The recent events at Ninian Park between Leeds United and Cardiff City have brought back bad memories of crowd trouble, hooliganism and other troubles that have plagued football in recent times, and something people inside the game have worked so hard to eradicate. It did bring back bad memories, ... Read review
...Park between Leeds United and Cardiff City have brought back bad memories of crowd trouble, hooliganism and other troubles that have plagued football in recent times, and something people inside the game have worked so hard to eradicate. It did bring back bad memories, particularly with the slightly tarnished reputation that maybe Cardiff fans had already got. Their new chairman Sam Hammam has also come under heavy fire for his role in the events ... ...stuff only found in fairytales. Cardiff City of the second division, only promoted from division three last years versus the might Leeds United top of the Premiership and semis finalists in the European Cup last year. Leeds took an early lead in the 12th minute from their Australian striker Mark Viduka, a sweet shot from the edge of the box, great goal that it was. There was a big mess when Leeds young striker Alan Smith was sent off for use of the ... more
The recent events at Ninian Park between Leeds United and Cardiff City have brought back bad memories of crowd trouble, hooliganism and other troubles that have plagued football in recent times, and something people inside the game have worked so hard to eradicate. It did bring back bad memories, particularly with the slightly tarnished reputation that maybe Cardiff fans had already got. Their new chairman Sam Hammam has also come under heavy fire for his role in the events and there is to be an FA investigation into the events that unfolded.
It should have been one of the best cup upsets every, the stuff only found in fairytales. Cardiff City of the second division, only promoted from division three last years versus the might Leeds United top of the Premiership and semis finalists in the European Cup last year. Leeds took an early lead in the 12th minute from their Australian striker Mark Viduka, a sweet shot from the edge of the box, great goal that it was. There was a big mess when Leeds young striker Alan Smith was sent off for use of the elbow on Cardiff defender Andy Legg. It seemed a silly situation, both were pulling on each other’s shirts, and Smiths reputation may have gone some way to help the ref along. Legg has now said that he will defend Smith in the appeal Leeds have made over the dismissal. Cardiff then equalized with a spectacular curving free kick, then only minutes from the end after a scrappy corner Cardiff hit the winner. To be fair it was a great game, Cardiff fought well and deserved the game, the youngster Earnshaw had a great game.
However it then turned sour. After the game several thousand delighted Cardiff fans invaded the pitch to celebrate and congratulate the players. Several hundred supporters though baited and taunted the Leeds fans in their corner of the ground. After the game there was crowd trouble outside the ground as police and rival fans clashed, riot police had to clear the pitch afterwards. The Cardiff Chairman is Sam Hammam was involved in the problems. He is the former Wimbledon chairman, and he seems to have brought the old crazy gang spirit with him. He spent the game parading around the ground, something managers are not allowed to do, and when the winner was scored he was behind the goal when the winner was scored and all this inflamed the Leeds fans. All in all it is a pretty sorry mess, Cardiff are in trouble and face the problems, as are the police who were claimed to be a bit heavy handed.
Two things should be considered though. Cardiff has originally tried to get the game switched to the Millennium Stadium, but the FA rejected this. This was turned down because games are only moved if there is a legitimate reason, i.e. for crowd safety. It was rejected because the FA thought that Cardiff were being greedy in that they could have got three or four times the money if they played the game there. If the FA try to hand down too heavy a punishment then Cardiff can throw it back at them saying they tried but they stood in their way. Also the fact that the fans were genuinely happy about pulling off one of the best shocks in the FA Cup, maybe ever. They wanted to show their emotions, and it was only when the police got involved then things turned very sour. That is not to defend the actions of the people in the ground that were out to cause trouble and went to insult the Leeds fans. Also are the Leeds supporters that were outside the ground totally innocent when it came to the clashed. Again not to pin any of the blame or accuse anyone but it should not be taken lightly that this was going to be a clash between Cardiff and Leeds two notoriously tough teams and one that was bound to cause bit of trouble.
As for Sam Hammam he claims that he has got a written permission from the FA to do his tour of the ground and he does this every game. Fair dos, it may be a tradition and if he has got permission from the correct people then it should be ok. But again given the style of the match and the opposition involved it was clearly a very stupid thing to do. Of course it was going to irritate the away fans, and incite the home supporters. Not a good idea, maybe it was another play of his. O’Leary the Leeds boss was not happy with his showing, and I have to agree it was poor of him and inflammatory. There was also talk of an incident with a BBC radio reporter in a clash with Hammam. Again not a good report for him, he seems to have been a naughty boy.
Overall there is no doubt that it was a fantastic result and a time for Cardiff fans to celebrate. However things went too far, and the end result was another incident that football could have done without. It was a sorry story; it may end with an expensive result for Cardiff either in a fine or having to play behind closed doors in future. Sam Hammam has gone down in my estimations, he has let football down. He may have big plays for Cardiff and is seen as a very popular there, and no surprise with what he wants to do with the club. Good luck to Cardiff in the next round, in football terms they have made a lot of news, but unfortunately also hitting the news for the wrong reasons.
Advantages: Good British talent Disadvantages: Can they break the Prem?
Full name Cardiff City Football Club Nickname(s) The Bluebirds Founded 1899 as (Riverside) Ground Ninian Park
Cardiff
(Capacity 22,008 (16,000 seated)) Chairman Peter Ridsdale Manager Dave Jones League The Championship 2007-08 The Championship, 12th
Record Attendance: 62,634. Wales vs. England. October 17, 1959 Club Record Attendance: 57,893. vs. Arsenal Year Formed: 1899 (as Riverside F. C.) Previous Names: 1899 Riverside F. C.; 1902 Riverside ... ...after Kanu`s winner. Cardiff City have done nothing since the late 1920s and this was their first cup final since their win in 1928. This was the first meeting of Cardiff and Portsmouth in the Cups 127 year history. As neither Pompey nor Cardiff had been to Wembley for a while the fans clearly didn't know the words to 'Abide with me..., the stadium strangely silent when it's normally traditionally alive. And to be honest I have never been convinced ...
thedevilinme 25.05.2008 (19.12.2009)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Cardiff City
Advantages: Great players, potential Disadvantages: Kick and rush
...say a bit more about Cardiff in a mo (promise), but I just wanted to comment on Smith's sending off. Ref Andy Durso sent Smudger off for the sixth time in his career at Leeds, but it looked very harsh to me - it looked like six of one and half a dozen of the other to me, to be honest... oh well.
Anyway, good luck Cardiff, Hammam and manager Alan Cork look to be building a fine outfit which seems destined for great things - Earnshaw and Cavanagh ... ...in many a day.
Cardiff look to have a lot of good players at their disposal, even though Viduka and Fowler should have seen them off. They certainly at least held their own this afternoon.
But why does it always have to happen to Leeds?
PS Stugillespie just reminded me ... the Cardiff fans let the club down badly by continually throwing stuff onto the pitch, one of which hit Durso - it brought back memories of the bad old days of the 70's - you ...
dave27 06.01.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Cardiff City
Advantages: On a roll Disadvantages: Some ground to make up
...enthralling FA Cup victory by Cardiff City, 10th in the Second Division against the Premiership league leaders Leeds United. It was a classic cup tie played in a tremendous atmosphere in which Cardiff came back from a goal down with my man of the match Scott Young scoring the winner in the last five minutes of the game.
Sam Hamman certainly has a talent for making things happen wherever he goes, first of all he wanted to play this game at the Milennium ... ...great deal of passion in Cardiff and Sam Hamman aims to achieve Premiership status in five years time, he also has plans to build a new stadium, and I for one wouldn't like to bet against him. He has ex Wimbledon player Alan Cork as manager and he has recently appointed Lennie Lawrence as Director of Football. He also has players with premiership experience like Kavanagh and Prior to work alongside players with real potential like Earnshaw, who occasionally ...
Mikew79 06.01.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Cardiff City
Advantages: Up but may being going down again Disadvantages: Fickle fingle of fate
...One win in 9 games. Cardiff also sold their best stricker, Robert Earnshaw to the Baggies, West Brom for 3.5 million. I had to laugh when he skied his first penalty over the bar. I hope that they can get it together and move up to a safe position and avoid the drop.
City is the topside in Wales and has enjoyed fame and ignominy in its history. They were the first team outside of England to win the FA Cup although it was called The English Cup then. ... ...Rangers at The Millennium Stadium. Cardiff held Q P R to 0-0 at full time and got the winner in extra time. It was a marvellous moment and the fans, all 35.000 of them, went wild as The Bluebirds are back in division 1.
Here are some stats from 2002/3. The average crowd was about 13.000 and reached 20.000 for home play-off. Top scorer was Robert Earnshaw with 31 and is a club record. Most appearances was Peter Thorne with 46. The only overseas player ...
nigelblue 12.07.2003 (24.09.2004)
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Advantages: hard fans Disadvantages: hard fans - hooligan element
having moved to cardiff near the beginning of this season, it has been refreshing to live in such a large city that isn't so football orientated. rugby is by far the biggest across south wales, and cardiff is no exception.
being a wimbledon fan, cardiff now has strong links with the wimbledon of old. alan cork, wimbledon's all time top goalscoring legend is manager and sam hamann is chairman. as these two were figureheads of the old crazy gang, ... ...opinion that the support in cardiff is absolute fanatical. you only have to look at the rivalry cardiff have with swansea to understand what the club means to the city. the fan base in cardiff is big enough to genorate regular crowds of 30,000-40,000 easily.
i was first surprised that sam hamann bought into cardiff, but it turns out that he has made a shrewd acquisition. robert earnshaw is not a third division player. although it is hard to appreciate ...
shlongey 28.03.2001
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Physical Effort
Skill
Are they fun to watch?
Quality of defence
Quality of management
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Advantages: Always blessed with the odd genius. Disadvantages: The defence isn't up to it.
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Advantages: Wonderful facilities World Class home for Wales Disadvantages: Few
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25 Preferred type of ice cream:
Neopolitan, three kinds of goodness!
26 Favourite Sesame Street Character:
The Count, he was such a cool guy. But Big Bird was pretty cool as well.
27 Favourite Fast Food Restaurant:
KFC
28 When was your last hospital visit?
Over Christmas when I was in the car wreck mentioned above. I was in four about five hours and had to have a couple of different scans and stuff but it all turned up good in the end.
29 What colour is your bedroom carpet?
It's wooden.
30. How many times did you fail your drivers test?
Never tried. I am going to learn how to drive when I get back to Wales in the summer.
31 Who is the last person you read an opinion by before this?
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