Nathan Blake: Has his say
Tue May 22, 2012 5:55 am
After a very promising first season in charge at Cardiff City, manager Malky Mackay will already be looking to the next campaign.
This summer is going to prove hugely important to the Bluebirds boss as he looks to add more quality and depth to his squad.
Last summer, of course, Mackay had a really big rebuilding job to do and still managed to secure a play-off place.
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Now he will want to add to that and hopefully take Cardiff to the next level at last.
I still believe the club missed a big opportunity by failing to strengthen in January – and that needs to be put right now.
There has been uncertainty recently about the future as Cardiff’s Malaysian investors decide what their commitment is going to be to the club moving forward.
Personally, I don’t think millions of pounds need to be spent, but throughout the team a few new key signings do need to be made.
Here are my thoughts on where Mackay needs to strengthen this summer:
Goalkeepers
When it comes to goalkeepers, well, it looks like it’s already sorted.
David Marshall has signed a new deal after an excellent season and it seems Joe Lewis is coming in from Peterborough to put pressure on the Scot.
I do feel a bit for Tom Heaton, who departed last week. He did great in the Carling Cup and deserved his Wembley appearance.
Let’s be honest, on any given day, there was very little between Heaton and Marshall – but Mackay made his decision and stuck to it.
Defenders
Defence was probably Cardiff’s strongest department in the season just finished.
I think we are OK at centre-half where skipper Mark Hudson and Ben Turner have done a sterling job.
The only thing I will say is if Anthony Gerrard goes, which seems likely, you are going to need cover.
I know Darcy Blake can fit in there, but maybe a promising youngster or a more experienced centre-half on loan might need to be drafted in.
A new right-back would not go amiss. Kevin McNaughton has been a great servant down the years and can still do a job.
But I do believe someone needs to come in and put a bit of pressure on him.
I don’t care how good you are, no-one has a divine right to play in the side.
Maybe a 30-plus full-back with bags of experience who wants to take a step down from the Premier League.
Andrew Taylor has done well at left-back, but, with Paul Quinn and Lee Naylor having left the club, Cardiff need cover there too.
Midfield
Midfield for me is quite a simple business, but let’s hope Mackay holds on to Peter Whittingham.
Aron Gunnarsson, Filip Kiss and Don Cowie all give options, but the big one for me is Stephen McPhail.
He fulfils a vital role, but there are question marks over him quite understandably after everything he’s been through.
Is he going to be fit for the new season? Is he going to be able to play 30 to 40 games?
If he is bouncing in the pre-season then that is going to be very good news for Mackay.
If he isn’t, Cardiff need to bring in someone to play the McPhail role.
It’s a tough position to fill and perhaps one of the key signings Mackay might have to make in the close season. Apart from that, the mantra really is width and space.
That was one of the most frustrating aspects of watching the Bluebirds last season, the absence of someone who could get down the flanks, beat a man and put some quality into the box.
Pace and penetration are what we really need and I would argue two wingers are the order of the day. Vital in fact.
What about a couple with the quality of Nathan Blake and Cohen Griffith?
No, my tongue is firmly in my cheek there.
Strikers
Up front, goodness me we have got to lighten the load on Kenny Miller.
People keep pointing to the fact that he did not find the net for a long time, but the guy is not even playing the game he is good at playing.
He worked harder last season than I have ever seen him before.
For me 30 per cent was added to the amount he had been previously asked to do.
In the end he was playing so deep, and that’s just not him.
He plays off the defender, tries to get in behind people, and it’s no wonder he didn’t score more goals.
Kenny will profit from some good wingers. If the wide men get past their man they drag the centre-halves out of position and that is where Kenny profits.
Everybody knows it, but this summer it is as important as ever, Cardiff need a target man – and they’ve needed one for while.
Someone with a bit of aggression, good in the air and able to take a bit of pressure off Kenny.
Last season I suggested Jason Roberts and James Beattie to someone at the club.
I wish they had taken my advice. Cardiff could be in the Premier League right now.
This time? What about Wales international Steve Morison at Norwich?
He’s fallen out of favour a bit at Carrow Road and he’s going to fall even further down the pecking order when Norwich add a bit more quality to kick on in the Premier League.
I reckon a £1m bid would swing it and I really hope something is done like that on this front.
Looking at the strikers already at the club. It will be interesting to see how Joe Mason does in his second season.
He was ahead of schedule last year and is very intelligent, but will he be able to keep the progress going?
Rudy Gestede is a good player, but he needs someone to work on his running.
That is why he is injured a lot. I had the same thing, running bent forward, almost on your toes, it puts pressure on the back and hamstrings.
I had it trained out of me and young Gestede needs the same done for him now.
And, while we are talking about strikers, I still believe Robert Earnshaw has a part to play at the club.
So there’s a lot there for Mackay to think about this summer and I’m sure the Bluebirds’ boss is well on top of things already.
Let’s hope it’s an even more exciting season for Cardiff City supporters next campaign.
This summer is going to prove hugely important to the Bluebirds boss as he looks to add more quality and depth to his squad.
Last summer, of course, Mackay had a really big rebuilding job to do and still managed to secure a play-off place.
Advertisment
Now he will want to add to that and hopefully take Cardiff to the next level at last.
I still believe the club missed a big opportunity by failing to strengthen in January – and that needs to be put right now.
There has been uncertainty recently about the future as Cardiff’s Malaysian investors decide what their commitment is going to be to the club moving forward.
Personally, I don’t think millions of pounds need to be spent, but throughout the team a few new key signings do need to be made.
Here are my thoughts on where Mackay needs to strengthen this summer:
Goalkeepers
When it comes to goalkeepers, well, it looks like it’s already sorted.
David Marshall has signed a new deal after an excellent season and it seems Joe Lewis is coming in from Peterborough to put pressure on the Scot.
I do feel a bit for Tom Heaton, who departed last week. He did great in the Carling Cup and deserved his Wembley appearance.
Let’s be honest, on any given day, there was very little between Heaton and Marshall – but Mackay made his decision and stuck to it.
Defenders
Defence was probably Cardiff’s strongest department in the season just finished.
I think we are OK at centre-half where skipper Mark Hudson and Ben Turner have done a sterling job.
The only thing I will say is if Anthony Gerrard goes, which seems likely, you are going to need cover.
I know Darcy Blake can fit in there, but maybe a promising youngster or a more experienced centre-half on loan might need to be drafted in.
A new right-back would not go amiss. Kevin McNaughton has been a great servant down the years and can still do a job.
But I do believe someone needs to come in and put a bit of pressure on him.
I don’t care how good you are, no-one has a divine right to play in the side.
Maybe a 30-plus full-back with bags of experience who wants to take a step down from the Premier League.
Andrew Taylor has done well at left-back, but, with Paul Quinn and Lee Naylor having left the club, Cardiff need cover there too.
Midfield
Midfield for me is quite a simple business, but let’s hope Mackay holds on to Peter Whittingham.
Aron Gunnarsson, Filip Kiss and Don Cowie all give options, but the big one for me is Stephen McPhail.
He fulfils a vital role, but there are question marks over him quite understandably after everything he’s been through.
Is he going to be fit for the new season? Is he going to be able to play 30 to 40 games?
If he is bouncing in the pre-season then that is going to be very good news for Mackay.
If he isn’t, Cardiff need to bring in someone to play the McPhail role.
It’s a tough position to fill and perhaps one of the key signings Mackay might have to make in the close season. Apart from that, the mantra really is width and space.
That was one of the most frustrating aspects of watching the Bluebirds last season, the absence of someone who could get down the flanks, beat a man and put some quality into the box.
Pace and penetration are what we really need and I would argue two wingers are the order of the day. Vital in fact.
What about a couple with the quality of Nathan Blake and Cohen Griffith?
No, my tongue is firmly in my cheek there.
Strikers
Up front, goodness me we have got to lighten the load on Kenny Miller.
People keep pointing to the fact that he did not find the net for a long time, but the guy is not even playing the game he is good at playing.
He worked harder last season than I have ever seen him before.
For me 30 per cent was added to the amount he had been previously asked to do.
In the end he was playing so deep, and that’s just not him.
He plays off the defender, tries to get in behind people, and it’s no wonder he didn’t score more goals.
Kenny will profit from some good wingers. If the wide men get past their man they drag the centre-halves out of position and that is where Kenny profits.
Everybody knows it, but this summer it is as important as ever, Cardiff need a target man – and they’ve needed one for while.
Someone with a bit of aggression, good in the air and able to take a bit of pressure off Kenny.
Last season I suggested Jason Roberts and James Beattie to someone at the club.
I wish they had taken my advice. Cardiff could be in the Premier League right now.
This time? What about Wales international Steve Morison at Norwich?
He’s fallen out of favour a bit at Carrow Road and he’s going to fall even further down the pecking order when Norwich add a bit more quality to kick on in the Premier League.
I reckon a £1m bid would swing it and I really hope something is done like that on this front.
Looking at the strikers already at the club. It will be interesting to see how Joe Mason does in his second season.
He was ahead of schedule last year and is very intelligent, but will he be able to keep the progress going?
Rudy Gestede is a good player, but he needs someone to work on his running.
That is why he is injured a lot. I had the same thing, running bent forward, almost on your toes, it puts pressure on the back and hamstrings.
I had it trained out of me and young Gestede needs the same done for him now.
And, while we are talking about strikers, I still believe Robert Earnshaw has a part to play at the club.
So there’s a lot there for Mackay to think about this summer and I’m sure the Bluebirds’ boss is well on top of things already.
Let’s hope it’s an even more exciting season for Cardiff City supporters next campaign.
Re: Nathan Blake: Has his say
Tue May 22, 2012 9:34 am
"Nathan Blake has his say" - What a fking surprise! The guy never shuts up!
Re: Nathan Blake: Has his say
Tue May 22, 2012 2:47 pm
Nathan Blake talks complete and utter gash,I don't think anyone should listen to a f*cking thing he says. 
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/football-news/2012/04/30/nathan-blake-column-cardiff-city-will-beat-damaged-west-ham-91466-30869089/
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/football-news/2012/04/30/nathan-blake-column-cardiff-city-will-beat-damaged-west-ham-91466-30869089/