wonder how McPhail and Chopra feel now?

paul.d · Apr 17, 2007

http://stats.football365.com/dom/ENG/graphs/CardiffCty_pos.gif

Tyketical M'stroke · Apr 17, 2007

Rich.

Guest · Apr 17, 2007

Financially secure.

We need to stop up so we can go back to Hillsborough and lose again. But at least their "we'll never see you again" song will be proved to have been factually incorrect.

paul.d · Apr 17, 2007

well yas but they must have felt that the Premiership beckoned after 17 matches

my guess is they will try to off load Chopra like Jerome last year for a lot of cash-which they are still in great need of

paul.d · Apr 17, 2007

see here

Cause for Jones to think twice <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" border="0"><tbody /></table><table class="headerTable" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td>Apr 17 2007
</td></tr><tr><td></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">Steve Tucker, Western Mail</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="400" border="0"><tbody><tr><td colspan="3"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3">Steve Tucker believes culling the squad at Ninian Park might not be as necessary as some thinkAPPARENTLY not even the tea-lady will be safe at Ninian Park this summer if Cardiff City boss Dave Jones goes through with his threat of a mass clearout.Irked by City's fall from grace over the course of this season, the Bluebirds boss came out all guns blazing following the tepid 1-1 draw at home to Stoke on Saturday.Adrift of the play-offs in a season which saw Cardiff top the Championship early doors, Jones made it clear there were faces in the Bluebirds dressing room now that would not be there much longer."Every player here, whether they've got a contract here or not, are playing for their futures," thundered Jones. <div class="center" id="mpuad" style="display: inline">

</div><a name="story_continue" />

"The one thing they know about me, and I've proved it in the time I've been here, I will change things.

"I will get the formula right and will strengthen in certain departments as the fans and everyone at the club would expect me too."

Cardiff chairman Peter Ridsdale also felt moved to enter the debate, prescribing even more stringent measures.

"No player is sacrosanct. If we can bring in better players at affordable prices then any of the players we have can be released," said Ridsdale.

"There must be significant changes. We have weaknesses and they must be sorted out.

"I would expect 50 per cent of the squad to be refreshed in the summer. We have to be ruthless."

Quite, but are such wide-scale changes needed, even feasible at Cardiff this close season?

The very notion of virtually dismantling the entire squad actually flies in the face of Jones' own dictum that Cardiff face a gradual building period like Reading or Sheffield United. It's almost like pressing the panic button when there really is no need.

Cardiff have had a superb season, brilliant beyond anyone's wildest dreams.

They were clear at the top of the Championship, more than that they were playing scintillating football that no other team, not even those who will now be promoted, have come close to matching.

What went wrong, and it's been widely mentioned, not least by Jones himself, is a lack of depth in the squad when injuries kicked in.

It's as simple as that. So how does throwing out 15 members of the squad now help in the challenge of getting quality cover for positions throughout the Cardiff team? It doesn't.

There is even speculation the likes of club captain Darren Purse, Wales winger Paul Parry and Scottish forward Steve Thompson will be shown the door which, for me, is sheer madness.

Even if they are not greatly rated surely these are the calibre of players City would need on the bench next season if they are going to go up.

Because let's face it, those three players are not going to bring in a lot of transfer cash and replacing them could be costly.

And, in the end, that's all that will really be important this summer - money for transfers, and one gets the nagging suspicion that's a commodity which is going to be rather thin on the ground.

I know Ridsdale is now announcing that with the new stadium given the green light, the club's £32m debt is now down to £2m.

Although how that has occurred is a mystery to me, but one I'll take at face value in the new era of "transparency" at Ninian Park.

However, the new Cardiff board of former rugby players and property developers doesn't strike me as one keen to dip hands in pockets for extravagant funds for Jones to splash about.

That's of concern because though Jones may be excellent at bringing in top-notch players for small fees (Michael Chopra and Peter Whittingham) his record on free transfers and loans is not so good (Iwan Redan and Simon Walton).

Of course, there is one way the club can ensure Jones (pictured left) has a least a few million to spend and that's by selling Chopra. Jones insists the Bluebirds are not a selling-club anymore, but an offer above £3m for the club's top-scorer (and Premiership sharks Blackburn and Portsmouth are already rumoured to be circling) would test that to the very limits.

The manager has previous in this field: in a classic piece of wheeler-dealing last summer out went Cameron Jerome for £3m to Birmingham with just a fraction of that money spent very wisely indeed.

Would the selling of Chopra be a retrograde step? Yes, but one that could well be necessary.

There are a slew of players set to leave Cardiff this summer, Andrea Ferretti has already gone to seek his fortune in Spain, Walton will return to Charlton, Kerrea Gilbert to Arsenal.

Redan, Mark Howard, Kevin Campbell, Luigi Glombard, Kevin Cooper, Nick McCoy and Jeff Whitley will all go and, if they remember them at all, fans will not be sorry.

There are a few anomalies, though, that have been surprising.

Full-back Chris Barker has had an excellent season on loan at Colchester (currently two points and two places ahead of City) and would have provided good cover in defence.

The other cause for concern is allowing goalkeeper Neil Alexander go after contract negotiations broke down.

I wasn't privy to the ins-and-outs of the contract offer, but the Scot has enjoyed the best season of his career here. For most of the season he was in the top three keepers in the division, according to the people who compile such lists.

Alexander has got his flaws, he doesn't command his area too well, although he has improved. But I can't help wonder how much the Bluebirds will have to fork out to get a keeper who comes anywhere close to the same standard.

Whatever happens, it will be a busy summer at Ninian Park off the pitch.

But when Jones and Ridsdale sit down to sort out who stays, who goes and who arrives, they should take their lead from Dad's Army's erstwhile Corporal Jones and remember, "Don't panic!"Who should stayand who should go

STAYDARREN PURSE
The captain is a major presence, both on and off the pitch. He has the hugely-talented Roger Johnson and Glenn Loovens vying for his place, but City will need the likes of Purse around if they are to gain promotion.PAUL PARRY
The Wales winger is an enigmatic figure. At the start of the season he was on fire, but lost his way. Maybe he's playing on the wrong flank. Needs to be kept in the hope that he will rediscover his best form.STEVE THOMPSON
The Scot has come in for fierce criticism and Dave Jones has given others their chance up front. But none have held the ball up as well or given the Bluebirds as much strength up front.JASON BYRNE
What would be the point in getting rid of the Irishman? He's barely been given a look-in since scoring on his debut at Wolves and has to be given more time to try to establish himself.WILLO FLOOD
Personally, I think he has plenty to offer, even if it's only coming off the bench and injecting a bit of energy. Injury has restricted him to brief cameo roles and never managed to establish himself. <div class="center" id="mpuad" style="display: inline">

</div><a name="story_continue" />

GO

KERREA GILBERT
Very talented, but whether he has what it takes to break through at Arsenal is highly debatable. Enjoyed bright start but suffered a loss of form and had 'problems' during his time at Cardiff.

KEVIN CAMPBELL
Bringing in the former Arsenal and Everton veteran was a gamble that never paid off. Always looked well off the pace when he joined the action. One last pay-day abroad for the striker?

SIMON WALTON
Plenty of running and commitment, but quality was sparse. Not really the answer in midfield and a young player who needs to sort out his disciplinary problems when he heads back to Charlton.

NEIL ALEXANDER
The 'keeper is going, but should Cardiff really be letting him leave? He's had a great season, keeping numerous clean-sheets. He'll be hard to replace for the sort of money City will have to spend on a replacement.</td></tr></tbody></table>

Merde Tete · Apr 17, 2007

RE: see here

Interesting stuff. Didn't realise that Barker had been playing for Colchester all season....

pompey_red · Apr 17, 2007

RE: Financially secure.

i know Ridsdale is now announcing that with the new stadium given the green light, the club's £32m debt is now down to £2m.

Although how that has occurred is a mystery to me, but one I'll take at face value in the new era of "transparency" at Ninian Park.

go on peter !!

Stuppa · Apr 17, 2007

Most interesting bit for me

from that article:

"I know Ridsdale is now announcing that with the new stadium given the green light, the club's £32m debt is now down to £2m.

Although how that has occurred is a mystery to me, but one I'll take at face value in the new era of "transparency" at Ninian Park."

Sounds like pocket-book Pete is up to his old tricks again...

Stuppa · Apr 17, 2007

snap

.

Chef Tyke · Apr 17, 2007

Me too

Worrying stuff for them.

paul.d · Apr 17, 2007

RE: snap

Bluebirds' £30m debt boost <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" border="0"><tbody /></table><table class="headerTable" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td>Apr 14 2007
</td></tr><tr><td></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">South Wales Echo</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="400" border="0"><tbody><tr><td colspan="3"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3">CARDIFF CITY'Smassive debts will be slashed by £30m at the end of this month.The new stadium project goes unconditional on Monday, April 30, and club chairman Peter Ridsdale says: 'Then it's all systems go on, first, the athletics stadium and then the football stadium.'Cardiff City are scheduled to move into their new stadium at the end of 2008.Ridsdale says:Cardiff City's debt stood at £32m last December - and that figure will be slashed to £2m <div class="center" id="mpuad" style="display: inline">

</div><a name="story_continue" />

The £24m in loan notes are returned as soon as the stadium goes unconditional.

It's all systems go on the new athletics stadium from April 30 - and the new £1.5m track has already been ordered.

The minimum of 25,000 seats when Cardiff City's new stadium opens is guaranteed, but it is likely to be between 26,000 and 27,000.</td></tr></tbody></table>



so it seems you just return? loan notes you can't pay-come on Gordon you know it makes sense-take out a big big loan and then 2 years later just "return the note"-why didn't we all think of that one???

Owen Blackadder · Apr 17, 2007

Ridsdale's tidying up after Sam. Council putting in £40m. See article.

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2006/11/08/hedge_funds_to_feast_on_hammam.html

Zadok · Apr 17, 2007

I still don't get how building a new stadium wipes of £30m..

Owen Blackadder · Apr 17, 2007

Debts are loans of £24m payable to some unnamed Swiss Bank, loans set up by Sam Hammam.

£9m raised by isuing new shares to some City investors, set up by Pete. £9m raised by selling naming rights of new stadium, £4m raised by selling remaining lease on Ninian Park. £24m less £22m leaves £2m. Or summat like that.

kestyke · Apr 17, 2007

Will somebody really pay £9 million to name a stadium?

Indeed, is it already a done deal?

wonder how McPhail and Chopra feel now?

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wonder how McPhail and Chopra feel now?

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