MCPHAIL " IT'S TIME TO DELIVER PROMOTION "

STEPHEN McPHAIL believes it is time for Cardiff City to finally cross the promotion line.

The midfield maestro lines up against his old club Leeds tomorrow knowing victory will cement a place in the play-offs for Malky Mackay’s Bluebirds.

But playing against the team he first made his name with will whet the appetite of McPhail further for a return to Premier League football.

McPhail starred for Leeds under David O’Leary, George Graham and Terry Venables, with Harry Kewell, Rio Ferdinand, Jonathan Woodgate and Alan Smith among his team-mates.

Leeds challenged for Premier League honours and reached the Uefa Champions League semi-finals, Barcelona, Lazio and Roma among the clubs McPhail played against.

At 32, he is determined to play his part in getting the Bluebirds promoted following close misses in losing out to Blackpool and Reading in the past two seasons.

McPhail said: “The players here who have been through it before have got to use those experiences and try to help others.

“Every game is massive at this stage of the season. Everyone seems to be playing for positions and points.

“We’re no different. We’ve got to keep plugging away. The players that have been here before know what it’s about.

“Leeds is a huge match and for me personally a special occasion. I enjoy playing against my former clubs and Leeds was where it started for me – a fair time ago.

“There is always a buzz playing Leeds. We enjoy playing against big clubs and there aren’t many bigger then Leeds.

“There are two Championship matches left. A few of us have been through this three times and it’s agonising when you don’t get over the line. Our job is to pass on our experience and help the younger ones around us.

“We want a return to Wembley Stadium, but we are not in the play-offs yet and that has to be our focus. We must not look beyond Leeds at home, just yet.”

Reflecting upon what playing for Leeds meant, McPhail continued: “Moving to Yorkshire from Ireland was a bit daunting to start with.

“I can remember wanting to go home in the first few days. But I kept working and I didn’t want to give it up. I wanted to make sure that I gave myself the best possible chance of making it as a footballer.

“That’s what I’d dreamt of since I could walk and kick a ball. I didn’t want to throw it away, so I hung in there. If you get a break you’ve got to take it.”

McPhail made the 300th league start of his career and his 350th appearance during the Bluebirds 2-0 win against Derby, making way in the second half as he has done in recent weeks.

“I’m not as fit as I want to be because I missed pre-season plus four or five months of the season,” said McPhail, who has to battle against Sjogren’s Syndrome condition which club medical staff help him manage.

“I just want to play as many minutes as possible. That means I could go out of the team and then come back in. I understand the reasons and I try to make an impact when I do play.”



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Nedd: "Yes, it's time to deliver promotion, so f***ing deliver it!"

McPhail always delivers of his best, and he cannot be blamed for the previous failures under the Jones regime.

STEPHEN McPHAIL believes it is time for Cardiff City to finally cross the promotion line.

The midfield maestro lines up against his old club Leeds tomorrow knowing victory will cement a place in the play-offs for Malky Mackay’s Bluebirds.

But playing against the team he first made his name with will whet the appetite of McPhail further for a return to Premier League football.

McPhail starred for Leeds under David O’Leary, George Graham and Terry Venables, with Harry Kewell, Rio Ferdinand, Jonathan Woodgate and Alan Smith among his team-mates.

Leeds challenged for Premier League honours and reached the Uefa Champions League semi-finals, Barcelona, Lazio and Roma among the clubs McPhail played against.

At 32, he is determined to play his part in getting the Bluebirds promoted following close misses in losing out to Blackpool and Reading in the past two seasons.

McPhail said: “The players here who have been through it before have got to use those experiences and try to help others.

“Every game is massive at this stage of the season. Everyone seems to be playing for positions and points.

“We’re no different. We’ve got to keep plugging away. The players that have been here before know what it’s about.

“Leeds is a huge match and for me personally a special occasion. I enjoy playing against my former clubs and Leeds was where it started for me – a fair time ago.

“There is always a buzz playing Leeds. We enjoy playing against big clubs and there aren’t many bigger then Leeds.

“There are two Championship matches left. A few of us have been through this three times and it’s agonising when you don’t get over the line. Our job is to pass on our experience and help the younger ones around us.

“We want a return to Wembley Stadium, but we are not in the play-offs yet and that has to be our focus. We must not look beyond Leeds at home, just yet.”

Reflecting upon what playing for Leeds meant, McPhail continued: “Moving to Yorkshire from Ireland was a bit daunting to start with.

“I can remember wanting to go home in the first few days. But I kept working and I didn’t want to give it up. I wanted to make sure that I gave myself the best possible chance of making it as a footballer.

“That’s what I’d dreamt of since I could walk and kick a ball. I didn’t want to throw it away, so I hung in there. If you get a break you’ve got to take it.”

McPhail made the 300th league start of his career and his 350th appearance during the Bluebirds 2-0 win against Derby, making way in the second half as he has done in recent weeks.

“I’m not as fit as I want to be because I missed pre-season plus four or five months of the season,” said McPhail, who has to battle against Sjogren’s Syndrome condition which club medical staff help him manage.

“I just want to play as many minutes as possible. That means I could go out of the team and then come back in. I understand the reasons and I try to make an impact when I do play.”



Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... z1sYxkw1uK

Carl do you get paid by papers cos everything you post lately is has got a link to Walesonline

Sick of the talk, it is now time to deliver, out of all the clubs that have been trying to get promoted, I believe we deserve to get there

Sick of the talk, it is now time to deliver, out of all the clubs that have been trying to get promoted, I believe we deserve to get there

Can't agree with you there I'm afraid, just because we've been close a few times doesn't mean we deserve it more than any of the other teams that may be in the play offs, promotion is earned not deserved, the team needs to go out and take these next games by the scruff of the neck and earn us promotion.

yeah agree with you,been there done it, lets get the t - shirt

We had promotion in our hands last year with two games left, and we f****d it up, what I am saying is we do deserve it, but I agree we now need to wear the T shirt, it is one game at a time, each is a cup final, and should be prepared for as such, it would be such a shame to come this far and not get into the playoffs.