(FM'14) Cousins Across the Continent - The Story of the Di Cianni Boys

[neilhoskins77]

The Backstory

In the late 1960's a young pair of brothers from the Southern Italian city of Cosenza named Arturo and Luigi Di Cianni, were moved by their family to the West Wales town of Haverfordwest in the county of Pembrokeshire. The brothers saw their parents open a fish and chip shop in the town, which with its attached Italian ice cream parlour, became very popular, and in turn led to the family increasing their business to include an Italian restaurant.

The brothers were close, spending time helping in the family business, and indulging in their passion of football around their studies. When school was finished for them, neither pursued higher education, choosing instead to move into the family business. Arturo in particular embraced his Italian heritage, and on a trip back to Southern Italy one summer to visit family, he met the woman who would be his wife. It wasn't an easy move, and an even less comfortable conversation with his family, but Arturo announced that he would be moving to Italy full time.

For Luigi, life centred around a small area of West Wales now, and he didn't even particularly enjoy his trips to Italy now as he had done in summers as a boy. A year younger than his brother, he missed him when he made his big move, but not enough to follow him. He threw himself into his work, and before long, he too had met a woman and fallen in love. Luigi beat his brother to the punch, first with the engagement, and then with the marriage. The Di Cianni boys both married within a year of each other, each having his brother as best man.

Luigi and his wife announced their pregnancy first, Arturo and spouse waiting a little longer to break the news, but they were actually a little further down the line. Davide was born first, born in the city of his families heritage, Cosenza, Southern Italy, on the 8th August 1996. A little over two weeks later, in a home birth in Haverfordwest, his cousin Danilo was born on the 24th August 1996. Both were huge events of course, and the family could embrace their Italian roots, and also the new heritage line that they were drawing 1,700 miles away in West Wales.

The new cousins saw each other every summer, as the families took it in turn to travel to visit each other. Their visits were tied together with a mutual love of the beautiful game as they grew older, and more competitive. Davide didn't speak too much English, it wasn't something that was taught too much in Southern Italy, he picked up words on the visits back and forth, but not much more than that. Danilo wasn't a fluent Italian speaker by any means, but with family of Italian speakers around him, he learned more than enough to make himself understood.

The Di Cianni genes had done their work on the boys height, as both would stand well over six foot as they were into their teenage years. It probably had more to do with upbringing than genes that made Davide a very promising centre half. Excelling at all defensive aspects of the game, and capable of stepping back into an old fashioned Libero role as well as playing in a defensive midfielder role. At 16, he stands at 6'2 and is rated highly by Scouts across the country.

Danilo was the opposite. Slightly taller, but still quicker and a pure attacker. Strong with either foot, he was comfortable playing down either wing, or as a striker. He was able to effortlessly provide a spark of creativity for his team mates, or himself. A dead ball specialist, his hours of practice at picking out the top and bottom corners from distance were now coming to fruition. At 16, he now stands 6'3, and like his cousin in Italy, he is also highly regarded by just about everyone who has seen him play.

Both lads did have one thing in common though when it came to their football. Loyalty. Both had come through the system at their hometown clubs, and both had been urged to ignore the hype around their abilities, and to pay back the clubs who had nurtured their talents. That was exactly what both had chosen to do........at least to start with......

[neilhoskins77]

Monday 1st July 2013
By July, Davide was already seeing a rapid increase in both his skills, and his value. Cosenza reacted, and they offered the 16 year old centre back a new deal. With a three year deal already in place, and still a month or more before his 17th birthday, Davide elected to reject talks at this point.

His starting point is of course at a higher level than his cousin Danilo's. That might yet prove an advantage for the Welsh based cousin though when it comes to getting off the mark, as while Davide remains in Cosenza's Under-19 set up, he has already been fast tracked right through the Youth and Reserve sides, and into the First Team at Bridge Meadow Stadium. He could play in their opening Pre-Season Friendly, where they host Swindon Town Under-21's.

Monday 15th July 2013
That game is scheduled for just under a weeks time, and by then, we could have our first transfer involving one of the Di Cianni cousins!

After Davide rejected Cosenza's offer to discuss a new deal, the Southern Italian club from the fourth tier appear to have decided it might be best to cash in on their young talent now, despite being in no urgent need for the money. There won't be any shortage of suitors either, and they are almost all from the UK. The first offer is in by the end of the day, and it would bring the cousins much closer together, as it's from Cardiff City.

Their offer is worth a total of £43,000, but only yesterday Aston Villa registered their interest in the centre back, and now the list of admirers has grown, rumoured to include Manchester United, Everton, Crystal Palace, Brighton & Hove Albion, Derby County and Wigan Athletic. Should he wish to remain in Italy, there could be an opportunity to move up a few levels with Serie B side Lanciano, though some would say their playing level is the only thing they have that is superior to Cosenza.

Wednesday 17th July 2013
The season hasn't begun yet, and the save is barely weeks old, but, we have our first.....

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**TRANSFER ALERT**

Davide Di Cianni
From Cosenza (Italy - Serie C2/B) to Cardiff City (Wales - English Sky Bet Championship)
Fee :- £40,000 Contract :- 3 years, £80 per week, Youth contract

Cosenza :- Played 0, Goals 0, Assists 0, Man of the Match 0, Average Rating 0
Career  :- Played 0, Goals 0, Assists 0, Man of the Match 0, Average Rating 0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cardiff City got the jump on all those other clubs, and before any of them could react, they had clinched the deal. Davide is assigned to their Under-21 side, and the cousins are reunited in South Wales. The 16 year old centre back now has to get a grasp of the language he is used to hearing, but has so far not learned. He will have plenty of family around to help him with that.

Sunday 21st July 2013
With his cousin now just a drive down the M4 away, not that either is old enough to start driving for a few more weeks at least, Danilo is the first of the pair to play in a First Team match. It doesn't count officially as his debut, as the match is a pre-season friendly game at home to Swindon Town Under-21's. But he was one of a half dozen Haverfordwest players to play the full game in a 0-0 draw that saw him post a rating of 7.00 and keep his pass percentage just over 50%. His crossing was less successful, with only one in four finding the mark, but he did beat his marker twice as well. Not a bad start for the teenager.

Tuesday 23rd July 2013
Just two days later, and Davide was included in the Cardiff City squad that travelled north to face Crewe Alexandra in a pre-season friendly. He was left on the bench as an unused substitute in front of over 2,000 for this match, but he shouldn't be too disheartened, as Cardiff took a strong squad with a starting lineup that included five Full Internationals, and another two Youth Internationals. They lost 1-0 though.

Monday 29th July 2013
Cardiff City would host a two day pre-season tournament at their Cardiff City Stadium, starting today, and also including PAS Giannina of the Greek Superleague, a second tier side from Spain in the form of SD Ponferradina, and Italian Serie A club Hellas Verona.

They played Spanish club SD Ponferradina today in the Semi-Final, losing by a single goal in front of just over 7,500 this evening, with Davide Di Cianni once more an unused substitute. That means they'll now play PAS Giannina in the earlier game tomorrow, after they were beaten on penalties by Hellas Verona.

Tuesday 30th July 2013
In today's Third Place Playoff for the pre-season tournament, in front of another crowd in excess of 7,000, sixteen year old Davide Di Cianni makes his first appearance in a Bluebirds shirt. It didn't start well, with the Greek visitors going ahead after just 40 seconds. It was all good after that though, as City ran out 3-1 winners, with the Italian centre back having a great game in the heart of the defence. He finished with a rating of 7.30, and a perfect 100% tackle success, also winning six of his seven headed challenges as well. It's a promising start for the elder cousin.

[neilhoskins77]

Saturday 3rd August 2013
Pre-season continues today for Haverfordwest County with a trip to Neath where they faced AFC Llwydcoed, who play one tier below them in the MacWhirter Welsh Division Two. They come back with a 2-1 win against the amateur side, with Danilo Di Cianni left out of the squad for that one at the Welfare Ground.

It's more serious matters for Cardiff City, as further east, they begin their domestic campaign in the Sky Bet Championship at Cardiff City Stadium, where the visitors are Blackburn Rovers. There are 23,725 in attendance, but no Di Cianni on the park, as Davide is left out of the matchday squad today, and City go down to a 2-1 defeat, a debut goal from Brazilian full back Fábio no more than a consolation.

Sunday 4th August 2013
The weekend is saved for the cousins, when the first International squads of the season are named, and both receive their first ever call-up's. Davide is called up by Italy's Under-19's for their Friendly away to the Republic of Ireland on Tuesday 13th August. And Davide is one of only four players currently not playing at an Italian club to be included.

But Danilo has gone one better, as he is included in the Wales Under-21 Squad, for what he hopes will be a competitive debut for them as well, as they head to Lithuania for a fixture on the same day as they begin their UEFA 2015 European Under-21 Championship Qualifying Group Four campaign. Romania, Russia and Slovenia are the other nations in the same Group. Danilo is the only 16 year old included in that squad.

Tuesday 6th August 2013
Cardiff City are in Cup action tonight for the first time this season, as they travel to face Dagenham & Redbridge of Sky Bet League Two at Victoria Road in the First Round of the Capital One League Cup. This time Davide is included in the matchday squad for the trip, but it still isn't his time for a Senior debut, as he is an unused substitute in City's fairly routine 4-1 win, while seven other players make their Bluebirds debut.

Wednesday 7th August 2013
It's a more low key evening for Danilo, as Haverfordwest County play their latest pre-season friendly, this time in Swansea against another MacWhirter Welsh Division Two side, Garden Village. But at least he gets to play, starting for his side and playing 64 minutes of a 2-1 win. He did okay, coming out with a so-so rating of 6.8, and posting 50% completion rates for both his passing and crossing.

Thursday 8th August 2013
Happy Birthday Davide! The centre back turns 17 today, and it's a big day in more ways than one. That's because as of today, he is now a professional footballer, with his Youth contract swapped for a Full Time Pro deal, and for a 17 year old who has never played a Senior match, and is new to the country with only a basic grasp of English, the figures are pretty eye watering.

His three year deal now includes a basic wage of £3,500 per week, which will increase to £8,250 once he has played 15 League matches for the Bluebirds. He gets a 15% pay rise each season, and a 25% pay rise if City get promoted to the Premier League, with a 25% reduction if the club get relegated. City also have an option to extend the deal by an extra year. But they are also paying the birthday boy a £775 appearance fee, with £525 if he's an unused substitute, plus an additional £675 clean sheet bonus. The beers are on Davide.......next year, when he's old enough to buy a round in the UK.
 
I wonder if Danilo's loyalty to Haverfordwest will be tested when he hears the kind of money his cousin is now making? A good start to the season, and he could start attracting some interest himself.

Friday 9th August 2013
Cardiff City's losing start to the Sky Bet Championship continues, as they are beaten 1-0 by Fulham at Craven Cottage this evening. Scott Parker netted the winner in the 77th minute, while Davide Di Cianni was once more left out of the travelling City squad.

Sunday 11th August 2013
There is no Danilo Di Cianni in the Haverfordwest County squad either as he is with the Wales Under-21 Squad. Looks like they missed him too, as County are held to a 0-0 draw away to amateur non-League side Porthcawl Town in their final pre-season friendly at Locks Lane.

Tuesday 13th August 2013
In Skerries, an eastern Irish coastal town which lies just over half hour north of Dublin, an earlier kick off time means that Davide is the first of the cousins to make his bow at International level. He starts the match for Italy Under-19's, and they were leading at the break at Park Lane against their counter parts from the Republic of Ireland thanks to a late first half goal from Luca Barlocco, a left back co-owned by Juventus and Atalanta. With twenty minutes to play, Davide was substituted, one of six changes that Italy made during the game. He missed only one tackle and one header all afternoon, and made three interceptions as well. But the Italians couldn't hold on for the win, as Morton striker Conor Pepper struck an equaliser with seven minutes left to play.

A few hours later, across the continent in Kaunas, he may have been beaten by his cousin to winning a first cap, but Danilo's was at a higher level, and in a competitive game too. UEFA 2015 European Under-21 Championship Qualifying Group 4 got underway in Lithuania, as they hosted Wales. It was a full ninety minute outing for Danilo, though an average rating of 6.2 suggests it wasn't a spectacular Under-21 International debut, his pass completion just under 50% and only one of his three crosses found the target, though his one shot didn't hit the target. Tom Bradshaw of Walsall had Wales in front in the first half, but Lithuania got a second half equaliser from Leicester City's young striker Simonas Stankevicius.

Saturday 17th August 2013
He may have been second to make his International bow by only a few hours, but today Danilo became the first of the cousins to make his Senior club football debut. In front of just over 200 people at the Recreation Ground in Caerphilly, he played all but the final few minutes for Haverforwest County in their 1-1 draw with Aberbargoed Buds as they kicked off their campaign in the MacWhirter Welsh League Division One, the second tier of football in the Principality. It wasn't a superb outing again by any means, but he still has plenty to learn, and there may be a lot to be said for him cutting his teeth in local domestic football, rather than the route his cousin has taken.

Not so very far away in the capital, there is still no place in the matchday squad for Cardiff City's now Italian Under-19 International centre back, Davide. At least City managed to get their point total off the zero mark this time though, with a 1-1 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers, thanks to a late headed equaliser for Iceland International Captain and midfielder, Aron Gunnarsson.

Saturday 24th August 2013
The games are now coming thick and fast, and Cardiff City finally get their first win on the board in the Sky Bet Championship, as they win away to Watford at Vicarage Road. This time Davide was included in the travelling party, and the matchday squad, but he was an unused substitute for the 3-2 win.

Back in West Wales, there was not much of a wait for a first win of the season for Haverfordwest County, as they earned a 2-1 win at home to Aberdare Town in the MacWhirter Welsh League Division One. In a game where they were aided by the visitors picking up two red cards, Danilo only just missed out on the man of the match award as he played the full match in front of a crowd of over 300 at Bridge Meadow Stadium.

A great day for Danilo, and not just for his competitive home debut either, as today he celebrates his 17th birthday! There is no huge pay rise for the birthday boy here though, so I hope Davide got him a great present.

Tuesday 27th August 2013
Davide certainly had some extra spare cash too, after finally making his Senior domestic debut for Cardiff City tonight, as the Bluebirds hosted Championship rivals Rotherham United in the Second Round of the Capital One League Cup at the Cardiff City Stadium. If it hadn't been for his central defensive partner for the evening, Matt Connolly, he would have been the man of the match as well, as the pair held firm in a 1-0 win that sees City into the Third Round. He barely put a foot wrong, winning all this tackles, and losing just once in the air, plus making five interceptions. He has to now be hoping that performance will soon earn him a League debut.

Thursday 29th August 2013
It was certainly enough to keep him in the Italian setup, as he is named once more in the Italy Under-19 Squad for their upcoming double header of fixtures, a return home Friendly against the Republic of Ireland on Thursday 5th September, followed by another home fixture, this time against Iran on Monday 9th September.

He is once more trumped by cousin Danilo though, who is also set for International action again, as he is once more called up by Wales Under-21's for their UEFA 2015 European Under-21 Championship Qualifying double header. They start on Wednesday 4th September, as Russia come to visit them at Parc Y Scarlets in Llanelli, before they go on their travels, with a Monday 9th September date in Slovenia.

Saturday 31st August 2013
The final day of August, and another good day for Haverfordwest County, as they pick up another home win, this time against Pontardawe Town. A 1-0 win came courtesy of an early second half goal from Declan Carroll, as Danilo picked up another ninety minutes of First Team experience. A rating of 7.00 shows a decent performance on the outer shell, but only one of his five cross attempts picked out a team mate. He did beat his marker three times though. The learning curve continues for Danilo, and he was still in the top three performers in the team today.

No game for Davide today, as he is left out of the Cardiff City squad that travels north to face the Rotherham United side they faced, and beat, just four days ago in the Capital One Cup back in South Wales. No win today for the Bluebirds though, as they are held to a 0-0 draw and finish the month of August sat in 15th place in the Sky Bet Championship.

[neilhoskins77]

Monday 2nd September 2013
There are many potentially interesting sub-plots to this story that could develop over the years. Some of the more obvious are the questions of whether the cousins will ever feature for the same team together, or would they ever be in a situation to play against one another? Well, the first chance for the latter has just presented itself. It is a bit of a long shot, but today Italy and Wales have been thrown together in Group 1 of the 2014 UEFA European Under-19 Championship Qualifying First Round, along with Kazakhstan and Poland. Right now, Davide is part of the Italy Under-19 squad, but Danilo has been moved right up to the Under-21 setup. One to keep an eye on though.

Wednesday 4th September 2013
The Under-21's equivalent Qualifying Tournament has continued today, with Wales claiming a superb result with a 1-0 win over Russia in Llanelli, thanks to a goal five minutes before the break from Liverpool youngster, Harry Wilson. A crowd of over 6,000 were there for the game, but there was no place for Danilo today. There might be a chance for him to be involved in the second half of the double header in Slovenia next week though, as Southampton forward Lloyd Isgrove was sent off today, and will now be banned for that match, and he is a player Danilo is competing with for a place in the lineup.

Thursday 5th September 2013
In Arcore, a small city in North West Italy, just over 10 miles outside Milan, the news wasn't much better for the cousins. Davide was only an unused substitute today as the Italian Under-19 lads swept aside a young Republic of Ireland side that had held them to a draw last month in Skerries. A brace from AC Milan striker Andrea Petagna was added to with a goal from Mauro Bollino of Palermo for a 3-0 win. The biggest disappointment would have been the attendance, with only 206 watching the game, less than Haverfordwest County get on a weekly basis.

Saturday 7th September 2013
Speaking of Haverfordwest, they didn't seem to miss Danilo too much, as they continued their good start to the season this afternoon. They travelled into the capital to face Taffs Well at their Rhiw Dda'r ground, and a first half penalty from Dylan Blain and a debut goal from midfielder Jack Britton were enough, despite Taffs getting one back early in the second half from former Wales-Under-21 International forward, Leon Jeanne. A 2-1 win leaves County in third place with four matches played.

Monday 9th September 2013
The Italy Under-19 side have moved from the nations industrial north, right down to the holiday resort laden south of the nation, and on to the northern coast of the island of Sicily. In the small town of Cinisi and its Comunale Stadium, they record a second consecutive 3-0 victory, this time the beaten nation is Iran. The goals came from Alberto Cerri, a Parma striker on loan with Lanciano, then Danilo Cataldi early in the second half, a Lazio forward who is currently on a loan spell with Grosseto, and finally very late on Antonio Palma, an Atalanta midfielder who is on loan with Ternana. But more importantly, our boy Davide was selected at centre back, and played the full 90 minutes, putting in one of the best performances of any player on the park in the beautiful, warm, Sicilian sunshine. He made three key tackles, another three interceptions, and won all but one of his seven headed challenges, as he recorded a very good rating of 8.00.

It wasn't as good news from the north-eastern city of Velenje in Slovenia, where Wales Under-21's were playing against their hosts in a European Under-21 Championships Qualifier. They were already two goals down by the time Jake Cassidy of Wolverhampton Wanderers pulled a goal back before the break, but it wouldn't be enough, as with no further scoring in the second half, they went down to a 2-1 defeat. Danilo started on the right wing, eventually substituted in the 67th minute after a performance rated as a 6.9, and where he made as many tackles as he did crosses. But he was credited with the assist on the Wales goal, the first of his career in his 6th competitive game.

Friday 13th September 2013
Back in Wales, speculation is mounting as to the future of Cardiff City manager Ole Gunnar Solksjær. with just one win and two defeats from their opening five games, there are whispers that the Norwegian 40 year old may be facing the sack if he can't get the Bluebirds on the move up the Sky Bet Championship table in the near future.

Saturday 14th September 2013
It's unlikely that today's events will have helped the pressure on Solskjær either. City twice threw away leads at home to Reading in front of just over 20,000 at the Cardiff City Stadium. By far the most frustrating of the conceded goals will have been Hope Akpan's 88th minute leveller, where the City defence missed several chances to clear their lines. A 2-2 draw leaves the Bluebirds in 14th place, and there is still no debut for Davide, who was left out of the matchday squad today.

No such issues West down the M4, as at Bridge Meadow Stadium, there is a man of the match performance from Danilo in the Haverfordwest County midfield, to add to the assist he got earlier in the week for Wales-Under-21's. He put in a 7.3 average rating performance against the Swansea based visitors West End, completing two key passes and one cross, while also beating his opponent twice. It wasn't enough to help his side claim all the points on offer though, as a goal in each half meant this MacWhirter Welsh League Division One encounter finished in a 1-1 draw. And Haverfordwest will be without their 38 year old former Wrexham full back Deryn Brace for a while. The veteran Player/Coach, who is in his second spell with the club, twisted an ankle today, and will miss around six weeks of football.

Monday 16th September 2013
The knives are being sharpened for Ole Gunnar Solksjær, and his time at Cardiff City may soon be up. That's the verdict of local newspaper, 'The South Wales Echo' at least. They're suggesting that a defeat at home to Nottingham Forest in the Sky Bet Championship tomorrow evening could well end his spell in the hotseat at Cardiff City Stadium.

Tuesday 17th September 2013
Maybe it wasn't a night to be blooding a teenage centre back in front of almost 21,000 fans and with your job on the line, so I doubt it was too far up on Ole Gunnar Solskjær's list of priorities, Davide not part of the squad again tonight. A goal from Trinidad & Tobago International striker Kenwyne Jones right on half time had City in front, and all was still good for the Bluebirds and their home fans with only a quarter of an hour to play. Then Matty Fryatt scored twice for the visitors in a two minute spell, and City fall to defeat!

Saturday 21st September 2013
The draw is made for the First Round of the Loosemores League Cup, very much a minor competition in the Welsh football calendar. Haverfordwest will be pretty happy with their draw, as they will make a trip to Taffs Well in mid-October, a venue they have already visited and won at this season.

Taffs won't relish facing Haverfordwest again on their current form, as they notch a win today on an away day in Port Talbot. There was no answer from hosts TATA Steel in the opening half hour, as first Kristian Griffiths found the net from close range after being set up by Danilo, and then in the 29th minute, Danilo scored his first Senior goal with a 25 yard shot that skidded across the wet surface and through a crowd of players and inside the post. He is the first of the cousins to find the net, and adds a second successive man of the match award as well as his assist, as he starts to hit a real purple patch of form, County getting a 2-0 win. That's now six games without defeat for Haverfordwest, which is a new record mark for both the club, and the MacWhirter Welsh League Division One.

Ole Gunnar Solksjær can only dream of a run like that right now, but there is at last some relief for the Cardiff City manager, as he sees his side grab a home win today. Peter Whittingham and Aron Gunnarsson find the net in the first half, and City beat the now bottom of the table side Birmingham City to give themselves a bit more breathing room to the sides around the relegation zone. Still no Davide in the matchday squad though.

Monday 23rd September 2013
I hope the Cardiff City Board don't have high hopes for progress much further in the Capital One Cup, and I also hope Solskjær's job isn't hinging on that progress, as tomorrow night they are set to welcome Manchester City to the Cardiff City Stadium in the Third Round. Even if the Premier League club rotate their squad heavily, not many give the Welsh side much hope of pulling off an upset.

Much more difficult to predict will be the the tie that has just been drawn in the Second Round of the Welsh Cup today, as Haverfordwest County are drawn at home to Pen-y-Bont. At the point of the draw, the clubs are second and third respectively in the MacWhirter Welsh League Division One. That early October match could be a hell of a tie.

Tuesday 24th September 2013
In front of a larger than normal attendance at the Cardiff City Stadium, the home side gave it their all, but a 7th minute goal from Sergio Agüero gave Manchester City their passage through to the next round, and Cardiff are out. Davide is not involved in the squad at all for this one, City opting for their strongest squad in search of an upset.

Saturday 28th September 2013
After being left out in midweek, Davide is given some game time by Cardiff City, and he is sent away with the Under-18's for their Group 2 South Division match against Charlton Athletic's Under-18's at their Sparrows Lane training complex. He put in a man of the match performance in their 1-0 win, which came courtesy of a first half goal from winger Jaye Bowen. It was a 7.5 rating performance from Davide, who hardly put a foot wrong in the back four. That win moved City's Under-18 side above their opponents and into third place in the ten team Group, right behind bitter rivals Swansea City, who they face next week.

Further West, Danilo made it a man of the match double for the cousins today, as he was instrumental in Haverfordwest destroying a team from my own home town, Cwmbran Celtic, by a score of 3-0 at the Bridge Meadow Stadium. He got the ball rolling with an assist, providing the cross that Kristian Griffiths headed home in the 33rd minute. He constantly tormented his opposite number in a rather one sided affair, and Richard Ryan and Dylan Blain added further goals. An 8.3 rating put Danilo well above anyone else's rating today, and he now has the third highest average rating in the Division, and the most man of the match awards.

[neilhoskins77]

Tuesday 1st October 2013
Maybe, just maybe, Cardiff City have started to turn the corner. On the weekend, while Davide was playing against Charlton Athletic with the Under-18's, the First Team won 1-0 at Sheffield Wednesday thanks to a first minute goal from South Korean International winger Kim Bo-Kyung. Today they went to Charlton themselves, and secured a second straight away win, despite being on the back foot for most of the match. Kenwyne Jones scored ten minutes before the break, lifting the ball over the advancing Addicks keeper, and Aron Gunnarsson netted his third League goal of the season with a close range header to round off a 2-0 win and lift City up into the top ten. No Davide in the matchday squad again today.

Thursday 3rd October 2013
It's International Window time again next week, and both of the cousins are involved once more. Danilo remains in the Wales Under-21 Squad for next Thursdays vital UEFA 2015 European Under-21 Championship Qualifier against Romania, a match that they really can't afford to lose if they have aspirations of progressing to the Finals. Danilo is hoping that his fine recent form will earn him a 3rd cap at this level. He is the only player in the Welsh football pyramid who is included in this squad.

Despite limited involvement with the First Team at Cardiff City Stadium, there is still a place for Davide in the Italy Under-19's Squad for their triple header of games in the First Qualification Round for the UEFA 2014 European Under-19 Championship. They are hosting the Group, which will see them face Poland first next Wednesday, followed by Kazakhstan on the Friday and then finally Wales on the Sunday. He is one of three UK based players included by Italy for this squad, with fellow defenders Saidy Janko of Manchester United, who is Zurich born and also eligible for Switzerland and Gambia, and Dario del Fabro, who is on loan at Leeds United from Cagliari also included.

Saturday 5th October 2013
Danilo's fine form continued today as he helped Haverfordwest County into the Third Round of the Welsh Cup, courtesy of a 3-1 home win over their League rivals, Pen-y-Bont. The Bridgend based club managed a quick equaliser when County went in front for the first time, but they couldn't find a response when former Swansea City youngster Andrew Mumford had them back in front before the break, and Kristian Griffiths found the net on the hour. And Danilo? Well, he set up all three goals and was named man of the match yet again, with an 8.7 rating.

And they weren't the only ones on form, as Cardiff City's resurgence continued with a 2-0 home win against Norwich City at the Cardiff City Stadium. There was a goal from Adam Le Fondre, who was substituted five minutes later, replaced by Kenwyne Jones, who crashed in the winner from the penalty spot via the post! Suddenly, Ole Gunnar Solskjær has these players looking like world beaters!

There was no Davide in the Cardiff City First Team squad again today, and he had already played today by the time they kicked off against Norwich. He had travelled west with their Under-18 side for their eagerly anticipated Group Two South match at Landore Training Complex in Swansea for the 'derby match'. On a day of drizzle, it was an early bath for Davide, as he was sent off in the 41st minute of the goalless draw, shown a straight red for a poorly timed tackle. He's now banned for one Under-18 match.

Monday 7th October 2013
Being as he had only played 41 minutes of football on Saturday morning, there was no issue with Davide being too fatigued to go again this evening, he just had to try and behave himself a bit better for another 'derby' match, as Cardiff City Under-21's hosted Bristol City Under-21's in a Group Two fixture for the elder age group. And he did a much better job this time at Cardiff City Stadium, putting in a man of the match display as he captained the side from centre back to a 2-0 win, with a goal early in each half from 31 year old Spanish striker, Javi Guerra.

Tuesday 8th October 2013
Even when Haverfordwest County can't get the job done in the League, there seems to be no stopping Danilo right now. They had travelled from the west coast of the Principality to the south east border, where they played Monmouth Town in a MacWhirter Welsh League Division One match. They were two goals down inside an hour at the Monmouth Sportsground, and they couldn't turn it around, despite Danilo finding the net in the 61st minute. His man of the match streak came to an end too, Monmouth keeper Steve Fish's display picking up that award today. It wasn't good news when the draw for the Third Round of the Welsh Cup was made today either. County were the last team out of the hat, as they were drawn to play away to Welsh Premier League side Bala Town next month.

Wednesday 9th October 2013
The International Window begins this afternoon in Italy, but not for Davide, who is left out by Italy Under-19's after playing ninety minutes for Cardiff Under-21's less than 48 hours ago. It wasn't a good start for them either, as they opened their campaign just outside of Milan against Poland. A goal from 18 year old Fiorentina midfielder Leonardo Capezzi got them level before the break, but the Polish scored again around the hour mark, and claimed the win.

Thursday 10th October 2013
Leaving the Di Cianni cousins out appears to be bad for results at International level. Wales Under-21's attracted a good crowd of almost 6,000 to the Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli this evening for their UEFA 2015 European Under-21 Qualifier against Romania. A goal from Steaua Bucharest youngster Gabriel Iancu had the visitors in front, but Tom Bradshaw of Walsall had Wales level quickly, but moments later Liam O'Neil, a centre back on loan at Notts County from West Bromwich Albion, earned his second booking in a ten minute spell, and Iancu bagged a winner for Romania in the 81st minute. That is a big loss for Wales, a 2-1 one defeat that will likely cost them any chance of a place in the Finals.

Friday 11th October 2013
The point is proven when the next set of matches take place in Sedriano, Northern Italy. This time out, Davide is back at centre back for Italy Under-19's, though it wasn't a great start, as Kazakhstan took the lead through young striker Rifat Nurmugamet. But our boy led the team in headers and interceptions, as they came from behind, 15 year old winger Hachim Mastour of AC Milan equalising on the stroke of half time, full back Luigi Luciani of Sampdoria putting them ahead right after the restart, and on loan Parma striker Alberto Cerri rounding off the job on the hour. 3-1 Italy.

Sunday 13th October 2013
The final day of action in Sedriano, and Group 1 of the UEFA European Under-19 Championship First Qualifying Round. There was a win for Poland over Kazakhstan earlier today, and Wales have already won both their matches, leaving both nations on six points with only one match left, Italy v Wales. The Italians need a win to join them on six points and leave a three way tie at the top. But they have failed to notice the pattern, and left Davide out once again. A goal twenty minutes from time by Chelsea youngster Chike Kandi, which means Wales go through, Italy are out, and Davide's first chance to play in a major International Tournament has gone for now.

Tuesday 15th October 2013
The International Window is over, and normal service quickly resumes, Danilo playing regularly for Haverfordwest County, and I assume Davide sitting on the sidelines at Cardiff City. No Danilo tonight though, as County sent a scratch team into Cardiff to face Taff's Well at Rhiw Dda'r in the First Round of the Loosemores League Cup, and after a goalless draw, County pulled through 5-3 on penalties.

Wednesday 16th October 2013
The draw is made for the Quarter-Finals the following morning, with Haverfordwest County one of only two non-top flight sides remaining in the competition. That gave them a very high chance of facing a Welsh Premier League side, and that is indeed how the draw played out. Third out of the hat, which means a home draw, and the visitors won't have too long a midweek trip to make, as the guests will be Afan Lido, who are currently sat fourth in the top tier.

Saturday 19th October 2013
It was back to a full strength side for County when they returned to League action today, as they take on one of the two Goytre sides that are in this Division. One of them looks set to be a Title Rival this season, but today they travel towards the east border to face Goytre FC who are only just above the relegation zone. And their prospects weren't helped when Haverfordwest helped themselves to three points with a goal in each half at Plough Road for a 2-0 win. It's another man of the match performance from Danilo as well, who set up the second goal for Tim Hicks midway through the second half. County are now second, behind the other Goytre, the Port Talbot based Goytre United.

Across the border, and considerably further north, there was an identical result for Cardiff City, as they continued their impressive run of form and march up the Sky Bet Championship table. There was no Davide on the trip to Bolton Wanderers as City took a 2-0 win at the Reebok Stadium, the first from South Korean International forward Kim Bo-Kyung after a quarter of an hour, and the second in the 52nd minute from in form Trinidad & Tobago International striker, Kenwyne Jones. That result lifts City into fifth, and only four points away from an automatic promotion spot.

Wednesday 23rd October 2013
Danilo's month is cut short, as he suffers a thigh strain in training that will keep him out of action for anything up to three weeks. It's a double blow, as Haverfordwest County are going to be without their in form player, while for Danilo himself, he is going to miss the chance to strut his stuff in front of a bigger club next week, as he is ruled out of the Loosemore League Cup Quarter-Final tie against Afan Lido. He will also be doubtful for the Welsh Cup tie away to Bala Town next month as well.

Saturday 26th October 2013
The wins just keep on coming for Cardiff City, and another trip north yields another three point haul. It's Blackpool who are put to the sword this weekend, another 2-0 win for the Bluebirds, and the same two scorers as last weekend too, with Kim Bo-Kyung putting his team ahead midway through the first half, and Kenwyne Jones again left to put the rubber stamp on the win with a goal from 20 yards out with five minutes to play. There was no Davide again today, and while they keep winning, there isn't likely to be any time soon. City are up to fourth.

Despite being down to the bare bones, Haverfordwest didn't give visitors Ton Pentre a sniff at Bridge Meadow, the Rhondda Valley based side very much second best, despite County missing several players including Danilo. The only real surprise was that it took the home side nearly an hour to make the breakthrough. It was midfielder Michael Parkins who got them off the mark, and Andrew Mumford secured the win five minutes later. County continue their pursuit of Goytre United.

Tuesday 29th October 2013
There was very little expectation on Haverfordwest tonight as they hosted Afan Lido at Bridge Meadow in the Loosemores League Cup Quarter-Final. A crowd of over 300 on a rainy evening saw their side give it their all, actually hitting the target more often than their Welsh Premier League opponents, but failing to find the net, and losing 2-0, a goal in each half from Adrian Tache, a Romanian defender who is playing outside his home nation for the first time this season. So County go out at the Quarter-Final stage. No disgrace, but no giant-killing act either. I'm not sure if having Danilo available would have made too much difference.

[neilhoskins77]

**Apologies for the huge gap between posts here. This story was 'furloughed', to use a word on current trend, while my long running story took up the majority of my time. I've missed this one, and the chance to resurrect it and continue the cousins progress has now come up. Thanks, and as always, comments are welcome, as are requests on progress of other clubs and players. Enjoy.**

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Friday 1st November 2013
The new month is underway, and things are going very well down at the Cardiff City Stadium. After four wins from four in the League through October, all by the same 2-0 scoreline, Bluebirds boss Ole Gunnar Solskjær has gone from potentially being one loss from the sack, to the Sky Bet Championship Manager of the Month. And there is a glimpse into the reason why Davide is still waiting to make his League debut since his move from Cosenza back in July, as 37 times capped by Gabon centre back Bruno Ecuélé Manga, part of a City side that has notched five successive clean sheets in the second tier, only misses out on Player of the Month to AFC Bournemouth full back Adam Smith.

And City kick off their weekend, and month, by extending their current fine record of consecutive wins, coming from a goal down at home to Derby County, and the disappointment of their clean sheet record being snapped, to win the game in the second half with goals from Adam Le Fondre and Peter Whittingham. It's a win that will see them move up into third when the weekend is done playing out.

Monday 4th November2013
Wales Under-21's have to name their squad next week for double header of UEFA 2015 European Under-21 Championships Qualifiers against Lithuania in Llanelli, followed by a trip to Russia. Today manager Geraint Williams has revealed that he will definitely be without four players for these games, and Danilo is one of them. The thigh strain will prevent him from adding to his two caps at this level for now.

Wednesday 6th November 2013
Haverfordwest County coped well this evening without Danilo, as they notched up a huge home win against Goytre United, coming from behind to win 2-1 at Bridge Meadow Stadium and leapfrog the leaders to the top of MacWhirter Welsh League Division One. After falling behind midway through the second half, Richard Ryan got a quick equaliser from the spot, and Dylan Blain bagged the winner with quarter of an hour to play.

Friday 8th November 2013
A u-turn from Geraint Williams, and Danilo is named in the Wales Under-21 squad this morning for that Euro Qualifier double header, which is great news. There is even another player from the Welsh Pyramid included as well, with Rhyl goalkeeper Tom Bradley also included for a potential first Welsh cap at any level.

Davide is also set for International duty, as he is named in the Italy Under-19 squad for their high quality level Friendly matches against Portugal and Germany. He is again one of three English based defenders included in the squad.

Saturday 9th November 2013
No Danilo today for Haverfordwest on their big day, as they made the long trip north to face Premier Division side Bala Town in the Third Round of the Welsh Cup. There is a hope that days like these will be much more frequent for County next season as they hope to secure promotion, but they certainly gave a good account of themselves today. They earned a 0-0 draw, despite going down to ten men due to injury shortly into the Extra Time period. They couldn't finish the job though, losing 4-3 on penalties. 

Back in South Wales, the great form of Cardiff City continued at the Cardiff City Stadium, a 1-0 win against Blackpool coming courtesy of an Aron Gunnarsson lob on the stroke of halfway. The Bluebirds are third in the Sky Bet Championship with fifteen games played, just three points from an automatic promotion spot.

Thursday 14th November 2013
A horrible day for the Wales Under-21's in Llanelli, as they go down to a shock 2-0 defeat against Lithuania at Parc Y Scarlets. A pair of first half goals from Aalborg striker Lukas Spalvis, the first an overhead kick, silenced a crowd of just over 5,000, as Wales' chances of qualification for the UEFA 2015 European Under-21 Championships, went up in smoke. With Danilo not passed fit to play, he wasn't even included on the bench today.

Things were not much better over in Italy, with Davide left on the bench for their Under-19's, where he could only watch on as Portugal went two goals to the good, firstly from FC Porto winger Raul, and then a second early in the second half from Sporting Lisbon centre back Bruno Wilson. The Italians did quickly get one back from Atalanta winger Federico Varano, but they couldn't get themselves level.

Saturday 16th November 2013
Still without Danilo as he was on International Duty with Wales Under-21's, there was disappointment for Haverfordwest County today as they were knocked off the top of the Macwhirter Welsh League Division One this afternoon, after being held to a 1-1 draw to mid table Cambrian & Clydach Vale. That they earned a point was down to veteran full back and Player/Coach at the club, Deryn Brace, who equalised with a 77th minute header. But with Goytre United winning at home to Taffs Well at the same time, County dropped to second spot.

Monday 18th November 2013
After being left on the bench for the defeat to Portugal, there was a place in the Italy Under-19 side this evening for Davide, and he played the full ninety minutes against Germany. But it didn't improve their fortunes, as despite being the best player on the Italy team, they lost 2-0 in the South Eastern town of Castelluccio Valamaggiore, halfway between Naples and Bari. Only 150 people watched the match.

While that was going on, many miles further east in Russia's South Central city of Yekaterinburg, the already fairly dismal UEFA 2015 European Under-21 Championships Qualifying campaign took another further blow. Danilo was back in the starting lineup, playing 78 minutes before being substituted, and putting in a decent shift for a rating of 6.9. But in temperatures of -7c and a snow storm, the only goal of the game came from Spartak Moscow's teen striker Denis Davydov, firing home the rebound from his own saved spot kick. With only two Qualifiers left, Wales are now bottom of Group 4.

Saturday 23rd November 2013
Cardiff City will be disappointed with how today panned out at the Cardiff City Stadium. With Davide on the bench, they had the upper hand over mid-table side AFC Bournemouth right the way through, and took the lead on the half hour mark through winger Craig Noone's first goal of the season. But Matt Ritchie equalised within two minutes, and City couldn't find their way through again. They remain third in the Sky Bet Championship, but Davide is still waiting for his Senior League Debut.

Saturday 30th November 2013
The final day of the month, and not a good one for Haverfordwest County. Despite having ten shots on target, the lions share of possession, and Danilo back in the lineup for the first time this month, they were beaten at home to an AFC Porth side who took one of the very few chances they created. It's a damaging defeat, dropping them down to third in the table now, four points behind leaders Goytre United, and now also behind Aberdare Town, with AFC Porth looming behind them as the MacWhirter Welsh League Division One reaches the halfway stage.

And the day didn't get any better for the Di Cianni clan in the North-East of England, as Cardiff City suffered their first defeat in the Sky Bet Championship for over two months, as they were beaten 2-0 by Middlesbrough, thanks to a pair of goals from their on loan Belgian striker Jelle Vossen, with Davide left out of the matchday squad again today. The result means Boro move ahead of City on goal difference, and The Bluebirds will now go into December sat in fourth place, four points outside the automatic promotion spots, and only in the Playoff spots thanks to their superior goal difference.

[neilhoskins77]

Tuesday 3rd December 2013
After a draw and a defeat, Cardiff City made a spectacular return to form tonight in Yorkshire, as they demolished Leeds United by a 3-0 scoreline at Elland Road. They got off to a flyer with South Korean International winger Kim Bo-Kyung opening the scoring after six minutes. The lead was added to before the break by Norwegian International midfielder Magnus Eikrem, and the scoring was rounded off just after the hour mark by striker Adam Le Fondre. All three City shots on target found the net, and keeps The Bluebirds right in the chase to catch the top two.

Wednesday 4th December 2013
No mention of Danilo's name in the race for the award given to the Welsh Young Footballer of the Year. Playing at the level he does, he was never really likely to be considered. The front runners are thought to be Adam Matthews of Celtic, the Tottenham Hotspur defender Ben Davies, and Crystal Palace midfielder Jon Williams.

Thursday 5th December 2013
I doubt that award would have been on Danilo's radar at this point of his young career, but he does get some plaudits today when some stats are released by the FA in relation to MacWhirter Welsh League Division One. With the League at it's halfway point, Danilo has the joint most Man of the Match Awards in the Division with four, while also posting the fourth best Average Rating in Division One as well. An outstanding effort from a young player taking his first steps into Senior Football, while in a League that is fairly tough in all honesty.

Friday 6th December 2013
Today is a big day in World Football, and has been circled on the calendar of fans around the World for some time. Today is the day when the draw is made for the Group Stages of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Finals in Brazil. Highlights of the draw see the hosts drawn into Group A with Australia, Nigeria and Norway. In Group B, there is a great looking tussle between Belgium and Uruguay, with the USA and Ghana also in that section. There will be many eyes on Group C, where Italy feature, as do England! They are joined by Costa Rica and Morocco in a fascinating Group. There is a contender for the fabled 'Group of Death' coming in 'D', with Colombia, Portugal, Russia and South Korea all pushed in together, while the Germans must be delighted with the outcome of their pool in Group E, as they are joined by Bosnia-Herzegovina, Canada and Tunisia. The holders from Spain are in Group F, which would maybe be described as tricky, as it also included Ecuador, Japan and Turkey, while Group G is probably the other contender for the 'Group of Death' title, as it pits together Croatia, Holland, Mexico and Paraguay. Finally, Group H, where a pair of heavyweights of the World game are drawn, Argentina and France. They might be relieved to find themselves with Egypt and Iran though.

Saturday 7th December 2013
All the goals came early at the Cardiff City Stadium today, as Cardiff City added a second quick victory of the week, this time against mid table Huddersfield Town. Another early goal got City started, Anthony Pilkington netting in the second minute, but Callum McGregor equalised for the visitors in the 19th minute. But two minutes later, Peter Whittingham netted from close range, his fourth of the season, and it proved to be the winner. With nineteen matches played, City remain in third, but they are now only a point behind Fulham and an automatic promotion spot. Davide is still waiting to make his Senior League debut though.

Further West along the M4 in Bridgend, it was a frustrating afternoon for Haverfordwest County. In fact, that was also the case for Pen-y-bont, who thought they had picked up all three points today. The hosts were in front in the 12th minute at Bryntirion Park, only to see Steffan Williams equalise just after the hour mark. But Pen-y-bont went right back in front five minutes later, and seemed set to pick up the win, until Richard Ryan's controlled volley earned County a share of the spoils. Danilo played an hour of this match before being substituted, but Haverfordwest will be annoyed they couldn't get the win against a team in the relegation zone, and are now six points back from Goytre United and the one and only promotion spot.

Saturday 14th December 2013
In appalling conditions at Griffin Park, the fine form of Cardiff City has hit another speed bump, as they are undone by Brentford and their midfielder Alex Pritchard. The 20 year old who is on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, doubled his goal tally for the season just before the half hour mark, and bagged another in the final minute, meaning The Bluebirds lose some ground at the top, while Brentford climb off the foot of the table and above Birmingham City and Brighton & Hove Albion.

Saturday 21st December 2013
It's all threatening to fall apart at Bridge Meadow Stadium, as Haverfordwest County are beaten at home by a Caerau Ely side that are closing in on them quickly. The visitors took a 15th minute lead with a powerful Alan Bell header, but that was short lived, as Danilo levelled with a 25 yard curler into the top corner. With a point looking likely though, it all fell apart with eleven minutes to play, Gareth Pymble lobbing keeper Chris Curtis and earning his side all three points. Danilo played the entire match and scored his third goal of the season. The only plus side for County today was Goytre United losing at Cwmbran Celtic, so they didn't lose any further ground on the leaders.

Further East, it was a different story entirely for Cardiff City, as they thumped relegation contenders Millwall 3-0 in the Welsh capital. Adam Le Fondre got them off and running in front of just over 23,000 before the half hour mark, and Kim Bo-Kyung and Anthony Pilkington added second half goals to complete a very routine victory.

Ole Gunnar Solskjær found a very novel way to celebrate that win, by confirming he is very interested in the news that the job has just become vacant at Premier League side West Bromwich Albion! They've just sacked Alan Irvine, who leaves with The Hawthorns club 16th in the top tier. After sailing close to the wind with the sack himself early in the season, Solksjær is running the risk of incurring the wrath of owner Vincent Tan and his primarily Malaysian based Board of Directors. It might be an uneasy Christmas at the Cardiff City Stadium!

Sunday 22nd December 2013
The response from the Cardiff City Board was, well, a little surprising. They are of course upset with the news that their Manager is apparently throwing his name into the hat for a job elsewhere. But rather than having doubts about whether he is still the right man for the job with them, they are instead urging him to be professional, and remain with them to continue the job they are paying him to do. Surely Solskjær holds all the cards now after that statement?

Saturday 28th December 2013
Have all the rumours regarding Solskjær and his future had an unsettling impact on The Bluebirds and their players? On the evidence of today, the answer is emphatically yes. Mid-table Ipswich Town have been unable to find any consistency all season, but this afternoon they consistently ripped City apart at Portman Road. To add insult to injury, much of the damage was caused by Irish striker Rory Donnelly, who is on loan from City's bitter local rivals, Swansea City. He netted twice in the opening ten minutes, with Tom Winter adding a third midway through the second half, and Donnelly completing his hatrick two minutes later, more than doubling his goal output for the season in one afternoon. With Fulham winning, and Blackburn drawing, City lose more ground in their quest for automatic promotion to the Premier League, and drop to fourth as Middlesbrough also win to move past them.

Also with promotion hopes that are taking setbacks are Haverfordwest County, and today in dramatic style at Aberaman Park in Aberdare. The game between two sides looking to gain ground in the promotion race took a turn just four minutes in, with Aberdare Town keeper Ross Campbell suffering a broken jaw in a goalmouth collision. With no keeper on the bench, defender Lee Philips came on, with Mark Hennessey going in goal. The Town players weren't buying that their keeper was accidentally injured, and by the time they then lost skipper Kevin Richards to injury in the 18th minute, four players had already been booked in a game that was threatening to spill out of control. One of those players was Richard Ryan, the 30 year old striker burying a close range volley from a cut back cross just a minute later to put County in front. And Town would be forced into their third and final substitution before the break, with Philips getting injured himself, and Nathan Hunter came on. Four minutes after the break, Hunter forced home the ball from close range to get Town level, but that didn't mean a change in luck for them. Defender Anthony Temple was sent off on the hour for a second bookable offence, and then five minutes later, they went down to nine with Troy Greening suffering an injury with all their changes made. That wasn't the end either, Jonathan Carpentier also received a second yellow in the 84th minute, and Town were down to eight! But incredibly, they held out for a point, and stayed second, with County remaining fourth. Unbelievable Jeff! That's now six games without a win for County including their Welsh Cup match at Bala, which is a new and unwanted club record.

Not an ideal end to 2013 for the clubs that the Di Cianni boys are playing for right now.

[neilhoskins77]

Wednesday 1st January 2014
Gareth Bale, the £300,000 per week earner rated at £50 million in the Transfer Market by his club Real Madrid, is the entirely unsurprising winner of the Welsh Footballer of the Year Award. He has played 24 times for the Spanish giants since arriving there in the summer, scoring nine goals, and assisting on a further nine, playing at an average of 7.37. The runner-up is Crystal Palace midfielder Joe Ledley, with third place awarded to Swansea City full back Neil Taylor.

The Welsh Young Player of the Year award is picked up by Crystal Palace's attacking midfielder Jon Williams, who has scored three times in 18 games. Ben Davies of Tottenham Hotspur is second, while third place goes to Bala Town full back Adam Davies.

Saturday 4th January 2014
Cardiff City start their FA Cup campaign today, with a Third Round victory at home to Sky Bet Championship rivals Rotherham United. In front of an attendance only around half of what they usually get, I was hoping that Davide might be involved, but there was no sign of him again in the matchday squad. A 2-0 win came courtesy of second half goals from striker Kenwyne Jones, and full back John Brayford. There was a Bluebirds debut today for Norwegian International midfielder, Jo Inge Berget, a £2 million summer signing from Molde FK, who spent the first half of the season on loan at Celtic.

As well as being the time of year where the FA Cup begins, the Winter Transfer Window is also open, and it will be interesting to see if both the clubs we are following make any signings, firstly to see if they look to retool for a push at promotion, and secondly, any signings may impact the cousins. Haverfordwest County have made a signing today, 23 year old centre midfielder Tom Harris, who signs on a Free Transfer from MacWhirter Welsh League Division Three outfit, Treharris Athletic Western.

Sunday 5th January 2014
The draw for the Fourth Round of the FA Cup is made today, but Cardiff City will have to wait to find out their opponents, as they're drawn to travel to either West Ham United or Middlesbrough, who drew 0-0 at Upton Park yesterday. It was a pretty busy day for City, as they sign 20 year old midfielder Joe Roalls to a new two and a half year contract, despite him only playing fifteen times since in the Sky Bet Championship so far in his career. There is also a new arrival, as City sign 21 year old winger Tom Ince on loan from Premier League side Hull City for the rest of the season. Ince hasn't made a League debut for Hull since his summer move from Blackpool, and his now hoping he'll get some First Team football at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Tuesday 7th January 2014
Haverfordwest County make their second new signing, and it's the return of a former player, as 30 year old left winger Richard Evans returns to the club he left two and a half years ago. He has since played for Caerau Ely, and is back at Bridge Meadow Stadium on a Free Transfer. As Danilo plays primarily on the right wing, it isn't thought this deal is likely to impact him too much.

Cardiff City give a debut to Tom Ince today, and he put in a decent performance in their 2-1 win away to Wigan Athletic in the Sky Bet Championship. Goals within a minute of each other from Adam Le Fondre and Craig Noone put City in control, though they had to hold on for the last quarter of an hour or so, when Grant Holt pulled a goal back.

Friday 10th January 2014
The in's and out's continue at Bridge Meadow Stadium as Haverfordwest County continue to move things around. 17 year old centre back Noah Edwards has played 15 League matches for them this season, but his loan is now done, and he returns back to Airbus UK after experiencing the first Senior First Team matches of his career. Arriving at the club is 21 year old midfielder Troy Greening, a former Youth player at Newport County, who has spent the last season and a half at Barry Town United, hanging on at the club despite their demotion from Division One to Three. He has played nineteen times for them this season, scoring four goals and assisting on two more, with an average rating at 6.61. He signs on a Free Transfer.

Saturday 11th January 2014
A top of the table battle at a snowy and windy Ewood Park, as Cardiff City come away with the points courtesy of an Adam Le Fondre goal twenty minutes of time. It's a win that knocks Blackburn off top spot, with Fulham moving to the summit, while City move back up into fourth, overtaking Norwich City as they are held to a draw at Charlton Athletic.

Back in Wales, there is a welcome return to winning ways for Haverfordwest County, as they beat Aberbargoed Buds 2-0 at Bridge Meadow Stadium today. Danilo kept his place in the team, assisting on the second goal, centre back Simon Gilderdale opening the scoring in the 4th minute, and full back Kyle Graves netting the winner after being played in by Danilo. It was an improved attendance too, almost 300 there to see County move on to 32 points in third, and just a point behind Aberdare Town, though still five adrift of leaders Goytre United. There was a debut for Tom Harris in that game.

Thursday 16th January 2014
There is another new arrival at Haverfordwest County today, with the loan signing of Welsh Premier League side Port Talbot Town's twenty three year old right back Daniel Sheehan. He returned for a second spell with Port Talbot after some time in Australia with Moreland City, and the former Swansea City Youth player has played nine times for them this season. It will be interesting to see if he plays, and if he can strike up an understanding with Danilo down the right.

Saturday 18th January 2014
Another win today for Cardiff City, with a very hard fought 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux. Including their FA Cup win, that is now four in a row for The Bluebirds, and has seen them concede just a single goal in that spell as well. Part of the reason for their red hot form right now is the increased production of Adam Le Fondre, who netted the only goal today in The Midlands, though City had to hold on right at the end when Czech International defender Vaclav Prochazka was red carded for a second offence late on.

Also returning to form a little are Haverfordwest County, as they pick up a second consecutive victory with a win at Swansea based club Pontardawe Town. They were two up inside twenty minutes, Danilo setting up the opener for newcomer Richard Evans to get his first for the club, and Andrew Mumford bagged the second on his return to his home town. Young winger Lynn Cottrell pulled one back midway through the half, but that would be as close as mid-table Town would get, and with other results going their way, County bounce back up into second, and now just three points behind leaders Goytre United. It wasn't all good news today though, with veteran Player/Coach at the club Deryn Brace likely to be out for the rest of the season now after suffering a torn hamstring today.

Sunday 19th January 2014
County have acted quickly to fill the gap in their defence, bringing in The New Saints 31 year old centre back Phil Baker on loan for a four month spell. The Birkenhead born man, who was a youngster at Tranmere Rovers, is hugely experienced in Welsh football, including nine and a half seasons with TNS.

Tuesday 21st January 2014
Cardiff City are absolutely flying right now. Tonight's visit of Fulham was billed as a huge top of the table clash, but it wasn't even a contest. Javi Guerra made his first start for the club since his move from Valladolid, and scored in the opening minute for the first time, joined in the 15th minute by Tom Ince, who also netted a maiden goal for the club. Guerra added a second just before the break, and Jo Inge Berget made it a hatrick of City players getting their first goals for the club when he found the net from a free kick early in the second half. That was quite the showing, and City move to the top of the Sky Bet Championship with twenty games left to play. Davide was an unused substitute in this one, as he once again comes tantalisingly close to a Senior League debut for The Bluebirds.

Thursday 23rd January 2014
The in's and out's continue at Bridge Meadow Stadium, with out of favour centre back Gareth Elliott moved on today. The 30 year old has played only one League game in the last season and a half after previously being a regular in their Welsh Premier League days, in what was his second spell at the club. He is moving on to Caernarfon Town, who currently sit seventh in the Huws Gray Alliance, the North Wales equivalent of the MacWhirter Welsh League Division One.

Saturday 25th January 2014
Cardiff City's hopes in the FA Cup are over for another season, as the 2008 Runner's-Up, are defeated 2-0 at Upton Park by West Ham United, the 2006 Runner's-Up. In all honesty, it wasn't as close as the score suggested. Alex Song put The Hammers in front after just four minutes, and despite going down to ten men when James Tomkins was shown a straight red card in the 31st minute, they increased their lead through winger Matt Jarvis in the 33rd minute. City were unable to find a way back into the game, and will now be left to concentrate on their efforts to earn automatic promotion to the Premier League.

Tuesday 28th January 2014
A hangover from the Cup defeat? Maybe, but it was a bad night for Cardiff City, who were beaten 3-1 at the Madjeski Stadium by a Reading side who are trying to drag themselves back into the Playoff hunt. Things started well for the visitors, Anthony Pilkington giving them a fifth minute lead. But Reading fought back later, ironically with goals from a pair of Welsh Internationals causing significant damage, Hal Robson-Kanu equalising before the break, and full back Chris Gunter netting a winner in the 71st minute, with Alex Pearce also scoring in between those goals. A home win from Norwich City over Blackpool lifted them to the top, and City could be out of the automatic promotion spots by tomorrow, with Fulham set to play at home as well.

Friday 31st January 2014
It's the final day of the Winter Transfer Window for Cardiff City and they seem pretty happy with their squad and the changes they have made this month, as they don't make any further signings today. There is only one outgoing too, with Joe Ralls going on loan after recently signing a new deal at the Cardiff City Stadium. The 20 year old midfielder is headed north of the border for the rest of the season, joining Scottish Championship leaders, Rangers. So Davide will be staying where he is for the rest of the season. There is still a month to run in the Welsh Transfer Window, though it seems unlikely that Danilo is going anywhere right now.

[neilhoskins77]

Saturday 1st February 2014
Are Cardiff City about to lose form at a crucial part of the season? There evidence is there to suggest it's beginning to happen, as they lose for a third time in a row in all competitions with a second successive 3-1 defeat away from home, Nottingham Forest the victors over them this time. Two goals in as many minutes had City a pair behind in the 12th minute, but Adam Le Fondre pulled one back five minutes later. But a volley from Greg Halford on the hour turned the tide against them, and they're in third place now, and need to get back to winning ways quickly to prevent this from becoming a slump.

Certainly not struggling for form are Haverfordwest County, as Danilo's side in West Wales continue to try and hunt down Goytre United. Today they beat Taffs Well 2-0 at the Bridge Meadow Stadium, a quieter game for the teenager we're following primarily at the club, first half goals from Tom Harris and Nick Woodrow had the points in the bag against their mid table opponents in front of another increased attendance, as there are signs of the town getting behind their side. Unfortunately there was a downside, and that was 30 year old left winger Richard Evans tearing his hamstring early in the second half, and the new arrival from Caerau Ely may well be done for the season.

Saturday 8th February 2014
Rotherham United were the perfect opponents for Cardiff City today. They offer little threat up front, while they are leaky at the back. But City still only just managed to sneak the win, a goal midway through the second half from Jo Inge Berget, ten minutes before he went off injured, was enough to pick up the three points. They move back up into second place, and don't lose the Norwegian International forward for anymore than a few days.

Further west down the M4 in Swansea, the Haverfordwest momentum continued to build with another win, their fourth in a row and fifth game without a defeat. Danilo picked up an early booking against West End, but he did then get his head down and strike up a nice partnership with Daniel Sheehan down the right flank. The only goal of the game would come late in the first half from 21 year old Nigerian striker Vincent Ateuyi, the first goal of his career, and has earned him a transfer. He'll be leaving Wales, and the UK this summer, to sign for non-League side Sporting Afrique in Singapore. He's hoping to go with a MacWhirter Welsh League Division One Winners Medal, but there's still plenty of work to do, as Goytre United win again, with a very late winner at home to relegation threatened Cambrian & Clydach.

Sunday 9th February 2014
The UEFA European Championship Finals of 2016 in France are merely a speck on the horizon right now, with the fast approaching World Cup this summer the priority focus. But today UEFA will conduct their unnecessarily long process to put the nations of Europe into ten groups for Qualifying for their next continental football extravaganza.

Wales go into Group B, and they'll quite fancy their chances potentially as well. Portugal and Switzerland are the nations they will hoping to fight with, Georgia will also be dangerous, while they will surely be hoping to dispatch Luxembourg and San Marino pretty easily.

In Group C, surely Italy will be nothing other than favourites. Romania will be their main opposition, Israel, Lithuania and Cyprus will hope to have a say, Andorra will be hoping to grab a few goals somehow, some way, across the course.

Tuesday 11th February 2014
It's a wintery evening with sub-zero temperatures in Cardiff, and by half past nine the mood of the fans is the same. Consistency is becoming an issue for the Bluebirds as they lose 2-1 at home to Watford. A four minute double from Troy Deeney just after the hour mark had them in trouble, and Kim Bo-Kyung's 86th minute strike would be nothing more than a consolation. And still, Davide is not showing signs of getting his Senior League Debut anytime soon. They have stayed second though, Fulham beaten at Millwall by a late Nadjim Abdou winner.

Saturday 15th February 2014
City show the other side of the abilities with a hard fought 1-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday this afternoon, where it was every bit as wet and miserable as it had been cold in midweek. And it didn't look like the result would go their way either, when Aron Gunnarsson picked up a shoulder injury early on, and then Kim Bo-Kyung picked up a pair of quick yellow cards shortly before the break. He was helped out by strike partner Adam Le Fondre, who banged home his ninth goal of the season right on half time. City held on for the entire second half in the downpour, and they close in on leaders Norwich City, who are held to a draw on the south coast by AFC Bournemouth.

Saturday 22nd February 2014
It's the final round of games in February in the Sky Bet Championship, and we're very much into the business end of the season now. There's no danger of Cardiff City making things easy for themselves. They proved it once again today, Tom Ince giving the Bluebirds the lead at home to mid-table Charlton Athletic, but Franck Moussa equalised within a quarter of an hour, and City couldn't find a way through in the second half. They are second, three points behind leaders Norwich City, and five ahead of Blackburn Rovers and Fulham, with the latter having a game in hand.

In the second tier in Wales, there is a visit to my hometown for Danilo and his Haverfordwest County team mates, as they take on Cwmbran Celtic, who are exceeding expectations in the top six. Centre back and skipper Simon Gilderdale put County in front in the 16th minute with a header. But he got booked twice in the second half, fortunately the second one coming with only three minutes to go, and Celtic couldn't find a way through at Celtic Park. They remain three points behind Goytre United though, as they win 3-0 at home to Pen-y-Bont. The leaders play once more this month with a midweek game, while Haverfordwest have an entire month of home games in March.

Wednesday 26th February 2014
Davide still hasn't played for Cardiff City in the League this season, but he continues to be selected by his country at age group level, as he is selected by Italy Under-19's. I hope he packs his winter woollies, as they are travelling east to face Russia in a Friendly, the squad containing only domestic based players apart from three based in the UK, and one in Spain.

Danilo is also going to be on International duty early next month, as he is included in the Wales Under-21's squad for their Friendly against Gibraltar at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea. He is the only player selected from the Welsh Domestic Leagues. Speaking of which, it's a double celebration day for Danilo. League leaders Goytre United lose away to AFC Porth, and Haverfordwest remain  three points behind, but with a game in hand. He could yet finish his first season in Senior football with a promotion, and a Winners' Medal to show for his efforts!

Friday 28th February 2014
It's disaster for Danilo to end February. He has twisted his ankle during a training session, and will be out for up to five weeks. With ten League games remaining, he is likely to be out for the entire of March, during which Haverfordwest County play three home matches as they look to overhaul their promotion rivals Goytre United. He should be fit however for the crucial mid-April meeting between the pair. He is also out of the Wales Under-21's home match against Gibraltar next week, replaced in the squad by Leicester City forward Tom Lawrence.

[mark wilson27]

Its always good to have updates on your stories mate. Top notch as always

[neilhoskins77]

On 02/09/2020 at 15:16, mark wilson27 said:

Its always good to have updates on your stories mate. Top notch as always

Much appreciated. Cheers Mark

[oche balboa]

Enjoying it mate 

[neilhoskins77]

On 09/09/2020 at 21:19, oche balboa said:

Enjoying it mate 

Thanks very much Oche. Be interesting to see how the story progresses and how far the Cousins can go in their respective careers.

[neilhoskins77]

Saturday 1st March 2014
Cardiff City start their crucial March schedule with a trip over the border to face relegation threatened Birmingham City. Already with the knowledge that leaders Norwich City had won, after beating Leeds United in the early kick off at Carrow Road, the Bluebirds went in at the interval behind by a goal from Lee Novak. But Federico Macheda climbed off the bench to equalise as the hour mark approached, the 22 year old Italian earning City a point. There was no sign of compatriot Davide Di Cianni in the matchday squad once more though.

Back in Wales, there was no sign of the other cousin either. Danilo suffered an injury at the end of last month, and will miss this month of home games for Haverfordwest, which began today. There was the added incentive of knowing leaders Goytre United were not playing, giving County a chance to draw level with them in this game in hand. They got the job done as well, thanks to an early second half goal from Dylan Blain, his fifth of the season, and also to TATA Steel finishing with nine men, due to injury, and then a late red card. Eight games to go, and the pair are level on 47 points, with Aberdare Town keeping in touch in third place on 43 points.

Sunday 2nd March
That win yesterday for Haverfordwest County was their sixth successive victory, a new club record for the promotion chasing MacWhirter League Division One side.

Tuesday 4th March
Gusting winds, snow flurries, and temperatures recorded at -7c. If Davide hadn't been so much in need of a better quality game of football, this would have been a good one to drop out of. As it was, he started for Italy Under-19's in the Russian town of Kyshtym. He would play the whole ninety minutes of the Italians 2-1 win, picking up a second half booking, by which point his country were two goals up. His centre back partner, and man of the match, Davide Monteleone of Palermo scored the opener on the half hour mark, and AC Milan's young striker Michael Fabbro netted the second ten minutes after the interval. It was very late on when Islam Mashukov, a striker from Alania Vladikavkaz pulled one back, too late to get the Russians a result of any kind.

In the more hospitable climate of Swansea, there was no worries for Wales Under-21's in their match with Gibraltar. Missing Danilo was never likely to be too much of an issue for this one, and a first half goal from Alex Samuel on his own ground got Wales up and running. In the second half, a penalty from Lee Evans of Notts County who is on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers and a neat finish from Leicester City's midfielder Tom Lawrence, who replaced Danilo in the squad when the injury forced his withdrawal.

Saturday 8th March
The return to domestic action, and a top of the table clash in the Sky Bet Championship. A 62nd minute goal from midfielder Elliott Bennett for Norwich City, his 12th goal of the season in all competitions, gave The Canaries the spoils, and Cardiff City the bird at Carrow Road. That now means they are eight points clear at the top, and a return to the Premier League looks very much on the cards. It leaves Cardiff vulnerable though, they remain in second, but Blackburn are only two points behind them, and Fulham a further three, but with two games in hand. There are plenty of other clubs still in striking distance with a dozen games left to play too. The Bluebirds haven't won in three games, and this is a really bad time for a dip in form.

Tuesday 11th March
A home fixture with mid-table Bolton Wanderers provided City with the opportunity to get back to winning ways tonight, as The Bluebirds took it with both hands. They made hard work of it though, Anthony Pilkington gave them the lead ten minutes before half time with a free kick, only to see Liam Trotter equalise before the break for The Trotters. But it was Mr Cardiff City who settled the match, another free kick, this time from the cultured left foot of Peter Whittingham with just six minutes to go, and some vital breathing room for City. Just as well too, with Blackburn and Fulham both winning.

Saturday 15th March
After a step forward, it's immediately two steps backwards for Cardiff this afternoon. All the goals came in the first half of their 3-1 defeat at the iPro Stadium, home of Derby County. They are embroiled in a huge relegation dogfight that involves almost half the teams in the League, but goals within a minute of each other from Shaun Barker and George Thorne had them in control. Federico Macheda pulled one back ten minutes later, but before the break Leon Best rounded out the scoring to put County back in control. It would be a costly defeat, as Blackburn and Fulham both won again. City now sit in 3rd between the two, Fulham now just two points behind them, and still with two games in hand. They play the first of those away to bottom the table Rotherham United in midweek.

They were not the only ones to suffer a costly defeat either. Haverfordwest, still without Danilo, were stunned at Bridge Meadow Stadium by sixth placed Monmouth Town. It looked as though County had rescued a point after Dylan Blain netted again to cancel out Daniel MacDonald's first half opener. But a late Gareth Jones volley condemned the home side to defeat. And it was made a double blow, as at almost exactly the same time, centre back Warren Sherwood scored a winner for Goytre United in Cardiff against Caerau Ely. After all that work to close down the leaders, County have now allowed United to creep ahead again, with seven matches left to play and the pair meeting in three weeks time. It's not even just a two horse race, Aberdare Town came from behind to beat Ton Pentre 3-1 at Aberaman Park, and are just a point behind Haverfordwest.

Saturday 22nd March
Fulham won 1-0 at the New York Stadium in midweek, thanks to a penalty from Didier Ya Konan just before the hour mark. That meant Cardiff City go into the weekend sat in fourth, but they would finish it back in third place. Norwich City won their early kick-off derby at Ipswich Town to improve their chances of promotion. Fulham also won at home to Birmingham City, who are in real danger of being relegated this year. It was harder work for City at home, as they had to come from behind against Hull City, but two early second half goals from Jo Inge Berget got it done. And with Blackburn Rovers being held to a draw at home to Charlton, both Fulham and City shuffle up a place.

Tuesday 25th March
Defeat for Cardiff City on the South Coast tonight. The Bluebirds made the cross country trip to face Brighton and Hove Albion, one of the clubs still battling in a large group to avoid relegation. A goalless first half, but City suffered a blow early after the restart, Jo Inge Berget spraining an ankle that may keep him out for the rest of the season. Moments later, Adriân Colunga scored to put Brighton ahead, his tenth of the season. With just over a quarter of an hour left, he netted again. Norwich won again, though that actually did City a favour, as it was Blackburn Rovers that they beat.

Saturday 29th March
In the early match in the Sky Bet Championship, there was a quick return to winning ways for Blackburn Rovers with a home win over Bolton Wanderers. That meant that most eyes were on Craven Cottage, where Fulham hosted Champions elect Norwich City. A 2-2 draw with City twice pegging Fulham back meant that in South Wales, there was an opportunity to gain some ground. They failed to take that chance, Adam Le Fondre putting The Bluebirds in front early on, only for Mustapha Carayol to equalise early in the second half for Playoff hopefuls Middlesbrough. With most clubs having seven games left, Norwich will go into April with an eight point lead over Blackburn. They're ahead of Fulham on goal difference, but the West London side have two games in hand. City sit a further point back in fourth place. We're about to hit the crucial month of April, and still Davide Di Cianni has yet to make his League Debut for The Bluebirds.

[EvilDave]

18 hours ago, neilhoskins77 said:

Gusting winds, snow flurries, and temperatures recorded at -7c. If Davide hadn't been so much in need of a better quality game of football, this would have been a good one to drop out of. As it was, he started for Italy Under-19's in the Russian town of Kyshtym

The weather may not be the only thing Davide had to worry about! A very interesting choice of venue there...

Still enjoying the cousins' divergent paths here Neil, great stuff as ever.

[tenthreeleader]

Perhaps Davide just wanted to receive a glowing report. (rimshot)

[neilhoskins77]

On 23/09/2020 at 09:11, EvilDave said:

The weather may not be the only thing Davide had to worry about! A very interesting choice of venue there...

Still enjoying the cousins' divergent paths here Neil, great stuff as ever.

I hadn't heard of the town, but when I was doing my research for the post I read that Wiki page. Very random choice of venue from the game!

18 hours ago, tenthreeleader said:

Perhaps Davide just wanted to receive a glowing report. (rimshot)

Booooooooo. If I had tomatoes, I'd throw them right now 10-3! Ha

[neilhoskins77]

Tuesday 1st April 2014
After Goytre United won at Aberdare ten days ago to extend their gap at the top, tonight was the chance to fight back. At Bridge Meadow Stadium, in front of a season high attendance of 400, Haverfordwest beat Goytre 3-1. Unfortunately, it wasn't the Goytre that they are battling against for promotion into the Welsh Premier Division, this was the Monmouthshire version of the club. 15 year old left winger Tom Samuel on his Senior Debut and full back Kyle Graves had County two up within half hour. William Davies pulled one back for Goytre, but Samuel reinstated the two goal advantage early after the restart, and when Davies was shown a straight red card for the visitors in an increasingly bad tempered second half, the chances of a comeback disappeared. So County draw themselves back to within three points of Goytre United, and Danilo could be back for the weekend, in what would be a timely boost for the West Wales side. The eagerly anticipated and crucial clash between the two is drawing closer.

Saturday 5th April
Cardiff City's automatic promotion hopes took a huge knock in the early kick off at lunchtime today, as they were thumped 3-0 by Leeds United in front of over 26,000 fans at the Cardiff City Stadium, and the TV cameras. Centre back Michael Hector scored in the first half, and striker Noel Hunt and full back Sam Byram completed the scoring in the second half. Norwich had already earned a point on the road last night, while Blackburn won this afternoon. Fulham lost, though they still have a game in hand on those around them. City are now fourth, with Leeds right behind them.

Danilo is back! And not just available, he started for Haverfordwest County at Ynys Park against Ton Pentre this afternoon. And he announced his return with a 9th minute header to put County in front too, his fourth goal of the season, to kick off what would be a Man of the Match performance. But that would be as good as it would get for the 17 year old winger and his County team mates. Striker Paul Dunn equalised in the 16th minute, and County would have to hold on in the latter stages when Michael Parkins was sent off midway through the second half after a second booking. And Goytre United would take full advantage. At home to Aberbargoed Buds, they saw their visitors equalise in the 71st minute after being behind for over an hour. But two goals in the last ten minutes meant that they go into next weeks crunch tie in Port Talbot with a five point advantage in the Title race.

Monday 7th April
It was inevitable. Though the potential destination is a bit more of a surprise. Danilo has now started to attract attention from elsewhere. Could it be that Haverfordwest slipping to very much second favourites in their MacWhirter Welsh League Division One Title race with Goytre United has convinced would be suitors that he could be prepared to move on? He has two more years on his contract, but he could of course earn more than the £15 a week he is getting. Bury are top of the Sky Bet League Two, and two wins away from promotion to the third tier of English football. They're keeping an eye on the situation, and the skillful 17 year old winger. Surely Haverfordwest wouldn't let him go on the cheap?

Tuesday 8th April
A bounce back from the weekend for Cardiff City, as they travel to the South Coast and beat AFC Bournemouth 2-0 at Dean Court tonight. Gabon Captain and centre back Bruno Ecuélé Manga scored his first goal of the season midway through the first half to put City in front. Then in the dying seconds, home keeper Lee Camp went forward for a late Bournemouth corner, and City counter attacked, the keeper unable to get back in time as Anthony Pilkington lifted the ball over the retreating Camp. There was a defeat for Norwich, wins for Blackburn and Fulham, and a draw for Leeds. So Cardiff stay fourth.

Saturday 12th April
It looks like the game is up for Haverfordwest County. They were up against it from the off when Kyle Graves was shown a red card with just six minutes on the clock against Goytre United at their Glenhafod Park home. Gareth Whittaker found the net in the 32nd minute, before being replaced after sustaining an injury early in the second half. Danilo played the full game, but couldn't help County find an equaliser, and with just four games remaining, they are eight points behind the Champions elect.

Sunday 13th April
There has to be something in Haverfordwest's imminent failure to achieve promotion having a potential impact on Danilo's future. After the defeat that all but ended their hopes of moving into the Welsh Premier League, two more clubs have joined the race to sign the Wales Under-21 International this summer. Bolton Wanderers are battling to avoid relegation from the Sky Bet Championship, while Port Vale are still holding Playoff ambitions with just four games remaining in their League One schedule. The odds on Danilo leaving Bridge Meadow Stadium this summer continue to shorten.

Saturday 19th April
A vital victory for Cardiff City at home this afternoon, as they beat Brentford. It wasn't without its drama though, they led at the break thanks to a goal from Kim Bo-Kyung, but young Portuguese striker Betinho squared the game up with twenty minutes left to play. A draw looked on the cards, but Federico Macheda found the winner, and City come out with the three points.

Monday 21st April
Bank Holiday Monday, and Cardiff City earn their second win in 48 hours with a 1-0 win away to Millwall at The Den. This time the winner was netted early, in the 11th minute by Anthony Pilkington. The result guarantee's them a spot in the Playoffs at least. They are far from out of the race for an automatic promotion place. They are now the ones with the game in hand, and if they win it, they'll be level on points with second place Fulham, and very close to them on goal difference.

Saturday 26th April
Haverfordwest haven't yet thrown in the towel on the Title race in MacWhirter Welsh League Division One, but the final bell is very close in this one. County did their job today, winning 2-0 at home to Cambrian & Clydach Vale in front of a crowd that was almost 20% down. The damage was all done in the first half, Tom Harris with a close range finish in the 21st minute, before Danilo curled home his 5th of the season before the break. Their efforts are almost certainly in vain though, as Goytre United win 1-0 at Taffs Well, despite being down to ten men for over an hour due to winger Gary Pritchard's straight red card. But United changed things around, and substitute Sam Wade netted early in the second half, to move them to within touching distance of the Title and promotion to the top tier of Welsh Football. With three games to play, and an eight point lead, a draw next time out may well be enough, but a win would make certain. The only frustration will be having to wait three weeks before the next round of League games, where they will travel to near neighbours in Port Talbot, seventh placed TATA Steel.

While County's hopes are all but gone, Cardiff City keep pushing in their bid for automatic promotion to the Premier League. They beat Wigan Athletic 1-0 in the late kick off at the Cardiff City Stadium this evening, with Adam Le Fondre's ninth minute strike holding up as the only goal of the game. Davide once again came tantalisingly close to a Senior League Debut, as he was on the bench for this one, but once more he was an unused substitute. Norwich produced a Friday night win, while Fulham and Leeds also won today. Blackburn lost though. City are now third, with a game in hand that will be played in midweek, ahead of the final day shootout next weekend. If they win their midweek game away to Huddersfield Town, they will be level on points with Fulham, and it will be between the two to join Norwich, who have now been crowned as Champions.

Tuesday 29th April
It could be on for The Bluebirds! They've set up a fascinating final day of the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday with a 2 -0 away win over Huddersfield Town tonight. A frustrating first half was put behind them with two goals in a seven minute spell around the hour mark, firstly from Peter Whittingham, and then from Aron Gunnarsson. Many would put them as favourites to overhaul Fulham this weekend now as well. Fulham have a two goal advantage in terms of goal difference, but it's City who have the more favourable fixture. They are at home to an Ipswich Town side that have nothing to play for, while Fulham have to travel to face Leeds United, who still need a point to keep Nottingham Forest at bay and guarantee their spot in the Promotion Playoffs after being overtaken by Wigan Athletic in recent weeks. It could be quite the showdown!

[neilhoskins77]

Thursday 1st May 2014
An accolade that will give Cardiff City further confidence going into this huge weekend? Or a jinx? It has often been mentioned in the past that it has been seen that way. Ole Gunnar Solskjær has been awarded the Sky Bet Championship Manager of the Month for April Award, pipping Kenny Jackett of Watford after five wins from six games, and four clean sheets as well. Lothar Matthäus of Leeds United was third, the only team to inflict defeat on The Bluebirds during the month.

He's joined by his 25 year old centre back Bruno Ecuélé Manga, who is the Sky Bet Championship Player of the Month for April, selected ahead of William Kvist of Wigan Athletic and Tom Cairney of Blackburn Rovers. Double jinx?

Saturday 3rd May
At Cardiff City Stadium and Elland Road, the season was about to end. And for Cardiff City, it could not have gone any better, to start with at least. Adam Le Fondre scored in the 5th minute, and within a few minutes of that, midfielder Luke Murphy had Leeds United ahead against Fulham. Shortly after half time, Noel Hunt had Leeds two up. Unfortunately for The Bluebirds, by then Kévin Bru had equalised for Ipswich Town at the Cardiff City Stadium, and shortly after the second goal at Elland Road, there was a second for Ipswich, and it would stick in the craw a little that it came from Rory Donnelly, who is on loan from bitter rivals Swansea City. And with Cardiff unable to find an equaliser, it would be Fulham who would join Norwich City in the Premier League next season. For Cardiff, it would be a tough two legged Playoff Semi-Final with Leeds United, with Wigan Athletic facing Blackburn Rovers in the other Semi.

Sunday 4th May
That might not be the end of the Fulham link in this story. They have joined the list of interested parties to sign Danilo from Haverfordwest County. The jury is out on whether that would be a good move for him, or if he'd be better off moving somewhere that First Team football is more achievable. There was also brief interest from Burton Albion that seems to have quickly faded, while Port Vale's interest also seems to have waned.

Tuesday 6th May
Next week sees Wales Under-19's take part in the Second Qualifying Round Stage for the 2014 UEFA European Under-19 Championships, which are being held this summer in Hungary. This is the last Qualification Stage, and only the seven Group Winners will join the hosts, with even the reigning Champions from Serbia needing to earn their place. Wales are in Group 2, as they are with Spain in joining Scandinavian nations Denmark and Norway. The 23 man squad is named by Chris Malone, and includes Danilo, who is the only player in the squad who isn't playing in the for a club in the English Premier League and Football League.

Friday 9th May
Elland Road, and the First Leg of the Sky Bet Championship Playoff Semi-Final. A full house of almost 38,000 see Kim Bo-Kyung put Cardiff in front in the 25th minute, but two goals in three minutes before the break from Giuseppe Bellusci and Noel Hunt had Leeds in front. But anything they could do, so could Cardiff. They matched that effort early in the second half, Magnus Wolff Eikrem and Bo-Kyung's second gave the visitors a 3-2 lead that they would hold onto, and take into the Second Leg next week in the Welsh capital.

Monday 12th May
In Aarhus, it's the start of Group 2 in Round Two of the UEFA Under-19 European Championship Qualifiers. There is no Danilo for this opener, in which Wales are handed a bit of a thrashing. Denmark were three goals up at the break, thanks in large to a quick and early double from AGF striker Kenny Rasch in the city where he plays his club football. One more was added after the break, and Denmark win 4-0.

Wednesday 14th May
Disaster for Cardiff City tonight in the Second Leg of their Playoff Semi-Final. A full house saw Adam Le Fondre score in the 8th minute, giving City a two goal advantage. And that would hold until ten minutes from time. Then Billy Sharp struck twice in four minutes, the second from the penalty spot. That levelled the match up on aggregate, and four minutes into Extra Time, a long range shot from Jamaican International midfielder Rodolph Austin found the net, and Leeds would hold on to move on to Wembley and face Wigan Athletic. For City, it will be another season at least in the Sky Bet Championship.

In fact, it was a pretty miserable day for Welsh football all around. After already being thrashed in Denmark, the Wales Under-19 squad would face Spain at Swansea venue Gors Avenue. There they were thumped again, 5-0 this time, with Sebas of Juventus getting the scoring underway as early as the second minute in. Danilo played the full match, but was unable to make an impact against a dominant Spanish side. They still have one fixture to play, but Wales are out of contention for a place in the Finals now. But Danilo has continued to pick up admirers, with Tottenham Hotspur and Ipswich Town joining the clubs interested in signing the winger.

Saturday 17th May
Haverfordwest County went into today knowing that they couldn't afford to drop any more points, and then did exactly that. With no Danilo who is still away with Wales Under-19's, it took County 70 minutes to find a way through against Pen-y-Bont at Bridge Meadow Stadium, with substitute Tom Hicks finding the net. But less than ten minutes later, winger Robbie Walters found an equaliser. I suppose it's some consolation that it wouldn't have mattered if they had won, as Goytre United scored four times at TATA Steel to claim the MacWhirter Welsh League Division One Title. The only positive for County was that Aberdare Town lost at home to Caerau Ely, so County remain second at least for now.

While his club were having their season effectively ended, Danilo was in North Wales, where Wales Under-19's were finishing their fairly dismal UEFA European Under-19 Championship Qualifying Group 2 campaign. They did at least manage to salvage some pride at Maelor School in Wrexham, earning a 1-1 draw with Norway. The opener came in the 10th minute from Cardiff City forward Andrew James, before Youssef Chaib of Fredrikstad levelled quarter of an hour later. The two nations filled the bottom half of the Group, which was won by Spain on goal difference ahead of Denmark. That one extra goal they scored past Wales proved crucial. Danilo played an hour of this one before being substituted, but the list of interested clubs is continuing to grow, with Liverpool, Leicester City, West Ham United, Queens Park Rangers and Reading the latest said to be monitoring the talented teenager.

Saturday 24th May
Haverfordwest County played their penultimate game of the season today, away from home to AFC Porth in the Rhondda at their Dinas Park home. And in very warm conditions, it was a comfortable afternoon for County, as they won 3-0. Danilo didn't find the net, or provide an assist, but he put in another impressive outing, with several Scouts said to be watching, two of which were rumoured to be representing the two Manchester clubs. Andrew Mumford opened the scoring before the break with the first of two he netted on the day, with soon to be leaving Nigerian striker Vincent Ateuyi getting his second of the season in one of his final appearances for the club. Aberdare Town won with a very late winner at Pen-y-Bont, meaning that second place isn't settled yet. Goytre United have clearly been partying, they drop rare points at home to West End.

Sunday 25th May
Haverfordwest County have today handed Mike Ellis, their 55 year old Manager at the club, new one year deal at the club. He has been working at his hometown club since November 2010, when he took a job as a Coach, then quickly having a short spell as Caretaker Manager. In May 2011 he was given the job on a full time basis, and has been in charge ever since.

Saturday 31st May
The end of the month, and the end of the domestic football season for Haverfordwest County, and they finish on a high. A close fought game in Cardiff against Caerau Ely see's Danilo's side come out with a 2-1 win that secures second place in the MacWhirter Welsh League Division One. The 17 year old winger would be disappointed to be forced off just after the half hour mark with an injury however, in what could well have been his final game for the club. His club had gone in front through Andrew Mumford, and been pegged back by Nikos Christopoulos by that point, but Tim Hicks came off the bench to fire home a winner, and while there is no promotion or medal this season, they have been very competitive all the way through. If it was to be Danilo's final game for the club, he has made his mark this season.

[neilhoskins77]

Sunday 1st June 2014
Cardiff City are said to be seething at media reports that their manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær has publically expressed his interest in the vacant job at Celtic after fellow Norwegian manager Ronny Deila resigned last night amid huge pressure to do so after Celtic failed to win the SPL Title, a 1-0 home defeat to Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the penultimate round of games effectively handing a maiden Scottish Title to the Highland club. With Rangers earning promotion back to the SPL, the job won't get any easier, but while Solksjær admits there has been no contact from the Old Firm giants, he is on record as saying he would be interested in speaking to them about the vacancy.

Wednesday 4th June
It has happened, a done deal. Ole Gunnar Solskjær has left Cardiff City Stadium, and moves north of the border to try and get Scottish giants Celtic back on track after their shock of being denied a 46th Title this season. The Bhoys have reached a settlement to pay City £775,000 to allow Solskjær to make the move. Now we wait to find out who will take the job at Cardiff, and if it turns out to be a good move for Davide Di Cianni and his prospects of First Team football in the Sky Bet Championship.

Sunday 8th June
The new man in charge at the Cardiff City Stadium has been announced today, and it's Steve McClaren the 53 year old Yorkshireman, who has previously managed Middlesbrough, England, FC Twente (twice), VfL Wolfsburg, Nottingham Forest and most recently Derby County, who sacked him in March of this year with the club much closer to relegation than they were prepared to accept. He signs a two year deal, and I'm not going to lie, that doesn't seem to be an appointment that will thrill Bluebirds fans. Though according to his profile, he does speak Dutch......

Monday 9th June
If Davide is going to be staying in South Wales with Schteve McClaren's new club, it looks very much like he will be without cousin Danilo for company in the Principality. Three clubs have come in for the Haverfordwest County teenage winger, those clubs being Ole's new club Celtic, Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton. Not one of them have offered County a fee for him however.

Tuesday 10th June
Three more clubs have today tabled their offers to take Danilo from his West Wales second tier side. Stoke City, Queens Park Rangers and Middlesbrough may offer more credible routes to First Team football than he'll find at bigger clubs, but will that come into the teenagers thought process? Still, there is no sign of a fee for Haverfordwest. What are the Board and Manager going to do? Surely they won't want to stand in the youngsters way, but with two years left on his deal, they should be asking for some compensation for their best prospect you would think?

Wednesday 11th June
And they continue to come, three by three. Liverpool, Aston Villa and Fulham are now all options for Danilo as well.

Thursday 12th June
All nine clubs that have tabled an offer to sign Danilo have had their offers accepted. Clearly for Haverfordwest, the moral dilemma that they faced came down on the side of being unable to stand in the way of Danilo moving on and potentially becoming a star at a much high level of football. Reports suggest that more clubs could yet join the race to sign the winger.

Friday 13th June
Chelsea have thrown their hat into the ring, and County immediately accept a tenth offer that would see them receive no fee for the 17 year old Wales Under-21 International.

Saturday 14th June
Sky Bet Championship side Reading, who just missed out on the Playoffs this season, are next to join the queue for Danilo's signature. How on earth is the young man going to make this decision.

Tuesday 17th June
Add in another layer to the Danilo Di Cianni transfer saga! Could he yet stay in Wales? Well, maybe. Cardiff City have an offer accepted, which if he were to accept, would see him join the club where his cousin Davide is an employee. Probably not right to say playing as he wasn't able to make his Senior League debut during the campaign.

Wednesday 18th June
There are of course much more attractive options than Cardiff City for Danilo. One of those is Arsenal, who's offer has today been accepted by Haverfordwest.

Friday 20th June
Bolton Wanderers of the Sky Bet Championship are the latest to offer Danilo a deal, but there are rumours that Danilo has all but made his mind up, with talks to discuss personal terms well advanced, and the teenager wanting to discuss it with family over the weekend before signing on the dotted line.

Tuesday 24th June
Decision made. And for Danilo, blue is still the colour! Well, he does have Italian blood even though he's a Welshman. The youngster who will be 18 later this summer has signed for Chelsea of the Premier League. Penthouse in West London, flash car? Not exactly.

Three year deal, with a one year extension offer for the Stamford Bridge club, and a 15% annual pay rise for the player. He'll be wanting that too, as he has signed a deal worth just £90 per week. Granted, it's six times what he was earning at Haverfordwest County, and it will increase to £375 per week once he has made five League appearances, but that would still be nothing compared to the money Davide is earning at Cardiff City Stadium, less than 10% of his weekly salary in fact. And I don't expect five Premier League appearances will be easy to come by, as he has been placed in the Under-21's. His Transfer Market value has rocketed up to £175,000 as a result of this move.

What about Haverfordwest County, who's part in this story has now come to an end, at least for the time being? While they haven't received a fee for Danilo, they have negotiated a undisclosed percentage of the any future sell on fee for the player who leaves Bridge Meadow Stadium. For now, they will continue trying to return to the Welsh Premier Division, but without their new found star. All the best County, thanks for a great season.

A quick word about the other team who featured to this point, albeit very briefly. Cosenza, where Davide started out but never played, had a pretty rough season in Italy's Serie C2/B, and after narrowly avoiding being dragged into the relegation zone in the closing rounds of games, they then had to go through the Relegation Playout process. Pitted against Castel Rigone first who finished directly below them, they took the lead in the First Leg away from home, but then had a man sent off and shipped an equaliser. A goalless draw in the return meant they went through by virtue of the rule that if the two legs don't produce a winner, the higher seed progresses. That meant a two legged tie with Real Vicenza from C2/A, winner stays up, loser goes down. A 1-1 draw in front of a less than quarter full stadium in Cosenza left Davide's old club worried about the return. In front of another poor crowd, a goalless draw meant Extra Time, 18 year old left winger Danilo Nigro on his Senior Debut for his hometown club, finding the net five minutes into the extra half hour, and Cosenza held on to preserve their status in the fourth tier of Italian football.

Season One Review - 2013/14

Davide Di Cianni (Capped at Italy Under-19 Level)
Club - Cardiff City (Sky Bet English Championship)
Current Value - £68,000
Current Contract - 2 years, £4,100 per week

Davide was transferred very early in the game, leaving his home town club of Cosenza in Italy, and headed to Wales to join Cardiff City, and his extended family. The transfer fee was a modest £40,000, and while Davide is earning over £4,000 per week now, it hasn't translated into First Team appearances, playing just two competitive games all season, one in the League Cup, and one age group International. A change of Manager at Cardiff may help him out, or a loan spell would be perfect for him.

| Competition | Apps  | Gls | Asts| Pens| PoM | Yel | Red | Sh Tar | Pas R | Mstks | Crs | Tck | Fouls | Fls Ag | Av Rat |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|Capital One Cup
              | 1 (0) |  0  |  0  |  0  |  0  |  0  |  0  | 1.00   | 69%   |  0    |  0  |  5  |  1    |  0     | 7.80   |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| European U19 Championship Qualifying
              | 1 (0) |  0  |  0  |  0  |  0  |  0  |  0  | 0.00   | 63%   |  0    |  0  |  4  |  1    |  0     | 7.70   |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Overall     | 2 (0) |  0  |  0  |  0  |  0  |  0  |  0  | 0.50   | 66%   |  0    |  0  |  9  |  2    |  0     | 7.75   |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Danilo Di Cianni (3 Caps, 0 Goals for Wales Under-21's)
Club - Chelsea (Barclays English Premier League)
Current Value - £175,000
Current Contract - 3 years, £90 per week

It was the exact opposite for Danilo, who spent the whole campaign with his hometown club, Haverfordwest County. And for the forward, five was the magic number. That was how many goals, assists and man of the match awards he picked up in the MacWhirter Welsh League Division One campaign, where County failed to earn promotion, and also the number of International games he played over two age groups for Wales. Now he is moving on, after an end of season Transfer to Chelsea on a Free. It's hard to see him featuring in their First Team anytime soon with their squads packed to the rafters. So it could be a loan spell, or some time in their age group sides to come next season.

|Competition | Apps   | Gls | Asts| Pens| PoM | Yel | Red | Sh Tar | Pas R | Mstks | Crs | Tck | Fouls | Fls Ag | Av Rat |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
| MacWhirter Welsh Football League Division 1 
             | 22 (0) |  5  |  5  |  0  |  5  |  3  |  0  | 0.64   | 50%   |  0    | 25  |  9  | 19    |  0     | 7.24   |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Welsh Cup  | 1 (0)  |  0  |  3  |  0  |  1  |  1  |  0  | 1.00   | 55%   |  0    |  1  |  1  |  2    |  0     | 8.70   |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| European U21 Championship Qualifying
             | 3 (0)  |  0  |  1  |  0  |  0  |  0  |  0  | 0.00   | 50%   |  0    |  3  |  3  |  2    |  0     | 6.67   |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
| European U19 Championship Qualifying
             | 2 (0)  |  0  |  0  |  0  |  0  |  0  |  0  | 0.00   | 50%   |  0    |  2  |  1  |  1    |  0     | 6.60   |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Overall    | 33 (0) |  9  | 11  |  1  |  6  |  4  |  0  | 0.67   | 51%   |  0    | 36  | 14  | 28    |  0     | 7.21   |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[neilhoskins77]

Sunday 6th July 2014
Cardiff City are in Holland to begin their Pre-Season preparations, with a mini tour against some fairly limited opposition from the third tier of the nation. They start in Veldhoven today against UNA, a goal in each half enough to dispatch the semi-professional opposition. This was Steve McClaren's first match in charge of The Bluebirds, and Davide Di Cianni saw some action in it, coming off the bench as a 57th minute substitute to play a little over half hour at centre back.

Sunday 13th July
After being left out of the City squad for a 4-1 midweek win over sv Argon, there is a starting place for Davide this afternoon in their final match in Holland against Quick '20. A 2-0 win thanks to a pair of early goals, and the teenage centre back plays the full ninety minutes in Oldenzaal. This is encouraging for him, and while there is tough competition for a place in the City rearguard, he does seem to be giving himself a shot at some First Team football in the coming season, and there may yet be something of a clearout from McClaren, with bids accepted for two centre backs.

Wednesday 16th July
Chelsea's schedule of pre-season games was pretty hectic, and a short trip across the city to play Leyton Orient would, I thought, present the most likely opportunity for Danilo to feature for The Blues. But no, they took a strong squad to Brisbane Road, and earned a 3-0 win after only managing a 1-1 draw in Germany against Hamburger SV a week ago.

Saturday 19th July
Meanwhile in South Wales, there had been more football for the First Team during this pre-season spell for Davide than he had featured in during the whole of last season. He came on at half time at the Cardiff City Stadium and played the entire second half of their 1-0 win over French side Stade de Reims. He didn't play centre back this time either, replacing Tom Adeyemi to play in the defensive midfield role. He'll potentially have to fight for that role too though, with City in the market for a new player in that very position. That's a good win for City, with Stade being a top tier side and French Cup Winners, which has them playing in the UEFA Europa League this coming season.

Monday 21st July
It was low key, even as Friendlies go. But it was a world away from his experiences in club football so far, and in the small Japanese city of Tendo, around 250 miles north of Tokyo, our boy Danilo got to pull on a Chelsea shirt for the very first time. The game against J-League 2 side Montedio Yamagata was won in the first half, André Schürrle scored inside the opening minute, Didier Drogba added a second in the fourth minute. Xherdan Shaqiri added a brace before the break, and maybe the game being well out of reach of the Japanese hosts was part of the reason Jose Mourinho was able to make the change. Danilo came on with 20 minutes remaining, replacing Drogba. He wasn't out of his depth either, making some nice runs, and getting a shot on target. A proud day for Danilo and his family.

Thursday 24th July
In the second game of their three match tour in Japan, their next destination is Osaka, and J-League 1 side Cerezo Osaka. The step up didn't cause too much of a problem for the Premier League side though, a 3-0 win recorded in front of a near full house, but no place in the squad for Danilo today.

Sunday 27th July
Chelsea finish up their almost week long tour of Japan with a game in Nagoya against the Grampus side from the top tier. The 45,000 capacity Toyota Stadium was less than half full, but it didn't matter to The Blues. Two goals in each half, first from Nathaniel Chalobah and Mo Salah, and then from Eden Hazard and Loïc Rémy meant it was a very comfortable afternoon for Mourinho's team. Danilo was not included in the matchday squad again today.

Monday 28th July
In Cardiff, it was French opposition once again for Steve McClaren and his Bluebirds side. This time it's second tier opposition in the form of Dijon, and they took a quick lead with just thirty seconds on the clock. A City equaliser came in the 19th minute through Magnus Wolff Eikrem, and that would complete the scoring. Davide got some game time too, once more in the defensive midfield role. They have signed Marcos Tébar from Brentford for almost £2 million, and he started in the role, but was substituted for Tom Adeyemi, who managed just four minutes before getting injured, allowing Davide around half hour of time on the park.

Wednesday 30th July
Chelsea are back in Europe, and they end July in Northern France against domestic heavyweights Olympique Lyon, managed by Dutch striking legend Marco van Basten. A strong Blues side are defeated 1-0 with a goal midway through the first half from Rachid Ghezzal.

July is done, the month where England were defeated by Germany in the World Cup Final in Brazil. The start of the 2014/15 season is close now as we are about to head into August. What will the new campaign bring for the Di Cianni cousins and their footballing dreams?

[neilhoskins77]

Saturday 2nd August 2014
If Davide Di Cianni can break into the First Team at Cardiff City this season, he'll be playing at a redeveloped Cardiff City Stadium that has seen an additional 5,500 seats installed at the venue, taking it's capacity up to 33,000 in total. Unfortunately they are almost 10,000 short of that new capacity as City opened their campaign in the Sky Bet Championship with a 2-0 win over Charlton Athletic thanks to a second half brace from Kenwyne Jones. No sign of Davide in their first competitive game under Steve McClaren though.

Tuesday 5th August
Last season Davide made his Senior football debut for Cardiff City in the Capital One Cup. I'm sure he'd have hoped to be involved once again when The Bluebirds were drawn at home to Forest Green Rovers in the First Round. Unfortunately, he is left out again, as City are taken into Extra Time before dispatching the Sky Bet League Two side with a goal from Conor McAleny, a 21 year old striker on loan from Everton.

Thursday 7th August
In the final pre-season match of their schedule, Chelsea are in Italy, where they are beaten 2-0 at the Luigi Ferraris in Genoa by a Sampdoria side that finished mid table in Serie A last season. No Danilo involved, he wasn't even on the trip, and as it stands there is no loan move on the cards, and he will be playing for the age group sides at his new club.

Saturday 9th August
After a very impressive defensive display at Turf Moor, there was only ten minutes to hold out when George Boyd scuffed in a shot from close range for Burnley and handed Cardiff City their first defeat of the campaign. Had they managed to hold on for a point, that would have been a good away draw for The Bluebirds against a side only relegated from the Premier League last season on the final day by a single goal.

Tuesday 12th August
Is Steve McClaren starting to move some players out of the Cardiff City Stadium in order to make room on the wage bill for new signings of his own? It's a mixed reaction from the fans, as 23 year old centre back Sean Morrison is sold to Norwich City for £5.25m, a new club record fee received by the club, eclipsing the £5m they received from Sunderland for Michael Chopra. There could yet be more departures to come too.

Saturday 16th August
Hull City. Are they about to turn the corner from yo-yo top two tier club into Premier League top half regulars? That might not be as ridiculous as it would sound to many. They finished tenth in the top tier last season, and have spent some money to try and push on again this season. They've certainly started well, as Steve Bruce's side thump Jose Mourinho's visiting Chelsea side 3-0 on the Barclays Premier League opening day, with three goals in a 14 minute spell just after half time. Is Mourinho's star falling at The Bridge? The game took place at The Circle. Not a new stadium, it's the one opened twelve years ago in the city, but under a new sponsorship deal has been named after the old cricket ground in the city that was closed forty years ago and was the clubs home for a spell. Bit of nostalgia there for some I'm sure.

One tier down in the Sky Bet Championship, there was a home win for Cardiff City against Middlesbrough in the Welsh Capital. Striker and last seasons top scorer Adam Le Fondre, subject of intense speculation of a Transfer before the Window closes, scored in each half, before Lee Tomlin netted a late consolation that made it an uncomfortable final five minutes for City. 

Steve McClaren continues to trim The Bluebirds squad, particularly the defence, as Gabon International centre back Bruno Ecuélé Manga is next to leave, headed to Italy to sign for Fiorentina in a deal worth £4.8m, and gets his well over £30,000 per week wages off the books. There's still no sign of Davide in the First Team squad though.

Thursday 21st August
With money to spend, and only ten days remaining of the Summer Transfer Window, there is a new arrival at the Cardiff City Stadium as McClaren restocks the rearguard, signing 28 year old Luke Chambers from Sky Bet Championship rivals Ipswich Town for £1.3m. The once capped Republic of Ireland International has been a regular at Portman Road for the last two seasons, and has played over 400 Senior games in England.

Saturday 23rd August
It's a long trip up to Sunderland from Cardiff. It's an even longer trip back when you don't have any points to keep you company. Cardiff seem to be very capable at home, but struggling on the road. Will McClaren regret selling his best defenders? Maybe after a pair of late first half goals did for them at the Stadium of Light, even though they played ten men for well over half an hour when Sebastian Larsson was shown a straight red card.

There were problems too for last seasons Sky Bet Championship Winners, as Norwich City were dispatched 3-1 at Stamford Bridge, with The Blues getting their first points on the board for Mourinho. It was Diego Costa who gave them a first half lead, but new signing and Israeli International midfielder Eran Zahavi levelled before the break with his first goal for his new club. But a seven minute double salvo from Oscar first, and then Eden Hazard made sure the points would stay in West London.

Tuesday 26th August
It's a shame that less than 9,000 were in the Cardiff City Stadium this evening, as The Bluebirds blew away Sky Bet League One side Crewe Alexandra in the Second Round of the Capital One Cup. It was the first half that did the damage, with Kagisho Dikacoi and Joe Mason scoring early, and Anthony Pilkington and Mason again scoring just before the break. Substitute Jo Inge Berget added a fifth very late on. But the score wasn't the best bit for us followers. No sir, a near perfect performance from Davide Di Cianni at centre back will hopefully have given Steve McClaren something to think about in only the second career Senior club game of his fledgling career.

While City were taking care of business on the park, Chelsea were doing so off it. They have sold 26 year old Serbian International midfielder Nemanja Matic to AS Roma for a fee rumoured to be around the £15m mark.

Thursday 28th August
The Group Stage draw is made for the UEFA Champions League this lunchtime, and Chelsea have been drawn with Juventus into Group E. With Athletic Club Bilbao joining them as well, it will likely be a very competitive section. It might be a tough schedule for the fourth side drawn in with them, three times consecutive Bulgarian Champions of Ludogorets Razgrad.

Friday 29th August
Shock news today, as Wales name their Senior Squad for a double header of games in early September. First they host Colombia in a Friendly International at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea, before switching to the the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff four days later for their opening Qualifier for the 2016 UEFA European Championships, where they host Portugal. And while Danilo has yet to feature for Chelsea, he has been included in the Senior Squad by Chris Coleman, who is taking some fairly hefty flack from the press as he names six uncapped players. With limited International experience, Danilo declares himself 'surprised and very nervous' after hearing the news.

After playing only two competitive games in his entire first season, Davide could be in line to double that total soon. He has already played for Cardiff City this season, and like Danilo also makes a step up at International level too. He played once for Italy Under-19's last season, and he has today been named in their Under-21 Squad. They are also playing a home double header, firstly against Azerbaijan in their dead rubber final 2015 UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualifying Group 10 match, with top spot already secured. They then host Japan in a Friendly four days later. He is one of three UK based players included their selection.

Saturday 30th August
In the early kickoff, Chelsea made the trip to Leicester City and will travel home with three more points to their name. The Blues had to shrug off the early injury to Oscar, and his replacement Xherdan Shaqiri opened the scoring before the break. Gary Cahill swept home a second on the hour mark to bury The Foxes. That Oscar injury will be a blow to Mourinho and his team though, a torn hamstring ruling the Brazilian out for at least two months.

The away day blues continued for The Bluebirds however. They returned empty handed from the bright lights of Blackpool, despite Adam Le Fondre opening the scoring for City just four minutes in. But The Seasiders turned the game around, Nathan Delfouneso netting an equaliser half an hour later, and Nile Ranger scoring early in the second half. Once more Cardiff had a significant amount of time against ten men when defensive midfielder Ángel was shown a second yellow card before the hour mark. But they couldn't find a way through at Bloomfield Road, and Blackpool leapfrog The Bluebirds to finish August in the top half of the table.

[neilhoskins77]

Tuesday 2nd September 2014
The Qualifying Groups have today been drawn for the 2015 version of the UEFA European Under-19 Championships. The 2014 Finals were held in Hungary, and won by Germany, and next summer it will be the turn of Greece to host, twenty years since they last had the Finals in their nation.

Italy would, I imagine, be fairly happy with their Qualifying draw, placed into Group 1, where they will be kept company by Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Northern Ireland. Meanwhile for Wales, they are in Group 12, which looks like it could be pretty competitive as they are alongside the Republic of Ireland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. The top two from each Group will progress, along with the best Third Placed nation. It's a possibility that both Davide and Danilo could be involved, though it could be that both are now going to be pressed into action at a higher level of International Football.

Thursday 4th September
In the Southern Italian city of Reggio Calabria, the nations Under-21 side host their counterparts from Azerbaijan in their final Group 10 Qualifying match for 2015 UEFA European Under-21 Championships. This one was a dead rubber, with Italy having already claimed the top spot to claim the Playoff Place for the next phase. In front of a crowd in excess of 8,000 strong at the Oreste Granillo, there was an early lead for the Italians through Francesco Fedato with just three minutes on the clock. Just before half time, Inter Milan defender Simone Pasa suffered a broken leg, and while those are not the ideal circumstances to make a debut, it was Davide who replaced him to earn his first cap at Under-21 level for his nation. Moments later, Manchester United forward Domenico Berardi scored to increase the lead, and AC Milan striker Andrea Petagna, who is currently on loan at Premier League club Hull City, completed the scoring with five minutes remaining to make it a 3-0 win. Congratulations to Davide.

Friday 5th September
What a week it has been for the Di Cianni's. Last night Davide earned his first cap for Italy at Under-21 level, and now at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea, there is a first Senior International Cap for Wales for Danilo in the International Friendly against Colombia. He started in a very strong Wales side, coming off in the 53rd minute to be replaced by Bolton Wanderers forward Craig Davies. It wasn't a sparkling display from Danilo unfortunately, though he has played very little football since the end of the season. Ash Taylor of Aberdeen also started for his Senior International debut, while Inverness Caledonian Thistle forward Marley Watkins made his from the bench late on. And Wales earned the win too, Crystal Palace attacking midfielder Jon Williams scoring his first International goal. It's a huge milestone for Danilo. But I'm still not expecting him to push his way into the Chelsea squad lineup this season.

Monday 8th September
Even with Simone Pasa's broken leg putting him out of the picture, there was still no start for Davide as Italy Under-21's host Japan in a Friendly played in the north of the nation in the city of Ferrara, located between Bologna and Venice. Twice the Italian youngsters took the lead through Andrea Petagna, only to see the Japanese visitors equalise at the Paolo Mazza Stadium. It was on the hour when Davide came on as a substitute to earn his second cap, as Genoa's much more experienced 21 year old Mario Sampirisi picked up a knock. Moments later Lorenzo Crisetig of Parma put the hosts in front, and this time Japan couldn't find a way back, with Real Madrid's 18 year old midfielder Mario Pugliese netting a fourth late on to put Italy out of reach. He might have been a substitute twice, and come on both times after injuries, but it's still been a big International Window for Davide.

Tuesday 9th September
No Danilo involved for Wales tonight at the Millennium Stadium, as they open their 2016 UEFA European Championship Qualifying Group B campaign with a decent 1-1 draw against Portugal in Cardiff with a crowd of almost 60,000 in the venue. Benfica striker Nélson Oliveira opened the scoring shortly before the break with his third International goal, but just before the hour Gareth Bale continued his excellent start to the season for Real Madrid by netting his 16th goal for his country, and earned Wales a good opening point.

Thursday 11th September
Former striker and club favourite Robert Earnshaw has urged The Bluebirds faithful to get behind under pressure manager Steve McClaren. The former Welsh International has told the press in the Welsh Capital that the worst thing City could do now is make a rash decision, and bring in another new manager without giving McClaren more than just a little time. It's hardly end of the world form from the Sky Bet Championship club, they have won two and lost three of their opening five games.

Friday 12th September
If the pressure wasn't on Steve McClaren before, it absolutely is now, and even a club legend like Robert Earnshaw's support might not be enough to save him after a 3-1 home defeat to a Scunthorpe United side that were promoted from Sky Bet League One last season, and now sit in the Championship Playoff spots, while City are languishing down in 18th with only six points from their opening six matches. Their new defensive look is not working, Paddy Madden had Scunthorpe in front after just ten minutes, before a double from Massimo Maccarone had out of sight. Adam Le Fondre pulled one back midway through the second half, but City couldn't get any more traction than that, and slump to their fourth defeat of the season. Davide was an unused substitute today, coming close to making his Senior League debut in the same week that he became an Under-21 International for Italy.

Saturday 13th September
The lunch time kick off at the Emirates Stadium was a juicy all London affair as Arsenal hosted Chelsea. There was no Danilo, and no points for The Blues. It was Arsenal who took a first half lead through Santi Cazorla, but Chelsea got an equaliser with twenty minutes to go through substitute striker Loïc Rémy. That parity was short lived though, as Alexis Sánchez curled home a shot to put The Gunners back in front for good. José Mourinho will not have enjoyed that one!

Monday 15th September
BBC Sport are reporting that time could well be running out for Steve McClaren at the Cardiff City Stadium. The former England manager may only have been in charge for three months, and eight competitive games, but it's heavily rumoured that a home defeat to Derby County tomorrow night could see owner Vincent Tan, the Chairman at the club Mehmet Dalman, and the Board of Directors, elect to make a change quickly to avoid the club falling any further behind the clubs at the top end of the early League table.

Tuesday 16th September
Have former club Derby County just hammered the final nail in the Cardiff City coffin for Steve McClaren? A close range finish from Jeff Hendrick in the 73rd minute saw The Rams leave Wales on a gusty night with all three points, their first win of the season and leaving them just a point behind City, who were booed off the park by over 20,000 at the Cardiff City Stadium. And Davide was once more an unused substitute. The question now remains as to whether McClaren will be in charge for Saturday afternoons visit to fourth placed AFC Bournemouth on the South Coast.

Wednesday 17th September
Chelsea start their UEFA Champions League Group E campaign with a result that many consider a surprise, as they beat Juventus 2-1 at Stamford Bridge. After having the best of the game for almost an hour, the London side finally found a way through just before the hour with a deflected finish from André Schürrle, only to see Juve find an equaliser ten minutes later through Carlos Tevez after superb build up work by Paul Pogba. But the Italians were undone with just seven minutes left to play, it was super sub who was at it again, Loïc Rémy netting via the post with a close range finish, and getting The Blues off to a winning start in Europe.

Saturday 20th September
It hasn't been a great start for Chelsea in the Barclays Premier League this season however, and they have lost again today. Liverpool were the visitors to Stamford Bridge this evening, and in front of a full house in West London, all the goalscoring came in the opening 16 minutes. Veteran skipper Steven Gerrard opened the scoring for The Reds just four minutes in, only for Diego Costa to equalise ten minutes later with a low driven shot that found the net via the inside of the post. But just two minutes later, Daniel Sturridge, who never really got a chance during his four seasons at Chelsea, fired the winner from close range, and The Blues find themselves keeping Arsenal and Tottenham company in the bottom half as the London clubs struggle in the early weeks of the Premier League.

Struggles are something that Steve McClaren and his Cardiff City side know all about right now, and they are beaten for the fourth Sky Bet Championship game in a row today at Dean Court on the South Coast. It was actually City who went in front in the 10th minute, thanks to a close range header from Aron Gunnarsson. That would be as good as it would get for The Bluebirds though, as home skipper Ross Draper scored his first goal of the season for an equaliser before half time, and then a ten minute double from Brett Pitman after the break sealed the win for The Cherries. They move into the top three, while Cardiff are only outside of the bottom three by virtue of their slightly better goal difference. Davide was once more an unused substitute, though he was actually injured in the post match warm down, and will be out for the next week or so, meaning he will almost certainly miss this weeks upcoming Capital One Cup Third Round tie away to Sky Bet League One outfit Preston North End.

Tuesday 23rd September
Things are not going well domestically for José Mourinho and his Chelsea side. Tonight they have been bounced out of the Capital One Cup in the their first tie of the season in the competition, beaten 2-1 at the Madejski Stadium by Reading. It was a strong Chelsea side that made the trip to face the Sky Bet Championship club, but it was the Internationals on the Reading squad that scored first half goals, firstly Russian striker Pavel Pogrebnyak, and then Welsh Under-21 International midfielder Jake Taylor from the spot. André Schürrle pulled one back for The Blues with around a quarter of an hour to go, but they couldn't find an equaliser. Danilo wasn't included in the matchday squad, the only Chelsea debutant tonight being Danish centre back Andreas Christensen.

The boot was on the other foot for Cardiff City though, as their trip up to Preston was a successful one, and they progress into the Fourth Round. It certainly wasn't smooth sailing for them, but Steve McClaren will undoubtedly just be happy to see his side pick up a much needed win, and the man to thank is Republic of Ireland International striker Joe Mason, who netted all three City goals in 3-2 win at Deepdale. The reward for The Bluebirds is a home Fourth Round tie with Barclays Premier League opposition, Queens Park Rangers.

Friday 26th September
Just like his cousin up the M4 in South Wales, there will be a brief spell on the sidelines for Danilo, after he picked up a knock in a training session for Chelsea today. It's a calf strain for the talented young forward, and he will be out for around a fortnight. The timing of the injury is unfortunate though, a the next Welsh Squad is due to be named next week, meaning that Danilo is going to miss out this time.

Last season under Ole Gunnar Solskjær, there was a poor spell for Cardiff City that ultimately cost them an automatic promotion spot. Have they had their bad spell already this season? It certainly looks like it, as they have thumped West Ham United 3-0 at the Cardiff City Stadium tonight. All the goals came in the second half, with Kim Bo-Kyung, Adam Le Fondre and Aron Gunnarsson finding the net in a half hour spell that delighted the crowd of almost 21,000, gave the club their first League win in five and in over a month, and sent them up to 18th place and more in touch with the clubs in the mid table area. It might not be such good news for Davide though. After being so close to getting himself in the First Team picture, has that slight knock pushed him back down the pecking order again?

Tuesday 30th September
Chelsea's form in the Barclays Premier League has been sketchy at best, but that has now carried over to the UEFA Champions League as well. After beating Juventus at home, they have now travelled to Bulgaria to face Ludogorets, and will return home with nothing! Slovenian International striker Roman Bezjak gave the hosts the lead early, with Brazilian midfielder Ramires levelling things back up midway through the first half. But Bulgarian International right winger Radoslav Dimitrov put Ludogorets back in front just after the hour, and Chelsea couldn't get themselves level for a second time.

The London side are not the only ones struggling either. That turn around in form for Cardiff City has turned out to be a bit of a false dawn, as tonight they have travelled north to face Bolton Wanderers, and been beaten. Young striker Zach Clough got the only goal of the game on the half hour mark of his first start of the season with Bolton, and that result drops The Bluebirds down to 19th place, with Bolton level on points with them and just one place behind. If it turns out that Cardiff are not underachieving, and this is the level their squad is capable of under Steve McClaren, he is going to do well to survive another month in the job!

[neilhoskins77]

Thursday 2nd October 2014
The month begins with International Squad announcements. For Italy Under-21's, that squad is for their crucial two-legged Playoff with Holland for a place in the 2015 UEFA European Under-21 Championship Finals next summer in the Czech Republic. There is a place in the squad for Davide, once more part of a trio of UK based players that are included in Luigi Di Biagio's selection. He has already played more International football than First Team football so far this season.

There is no involvement for Danilo this time around, his injury keeps him out of contention for Chris Coleman's selection for the Wales Senior Squad as they prepare for their away double header in Group B of the UEFA 2016 European Championship Qualifiers against San Marino and Switzerland.

Saturday 4th October
José Mourinho has some real problems at Stamford Bridge, as he watches on while his side lose 2-0 at home to Stoke City in a bad tempered game that threatened to boil over on several occasions. Mame Diouf put The Potters in front in the 16th minute, and for the next 70 minutes the battle of Stamford Bridge commenced, with 13 players getting booked, inevitably one of them twice, Robert Huth in the 86th minute. Not that it did Chelsea any favours, as two minutes later Marc Wilson smashed home a free kick to put the game out of The Blues reach. We're nearly two months into the season, and Chelsea sit in 14th in the Premier League. I don't think any of us really believe that a certain Russian fella with a few quid in his pocket will be happy with that situation for long.

Things are no better at the Cardiff City Stadium either, as Steve McClaren's charges slip to their eighth defeat in ten Sky Bet Championship matches. It's Sheffield United who take the points out of their hands this time, with striker Michael Higdon netting in the 25th minute. Again there is no place for Davide in the matchday squad, and there doesn't seem to be room for Cardiff at the sharp end of the League Table either, as they're now sat in 21st place with just nine points! Ouch!

Tuesday 7th October
It's another game without a win for Cardiff tonight after their trip into London to play Millwall. They were ahead within a minute through Joe Mason, and when Yaya Sanogo equalised in the 13th minute, Mason scored again just a minute later to put City back in front. But his delight was short lived, as the Republic of Ireland International forward broke his arm in a challenge near the touchline as the half hour mark approached. That in itself would have given cause for hope for the Millwall fans, and Lee Martin heading home an equaliser in the 34th minute, which would turn out to be the last goal of the game, was the cherry on the cake for them. 2-2 it ends at The Den.

Thursday 9th October
Davide is involved from the bench to win his third Under-21 cap for Italy this evening in front of a full house crowd of 11,000 in San Benedetto del Trotto. He came on as a 77th minute substitute for Mario Sampirisi, by which point all the scoring had been done. Domenico Berardi scored a 47th minute penalty to put Italy ahead against Holland, but they equalised quickly through Davy Klaesen. But Italy wouldn't be denied, and Mauro Bollino put them ahead for a second time midway through the second half, and they'll take a one goal lead into the Second Leg.

Friday 10th October
Not so very far away, European International whipping boys San Marino were taking another beating in a competitive game in Serravalle. In their Group B Euro 2016 Qualifier, first half goals from Hal Robson-Kanu and Simon Church were added to in the second half by Marley Watkins and David Cotterill, as Wales headed for Switzerland with a comfortable 4-0 win in the bag.

Monday 13th October
At Groningen's home stadium, the Euroborg, there was a fourth Under-21 cap for Davide, as he continued the theme of them all being as a substitute, this time a 76th minute entrance as he replaced Alessio Romagnoli. Unfortunately, by the time he got on the park, Holland had flipped this tie right around, three goals in the opening half hour leaving Italy needing at least a pair. They got one back from a penalty late on from Andrea Petagna, but that wasn't enough, they are out on aggregate, and Davide's dream of a summer playing football at an age group European Championships are over.

Tuesday 14th October
Four points from their opening two games in Qualifying for the European Championships, which included a home draw with Portugal, was a great start for Wales. But it came crashing down in Geneva, as they beaten by Switzerland tonight. First half goals from Eren Derdiyok and Chelsea winger Xherdan Shaqiri sent them to their first defeat, and there is a surprise leader of Group B, as Georgia have beaten Portugal in Tbilisi to be the only unbeaten nation in the pool.

Friday 17th October
Not a moment too soon, and Cardiff City finally get a win on the board, unexpectedly so too. They claim a Friday night away day victory against a Watford side who are around the Playoff places, thanks to Craig Noone's first goal of the season midway through the first half. That win may have come just in time for Steve McClaren, though it was done without Davide, who remains left out of the matchday squad.

Saturday 18th October
In what was starting to look a 'who will get sacked first' competition, José Mourinho has taken the lead, as his Chelsea side suffer defeat at Old Trafford, and in heartbreaking fashion too. They fell behind just before the break to an Adnan Januzaj penalty, but were back on level terms ten minutes after the restart through André Schürrle's solo effort. But with three minutes to play, one of their former employees Juan Mata volleyed home a winner for United, and while United move up into second, Chelsea are now 15th, with only nine points from eight games, and just two points above the relegation zone.

Tuesday 21st October
Back at Stamford Bridge for a European Night, there was still no win on the board for The Blues. Their visitors are Athletic Bilbao, who took the lead just ten minutes in through wantaway Spanish International winger Iker Muniain. It was another Spanish International who got the next goal too, but this time it was Chelsea striker Diego Costa, who levelled the game on the hour to earn a point, and they would be top of the Group had they won in Bulgaria.

Saturday 25th October
Things are just not going the way of The Blues or José Mourinho at Stamford Bridge right now, as they fall to another defeat, their third successive reverse in the Barclays Premier League. This time the benefactors from their poor form are Southampton, who raced into a two goal lead inside twenty minutes thanks to goals from Morgan Schneiderlin and Papiss Cissé. They managed to pull one back before the end of the first half, a first goal for the club from Spanish centre back Marc Bartra. The second half was a constant stream of Chelsea attacks, but they couldn't find a way through The Saints rearguard, and they are now 17th, just a point ahead of QPR who are in the relegation zone.

Meanwhile down the M4, things seem to be on the turn at the Cardiff City Stadium, as The Bluebirds record a 3-2 home victory against a Blackburn Rovers side that they have closed to within a point of in the Sky Bet Championship now. It was a back and forth game, with Craig Noone rediscovering his goalscoring touch of late, putting City ahead twice in the opening half hour, with Rudy Gestede netting in between for Rovers. The points looked safe when captain Aron Gunnarsson scored with just over ten minutes to play, but it would be a nervous end to the game when Chris Brown scored as the clock struck ninety. City held on though, making it three without defeat, and turning things around just in time for Steve McClaren, certainly if West Ham United are to be used as a guide, The Hammers sacking manager Iain Brunskill today after a 3-1 defeat away to Wigan Athletic that sees the East London club sat in 13th place.

Tuesday 28th October
A much changed Cardiff City side were bundled out of the Capital One Cup tonight in their last game of the month. It was Barclays Premier League outfit Queens Park Rangers that sent out something much closer to their full strength lineup as they look for some confidence to take into their League form. They returned to London with a 2-0 win to move into the Fifth Round, with their goals coming just two minutes apart around the half hour mark, first from Leroy Fer, and then a spectacular overhead kick from Charlie Austin. There was a full ninety minutes at centre back for Davide, and he certainly took his chance to impress, competing with keeper Joe Lewis to be Cardiff's man of the match as he made his second First Team appearance of the season.

[neilhoskins77]

Saturday 1st November 2014
Chelsea begin November with a lunchtime kick off for their West London derby with near neighbours Fulham at Craven Cottage. It was a surprisingly even game between two clubs both looking to improve their fortunes, and Chelsea had to be patient, but they would get the job done with a pair of goals in the final quarter of the match, firstly from Diego Costa, and then from Willian. The win lifts Chelsea above their neighbours, and closer to the mid table pack.

Further north, and the Cardiff City resurgence in form from late October suffered a major setback with a defeat at the City Ground against Nottingham Forest. A quarter of an hour in, Dexter Blackstock got the first of what would turn out to be a brace for the afternoon, with his second coming early in the second half. Michail Antonio added a third for Forest just after the hour mark, and centre back Luke Chambers close range finish with just moments remaining was merely a consolation for The Bluebirds, for who Davide Di Cianni was an unused substitute as he again gets tantalisingly close to making his Senior League Football debut.

Tuesday 4th November
On a day when a prominent football magazine expressed its opinion that with a player overhaul over and above any other club in the Football League, the Cardiff City side now really does belong to Steve McClaren, and that the former England Manager can no longer claim to need time to reshape his squad. They drop points again this evening, as Playoff chasing Reading visit South Wales. The visitors took the lead inside a minute through Jem Karacan, and the Berkshire club then had to batten down the hatches to keep City out. They nearly managed it too, but Spanish midfielder Marcos Tébar forced a way through inside the final five minutes to earn The Bluebirds a point, with Davide once again remaining on the bench for the duration of the game.

Wednesday 5th November
The erratic form of Chelsea under José Mourinho continues as they suffer an second defeat in their Champions League schedule, beaten in Spain by Athletic Bibao at the San Mamés. They were three goals down inside half hour after a horror start in the Basque Country, with Iker Muniain and Kike Sola both scoring in the opening two minutes, and then Sola adding another on the half hour mark. Diego Costa managed to pull one back before the break, but the Londoners could not pull the deficit back any further, and they sink to the bottom of Group E with only two games remaining to salvage their hopes of a place in the knockout stages.

Friday 7th November
Red top tabloid newspaper The Daily Mirror are today reporting that José Mourinho will be sacked if Chelsea fail to beat Leeds United in the Premier League this weekend. They claim the information came from a high level but unnamed source at Stamford Bridge.

If Mourinho does get sacked, one of his last signings at Stamford Bridge will have been Danilo, who today is brought back into the Wales Senior Squad setup by Chris Coleman. He'll be hoping to add to his one cap so far in the International Friendly double header that starts in Moldova, and then returns to Swansea where they will host Israel.

Also involved in the International Window will be Davide, who is called up by Luigi Di Biagio for Italy Under-21's as they also prepare for a double header, which starts in Kilmarnock against Scotland, and then sees them return to Italy to play Portugal.

Saturday 8th November
Danilo was asked to turn out for Chelsea Under-18's this morning as they travelled across town to Eltham College where they face Millwall in the Third Round of the Under-18's Cup. And boy did Danilo turn out. He opened the scoring in the first half, and when Millwall levelled just before the hour, Dominic Solanke put Chelsea right back ahead within minutes, and then he quickly scored again himself before Tristan Burgess finished things off for the Young Blues. A man of the match display, and something that will get his name known a bit more amongst the faithful at Stamford Bridge.

Meanwhile, later in the day, and actually in front of the faithful of The Shed, a 2-0 win for The Blues may just have saved Mourinho's job, for now at least anyway. Eden Hazard scored in the first half, and Xherdan Shaqiri added a second midway through the second half and Chelsea moved up into 10th place in the Premier League.

So Mourinho keeps his job. But Steve McClaren does not. His Cardiff City side are beaten 3-1 away to Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux, with all the goals coming in the opening quarter of the game. Just like in Nottingham, early goals were once again the downfall of The Bluebirds, with Björn Siguðarson and Tommy Rowe scoring within a minute of each other with less than ten minutes on the clock, and Bakary Sako added a third. City did at least pull one back quickly this time, Craig Noone scoring a minute later, but City managed nothing more in the remaining three quarters of the game.

That result leaves City in 19th place, just two points outside of the relegation zone, and after having him as the Manager at the club for five months, Vincent Tan has lost his patience, and McClaren is sacked shortly after the game. The early favourites to take over at the Cardiff City Stadium are Sam Allardyce, Paolo Di Canio, Russell Slade and Billy Davies. As nothing more than the narrator here, it's not really my place to express an opinion, but maybe he should've played Davide more..........

Thursday 13th November
Davide has today played for Italy Under-21's in their Friendly at Rugby Park. It's a fifth cap for the centre back in Kilmarnock, as Italy win 1-0. He played the full ninety minutes, one of only three outfield players to do so for the Azurri. He did pick up a booking in the game that saw the only goal come just before half time through Manchester United striker Domenico Berardi.

Friday 14th November
In the Moldovan capital of Chisinãu, an experimental Wales side are defeated 1-0 by their hosts in the Zimbru Stadium. There was a start, and a second Senior Cap for Danilo, though he was substituted at half time with Reading forward Hal Robson-Kanu replacing him. It was a fair performance from the 18 year old Chelsea prospect, made harder to judge with him having several other young players around him. 

Sunday 16th November
Cardiff City have today appointed their new Manager. And that man is 60 year old former Blackpool, Notts County, Bolton Wanderers, Newcastle United, Blackburn Rovers and West Ham United boss, Sam Allardyce. It's an 18 month contract for Big Sam, that will see him earn £10,750 per week. He comes into the job with The Bluebirds eleven points outside the Playoffs, with 29 games left to play, so he has a bit of time to get things in order, but he'll need to get them moving up the table fairly quickly.

Monday 17th November
So Davide has another new Manager at club level, a third since he arrived at the Cardiff City Stadium. Maybe it'll be a case that third time is a charm, and he might get to show what he can do in the First Team. Getting football during the International Windows is less of a problem. Today in the Southern Italian city of Crotone on the coast of the Mediterranean, it's a sixth cap for Davide as he once again is one of only a couple of players to play the full ninety minutes during the visit of Portugal. A goal late in the first half from Sporting Lisbon centre back Rúben Semedo gave Portugal the edge at half time, but a goal from Roberto Insigne of Novara, on loan from Napoli, late in the second half, meant this one would finish all square.

Tuesday 18th November
In Swansea, there would be no third Senior Cap for Wales for Danilo, as he was left on the bench as an unused substitute. It may well be that it was a good night to sit it out though, as Wales were humiliated by Israel. Goals in the opening half hour from first Rafi Dahan, and then a double from Olympique Marseille's striker Tomer Hemed, had Israel firmly in control. Wales would rally in the opening stages of the second half, Bolton Wanderers striker Craig Davies netting first, followed by Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Jake Cassidy. But Israel replied quickly, with Hemed completing his hatrick to make it 22 goals in 28 caps at International level, before Celtic's midfielder Nir Biton scored a maiden goal at this level to complete a comprehensive victory for the visitors.

Saturday 22nd November
Danilo turns out once more for the Under-18 side at Chelsea, and once again he runs the show. He was man of the match again for The Blues at the London Colney against Arsenal in their Group 1 South game, opening the scoring with just three minutes on the clock, before Charlie Wakefield doubled the lead in the 12th minute. But they would have to settle for just a share of the spoils, as a Jeremie Boga own goal and a Steve Barry header in the space of three minutes before the break would earn The Gunners a point in this one.

For the Senior side at Stamford Bridge, there was a much needed win for Chelsea to buy José Mourinho some more time to get things turned around at the club. It was far from a pretty watch as they beat Everton by a single goal, with an accurate left footed finish from Cesc Fàbregas midway through the first half. The game got really disjointed after that, with play constantly being broken up by fouls and poor passing. On this day, that suited The Blues though, and they nudge themselves up into 9th spot, only four points outside of the top four.

In the Sky Bet Championship, it's a home game for Big Sam as he takes charge of Cardiff City for the first time. He saw his side go into half time behind though, Craig Mackail-Smith opening the scoring in the 26th minute for Brighton & Hove Albion. But The Bluebirds found a way back early in the second half, Republic of Ireland International striker Joe Mason netting his 8th of the season in all competitions to earn his team a point. It's not quite the start the new boss would've liked, and leaves City only outside of the relegation zone thanks to their slightly better goal difference. Davide is once again an unused sub in Allardyce's first game in charge, so his stock doesn't immediately appear any lower with a Manager change, but it doesn't seem to be any higher either right now.

Tuesday 25th November
Chelsea's turnaround is continuing at a pace. Tonight they have travelled to Italy and will return with a superb chance of not just continuing their European season, but continuing it in the Champions League. A 3-2 win in Turin against a Juventus team that headed into this penultimate round of matches with a four point lead in Group F is a fantastic result. André Schürrle had Chelsea in front early, and Xherdan Shaqiri added a second from the penalty spot. Juve pulled one back before the break through Arturo Vidal, but Shaqiri reinstated the two goal lead ten minutes after the restart with his second of the night. Carlos Tevez pulled the Italian side back into the game in the 78th minute from the spot, but they couldn't find an equaliser. Chelsea are now in charge of their own destiny, a win at home to Bulgarian side Ludogorets on the final matchday will guarantee their progress into the Knockout Rounds.

Saturday 29th November
And Chelsea win again today, and they win well. They made the short trip into South London, and proceeded to dismantle Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. First half goals from Diego Costa and Eden Hazard within a minute of each other had The Blues in control, and as he had done in Turin in midweek, Xherdan Shaqiri found the net ten minutes into the second half to effectively kill the game off. There was an exclamation point added five minutes from time with Ruben Loftus-Cheek scoring the best goal of the match from the bench. Mourinho's men move into seventh to end November.

There was an improvement in fortunes for Cardiff City to end the month too, with Sam Allardyce picking up his first win as Manager of The Bluebirds as they defeated Huddersfield Town with the only goal of the game in Yorkshire. It was a first half strike from South Korean International forward Kim Bo-Kyung that earned them the win, only his second of the campaign, and he'll be looking for an uptick in form under Big Sam too. Davide remained rooted to the bench, as City overtake their opponents to move up into the relative safety of 18th place, three points outside the drop zone.

Sunday 30th November
The final action of the month takes place off the field, as the draw for the Third Round of this seasons FA Cup takes place this evening. Chelsea are out of the velvet bag early, and they get a home draw against a Sky Bet League Two club, either Rochdale or Northampton Town. For Cardiff City, it will be a trip to a familiar rival, as they are drawn away to fellow Sky Bet Championship side Burnley. They lost early in the season at Turf Moor, and the clubs will meet twice in quick succession with the return League match scheduled for Boxing Day.

[neilhoskins77]

Tuesday 2nd December 2014
A London matchup to start December for Chelsea, just as they had started November. This time it's White Hart Lane that they visit, to face a Tottenham Hotspur side that they are looking to move past. That wouldn't happen today though, as while The Blues went ahead in the first half through Eden Hazard, they were pegged back in the second half through a Roberto Soldado goal. Honours even at The Lane then.

Cardiff City would've gladly taken a point from their trip into East London, but that wasn't to be either. Once more it was early goals that were their downfall too. Darius Henderson scored twice in the opening ten minutes to put Leyton Orient in the driving seat at Brisbane Road, and while the rejuvenated Kim Bo-Kyung found the net again to bring The Bluebirds back into the game, they couldn't find an equaliser. Still no First Team debut for Davide either, as he is again an unused substitute for City.

Wednesday 3rd December
There may be more competition arriving at Stamford Bridge for Danilo soon too. There are reports in the press today that Chelsea may be lining up a January Transfer Window raid on Arsenal to try and poach Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain over to West London.

Saturday 6th December
Chelsea's outstanding run of form continues at Stamford Bridge as they dispatch Aston Villa on a soaking wet afternoon. A scoreline of 2-0 was actually quite flattering to Villa, who at least managed to keep the score down after Mohamed Salah and Diego Costa both found the net in the opening quarter of an hour. Chelsea's run see's them move into third on goal difference ahead of Liverpool and Arsenal. They've a lot of work to do if they're going to reel in the Manchester clubs though, City lead the pack fourteen points ahead of Chelsea, while United are second sat exactly halfway between City and Chelsea.

In Cardiff, the rollercoaster continues for City as they try to get back to some kind of consistency this season. Today they get a 2-0 win against a Playoff chasing Ipswich Town side that never really got going today. A goal in each half helps City climb into mid table, with Aron Gunnarsson scoring in the first half, and Kim Bo-Byung scored again early in the second half to keep up his recent sharp uptick in form.

Tuesday 9th December
It's another blow for Cardiff City's fans, and the clubs hopes of producing a run of form that would propel them up the Sky Bet Championship table. Billy McKay put Wigan Athletic ahead after just five minutes at the Cardiff City Stadium, before Kim Bo-Kyung struck once again to level it up. McKay got his second before the break though, and Ravel Morrison sealed the points for The Latics just after the hour mark. Wigan remain very much in the hunt at the sharp end of the table, while Cardiff are now 17th, just three points above the drop zone.

Wednesday 10th December
Chelsea knew what was needed tonight at Stamford Bridge in their final UEFA Champions League Group E fixture. A win would guarantee them a spot in the Knockout Stages, and they duly obliged in some style. Willian put The Blues ahead in the first half, before Eden Hazard struck twice after the interval, a thumping Juventus win in Bilbao means the Italians top the Group, with Chelsea also going through with them.

Saturday 13th December
Another game, and another early goal conceded by Cardiff City. This time the scorer was Jacques Maghoma for Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough, though the damage didn't quite turn out to be fatal this time for The Bluebirds. On loan from Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Thomas Carroll got his first goal in Cardiff colours five minutes into the second half, and City did at least manage to salvage a point from this away day. It was only the second Senior League goal of Carroll's career, the first came during another loan spell at Derby County a few seasons ago. Davide was back on the bench today after being left out of the matchday squad for the midweek defeat at home to Wigan.

Friday 19th December
The draw is made today for the First Knockout Round of the UEFA Champions League, and it's a tough assignment for Chelsea, as they are handed a two-legged tie with the Runner's-Up from the German Bundesliga for the last three seasons, Borussia Dortmund. The First Leg will be Stamford Bridge in mid February, with the return three weeks later in front of the Yellow Wall.

Saturday 20th December
When will Sam Allardyce address the issue of his Cardiff City side falling behind early on in games and be forced to chase the match? Charlton Athletic were the beneficiaries this weekend, with their Romanian striker George Tucudean putting the home side in front after 18 minutes at The Valley. Just like last weekend, The Bluebirds did hit back to earn a point, once again the goal coming from a player on loan at the club, winger Joshua Murphy netting his first League goal since joining for the season from Norwich City in the 75th minute. The Welsh capital city club remain 17th, and still have only a three point buffer between themselves and the relegation zone.

Sunday 21st December
Chelsea's fine recent form comes to a sudden half at Loftus Road, as they're defeated by a Queens Park Rangers side that are punching well above their weight and move up into sixth place above the likes of Liverpool and the Chelsea side they've just beaten. Steven Fletcher opened the scoring midway through the first half, only to see Xherdan Shaqiri level things up ten minutes into the second half. But Charlie Austin struck with twenty minutes to play to move into double figures for goals in all competitions this season, and just moments before a pulled hamstring ended his afternoon's football.

Friday 26th December
Boxing Day football at the Cardiff City Stadium, and these two teams will meet again soon in the FA Cup. The Welsh club will hope that this was more than just a dress rehearsal, as they win 2-1 against Burnley, finally managing to stop the glut of early goals against them. In fact, the first goal didn't come until just after the hour mark, with Italian striker Federico Macheda scoring his first goal of the season, which was very quickly followed by his second just five minutes later. Polish striker Lukas Jutkiewicz pulled one back for Burnley inside the last ten minutes, but City held on for a much needed win. Burnley drop out of the Playoff places, while City drag themselves a bit further away from the drop zone.

Saturday 27th December
Remaining in South Wales, it's another away day that sees points dropped by Chelsea as they are held to a draw by Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium. It was Xherdan Shaqiri who once again found the net for The Blues, the Swiss attacking midfielder enjoying a superb season so far for José Mourinho's side. It looked like it would be the winner too, but The Swans found an equaliser with just ten minutes remaining, Bafétimbi Gomis earning Swansea a point that nudges them a little closer to safety, while Chelsea drop back down into the mid table pack after losing the momentum from that great run of form.

Sunday 28th December
The loaded Christmas schedule sees Cardiff City play their second game in a 48 hour spell today, with the long trip up to the North East to play Middlesbrough. It was worth it though, as in freezing temperatures and in front of a sparse crowd, Davide was rewarded with a start for his first ever Senior League Appearance, and City earned a 1-0 win with a late winner from Vaclav Prochazka, the Czech Republic International netting his first goal of a campaign that he's barely been involved in, and nudging City up to 15th place. They will end the year seven points above the relegation zone, and ten points away from the Playoffs, so let's not rule anything out for their season just yet. It's a great end of the year for Davide, who played very well today, and will be hopeful that 2015 will provide more First Team opportunities for him.

Monday 29th December
City are really pushing Davide now. After playing ninety minutes of Sky Bet Championship football at the Riverside Stadium yesterday, he played another ninety minutes today, this time for the Under-21's at the Cardiff City Stadium against Charlton Athletic. And he didn't show any signs of fatigue, putting in a man of the match display in a 2-1 win. He scored the equalising goal ten minutes after City had gone behind, and Javi Guerra netted the winner with seven minutes left to play.

While City are moving up the table, Chelsea are considering moves in the Transfer Market. They have already been linked with a January move for Arsenal's attacking midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Now this time the reported object of their attractions is Southampton's twenty year old James Ward-Prowse. Clearly they are targeting players with double barrel surnames, but this one will cost them a few quid as he has three years remaining on his deal at St Mary's Stadium.

Wednesday 31st December
It's been a tough year for José Mourinho and The Blues, and it doesn't end well. They finish with a defeat at Stamford Bridge against a Newcastle United side that they were absolutely expected to beat. They went a goal up too, with Eden Hazard netting from close range in the 20th minute. But Newcastle were level before the break through Vurnon Anita, and with just moments left in the game, keeper Thibaut Courtois made a mess of dealing with Dutch International midfielder Siem de Jong's free kick, and Newcastle will head home to the North East with three points they probably weren't expecting. The result moves United above Chelsea and into 8th spot, while the West Londoners will start the New Year in 11th spot. Not what they would have been expecting at the start of the season.

[neilhoskins77]

Thursday 1st January 2015
Real Madrid's 25 year old forward Gareth Bale has won the Welsh Footballer of the Year Award. The Runner-Up was Aaron Ramsey of Arsenal, with Ben Davies of Tottenham Hotspur in third place. Davies was the winner of the Young Player of the Year Award, with Jon Williams of Crystal Palace in second place and Scott Tancock of TNS in third place.

Saturday 3rd January
It's FA Cup Third Round day, and for Danilo, a Chelsea First Team debut for the 18 year old winger. He played 72 minutes of the win over Rochdale at Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea got an early shock when they fell behind to a 2nd minute Anton Forrester penalty. Three goals in twenty minutes bailed The Blues out though, André Schürrle equalising before another debutant Dominic Solanke and Ryan Bertrand scored within four minutes of each other to turn the tie around.

Burnley and Cardiff City have seen a bit of each other this season, and they'll have to do it all over again in a week and a half after they couldn't be separated this afternoon. Ashley Barnes had the home side ahead from the penalty spot midway through the first half, a lead that held up into the second half. But goals in as many minutes from Federico Macheda and Aron Gunnarsson had City in control. But they were pegged back by a Welsh striker, as 34 times capped Sam Vokes scored with a quarter of an hour to play, and the Replay will be held in South Wales. The run in the side for Davide continues, as he plays the full ninety minutes once again for The Bluebirds.

Sunday 4th January
The draw is made for Round Four of the FA Cup this afternoon. For Burnley or Cardiff City, the Replay winner will host Premier League strugglers Norwich City. No such luck for Chelsea, as José Mourinho's team are drawn away to face London heavyweight rivals Arsenal at the Emirates in the plum tie of the round. Other highlights of the draw see Brighton drawn at home to fierce rivals Crystal Palace, while in another all Premier League match up Manchester United will host Newcastle United.

Tuesday 6th January
Despite that Cup win on the weekend, José Mourinho with his 55% win percentage at Chelsea is still under fire, to the point where his Staff are now publicly commenting on how they feel it would be a mistake for the club to sack the Portuguese Manager. With the Transfer Window open, Chelsea are being linked with plenty of players, but the bigger question appears to be who will be their Manager in the long term?

Wednesday 7th January
And the pressure continues to mount, with The Blues tonight beaten 3-1 at home to Manchester City in a big Barclays Premier League game. The visiting League leaders were two up inside twenty minutes, first through Alvaro Negredo and then also with a Sergio Agüero goal. Eden Hazard pulled a goal back ten minutes into the second half, but late on as they threw the kitchen sink at City, they were caught on the break and David Silva finished off the contest.

Friday 9th January
The first new arrival at Stamford Bridge for this Transfer Window has arrived, and it's a newcomer to English football in the form of 22 year old Swiss International midfielder Granit Xhaka. The man with 32 caps has cost them £13.5 million from German Bundesliga club Borussia Mönchengladbach.

But will he be one of Mourinho's men? According to the Daily Mirror, if Chelsea don't beat Hull City in their upcoming Barclays Premier League game this weekend, then Mourinho will be gone and The Blues and their new signing will need a new boss.

Saturday 10th January
In Cardiff, there may be more competition for Davide in The Bluebirds defence, as the club have agreed a deal to sign Holland Under-21 International centre back Karim Rekik on loan from Manchester City for the rest of the season. The 6'0 tall left footer was signed from Feyenoord while still in his mid teens, but all his First Team football experience at club level has come from loans, firstly with Portsmouth and Blackburn Rovers in the Sky Bet Championship, before further afield in his homeland with PSV Eindhoven and in Qatar last season with Al-Jaish Sports Club.

Davide does play the full ninety minutes for City today at the Cardiff City Stadium, but it's a home defeat as visitors Sunderland will head back to the North East with three points thanks to Connor Wickham's goal in the 12th minute. New arrival Rekik came off the bench in the second half, but he couldn't help The Bluebirds mount a comeback, and the Capital City club now sit 15th, with a thirteen point gap up to the Playoff spots, and a five point clearance above the relegation zone.

Up in the Premier League that the Championship clubs all have eyes on reaching, Chelsea get a 3-1 win over Hull City at Stamford Bridge, which may or may not ease the pressure on their under fire Manager. The opening goal for The Blues came in the 20th minute through Diego Costa, and Eden Hazard added another before the break. Xherdan Shaqiri netted the third just after the hour mark, and a Matt Phillips goal with two minutes to go was nothing more than a consolation for City, who Chelsea now sit one point behind in 8th place.

Sunday 11th January
And The Blues continue to bring in new players, though this latest signing may be more one for the future. 17 year old Calgiari born and bred midfielder Nicolò Barella leaves his hometown club for London in a deal that is worth £3.9 million. He played five times in Serie A last season, and the general opinion is that he will be sent out on loan before this Transfer Window closes to get some valuable experience, with Leyton Orient being mentioned as a potential destination.

Monday 12th January
Chelsea are clearly not blaming goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois for their sketchy form right now. The Belgian has just signed a new four year deal worth £83,000 per week, or £20 million over it's duration. That should keep a roof over his head.

Tuesday 13th January
The cash continues to be splashed by the West London club, with todays news coming in the form of another new signing. This time it's 25 year old midfielder Sofiane Feghouli, who arrives from Valencia in a deal worth £26.5 million. The 30 times capped Algerian International has inked his name onto a four and a half year contract that will earn him almost £50,000 per week, and also does a good turn to former club and French minnows Grenoble, who will net almost a million pounds thanks to a sell on clause that was negotiated five years ago when he left them for Spain.

Wednesday 14th January
Davide was one of Cardiff City's best players this evening in their FA Cup Third Round Replay at home to Burnley. Unfortunately, not too many of the other City players matched him, and Cardiff are out despite this time being scorers of an early goal. Kagisho Dikgacoi put The Bluebirds ahead just three minutes in, but Lukas Jutkiewicz equalised ten minutes later, adding a penalty right before half time after David Jones had put Burnley ahead in between. They'll go on to face Norwich City in the Fourth Round, while Cardiff now have to make sure they stay away from that relegation zone, while also seeing if they can put together a run of form that might give them an outside shot of the Playoffs.

No such problems at the Bridge tonight for Chelsea in the Barclays Premier League, as they give Leicester City a bit of a thumping. Eden Hazard continued his fine recent goalscoring form, opening the scoring before the break with Diego Costa adding another before the players headed to the dressing rooms for the break. Ruben Loftus-Cheek struck home a free kick with twenty minutes to play to round off a very good night for The Blues.

Saturday 17th January
Davide is dropped by Cardiff City, and he probably won't have been too disappointed to miss out on a frustrating day for The Bluebirds, as they are beaten by a Scunthorpe United team that now leapfrog them into 15th spot in the Sky Bet Championship. First half goals from Massimo Maccarone and Paddy Madden left City with an uphill task in the second half, which then got harder still when Vaclav Prochazka earned a pair of yellow cards and left his side a man short.

Sunday 18th January
If Cardiff had won that Cup Replay in midweek, they would have been scouting this game today where Norwich City hosted Chelsea in the Barclays Premier League. And they'd have seen a very beatable Norwich side given a half hour lesson from The Blues, as Oscar, Ramires and Diego Costa ripped the City defence to bits in the first half. Ricky van Wolfswinkel pulled one back in the second half, but Chelsea move back into the top six, while Norwich are six points from safety at the other end.

Saturday 24th January
FA Cup Fourth Round day, and all eyes were on the Emirates Stadium, where Arsenal hosted Chelsea in the tie of the round. A 1-1 draw was most notable for an injury to Gunners keeper Wojciech Szczesny after the break, a sprained ankle that will keep him out for up to six weeks. The goals had all been scored by then, Alexis Sanchez with a free kick off the post and in, a reply 100 seconds later from Diego Costa who's scuffed shot also went in off the post. The Replay will take place a week on Wednesday, four days after the pair meet again at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League. When the draw for the Fifth Round takes place, they find out that the winner of the rematch will stay in London, away to Crystal Palace.

Tuesday 27th January
Are Cardiff City about to get sucked back into the relegation scrap? They're struggling right now, and have been beaten again tonight away to a Derby County team who are on a run of wins that have taken them right to the edge of the Playoff race, while the only goal of the game from Scottish International striker Johnny Russell at the iPro Stadium pushes City closer to that dotted line. There was at least a recall for Davide, who played the full game tonight.

Wednesday 28th January
At Anfield, it was a wild night in the Premier League. The home sides England International striker Daniel Sturridge has missed large chunks of the season for Liverpool, but The Kop were loving him tonight when he had the hosts two goals up inside twenty minutes with his double strike. Eden Hazard immediately pulled one back, and then defender Marc Bartra levelled things up right from the restart after half time. Then on the hour, Hazard scored again, and Chelsea had scored a win that catapulted them back into contention for a Champions League spot.

Saturday 31st January
Chelsea and Arsenal do battle again, this time at Stamford Bridge where in four days time they will play their FA Cup Replay. Today is all about the Barclays Premier League though, and it's all about The Blues. They cruised to a 2-0 win this afternoon, with goals early in each half, firstly from Nathaniel Chalobah from the spot, and then from Ryan Bertrand after the break. There were nine bookings in the game as tempers threatened to boil over, familiarity breeds contempt. Chelsea move above their London rivals on goal difference and into third place.

There was nothing to suggest that Cardiff City are cruising in a wet and windy South Wales today, Davide dropped back to the bench for the dismal goalless draw with top of the table Bournemouth. That result means City end January with just two points between them and the relegation zone, and the pressure is on to prevent a relegation that will test the clubs finances and their ability to hang on to some of their better players. 19 year old Joshua Murphy is currently being made the scapegoat by the local press.

[neilhoskins77]

Sunday 1st February 2015
The January Transfer Window is about to close, and there seems no danger of either of the cousins making a move at this point. Eden Hazard has beaten Swansea City full back Ángel Rangel and Manchester City striker Sergio Agüero to the Premier League Player of the Month Award for January. And in quite the turn around, his boss José Mourinho has gone from the verge of the sack to being named the Manager of the Month, his side winning five on the spin in the Premier League after an early New Year defeat. He pips Manuel Pellegrini of City and Brendan Rodgers of Liverpool to the award.

Tuesday 3rd February
Cardiff City start the new month with a home win that will slightly ease their Sky Bet Championship relegation fears, as they defeat mid table Blackpool at the Cardiff City Stadium. It's another superb outing from Davide at centre back, but he is beaten to the Man of the Match award by Irish International forward Joe Mason, who nets in the 51st and 83rd minutes to reach ten goals for the season, and City only had a few moments of worry near the end when Tomasz Cywka netted for The Seasiders with only two minutes remaining. The result leaves City five points clear of the relegation zone.

Wednesday 4th February
The FA Cup Fourth Round Replay is played tonight at Stamford Bridge. An own goal from Thibaut Courtois had Arsenal in front almost midway through the first half on a snowy night in West London. It would take Chelsea an hour to level things up, Loïc Rémy finally finding the net for The Blues with just nine minutes left to play. And the French striker would net the winning spot kick after Extra Time failed to provide a winner, Arsenal putting in a poor display from twelve yards out as both Aaron Ramsey and Danny Welbeck missed, allowing Rémy to net Chelsea's fourth spot kick and put them out of reach, setting up a Fifth Round tie against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. With a lot of Barclays Premier League sides now out of the FA Cup, the consensus seems to be that Mourinho's team are the favourites for the competition from the remaining sixteen clubs.

Saturday 7th February
Chelsea's strong run of form continues in Stoke this afternoon, and didn't they just revel in that form. The game was all but over inside ten minutes as Chelsea scored three quick goals, a Diego Costa penalty, followed by strikes from Oscar and Xherdan Shaqiri. They added another early in the second half through Ramires, and while The Blues are too far adrift to think about the Title, but there could yet be a race hotting up for second.

It's not something that Cardiff City are going to have to worry about any time soon. One step forward last time out, two steps backwards for The Bluebirds today as they're beaten at the Cardiff City Stadium by a Bolton Wanderers side who move out of the relegation zone with a 1-0 win thanks to an accurate first half strike from Mark Davies. The gap between the bottom three and City is now reduced to four points, though almost all of them have a game in hand on The Bluebirds. It was a fifth League appearance today for Davide, and the next outing will be his tenth in all competitions. Our boy is starting to make himself a fixture in the First Team, and when he reaches fifteen League Appearances, his weekly wage will double from £4,100 per week right up to £8,250.

Monday 9th February
Davide is tonight asked to travel down to Worthing with the Cardiff City Under-21's for their Group 2B clash with bottom of the table Brighton & Hove Albion. He put in a Man of the Match performance in the young Bluebirds 1-0 win that lifts them up to third in the table.

Tuesday 10th February
It's a huge night at Stamford Bridge as Manchester United travel into London to face The Blues in a battle between two sides who are jostling for position behind Manchester City. Tonight United will travel back north to Manchester with 'the blues', as a 50th minute powerful Diego Costa header is enough to secure a win for Mourinho's men, making it seven without defeat in the Barclays Premier League, and nine in all competitions.

Friday 13th February
For quite a while, it looked like it was going to be a fantastic Friday 13th for Cardiff City in East London, as The Bluebirds travelled into the English capital to face West Ham United. It was just before the half hour mark when Kim Bo-Kyung put City ahead, and for an hour it looked like they would leave Upton Park with a valuable three points. Unfortunately, Carlton Cole had other ideas, as he came off the bench to fire an equaliser with just four minutes remaining with his sixth goal of the season.

Saturday 14th February
A Loïc Rémy hatrick at Selhurst Park sees Chelsea progress in the FA Cup, but that doesn't come close to telling the story, and how close The Blues came to being knocked out. They were ahead at the break thanks to a Rémy goal, but strikes within ten minutes of each other from Owen Garvan and Marouane Chamakh had Crystal Palace in front. With ten minutes left, Rémy scored an equaliser, and he added another just three minutes later, with André Schürrle scoring Chelsea's fourth a minute later to confirm their path into the Quarter-Finals.

Sunday 15th February
The draw is made for those Quarter-Finals this evening, and it will be an extra West London Derby in the diary for The Blues, as they are drawn at home to Fulham in the last eight. And it's a last eight where Chelsea are undoubtedly the star turns, with only two other Barclays Premier League clubs remaining outside the West London pair. Of those, Hull City are drawn away to Charlton Athletic, and West Bromwich Albion will be at home to Peterborough United. There will definitely be at least one non-Premier League club in the last four, as Huddersfield Town host Blackburn Rovers in an all-Sky Bet Championship match to complete the line-up.

Tuesday 17th February
The games are piling up for Chelsea, and they're in action again tonight at the Bridge, as the European season resumes with the First Knockout Round of the UEFA Champions League. With home advantage in the First Leg against Borussia Dortmund, all was going beautifully for Mourinho's side with a Xherdan Shaqiri goal in the first half and an Oscar free kick on the hour mark. But a strike in the last ten minutes from German International winger Patrick Herrmann changed the whole complexion of the tie, and with the Second Leg in front of the Yellow Wall, there's likely to be a tough night in the German Ruhr coming up for The Blues.

Saturday 21st February
In a dress rehearsal for their upcoming FA Cup Quarter-Final date, it would be victory for Chelsea at the Bridge against Fulham in a West London Derby that had Barclays Premier League bragging rights. The Cottagers are looking for another win or two that should keep them out of reach of the sides currently in the bottom three, but no joy with that here, as a beautifully executed finish from The Blues in form striker Diego Costa on the half hour mark was enough for the points here, and Chelsea remain third, hot on the heels of Manchester United.

Further west outside of the English capital and into the Welsh capital, nerves will very much be jangling for Cardiff City as they suffer another defeat today. They had made the trip up into Yorkshire to face Sheffield United at Bramall Lane, and they return with nothing after a 2-0 loss. There was a recall for Davide, but he didn't have one of his better games as goals in the opening quarter from Eric Dier and Michael Higdon ensured The Blades would clip the wings of The Bluebirds, becoming the latest team to leapfrog them a bit further from danger and leaving them perilously close to the dotted line, just a point better off than Charlton Athletic, and with only Scunthorpe United between the two as a buffer with a dozen matches left to play.

Tuesday 24th February
Chelsea's fabulous run of form continues in the Midlands, as they produce the required second half performance to defeat West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns and continue to make fools of those that claimed their hectic schedule would be their undoing. Once more it was Diego Costa who put The Blues in front, though Albion would find an equaliser before the break through their veteran French full back Anthony Révillère. But The Baggies couldn't hold on to their parity for too long, as Oscar scored ten minutes after the restart, and Nathaniel Chalobah wrapped up the win with ten left to play. Chelsea now sit three points behind Manchester United, though they have also played a game more than The Reds.

Saturday 28th February
The final day of the month, a month that has so far produced just one solitary Cardiff City victory. It's not a record that improves today either, as The Bluebirds are held to a 1-1 draw at the Cardiff City Stadium against Millwall. It was a return to the old habit of conceding early goals for City, as they saw Yaya Sonogo put The Lions in front with less than a minute on the clock. The equaliser came just before the half hour mark through Federico Macheda. There was no Davide today, left on the bench for the duration. City finish the month in 20th, now two points and places above the relegation zone that Charlton Athletic have just climbed out of, with Scunthorpe United now taking their place in the bottom three. The knives are starting to come out for Sam Allardyce, who has only a 25% win rate and a negative goal difference since arriving at the club twenty matches ago. March will be a crucial month for Big Sam and City.

[neilhoskins77]

Sunday 1st March 2015
Chelsea players take the top two spots in the Premier League Player of the Month for February stakes, with Xherdan Shaqiri edging our Oscar to take the award. And it's made a double when José Mourinho, who was said to be close to the sack not so many months ago, takes a second consecutive Manager of the Month honour. If March is as kind to The Blues as February was, then there could be more serious silverware on it's way to West London.

Monday 2nd March
The opening game of the month on Monday Night Football doesn't go Chelsea's way though. It looked like it would be their night on the South Coast at St Mary's Stadium, as Diego Costa and Xherdan Shaqiri had them two up inside twenty minutes against Southampton. But their lead wouldn't last, as Papiss Cissé halved it before the break, and then Shane Long levelled the game up just before the hour. Those dropped points mean Chelsea have been overtaken by Liverpool this match week, and they drop to fourth spot.

Friday 6th March
After Monday Night Football for Chelsea, it's now the Friday Night variety in South Wales for Cardiff City. There was another start for Davide at centre back as he edged closer to his big pay rise, and a vital three points for City to boot, though they absolutely tried their best to throw it away. Kim Bo-Kyung scored twice, with Kévin-Théophile-Catherine also netting in between the South Korean strikers efforts at home to Watford. With a three goal lead and a bit over half an hour to play, City should have been home and dry, but The Hornets started to swarm. Cyril Théréau scored just a minute after Bo-Kyung's second, and Zach Clough got another in the 77th minute. They couldn't quite find an equaliser though, and Watford dropped out of the Playoff places, while City jumped up into 19th place, and five points clear of the relegation zone.

Saturday 7th March
It's FA Cup Quarter-Final day, and in West London it's Chelsea who run riot at Stamford Bridge against near neighbours Fulham to take a spot in the last four. Diego Costa opened the scoring, with Oscar quickly adding a second, The Blues earning a two goal lead inside twenty minutes for the second time in less than a week. And the lead was threatened once again when Kostas Mitroglu pulled a goal back, only to see their team numbers shrunk when David Meyler was shown a straight red card just before the hour mark. Costa got his second from the spot less then five minutes later, and Eden Hazard wrapped up the win with a quarter of an hour to go. There was no Danilo in the squad today, and the youngster will need to force his way into the matchday squad if he is to secure a major honour should Chelsea go on to lift the Cup this season.

Monday 9th March
The draw is made for the FA Cup Semi-Finals this evening, and The Blues are paired to face Hull City next month for a place in the showpiece Final. In the other Semi-Final, we know that Blackburn Rovers will play in the last four, as they await the winner of the Quarter-Final Replay between West Bromwich Albion and Peterborough United.

Wednesday 11th March
Chelsea's busy schedule continues, and after progressing to the last four of the FA Cup, tonight in Germany they aim to progress in the UEFA Champions League as well. And things wouldn't go all their way in front of the famous Yellow Wall in Dortmund. The outstanding form of Xherdan Shaqiri continued as he opened the scoring in the 10th minute to extend The Blues aggregate lead out to two goals. The German giants would come roaring right back though, quickly through Ilkay Gündogan, and then early in the second half through Henrikh Mkhitaryan. All square, and into Extra Time we would go, where André Schürrle would put Chelsea back in front on aggregate six minutes in, also giving them the away goals advantage as well. An advantage that Dortmund could not overcome, even after John Terry was sent off in the second half of Extra Time, a late goal from Kevin Großkreutz levelled the tie, but Mourinho's men progress on the away goals rule.

There was no less drama back in the UK, or Ewood Park in Blackburn to be precise. The home Rovers side are caught in no mans land as the season winds to a close, unlikely to be dragged back down into the relegation scrap, but too far away from a realistic hope of making the Promotion Playoffs. Tonight they hosted a Cardiff City side who would consider no mans land to be a success right now. City led early through Federico Macheda, only to see Jordan Rhodes fire an equaliser right on half time. Kim Bo-Kyung scored to put City back in front right from the restart, but Rhodes levelled things up once more, this time inside a minute. When Kévin Théophile-Catherine scored with just under twenty minutes remaining to put the visiting Bluebirds ahead for a third time, they were hoping this time it would be for keeps. Unfortunately, that wouldn't be the case, as Rovers levelled once more through Tom Cairney with only six minutes to play, and the spoils were shared here.

Saturday 14th March
Cardiff City's luck didn't improve this afternoon as they travelled once again, this time to Reading. Unlike Blackburn, there is a still a strong possibility of Reading being involved in the Playoffs, and more so after they earned a 2-1 win in this match today. Davide was left on the bench to watch on as Kim Bo-Kyung scored in the opening sixty seconds to put the visitors ahead. It was a lead that lasted less than five minutes, as Nick Blackman fired an equaliser, and Welsh International striker Hal Robson-Kanu turned the game on it's head before the break with his sixth League goal of the campaign to earn Reading a win that leaves them 8th, and only three points outside the Playoffs. It's a different story for City, who are left 19th, but only two points above the drop zone as the pressure starts to ramp up on Sam Allardyce once more.

Sunday 15th March
Chelsea are still fighting on a few fronts for silverware this season, but the Premier League Title won't be theirs this year. Today their hectic schedule seemed to catch up with them a little bit, and they were held to a 1-1 draw at Elland Road by Leeds United. A goal early in the second half by Belarussian International forward Vitaliy Rodinov for the home side was cancelled out shortly afterwards by a curling strike from Oscar. The result sees The Blues remain in fourth, but they are being hunted down by the North London duo of Tottenham and Arsenal, with the latter having games in hand, and their top four spot could be under threat.

Friday 20th March
The next International Window is upcoming, but Danilo won't get the opportunity to add to his two Full International Caps for Wales. He has been left out of Chris Coleman's squad selection for the European Championship Qualifier away to Georgia and a home Friendly with Spain. Instead, he will get a chance to increase his Cap total for the Under-21's, where the double header is a pair of Friendlies, firstly at home in Swansea against Iran, followed by trip to Denmark.

As well as International Squad Announcements, today is also the day of the draw for the Quarter-Finals of the UEFA Champions League. You would imagine that José Mourinho and his Chelsea squad will be pretty happy with the outcome, as they are paired with French side Olympique Marseille. They'll certainly be happier than the other remaining English side in the competition, Manchester United, who face a tough task against the Italian giants of Juventus. The other two remaining ties see Atlético Madrid face AS Roma, while in perhaps the tie of the round, Bayern Munich will lock horns with Paris Saint-Germain.

Saturday 21st March
Chelsea may need to win this years Champions League just to be in the competition next season, as at a crucial point of the campaign, their form is starting to wane slightly. Crystal Palace were the visitors to Stamford Bridge in todays lunchtime kick off, and James McArthur gave Palace an early lead, which was wiped out by a Diego Costa goal close to half time. With just under ten minutes to play, Palace went ahead once again, Swedish striker Marcus Berg finding the net this time. The Blues would need to be rescued once more, and it was André Schürrle who provided the magic to earn them a draw with just four minutes left to play. Arsenal and Tottenham meet on Monday evening, and a Gunners win would leave them just a point behind Chelsea with two games in hand.

Italy have today announced their Under-21 Squad for the Friendly at home to Portugal at the end of the month. Davide is included, giving him the chance to add to his six caps at that level. But that was the only real good news for him today, as despite playing very well from the start and edging closer to earning his big pay rise, his Cardiff City side were soundly beaten 3-1 at home to Nottingham Forest this afternoon. The Forest goals all came in the first half, and a very late Aron Gunnarsson consolation came long after many of The Bluebirds fans had left the Cardiff City Stadium. The result sees Forest move into an automatic promotion place, while City remain just two points outside the drop zone with seven games remaining.

Tuesday 24th March
Finally, there is a win for Cardiff City that will ease the pressure on them in their relegation scrap. There is no Davide in the matchday squad as he is away preparing for International Duty with Italy, but a goal in each half, firstly from Joe Mason and then after the break from a free kick by Magnus Wolff Eikrem, got the job done at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers. It turned out to be a vital result, as several other clubs around them also picked up wins, and with six games now to play, they have moved on to 45 points, but are still only two points outside the drop zone.

Thursday 26th March
Danilo wins his fourth cap for Wales Under-21's at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea this evening. The 18 year old attacking forward played 68 minutes of the 2-1 win over their counterparts from Iran. The opener came from George Williams, who is contracted with Fulham but is currently on loan with Hamilton Academical in the Scottish Championship. The Iranian equaliser came fairly quickly, but Wales got their winner twenty minutes from time through another Fulham player, Jordan Evans. The Welsh team had to hold on in the dying minutes when Everton centre back James Graham was sent off with a few minutes to play.

Monday 30th March
The month ends in the South Western Italian town of Battipaglia, where the Italy Under-21's side take on Portugal. They come out of this Friendly with a 1-0 win, thanks to a very early goal from Parma's 18 year old striker Alberto Cerri, who scores on his debut at this level. There was only a cameo appearance for Davide, who came on in the 78th minute to earn his seventh cap at this level of International football.

Things were the opposite way around for Danilo, who won his fifth cap as he started for Wales Under-21's and played 78 minutes of their 2-0 defeat against Denmark in Farum. The goals for the Danes came from Bayern Munich youngster Pierre-Emile Højbjerg and Lasse Vigen, who is on the books at Southampton but is back on loan in his homeland with AC Horsens.

[neilhoskins77]

Saturday 4th April 2015
A busy Saturday to get April's proceedings underway. The draw has been made this lunchtime for the Qualifying for the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championships, which will get underway later in the year after this summers Finals which are taking place in the Czech Republic, and neither cousin will be involved in those Finals.

Both Wales and Italy are drawn in five nation strong Groups today, from which the top nation will go through to the Playoff Round, along with the five best Runner's-Up from the ten pools. Wales are drawn into Group 3, where the overwhelming favourites will be Holland. Joining Wales and the Dutch in that section are Norway, Kazakhstan and the FYR Macedonia.

Italy will themselves be the big favourites in Group 4, where they will have a home nation for company in the form of Scotland. Joining those two in that Group will be Armenia, Bulgaria and Lithuania.

Back to domestic matters, and the form in the Premier League for Chelsea continues to tail off, as they suffer another setback this afternoon. They are beaten 2-1 up at Goodison Park by Everton, with all the goals coming in the second half. Kevin Mirallas and James McCarthy both scored in the early stages of the second half, and by the time Loïc Rémy pulled one back inside the final ten minutes, it would be too little too late for The Blues from the South. There was a draw for Spurs, and a defeat for Arsenal, so things are not as bad as they could have been. But Chelsea are now down to fifth, and Arsenal would still go past them should they win both their games in hand.

On the South Coast, the Playoff hopes of Brighton & Hove Albion took a hit, while at the same time Cardiff City eased their own relegation worries. The Bluebirds will make the trip back from the American Express Stadium with the points after a goal in each half, firstly from the in form South Korean forward Kim Bo-Kyung, and then late on through the far less prolific Republic of Ireland International centre back Alex Pearce with his first goal of the season.  

There was no Davide involved today, as he was drafted in to play with the Under-18's side against Millwall at the Cardiff International Sports Stadium. It was a man of the match performance from the Italian Under-21 International centre back, as he opened the scoring by sweeping home the loose ball after a corner in the 4th minute of a 2-0 win. It was an important win in the Group 2 game as well. The City youngsters are now second with a game to play, and if they can win that match and remain second, they'll Qualify for the Playoff phase of the season, which leaders West Ham United have already booked their place in.

Tuesday 7th April
A second successive 2-0 win for Cardiff City tonight would, you suspect, make them safe now. They have beaten Huddersfield Town 2-0 at the Cardiff City Stadium tonight, thanks to an early double from Italian striker Federico Macheda, who netted both goals inside the opening fifteen minutes. There was involvement for Davide from the bench too, as he came on to replace the injured Luke Chambers shortly before half time, taking him to ten League career appearances, and two thirds of the way to his pay rise. With only four games remaining in their own schedule, City are now on 51 points and eight clear of the dotted line. Some teams below them do have games in hand, but it's hard to imagine that The Bluebirds will now get dragged back into the dogfight. No such luxury for beaten Huddersfield, who are now 21st, and just one point outside the drop zone that currently contains Scunthorpe United, Millwall and Leyton Orient.

Wednesday 8th April
Chelsea's hopes of moving into the last four of the UEFA Champions League have taken a blow tonight at Stamford Bridge. The tone for a bad tempered game was set in the opening minute when César Azpilicueta was booked. Just after the mid point of the first half Marseille found the net through André-Pierre Gignac. Then The Blues lost Gary Cahill to injury before the break, and their troubles would increase after it, with Brazilian midfielder Ramires shown a straight red card just before the hour mark. He was joined in the dressing room early by compatriot Dante, who was shown a second yellow card in the last five minutes. Fortunately, the nine remaining men held out, but they now face a big task in the return leg of this Quarter-Final tie in the South of France.

Friday 10th April
Davide is an unused substitute tonight as Cardiff City make the long cross-country trek to face Ipswich Town at Portman Road. The goalless draw topped off a pretty wet and miserable evening, where Ipswich have missed the chance to push themselves back into the brink of the Playoff Places, and instead sit in 11th after this draw. It's a different story The Bluebirds, as the draw leaves them nine points above the relegation zone with only three games remaining. With a goal difference that is better than most of the clubs below them, it would now be a big surprise if Cardiff were to be relegated. It's a shame that is the extent of their success this season though.

Saturday 11th April
After making the long trip east last night with the Senior Squad and not playing, Davide makes the much shorter trip today with the Under-18's as they cross the Bristol Channel to play Bristol City in their final Group 2 South match of the season. They weren't planning on it being their final game of 2014/15, but a 1-0 defeat at the Failand Training Ground means they have missed the Playoffs, with Birmingham City leaping above them to take the second spot. Davide played the full match, and was named Man of the Match once again.

Later in the day, a much bigger match with all due respect was taking place at Wembley Stadium. It's FA Cup Semi-Final day, and Chelsea are playing Hull City. Things did not start well for The Blues, as Nikica Jelavic put Hull ahead in the 8th minute, and before the half hour mark, that lead was doubled by Sone Aluko. Back came the West London club though, first through André Schürrle in the 32nd minute, and then through Xherdan Shaqiri a few minutes into the second half. They couldn't find a winner though, despite intense pressure throughout the remainder of the game including the Extra Time session. And so it would come down to spot kicks to decide who would progress into the FA Cup Final, and while Chelsea were perfect, Hull City were not. Yannick Sagbo has been superb this season, averaging a goal a game in the Premier League to keep Hull in mid table and well clear of a relegation scrape. But he missed the crucial penalty, and Willian found the net to put The Blues into the showpiece final.

Tuesday 14th April
After securing their place in one Cup Final, there was now a chance to keep themselves in the hunt for another tonight for Chelsea. And my goodness, what a night in an unseasonably chilly South of France. There were three goals in the opening three minutes, as Diego Costa levelled the tie up, André-Pierre Gignac gave Marseille an advantage again right away, only for Marc Bartra to score right from the restart and give The Blues an advantage on the away goal rule. That advantage would be stretched by a second from Diego Costa in the 12th minute, and a 21st minute penalty from Oscar to complete the scoring. 4-1 on the night, 4-2 on aggregate, and Chelsea are in the Champions League Semi-Finals draw.

Friday 17th April
It's the UEFA Champions League Semi-Final draw at lunchtime today, and there is of course no easy draw at this stage for Chelsea. But it is interesting that the media focus after the short procedure is completed is very much on the Bayern Munich v Atlético Madrid tie as the highlight of the last four round. That maybe doing a dis-service to The Blues, and their Semi-Final opponents, the Italian giants of Juventus.

Saturday 18th April
So Chelsea now have an FA Cup Final and Champions League Semi-Final to prepare for. And didn't those selected this afternoon put their hands up to be involved in those upcoming big games, as they dismantled relegation threatened Aston Villa in the Midlands. No Danilo involved again today as two early goals, both from Diego Costa, followed by two late goals, from André Schürrle and Xherdan Shaqiri. To be fair, Villa did well to keep it down to four, and Chelsea are now fifth, two points behind Arsenal, and two ahead of Tottenham with all three clubs having five games remaining.

Cardiff City needed a point today to guarantee their safety mathematically. But at the Cardiff City Stadium, it was visitors Leyton Orient who needed the points more and prevailed in this one. Davide was once again left on the bench, from which he would have seen his team mate Fábio red carded five minutes before the break. A Jay Simpson double after the interval would mean the points would go down the M4 to East London, and The O's have just drastically increased their chances of survival in the Sky Bet Championship on a weekend when Millwall have been relegated with two matches to play. Results elsewhere mean that while Cardiff have dropped back down to 20th, they are now confirmed as safe. Two of Huddersfield Town, Leyton Orient and Scunthorpe United will join Millwall in League One next season.

Wednesday 22nd April
There is a huge Premier League game tonight in the race for the Champions League spots, as Chelsea host Tottenham at Stamford Bridge. A goalless draw tonight suits neither side particularly, especially with Arsenal winning 3-1 at Leeds United at the same time. Chelsea brought on Schürrle and Shaqiri late on in an attempt to find a way through, but the 42,449 in attendance wouldn't see a goal tonight. Danilo was not involved.

Saturday 25th April
Back at Stamford Bridge this afternoon, and there was a much more palatable offering for Blues fans against another London club, Queens Park Rangers. Today Chelsea shook off an early injury to goalkeeper Petr Cech, and it was the midfield who would get the job done for them. Brazilian duo Willian and Oscar both found the net before the break, with Eden Hazard adding a third goal midway through the second half. Elsewhere, Tottenham win on the South Coast against Southampton, while Arsenal are beaten at home to Swansea City in the late kick off thanks to a late Wilfried Bony goal. And so everything closes back up, with Arsenal a point ahead of Chelsea, who in turn are a point ahead of Spurs with three matches remaining.

With their safety already assured, Cardiff City could play without worry or concern this afternoon at the Cardiff City Stadium. They were entertaining Sheffield Wednesday, though entertainment was very much in short supply. Davide started and played the full match at centre back in a 1-0 defeat against the visitors from Yorkshire who are marooned in mid table themselves, really now just playing for bragging rights to finish above their city rivals from Sheffield United. A first half goal from Sylvan Ebanks-Blake's, his fifteenth of the campaign means they need only a point on the last day to complete that task.

Wednesday 29th April
Chelsea head to the Italian city of Turin for their Semi-Final First Leg game in the Champions League, and they will return to London with a place in the UEFA Champions League Final all but in their pockets. After winning 4-1 in Marseille in the Quarter-Finals, they have now recorded the same result in Turin this evening. It was a soaking evening at the Juventus Stadium, but the home faithful didn't care about that when Ivan Rakitic fired them into a 17th minute lead. But their mood would soon turn when the free scoring Chelsea midfield took over the game. Ramires equalised in the 27th minute, and they were ahead before the break through Oscar. That lead was extended on the hour by Xherdan Shaqiri, and an Oscar penalty five minutes later completed the rout! The Blues could well be on their way to the Final, and they could face Bayern Munich, who also hold a three goal advantage heading into the second leg after doing a bit of a job themselves at home to Atlético.

[neilhoskins77]

Saturday 2nd May 2015
The second season of the cousins football career is drawing to a close now. Danilo continues to be seemingly nowhere near the First Team at Chelsea, who continue to have little success in their League games. Today they travelled north to face Barclays Premier League leaders Manchester City, and The Blues were two goals down by the midpoint of the first half after goals from André Ayew and a penalty from Vincent Kompany. But Chelsea kept the Title Race alive for others, well Manchester United anyway, as Oscar pulled one back before the hour, and Eden Hazard slotted home a penalty of his own with five minutes left to play. The battle for fourth is hot, with Chelsea in that position based on goal difference, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are both on the same points but have significantly weaker goal difference totals.

For Cardiff City, their season was already effectively over before the actual curtain comes down on it today. Davide plays at centre back as The Bluebirds play the part of party spoilers at the DW Stadium as they face Wigan Athletic. As the results turned out, a win for Wigan would have seen them automatically promoted to the Premier League today alongside Brighton, who won the Title with a win at Sheffield Wednesday. Instead, Kim Bo-Kyung put City in front in the 26th minute, and while Jamal Lascelles headed a 70th minute equaliser, the point wasn't enough for The Latics. Had they found a winner, they would have leapfrogged Sunderland, who earn promotion despite losing at home to Blackburn Rovers. For City, the draw means they have finished 19th, and the 18 year old Davide has made sixteen First Team appearances this season in all competitions, twelve of them in the Sky Bet Championship.

Tuesday 5th May
The domestic season may be over for Davide, but the Cardiff City teenager isn't quite done for the campaign just yet. He has been called into the Italy Under-19 Squad by Alberigo Evani for their upcoming UEFA European Under-19 Championship Qualifying Group Seven schedule, which will see the Azurri youngsters play three times in six days starting next week. They will face Hungary first of all in Italy next Monday, before hitting the road in their tough schedule of games, playing in Turkey next Wednesday and finishing up in Scotland next Saturday. He is one of just a trio of non-Italy based players called up, one of the others is Nicolò Barella, a team mate of his cousin Danilo's at Chelsea.

In London, it's a huge night at Stamford Bridge for Chelsea. Despite being 4-1 up from the First Leg in Turin in their UEFA Champions League Semi-Final tie, there is a nervous atmosphere ahead of the return tonight. But there need not have been, as coming out all guns blazing just didn't suit Juventus and the way they play, The Blues smothering the attacking intent of the Italians, and then removing any doubt about their place in the Final with a Diego Costa goal midway through the second half, a 25th goal of the season in all competitions for the Spanish International. So Chelsea win 5-1 on aggregate, and they will face Bayern Munich in the Final later this month.

Saturday 9th May
With a place in the Champions League Final secured, and currently sat in pole position in the race for fourth place in the Barclays Premier League, Chelsea could still have a great end to this campaign. Today is part one of that planned ending, as they decamp to Wembley where they are red hot favourites in the FA Cup Final against West Bromwich Albion. But in front of 90,000 they choke, and José Mourinho's charges have to return to West London empty handed. The Blues went with an attacking lineup, and dominated possession, but their normal sharp shooting was woeful. 0-0 after ninety minutes, the game moved into Extra Time, and the winner was bagged by Albion's twice capped Argentine International forward Sebastian Blanco, his ninth goal of the season in all competitions, and the biggest of his career for the 27 year old. It's a sixth FA Cup triumph in The Baggies history, and their first for almost 50 years, they last lifted this famous old trophy in 1968, their last major honour if you don't include the Sky Bet Championship. It's not a first major honour for Albion's manager, the German tactical genius that is Felix Magath. He has already won three German Bundesliga Titles and two DFB-Pokal's in his homeland during his time with Bayern Munich and Wolfsburg.

Monday 11th May
As the FA Cup finishes, we move headlong into another Tournament as we follow the fortunes of the cousins. Or at least one of them anyway. Davide is with Italy Under-19's as they kick off their Group Seven campaign in the Second Qualifying Round ahead of the UEFA 2015 Under-19 European Championships. This a quick blast for the nations to try and Qualify for this Summers Finals in Greece. The opener for Italy is their only home fixture of the three, held in the North East town of Ariano nel Polesine which is located approximately halfway between Venice and Bologna. Our boy Davide starts and plays the whole game against a talented Hungary side that is given their nation some hope for the future on the International Stage. However, they are defeated today, as a ninth minute strike from Parma striker Alberto Cerri gets the young Azurri off to a winning start.

Wednesday 13th May
FA Cup Final hangover? Daydreaming of Champions League glory? Or maybe just not good enough. You take your pick, but a woeful draw at Stamford Bridge against Swansea City this evening means that fourth place in the Barclays Premier League is no longer in Chelsea's own hands. Sofiane Feghouli had The Blues in front in the fifth minute, but Swansea were level just two minutes later through Slovakian International midfielder Juraj Kucka, and that was before Chelsea had defender Dante shown a ninth minute straight red card for a reckless and unnecessary two footed lunge. Swansea capitalised, Paraguayan International forward Hernán Pérez soon had the Welsh side ahead. But Chelsea would salvage a draw in the second half through Eden Hazard's 16th goal of the campaign. But with Arsenal winning, even a win at Newcastle on Sunday won't be enough for fourth if Arsenal win at Carrow Road against an already safe from relegation Norwich City.

While that was going on, in the West Central Turkish city of Kütahya, it was the second game of Group Seven for Davide Di Cianni and his young Italian team mates were hoping to move a step closer to securing their place in the European Under-19 Championship Finals this summer. But it would be quite a different set of team mates for Davide, too many maybe? He was one of only four players that kept their place as Alberigo Evani rang the changes, and it didn't pay off. Italy were sluggish throughout, and while Davide produced a man of the match performance, his team never looked like winning the game. With an acceptable draw on the cards, Freiburg's sixteen year old midfielder Ali Turan, who has never played a Senior game in his life, sent a blockbuster of a shot into the top corner, and may well have changed the course of Group Seven. A win for Turkey, combined with their draw over Scotland left them on four points. Scotland joined them on that total with a 1-0 win in Hungary tonight courtesy of a goal from Celtic forward Calvin Miller. That means that Italy need to win on Saturday in Scotland, and hope that Hungary can prevent Turkey winning in their remaining home game, or they are out!

Saturday 16th May
Adamslie Park on Glasgow Road, the home of Scottish Junior club Kirkintilloch Rob Roy is the host venue for this final and crucial game in Group Seven. Once more Evani rings the changes, and once more Davide is called upon to play the full ninety minutes for Italy Under-19's. It was the Scots who held the advantage, and the potential to Qualify for the Finals when half time rolled around, courtesy of a goal from Swansea City striker Robbie Muirhead. But back came the Italians, with a quick reply after the break from AC Milan's defensive midfielder Dario Pecchi. It looked like that would be all they would get, but with only seconds remaining, 16 year old substitute and Genoa striker Manuel D'Angelo poked the ball in from close range to break Scottish hearts. And I really do mean break them, as Hungary came from two goals behind against Turkey in Antalya to earn a draw, and the Italians are in the Finals this summer in Greece. It was another man of the match performance from Davide, who has had a superb week on the International Stage, and has seen his value climb as a result. Now he will surely be involved this summer and become the first of the cousins to play in the Finals Stage of an International Competition. There are several shocks, and they'll be joined in the Finals by Montenegro, who came through a Group containing both Germany and Serbia, as well as Croatia, Spain, Belgium, France, Holland and the hosts, Greece.

Sunday 17th May
The Barclays Premier League season of 2014/15 comes to a close today, and Chelsea finish it in style on Tyneside this afternoon. José Mourinho gave a run out to some fringe players, and squad places to a few younger players, but there was no sign of Danilo unfortunately. It was a pair of regulars not just on the team sheet, but also the scoresheet that had Chelsea in charge at St James' Park though, first Diego Costa, and then Eden Hazard. There was a goal back midway through the second half from Hatem Ben Arfa, but André Schürrle ended the contest in the last five minutes before Ashley Williams saw red for the hosts. So Chelsea kept up their side of the bargain, but so did Arsenal, who won comfortably at Norwich and sealed fourth place. If Chelsea are to play in the UEFA Champions League next season, they'll need to win it this season with the Final against Bayern Munich now less than a fortnight away.

Monday 18th May
At a glittering event in London, the trophies and back slaps are handed out for this season, and Chelea's midfielder Eden Hazard is named as the Player's Player of the Year, often seen as the highest prestige award as it is voted for by their peers. Team mate Oscar completes a double for Chelsea players as he lifts the Player's Young Player of the Year gong. Other awards were given out to Manchester City striker Alvaro Negredo as the Premier League Golden Boot winner and City keeper Joe Hart as the Golden Gloves winner for the most clean sheets in the Premier League.

Thursday 21st May
Chelsea have tied prized midfielder Eden Hazard down to a new four year contract at Stamford Bridge today. The 24 year old Belgian International will earn an eye watering £10 million a season in basic salary alone for each season of the deal. So Danilo now knows where to go if he needs to lend a tenner.

Friday 29th May
On the eve of the Champions League Final, there is some speculation about how the outcome will impact on Chelsea manager José Mourinho's future. After defeat in the FA Cup Final and then missing out on the top four in the Barclays Premier League, tabloid stories are running with the Chelsea Board potentially looking at making a change if their club are defeated tomorrow against Bayern Munich. Leaping out in defence of his manager is the club captain, John Terry. The 34 year old will enter the last season of his current deal next season and has played 435 League games for The Blues in his career. He says he and his team mates are firmly mind the Portuguese 'Special One'.

Saturday 30th May
And so we move onto Germany, and Berlin's Olympic Stadium, where the UEFA Champions League Final takes place in front of almost 75,000 fans, sponsors and dignitaries. Diego Costa gave Chelsea a 13th minute lead, but Bayern levelled on the half hour mark through Robert Lewandowski's penalty. But before the break, Chelsea were back in front through a Marc Bartra header from a set piece. Midway through the second half, and the four time successive German Champions were level again, this time through Kevin Volland. The game moved through the ninety minute barrier, and deep into extra time, which Chelsea would have to finish with ten men, Ramires injured a few minutes from time with all their substitutions already made. Hold out they did though, and it was on to the penalty shoot-out. Where something very peculiar happened. The Germans missed. Not just once. No, they missed ALL their penalties. Xabi Alonso, Ricardo Rodriguez and then Bastian Schweinsteiger all failed to convert their spot kicks. While they did that André Schürrle Eden Hazard, and then finally Oscar, all scored their kicks, and Chelsea are crowned Champions of Europe for the second time in their history, and a four year spell, plus there was a UEFA Europa League triumph in between as well. For Mourinho, it's a third UEFA Champions League crown, all with different clubs after previous success' with FC Porto and Inter Milan.

[neilhoskins77]

Monday 1st June 2015
24 year old Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard was in sparkling form in May, and with three goals in as many Barclays Premier League games, he has been awarded the Player of the Month Award. He edged out Spurs midfielder Erik Lamela and West Bromwich Albion defender Jonas Olsson to win that accolade. There is also an award for Oscar, who gets the Champions League Player of the Season Award.

Friday 5th June
It's International Squad announcement day, and Danilo is included by Wales Under-21 manager Geraint Williams for the home Friendly with the Faroe Islands at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea next week. There is a new Captain at that level too, with Lee Evans of Wolverhampton Wanderers the man with the armband now. Secretly however, I think Danilo was a little disappointed not to be playing in Swansea the following evening when Wales entertain Luxembourg in the opener of their European Championship Qualifying double header that also includes a trip to Portugal. There is a desire from the Chelsea youngster to add to his two Senior Caps.

There is also a call up at the Under-21 level for Davide. He has plenty of caps at that level, but is probably a little bit anxious to make sure that he isn't going to miss out with the Under-19's after helping them qualify for the age group European Championships this summer. He will be part of the older age group in this Window for their home Friendly next week against Switzerland. He will of course then hope to continue with them as they seek to qualify for next summers Under-21 Euro's. The qualification phase see's Italy in a five nation group with Armenia, Bulgaria, Lithuania and Scotland.

Wednesday 10th June
Greece are the hosts of this years UEFA Under-19 European Championship Finals, and the draw is made today. As the hosts, they are in Group A, where they will find the competition stiff, as they are joined by Croatia, France and Spain. That means Italy are in Group B. Does it mean the competition is any lesser in that second pool? Not really, as they will come up against Belgium, Holland and surprise package Montenegro. The tournament kicks off in mid July, so everyone taking part can expect to be confronted with sweltering temperatures in the mid-Greek summer. That won't stop Davide being desperate to be part of the Italian Squad I'm sure.

Thursday 11th June
For now though, he is part of the Under-21 Squad, and wins his eighth cap at that level when he comes on as a 59th minute substitute in Italy's 3-2 defeat at home to Switzerland in La Spezia. The game was a topsy turvy affair, but was highlighted by the Swiss team's 21 year old forward Cephas Malele. He is Angolan born, but Swiss qualified, and has scored his first ever Senior goals this season after leaving Serie A club Palermo to join second tier Cittadella on a season loan. A dozen goals later, he has today netted a hatrick to earn the Swiss the win.

Things were a little more straightforward in Swansea, where the Wales Under-21 side were hosting Faroe Islands at the Liberty Stadium. That was entirely down to the second half display from the young Welsh lads though, after they went a goal behind at the break, despite dominating possession, thanks to a goal by Rasmus Dan Sørensen midway through the first half. Danilo started the match, and would continue on into the second half to eventually play 75 minutes of this one. By that time, Wales had turned the score around to lead 3-1, including a Danilo assist as Andrew James of Newcastle United, followed by Harry Wilson of Liverpool and Tom Lawrence of Leicester City, but on loan to Millwall all found the net in a Wales win. It's been a funny season for Danilo in terms of International Football, as he has amassed plenty of caps over the various levels, including two Senior Caps. But he hasn't featured in a single competitive International game this season.

Wednesday 17th June
Speaking of the Senior side, Wales have showed over the last five days the highs and lows of International Football all in the space of one Window. With their Qualifying campaign for next Summer's showpiece European Championship Finals chugging along quite nicely, they hit a snag, when they are held to a 2-2 draw in Swansea last Friday night by a Luxembourg side that are much improved from their historical reputation, but are not exactly European heavyweights by any stretch of the imagination. An injury time from goal by Italian based striker Joël Kitenge, his fifth at International level, earned his nation a point at the expense of the Welsh. The response from Chris Coleman's boys? To travel to Portugal last night and come back with a win from Guimarâes, all thanks to a late winner of their own from Hal Robson-Kanu after Cristiano Ronaldo had reached 50 in International football when he equalised Craig Davies' early opener. It's a result that leaves Wales third in the Group, two points behind surprise package Georgia and the second place needed to automatically reach the Euro's, while Portugal are fourth, another four points further back, and the 2004 hosts facing a mountain to climb if they are going to be in France next summer.

Thursday 25th June
As expected, Davide has today been named in the Italy Under-19's Squad for next months UEFA European Under-19 Championship Finals in Greece. The squad selected by Alberigo Evani will be based in the Athens area, where they will open their Group B schedule against Holland, and close it versus Belgium at the AEL Arena. In between there will be a trip of just over 200 kilometres west to the city of Patras, where the Italian youngsters will face Montenegro. Should he be selected to play, Davide will become the first of the cousins to play at a major International Finals at any level.

Tuesday 30th June
José Mourinho has released 17 players from Chelsea at the end of their contracts. Mostly, they are young players that haven't cut it, and losing some of them could help Danilo shuffle himself up the pecking order, or put himself in better position to earn a loan out somewhere. There is one very famous name on the release sheet however. Chelsea paid £50 million for Fernando Torres in 2011, but in 82 Premier League games he scored just 15 times. He has spent the entirety of both of the last two seasons on loan with AC Milan, playing 69 Serie A games and returning 26 goals. They could now sign him for Free if they want to, as he is a Free Agent after The Blues cut him loose today.

Davide Di Cianni 2014/15 Season Summary (Competitive Games Only)
Highest International Honours :- 8 Caps / 0 Goals for Italy Under-21's
Current Club :- Cardiff City (Sky Bet Championship)
Current Transfer Market Value :- £220,000
Current Contract :- £4,700 per week, one year remaining

It wasn't exactly a break out season for Davide in Cardiff, but he certainly got his foot in the First Team door this season with a dozen League Appearances, seeming to benefit for the mid-season change of Manager at the Cardiff City Stadium. He is only three League appearances away from a big pay rise, but this is the last year of his current deal, though City do have an option to extend for an extra year. This is a big year early in the career for our defensive cousin, and he potentially has an early chance to set a marker in Greece with Italy Under-19's in next months UEFA European Under-19 Championship Finals.

| Competition            | Apps |Gls|Asts|Pens|PoM|Yel|Red|Sh Tar|Pas R|Mstks| Crs | Tck | Fouls | Fls Ag | Av Rat |

| Sky Bet Championship   
                         |11 (1)| 0 |  0 |  0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 67% |  0  |  0  | 50  |  9    |  0     | 6.83   |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| The FA Cup             
                         | 2 (0)| 0 |  0 |  0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 64% |  0  |  0  |  8  |  1    |  0     | 6.80   |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Capital One Cup        
                         | 2 (0)| 0 |  0 |  0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 70% |  0  |  0  |  8  |  1    |  0     | 7.75   |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|English Under 21's Group 2
                         | 7 (0)| 1 |  0 |  0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0.43 | 68% |  0  |  0  | 36  |  8    |  0     | 7.79   |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Under 21s Cup          
                         | 1 (0)| 0 |  0 |  0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 64% |  0  |  0  |  6  |  1    |  0     | 7.60   |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|English Under 18's Group 2
                         | 6 (0)| 2 |  0 |  0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0.33 | 67% |  0  |  0  | 27  |  6    |  0     | 7.63   |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|European U19's Championships Qualifying 
                         | 3 (0)| 0 |  0 |  0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 69% |  0  |  0  | 14  |  4    |  0     | 7.70   |
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|       Overall          |32 (1)| 3 |  0 |  0 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0.15 | 67% |  0  |  0  | 149 |  30   |  0     | 7.34   |
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Danilo Di Cianni 2014/15 Season Review (Competitive Games Only)

Highest International Honours :- 2 Senior Caps / 0 Goals for Wales
Current Club :- Chelsea (Barclays Premier League)
Current Market Value :- £600,000
Current Contract :- £100 per week, two years remaining

We can't say it was unexpected, but just one Senior competitive game all season for Danilo doesn't read well. However, he earned a pair of Wales Senior caps, and performed at a very high level over various age group levels for Chelsea, with his market value increasing three-fold all the while. Big money still seems a long time away for our attacking member of the family, he certainly isn't going to get rich during this contract and it will be interesting to see where Danilo falls this season. A lot of the queue in front of him have been cut loose, meaning Danilo could find himself closer to the First Team fringes for 2015/16, or closer to a high profile loan deal. Either would be an improvement on the age group football that it would appear he is a bit too good for right now. The jury remains out on whether Danilo moved too high up the ladder in one step when he left Haverfordwest for the glamour of the Kings Road area club.

| Competition            | Apps |Gls|Asts|Pens|PoM|Yel|Red|Sh Tar|Pas R| Mstks | Crs | Tck | Fouls | Fls Ag | Av Rat |

| The FA Cup             
                         | 1 (0)| 0 |  0 |  0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 53% |  0    |  1  |  1  |  1    |  0     | 7.20   |
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|English Under 21's Group 1
                         | 3 (5)| 2 |  1 |  0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.11 | 51% |  0    |  3  |  7  |  2    |  0     | 6.95   | 

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| Under 21s Cup          
                         | 0 (1)| 0 |  0 |  0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22.5 | 100%|  0    |  0  |  0  |  0    |  0     | -      |
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|English Under 18's Group 1
                         | 8 (9)| 5 |  2 |  0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.48 | 51% |  0    | 10  | 12  | 12    |  0     | 7.06   |
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| Under 18s Cup          
                         | 3 (2)| 3 |  0 |  0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2.28 | 54% |  0    |  4  |  3  |  4    |  0     | 7.55   |
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|      Overall           |15(17)| 10|  3 |  0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.72 | 52% |  0    | 18  | 23  | 19    |  0     | 6.90   |
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[neilhoskins77]

Saturday 4th July 2015
Cardiff City open their Pre-Season schedule this afternoon with a game at the Cardiff City Stadium against an FSV Mainz team that finished fifth in the German Bundesliga last season, and as a result will be involved in the UEFA Europa League in the upcoming 2015/16 campaign. The Friendly ended in a 1-1 draw, City striker Federico Macheda putting his side ahead early in the second half, before the German side equalised with just two minutes remaining through their free scoring Japanese International forward Shinji Okazaki. This game was played with an interesting back drop. Cardiff have had an offer accepted by Scottish Premiership side Dundee United for their talented 22 year old goalkeeper Marc McCallum. The Tannadice Park club having a working relationship with Mainz allows the Bundesliga club first refusal on any of their players, leaving City in a position where they are now waiting to see if their opponents from today are interested in one of their own transfer targets and intending to hijack the deal.

Tuesday 7th July
FSV Mainz let the deadline slide by, and didn't make an offer for Marc McCallum. Late interest from Celtic was just that, late. Too late. The 22 year old Scottish stopper joins The Bluebirds for a rather modest fee of £50,000.

Wednesday 8th July
Cardiff's pre-season continues with a trip north into Yorkshire to play Bradford City of Sky Bet League One. A goal right before the break from Anthony Pilkington had the Welsh side in front, and that lead was doubled midway through the second half through Joe Mason. A consolation from Oliver McBurnie provided some entertainment for the just over 5,000 in attendance at Valley Parade.

Monday 13th July
Another day, and a double header for Cardiff City today with a new signing and another Friendly. Into the club comes Richard Smallwood, a 24 year old tireless midfielder that The Bluebirds have paid £725k to Rotherham United for. He's had two pretty good seasons with them after joining from Middlesbrough. He contributed seven goals in each of the last two seasons, and he might need to keep up numbers like that to justify the £16k a week that he is going to be paid for the next three seasons.

He wasn't signed in time to be involved in the clubs 1-1 draw in the Czech Republic for top tier outfit Teplice. It was a good time for midfielder Tom Adeyemi to remind everyone at the club of his abilities as he opened the scoring in the 21st minute, only to see his goal matched by Bosnian International striker Aidin Mahmutovic with just over twenty minutes to go.

There isn't much going on to report in London with Chelsea. Several of their fringe players are making loan moves out to other clubs in the UK and across Europe, but there doesn't appear to be anything happening for Danilo right now, and if it doesn't move him up the pecking order, it could mean another frustrating year of age group football for our attacking cousin.

Tuesday 14th July
On a warm evening in Athens, the UEFA 2015 European Under-19 Championship Finals gets underway. Italy and Davide are involved, and they get off to a perfect start, defeating Holland 3-0 tonight at the capital's AEL Arena. The opening goal came right before the break and from the penalty spot courtesy of Parma striker Alberto Cerri. By the time a second penalty was awarded with around a quarter of an hour to play, Cerri had been substituted. So AC Milan's seventeen year old winger Hachim Mastour converted that one, and then added a second in the final five minutes to complete a dream start. Davide played the entire ninety minutes at centre back.

Wednesday 15th July
At Chelsea, the path for Danilo towards the First Team and it's fringes clears a little more, as the club have offloaded 21 year old midfielder Josh McEachran to Hull City for £1 million today. He had spent six years fighting to get into the First Team at Stamford Bridge, but played only eleven Premier League games during that time, and has spent the last three and a half seasons out on long term loan deals. Let's hope this is not the future that plays out for Danilo. It must have crossed the teenagers mind when he signed, and several times since.

Thursday 16th July
Less than 48 hours after beginning their campaign, the Italian youngsters are back in action in Greece at the age group Euros. They've moved out to the west and the city of Patras, where they face the underdogs of these Finals, the youngsters of Montenegro. Once more Davide would play the full ninety minutes, and once more Italy would dominate proceedings. Hachim Mastour opened the scoring after just three minutes, and Inter Milan winger Gianluca D'Auria added a second before the break. A pair of goals around five minutes apart from AC Milan's forward Michael Fabbro and then Atalanta midfielder Tiziano Tulissi made it a pair of goals in each half for the young Azurri. A 4-0 win combined with Belgium beating Holland meant that Italy are guaranteed to progress into the Semi-Finals before they even face the Belgians this weekend to complete their Group B fixtures.

Friday 17th July
There is more clearing of the decks at Stamford Bridge by Chelsea, as more players leave the club by a number of different routes. 19 year old midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek is amongst those who leave on loan, as he joins Watford of the Sky Bet Championship for the season. Also appearing to be packing his bags is the lesser known of the Hazard brothers, with 22 year old Thorgan seemingly on the verge of a £850k transfer to Olympique Lyonnais.

Down the M4 in Cardiff, there is some good news for Davide too. When he arrives back in the Welsh Capital from Greece after the Under-19's Euros, he will find a countryman who will be able to advise him on exactly what is required to become a Full Senior International for the Azurri, as Cardiff have signed 33 year old full back Federico Balzaretti. He has joined on a one year deal in a £200k transfer from Russian club Spartak Moscow, who have had to agree to pay half the wages for the year of the £22.5k a week wages that the 15 times capped International will collect. The left footed veteran counts Torino, Juventus, Palermo, Fiorentina and Roma amongst his former clubs.

Saturday 18th July
Balzaretti was not involved when City hosted Barclays Premier League club Norwich City at the Cardiff City Stadium this afternoon in front of a very modest attendance of 7,500. Those that were there would see The Bluebirds come from behind to steal a win against The Canaries. There was an early lead for the visitors when centre back Pavel Cmovs swept home a loose ball in the 8th minute, only to see prolific South Korean forward Kim Bo-Kyung level things back up ten minutes later. The Cardiff winner would come from the penalty spot in the 82nd minute from Joe Mason.

Chelsea would also get their Pre-Season underway today, for them there was a much more impressive attendance of almost 35,000 at the AWD-Arena in Germany, as they visited Bundesliga side Hannover 96. Included in the matchday squad, but eventually only as an unused substitute, Danilo would watch on from the bench as a pair of Diego Costa goals would turn out to be the filling in between markers from Stefan Thesker and Artur Sobiech in a 2-2 draw.

Sunday 19th July
Italy ring the changes and bring in some debutants for their final Group B game on their return to Athens as they meet Belgium. The Italians are already through to the Semi-Finals, but Davide remains in the side and once more plays the full duration of this game to remain as an ever present throughout the Tournament so far. And his Italian side retain their one hundred percent record as well with a 2-0 win this evening in some thankfully cooler conditions. Napoli's attacking midfielder Gennaro Tutino opened the scoring in the third minute, and Alberto Cerri padded the lead on the half hour mark as Belgium are beaten fairly easily but still advance to the last four thanks to a penalty two minutes from time that earns Montenegro a draw with Holland. That leaves Belgium to face Group A winners Spain, while Italy will face Croatia in the other last four fixture.

Monday 20th July
Yet another Chelsea player will potentially move out of Danilo's path to the First Team ahead of the new season, as 23 year old winger Christian Atsu has agreed to move to FC København of Denmark on a season long loan, provided the Danish club are granted a work permit for the Ghana International.

Wednesday 22nd July
It's a busy night of football, particularly considering it's supposed be the summer off-season. Lets start with the big one, and in Greece. Same city, different stadium, same result though, and another Italian win. The only surprise was that Davide didn't start, our guy coming off the bench for the last fifteen minutes that the Italians were shutting down after once again doing their damage in the first half. For the third successive match they opened the scoring in the third minute, Tiziano Tulissi the scorer this time, a goal that was added to in the 24th minute by Giacomo Sciacca, which would prove to be the final goal in a comfortable 2-0 victory. The Italian youngsters will progress to this weekends Final, where they will face Spain. It's a game that gives Davide an opportunity to be the first of the cousins to win a team title in their career, and it wouldn't be a bad first one to win at all.

Back in London, not much has changed with Danilo's luck so far this Pre-Season, as he is once again left on the bench as an unused substitute at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea sweep aside Italian club Lazio 3-0, a quick first half back to back pair from Granit Xhaka and Sofiane Feghouli, before the third is added right from the restart after half time courtesy of Loïc Rémy to complete the scoring.

Friday 24th July
The draw is made today for the Qualifying Phase of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, with the Groups due to start in a little over a year in September 2016. For Wales, it is Group Two, and of course, they are drawn with Belgium, because Wales always get Belgium. Also in that section are Israel, and a trio of ex-Russian States in the form of Armenia, Latvia and Lithuania.

For Italy it's Group Three, and the potential of some banana skins in Poland and Serbia, with Azerbaijan, Iceland and Luxembourg also in that pool as well. The Group Winners in each section will guarantee their place in the Finals that are being held in Russia.

For Davide, the competition for a place in the heart of Cardiff City's defence this coming season just increased, as The Bluebirds continue their summer recruitment drive with the signing of Aston Villa's 24 year old centre back Nathan Baker on a three year deal for a fee of £575k. Speaking of Villa, they have made a signing of their own, hijacking Olympique Lyonnais attempt to sign Thorgan Hazard from Chelsea, and clinching the deal themselves, signing the Belgian twenty two year old attacking midfielder for £850k. At the same time, Christian Atsu completes his move to Denmark on loan for the season with FC København after receiving his work permit.

Saturday 25th July
Danilo today started for Chelsea in a low key Pre-Season Friendly not too far away at Brisbane Road, the home of Leyton Orient. The Sky Bet Championship club, who only just stayed at that level last season on goal difference will be absolutely delighted to get a goalless draw against a Blues side that was very much second string and still couldn't find a way through when several of their star players came off the bench in the second half. Danilo played 76 minutes, and didn't do too badly at all before being replaced by Eden Hazard of all people.

The families attention today would have undoubtedly been on the Georgios Kamaras Stadium in Athens, as Greece hosted the Final of the UEFA 2015 European Under-19 Championships. Unfortunately, it would be a disappointing day. Davide was restored to the lineup and started once again in searing 35c heat, as his Italian side were beaten 1-0 today thanks to a 9th minute goal from 17 year old Lazio forward Aitor Antón. Throughout the tournament, Italy have been pretty free scoring, but they never really looked like finding a way past Spain today, and the chance for a cousin to pick up a first honour of their careers has been passed up. The first medal for Davide is a Runner's Up one that I'm sure we all hope won't be in pride of place when the cousins careers are over.

***CLUB/INTERNATIONAL HONOUR***
Davide Di Cianni - 2015 UEFA European Under-19's Championship Runner-Up Medal - Italy Under-19's.

Sunday 26th July
Chelsea have continued their blue print of signing up some of the best young talent, not just in Europe, but from across the world. Today they have paid Newell's Old Boys of Argentina an initial fee of £3.5m for 17 year old projected 'wonderkid' striker Emilio Zurlo. Already capped fifteen times at Under-20 International level, and he has also played seven times for his Argentine club, he has however only found the net once in those total appearances. He is due to arrive in England this time next year at the end of the 2015/16 season. There is no comparison between the deal he will arrive to and what Danilo is getting, the Argentine will pick up nearly £4k a week plus bonuses when his three year deal begins next year.

Monday 27th July
Zero rest for Davide, and after returning to South Wales only last night he is pitched right into a Pre-Season game today for Cardiff City. While The Bluebirds are not taking it easy on him, as he plays the full ninety minutes, he was fortunate that the opposition did take it easy, mostly as they were simply not up to the task. Oxford City play in the Vanarama South, and were soundly beaten 5-0 this evening, Adam Le Fondre and Joe Mason helping themselves to a pair of goals each, and there was also one for Magnus Wolff Eikrem in what could prove to be one of his final appearances for Cardiff with the club having apparently accepted a bid of just under £4 million for the 24 year old Norwegian International midfielder.

Wednesday 29th July
The deal is done, and Cardiff City pocket £3.7 million and Eikrem has moved to VfB Stuttgart, the Bundesliga side who are looking to strengthen ahead of the new season after only staying in the German top tier last season with a final day win that hauled them out of the relegation zone and ahead of a doomed Hertha Berlin. Are Cardiff going to be able to replace him and strengthen their own squad in enough areas to improve their own fortunes in the Sky Bet Championship in the new season? They have identified their target as Eikrem's replacement very quickly, making a £1.3 million offer for Leicester City's tireless Irish International midfielder Stephen Quinn. If I were a Bluebirds fan, I'd probably be underwhelmed.

Elsewhere in mainland Europe, well France to be specific, Chelsea continue their preparations for the new campaign. There isn't even a place on the bench for Danilo this evening in Caen where Chelsea had to launch a second half comeback having fallen behind in the first half to an early Sloan Privat goal. André Schürrle scored early in the second half, and Eden Hazard netted what would prove to be the winner just before the hour mark against the French Ligue 1 outfit.

Friday 31st July
July is over, and we are about to head into August, where we will see the cousins celebrate their 19th birthdays, and begin the third season of their careers. Both will be hoping to see improvements come in 2015/16, and I'm sure we the readers will be looking forward to see if either of the lads can win a first honour and make further strides in their club and international fortunes.

[neilhoskins77]

Saturday 1st August 2015
It's the opening day of the Sky Bet Championship, and it's a good day for Cardiff City as they get their campaign underway with a 1-0 home win against Birmingham City, thanks to a goal twenty minutes from time by Icelandic midfielder and skipper Aron Gunnarsson. It's not such a good day for our boy Davide Di Cianni though, as the centre back is left sat down as an unused substitute to start the season, a step backwards from the latter part of last season when he was a regular starter.

Down the M4 in London, it's another fortnight before the Barclays Premier League gets underway. Today The Blues are paying tribute to long term goalkeeper Petr Cech in his Testimonial Game at Stamford Bridge against French visitors Stade Rennais. With no importance on the result, it does mean that Danilo gets a start today, playing 45 minutes in a 2-0 Chelsea win through goals in the first half by Ramires, and then right at the start of the second half from Diego Costa in front of 25,000 plus in West London.

Tuesday 4th August
After opening their League campaign with a win, Cardiff City do the same in their opening game of the Capital One League Cup. They travelled into Kent tonight to face Gillingham of Sky Bet League One, and coming away from Priestfield with another 1-0 win, courtesy of a Federico Macheda free kick with just four minutes left to play. It might turn out to be one of the Italians last goals for The Bluebirds, with offers on the table for his services from several different clubs. His transfer might not do much to help out Davide though, as he is left out of the squad for this game as well.

Thursday 6th August
Davide is at least included in the Italy Under-21's squad that is named today for the UEFA European Under-21 Championships Qualifier Group Four game in Kilmarnock next Wednesday against Scotland. The defender already has eight caps at this level for the Azurri.

Also included in the Wales Under-21 squad for the same competition for their upcoming Group Three game is Danilo, who will be hoping to get some competitive game time under his belt in Amsterdam as Wales open their qualifying campaign up against group favourites, Holland.

Friday 7th August
Cardiff City have accepted two offers of £800,000 from Reading and Hellas Verona. The Italian forward may yet have more options to consider, with Chinese Super League outfit Guangzhou Hengda said to be preparing a bid themselves. The big question here is can City afford to lose his goalscoring ability from the team, particularly to a potential rival such as Reading.

Saturday 8th August
Cardiff City continue their winning start to the 2015/16 campaign with yet another 1-0 win, this time away to Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough. This time instead of relying on a late goal they went the other way, and scored early and defended their lead right throughout, a second minute goal by Joe Mason proving to be the only strike of the match. The win was all the more impressive considering The Bluebirds had to play the last quarter of the match with ten men. Davide was selected for the bench again, but came on for his first competitive football of the new domestic season in the 26th minute when new signing Nathan Baker picked up an injury. Davide was booked less than five minutes later, and booked again in the 68th minute to see red for the first time in his career, and incur a one match ban. That's bad timing too, as Baker is out for up to a month with a dislocated jaw, and Davide may have jeopardised the chance of trying to claim his place back. Oh, and today is his 19th birthday. I'm sure that's not the kind of card he was hoping for or expecting.

There is also mixed news for Danilo today in the blue of Chelsea, but he's a long way from home. In the North African city of Radès, a West Mediterranean port city in Tunisia and only around half a dozen miles from the capital of Tunis, today Chelsea play their final Pre-Season Friendly game before starting their domestic campaign next weekend. The fact that we are this close to the start of the season, and that Danilo is still starting games is very promising. The fact he was substituted in the 38th minute for Diego Costa, slightly less so. The score was 1-1 at that point, André Schürrle having given Chelsea the lead, the equaliser coming a minute before Danilo was substituted, and scored by Sofiene Cheikh. Our boys replacement would get the winning goal in the 55th minute, and The Blues end their Pre-Season campaign with a win.

Monday 10th August
The Bluebirds might be in need of a new striker, as after a very promising start to the season, Cardiff City have today sold 23 year old former Italy Under-21 striker Federico Macheda. He has rejected the offer from Reading, and will instead return to his homeland, but not with Hellas Verona, as their move was hijacked late on by their Serie A local rivals, Chievo Verona, who have paid £800,000 for his signature. City fans are reported to be fuming that the club have allowed this move to go through without first securing a replacement for Macheda, and have accused the club of lacking ambition.

Wednesday 12th August
What a night it was at Rugby Park in Kilmarnock this evening. A crowd of over ten thousand gathered to watch Scotland Under-21's open their UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualifying Group Four campaign against Davide and his Italy side. It looked like the home fans were going to be present for something special too, when Inverness Caledonian Thistle striker Cammy Smith and then Norwich City's on loan at Reading midfielder Lewis MacLeod both netted in the opening five minutes to give the Scots an early two goal lead. Manchester United forward Domenico Beradi pulled a goal back on the half hour mark, and the Italians could not find a way through again until ten minutes from time. Then up stepped their super sub in the form of Parma striker Alberto Cerri. He scored an 80th minute volley in off a post to level the game, and then blasted home a penalty with just two minutes left on the clock, meaning Italy would leave with a win to open their campaign, but they had to work really hard for it. Davide played the full ninety minutes, winning his ninth cap at this level.

Across the North Sea in Holland, there was also involvement for Danilo as Group Three got underway in a moderately populated Amsterdam ArenA. The Chelsea youngster started the game, and saw Newcastle United's young forward Andrew James put Wales in front five minutes into the second half. That was against the run of play, and it would take the Dutch almost a quarter of an hour to find an equaliser, which came through Ajax youngster Kenny Tete, the full back scoring on his home ground. But his team mates would fail to find another way through, and Geraint Williams' side will be delighted to return to Wales with a point from a game that should be the hardest of the Group.

Thursday 13th August
Is this news good for Davide, or are there financial issues at the Cardiff City Stadium? Thirteen times capped Czech International centre back Vaclav Prochazka has been deemed surplus to requirements by Sam Allardyce and the Sky Bet Championship club, and offers are already being received and accepted for the 31 year old. And he may not be the only player originally from that area of Europe who could be packing his bags and leaving the Welsh capital, with 24 year old Slovakian midfielder Filip Kiss potentially moving to Championship rivals AFC Bournemouth after their bid was accepted.

Saturday 15th August
Davide is suspended today as Cardiff City entertain Reading at home this afternoon. It's a game that see's them lose their 100% start to the season, but they do still remain undefeated after a 1-1 draw. Midfielder Richard Smallwood put The Bluebirds ahead just after the midway point of the first half with his maiden goal for the club after his summer arrival at City. But the equaliser would come around the hour mark from Nick Blackman.

Sunday 16th August
Chelsea had to wait a day longer than most to get their Barclays Premier League campaign underway in the Midlands, and it turned out to be not really worth the wait. Danilo did not feature in The Blues matchday squad at all, but Oscar did, and the Brazilian midfielder put the visitors in front at The Hawthorns from the penalty spot with just six minutes on the clock. The lead would last only just over ten minutes however, a close range Andy Carroll volley bringing The Baggies level and completing the scoring for the afternoon in a one apiece draw.

Monday 17th August
Another Monday, and another departure from the Cardiff City Stadium. Out of the door today is 31 year old Czech centre back Vaclav Prochazka, who has moved to Denmark and one of the nations leading clubs FC Midtjylland for a very modest fee of £185,000. Once more the fans have had their say, complaining that for such a low return, surely there was more value in keeping the player for squad depth.

Tuesday 18th August
If the fans were annoyed by that deal, then Bluebirds supporters were simply baffled by today's news, as 24 year old Slovakian midfielder Filip Kiss followed him out of the door. But he doesn't need to catch a flight anywhere, as he is remaining in the Sky Bet Championship after completing a £325,000 transfer to the south coast and to AFC Bournemouth.

Cardiff's finances are not the only thing that are being speculated upon. After Chelsea's opening day points drop at West Bromwich, media outlets are speculating already that a poor result against Brighton & Hove Albion tomorrow evening could see José Mourinho make a very early season exit out of Stamford Bridge!

Wednesday 19th August
Fortunately for the 'Special One', the visitors from Brighton never looked like causing an upset at Stamford Bridge this evening. Diego Costa scored twice in the opening quarter of the game to kill off the contest early in front of a full house in West London, where once more Danilo did not feature in the matchday squad, and continues to wait for his Premier League debut.

Saturday 22nd August
Maybe a little bit of pressure is all Mourinho needs to get the best out of his own players? In front of another full house at the Bridge, it was an impressive 2-0 win for Chelsea today over visitors Liverpool in an early gut check between a pair of teams that will both hope to be in the hunt for the honours this season. Diego Costa continued his superb start to the season with a goal from the penalty spot midway through the first half. André Schürrle got the second right from kick off in the second half, the visiting Reds couldn't find a way through the Blue wall in response.

In the Sky Bet Championship, it's a first defeat of the season for Cardiff City on their trip up to the North East as they are defeated 1-0 by Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium. There was a recall for Davide after his suspension, and he had a very good game too, but he wasn't able to stop Boro's on loan striker Adil Nabi scoring a first minute goal that would prove to be the winner. The game was played under the backdrop of the mornings breaking news, that Cardiff had accepted a £4.2 million bid for French defender Kévin Théophile-Catherine, who played the game knowing it could potentially be his last for the club, and that he could be spending more time in the North East with the offer coming from Barclays Premier League side Hull City.

Tuesday 25th August
The deal is done, and the French full back is the next one to move out during the Cardiff City Stadium exodus, as Kévin Théophile-Catherine completes his £4.2 million move to Hull City, and will be hoping to impress at his new level of football in the Premier League.

And with him gone, Cardiff crashed out of the Capital One League Cup tonight at the Second Round stage, as they are defeated at home by Derby County. The visiting skipper Mark O'Brien had Derby in front before half time, but with eleven minutes left on the clock Joe Mason fired home an equaliser that would send this one into extra time. With seven minutes left on the clock before the clubs were pitted into a penalty shoot out, Mason Bennett thumped home a header that would send Derby into the Third Round, where they will meet Premier League visitors Sunderland.

Thursday 27th August
The draw has been made for the Group Stage of the UEFA Champions League, and the holders Chelsea will be pretty satisfied with their draw I'd imagine, though they are going to be putting in some miles over the coming weeks. They have been placed into Group D, which will begin in mid September, and see's them paired with FC Porto, CSKA Moscow and BATE Borisov.

Friday 28th August
There is no place for Danilo in the Wales Senior Squad named today by Chris Coleman. Instead, the Chelsea youngster will need to be content with a continued presence in the Under-21 Squad selected for the double header of games against FYR Macedonia firstly in a UEFA European Under-19 Championship Qualifier in Llanelli, before they then switch to Swansea for a Friendly with a visiting Japan side.

It's also Under-21 duty for Davide with Italy, as he is once again selected by Luigi Di Biagio for what is a double header of Qualifiers for the young Azzuri, and one they will hope to take maximum points from as they host Armenia first at home, before then travelling to face Lithuania.

Before the next International Window, the first silverware of the season is handed out, and it goes to Chelsea. The Champions League holders have defeated Europa League winners AS Monaco this evening in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi to lift the UEFA European Super Cup. They actually fell behind early to a penalty from lethal striker Radamel Falcao, but within ten minutes the game had been turned on it's head after quick fire goals from Oscar and Diego Costa meant that all the goals would come from South American players in this early season European showpiece game. Monaco's hopes of a second half comeback were dashed when Dutch International full back Jetro Willems was shown a second yellow card in the early minutes after the restart. The Blues lift this particular trophy for the second time in their history after previously winning it back in 1998. Will that help take the heat off José?

Saturday 29th August
The biggest derby that Cardiff City have is their big rivalry with Swansea City. Heading the other way down the M4 though, a game against Bristol City isn't far behind it. At lunchtime today The Bluebirds made the short trip over the River Severn to Ashton Gate, and head home with three more points in the bag. Anthony Pilkington and Joe Mason scored first half goals to get Sam Allardyce's side back to winning ways, and they did so without Davide who was left on the bench as an unused substitute, and remains one League appearance short of that nice big pay rise.

[neilhoskins77]

Tuesday 1st September 2015
Chelsea are denied a clean sweep of the August awards by their cross city rivals Arsenal. The Manager of the Month Award did go to José Mourinho, as he edged out West Bromwich Albion and Leeds United pair Felix Magath and Lothar Matthäus. But the Player of the Month Award saw Eden Hazard edged out into second by Gunners full back Mathieu Debuchy, third place going to Everton player Gareth Barry.

Danilo has yet more competition for a break into the First Team at Stamford Bridge, as The Blues sign 17 year old talented attacking midfielder David from Sevilla for almost £4.5m. He has made just one Senior appearance in his short career to date, and that was for his home town club Albacete in the first year of this save, two years ago now. He moved onto Sevilla last season, and failed to make a First Team appearance spending the year with the Sevilla Athlético team down in the Second Division. His quick move away from the Spanish club sees a tenfold return on their outlay for the Spanish Under-20 International. The Blues pinched the player from under the nose of Liverpool, who were at the advanced talks stage with David.

Wednesday 2nd September
The Under-19 International sides are no longer really focused on here with both of the cousins now becoming regulars at the higher age group. But just to give you a line from the lower age group, where the draw took place today for the First Qualifying Round of the 2016 UEFA European Under-19 Championships. It was Group 11 which drew the attention, where England, Republic of Ireland and Wales were all drawn together, San Marino completing that Group.

Thursday 3rd September
After opening their 2016 UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualifying Group 3 campaign last month with a very credible draw in Holland, it was the opening home game of the Group today for Wales as they hosted FYR Macedonia at the Parc Y Scarlets in Llanelli. There was a much needed full ninety minutes for Danilo, though he didn't have his best game on a very frustrating evening for Wales in front of a crowd of over 5,000. Those in attendance would have to wait until the last quarter of the game to finally see Wales break the shackles from the ultra defensive visitors, Liverpool's forward Gavin Keefe breaking the deadlock with his first goal at this level, before Wesley Burns completed a 2-0 win as the game went into the final ten minutes.

If the evening was frustrating for Wales at times, then the Italians would have been close to tearing their hair out for large parts of the night in Arezzo. The young Azurri were hosting Armenia in Group 4, and would have been shocked to find themselves a goal behind very early on, midfielder Viulen Ayvazyan opening the scoring. The crowd of over 9,000 would have been more surprised still at how long it took Italy to sort themselves out. Davide was playing at centre back and having a good game, but it was past the hour mark before the equaliser came, and that was from the spot courtesy of Inter Milan, and currently on loan with Parma, midfielder Marco Benassi. The winner would eventually come with just six minutes to play, and would also come from a Parma man, striker Alberto Cerri making it four in four at this level, while Italy make it two out of two in these Qualifiers.

Friday 4th September
The Senior International action starts today, with both Italy and Wales in action. In Florence there is a goal in each half for Italy in their Group C encouter with Romania. 22 year old AC Milan forward Stephan El Shaarawy netted in the first half, while Newcastle United forward Facundo Ferreyra scored in his Senior International football debut after the break for an Italy side that move above Romania on goal difference and into second place, and increase the chances that their meeting with Israel in October will be a crucial fixture.

At a sold out Liberty Stadium in Swansea, the visit of San Marino was an opportunity for Wales to fill their goalscoring boots. That looked a distinct possibility in the first half, Aaron Ramsey scored with just a minute on the clock, and Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Andrew Crofts opened in his International account in his 30th cap with a pair of goals to give Wales a three nil half time lead. A lead that they wouldn't add to in the second half surprisingly. The win keeps their lead over Portugal at four points with three games each remaining.

Saturday 5th September
The clear out at the Cardiff City Stadium continues, with the next man to leave the club being 26 year old Slovenian International striker Etien Velikonja. He has spent the last two seasons on loan to other clubs in the UK, and was deemed surplus to requirements by The Bluebirds. He has missed the end of the Transfer Window though, and his move to Dutch top flight outfit AZ Alkmaar will now take place in the New Year.

Monday 7th September
In the Lithuanian city of Kaunas, there would be an 11th cap for Davide at Under-21 level as he played another solid game in the Azurri's continued Qualifying campaign. Once more things didn't go exactly smoothly though, despite an early opener from Cesena left sided winger Luca Garritano. There would be an equaliser before the break for Lithuania from Ekransas 17 year old striker Rokas Birskys, his first goal at this level. Once more the Italians would need a big second half to get the job done. Garritano added his second just before the hour mark, and Manchester United forward Domenico Beradi completed a 3-1 win midway through the second half.

In Swansea there was no Qualifying action for Wales tonight, instead a Friendly at Under-21 level against a visiting Japanese Squad. Again there is a start for Danilo, though he only plays 43 minutes in this goalless draw as the changes are rung to give plenty of players some game time, with no fewer than twenty four players taking part in this one for Wales.

Tuesday 8th September
For the second night in a row, the Liberty Stadium hosts International Football. After just a few hundred in the crowd last night, it's another full house for the visit of Group B leaders Switzerland. In a tight and nervy affair, Wales were on course for a second goalless draw in consecutive nights. That was until the 87th minute, when 23 year old Olympiakos forward Pajtim Kasami lined up a free kick on the edge of the Wales box, and his deflected effort found it's way into the back of the net. That goal sends Switzerland to the European Championship Finals, but if Wales had held on, the October fixtures would have still been crucial for the Swiss too.

Meanwhile in Nicosia, Cyprus, our friends from Italy continue to make life hard for themselves while giving their fans high blood pressure while watching the games. The Azurri played appallingly in the first half and it wasn't until the last quarter of the game when they finally got their act together. Claudio Marchisio of Juventus finally broke the deadlock, before Ferreyra and El-Shaarawy both netted their second goals of the International Window for Italy. It's a result that was needed with Israel winning by the same score in Andorra, and Romania keeping pace as well with a win in Lithuania. These three nations will next month battle for their places in next summers Euro's in France.

Saturday 12th September
With Champions League football coming up in midweek, Chelsea land the early Saturday game, and it's a big one as they host Manchester United at The Bridge, with Danilo once more nowhere to be seen in the First Team Squad. The faithful for The Blues get to see the rarest of rare things in the first half, an Eden Hazard header that put Chelsea in front. It was a goal that looked like it would hold up the distance, right until the final minute when Domenico Berardi popped up to net his first United goal of the season and snatch a point for Diego Simeone's team and prevent them from losing three of their four opening Premier League matches.

Later in the day down the M4, there is no place in the matchday squad at all for Davide as Cardiff City are hosting Crystal Palace at the Cardiff City Stadium. A goal on the half hour mark from Richard Smallwood gave City the advantage. Palace games are rarely short of goal action, but this one was surprisingly quiet for them, though they would get an equaliser with around quarter of an hour remaining, Liverpool loanee Luis Alberto finding the net from the penalty spot to leave this one all square. As for Davide, he remains marooned one appearance away from triggering his big pay rise. You do have to wonder if this sudden lack of football is connected to his contract situation and City's rumoured money issues.

Tuesday 15th September
UEFA Champions League reigning champions Chelsea get their 2015/16 campaign underway at Stamford Bridge this evening, with the Russian Premier Division's current champions CSKA Moscow visiting West London. The guests from the east shocked the home crowd too when they took the lead just over midway through the first half with a goal from German/American striker Shawn Parker, who is a new signing at the Red Army club. That lead would last just five minutes though, as André Schürrle found the net to level things up, and Xherdan Shaqiri would score the winner for The Blues midway through the second half to get their Group D schedule off to a winning start.

In Cardiff, there is a place in the matchday squad at all today for Davide at City as they host Sheffield United. This game was all about the first half, which saw Adam Le Fondre give Cardiff a 7th minute lead, only to see them ship two goals in as many minutes just over ten minutes later, firstly through Romanian striker Ciprian Marica and then from Scottish winger David Wotherspoon. The scoring for the evening would be completed before the break as Icelandic midfielder Aron Gunnarsson fired home an equaliser from 20 yards out that found the net via the post. Davide wouldn't get on the park yet again, and continues to wait for that elusive League appearance to trigger the big pay rise in his contract.

Saturday 19th September
Danilo is left back in London as Chelsea make the trip to the North East to face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light in the Barclays Premier League. Despite dominating the first half, The Blues couldn't find a way through, and Sunderland came into the game more after the break. With the game in the later stages and still goalless, the Black Cats got brave and went for the win. Big mistake! A speedy 81st minute counter attack saw their keeper make a save, only to see Xherdan Shaqiri bury the rebound. Chelsea pick up the three points to go top, and Sunderland remain anchored to the bottom of the table and with no points from their opening five games.

While Sunderland remain anchored to the foot of the Premier League, back in South Wales our boy Davide remains anchored to the substitutes bench, and that is when he gets in the matchday squad these days. It's bench duty for him today as Cardiff City host West Ham United in the Sky Bet Championship. A game that was very short on goal action would become notable mainly for a late injury to Hammers captain Mark Noble, the 28 year old suffered a torn hamstring that could keep him out for the remainder of the calendar year. The goalless draw leaves both clubs with only three wins from their opening eight League games this season.

Tuesday 22nd September
The Capital One League Cup was a competition that we were all hopeful Danilo may get some game time in. That hope appears to have been dashed this evening as Chelsea host Leicester City at Stamford Bridge in the Third Round. There is no involvement for the youngster who has now stated his willingness to go out on loan to gain First Team football experience, as The Blues defeat The Foxes 2-0 with first half goals from Marc Bartra and Loïc Rémy. While Danilo is left out entirely, 16 year old trainee midfielder Aidan Butler makes his Senior First Team debut from the bench for Chelsea.

Friday 25th September
The draw is made today for Round Four of the Capital One League Cup today, and Chelsea will once again hold home advantage in the last sixteen, as they are drawn to host Barclays Premier League rivals Newcastle United in late October.

Saturday 26th September
It's the final weekend of September, and it's a big one for Chelsea as they head across town to face Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane. The lions share of both possession and chances went Spurs' way, and they took the lead just before the hour mark through a Christian Eriksen free kick. Just three minutes later The Blues retaliated with a free kick of their own, substitute André Schürrle's effort took a huge deflection to find it's way past Hugo Lloris and equalise to complete the scoring in this London Derby as the sides split the points, a result that sees Chelsea pushed down to second with West London rivals Fulham moving above them and to the top of the Barclays Premier League.

On the South Coast of England, it was Dean Court, the home of AFC Bournemouth that would host Cardiff City today. Davide remained on the bench once more, even during the latter stages when two Bluebirds defenders went down with injuries. In fact, it was the latter stages that saw all the action in this game. Richard Smallwood scored with just seven minutes remaining to give City hope of recording an away day victory that would move them up near the Playoff spots. Unfortunately, their defence couldn't hold out, and Will Keane came off the bench to level things up in the 89th minute as this one also finished all square.

Tuesday 29th September
It's been a frustrating month for Cardiff City, and that gets no less frustrating this evening as they are on the road to end the month against Burnley at Turf Moor. The teams swap goals in the first half, Lukas Jutkiewicz had Burnley in front from the penalty spot, only to see Aron Gunnarsson equalise with his third goal of the season less than ten minutes later. A quiet second half suited City on the road and they looked set to head home with a point, until they once again shipped a late goal to a player coming off the bench, Dwight Gayle netting in the 90th minute to earn Burnley a win that would lift them above City as the clubs round out their month.

Wednesday 30th September
In a decidedly colder Belarus, and a lot more windy too, Chelsea were on Champions League duty against BATE Borisov, the current National Champions and latest in a string of nine consecutive Titles. They would be no match for Chelsea though, especially in the second half. Diego Costa scored a pair and Cesc Fàbregas added a third late on as The Blues ran over their hosts late on. 18 year old midfield prospect and Belgian Under-21 International stalwart Charly Musonda appeared from the bench, his third outing for the First Team this season, all in Cup competitions. There are still chances being given to young players by José Mourinho, but unfortunately Danilo isn't one of those receiving the opportunities at this point.

[neilhoskins77]

Thursday 1st October 2015
Despite getting zero opportunities at Stamford Bridge for his club side Chelsea, there is a chance for Danilo to add to his two Senior International Caps, as he is the youngest player called up by Chris Coleman for next weeks double header of final Qualifiers for next summers 2016 UEFA European Championship Finals. First up for Wales is a home game against Georgia, who despite sitting fourth are only a point behind second place Wales and level with third place Portugal, and they will be looking to qualify themselves. Wales then move on to Luxembourg in the final round of games, while Georgia host San Marino and Portugal travel to already qualified Switzerland. Two wins for Wales will see them playing in France next year in their first major Finals since 1958.

Saturday 3rd October
While Danilo is going to be headed away with the Senior Squad for Wales, a lack of football in recent weeks at Cardiff City Stadium hasn't prevented Luigi Di Biagio from calling up Davide for their single game in this window, as the Italian Under-21 side will host Bulgaria in Group 4 of Qualifying for the Under-21 UEFA European Championships. The Italians have three wins from three so far, and if selected Davide could reach a round dozen caps at this level in what they hope will be a 100 percent record a the halfway point of the campaign.

The news comes on a frustrating day at club level once again for Davide, as he is again an unused substitute for Cardiff City in their 2-0 home win over Wigan Athletic. There is a goal early in each half, first through Joe Mason, and then through Kim Bo-Kyung as The Bluebirds push up into the Playoff positions with a dozen games on the board in the Sky Bet Championship.

The Championship is where Nottingham Forest might be headed back to, as they have won just one of their opening seven games in the Barclays Premier League, with a 3-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge today seeing Chelsea move back to the top as local rivals Fulham are beaten in Leeds. It was one way traffic for a bit over half an hour in West London, as Diego Costa scored twice and Willian added a third, before John Mackie pulled a goal back, and Costa earned a second booking before the break. Fortunately for The Blues, there was no fear of a huge Forest comeback, as they just don't have the quality right now.

Monday 5th October
Danilo shows some of the form that convinced Chris Coleman to ignore his lack of First Team football as he tore Middlesbrough apart in todays Under-21 Group One game at Aldershot's Recreation Ground. He bookended a man of the match performance with the opening goal, a beautiful lob from 20 yards out, and the final goal from the penalty spot in a 4-0 win. It's only the third time he has appeared for the Under-21's this season, so Danilo is lacking match practice. But I do hope he gets a chance to shine for Wales over the coming week, as a loan move would be perfect for him some time this season.

Wednesday 7th October
Cardiff City's superb form continues as they add another three points to their record, with a 2-0 win at Villa Park this evening in the Sky Bet Championship in a game that was pretty even, but City dominated in front of goal. They scored both their goals in the opening quarter of the game, from the penalty spot firstly through Kim Bo-Kyung, and then through skipper and Icelandic midfielder Aron Gunnarsson. And it was a big night for our boy Davide, who appears from the substitute bench in the 8th minute when Nathan Baker is injured, and as well as helping City earn a clean sheet, his appearance triggers a huge pay rise in his contract. Davide is now being paid the big bucks at the Cardiff City Stadium, £8,250 per week before bonuses to be precise. It will be interesting to see what happens now, and if he appears more regularly now his contract wage condition has been triggered.

Friday 9th October
At a sold out Liberty Stadium in Swansea, a night of high tension brings delight to Wales, but personal dissapointment for Danilo. A header just three minutes into the game from Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Jake Cassidy, his second strike for his nation, is enough to squeeze Wales past Georgia, and leave them in a situation where a win in Luxembourg next week will see Wales head to a Major Championship Finals at next summers Euros. A win might not even be necessary, as Portugal eventually completed a 2-1 win away to San Marino, and will still need to better Wales' result in their away game against already Qualified nation Switzerland. Many would say Wales have done the hard part of the job. Danilo didn't even make the bench for the first game of this double header, and will be desperately hoping he gets a chance in Luxembourg.

Monday 12th October
In Reggio Emilia, it was a full ninety minutes of action for Davide in his 12th cap for Italy Under-21's, but the game didn't quite go the way many would have expected. Italy dominated the game for large spells, but after failing to score in the first half they were caught on the counter shortly after the restart by 17 year old Bulgarian striker Vasil Nikolov. The Italians worked hard to get back in the game, and after coming off the bench to make his debut at this level, 19 year old left winger Luca Valzania, who plays for Varese in Serie B currently on a loan from AC Milan, got a vital touch to a low cross eleven minutes from time to earn Italy a point and at least keep them unbeaten in the Group as it reaches the halfway stage, though Scotland are just a single point behind them.

Tuesday 13th October
It's the final day of this International Window, and Wales fans have travelled in their numbers to Luxembourg City, knowing that a win would secure the nations berth at Euro 2016 in France next summer. Chris Coleman selects a front three that included Danilo, who wins his third Senior Cap. Our boy would play 76 minutes, but by the time he came off, Wales were trailing by a goal, scored midway through the first half by Swedish based midfielder Yannick Bastos. When Coleman made his trio of changes, one of the players introduced found the net, Steve Morison is on loan from Leeds at Peterborough and he scored his fourth International goal in his 30th cap to level the game back up.....briefly. Italian based striker Stefano Bensi burst through the Welsh defence with just three minutes to go, and finished neatly! Are Wales really going to miss out on a major Finals due to a defeat in Luxembourg?....

.....no, they're not. Because despite Cristiano Ronaldo's 53rd International goal, his side Portugal couldn't hold on and only managed a draw in Switzerland. By virtue of their head to head record on their two games, Wales finish second ahead of Portugal, and they will be heading to next summers Finals in France!

And they'll be joined by Italy, who won in Israel last Thursday to keep ahead of Romania at the top of Group C, and thrashed Andorra this evening despite having a man sent off early in the second half, and they will also be heading to next years showpiece continental Finals. There is also a place for Romania, but Israel will have to try and get in through the Playoffs after being held at home by Lithuania. So Israel and Portugal face each other, as do Iceland and Slovenia plus Finland and Russia for the last remaining spots in the 2016 UEFA European Championship Finals.

Saturday 17th October
Another cap at Senior Level for Wales wasn't enough to get Danilo anywhere near the Chelsea squad selected by José Mourinho again today down at the St Mary's Stadium on the South Coast. In a bad tempered game, particularly in the first half, skill level and quality were sacrificed for tough tackling and intensity. Five bookings, no goals, and points dropped from Chelsea's point of view I guess. I doubt Southampton were too unhappy though, despite the rain.

From the South Coast to the East of England, and Cardiff City make the long trip across the UK to face Ipswich Town. After a full game in midweek for Italy Under-21's, it's back to unused bench duties for Davide here, though at least he gets paid a lot more for that these days. There was no shortage of cards here either, though they were all being dished out to the same side, as Ipswich had half of their outfield players booked before the interval at Portman Road. Two minutes after the restart City went ahead through Adam Le Fondre, but ten minutes later Ipswich scored twice in a two minute spell to turn the game on its head. With nine minutes to play, Aron Gunnarsson fired home his fifth game of the season to level things up, and when Kevin Long earned a second yellow just two minutes later, City pushed on unsuccessfully to try and find a winner.

Sunday 18th October
After not playing yesterday, Davide is today sent down to Llanelli to turn out for Cardiff City Under-21's against their biggest rivals Swansea City in the Second Round tie of the Under-21's Cup. At Stebonheath Park, to the surprise of absolutely nobody, we saw another bad tempered game this weekend, but over and above anything else we've seen. By the time we reached the hour mark, Cardiff had two goals, and Swansea had been shown two red cards. The Swans did pull a goal back later on after Cardiff had a player see red themselves, but it was The Bluebirds who progressed. And Davide? He was named man of the match for his performance at the heart of the back four.

Wednesday 21st October
Chelsea reach the halfway mark of their UEFA European Champions League Group D campaign with a 100% record after giving visitors FC Porto a thumping tonight at Stamford Bridge. The performance was a showcase of talents from Eden Hazard, who opened the scoring in the 20th minute, and saw Oscar add a second goal just a minute later. In the second half, another six minute burst put the Portuguese in their place, André Schürrle scoring in the 49th minute, before Hazard added his second and The Blues fourth in the 55th minute. Another win next time out would see Chelsea through to the next stage with games to spare.

Saturday 24th October
Chelsea are starting to run into a serious run of form right now. Today they travelled north to face Stoke City in the Premier League, and would return back to West London after a convincing victory that would keep them top of the table. Diego Costa struck a brace that moved him into double figures for goals this season in all competitions, while after hitting a brace of his own earlier in the week, Eden Hazard scored again this afternoon in between the two Costa strikes to earn The Blues a 3-0 win that kept them above Liverpool on goal difference.

Unlike cousin Danilo with Chelsea, there was involvement today for Davide with Cardiff City. It did come once again from the bench, but it was once again very early on. Nathan Baker was injured in the 12th minute at the Cardiff City Stadium against Barnsley, and again it was Davide who was the benefactor of Baker's early injury. By that point The Bluebirds were already a goal ahead against their visitors through Joe Mason, and he scored a second ten minutes before the break. Sam Winnall pulled one back just after the hour mark, but a late goal from Kim Bo-Kyung settled the matter and the City fans nerves just two minutes from time, and City remain in the top six, while Barnsley are still in the bottom three. Baker's injury seems fairly minor, but if Davide can get a foot in the door, he will have a chance to show boss Sam Allardyce what he can do if given a run of games. He certainly played well after coming on today.

Wednesday 28th October
Danilo might have viewed the Capital One League Cup as his best opportunity for First Team football this season with Chelsea, but with a place in the Quarter-Finals up for grabs, there is still no sign of him in the Senior Squad as The Blues host Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge. The game runs very much to form, as Oscar and Loïc Rémy score in the first half, and André Schürrle adds a third after the break, as Chelsea convincingly book their place in the last eight. They certainly look capable of challenging for several trophies this season.

Friday 30th October
The draw is made at lunchtime today for the Quarter-Final's Round of the Capital One League Cup. There will be a pair of all-Premier League ties, one of which will include Chelsea, as they are drawn away to Swansea City, giving Danilo a potential chance to visit South Wales again, should he be selected of course. Stoke City will entertain Manchester United in the other top flight match up, while the remaining Sky Bet Championship clubs split the luck on home advantage. Aston Villa are drawn at home to Liverpool, while Derby County will travel into the capital to face Tottenham Hotspur.

Saturday 31st October
It's the final day of October, and it has been a great month for Chelsea. They nearly spoilt it right at the end of the month though. Undefeated so far this season in all competitions, that record came within minutes of going at Stamford Bridge this afternoon. Against near rivals Queens Park Rangers, they had Cesc Fábregas sent off for a straight red card offence just 55 seconds into the game. That evened things up dramatically, and Charlie Austin put QPR in front on the hour mark. That forced Chelsea and Mourinho's hand, and they went attacking. But there were only seconds left of the ninety minutes when they finally forced an equaliser through substitute Mohamed Salah.

Cardiff City also come into the final day of October unbeaten for the month, and they'll finish the day with exactly that record as well. Capital One Cup Quarter-Finalist participants Derby County are the visitors to Cardiff City Stadium, and Davide is selected to start at centre back with Nathan Baker unfit for this weekend. Unfortunately, it's not his best day, as he plays a fairly underwhelming role in a 0-0 draw that sees The Bluebirds end the month in 6th spot in a very congested area of the Sky Bet Championship, while Derby return to the Midlands with a three point lead at the top of the table. It might not have been Davide's best day, but he is forcing his way back into Allardyce's plans, and he has secured that big pay rise, while Danilo is still being paid very poorly in comparison despite being at a heavyweight club.

[neilhoskins77]

Sunday 1st November 2015
An interesting start to the month, as it's noted that Danilo has been made available for loan. This is really great news in all regards. It's great for Danilo, as while he started the save having a superb season personally for Haverfordwest County, he has played very little competitive football since signing for Chelsea. Competitive football will also increase his chances of a shot at the Wales Senior Squad for next summers Euro's, and all those things are good for the save. Fingers crossed that he has shown enough to get some interest in taking him on loan.

A manager that could do with a cheap loan player to bulk his squad options is Cardiff City boss Sam Allardyce. Or to give him his full current title, October Sky Bet Championship Manager of the Month. Three wins from five League games has City in a Playoff spot going into November despite there being little sign of an end to the clubs rumoured financial issues, and the Squad does look a bit threadbare to sustain a promotion challenge possibly.

Tuesday 3rd November
At the Estadio do Dragão in Porto, the expected UEFA Champions League qualification arrives for Chelsea. In a Group they were always expected to comfortably come through, even Porto failed to provide too much competition this evening as Chelsea cruised to a 2-0 win, a goal in each half from Andre Schürrle and then Loïc Rémy pushing the Blues through Group D. They could even use their remaining two games to give some experience to some youngsters now if they wanted, as Porto and CSKA Moscow prepare to battle it out for second spot in the section.

Friday 6th November
Chris Coleman names his Wales Senior Squad for the upcoming double header of Friendly Internationals that will complete the fixture schedule for the calendar year, starting in Slovakia next Friday before they return home to host Turkey. Once more Danilo is included in the Senior selection for the games, and is the youngest player and only teenager to appear in the Squad Announcement. He may have to compete with a pair of potential debutants though, Gwion Edwards of Crawley Town and Wesley Burns of Ross County.

It will be potential competitive action for Davide with Italy Under-21's. He has racked up huge experience at this level, and is selected by Luigi Di Biagio once again for a two legged tie with Belgium in their Playoff to Qualify for the 2016 UEFA European Under-21 Championship Finals next summer in Greece. He is on of three UK based players selected for the squad, alongside Manchetser United right back Saidy Janko who is currently on loan at Huddersfield Town, and striker Domenico Beradi who is currently a regular First Team starter at Old Trafford for Diego Simeone's side.

Saturday 7th November
Is the Manager of the Month curse a real thing? Well, maybe. After five unbeaten in October, there is defeat for Cardiff City in their opening game of November and first since Allardyce's monthly honour. Lowly Blackpool scored early through Spanish midfielder Edu Oriol, saw their chances increase when Nathan Baker was sent off midway through the second half, and completed the job in the final minute of the ninety thanks to another Spanish midfielder, Ángel. The sending off did at least allow Davide to get on for the final quarter of the game when City were forced to reorganise their back four. That was Davide's sixth appearance of the season, but four have been as a substitute.

Monday 9th November
It's a rare Monday night outing for Chelsea at the Bridge tonight in the final Premier League game before the International Break. And José Mourinho's men were in sparkling form too as they demolished an Everton side who are struggling at the wrong end of the table. Eden Hazard's fifth in all competitions had Chelsea ahead inside quarter of an hour, and their grip of the game was tightened after the break as Diego Costa and Willian scored within a minute of each other and Granit Xhaka added the finishing touch five minutes from time in a 4-0 win. The Blues will go into the break in second place, two points behind early pacesetters Liverpool and ahead of the two Manchester clubs and surprise early season packages Swansea City and Hull City.

Friday 13th November
It was -7c in Zilina this evening at kick off as Wales made the trip to face Slovakia for the opening game of a double header of International Friendlies. Currently a Top 40 nation in the FIFA World Rankings, and facing a nation that are down in 82nd and on the slide, Chris Coleman's largely young side, and including Danilo from the start for his fourth Senior International cap, put the Slovakians away with a double in the first 25 minutes from Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Jake Cassidy, who now has four goals from his eleven caps. Danilo was replaced at the break to allow a Senior Wales Debut for Gwion Edwards.

Further north in the continent, and in the considerably milder feeling Belgian town of Waregem, there was a starring role for Davide as he played a full ninety minutes for Italy Under-21's as they took command in the First Leg of their do or die Playoff against Belgium for a place in next years age group Euro's Finals. After holding off the talented Belgian team in the first half, they then took them out like snipers in the second half, both goals coming from Manchester United striker Domenico Berardi who is averaging better than a goal every other game at this level, and has put Italy in a very good position ahead of the Second Leg next week. Davide now has 13 caps at this level for the Azurri.

Tuesday 17th November
Danilo reaches five Senior Caps for Wales this evening as the National Team continue their fine form with a 2-0 win over Turkey in an International Friendly at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea. The game was still in the balance at 0-0 when Danilo departed the action in the 68th minute to be replaced once again by Gwion Edwards. But goals six minutes apart in the final quarter of an hour from first Jonny Williams of Crystal Palace and then Simon Church of Leyton Orient, would guide Wales to another win and hopefully continue to build momentum with 2016 set to be a big year for them, including their first major International Finals for almost 60 years.

Also heading to a major Finals are Davide and Italy Under-21's, but they did it the hard way in a wet Cremona this evening. Davide once more played a full game to earn his 14th cap at this higher age group level, but Italy lost the game on the night by a single goal to Belgium, scored twenty minutes from time by Racing Genk forward Anthony Limbombe, his third in six games for Belgium Under-21's. But it wasn't enough to overturn a 2-0 deficit from the First Leg, and Italy hold on to qualify. The Italians will be joined in the Finals by the other half a dozen Playoff tie winners, Romania, Croatia, Germany, Spain, Holland and Sweden, as well as hosts Greece. The Groups for the Finals will be drawn next month. We could have both cousins playing in major Finals next summer.

Saturday 21st November
Even with Nathan Baker suspended, Davide still can't force his way into Sam Allardyce's starting lineup at Cardiff City. A quickfire first half double from Richard Smallwood and then Adam Le Fondre had Cardiff City in control at Vicarage Road against a Watford side that are falling off the pace in the Sky Bet Championship. There was a goal pulled back in the second half by Cyril Théréau as the hosts pulled one back and ruined a clean sheet for a centre back combination today of Alex Pearce and Luke Chambers as Davide remained on the bench as an unused substitute.

The late Barclays Premier League game of the day was at Craven Cottage, where West London club Fulham hosted near neighbours Chelsea. It was a bit of a nightmare day for the home side, who were already a goal down through Oscar by the time Welsh International full back Ashley Richards tore a hamstring. Before they then lost Venezuelan International centre back Fernando Amorebieta to a second booking, they had already shipped the second goal to Loïc Rémy. Goalkeeper, the veteran Dutch International Maarten Stekelenburg also then left the park with an injury, which Xherdan Shaqiri added the proverbial insult to when he fired home the third late on. José Mourinho is looking to start to blood youngsters, as 20 year old Chile International forward Cristián Cuevas was on bench duties today, and seems to have pushed in front of Danilo in the queue.

Wednesday 25th November
For Chelsea, their UEFA Champions League Group D campaign has been a breeze up to now. They have won their opening four games and qualified with a pair of games to spare. Still, that breeze threatened to turn cold on a late November night in Moscow. In sub zero temperatures and with snow falling, Eden Hazard, Loïc Rémy and Xherdan Shaqiri had The Blues well in front before the hour mark. But CSKA wouldn't throw the towel in, Seydou Doumbia and Shawn Parker both netted to try and earn CSKA a vital point, unsuccessfully so. It would have been a vital point too, as Porto lost away to BATE, and CSKA will now travel to Porto level on points ahead of the final Matchday with a place in the next round up for grabs.

Saturday 28th November
The final weekend of November, and Chelsea's perfect month is ruined at the last hurdle as they are defeated by the only goal of the game at the City of Manchester Stadium against blue shirted rivals, albeit a different shade, Manchester City. The goal came midway through the first half from their Argentine superstar striker Sergio Agüero, but that might not be the worst part of the day for them. Diego Costa came on as a 66th minute substitute, but five minutes later he was off again after suffering a sprained ankle. City moving above them is a setback, but Costa missing December which includes a game against Arsenal, the Capital One Cup Quarter-Final against Swansea City and the FIFA Club World Cup could be a real problem for The Blues.

Davide has had plenty of practice watching from the sidelines, and that continues today at Molineux for the centre back. Adam Le Fondre scored for the second Saturday in a row to put Cardiff City in front early on, but a first club goal of the season for Welsh striker Jake Cassidy, who has scored three times at International level this campaign, earns Wolverhampton Wanderers a point, and all the while Davide is left on the substitutes bench once again.

[neilhoskins77]

Tuesday 1st December 2015
The draw is made today for the Group Stage of the 2016 UEFA European Championship Finals. It will be Group C for Wales, and that is not good news, as they are given one of the hardest draws they could have received, handed England, Belgium and Serbia as opponents. If Danilo is going to play for Wales in those Finals, the youngster may have his work cut out to make an impact.

Since winning the Manager of the Month Award for October, it hasn't been plain sailing for Sam Allardyce at the Cardiff City Stadium, and they start off December with a defeat too, as Leicester City earn a 1-0 victory this evening at the King Power Stadium thanks to a goal from a Welsh International, midfielder Andy King. There was positive news for Davide though, he started the game, played the full ninety minutes and had a very good game too alongside Alex Pearce at the heart of the Bluebirds defence, despite picking up a second half booking.

Further south in West London, there were no such problems for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge against Newcastle United. There was an early lead for The Blues through Oscar, though that one was fairly swiftly wiped out with an equaliser coming from Ashley Young for Newcastle. But Xherdan Shaqiri had Chelsea back in front before the break, and while the second half was keenly contested, a late goal from Eden Hazard ensured three more points for Mourinho's men.

Wednesday 2nd December
One of Danilo's competitors at Stamford Bridge has moved out of the way for the time being at least. Belgian Under-21 International player Charly Musonda has moved out to Qatar side Al-Arabi, where he will spend the rest of the season.

Saturday 5th December
Three different scorers, but the same result as Chelsea secure a second home 3-1 victory of the week this lunchtime, this time the opposition were Arsenal. It was Ramires who had the home side ahead in the 39th minute, and within a minute of the restart after the interval Loïc Rémy had added a second. The Gunners would get one back quickly through Welsh midfielder Aaron Ramsey, but André Schürrle found the net as the midway point of the second half approached and Chelsea are top heading into a break that will see them play no more Premier League games until Boxing Day as they will concentrate on other trophies over the next fortnight.

That impressive personal performance in midweek wasn't good enough for Davide to keep his place in the starting lineup today as Cardiff City are held to a 1-1 draw at Brisbane Road by Leyton Orient. The Bluebirds manager Sam Allardyce opted to recall Nathan Baker again today, leaving Davide as an unused substitute in a game that saw the goals go in early, Adam Le Fondre scoring for City after just seven minutes, before yet another Welsh International found the net in reply, striker Simon Church. The draw leaves City with just one win from their last six, and has seen them drop down to 13th place in the Sky Bet Championship.

Tuesday 8th December
Chelsea were already safely through Group D of the UEFA Champions League, so didn't have anything to play for this evening at Stamford Bridge when Belarussian Champions club BATE Borisov, who could finish third with a big win. No chance, not tonight, and not the mood The Blues were in. Oscar and André Schürrle had them two up inside quarter of an hour. Brazilian centre back Dante added another right on half time, and his partner at the back Gary Cahill notched one himself shortly after the restart before Loïc Rémy finished off a 5-0 rout in the dying minutes. They'll head to Canada for the FIFA World Club Cup next week in superb form.

Friday 11th December
Big news day for Davide, as the draw is made for the 2016 UEFA European Under-21 Championship Finals Group Stage. His Italy team will be placed into Group B, where they will be facing Croatia, Germany and Romania next summer in Greece, who are hosting the Finals. The thought of both young cousins being involved in Major Championship Finals next summer is a really good one!

Saturday 12th December
Sam Allardyce has today dropped both Alex Pearce and Nathan Baker, recalling Davide to play at centre back with Ben Nugent at home to Charlton Athletic. Two goals in ten minutes early in the second half from Mats Møller Dæhli and Joe Mason had City in charge, before Moses Odubajo had the London side back in it, but only briefly. Kim Bo-Kyung restored the two goal cushion and the Bluebirds had a win in the books. That was Davide's eighth appearance for his club this season, all in the League and evenly split between starts and appearances from the bench. The 19 year old centre backs transfer value is now almost ten times what the Welsh club paid for him in 2013, and he has now reached 20 career League appearances.

Wednesday 16th December
Chelsea and their FIFA World Club Cup Semi-Final opponents Chunnam Dragons from the K-League in South Korea, have today bllizted the Tournament Record for goals in single game. At the BMO Field in Toronto, Canada, it was the Blues who blew away their opponents early on, going in front via an own goal within 100 seconds and then seeing further goals from Eden Hazard, Loïc Rémy and then Hazard once again saw them four up at the break, before Rémy added another ten minutes into the second half. Mourinho proceeded to make some subs unsurprisingly, and saw his side fall to pieces, the Dragons scoring three goals in a ten minute spell to worry the European Champions, but running out of time to inflict any more damage on them. Chelsea will now go on to Saturday's showpiece Final, where they will face Santos, the Brazilian club and the four time and current Copa Libertadores Champions of South America. Both clubs are looking for their maiden Club World Cup crown having been Runner's-Up once apiece, so a new name will be on the trophy this coming weekend.

Thursday 17th December
While Chelsea are away on Club World Cup duty in Canada, the three other Quarter-Finals of the Capital One League Cup took place over the last couple of days, and saw Liverpool, Manchester United and Derby County take their places in the Semi-Finals. The draw for that took place this evening, and should Chelsea find their way past Swansea City in their last eight tie next week, they will face Liverpool for a place in the Final.

Saturday 19th December
That change around in the back four for Cardiff City against Charlton Athletic appeared to be nothing more than rotation from Allardyce, as today he reverts back to his normal centre back pairing for the home game against Blackburn Rovers, and Davide is left out of the matchday squad entirely. City took the lead early through Joe Mason, but Blackburn soon took control and were in front by the break after goals from Jordon Ibe and Stephen Quinn. That lead was increased from the penalty spot by Sam Gallagher, and while Kim Bo-Kyung quickly pulled a goal back, City couldn't find an equaliser today.

Much later in the day with the time difference factor, Toronto would host the FIFA World Club Cup Final in sub zero temperatures. Who had the bright idea of hosting this event in Canada a week before Christmas? This became a rare Chelsea game with few goals. In fact no goals at all, that was until injury time at the end of the second period of Extra Time, at which point 26 year old Brazilian International striker Leandro Damião found the net for Santos to avoid the lottery of a penalty shoot out, and for the first time in their history Santos are World Club Champions, continuing the trend of all South American Winners since 2005 coming from Brazil.

Wednesday 23rd December
The last football to be played before Christmas, and Chelsea return from North America and claim their spot in the final four of the Capital One League Cup this evening with a win in South Wales. They were made to work hard for it at the Liberty Stadium by Swansea City, with Dutch International forward Marco van Ginkel getting the only goal of the game in the 27th minute on his Chelsea debut. And while it wasn't a debut, there was also a first outing of the season in the First Team for Danilo, who came on just before the hour mark as a substitute to replace Loïc Rémy in a game that saw Swansea centre back Federico Fernández sent off for a second bookable offence with just under ten minutes to go. Chelsea will move on to face Liverpool in the last four.

Thursday 24th December
Bottom of the Sky Bet Championship club Leyton Orient are rumoured to be very interested in taking Danilo on loan from Chelsea for the rest of the season in January's Transfer Window. The East London club have just eight points from their opening twenty two league games, and are eight points from safety right now. They are managed by Paulo Di Canio who has been in charge at Brisbane Road for just over a year, and is looking for options to improve his squad. Should Danilo make that move, we could be setting up a first meeting of the cousins playing against each other with Cardiff City scheduled to visit East London on 16th April next year.

Saturday 26th December
It's a packed Boxing Day schedule of football as always, and Davide is back in the starting lineup alongside Ben Nugent for Cardiff City's trip north to face Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium. Once again when paired together, the two play very well, but not well enough to help City to a result as they are beaten 1-0 thanks to a Jonathan Walters goal early in the second half. Sam Allardyce is now under huge pressure at the Cardiff City Stadium, and former fan favourite Graham Kavanagh warns the Bluebirds Board against making a rash decision to sack Big Sam.

Sunday 27th December
Danilo is back out of the matchday squad at Chelsea today after getting to play a part in their midweek game. The Blues keep their superb form going at Stamford Bridge with a fairly routine if unspectacular 2-0 victory over surprise package Hull City. Once again there was an early goal to give Chelsea the advantage, scored this time by André Schürrle, and Xherdan Shaqiri added the second midway through the second half to earn Mourinho and his team the festive period spoils in this one.

Monday 28th December
The busy Christmas football schedule continues, but Big Sam and Cardiff City just can't seem to catch a break right now. At St Andrew's in Birmingham today they went behind just before the half hour mark to an Andrew Shinnie goal, but they would quickly get themselves level within moments through Anthony Pilkington. By that time Birmingham centre back Gavin Gunning had been booked, and he would be sent off five minutes into the second half after a second yellow card. But despite almost all of the second half with the man advantage, Cardiff couldn't find a way through to earn all the points, and it ended in a 1-1 draw. Davide is left as an unused sub today.

After the game, Sky Sports reported that a defeat on Wednesday night, ironically at home to Sheffield Wednesday, could potentially see boss Sam Allardyce begin the New Year out of work.

Wednesday 30th December
Early goals have been one of the keys to Chelsea's superb recent form, and they helped them get the job done again today to finish off 2015 at home to West Bromwich Albion at The Bridge today. Xherdan Shaqiri steered home the opener inside two minutes, and Dante added the second from the penalty spot later in the first half to complete a 2-0 victory. The Blues won't end the year top of the Barclays Premier League, that honour goes to Manchester City, but Chelsea are just two points behind them and with two games in hand.

Needing the points for an entirely different reason, Sam Allardyce may have saved his job for the time being at least at the Cardiff City Stadium tonight. His team produced a 2-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday, but things were not looking good midway through the second half when Rhys McCabe put the visitors in front from the penalty spot. Adam Le Fondre would equalise five minutes later, and then scored his seventh goal of the season inside the final ten minutes to give the Bluebirds the win and leave them finishing the year in a fairly respectable eleventh place considering their poor form of late. Davide played from the start again in this one, and had a very good game in his sixth start of the season and tenth appearance overall including substitution outings.

[neilhoskins77]

Friday 1st January 2016
28 year old Barcelona and Argentina star Lionel Messi is named as both the FIFA Golden Ball and World Player of the Year winner to start the new year. Chelsea attacking midfielder Eden Hazard is named in the top three of both awards, splitting Messi and his club mate Neymar in the World Player of the Year balloting.

There is no surprise in Wales with Gareth Bale predictably winning the Footballer of the Year Award, the top three rounded out by Aaron Ramsey and Neil Taylor. The Young Player of the Year Award goes to Jordan Evans, the 19 year old Fulham left winger who is spending the season on loan in Scotland with Heart of Midlothian.

Saturday 2nd January
It's the opening Saturday of the new year, and that means the magic of the FA Cup Third Round in England, with the games we're interested in both taking place in London and the outskirts areas.

Vicarage Road in Watford would host an all-Championship affair, and it would result in a crucial win for Sam Allardyce and Cardiff City. The under-pressure manager would go with Davide and Nathan Baker at the back in a change to the pairs he had been rotating recently. They would come away with a clean sheet as well as their spot in the Fourth Round draw after a goal in the 15th minute from Kim Bo-Kyung was added to with an unfortunate own goal from veteran former Brazilan International keeper Gomes.

They will be joined in the next round by Chelsea, who's much changed lineup would make hard work of making their way past Sky Bet League Two visitors Mansfield Town. Included in the lineup for the second time in recent Cup football outings was Danilo, who would play just under an hour, by which time the scoring had been completed. Loïc Rémy opened the scoring in the 12th minute, only to see the underdog guests equalise twenty minutes later through Asa Hall. But 23 year old often overlooked forward Mohamed Salah scored five minutes or so later for The Blues to book their passage into the next round for José Mourinho.

Sunday 3rd January
Has fate finally put the cousins together on the same football park? Well we'll see what the managers think of that possibility, particularly Mourinho, as Chelsea are drawn at home to Cardiff City in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup. The tie will be held at Stamford Bridge on the weekend of the 23rd/24th of January.

Tuesday 5th January
The Cup football continues, with Chelsea and Liverpool meeting this evening for the first of two clashes this week. The first of those is the First Leg of the Capital One League Cup Semi-Final tie, and with the competition now into the business end and a trip to Wembley within sight, Chelsea select a few more of their stars for this Stamford Bridge tilt, Danilo one of those to suffer as a result. One of those brought back in is André Schürrle, who opens the scoring midway through the first half. The second half saw hail come down and almost carpet the park with a layer of white ice. It didn't deter Liverpool though, and their skipper Jordan Henderson levelled things with twenty minutes to play meaning all to play for when Chelsea make the return trip, which will be the second of their upcoming treks to Merseyside.

Saturday 9th January
Chelsea and Liverpool meet again, this time at Anfield, and this time in the Barclays Premier League. Both teams are at full strength for this huge early New Year clash, but the scoring is completed within ninety seconds. Former Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli is now in his third season on Merseyside, and his early goal would be the difference today as The Reds climb above The Blues, though the London side are three points behind with three games in hand too on both of the top two clubs.

In the Sky Bet Championship, it's a far better day for Cardiff City as they travel down the M4 to face Reading at the Madejski Stadium. The hosts are in the Playoff picture, but today they were taken apart fairly comprehensively by a three goal burst in eight minutes before the break from City. It was Anthony Pilkington, Joe Mason and Nathan Baker, the centre back partner of Davide who did the damage. Wantaway forward Kim Bo-Kyung saw a straight red card shortly after the hour mark to offer The Royals a potential route back into the game, but it was five minutes from time when they eventually found a way through from the penalty spot through Pavel Pogrebnyak. The win on the road takes City up into the top half and within a few good wins of the Playoff picture.

Sunday 10th January
Every time it looks like Danilo is edging closer to the First Team fringes at Stamford Bridge, the moneybags West London club bring in some more competition. This time it is 17 year old Italian teenage utility forward Luca Battistelli. He has enjoyed a meteoric rise in a very short space of time while playing very little Senior football. Two seasons ago he was playing for Gubbio in Italy's third tier, playing just seven times for them before a summer transfer to Catania of Serie A for a fee of just under £1 million. Without playing for them at all or being capped at any level by his nation, Chelsea have shelled out almost £4 million for the right footer who can play on either wing or up front. To add insult to injury for Danilo, he will be paid £1,900 per week as a starting wage, nineteen times more than our boy currently gets.

Tuesday 12th January
A busy period of football continues for Chelsea this evening on the South Coast, as they return to winning ways down in Brighton at their American Express Community Stadium. As is the norm, there is no sign of Danilo in the matchday squad when a Premier Legaue game comes around. André Schürrle opened the scoring right on half time, and the second half saw further goals from midfield duo Ramires and Xherdan Shaqiri to complete a successful if cold evening at the seaside.

It is also noted after this game that Danilo is no longer available for loan, Chelsea updating his transfer status today. It's a move that may have been triggered by Brazilian 21 yera old winger Lucas Piazón moving out to German Bundesliga club Schalke on loan for the rest of the season.

Friday 15th January
Cardiff City are starting to look at options to bolster their push for a Promotion Playoff place. They have signed Liverpool's nineteen year old full back Dharius Waldron on loan for the remainder of the season.

Saturday 16th January
Chelsea continue their return to form in the Barclays Premier League, though it wasn't quite as straighforward as it might have been expected at home to bottom of the table Sunderland. All appeared to be well when Eden Hazard had The Blues in front in the 12th minute, and that advantage was cemented when Valentin Roberge of Sunderland was sent off midway through the first half, a straight red card for the French centre back. So it was a huge surprise when the North East team were level early in the second half through Chilean International midfielder Carlos Carmona. As the frustration began to creep in at the Bridge, enter Diego Costa who came off the bench to bag the winner and send the Blues faithful home happy down the Kings Road.

In the Sky Bet Championship, we would see Cardiff City host Middlesbrough in the Welsh capital. Both teams are trying to close in on the Playoff teams, and Sam Allardyce seems to have settled on a centre back partnership of Davide and Nathan Baker for now. They weren't able to prevent Lee Tomlin from putting the guests in front before the half hour mark however, and the Bluebirds crowd of over 20,000 had to wait until the 75th minute to see Aron Gunnarsson fire home the equaliser to ensure a share of the spoils.

Tuesday 19th January
A dramatic night on Merseyside as Chelsea travel North once more, this time for the Second Leg of the Capital One League Cup Semi-Final tie. With no Danilo in the matchday squad once more, the deadlock from the First Leg at Stamford Bridge would continue at Anfield. A successful spot kick from Brazilian midfielder Ramires would merely prove to be practice for what was to come, before his countryman and International midfield partner Lucas Leiva squared the tie up before half time. With no further scoring in the second half or extra time, the berth in the final would be decided in a penalty shoot out. An epic penalty shoot out that would see each side eventually take fourteen spot kicks each! Big players from each side like Mario Balotelli and André Schürrle would buckle under the pressure first time around, while goalkeepers Simon Mignolet and Thibaut Courtois both converted against each other. It would be once capped England utility player Nathaniel Chalobah who would miss the crucial kick, having already buried one earlier on in the proceedings. He then could only watch as Tiago Ilori scored his second kick and it would be Liverpool who would progress to the Final to face Manchester United at Wembley next month.

On the same night in South London, there would also be defeat for Cardiff City too. Davide had a new partner at the back today in Alex Pearce for the trip to league leaders Crystal Palace, but a second half double in a two minute spell for the Eagles from Glenn Murray and Jason Puncheon would hand the Bluebirds their first defeat since Boxing Day. It would extend Palace's lead at the top, while City were now eleventh and six points outside of the Playoff spots.

Thursday 21st January
***NEW CONTRACT***
Davide Di Cianni signs a new contract extension with Cardiff City!

It's a big news day for Davide, who has today signed a new contract at Cardiff City. His current contract was due to expire in the summer, though City did also retain the option to add an extra year to the deal. Instead today the 19 year old centre back has signed a new deal to keep him at the Cardiff City Stadium for another two and a half years through to Summer 2018. He is now on a basic salary of £11,250 per week, with a bonus of £1,700 each per appearance and clean sheet. He will receive a payment of £575 if he is left as an unused substitute. He will also receive an annual pay rise of 10% plus 25% on top if City are promoted to the Barclays Premier League, or a 25% reduction should they be relegated. The future is bright for Davide, and financially secure as well now with a salary of around £50,000 per month including bonuses. Davide's transfer market value is now estimated at £500,000.

Saturday 23rd January
FA Cup Fourth Round day, and at Stamford Bridge it would be the first possible opportunity for the cousins to face each other in a competitive club match. Unfortunately the headline of that eluded José Mourinho it would seem, who left Danilo out of the Chelsea matchday squad altogether. So it was left to Davide to take centre stage for Cardiff City, and he didn't disappoint either. Ten minutes after Dutch International midfielder Marco van Ginkel put Chelsea in front with a superb curling finish, Davide levelled the game with a glanced header from a set piece to bring City level, and it was his first Senior level goal in a big week on a personal level for him. Unfortunately he wouldn't have a place in the Fifth Round of the FA Cup to celebrate as well, with Mohamed Salah scoring just before the hour to earn the London club the place in the velvet bag for the next rounds draw, though Davide was named man of the match.

Sunday 24th January
The draw is made for the FA Cup 5th Round, and Chelsea are last out of the bag as they are drawn away from home against a Barclays Premier Legaue rival. They will have a wait to find out whether that will be either Nottingham Forest or Southampton. The tie of the round will see Tottenham Hotspur host Manchester United.

In transfer news with only a week left of the Window, there is a new arrival at Chelsea. That is 23 year old nineteen times capped Ivory Coast International right back Serge Aurier who has signed a four and a half year contract worth £50,000 per week after Chelsea paid Paris Saint-Germain almost £12 million for his signature.

Monday 25th January
Cardiff City have also been busy in their recruitment today, albeit with a far more modest spend total. 30 year old striker Danny Graham cost them £1.1 million from Leicester City, and as a former Swansea City player his first goal will be to win over the fans at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Tuesday 26th January
He might not have got a goal to help towards that 'goal', but Danny Graham was involved as his Bluebirds debut saw his new employers come from behind to grab a very late win against Severnside rivals Bristol City at home tonight. Will Grigg had the Robins in front early, but South Korean forward Kim Bo-Kyung who would still like a move away before the end of the transfer window fired home a late first half equaliser, and young Norwegian International midfielder Mats Møller Dæhli netted an 89th winner for Cardiff for a vital win!

In London there was another derby going on as Chelsea hosted Tottenham Hotspur at the Bridge. Goals within the opening six minutes from André Schürrle and Diego Costa had The Blues off to a quick start, but they found themselves in trouble late on when Christian Eriksen got one back with fifteen minutes to play, and Eden Hazard was shown a straight red card with the clock nearing 90 minutes. Chelsea held on though, and are now just a single point behind leader Manchester City with three games in hand!

Saturday 30th January
It had been a pretty successful month for Cardiff City, and it ended that way too. Davide continued his run in the side for the trip north to face a Sheffield United side who were looking to move above City and into the top half with a win. That wouldn't be the outcome though, as Danny Graham scored his first goal in Cardiff colours with a close range finish five minutes into the second half. Despite the largely good run of form though, the Bluebirds remain in 11th spot, seven points away from Reading in the last Playoff spot.

Sunday 31st January
The final day of the month, and Chelsea would head north too for the big Premier League game of the round at Old Trafford against Manchester United. There would be a debut for Serge Aurier, but it wouldn't be a particularly fondly remembered day for Chelsea's new signing. Young Belgian International forward Adnan Januzaj fired home in the 20th minute to put United ahead, but Blues centre back Dante levelled things up shortly after half time with a close range header. But ten minutes later Januzaj scored again with a spectacular overhead kick to earn United a win and saw a frustrating end to Chelsea's month, as a win would have sent them top, and instead they saw United now joining the Title Race.

Tomorrow is the first day of February and Transfer Deadline Day. Will either club make further moves to bolster their squads as they strive to achieve their targets, and would the cousins be involved in any Deadline Day drama?

[neilhoskins77]

Monday 1st February 2016
Transfer Deadline Day, and Cardiff City finally relent and agree to allow South Korean International forward Kim Bo-Kyung to make the move that he has been craving for some time now. But before they let him leave, they ensure they have a replacement ready to come in. Bo-Kyung is on his way to Nottingham Forest of the Barclays Premier League, where they hope his goals will help them climb out of the relegation zone. They've paid £5.5 million for his signature.

His replacement at the Cardiff City Stadium in twenty six year old forward Hal Robson-Kanu. Capped 36 times by Wales, he has been with Reading for his entire career with the exception of loan spells. His goal record however is not one to be envious of at either club or country level. Maybe that's why his fee is only a tenth of that paid for Bo-Kyung at £550,000.

That would be the start of a busy day for City, who also brought in Scottish International full back Sean Kelly from St Mirren for £1.4 million, Congo International forward Franci Litsingi from Polish club Legia Warsaw for £825,000, and another £500,000 on former England Under-21 International midfielder Jacob Butterfield from Huddersfield Town. To balance the books somewhat, they allowed striker Adam Le Fondre to move to Sky Bet Championship rivals Charlton Athletic for a fee of £75,000 to move his wages off their books, and then right at the last knockings of the day, they brought in Northern Irish International midfielder Corry Evans from Blackburn Rovers for a cost of another half a million. It would seem that City certainly are of the opinion that this is as good a chance as they'll get at promotion for a while. They would recoup another £60,000 with a final piece of business with Reading, selling them midfielder Joe Ralls who spent the last two seasons out on loan and has played only half a dozen games this season.

Wednesday 3rd February
There was a trip into South Wales for Chelsea this evening, and they would leave to head back into London with three more points to their haul and the new status as league leaders. Goals at either end of the game from André Schürrle and Diego Costa in Swansea pushed them ahead of Manchester City, while still retaining two games in hand on the current Champions.

Saturday 6th February
Davide starts once again at the Cardiff City Stadium, as they host another club hoping to push themselves into the Promotion picture, AFC Bournemouth visiting from the south coast. No fewer than four players make their Bluebirds debuts, but the same problem persists, a lack of goals. The deadlock remained steadfastly unbroken today, a chance to make gains on those above them goes begging for Sam Allardyce and his players.

In the late Barclays Premier League game, Chelsea may well be bemoaning Cardiff and their decision to sell Kim Bo-Kyung to Nottingham Forest. At the City Ground, the South Korean International forward scored the second of a two minute double for his new club midway through the first half after Spanish utility man Daniel Ayala had netted the opener also on his debut following a move from Middlesbrough. One would be pulled back from the spot after the break by Eden Hazard, but try as they might Chelsea couldn't find a way through again, and while Forest climb out of the relegation zone, Chelsea remain top purely due to Manchester City and Liverpool's inability to capitalise on this Blues slip up.

Tuesday 9th February
On a busy night of action in the Barclays Premier League, there are wins for both Manchester City and Liverpool, and also Chelsea. Back at home at Stamford Bridge it was Southampton who were put to the sword by a ruthless Blues side. Mohamed Salah put them ahead, with Willian adding to the lead on the half hour mark. Yet another midfielder completed the scoring in the final five minutes, Xherdan Shaqiri adding the final flourish to a very impressive performance on an almost sub zero temperature evening in West London.

Saturday 13th February
It's FA Cup Fifth Round weekend, and for Chelsea that means a trip down to the South Coast after Southampton dispatched Nottingham Forest in the last round to set up this all Barclays Premier League tie. José Mourinho had a full strength side more or less sent out at St Mary's Stadium, and opening quarter goals from André Schürrle and Xherdan Shaqiri had The Blues in control. Zambia International forward Emmanuel Mayuka pulled a goal back for the hosts before the break, but Schürrle notched a second shortly after the restart and the game was effectively over as a contest. With no Danilo or any of the other young prospects in the squad, it seems Chelsea are keen to get their hands on the FA Cup for an eighth time as they move into the Quarter-Finals.

Monday 15th February
Quarter-Final draw time this evening for the Cup, and whichever celebrity or retired footballer participated in proceedings, they probably won't be overly welcome at Stamford Bridge any time soon. Their last eight fate will be decided in the northern area of the city, at the Emirates Stadium, home of eleven times winners Arsenal, who last lifted the Cup in 2014.

Tuesday 16th February
While Arsenal were left to ponder that prospect, Chelsea were in Belgium for their First Leg appointment as they continued their UEFA Champions League campaign with the First Knockout Round tie against Standard Liège. And the tie was all but won in a six minute spell either side of half time, with a three goal salvo from their free scoring midfielders. Eden Hazard found the net back in his homeland, with Oscar and Xherdan Shaqiri also striking for The Blues. Almost certainly there will be another Quarter-Final tie to be pushed into the schedule for the Kings Road club.

Friday 19th February
'Fox Soccer' in the United States air their weekly European Football Show this evening, and their focus was on Chelsea. Linking the segment as a move onto the International scene and Wales in particular, Danilo became a point of interest. In the view of one of their pundits, while he is unable to get into the Chelsea side, then Danilo shouldn't be playing International Senior football either, and discouraged Chris Coleman from continuing to select the five times capped teenager.

Saturday 20th February
In the Sky Bet Championship, there was a masterclass at Upton Park as West Ham United showed Cardiff City the difference between promotion contenders and a team who were simply hopeful at earning a Playoff place. It was former City striker Cameron Jerome who got the ball rolling so to speak in the 17th minute, and that lead was doubled right on half time with a close range header from Diafra Sakho. He would add another with a beauty of a finish after the break to click the score up to 3-0, where it would stay as Cardiff were unable to get anything back even after Cheikhou Kouyaté was sent off for a second bookable offence midway through the second half. One consolation would be Davide, who had a great game despite the heavy defeat.

Across London in the late Barclays Premier League game, André Schürrle continued his superb goalscoring form at Loftus Road. The German International forward scored his sixteenth goal in all competitions for Chelsea midway through the first half as they defeated Queens Park Rangers with the only goal of the game on a weekend that saw Manchester City lose ground to Chelsea and Liverpool with a home defeat to Leeds United.

Wednesday 24th February
Leeds United are 12th in the Barclays Premier League this evening, an uplift in their usual spot just above the relegation zone. The change in status has come about due to their new found ability to upset Title Contenders on their own patch. Last week they beat Manchester City, and tonight they have over turned Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. It was Chelsea who went in front in the 12th minute through Diego Costa, but Leeds levelled five minutes after the break through Billy Sharp, and before the hour mark they were in front via Dele Alli. For once The Blues were unable to find a way back, and one of their games in hand has been burned without any addition to their points tally. Seven points seperate the top five, and we look set for a great Title Race for the remainder of the season.

Friday 26th February
I wonder how Danilo must be feeling today? He'll have just watched 17 year old Under-18 side left back Aidan Butler sign professional terms with Chelsea having arrived at the club just over a year ago from Southampton on a Youth Contract. As of today, Butler is on almost £2,000 per week before deductions, while Danilo still remains on a basic salary of just £100 a week nearly two years after arriving at the club!

Saturday 27th February
It was far from pretty, but Chelsea would return to winning way this afternoon away from home against another side in blue, Everton. A tenth minute goal from veteran striker Samuel Eto'o had the Merseyside mid table club ahead, a lead that would stick through to the early stages of the second half, when half time substitute Cesc Fàbregas would fire a close range equaliser. The Spanish International midfielder would score again just over ten minutes later to earn Chelsea all three points and ensure they would end February top of the Barclays Premier League.

Elsewhere in the North West, for Cardiff City it was a trip to Wigan Athletic. At the DW Stadium, it would be a man of the match performance from Davide as he not only helped City to a clean sheet, but also notched the first League goal of his Senior career with a finish from the edge of the area after a set piece was only partially cleared by Wigan. That win leaves City ending the month in 12th place, but only four points away from the Playoff places with a dozen matches left to play this season. They have some work to do, but if they can find some consistency, they are still very much in the hunt.

[neilhoskins77]

Tuesday 1st March 2016
Davide is starting to finally become a regular in the Cardiff City first team, and he is performing very impressively while he does it too. Jeff Hendrick of Derby County is voted as the EFL Sky Bet Championship Player of the Month for February, with Davide taking third spot behind Eunan O'Kane of Ipswich Town. But Davide does win the Young Player of the Month award, the first individual achievement of his career that has taken a big step forward this season.

Wednesday 2nd March
Chelsea's challenge for the Barclays Premier League Title has suffered an expected dent this evening, and one that didn't look likely when Diego Costa gave The Blues the lead in the 12th minute at Carrow Road against Norwich City. The hosts would equalise twenty minutes later through Austrian International forward Valentino Lazaro, and with just two minutes left on the clock in East Anglia, it was Czech International striker Libor Kozák who's placed shot settled the game less than five minutes after he had come off the substitutes bench. Incidentally, it was late in February when Costa had Chelsea a goal up at Leeds in the 12th minute, and they lost that game 2-1 as well!

Saturday 5th March
FA Cup Quarter-Finals day at the Emirates Stadium, and José Mourinho and Chelsea go with a very strong lineup against Arsenal to try and earn a spot in the last four. Diego Costa was left on the bench, possibly to avoid the 12th minute jinx. The early action this time centred around veteran goalkeeper Petr Cech being injured in the 8th minute and replaced by Thibaut Courtois. The opening goal wouldn't come until the 71st minute, a delicate finish from Eden Hazard. That goal looked like it would be the winner, until the last minute of the ninety when Ghanaian International midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah produced a stunning overhead kick finish to level things up and force a replay at Stamford Bridge.

In South Wales, the Bluebirds were hosting a club that were surprisingly not featuring in the promotion race in the Sky Bet Championship. It was been a highly frustrating season at Aston Villa, and it didn't get a whole lot better today, particularly for those who were unfortunate enough to be in attendance at the Cardiff City Stadium. The two clubs produced just three shots on goal between them this afternoon in a goalless draw that doesn't really help either club a great deal.

Monday 7th March
The draw is made for the last four of the FA Cup this evening. The winner of the Arsenal and Chelsea replay will face Brighton and Hove Albion in the Semi-Final. That leaves Manchester United to face either Sheffield United or cross town rivals Manchester City in the other tie.

Tuesday 8th March
Cardiff City produced a superb performance tonight in the Welsh capital to show their detractors that they shouldn't yet be written off from reaching the Sky Bet Championship Playoffs. Should any of those 'detractors' have come from the 'Tractor Boys' of Ipswich Town (sorry, awful I know), they may well now be eating their words. Franci Listingi netted his first goal since arriving in the UK to give City a half time advantage as Davide and his defensive colleagues kept Ipswich at bay. Mats Møller Dæhli stretched the City lead just after half time, and while Ryan Dow scored to pull Ipswich back into the game, Danny Graham secured the points for the Welsh club in the last ten minutes.

Wednesday 9th March
Chelsea had done the hard work largely in the First Leg in Belgium of their UEFA Champions League First Knockout Round tie. Tonight they completed the job at Stamford Bridge in the Second Leg. It would be the Brazilian midfielders who would get the job done in a two-nil victory this evening, Oscar first, and then Willian after the break. That would complete a 5-0 aggregate victory that was largely as comfortable as it sounds. Now they await their fate in the draw for the next phase.

Friday 11th March
The draw is made at lunchtime today for the Quarter-Finals stage of the UEFA Champions League. The competition has three English clubs remaining, along with two German sides, and then one each from Spain, Italy and Portugal. When the draw is made, the English clubs are kept apart. Good for Chelsea who get Schalke 04, and for Manchester City who will play Benfica. It's not so good for Liverpool, who are drawn to face Barcelona. In the remaining tie, Bayern Munich will face Juventus.

Saturday 12th March
Davide makes his twentieth start in all competitions this afternoon for Cardiff City as they head north hoping to continue their improving form on an away day to a Barnsley team that are starting to become cut adrift with Bristol City in the relegation zone at the foot of the Sky Bet Championship. They received no favours from Sam Allardyce and his Bluebirds today, as Deadline Day arrival Hal Robson-Kanu picked up his first goal since arriving at the club midway through the second half to secure another win for Cardiff.

Sunday 13th March
While Davide is enjoying a stellar season, Danilo still can't get himself near the First Team at Chelsea. He wasn't involved again this afternoon as The Blues hosted near neighbours Fulham in their derby clash at Stamford Bridge. Reinstated to the starting lineup, Digeo Costa netted twice in a fifteen minute spell around the hour mark to take his goal tally in the Barclays Premier League this season to fifteen, and send Chelsea back to the top of the table after Liverpool had temporarily overtaken them after winning the early game yesterday.

Wednesday 16th March
It's all back to The Bridge, this time for the FA Cup Quarter-Final Replay with Arsenal. Seemingly in fairly comfortable control of proceedings in front of a capacity home crowd following Diego Costa's 49th minute header, fate would deal Chelsea a cruel blow.....twice! Midway through the second half, recalled goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was forced to leave the pitch with a knock. Petr Cech replaced him, well for just over ten minutes, before he then suffered an injury himself, and a more serious one that has likely finished his season early. Without another goalkeeper on the bench, Ryan Bertrand would come on to go into defence and Brazilian centre back Dante would go in goal. The last thing he probably wanted was a penalty shoot out. But that's what he got, saving none of the Arsenal spot kicks though Kwadwo Asamoah did send one wide. Meanwhile Wojciech Szczesny would save from Nathaniel Chaobah and César Azpilicueta. Football can be a cruel game, and The Blues are out ten months after missing a golden opportunity to win the FA Cup last season.

Friday 18th March
It would appear that Wales boss Chris Coleman is not an avid watcher of Fox Soccer in the United States. If he does tune in, he has elected to ignore their advice regarding leaving Danilo out of his Senior Squad due to his lack of First Team football. The 19 year old attacking member of the Di Cianni family will be hoping to earn his sixth cap for Wales in the upcoming Friendly International game away to Austria in Vienna this time next week.

Saturday 19th March
A good point for The Bluebirds, or have they dropped a pair of points they could ill afford? I guess it will take a few weeks to definitively answer that one. Cardiff City are held to a goalless draw away to Derby County this afternoon, Davide putting in another superb performance in the back four against a team that are very much involved in the race to avoid the Playoffs drama altogether by grabbing one of the two automatic promotion places up into the Barclays Premier League. For City, the problems are largely up front, they just need to be more clinical in front of goal.

Monday 21st March
Make that a pair of goalless draws for this matchday for our involved clubs. Chelsea return to the top of the Barclays Premier League this evening, but their lead has taken a hit. Liverpool beat Arsenal at Anfield yesterday, despite being down to ten men for all but five minutes of the game, and down to nine for the final five minutes or so. Tonight at Stamford Bridge, with Thibaut Courtois passed fit to play in goal, they were unable to break down a Manchester City side who's own Title hopes could do with a boost. Chelsea lead on goal difference from Liverpool but with a game in hand, City five points further back but also with that game in hand on The Reds. Another further two points back are Manchester United, three and four points ahead respectively of the seasons surprise packages, Hull City and Southampton.

Tuesday 22nd March
Another midweek game for Cardiff, they are coming thick and fast now as the end of the season approaches. They will be happy with this one too, as mid table Watford are swept aside at the Cardiff City Stadium. The opener went to Richard Smallwood around the half hour mark, and a pair in five minutes late on from Danny Graham and Joe Mason confirmed the points. There was a downside however, and it wasn't just Brazilian midfielder Jádson pulling one back. Deadline Day arrival Corry Evans may be done for the rest of the season after the Northern Irish International midfielder left the game late in the proceedings with a sprained ankle.

Friday 25th March
In Vienna it was a big night for Danilo. The Chelsea youngster not only started for Wales against Austria to earn his sixth Senior International cap, but he would notch his first International goal. The goal would come via a lob from outside the box, sending the effort over Austria Vienna keeper Heinz Lindner. Unfortunately the lead would only last five minutes before Cagliari forward Philipp Hosiner levelled things up with a close range volley. Danilo was replaced at the break by Crystal Palace forward Jonny Williams, and the game finished all square at 1-1. Fingers crossed that goal helps open some doors for Danilo regarding a future loan move at least.

Monday 28th March
While Danilo has probably had the best weekend of his career, if not his life after getting his first International goal, Davide has been preparing for a home Sky Bet Championship game against Wolverhampton Wanderers, a game between two Playoff hopefuls that was being shown live on Monday Night Football. Danny Graham put City in front in the 19th minute, but Wolves equalised before the break through Scottish midfielder Stuart Bannigan. By the early point of the second half, Wolves had turned the game right around after a goal from Mali International striker Nouha Dicko. In a second half played in stormy conditions, City couldn't find a way back, and with six games remaining The Bluebirds have to play catch up again in the race for a Playoff spot.

Tuesday 29th March
In mainland Europe, the month would end for Chelsea at the VELTINS-Arena in Gelsenkirchen against Schalke 04 in the First Leg of their Champions League Quarter-Final tie. After being forced to play part of the FA Cup Quarter-Final in goal, Dante would be forced to watch part of this tie from the dressing room after being sent off in the 39th minute for a second bookable offence. His countryman Ramires was sacrificed to allow Gary Cahill to come on, and Chelsea would hold on for a hard fought goalless draw in Germany. A win at The Bridge in the Second Leg will be enough to send them into the last four.

[neilhoskins77]

Saturday 2nd April 2016
April is always a big month, as matters start to be settled in the football season, while other nations start to get theirs underway. For Cardiff City dropping any points now is an issue, and a trip to Blackpool proved to be just that on the opening weekend of the month. A goal in each half from firstly Andrea Orlandi and then Nathan Delfouneso would mean the points would stay in the North West as Blackpool took another step towards persevering their Sky Bet Championship status. Former manager Steve McLaren has come back to haunt his former employers City today!

Further North but on the opposite coast in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, it would be a double blow for the clubs we are following. Chelsea's hopes of the Barclays Premier League Title returning to Stamford Bridge for the first time since 2010 suffered a major dent today. Diego Costa was booked early on, and then received his marching orders before the break for a second bookable offence. And Newcastle United wasted no time taking advantage after the break. Antonio Valencia, Siem de Jong and Yoan Gouffran all netted in a twenty minute spell that ruined their hopes of moving clear of Manchester City who lost to Liverpool in the early kick off.

Sunday 3rd April
Both Wales and Italy are keen spectators as the draw is made today for next years UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualifying. For the Welsh, it will be Group Six where France are the big favourites, but Wales will expect to be competitive against Gibraltar, Iceland and a more familiar foe, Scotland.

For Italy their fate is Group Seven. They will hope for a fairly smooth passage as they will face minnows Andorra, as well as Armenia, Slovakia and Ukraine. Those games will start in August.

Tuesday 5th April
Cardiff City's start to April has got even worse tonight as they suffer a second successive 2-0 defeat within the space of a few days. This time they were beaten at the Cardiff City Stadium by a seemingly Playoff bound Leicester City team. Liam Moore struck early in the first half, and Paul McShane settled the matter late in the second half. Davide's twenty fifth starting appearance of the season in all competitions did not go the way he would have liked, and City now find themselves in 11th place and seven points outside of the party places with only four games remaining. Their chances look slim!

Wednesday 6th April
Chelsea have brushed off the disappointment of the weekend trip to the North-East, and tonight secured their place in the last four of the UEFA Champions League. Their German opponents Schalke 04 arrived in West London optimistic that they could take a semi-final berth. But after a tight first half, The Blues were irresistible in the second half, goals from Oscar, Eden Hazard and Loïc Rémy would send the Germans home with only a German Cup to target as they are well off the pace in the Bundesliga. For Danilo there was the frustration of seeing three youngsters included amongst the substitutes, one of them getting into the game late on to make his Senior Debut during a Champions League Quarter-Final.

Friday 8th April
With three English teams in the Semi-Final stages of the UEFA Champions League, it is a guarantee that at least one will make it to the Final this season, as it is also a guarantee that two of them will face each other in the last four. Two drawn together are Manchester City and Liverpool, two of the clubs rivalling Chelsea for this seasons Barclays Premier League Title. For The Blues, they will need to find a way past another German club to reach the Final, the current Budesliga Champions and five times European Champions from Bayern Munich.

Saturday 9th April
In South London it's a big day for Cardiff City as they attempt to remain in the hunt for a Playoff spot with games running out. A pair of goals from Danny Graham inside the opening half hour have them comfortably ahead at The Valley against a Charlton Athletic side that are trying to climb out of the relegation zone. Oliver Norwood was sent off for the hosts just seven minutes into the second half for a second bookable offence, but Charlton still made a fight of it when Callum Harriott pulled a goal back in the final ten minutes. City would hold on though, and move up into ninth place, now five points away from the top six with only three games remaining.

Wednesday 13th April
During a North London downpour, are Chelsea's hopes of winning the Barclays Premier League Title disappearing as the finish line approaches? They make the trip across the capital to face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, and are behind quickly through a Javier Hernández goal. Brazilian centre back Dante was already booked by then, and he received another in the 25th minute to reduce The Blues down to ten men, and Theo Walcott quickly made it two-nil moments later. André Schürrle pulled one back, but Walcott quickly netted another and while Mourinho's men would steady the ship, they could find no way back into the game. They are now third, two points behind leaders Manchester United with a game in hand, and a point behind Manchester City who also have that game in hand too. Liverpool are fourth, level on points with Chelsea but having played a game more. Five left to play for City and Chelsea.

Saturday 16th April
Swansea City travel to West London today, and put in a superb first half performance to keep out a dominant Chelsea side. But they couldn't keep it up, and Oscar broke the deadlock five minutes after the restart, with André Schürrle and Xherdan Shaqiri adding further goals later on. With City winning the Manchester Derby in the early kick off, and Liverpool winning too, it's the two teams with the game in hand who are now leading the way as the games tick down till the end of the season.

Back in South Wales, there is a resurgence in form for Cardiff City that might be too little too late, and they would probably wish they had started the month with. They dish out a 3-0 thumping to Leyton Orient today, who drop into the relegation zone as a result of the game at the Cardiff City Stadium. A pair of goals came from Aron Gunnarsson, with Joe Mason also scoring in between. The Bluebirds are three points outside the Playoffs with just two games remaining now.

Monday 18th April
Davide played in that game, his 31st appearance in all competitions this season, and potentially his last. This morning the 19 year old defender suffered a twisted knee in training that will keep him out for the next three weeks. Unless Cardiff make it to the Playoffs, his domestic season is now over, which will be very frustrating in a season where he has really asserted himself as a First Team regular for The Bluebirds.

Wednesday 20th April
And speaking of frustrating, that takes us to Chelsea and their UEFA Champions League Semi-Final First Leg tonight at Stamford Bridge against Bayern Munich. There were enough chances created by The Blues to win several games, but they took none of them, and saw Polish International striker Robert Lewandowski score with one of the few chances Bayern created in the 18th minute. Reversing that scoreline in the return in Germany is going to be a big ask for José Mourinho and his team!

Friday 22nd April
Despite being advised from several quarters that he shouldn't be included, Chris Coleman appears set to select Danilo for his Preliminary Squad ahead of this summers UEFA European Championship Finals. He is a month away from naming his 23 man squad ahead of Wales' first major Championship Finals since 1958.

Luigi Di Biagio will name his Italy squad for the UEFA European Under-21 Championship Finals a little earlier than that, and Davide is certainly hoping to be involved and add to the fourteen caps he has earned so far at that level.

Saturday 23rd April
The Barclays Premier League Title Race is going right to the wire, but today it's advantage Chelsea! After watching Manchester City slip up at home to Tottenham Hotspur in the early game, Chelsea win 3-1 at Elland Road against a Leeds United side that have already safely ensured their mid table spot. Diego Costa scored early to give The Blues the advantage, but Austrian International forward Andi Weimann levelled things up before the break. But after a nervous period early in the second half, Costa put Chelsea back in front and Mohamed Salah scored his fifth goal of the season to clinch the points in the 77th minute. Liverpool also win away from home in the late game with victory at Norwich City. That leaves The Reds level on points with Chelsea but with only two games remaining compared to Chelsea's three fixtures. Manchester City are now two points behind with three game remaining also, Manchester United a further point behind with two games to play.

At Ewood Park, a goal with just twelve minutes remaining by Joe Mason to finally break the deadlock for Cardiff City against Blackburn Rovers earned them another win in their penultimate game of the season. It's an absolutely vital result, as it means Blackburn are out of the running for automatic promotion on the final day and can now only reach the Playoffs at best. City are now eighth with the win, two points outside the Playoffs, but knowing that a win on the final day of the campaign could still see them reach the top six. They will need to do so without another defender though, Brazilian full back Fábio has suffered a damaged achilles tendon, which comes with three months in the treatment room.

Tuesday 26th April
Chelsea have their focus diverted away from the Title Race this evening, as they travel to Germany to try and reverse the result from the First Leg of their UEFA Champions League Semi-Final against Bayern Munich. Despite enjoying the lions share of the possession and creating the best chances, just like the first game they were picked off when they over committed, and Serbian International striker Aleksandar Mitrovic came off the bench as he so often does and ended the tie at the Allianz-Arena.

Saturday 30th April
On a dramatic final day of the Sky Bet Championship, the automatic promotion and the Playoff spots would be decided. Cardiff City would host Bolton Wanderers, who despite being in the lower reaches of the table were safe from relegation and had nothing to play for. It showed too, as City tore them to bits twice in the first half through Joe Mason, and once more just after the hour mark with an Anthony Pilkington goal. They were absolutely going to be relying on results elsewhere though. Leicester City were the club they were looking to move past and pinch their Playoff spot, and they had gone ahead early on only to see Blackburn come from behind and score twice to take the lead in a game where a set of circumstances could see them lose their own spot too. The other factor for City was Wolverhampton Wanderers, who started the day in seventh and were ahead of City in the queue if they could win today. But they would fail in that attempt, losing 2-1 at West Ham United. So City sneak in through the back door, and will now face Crystal Palace in the Playoff Semi-Finals after The Eagles lost at relegated Barnsley today, and missed out on the second automatic promotion spot to the Premier League as Derby County instead secure their future at the top table. So now Davide has to try and get fit for the Playoffs, and make sure he stays fit for a potential summer in Greece with the Italy Under-21 side.