And Watford ... they say no

Fresh new is now the whole Shearer thing is over its back to Watford boss Malky Mackay. There are now reports in the local press and on Sky News Sports that Cardiff City has asked permission from Watford to talk to their manager. With all the rumours of meeting over the past week you would think the club knew his inside leg measurements.

However, Watford was quick off the mark to refuse permission so where doesn’t that leave Cardiff now, up the creek without a paddle. The Watford Hornets owner Laurence Bassini said:

“We don’t want Malky to leave Watford and we will do everything in our power to keep him at Vicarage Road.”

Cardiff problem now is Birmingham City are after a new manager and rumoured to targets at one time former West Brom coach Roberto di Matteo and ex-Newcastle boss Chris Hughton are linked to the Midlands club.

Cardiff City team v Watford

Heaton
Quinn Naylor Hudson McNaughton

Emmanuel-Thomas Olofinjana Whittingham Bellamy

Chopra Bothroyd

Substitutes - Marshall, Gyepes, Rae, Burke, Blake, Parkin, Keogh

Cardiff City boss Dave Jones has made a large number of changes from the team at play Stoke City in the FA Cup, which was expected.

New signing Jay Emmanuel-Thomas gets the start along with Jay Bothroyd back from injury. Out from the mid-week cup clash are Gyepes, Blake, Rea, Burke, Drinkwater, Parkin some of whom are on the bench and the injured McPhail who went off with a hamstring injury against Stoke.

Cardiff City team v Watford

Marshall

Naylor Hudson Blake McNaughton

Whittingham McPhail Olofinjana Burke

Chopra Keogh

Substitutes Heaton, Gyepes, Quinn, Rae, Koumas, Matthews, Wildig

Has expected no Craig Bellamy today has he is rested by Cardiff City boss Dave Jones. Chris Riggott is missing from the team that beat Coventry on Boxing Day.

There is no Jay Bothroyd who twitted he had not recovered from his hamstring injury and was still at least a week away.

Blake is off the bench to replace Riggott and Chris Burke has recovered from illness to take the place of Bellamy. Paul Quinn is on the bench for Blake.

Watford today - Three points need

Cardiff City boss Dave Jones was forced to make changes to the squad for the Boxing Day victory over Coventry. According to the official website on the day Jay Bothroyd had not recovered from is injury while midfielders Chris Burke and Danny Drinkwater missed the game due to illness, will the three be available for selection?

With the Watford game later today boss James will have to marshal his troops to see what squad he will have to choose from.

The most doubtful is debutant Chris Riggott who left the field early against Coventry with cramp in both calves he will surely have a fitness test before a decision is made. Speaking in the South Wales Echo Riggott said:

“I will see how I am, but of course I’d want to play.

“I will listen to the physios because it’s been a hard, frustrating road back.”

Craig Bellamy put in a ‘Man of the Match’ performance against Coventry but with the next four games spaced over 12 days, reports in the press today suggest he will miss today’s game to rest his knees.

With a Sevenside derby on Saturday and a top of a table clash with Leeds Untied Tuesday week nursing Bellamy is a must, three games in seven days is a tough schedule.

Up coming fixtures

Tuesday, 28 December 2010 Championship Watford v Cardiff, 3pm

Saturday, 1 January 2011 Championship Bristol City v Cardiff, 3pm

Tuesday, 4 January 2011 Championship Cardiff v Leeds, 7:45pm

Saturday, 8 January 2011 The FA Cup Stoke v Cardiff, R3, 3pm