The Padster Posted 7 May 2010 Posted 7 May 2010 Cardiff to edge Leicester in play-offs - Steve Claridge Steve Claridge believes Cardiff City have the edge over Leicester City in their Championship play-off semi-final. The two sides meet in the first leg at Leicester's Walkers Stadium on Sunday with the second leg taking place on Wednesday at the Cardiff City Stadium. "My heart says Leicester because I'm ex-Leicester and I love the place," he told the BBC's Sport Wales TV show. "But my head just favours Cardiff because they have Championship players," said the former striker. Cardiff finished fourth in the Championship having sealed their play-off place with two games to spare. Leicester finished a place below the Bluebirds, also with 76 points, but reached the play-offs a week later. In the two regular league games this season, both sides have beaten each other at their respective home grounds - Leicester 1-0 and Cardiff 2-1. Cardiff do have the overall upper hand having earlier knocked them out in this season's FA Cup, 4-2 in the fourth round. But the two sides go into the crucial play-off games in good form. The Foxes, who are looking for back-to-back promotions after winning the League One title last season, have won their last five after turning around a five-match winless run which included four straight defeats. Cardiff have lost just one of their last 11 league games, a run which started after the defeat at Leicester. The eventual winners will face the winners of Nottingham Forest v Blackpool at Wembley for a place in the Premier League. "Whatever you say about Leicester, they've carried the momentum on from last year and they've got some good players," Claridge told the BBC's Sport Wales programme. "I think because they've had such a good year they will believe the world's their oyster. "If Cardiff play at the top of their game and Leicester play at the top of their game you would just favour Cardiff - but by no means is it certain that that will happen. "Cardiff are going to have to play very well. If they do then they have an outstanding chance of going through." Claridge achieved hero status at Leicester in 1996 when he scored the winning goal at Wembley as the Foxes beat Crystal Palace 2-1 in the play-off final in the last minute of extra time, earning them a place in the Premier League. But he believes current hero Matty Fryatt, who has just returned from almost three months out with a broken jaw, could hold the key to success. "Matty Fryatt coming back... will be a huge, huge plus to them although they have done well without him," Claridge said of the 12-goal striker. "He is undoubtedly someone who can turn at a sixpence. "But [Cardiff's] Peter Whittingham, Michael Chopra and Jay Bothroyd are all players that can win a game of football. "These players will have to play well and be the difference between the two sides if Cardiff are to progress." *Catch Steve Claridge's full verdict on Cardiff's play-off hopes on Friday's Sport Wales, BBC TWO Wales at 2100 BST BBC
Dr The Singh Posted 7 May 2010 Posted 7 May 2010 That's his opnion, and yes he's probably right, Cardiff are better on paper etc, but I believe we will prove him wrong!!
purpleronnie Posted 7 May 2010 Posted 7 May 2010 I can see cardiff in the Prem next year, dont know why, they're not that good and everything would suggest forest would be the team to beat. I think its pretty even, whoever goes up wouldnt really surprise me that much.
davieG Posted 7 May 2010 Posted 7 May 2010 Already posted here: http://www.foxestalk.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=65793&view=findpost&p=1612437
Edmund Posted 7 May 2010 Posted 7 May 2010 Claridge is doing us a favour, keep pilling that pressure on Cardiff
Webbo Posted 7 May 2010 Posted 7 May 2010 IIrc he said at the start of the season that we couldn't make the playoffs. Wtf does he know?
Edmund Posted 7 May 2010 Posted 7 May 2010 IIrc he said at the start of the season that we couldn't make the playoffs. Wtf does he know? How to score at Wembley using your shin
Man Of Faith Posted 7 May 2010 Posted 7 May 2010 As much as I appreciate Claridge for what he did at Leicester and just in general but he doesn't know what he is talking about with football - rubbish pundit!!
Guest Mee-9 Posted 7 May 2010 Posted 7 May 2010 Slipping under the radar abit again. Nothing for us to lose on Sunday.
kimbell Posted 7 May 2010 Posted 7 May 2010 I really fear the 2nd leg, I think it will be tears on wednesday.
MC Prussian Posted 7 May 2010 Posted 7 May 2010 I really fear the 2nd leg, I think it will be tears on wednesday. Wednesday were already in tears last Saturday. We'll be just fine.
Guest Posted 7 May 2010 Posted 7 May 2010 Haha, Claridge hasnt got a clue, terrible pundit. Although he did pick Kingy as his 'one to watch' after last season. Ahhh, I suppose you're bound to get one right every now and again
Jordan Posted 7 May 2010 Posted 7 May 2010 Haha, Claridge hasnt got a clue, terrible pundit. The amount of material in that article that could count as analysis? Zero.
stivesfox Posted 7 May 2010 Posted 7 May 2010 Love Claridge to bits but he should concentrate on shaggin that Lizzy Bird off Football league show. A lot depends on Sunday and I for one think we will be switched on and think Leicester City turn up on their game we will take a good lead to Wales, though we owe Cardiff one and we are inform and some key players back.
FoxyPV Posted 8 May 2010 Posted 8 May 2010 Football Weekly Extra with the brilliant James Richardson put us and Blackpool in the final!!
Guest ttfn Posted 8 May 2010 Posted 8 May 2010 Football Weekly Extra with the brilliant James Richardson put us and Blackpool in the final!! That was possibly the worst play off preview ever. They talked about the play offs for 2 minutes and then went off on a 5 minute tangent about Sunderland's youth system.
purpleronnie Posted 8 May 2010 Posted 8 May 2010 I'm sure if he had picked us to win everyone would be saying what a great pundit he is.
FoxyPV Posted 8 May 2010 Posted 8 May 2010 That was possibly the worst play off preview ever. They talked about the play offs for 2 minutes and then went off on a 5 minute tangent about Sunderland's youth system. It is entertainment rather than serious punditry - I take everything they say with a pinch of salt. It did make me laugh as they said Blackpool would go up. The pod is only focused on the top league in Germany, Spain, Italy and England so I'm not too fussed on what they have to say about us.
Bugg Posted 8 May 2010 Posted 8 May 2010 Did anyone read that he was talking the BBC Sport WALES which probably means he was trying the keep the viewers happy.
Finnegan Posted 8 May 2010 Posted 8 May 2010 As much as I appreciate Claridge for what he did at Leicester and just in general but he doesn't know what he is talking about with football - rubbish pundit!! Shut your yap. No need to throw your toys out of the pram just because the headline makes him sound anti-Leicester. To be fair to the bloke he does say "my heart says Leicester" and I imagine he'll clearly want us to win. But what intelligent pundit would have predicted us reaching the Play-Offs at the start of the season? Not one. It would have been a silly call. Most posters on here were telling those daft enough to predict top six/promotion to grow up and stop being so naive. I don't think he's a bad pundit at all. On the contrary, I think he's very bluntly honest and it serves him pretty well. We won't be the favourites to reach Wembley and that's fine with me.
Edmund Posted 8 May 2010 Posted 8 May 2010 I don't think he's a bad pundit at all. On the contrary, I think he's very bluntly honest and it serves him pretty well. We won't be the favourites to reach Wembley and that's fine with me. Spot on Finners
Webbo Posted 8 May 2010 Posted 8 May 2010 Most posters on here were telling those daft enough to predict top six/promotion to grow up and stop being so naive. I'm too nice a person to say I told you so. (not you Finners, just the doubting Thomas's)
Finnegan Posted 8 May 2010 Posted 8 May 2010 I'm too nice a person to say I told you so. (not you Finners, just the doubting Thomas's) I would have thought top six was possible at the start of the year if Pearson spent/loaned well - looking at teams like Bristol City and Swansea, momentum from promotion clearly lends well. I am an optimist and I was fairly cheery about our prospects this year but I still only figured about 10th. I don't think anyone - even you or the other more hopeful optimists - would have actually, honestly, seriously listed Leicester in your likely top six if you were a professional - it would have been a somewhat daft call in any normal season but in a year in which the relegated teams included such stalwarts as Newcastle and Boro? Heh. No chance.
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.