them all into a team on outrageous wages, looking for it to stick and become the best in the world. It simply does not work – a slight dig at Manchester City and Chelski there (and Real – Ed).