CCFC 1 v 1 BOLTON
The Preamble Ramble (Optional)
Today the City of Cardiff finally
bids a fond farewell to football's second tier (and beyond) after 51 years. And
as we prepare for our coronation as champions and the city charabanc readies
itself to transport our heroes in open-topped exaltation we can finally look
beyond the horizon towards the promised land, safe in the knowledge that our
destiny is assured.
So why am I finding it so difficult
to get too worked up over it?
I feel a bit ungrateful but perhaps
it's the manner in which promotion was confirmed, after an inglorious
blank-blank, and then securing the title after conceding a last minute
equaliser (great stuff if you favour your squibs a little on the damp side).
And with Hull, Watford, Palace, Leicester, Boro all in turn stepping aside with
a deferential tug on the forelock and waving us through, we seem to have
succeeded almost by default.
The slow but certain
inevitability of our victorious run-in has left us like an Olympic marathon runner
still looking over his shoulder for his nearest challenger to enter the stadium
as he jogs through the winning tape. After a lifetime within sight of the line,
the relative ease with which we've crossed it unchallenged has left me confused
as much as elated. I feel a bit cheated.
Here I stand at the pinnacle of an
entire sporting life so rich with the expectation of heroic epic battles
against the odds leading to ultimate crushing disappointment, from narrowly
missing out on promotion in 1971 after beating Real Madrid at Ninian Park, through
the lean years of yo-yoing between the third and fourth tiers, to the most
recent glorious failures, that my brain is wired to expect the footballing gods
to do their worst.
What's going on here? Where's the
catch? 'Victory, where is thy sting?' Who'd have thought success would be so
disorientating? Still, 'Nothing fails like success' and it'll take a good old
traditional relegation scrap to make sense of it all. Normal service will be
resumed soon enough. I can't wait.
And so to the game...
A full crowd, a gloriously sunny
day, a fitting end to a season spent in the metaphorical sun. Bolton are still
very much in the Play-Offs shake up and it's not in Malky's nature to send his
team out anything other than fully
committed so there was no sense of end-of-the season drabness.
As the glory boys stepped out to
greet the capacity crowd the Bolton players formed a Guard of Honour. Which was
nice.
We should have been ahead within
a couple of minutes, the ball falling at the feet of Mutch who found the keeper
from 6 yards. We continued to dominate play but throughout the first half the
quality of the final ball was found wanting. The failure to capitalise on the
early possession cost us as after 20 minutes Conway lost the ball in midfield
to former Swansea favourite Ricketts who fed the ball into the path of Eagles
who swooped like... (nah, too obvious) to side-foot the ball beyond Marshall.
0-1.
Bolton sat comfortably on their
lead for a good 40 minutes, soaking up the pressure and looking dangerous on
the break before Malky rang the changes, bringing on Noone for an ineffective
Conway, and Smith to provide a more direct approach at the expense of Mutch.
Bellamy moved to the left wing and looked more at ease as Noone took over on
the right.
The shake-up worked immediately
as Noone tormented their full back Alonso and delivered a succession of
incisive crosses, one of which arrived at the feet of Smith who should have
done better with the goal at his mercy.
Just minutes later, a rampaging Gunnarsson
was upended just outside the box. From the resulting free kick Noone placed a perfectly
directed shot around (or through?) the wall and into the near corner. 1-1.
In many ways this game was a
microcosm of our season - we dominated, showing real commitment and occasionally
playing with a flamboyancy and panache that will serve us well next season. We
are not the complete unit but it's reassuring that the aspects of our game
requiring improvement are not too difficult to discern and will no doubt be
attended to over the summer: we need a top-notch right back who can deliver
going forward, a front man fleet of foot and thought who can anticipate and run
off the defender's shoulder (a fully fit Campbell / Maynard) and an
experienced, commanding, controlling presence in midfield. These three vital
roles will be the difference between security and struggle.
We stepped up the pace in the last
20 minutes and on the balance of play probably deserved a win but hey-ho... let
the party commence!
(One disturbing aspect of the
day: The distinctive slippery silvery mane and satanic eyebrows of the Lebanese
Chancer was a very unwelcome presence standing next to Mr Tan in the director's
box. The gruesome twosome were straight out of central casting - could they look any more like Bond villains?)
The temporary stage was erected
and each first team member was called forward in turn to accept the applause
and collect their medals. We sang, we danced and we jigged jigs of jiggery joy,
tempered with a reflective nod to those that went before; savouring the present
with a grateful heart, and looking to the future with blissful uncertainty.
Q. Will we be good enough?
PLAYER PROFILES
DAVID MARSHAL L
Starting at the very beginning. And
a very good place to start. He wears the number 1, he is the Number One shot-stopper in the Championship, he's Scotland's
No.1 and as an ever-present this season he's had a great season - totally
reliable, providing the assurance that our back four craves. I have no
hesitation in awarding him 5 / 5 for
Premiership Potential.
KEVIN McNAUGHTON
Super Kev is the longest serving
current squad member by some distance, having chalked up 255 appearances since
signing for the Bluebirds almost exactly 7 years ago which in the rapidly
changing world of football seems a lifetime (to put it in perspective it was
the season that Charlton were relegated from the Premiership, Peter Ridsdale's Leeds
went into administration and newly formed AFC Wimbledon began life in the
Combined Counties League). Sentiment dictates that he's worth an extension to
his contract but unfortunately he's likely to miss out on the big time. Prem Potential 1 / 5.
ANDREW TAYLOR
If there was an award for Most
Improved Player, Taylor would be a leading contender. Reluctant to get forward
in the early part of the season and often caught out of position, he has been
instrumental in our rise to the top with a number of quality overlaps down the
wing and precision crosses into the box. 4
/ 5.
MARK HUDSON
It's no coincidence that our
minor wobble through February / March happened when our captain was injured.
Without him we looked disorganised and rudderless. His long term injury had
fans seriously doubting our chances in the run-in before the arrival of Leon
Barnett. He's likely to start in the Premier League as captain but his lack of
pace may find him wanting and if we can get Barnett on a permanent basis he may
struggle to get a regular start. 2.5 / 5.
BEN TURNER
When Malky was forced to ring the
changes Big Ben always looked more comfortable as the junior member of the
central partnership. Excellent with Hudson or Barnett, unsettled when expected
to take the lead with stand-ins Nugent or Connolly. Rock solid in defence but
distribution can be inconsistent. 3/5.
PETER WHITTINGHAM
Maddening, mecurial, masterful by
turns, when he's on form he 'does what he wants'. When out of sorts and lacking
in confidence you sense he'd rather be elsewhere. His undoubted match-winning
talents are utterly wasted sweeping up in front of the back four. Perhaps his
natural diffidence doesn't allow him to push his case with the manager but the
most naturally gifted player in the squad may be a bit-part player next season
with the emergence of Kim. If someone can put their arm around him, or
alternatively place a size 9 up his backside he still has the potential to
thrive. 4/5.
DON COWIE
When they broke the mould after
Malky emerged, they put the pieces back together and produced Cowie. Sometimes
the cracks show but the Scot has an engine which purrs. The Forest Gump of the
squad, if life is a box of chocolates unfortunately he's the coffee cream - you
know it's there but you're not likely to reach for it while other more
mouth-watering options are available. 1/5.
CRAIG CONWAY
See 'Cowie'. The similarities in
terms of stamina are striking. Came back strongly after his transfer request
but struggling to command a regular start in the Championship suggests that a
significant role at the next level is unlikely. Still, a useful squad player
with the potential to re-energise the latter stages of a game. 2/5
MATTHEW CONNOLY
I can't see what Connolly brings
to the party. He was unconvincing at right back, denying McNaughton his place,
and was a less than commanding presence in a shaky make-shift central defence.
He's popped up in the opposition box to score a couple of vital goals but he's
not a Premier League player and will probably spend most of next season
awaiting the call that won't be made. 1/5.
KIM BO-KYUNG
'Kim Bo-Kyung my Lord, Kim
Bo-Kyung, Oh Lord! Kim Bo-Kyung!' Malky's
masterstroke. If we go on to consolidate a long term Premier League presence we
may well reflect that Kim's breakthrough heralded the dawn of the new era. He spent
the winter months on the bench cocooned in his tracksuit only to emerge in the
spring to take flight and spread his gossamer wings. He floated through
midfield like a butterfly, stung the opposition like a bee and his
metamorphosis transformed a hum-drum midfield into a thing of rare beauty. A
City legend in the making. 5/5.
TOMMY SMITH
A typical Malky signing - experienced, industrious, brought
in to 'do a job' to complete the midfield jigsaw but is unlikely to be part of
the picture as we move onto a bigger stage. Injuries and age are against him 2/5.
RUDY GESTEDE
He's done what's been asked of
him, scoring a couple of vital goals coming off the bench late in games to
shake up a tired opposition defence. People still talk of his 'raw' talent but
he occasionally looks as coordinated as a baby giraffe on ice. A message to you
Rudy: you're going out on loan. 1/5.
CRAIG NOONE
The archetypal tricky little
winger with quick feet. A good reader of the game, often seeing opportunities,
making darting runs into the box. His light wiry frame has served him well
against some sluggish defenders, but there aren't many of those at the next
level. Occasionally guilty of running up blind alleys. May find his
opportunities limited in what is likely to be a compact, defensive midfield
next season 2.5/5
AARON GUNNARSSON
This season has seen a huge improvement
in the Icelander's influence. He's emerged from the pack to claim his place in
the starting line up with consistently assured displays, playing with a greater
aggression and commitment, controlling midfield and driving the team forward.
What he may lack in natural ability compared to say, Whittingham, he makes up
for in natural drive and stamina. His long throws into the box will require
some fine tuning if they're to provide any real threat against the more astute
Premiership defences 3.5 / 5
JORDON MUTCH
Progressed from Mutch of a muchness
to much improved but the jury's still out. He finished the season strongly
after being paired with Kim in an attacking midfield. A stylish player whose
natural elegance can betray an air of indifference, he's never likely to be
accused of over-committing himself in the tackle. The step up will either make
or break him. 3/5
JOE MASON
Has had disappointingly few
opportunities this time out after his breakthrough season. Lacks the pace to
run off the shoulder of defenders but comes alive in the box where his speed of
thought is always capable of outwitting defenders. His performance in the
Carling Cup Final proves that he's not intimidated by the big stage and given
the opportunity he may surprise a few people next season. 3/5
HEIDAR HELGUSON
Experienced, committed, excellent
in the air. An instinctive finisher but given time to consider his options will
invariably choose the wrong one. As strong as an ox and just as quick-witted.
He's had a good career but there's an allotment just outside Reykjavik that
needs tending. 0/5
NICKY MAYNARD
Very much an unproven talent. He
had one season in the Premier League, scoring twice in 17 games. His career has
been a succession of goal gluts followed by goal droughts mixed in with long
injury lay-offs. He was bought to lead the charge out of the Championship, not
necessarily to spearhead our attack at the next level. We paid more for him
than Swansea paid for Michu. If he makes half the impact I'll eat my bobble
hat. 2.5/5
FRAIZER CAMPBELL
Snapped up by Malky as part of
his 'affirmative action' initiative which favours players with comic book
Scottish names regardless of their actual ethnicity. Fraizer's career has
stalled after a number of serious long term injuries which has seen his stock
reduced from the £7m that Hull offered for him after his loan spell in 2008 to
the £650,000 that we paid in January. He looked sharp in the handful of games
he played before succumbing to another injury. If he can stay fit he should
start up front in August. Bargain or liability? Time will tell.
CRAIG BELLAMY
Perhaps we'll never know the
primary motivating factor for his desire to return home - the boyhood ambition
to lead his team to the big time? The doomed attempt to save his marriage? His
struggle to make sense of Gary Speed's death? Whatever the reasons, we have to
be grateful not just for the fact of his return but for the way he's used all
his experience, motivation, desire and considerable skills to inspire his
teammates to optimise their talents and believe that they are capable of exceeding
their own expectations of themselves. Driven, complex, troubled, never apparently
at ease with himself or those around him (particularly figures of authority)
the man is, as Churchill once said of Russia 'a riddle, wrapped in a mystery,
inside an enigma'. But above everything else he's a ruddy good footballer and
we're jolly lucky to have him.
See you the other side of summer.....
