The latest Bluebirds news from Cardiff City Stadium
Will Fish celebrates getting through to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, where Cardiff City will play Chelsea
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Here are your Cardiff City headlines for Thursday, October 30.
Cardiff players' WhatsApp group 'bouncing' after Chelsea draw
Cardiff City defender Perry Ng says the players’ WhatsApp group was “bouncing” after discovering they will face Chelsea in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.
The Bluebirds booked their place in the last eight with a dramatic win over Wrexham on Tuesday night, setting up a glamour tie against the five-time winners at Cardiff City Stadium in the week commencing December 15.
Ng said the players were thrilled with the draw and can’t wait to take on the Premier League giants. *Sign up to ourCardiff City WhatsApp channel here*.**
“The group chat was bouncing!” he said. “I’m buzzing to go in and see everyone and see what they think. I went to watch the Wales game the other day and the atmosphere was bouncing.
"Even the Swansea games we’ve had, the stadium’s unreal, the atmosphere is class and it gives you that extra buzz on the pitch.
“If we can get our place bouncing, I’m sure Brian (Barry-Murphy) won’t tell us to take a step back. We’ll go at them full force like we have been doing to other teams and see what happens.”
Cardiff are the only team outside the Premier League to reach the quarter-finals and this will be their deepest run in the competition since reaching the final in 2012.
Head coach Brian Barry-Murphy described the draw as “amazing” for the club but urged his players not to lose focus with a busy schedule ahead.
“Chelsea at home is a great opportunity for our supporters to see a world-class team,” he said. “It’s going to be a great occasion when it comes round. But it seems so far away — and it reinforces how important it is to focus on the now and prepare for Saturday.”
Omari Kellyman, the Chelsea loanee, will be unable to play against his parent club.
Ng: I love and hate Rubin
Perry Ng has jokingly claimed he both "loves and hates" Rubin Colwill, with the playmaker in the form of his life this season.
Ng paid tribute to just how talented the playmaker is, but admits his frustration that he is still plying his trade in League One when his talent suggests he should be playing a far higher level.
Speaking ahead of the trip to Peterborough this weekend in the FA Cup, Ng said: "I've known Rubin for a few years, I love him and hate him at the same time!
"He's so frustrating at times, but what a talent he could be - well, he is!
"He should be playing at the highest level. He has needed a gaffer like this, really, to show him his full potential.
"In the past it's been tough for him. We haven't had like proper coaches, we've had managers who don't really coach as much.
"With Brian, Lee (Riley), Gibbo (Kevin Gibbins), we are going to see the best from Rubin.
"He is a joke. If you asked him, he hates playing against me in training - I just kick him all the time! I can't get near him. I'm sure other teams feel like that.
"I'm just happy he is on our side!"
Colwill 'a better option' than Swansea's Liam Cullen for Wales
Former Wales striker Iwan Roberts believes Cardiff star Rubin Colwill should be ahead of Swansea City’s Liam Cullen in the pecking order for the number 10 role under Craig Bellamy.
Colwill has been in fine form for the Bluebirds this season, scoring four goals and registering five assists in 17 appearances and earning a late call-up to the Wales squad during the recent international window. Sign up to our daily Bluebirds newsletter here.
Despite his impressive club performances, the 23-year-old is yet to establish himself as a regular in Bellamy’s side, with Swansea’s Cullen preferred in a deeper role behind the striker.
However, Roberts believes Colwill’s technical ability and creativity make him the more natural fit for the attacking midfield position.
“If you’re going to go with two number 10s against the smaller nations, when the onus is on us to go and attack, I think Rubin is a better player in that position than Liam Cullen,” Roberts said on the BBC's Feast of Football podcast.
“I think Liam Cullen is more of a centre-forward. I don’t think he’s got the technical ability Rubin has got. He’s better on the ball, he can pick a pass, he can open a defence.”
Roberts added that Cullen’s qualities might be better suited to playing further forward in Swansea’s system.
“If I look at the way Swansea play, I think he’d be better close to Zan Viptonik as a second centre-forward,” he said.
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