Schmeichel or Oakes For Cardiff?

Cardiff City manager Dave Jones has a tricky decision to make regarding the goalkeeper jersey for tonight’s important game against Crystal Palace.


Kasper Schmeichel joined City on a 1 month loan from Manchester City and went straight into the line-up in the 1-1 draw against Scunthorpe United. The Dane did reasonably well in slippery conditions but would have been disappointed not to have saved Jim Goodwin’s equaliser for the Iron – the angled shot going across Schmeichel into the far corner.



Ex-Wolves stopper Michael Oakes was the fall-guy for Schmeichel’s inclusion after Middlesborough man Ross Turnbull returned to Boro after a dodgy spell in South Wales. Oakes is experienced and fairly reliable but had not put in any sparkling performances.



However, Schmeichel was not available for the Carling Cup third round tie at Liverpool as Man City did not want him cup-tied. This meant a re-call for Oakes in the Bluebirds goal and the experienced stopper put in an impressive performance and could do little about El Zhar’s or Steven Gerrard’s goals for the Reds.


Oakes collected numerous crosses and saved well on occasions as well as marshalling his defence effectively – in fact, the defensive line looked as organised as it has done all season even against the threat of England International Peter Crouch and the powerful Ryan Babel.



Schmeichel or Oakes is a tricky call for Dave Jones, of course he has seen them in training in the last week and will have a better idea of their respective confidences and form. I think he’ll go for Schmeichel tonight.