Cardiff City in the FA Cup. The weekend starts here.
No sooner have we finished one match than it’s time for another, and here we are in the uncharted lands of the FA Cup fifth round. Not only that but we’re at home, and not only not only that but it’s to a team from the lower divisions.
Cardiff City, which is apparently their name, play in something called the Championship. If you’ve got a long memory you’ll remember that we went there once and didn’t like it very much so we left, never to return. On the other hand Cardiff love it so much that when they’ve left it they always go back. Apart from that they’ve had some seriously strange owners, the sort that make Tony Xia look a model of probity, and their supporters do some weird routine about Iranian religious leaders.
Talking about their supporters, they’ll be bringing thousands to look in wonder at such marvels as opposition players they’ve heard of, a big ground and electricity. Expect to hear loads of stuff about Wales, England and that old favourite Premierleagueyoureavinalaff will no doubt get an airing. Their manager got the job the other week and the only other league club he’s managed are Orient, except they weren’t a league club for long after he took over.
Cardiff’s goalkeeping coach is from Sutton and he was on our books for a time. He was also Brian Little’s assistant at Gainsborough Trinity, which is close as you can get to the right hand of God. Callum Robinson and Calum Chambers might be playing for them, as might Anwar El Ghazi, and if he’s anywhere in sight a standing ovation is in order. ‘If’ being the word, because their manager has said he’ll be dropping a few players as staying in the Championship is more important.
We’ll have a weakened team however seriously Unai wants to take it. It’s a more or less full house, if we’re at home in the quarter-final it would be good to see the prices stay the same and there’s not much chance of that. Dod arnat ti llewod
