BREAKING OMER RIZA: “ THURSDAY 27TH FEBRUARY 2025 “
Thu Feb 27, 2025 7:20 am
“ OMER RIZA WILL UPDATE CARDIFF CITY FANS AGEAD OF THE FA CUP 5TH RD V ASTON VILLA “ Thursday 27th February 2025
OMER RIZA:
“ We have a 25 man squad “
“Jak Alnwick, Jesper Daland, Ollie Tanner, Joe Ralls and Will Alves are out injured.”
“We'll go to Villa and give our best.”
“It will be a mix of first team, under 21s and under 18s.”
“We will put a good show on for nearly 6,000 Cardiff fans that will be with us.”
Omer Riza:
"It's a proud moment and another achievement for the club, which is good.”
Speaking ahead of the game:
Riza said: "We have got a lot of injuries and a lot of players who have played a lot of minutes. It's a big game on Friday and a lot of things we have to contend with at the moment - with a big game on Tuesday against Burnley, it's a bit of a headache at the moment.“
"It's going to be a tough game, but not impossible, there's always three outcomes in football - win, lose or draw. Hopefully we don't draw because that takes us into extra time.“
Omer Riza:
"We are now coming to the part of the season where we have tight players, injuries and we'll be calling on the youngsters as well."
“ READ ALL OMER RIZA’S UPDATES BELOW “
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Re: OMER RIZA:
Thu Feb 27, 2025 7:22 am
TEAM NEWS:
Ramsey and Rubin Colwill Both Available:
Omer Riza:
“Jak’s had a bad tear in his hamstring. That will rule him out probably until the end of the season. It’s a shame for him and a shame for us because he’s been excellent.”
“Will Alves took a whack on his knee against Plymouth and it swelled up. We’re managing that and hopefully that’s not too serious.”
“Joe Ralls pulled his calf before the Plymouth game, hence why we couldn’t get him on and why Rambo had to play 100 minutes. It’s one of those things where he came back and it had gone. That was disappointing. I know people were asking questions about why Rambo was playing and why Rallsy wasn’t, what a stupid substitution that was, but they don’t know the situation is behind it. I think that’s two or three weeks.
“Joel Bagan managed to get himself on the bench today. We were a bit concerned about how tight his hamstring was. We managed that for him to be on the bench and come on, which is positive.
“Rambo played 100 minutes so to ask him to be involved would have been asking too much. Let’s see how Friday goes, maybe he can get involved on Tuesday, that could be debatable.”
Ramsey and Rubin Colwill Both Available:
Omer Riza:
“Jak’s had a bad tear in his hamstring. That will rule him out probably until the end of the season. It’s a shame for him and a shame for us because he’s been excellent.”
“Will Alves took a whack on his knee against Plymouth and it swelled up. We’re managing that and hopefully that’s not too serious.”
“Joe Ralls pulled his calf before the Plymouth game, hence why we couldn’t get him on and why Rambo had to play 100 minutes. It’s one of those things where he came back and it had gone. That was disappointing. I know people were asking questions about why Rambo was playing and why Rallsy wasn’t, what a stupid substitution that was, but they don’t know the situation is behind it. I think that’s two or three weeks.
“Joel Bagan managed to get himself on the bench today. We were a bit concerned about how tight his hamstring was. We managed that for him to be on the bench and come on, which is positive.
“Rambo played 100 minutes so to ask him to be involved would have been asking too much. Let’s see how Friday goes, maybe he can get involved on Tuesday, that could be debatable.”
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Re: OMER RIZA:
Thu Feb 27, 2025 7:28 am
Omer Riza:
Cardiff City 1 Hull City 0
“We've done a great job,” Omer began. “We've kept a clean sheet and we were really fantastic defensively.
“I’m relieved; we needed it. I think we knew that, the players knew that, the staff knew that. We've come close on a few occasions and not managed to do it against teams around us.
“I think we did what we needed to do and that's important as well. It shows that resilience, that togetherness. We've just got to keep maintaining a self-belief, work ethic, principles, values and all of those things.
“Three points against Hull gives us that six-point gap at the minute. It wasn’t pretty but three points is three points. We're just happy to grind out a result and an important win.”
Cardiff City 1 Hull City 0
“We've done a great job,” Omer began. “We've kept a clean sheet and we were really fantastic defensively.
“I’m relieved; we needed it. I think we knew that, the players knew that, the staff knew that. We've come close on a few occasions and not managed to do it against teams around us.
“I think we did what we needed to do and that's important as well. It shows that resilience, that togetherness. We've just got to keep maintaining a self-belief, work ethic, principles, values and all of those things.
“Three points against Hull gives us that six-point gap at the minute. It wasn’t pretty but three points is three points. We're just happy to grind out a result and an important win.”
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Re: OMER RIZA:
Thu Feb 27, 2025 7:30 am
ASTON VILLA :
OMER RIZA:
"It's going to be a very tough game. Nothing is impossible in football.
I always say there's three outcomes - win, lose or draw. Hopefully it's not a draw because that takes us into extra time and we have injuries.
We'll go there and give our best.
It will be a mix of first team, under 21s and under 18s.
If we were like 12th in the league now, weren't where we are in the league, I would have no issues with putting out my full strength side and say if we lost against Burnley but found a way to beat Villa - that's utopia.
But that's not the situation. We've got a lot of things we need to deal with moving forwards in the league so we're not in that position.
We'll do our best, that's all we can do."
OMER RIZA:
"It's going to be a very tough game. Nothing is impossible in football.
I always say there's three outcomes - win, lose or draw. Hopefully it's not a draw because that takes us into extra time and we have injuries.
We'll go there and give our best.
It will be a mix of first team, under 21s and under 18s.
If we were like 12th in the league now, weren't where we are in the league, I would have no issues with putting out my full strength side and say if we lost against Burnley but found a way to beat Villa - that's utopia.
But that's not the situation. We've got a lot of things we need to deal with moving forwards in the league so we're not in that position.
We'll do our best, that's all we can do."
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Re: OMER RIZA:
Thu Feb 27, 2025 7:35 am
Omer Riza:
“We have Burnley at home Tuesday night and my main job is to concentrate on keeping some of our better players for this game as this is what matters.”
“We have Burnley at home Tuesday night and my main job is to concentrate on keeping some of our better players for this game as this is what matters.”
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Re: OMER RIZA:
Thu Feb 27, 2025 7:36 am
Omer Riza:
“We'll go to Villa and give our best.”
“It will be a mix of first team, under 21s and under 18s.”
“We will put a good show on for nearly 6,000 Cardiff fans that will be with us.”
“We'll go to Villa and give our best.”
“It will be a mix of first team, under 21s and under 18s.”
“We will put a good show on for nearly 6,000 Cardiff fans that will be with us.”
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Re: OMER RIZA:
Thu Feb 27, 2025 7:38 am
09/01/2025 FA CUP 3RD Sheffield United 0 Cardiff City 1 Crowd 6,126 Away Support 224
08/02/25 FACUP 4th Rd Stoke 3 Cardiff City 3 AET 2- 4 Penalties Crowd 12,641 Away Support 1,046 Cardiff Fans
28/02/25 8pm FACUP 5TH RD Aston Villa v Cardiff City
08/02/25 FACUP 4th Rd Stoke 3 Cardiff City 3 AET 2- 4 Penalties Crowd 12,641 Away Support 1,046 Cardiff Fans
28/02/25 8pm FACUP 5TH RD Aston Villa v Cardiff City
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Re: OMER RIZA:
Thu Feb 27, 2025 7:39 am
Omer Riza:
"It's going to be a tough game, but not impossible, there's always three outcomes in football - win, lose or draw. Hopefully we don't draw because that takes us into extra time.“
"It's going to be a tough game, but not impossible, there's always three outcomes in football - win, lose or draw. Hopefully we don't draw because that takes us into extra time.“
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Re: OMER RIZA:
Thu Feb 27, 2025 7:41 am
A Fifth Round tie against Cardiff City is up next in the FA Cup :
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Re: OMER RIZA:
Thu Feb 27, 2025 11:01 am
Omer Riza:
“We have the strikers now and we looked good against Hull.”
“I needed goals and they both can do that.” he continued. “So that's what's important, and we got the goal from that. That's pleasing moving forwards.”
“It could happen again; of course we've got good options now, good variation, so we'll just change it up depending on the opposition we play against.”
“We have the strikers now and we looked good against Hull.”
“I needed goals and they both can do that.” he continued. “So that's what's important, and we got the goal from that. That's pleasing moving forwards.”
“It could happen again; of course we've got good options now, good variation, so we'll just change it up depending on the opposition we play against.”
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Re: OMER RIZA:
Thu Feb 27, 2025 12:51 pm
Cardiff City top goalscorer Callum Robinson says he is relishing his return to Villa Park.
The Bluebirds travel to Aston Villa for the FA Cup fourth round as Robinson revisits the club who gave him his start in professional football.
Robinson is a former youth team player at Villa who made four senior appearances for the club, including his debut in the Premier League.
Callum Robinson:
"Now it is all about having fun and enjoying the night," the 30-year old told BBC Sport Wales.
'Robinson has been integral to Cardiff climbing out of the Championship relegation zone after an unprecedented bad start to the season for the Bluebirds.
However, Robinson says the cup can provide a nice distraction to Cardiff's league struggles as they are buoyed by playing at Villa Park.
"It's an unbelievable stadium. Sometimes you take it for granted. I was playing there in the U21s, I was on the bench there loads for the first team and played there as well," he added.
"But it isn't until you are bit older and you go around other grounds and realise how good the stadium is. It still has that old, traditional feel to it and it will be nice to get a win there on Friday. That would be amazing.
"It will be nice for some of the younger boys to play at a Premier League stadium. It is a proper stadium and it rocks."
Robinson spent most of his childhood at Aston Villa and admits they are now the club he supports as he bids to dump them out of the FA Cup.
Callum Robinson:
"I was at Villa from the age of eight all the way through to the first team. I appreciate everything they did for me to get me to where I am today," said Robinson.
"I made my Premier League debut at Villa. It will be nice going back there because it's an unbelievable stadium and it will be in the FA Cup.
"It's always fun and exciting to see what can happen in the cup. I wasn't a Villa fan to start with but as you grow up through the system, and get the free tickets, you end up being a fan. For me and my family we are all now Villa fans, although not on Friday night."
The Bluebirds travel to Aston Villa for the FA Cup fourth round as Robinson revisits the club who gave him his start in professional football.
Robinson is a former youth team player at Villa who made four senior appearances for the club, including his debut in the Premier League.
Callum Robinson:
"Now it is all about having fun and enjoying the night," the 30-year old told BBC Sport Wales.
'Robinson has been integral to Cardiff climbing out of the Championship relegation zone after an unprecedented bad start to the season for the Bluebirds.
However, Robinson says the cup can provide a nice distraction to Cardiff's league struggles as they are buoyed by playing at Villa Park.
"It's an unbelievable stadium. Sometimes you take it for granted. I was playing there in the U21s, I was on the bench there loads for the first team and played there as well," he added.
"But it isn't until you are bit older and you go around other grounds and realise how good the stadium is. It still has that old, traditional feel to it and it will be nice to get a win there on Friday. That would be amazing.
"It will be nice for some of the younger boys to play at a Premier League stadium. It is a proper stadium and it rocks."
Robinson spent most of his childhood at Aston Villa and admits they are now the club he supports as he bids to dump them out of the FA Cup.
Callum Robinson:
"I was at Villa from the age of eight all the way through to the first team. I appreciate everything they did for me to get me to where I am today," said Robinson.
"I made my Premier League debut at Villa. It will be nice going back there because it's an unbelievable stadium and it will be in the FA Cup.
"It's always fun and exciting to see what can happen in the cup. I wasn't a Villa fan to start with but as you grow up through the system, and get the free tickets, you end up being a fan. For me and my family we are all now Villa fans, although not on Friday night."
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Re: OMER RIZA:
Thu Feb 27, 2025 3:23 pm
Aston Villa’s manager is Unai Emery, who has been in the role since November 2022.
The Spaniard has an impressive CV, having taking charge at a number of European giants.
He started his coaching career at Lorca Deportiva in the Spanish third division, achieving promotion in his first season at the helm, before following the feat at his second club Almería, achieving promotion to the Spanish first division in his first campaign in charge.
Emery’s impressive start in management earned him a move to Valencia, taking over from his predecessor Ronald Koeman, where he achieved three third-place finishes in La-Liga during his four-year rein at the club.
The former midfielder had a brief stint at Spartak Moscow before returning to Spain as manager of Sevilla. His time there was memorable for winning the UEFA Europa League three times in four seasons.
In 2016, Emery joined Paris Saint-Germain, maintaining a win percentage of 76.32% and claiming seven trophies in two years at the French giants.
The European specialist joined Arsenal in May 2018, for his first stint in England. He reached a European final with the Gunners but was unable to overcome London rivals Chelsea before being dismissed in November 2019.
Emery returned to his homeland to take over his fifth Spanish team at Villarreal in 2020. He won yet another Europa League and reached a Champions league semi-final, before joining current club Aston Villa.
During his time as Villa boss, he has taken his side to European competitors, achieving UEFA Champions League qualification at the Midlands outfit for the first time since 1983.
The Spaniard has an impressive CV, having taking charge at a number of European giants.
He started his coaching career at Lorca Deportiva in the Spanish third division, achieving promotion in his first season at the helm, before following the feat at his second club Almería, achieving promotion to the Spanish first division in his first campaign in charge.
Emery’s impressive start in management earned him a move to Valencia, taking over from his predecessor Ronald Koeman, where he achieved three third-place finishes in La-Liga during his four-year rein at the club.
The former midfielder had a brief stint at Spartak Moscow before returning to Spain as manager of Sevilla. His time there was memorable for winning the UEFA Europa League three times in four seasons.
In 2016, Emery joined Paris Saint-Germain, maintaining a win percentage of 76.32% and claiming seven trophies in two years at the French giants.
The European specialist joined Arsenal in May 2018, for his first stint in England. He reached a European final with the Gunners but was unable to overcome London rivals Chelsea before being dismissed in November 2019.
Emery returned to his homeland to take over his fifth Spanish team at Villarreal in 2020. He won yet another Europa League and reached a Champions league semi-final, before joining current club Aston Villa.
During his time as Villa boss, he has taken his side to European competitors, achieving UEFA Champions League qualification at the Midlands outfit for the first time since 1983.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Re: BREAKING OMER RIZA: “ THURSDAY 27TH FEBRUARY 2025 “
Thu Feb 27, 2025 4:43 pm
Speaking ahead of the game:
Riza said: "We have got a lot of injuries and a lot of players who have played a lot of minutes. It's a big game on Friday and a lot of things we have to contend with at the moment - with a big game on Tuesday against Burnley, it's a bit of a headache at the moment.“
Riza said: "We have got a lot of injuries and a lot of players who have played a lot of minutes. It's a big game on Friday and a lot of things we have to contend with at the moment - with a big game on Tuesday against Burnley, it's a bit of a headache at the moment.“
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Re: BREAKING OMER RIZA: “ THURSDAY 27TH FEBRUARY 2025 “
Thu Feb 27, 2025 4:46 pm
Omer Riza:
"They have got a very good side and a good structure from top to bottom. We are going to go there and give it our best.
"Momentum is key and winning games is key to growing that winning mentality and togetherness. At the start we were able to field players who weren't getting minutes, now we are entering a game where we have an important game after it and are thin on the ground.”
"They have got a very good side and a good structure from top to bottom. We are going to go there and give it our best.
"Momentum is key and winning games is key to growing that winning mentality and togetherness. At the start we were able to field players who weren't getting minutes, now we are entering a game where we have an important game after it and are thin on the ground.”
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Re: BREAKING OMER RIZA: “ THURSDAY 27TH FEBRUARY 2025 “
Thu Feb 27, 2025 4:48 pm
Riza everyone has the same amount of players and everyone has the same amount of games left to play in Championship:
Omer Riza:
"We are now coming to the part of the season where we have tight players, injuries and we'll be calling on the youngsters as well."
Omer Riza:
"We are now coming to the part of the season where we have tight players, injuries and we'll be calling on the youngsters as well."
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Re: BREAKING OMER RIZA: “ THURSDAY 27TH FEBRUARY 2025 “
Thu Feb 27, 2025 4:55 pm
“ We have a 25 man squad “
“Jak Alnwick, Jesper Daland, Ollie Tanner, Joe Ralls and Will Alves are out injured.”
“Jak Alnwick, Jesper Daland, Ollie Tanner, Joe Ralls and Will Alves are out injured.”
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Re: BREAKING OMER RIZA: “ THURSDAY 27TH FEBRUARY 2025 “
Thu Feb 27, 2025 4:58 pm
Omer Riza:
"It's a proud moment and another achievement for the club, which is good.”
“I just wish we could approach it in a different way," he added. "It's the fifth round of the FA Cup, we grew up with it, as a youngster and a player, a coach, you get to the fifth round and you want to put out your strongest team and go for it.“
"It's a proud moment and another achievement for the club, which is good.”
“I just wish we could approach it in a different way," he added. "It's the fifth round of the FA Cup, we grew up with it, as a youngster and a player, a coach, you get to the fifth round and you want to put out your strongest team and go for it.“
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Re: BREAKING OMER RIZA: “ THURSDAY 27TH FEBRUARY 2025 “
Fri Feb 28, 2025 6:09 am
Unai Emery:
On our opponents:
"Firstly, we have respect for the competition. Secondly, we respect every team that is competing in this round. Of course, Cardiff is a Championship team, but we have our own experiences two years ago with Stevenage for example."
On our opponents:
"Firstly, we have respect for the competition. Secondly, we respect every team that is competing in this round. Of course, Cardiff is a Championship team, but we have our own experiences two years ago with Stevenage for example."
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Re: BREAKING OMER RIZA: “ THURSDAY 27TH FEBRUARY 2025 “
Fri Feb 28, 2025 7:08 pm
Sounds like Riza is forgoing this tie and throwing us under the bus in front of 6000 supporters!
Play our strongest side - it's the last 16!
Play our strongest side - it's the last 16!