City deserve all the praise going

Apr 7 2008 by David Giles, South Wales Echo

FOR Cardiff City to reach the FA Cup final is an incredible achievement.

I really didn’t think it would be something I’d see in my lifetime.

I just wish I’d had £100 on them to do so at the beginning of the season – along with 34,000 others, I expect.

It was a great occasion and the fans were fantastic. They deserve every minute of this.

The match wasn’t a classic, but it didn’t have to be. The main thing is, it’s Cardiff City 1, Barnsley 0.

The first half was very scrappy, but I’m delighted for Joe Ledley. What a goal to win an FA Cup semi-final!

It was a strike of the highest quality, and the perfect way to crown your first appearance at Wembley.

He’s like myself – a Cardiff boy born and bred who has come through the ranks, as a schoolboy, youth and then a first-team player.

It’s a day he will never forget and hopefully he can do it again in the final.

That’s eight goals this season, and that’s a good return from a midfield player who can play left-back, wide midfield and in the centre.

Joe’s 21 and the world’s his oyster.

I do worry that he could go in the summer – I don’t want to see our best players being sold.

I go back to Michael Chopra last summer. He was sold for £5m and people say it was good business.

But six players came in and I didn’t think they improved us that much, so it’s not worth the sacrifice in my eyes.

If we are going to sell, let’s make sure all that money is spent on top quality players.

It’s the same with Aaron Ramsey.

He’s a kid, a midfield player, and he’s come on in an FA Cup semi-final and slotted in at right-back – and he’s just 17.

The big boys will be looking at him and thinking: ‘Whatever he’s worth, let’s go and get him.’

Given the way the two semis have panned out this weekend, I think the final will be very, very close.

It could go either way, and I honestly believe that if it’s meant to be for Cardiff, then it’s meant to be.

It could definitely be our year.

You look back to the game at Chasetown in the third round – City were losing at half-time.

Now you’ll have Chasetown players and supporters saying: ‘Hey, we were 1-0 up against the FA Cup finalists!’

The only thing is, the ticket allocation is going to be a bit of a kick in the teeth.

A lot of the fans there for the semi won’t be able to get a ticket for the final, which is a huge shame.

And let’s not forget that we’re not out of the play-off race just yet.

The one thing that bothers me is that we’ve got to go to Ipswich Town on Wednesday.

It’s as far away in terms of distance as you could possibly travel in this league and there’ll be a few knocks and bruises after the weekend.

But if they can lift themselves and beat Ipswich, and beat Blackpool on Saturday, they’ll be firing on all cylinders and right back up there.