Good evening everyone. I hope we are all looking forward to tomorrow. My optimism hasn`t kicked in yet, but I`m sure that by kickoff (or maybe even by the time I finish this preview), I will be shaking with excitement for the rest of the season. Dougie`s here, he`s started his work, so let`s see what he can do. With realistic expectations, everyone. Cardiff are a very very good side at this level. For years they seem to have consistently reached the playoffs, with no success. However, this might be the year they bypass all that drama and just go up automatically. I`m as certain as Craig Bellamy is abrasive.
Vital Quotes:
Young Douglas, as I may or may not refer to him past this sentence (I think not, but he`s called Dougie, and I find that a little bit difficult to get used to. That`s a friendly bloke down the pub name. Not a leader amongst men name. Would Sean Bean play a man named Dougie? I think not.), seems very excited by the progress he has already made with the squad.
He told the BN, ‘That dressing room is first class. I personally get on with them as young men and on the field they have been very enthusiastic and open to buying into my ideas. It has been a real pleasure working with them this week. I have to be realistic and say it will take a little bit of time to put everything in place because we have only had four or five sessions. But I know, already, that group in there are like sponges; they want to buy into my philosophy and there is quality in there that can get us up the table`. I hope some of the more sensitive members of the squad are not too upset by being called a sponge.
Bolton Wanderers Team News:
Stuart Holden is still out. Back in the UK, and as he`s moved his missus here, I don`t think he`s planning on getting back to Delaware any time soon. When he returns, then we can get excited. Like we thought he would make a huge impact to our survival hopes at the end of last year, when Stu finally puts on a white shirt again, we will have a much better chance of promotion.
Player to watch: SKD/Sordell
Douglas likes to play with one man up front with three flair players (I see Petrov, EaGOALS, CYL) behind. Whoever gets that lone striker berth will have to impress. I can`t imagine our new manager to have as much patience with underperformance as his predecessor. This will rather spell the end of SKD, or immortalise him with a great final chapter to his wonderful time at the club. It`s most likely to make Sordell whinge like the delicate flower he is.
Cardiff City Team News:
Craig Bellamy is out (what a shame), and so is Tommy Smith. Cardiff are fairly well stocked apart from this duo.
Player to watch: Peter Whittingham
Peter Whittingham is a peculiar sort of player. Right at the top of his game in the Championship for years, yet no Premier League seems to have taken a punt on him. However, he has scored a fair few goals from midfield this season and will definitely be a threat.
Match Facts & Stats
We haven`t played Cardiff in the league since before I was born, in a world where people were kicking off against the Tories and Jimmy Saville was all over the telly. We beat them both times in 1990.
Match Prediction:
I predict a 2-2 draw.
Next Fixtures:
The Foxes come down to The Reebok on Tuesday, for a nice cold November evening Championship match. Like the ones we dreamed of whilst playing Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid.