As he put pen to paper, Cardiff City finally reached their lofty target.
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Dalman: Club missed out on signing
Cardiff City were keen on making a new signing last week but there were legal obstacles which “could not be overcome”, Bluebirds chairman Mehmet Dalman has told Cardiff City Supporters’ Trust.
Erol Bulut made nine new signings in the summer but injuries have not been kind to his squad in the early part of the season, with a number of key players including Callum O’Dowda, Aaron Ramsey, Josh Bowler, Callum Robinson, Kion Etete and Yakou Meite all having missed a good chunk of games already.
And it appears Bulut, and indeed the club, had tried to bolster their squad outside of the window, presumably by bringing in a free agent, however one potential deal could not get over the line.
In the write-up of their meeting with the chairman, the Trust wrote: “When asked if any of it would be available to strengthen the team in Mehmet carefJanuary,ully responded that due consideration would be given to ensure compliance with profit and sustainability before making any such decision. However, he did say that the club had tried to sign a player this week but there were some legal issues that could not be overcome.”
Collins out of international duty
Jamilu Collins has been removed from the Nigeria squad for their upcoming international friendlies against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique.
The official Super Eagles X account posted the news today after the left-back had struggled with fitness leading up to this international break, having to miss the trip to Middlesbrough in midweek following a knock in the win over Rotherham.
Bluebirds boss Erol Bulut said last Thursday that he had planned to talk with Nigeria boss Jose Peseiro regarding Collins’ fitness, stating: “Maybe I have to talk with the national team manager, because he [Collins] will get injured. Neither side wants that. The club doesn’t need it, the national team doesn’t need it, we have to protect him.”
Collins will now have a fortnight’s rest, which will do him a world of good. FC Porto academy product Chidozie Awaziem, who now plays for Boavista in Portugal, has been drafted in to replace him.
McGuinness: We need to kick on
Cardiff defender Mark McGuinness has called on his team-mates not to rest on their laurels and to kick on again after the conclusion of the international break.
Few would have suspected the Bluebirds to be in eighth place and just three points off third place heading into the second international break of the season, but a string of four wins on the bounce has propelled them up the ladder. However, centre-back McGuinness knows there’s more to come.
“We’ve picked up a good few points over the last month or so. We’re in a good position to go and kick on again,” he said. “We’ve got a nice block of games to look forward to, we can get our heads down and hopefully have the same sort of run.
Cardiff went into the break on the back of a 1-1 draw with Watford, a result manager Bulut described as “lucky”. And McGuinness, the goalscorer on Saturday, agrees.
“It was frustrating out there actually.” he added. “I thought we had some good bits in the first half an hour, we got that goal.
“We’ve had a long old month, been successful, but things weren’t clicking out there. We had a lead to hang on to but unfortunately, there were a few errors and it was a mistake in the end, but we probably didn’t deserve to win.
“When you’re playing Saturday and Tuesday, it’s tough but that’s not an excuse. We just didn’t turn up and that’s as simple as it is.”
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Women down Wrexham
A Molly Kehoe double helped Cardiff City Women to a comfortable 3-0 win over Wrexham yesterday, ending the north Walian side’s undefeated start to the campaign.
The Bluebirds, the defending champions of course, returned to the top of the Adran Premier following the triumph over the Red Dragons. Kehoe netted twice before Ffion Price sealed victory with 16 minutes to go.
Wrexham: Morgan, Davies, Allen, Doran, Lovett, Dickens, L. Jones, Pritchard (Spearing 70’), Gibbard (Mackenzie 81’), C. Jones (Whitefoot 70’), Hughes. Subs not used: Bolland, Sharp.
