Cardiff City

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Omer Riza expects to make changes to his starting line-up for Cardiff City's FA Cup fourth-round contest at Stoke City on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

The Bluebirds are aiming to respond following a 7-0 defeat to Championship leaders Leeds United at Elland Road last weekend.

New signings Yousef Salech, Will Alves and Sivert Mannsverk are all in contention to feature against the Potters, and Riza says he will give some fringe players the opportunity to impress at the bet365 Stadium.

"We've got a good squad, I'm really happy with the squad," said Riza.

"There are players that haven't played as many minutes as we'd have liked and they'll get a chance to play on Saturday.

"So we are looking forward to the game and all of the interesting things that brings."

Stoke have appointed Mark Robins as boss since Cardiff last travelled to Staffordshire before Christmas, when Narcís Pèlach's Stoke side snatched a 2-2 draw courtesy of Ben Gibson's goal in added time.

But Riza believes Stoke's principles will not have changed under their new boss.

"It's going to be intense, aggressive and they're going to want to win," he said.

"They're always an industrious team, the crowd expect them to work hard first and foremost.

"With Robins going there, the style of play may have changed a little bit, but we're focused on ourselves to go and win the game.

"I want to win the game, and from that game, you're in the fifth round. We just want to win and keep momentum going."

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Will Fish hopes to emulate Cardiff City team-mate Andy Rinomhota in establishing himself as a key player for the Bluebirds.

Fish has made just two starts in the Championship this season after joining on a permanent deal from Manchester United in the summer.

But the 21-year-old says he will use Rinomhota as inspiration to become a first team regular having seen the midfielder become a vital player under Omer Riza after previously falling out of favour under former boss Erol Bulut.

"Every time you play for the club you're going to try and do your best. That's all I'll try and do," he said.

"It's been tough at times, but the lads in front of me have done well and the way football works, it takes one little moment to get your chance and hopefully take it.

"Fair play to Andy, you could see even when he wasn't playing he was a top professional and trained well.

"He's an obvious good example. Once he got that chance he took it and now he's probably been one of our most consistent players."

Fish is bidding to be involved as Cardiff look to return to winning ways on Saturday when they take on Stoke City in the fourth round of the FA Cup at the bet365 Stadium (15:00 GMT).

The Bluebirds saw their eight-game unbeaten run in all competitions emphatically come to an end as they were thumped 7-0 by Championship leaders Leeds United last time out - but Fish is confident Cardiff fans will see a reaction to that hammering when they take to the field at Stoke.

"It's definitely a learning experience. I think you can use it in a positive way. We've been on a really good run before that," added Fish.

"The lads were honest and spoke what they thought and we'll move on.

"I think we'll bounce back from that and you'll see a reaction on the weekend."

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Omer Riza says he was happy with his first transfer window as Cardiff City manager despite missing out on some targets.

Cardiff signed striker Yousef Salech from Swedish side Sirius for a fee believed to be at least £3m, while they brought in midfielders Sivert Mannsverk and Will Alves on loan from Ajax and Leicester City respectively.

The Bluebirds were also linked with a deadline-day move for West Bromwich Albion forward Karlan Grant, who spent last season on loan in the Welsh capital.

Despite a strong start to this campaign with the Baggies, Grant looks to have fallen down the pecking order since the return of head coach Tony Mowbray.

Rumours of a Cardiff reunion for Grant grew again when West Brom signed fellow forward Adam Armstrong on loan from Southampton late on deadline day, but Grant stayed at the Hawthorns.

Asked if there was any truth in the speculation, Riza said: "I know Karlan did really well here last season. Everyone speaks highly of him. It was all a bit late in the day, really.

"I don't like to rush transfers and get something done quickly - just because something comes up

"I heard something but there was nothing there for us. I don't want to talk on his behalf, but I think Karlan is happy where he is and wants to fight for his place, which shows the character he is. I wish him all the best."

Speaking about Monday's final day of the transfer window, Riza added: "It was quite relaxed. I was happy with what we had.

"There was potentially one I was waiting on. One went on a permanent move somewhere, another went to a club higher up the league.

"We did our work, signed diligently. I'm really happy. It was a good window. I wasn't glued to the phone or anything like that. Boys have gone out on loan, good for their development."

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Iwan Roberts has described Cardiff City loan signing Will Alves as a rising star with the potential to "go all the way".

Alves joined the Bluebirds on loan from Leicester City before Monday's transfer deadline.

Former Foxes striker Roberts says the 19-year-old is highly regarded at Leicester, where his progress has been hampered by a cruciate knee ligament injury.

"He has bags of potential [and a] fantastic attitude - a really good, honest, humble lad," Roberts told this week's Feast of Football podcast.

"I spoke to [former defender] Gerry Taggart, who has worked with him in the Leicester academy.

"Leicester rated him really highly. They thought he is a similar type of player to Harvey Barnes - plays in the wide area, loads of pace, quite direct, can score a goal and create.

"But he had a really bad knee injury a couple of years ago. He hasn't played many games for Leicester and that's the reason why."

Alves suffered the knee injury when playing in an FA Youth Cup tie in December 2022.

He was just 17 at the time but had already made two senior appearances for Brendan Rodgers' Leicester side.

Alves returned to first-team football earlier this season, playing in two EFL Cup ties before making his Premier League debut against Manchester City in December.

He will now look to play regular senior football for the first time having joined Cardiff on loan for the rest of this season.

"When he first burst on the scene, Leicester were fighting to stay in the Premier League and Brendan Rodgers was reluctant to give him opportunities, which was understandable because of the situation they were in," ex-Wales international Roberts added.

"Then he did his ACL [as a result of] a horrendous tackle. But he's a real talent. He's only 19, potentially he could go all the way."

Gareth Vincent
BBC Sport Wales

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Time will tell what impact Yousef Salech, Sivert Mannsverk and Will Alves will have at Cardiff City.

But as the dust settles on the mid-season transfer window, the Bluebirds will presumably be feeling fairly happy with the work done in the last few weeks.

Omer Riza's first transfer window as a manager began with some uncertainty over what business Cardiff might do.

Riza appeared uncertain about transfer plans, with Cardiff fan groups uniting to express concerns about the "current situation at the club" on the eve of the window.

But in a message to supporters published on the club's website, chairman Mehmet Dalman described January as an "opportunity to fix some of the problems on the pitch" - and Cardiff's hierarchy have delivered new faces.

Striker Salech (above), who cost upwards of £3m, has a goal to his name already, while Mannsverk (below) brings pedigree in midfield and Alves is a highly-regarded young player who should relish the chance to play some football in the Championship.

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Cardiff fans might have hoped for more, particularly amid talk that former loanee Karlan Grant might leave West Brom before Monday's deadline, but Riza's squad looks in better shape now than it did at the end of December.

Salech is a replacement for Wilfried Kanga, whose desperate loan spell in Wales was brought to an end last month, while fellow frontman Roko Simic will hope to force his way into first-team contention having returned to Cardiff after a stint on loan at Kortrijk.

Mannsverk, who is on loan from Ajax, gives Riza a welcome option in midfield, particularly on the back of Manolis Siopis' January switch to Panathinaikos.

Siopis was perhaps the most notable exit of the window, which also saw Kion Etete head out for a temporary spell at Bolton and Michael Reindorf join Bristol Rovers on loan.

Cardiff will hope the two forwards come back stronger in pre-season after spells away, and the same goes for Joel Colwill, who is getting a taste of League One with Exeter City having thrived in League Two with Cheltenham Town in the first half of the campaign.

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Omer Riza says the time was right for both Cardiff City and Manolis Siopis for the Greek midfielder to leave the Bluebirds.

Siopis, 30, returned to his homeland to join Panathinaikos last week having made 64 appearances for the Bluebirds.

"Sio is a great lad. He'll be missed," Riza told BBC Radio Wales.

"It was probably the right time for the club and the player. He's returning home to Greece to one of the biggest clubs in the country for him.

"We wish him all the best, he's a great guy."

Prior to Cardiff's 7-0 hammering against Leeds United at Elland Road, the Bluebirds also allowed forward Kion Etete to join Bolton Wanderers on loan after he signed a new deal with the Welsh club.

And Riza hopes the 23-year-old can prove his worth with the League One side during the final months of the 2024-25 campaign.

"For Kion what's important is consistency, playing games, scoring goals and becoming robust in a league below where he can play regularly. Hopefully he'll do that," added Riza.

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Omer Riza says Cardiff City could add "one or two" more players to their squad prior to Monday's 23:00 GMT transfer deadline.

The Bluebirds brought in striker Yousef Salech and midfielder Sivert Mannsverk last month but remain eager to make further additions to their squad.

Leicester City's Will Alves is among the club's targets, although while he could yet make more signings in the final hours of the winter window, Riza says he is happy with the options he currently has at his disposal.

"I think we're not far off now, and I'm happy with the squad and the players that we've got," he told BBC Radio Wales.

"If we get one or two more, great. If we don't, we're ready for the second part of the season."

Prior to the Bluebirds' crushing 7-0 defeat at Leeds United, Cardiff announced striker Callum Robinson, left-back Callum O'Dowda and goalkeeper Jak Alnwick had all signed new contracts with the club.

Forward Kion Etete also penned fresh terms with the Bluebirds before joining League One side Bolton Wanderers on loan.

And Riza admits the raft of deals will help Cardiff build for the long-term.

"It's good, they're really important players, Callum, Robbo and Jak have all done really well this year and are important parts of the team," added the Cardiff boss.

"It's nice to have them sorted for the following seasons. I think it's important, things are starting to fall into place now. We can all move forwards together."

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Cardiff City boss Omer Riza has welcomed the return of star midfielder Aaron Ramsey.

The 34-year old Wales captain played 45 minutes for Cardiff Under-21s in the Premier League Cup hours before the first XI were humbled 7-0 at Leeds United.

Ramsey set up a goal as Cardiff beat Everton 3-2, his first appearance since August because of a hamstring injury suffered playing for Wales in September.

Riza says Ramsey's return provides a boost for Cardiff in a week where their future was improved by key players Callum Robinson, Jak Alnwick and Callum O'Dowda signing new contracts.

"I managed to watch a bit, it was nice to see Aaron get 45 minutes," he said.

"It's nice to see him training and on the pitch, it is positive.

"Now we need to get him to a place where he can compete at a high level."

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Cardiff boss Omer Riza apologised to Bluebirds fans after his side were thrashed 7-0 at Elland Road by Championship leaders Leeds United.

The scoreline did not flatter the home side, who might have won by a bigger scoreline, as Leeds boss Daniel Farke noted.

The Bluebirds' defeat was their heaviest in the league since 1966 and ended Cardiff's unbeaten run of nine games, with Riza's side 19th, four points ahead of the relegation zone.

"Brutal. I'm very disappointed. I can only apologise to the travelling fans," Riza said.

"To lose 7-0 is unacceptable really, no matter how good the opposition is, but we have to move forwards.

"We laid down towards the end and conceded really cheap and simple goals. The aggression to stay in the game wasn't there."

Riza says he was hurt by the manner of the defeat.

"To come away and get beaten 7-0 is painful," Riza told BBC Radio Wales Sport.

"Now it is about how we deal with it. It's a painful day for all involved and we have to learn from it.

"Leeds were miles better than us, that is why they are top of the league and we are where we are.

"It was a humbling and a very disappointing day for us as a staff and a club and players. I think we froze in the first 15 minutes and there were so many things we didn't get right."

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Manolis Siopis has confirmed his imminent Cardiff City departure with a heartfelt message for the club's fans.

The Greece midfielder, 30, is set to return to his homeland with official confirmation of his permanent transfer to Panathinaikos expected on Friday.

After a bright start to his Cardiff career following his move to south Wales in 2023, Siopis has featured less regularly of late.

But he remains a big hit with the club's supporters thanks to his colourful personality and combative attitude on the pitch.

Writing on Instagram, Siopis said: "It's been an incredible experience playing for Cardiff City, and I feel truly blessed to have shared so many beautiful moments with you.

"I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to the amazing fans for your unwavering love and support. A huge thank you to my team for making my dream of playing in such a competitive league a reality.

"A special thanks to everyone at the club - the staff, coaches, board members, and everyone working behind the scenes - your hard work and dedication make this club special.

"Wishing you all the best! May the team reach new heights, overcome every challenge, and continue making the fans proud. I'll always be cheering you on, and who knows - maybe our paths will cross again someday."