Don’t worry be happy

It is a loving morning and I'm happy to have seen my team bag three points last night at the Cardiff City Stadium not just the points, but the manner they achieved it.

They were plenty of guts on show last night for the fan at the game and those listening on the radio. Maybe the manager/players and fans put up a circle for protection around the stadium expecting the worst form a free scoring top of the table Southampton. I know many fans who when to the game thinking a point would be a good outcome.

Everyone at the game and listeners around the world would have noticed the atmosphere a 100% better than recent game something we need to hear at every game. Last night was also helped along by a great turnout from Southampton (2,000).

The doom and gloom surrounding the game, injuries and all that was washed away with a brace of goals from Kenny Miller.The Cardiff City striker has come in for some stick over his lack of goals, but tonight even any doubters have to stand up a give him a chap. His first goal of two come via the old route-one style of football with goalkeeper David Marshall credited with the assist with Miller on handed to head the ball over the Southampton keeper into the back of net. Aron Gunnarsson provided the assist for his second goal it was a close range effort into the bottom right corner of the Southampton goal.

About last night he said,

“I always want to score goals, but chances have been few and far between. I was fortunate to get on the end of a couple tonight."

It was a pity Cardiff could not keep a clean sheet keeper Marshall deserved one along with the back four who could a useful visitors attack. Warning lights were flash when Cardiff lost Kevin McNaughton and Filip Kiss both nursing knocks but hopefully both will make the trip to Hull City Saturday.

Cardiff City boss Malky Mackay said after the game,

"We were looking to try and make sure we even had a bench tonight. The options were probably not what we'd have hoped for, but, in terms of positions, it was what we had left fit in the building.

"It was a test for us but we had to be brave and believe in the players and tactics we had to beat Southampton.

"There is a togetherness in the squad and that has grown as the weeks have gone along, and everyone wants to do well for each other. There are no fractures in our team and that is paying off.

"I'm delighted for Kenny. He has been a proven goalscorer throughout his career and his hard work has finally paid off with goals.

"The first goal was a really good counter-attack as David (Marshall) kicks it early to Kenny and he's been ever so brave because the goalkeeper can easily smash him in that situation.

"Then he took his second goal incredibly well. It was a lovely finish. But he also put in a lot of work off the ball and channel runs that he deserved those two goals."

Southampton boss Nigel Adkins who was doing some punditry at the Leicester game Sunday must have had jumped up and down watching Mackay injury problems mount.However, he was truly mugged last night and told the press after the game,

"I counted that we had six real good chances in the latter part of the game. Rickie Lambert had two headers which you would put your mortgage on him to score.

"Richard Chaplow has shaved the post and de Ridder also missed before he scored. But we're still top and that is a positive for us."

Miller time in London Town

POOR Harry the hammer

I was going to say that a draw would be a good start to the season when you are away for home because the game was looking to go that way. When the fourth official held the board up to announced three minutes of extra time I felt sure that was it.

Until the game turned on its head in stoppage time when up stepped Miller to send Cardiff City fans worldwide into raptures. Yes the Bluebirds did steal the game, but three points are three points no matter how they came even with West Ham  the better team over the 90 minute they ended the game pointless.

Cardiff held their own and in last 20 minutes sensed some panic on the Londoners their fans were getting frustrated. A major catalyst to the change in Cardiff performance was the substitution of Rob Earnshaw with the young French striker Rudy Gestede.

There were a few misplaced passes for the Cardiff City, which heighten the tension, and some rash tackles especially in the first half. Peter Whittingham had about the best chance from a free kick towards the end of the first half.

On the re-start, it was more of the same from the Londoners pressure on the Cardiff goal while the visitors kept the best to their passing game with only a few ventures into the long ball game. Marshall in goals making some fine saves and he was my 'Man of the Match' and there was the passion from manager Malky Mackay for all to see on the line. Every time the camra major difference over former boss Dave Jones and him.

Cardiff City manager named his first team league team today and I do not think there were any surprises with

Marshall

McNaughton Hudson (c) Gerrard Taylor

Cowie Whittingham Gunnarsson Conway

Earnshaw Miller

The starting 11 with a bench made up of Heaton (gk) Quinn Gestede Parkin Mason

 

With only five subs on the bench now, there was no place for Keinan or Gyepes with Mackay going for the attacking option on the bench.

Two lined up to sign tomorrow

CARDIFF City are hoping that the drawn out transfer of Scottish striker Kenny Miller will be over tomorrow as the Bluebirds wait for a piece of paper from Bursaspor to complete the deal. Also keyed up to sign tomorrow is Rudy Gestede the young striker who had a trial while Cardiff was on pre-season training in Spain.

The young Frenchman must have impressed the Cardiff manager Malky Mackay and his staff because they asked him to come back to Cardiff at the end of the Spain trip. However, the player decided to go back to France think things over. He was in Cardiff yesterday according to reports for a medical and will sign tomorrow. Mackay said about the youngest,

“He is joining us on a permanent basis. Rudy is 6ft 3ins tall, he has pace and has an aerial presence. It’s a learning process because he is, at 22, still young, but he has a lot of potential.”

As for the Miller deal, it was completed Thursday with an announcement expected on Friday, but without the necessary paperwork Cardiff were left in limbo until tomorrow anyway when it should all be finalised. City boss Malky Mackay said,

“We are just waiting for an international document – and that’s on the way.
“We have agreed the fee and personal terms, while Kenny has taken and passed his medical. He trained at the Vale of Glamorgan yesterday while we were at Bournemouth for our match.
"Then he went to bring his family down to South Wales.”

If they both sign they should play some part in the Yeovil friendly Tuesday night with only the Parma friendly on Saturday left before the new season kicks off for Cardiff the following Sunday. With the least signings were will that leave the proposed signing of Dundee United striker David Goodwillie. Cardiff are rumoured to have had an offer excepted for the striker and are waiting on the outcome of a court involved the striker.

Then there is Craig Bellamy who is looking for a permanent move with his preferred destination, Cardiff City. His wages are putting the frighteners on clubs interested in signing him and the fact Manchester City want a £4 million-transfer fee. There are not many options left for the Welshman if he stays with the premiership club it will be a season in City’s reserves or a new club. With a season left on his contract, he is hoping Manchester City will do some kind of deal, pay-off his wages, and tearing up what is left of his contract allowing him to move on.
Speaking to Sky Sports, he said,

"To be honest, I don't want to go on loan again because where would I go after that?"
"A permanent move would be the best option for me.
"If not, I expect to stay the whole year at City.
"I'll obviously do very little. I won't be involved with the manager and the first-team."

Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay as refuse to talk about Bellamy say he is a Manchester City player remained tight-lipped. It is not sure if Mackay wants Bellamy back. Will he fit into his game plan? One thing is for sure he will not be playing the Dave Jones way.

More waiting time for Miller deal

The Miller deal is still on but Cardiff are still waiting on some documents coming through from his club Bursaspor. Cardiff are hoping to deal will go through sometime today after he passed his medical and personal terms have been agreed.

At the Cardiff City press conference this morning manager Malky Mackay said about the striker playing in tomorrow’s friendly if he feels fit enough to play then I will take some part in the game. The City boss has been eyeing Filip Kiss for a year or so and as even been out to Slovakia to watch him play while manager of Watford he relieved to the press conference this morning. He will hopeful part some part of tomorrows trip to Bournemouth.

The trialist who has scored Cardiff only goal in pre-season after two games Rudy Gestade is coming back for talks with Cardiff today, but will not play tomorrow. Mackay is still in the market for players and the search will continue and could go beyond the transfer window.

Two new signings on the way

Cardiff City could be announcing a couple of new signing before the weekend with reports that Kenny Miller is all but signed u to join the Welsh club.

It looks like Cardiff have beaten Rangers to another one of their targets after is club Bursaspor booted up there offer and accepting a bid from Cardiff. Miller was in Cardiff last night having talks and watched the Celtic game.

Cardiff City talking about the Miller situation he said,

“We have had a bid accepted by Bursaspor and have been talking with the player.

“He is a top drawer footballer who I think is getting better with age as we have seen year-on-year. As he gets more experience his overall game looks better.”

"He's had a chat with me and we're still talking but he's had a look at our place and I've given him my thoughts on where I see the club going with him on our side.

Rangers need to at least match or better Cardiff’s offer to have a chance to steal the Cardiff bid and attempt was made leaving the field open to the Cardiff boss. It’s now the second time that Cardiff have beaten Rangers to a player sign Dundee United midfielder/winger Craig Conway. There could be more to come, as the two clubs are locking horns over Dundee United striker David Goodwillie. If you believe the Rumour Mill Cardiff, have the best offer on the table and are waiting on the outcome of a court case involving Goodwillie before progressing with the deal.

The second player joining the Bluebirds is Slovakian under-21 international Filip Kiss who outed the deal on the Slovan Bratislava official website. He will be joining Cardiff on a one-year loan deal. Mackay talking of the youngest said,

“He is joining us on a one-year loan. He is captain of the Slovakian under-21 team and is a player of great potential.”

Miller to become a Bluebird

According to Scottish website stv.tv Cardiff City have beaten Rangers to the signing of Bursaspor striker Kenny Miller after the Scottish club put in a “ridiculously low” offer.

The report has the striker on his way to Cardiff for a medical after the Turkish club accepted a one million euro (£888,000) offer from Cardiff. The Ibrox director of football Gordon Smith had warned Miller he would have to agree to a significant drop in wages to facilitate a return to Rangers. Cardiff’s wage structure could seal any deal then has they are likely to pay more than Rangers.

The Scotland international joined the Turkish club back in January from Rangers but has found it hard to settle with his family.

Bursaspor’s director of transfers, Erkan Kamat said,

“The policy of Rangers is not good.

“I don't like it. It is a ridiculously low offer.

“As far as we are concerned, Kenny Miller has been sold to Cardiff City. He is going to be their player and he is not going to Rangers.

“We are in a very bad position now.

“We have a Europa League match next week, Kenny is going, and we need another striker.

“We want one million euro to buy another player and we told Kenny’s agent this. I told also Andrew Dickson [Rangers' head of football administration] this.”

The Rangers boss Ally McCoist confirmed this morning here wanted Miller and they had put a bid in for the player and was hoping to here if they had been successful this morning. He told the Daily Record in Scotland,

"We have bid for Kenny and we hope to hear from Bursaspor in the morning (Tuesday).

"We hope to hear from Bursaspor in the morning.

"My reading of the situation is Kenny is bursting to get away but I'm not so sure any deal would be straightforward.

"I'm not sure if Bursa would let him go."

There has been no official statement from Cardiff City at the time of publishing this article.

STV.TV Report

Another Scot link with McBluebirds

Cardiff City and manager Malky Mackay is being linked with Scottish international striker Kenny Miller. The 31-year-old striker has been with Turkish club Bursaspor in a £500,000 deal from Rangers.

Reported have him unsettled in Turkey and wants a route back to the UK and Bursaspor are will to let him go. The Turkish club will want at least their money back on any deal. Cardiff will have to go head-to head with Rangers to get his signature as his former club wanting back. Rumours from Scotland are suggesting the striker is more than happy to return to back to the Glasgow club.

Cardiff and Rangers have been battling it out for another Scottish striker David Goodwillie, an offer was made for Goodwillie by Rangers, but his club Dundee United turned it down. Cardiff has a deal on the table, but are waiting on the outcome of a court case on Thursday.

Over the weekend boss Mackay is in no rush to fill the two or three place he believes he needs to complete his squad.