TO MAKE TOP 2 BAD DAYS AT THE OFFICE MUST BE ERADICATED
Wed Sep 26, 2012 6:47 am
TO MAKE TOP 2, BAD DAYS AT THE OFFICE MUST BE ERADICATED
Cardiff City must rock Blackpool, says defender Kevin McNaughton
Sep 25 2012
Cardiff City defender Kevin McNaughton has urged the Bluebirds to become history makers against Blackpool on Saturday.
If Malky Mackay’s men can defeat the Tangerines it would be the first time they have won their opening four home league games since the 1959-60 season. That was the last time Cardiff earned promotion to the top flight.
McNaughton and his teammates are still smarting after letting a two-goal lead slip at Crystal Palace on Saturday as they crashed 3-2.
But home now is where the no-nonsense Scot believes the Bluebirds must stamp their authority.
“It is important to keep the home run going now, definitely. I think over the years it has been a tough place for teams to come,” said McNaughton.
“There is no reason that can’t continue if we keep doing what we are doing. I think over the last few weeks we’ve been playing some decent stuff and that has particularly been the case at home.
“We are very confident at home at the moment and we’ll take that into the Blackpool game.”
Ian Holloway’s men are smarting themselves after their excellent start hiccuped with a 3-1 reverse to Huddersfield at Bloomfield Road on Monday night.
But McNaughton, a Championship veteran, is under no illusions as to the threat the visitors will pose.
And as a full-back, he singled out widemen Matt Phillips, a Bluebirds’ target last year, and Tom Ince as a real danger.
“There’s so many who think they’ve got a good chance of promotion this year. About a dozen I’d say and Blackpool are one of those,” said the 30-year-old.
“At the start of the season I think it was felt they were one of the teams which were going to be up there.
“They’ve shown that and have perhaps started just that bit better than maybe people expected.
“They do have a lot of quality going forward. I think there two widemen are top notch.
“I’m a bit surprised no one came in for them during the window to take them to the higher level.
“We know it’s going to be a tough ask. Blackpool is a massive game in terms of the top two. You want to get a top two spot then push on from there.
“But it is still very early.”
McNaughton, now in his seventh season in the Welsh capital, rates Mackay’s current squad as perhaps the best he has been involved with.
He has endured right through the promotion near-misses Cardiff have suffered in recent seasons.
So it’s little wonder he is quick to point out the difficulties faced in trying to reach the Premier League even if you are rated amongst the favourites.
“Every year we start the season thinking this is our best chance yet of getting promoted. But the nature of this division means you just can’t really tell,” said McNaughton.
“I don’t think many thought Reading would win the league last season, but they went on and did that.
“It’s really just about staying focussed throughout the whole season. It’s just such a long one.
“Just when you think you’ve got a grip of it, you’ve got things under control, something turns up which bites you on the bum to be honest with you.
“It’s just about getting your head down over 46 games and I believe we’ve got as good a chance as anyone right now.”
But McNaughton admits that if he and his team-mates are to make the top two this time, bad days at the office like at Palace and Bristol City last month, when Cardiff lost 4-2, must be eradicated.
McNaughton added: “You need to go on a run. At some stage in the season you have to do it.
“Like Reading did last season. If you are going to be up there you need to go on a good run and home is where you base that, but you have to pick up results away from home too.
“We are going to have to try to do that ourselves at some point during the season.”
Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... z27YWC8nKK
Cardiff City must rock Blackpool, says defender Kevin McNaughton
Sep 25 2012
Cardiff City defender Kevin McNaughton has urged the Bluebirds to become history makers against Blackpool on Saturday.
If Malky Mackay’s men can defeat the Tangerines it would be the first time they have won their opening four home league games since the 1959-60 season. That was the last time Cardiff earned promotion to the top flight.
McNaughton and his teammates are still smarting after letting a two-goal lead slip at Crystal Palace on Saturday as they crashed 3-2.
But home now is where the no-nonsense Scot believes the Bluebirds must stamp their authority.
“It is important to keep the home run going now, definitely. I think over the years it has been a tough place for teams to come,” said McNaughton.
“There is no reason that can’t continue if we keep doing what we are doing. I think over the last few weeks we’ve been playing some decent stuff and that has particularly been the case at home.
“We are very confident at home at the moment and we’ll take that into the Blackpool game.”
Ian Holloway’s men are smarting themselves after their excellent start hiccuped with a 3-1 reverse to Huddersfield at Bloomfield Road on Monday night.
But McNaughton, a Championship veteran, is under no illusions as to the threat the visitors will pose.
And as a full-back, he singled out widemen Matt Phillips, a Bluebirds’ target last year, and Tom Ince as a real danger.
“There’s so many who think they’ve got a good chance of promotion this year. About a dozen I’d say and Blackpool are one of those,” said the 30-year-old.
“At the start of the season I think it was felt they were one of the teams which were going to be up there.
“They’ve shown that and have perhaps started just that bit better than maybe people expected.
“They do have a lot of quality going forward. I think there two widemen are top notch.
“I’m a bit surprised no one came in for them during the window to take them to the higher level.
“We know it’s going to be a tough ask. Blackpool is a massive game in terms of the top two. You want to get a top two spot then push on from there.
“But it is still very early.”
McNaughton, now in his seventh season in the Welsh capital, rates Mackay’s current squad as perhaps the best he has been involved with.
He has endured right through the promotion near-misses Cardiff have suffered in recent seasons.
So it’s little wonder he is quick to point out the difficulties faced in trying to reach the Premier League even if you are rated amongst the favourites.
“Every year we start the season thinking this is our best chance yet of getting promoted. But the nature of this division means you just can’t really tell,” said McNaughton.
“I don’t think many thought Reading would win the league last season, but they went on and did that.
“It’s really just about staying focussed throughout the whole season. It’s just such a long one.
“Just when you think you’ve got a grip of it, you’ve got things under control, something turns up which bites you on the bum to be honest with you.
“It’s just about getting your head down over 46 games and I believe we’ve got as good a chance as anyone right now.”
But McNaughton admits that if he and his team-mates are to make the top two this time, bad days at the office like at Palace and Bristol City last month, when Cardiff lost 4-2, must be eradicated.
McNaughton added: “You need to go on a run. At some stage in the season you have to do it.
“Like Reading did last season. If you are going to be up there you need to go on a good run and home is where you base that, but you have to pick up results away from home too.
“We are going to have to try to do that ourselves at some point during the season.”
Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... z27YWC8nKK
Re: TO MAKE TOP 2 BAD DAYS AT THE OFFICE MUST BE ERADICATED
Wed Sep 26, 2012 8:49 am
Heard it all before.
Time for action and to prove themselves.
Time for action and to prove themselves.
Re: TO MAKE TOP 2 BAD DAYS AT THE OFFICE MUST BE ERADICATED
Wed Sep 26, 2012 8:52 am
Why ca'nt the player's do their talking on the pitch?
Re: TO MAKE TOP 2 BAD DAYS AT THE OFFICE MUST BE ERADICATED
Wed Sep 26, 2012 8:57 am
Buckleys: They try and do the talking on the pitch. But media is an important duty for modern day footballers and some probably enjoy it. Fans also enjoy reading articles with their own players.
Just because they talk to the papers doesnt mean they won't do the business on the pitch.
Just because they talk to the papers doesnt mean they won't do the business on the pitch.
Re: TO MAKE TOP 2 BAD DAYS AT THE OFFICE MUST BE ERADICATED
Wed Sep 26, 2012 3:05 pm
"it would be the first time they have won their opening four home league games since the 1959-60 season" - see, boys, we've been pretty hopeless for a very long time!
Come on, City, we need to bounce back on Saturday!
Come on, City, we need to bounce back on Saturday!
Re: TO MAKE TOP 2 BAD DAYS AT THE OFFICE MUST BE ERADICATED
Wed Sep 26, 2012 10:40 pm
As competent as matt connollys been,malkys gotta bring big ben turner back