Malky: DJ deserves a warm welcome on Sunday

CARDIFF CITY boss Malky Mackay has called on Bluebirds’ supporters to give former manager Dave Jones a warm welcome tomorrow.

Jones brings his new club Sheffield Wednesday to the Welsh capital in desperate need of points with the Owls currently languishing in the bottom three of the Championship.

By contrast, Mackay, who took over when Jones parted company with the Bluebirds back in May last year, sees his side top of the league and looking for a club record 10th home league win on the bounce.

But, while his side will be aiming to make Jones’ situation worse, Mackay said his predecessor, who had six years in charge at Cardiff, should be warmly welcomed for what he previously achieved with the Bluebirds.


“To even be at a football club for six years is a huge time. Dave oversaw the move from Ninian Park to the new stadium, took them to the FA Cup final and the play-offs. I think that’s a good achievement,” said Mackay.

“When a manager is sacked people want change, but I hope with time most people will look at the whole period someone was at a club and assess things.

“There are fond memories and I hope people take that into account.”

Mackay jumped ship at Watford to join the Bluebirds and, having visited Vicarage Road for the first time with his new club last season, he has an idea of what Jones will be going through tomorrow.

“It’s just like when you are a player and you go back to your previous club,” said Mackay.

“There’s a mixture of things. There were times there when you had highs and invariably there were lows.

“For the manager the lows are usually when you leave. A manager tends to leave a club in two circumstances, whether he was sacked or chooses to go to a better job.

“It’s a mixture of things really. That’s how I was when I went to Watford. You’d have to ask Dave what it will be like for him, but he had some very good times at this club and I would very much hope he is given a warm welcome by our fans.”

The return of Jones has dominated the headlines in the build-up to tomorrow’s fixture, but Mackay is more concerned with keeping his own team’s current form on track.

The Bluebirds have taken 10 points from the last 12 on offer with two home wins over Hull and Middlesbrough and a hard-fought victory at Barnsley making it three wins on the bounce at one point.

Tuesday’s 1-1 draw at Derby was also creditable after Mackay’s side were reduced to 10 men for the last half-hour when Craig Noone received a second booking.

By winning again at home, and making it a perfect 10 out of 10, Mackay knows his team will enter the history books.

No other Cardiff side has managed that feat in a single season, the Bluebirds Class of 2012 having already matched the previous best nine out of nine feat.

Mackay has received a massive boost for the game, with Ben Turner, Kevin McNaughton and Andrew Taylor available again after overcoming injury.

He will need to decide whether to pick them ahead of youngsters Ben Nugent and Joe Ralls, pressed into recent service and who both did well.

Midfielder Don Cowie, too, is fit again after his knee problem.

Indeed, the only notable absentees will be striker Nicky Maynard, who is out for the season after surgery on a knee problem, and Tommy Smith, still missing with a hamstring injury.

Smith is back running, though, and if next Friday’s trip to Blackburn might be too soon for him, the visit of Peterborough to Cardiff on December 15 should see him in contention again.

Mackay might have been pleased with the way his youngsters stepped in to help the side, but he looks likely to bring back the more experienced heads in his back-line against a Wednesday line-up which includes former Bluebird Jay Bothroyd.

Wednesday have been in poor form under Jones and a 4-1 mauling by Watford at Hillsborough in midweek sent them tumbling into the bottom three.

The Owls have just two wins in their last 16 and have won just once on their travels this season.

By contrast, the Bluebirds have that perfect home form and Mackay has had to warn against any form of complacency.

“I’m delighted with the results we’ve picked up recently given the injuries we’ve endured,” said Mackay.

“Adapting was the name of the game, people have come in and done that for us. It was the first time the youngsters were putting on the jersey and that can only be good for the club.

“But there are 23 teams who can stop Cardiff out there and Sheffield Wednesday are no different. We are not halfway through the season. The minute you start thinking you’ve achieved anything is the moment you start dropping down the table.

“Momentum is the key because that breeds confidence. But I am not expecting anything but Sheffield Wednesday to come here and give us a very tough game.

“How can you expect anything different in this league? Just look at last week at Middlesbrough. Bristol City were on a poor run and went and beat one of the form teams 3-1 at their home ground.

“Anything can happen in this league and it usually does. So unless you have 100 per cent focus on the team in front of you, if you don’t cover the bases, then you are going to be beaten, It’s as simple as that.

“We have to make sure we apply ourselves in the way we have applied ourselves in every other game this season.”



Read more: Wales Online http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... z2DmPln1cl

I wanted DJ out before Blackpool play off final.
The relationship had run its course. Too many digs at everyone else and not enough
Taking it on the chin. Moan n Groan.

However, he will receive warm applause from me on sunday.
He's part of our history. A successful part.

Booing has no class

Takes a small man to boo
A big man would either clap or do nothing on sunday.
Come on Cardiff. We're better than that.

Another reason I won't boo is that I don't want to give ammo to wednesday.
Could be a nervy game.

Arsenal fans always boo and its pathetic.

I certainly wont welcome Jones, but I wont boo either.

This is the one and only time ill say this. "f**k off Malky"
Warm reception. Balls to him!!

Malky was not here to share the frustration and anger with us as we had to endure one bottle job after the other with a manager who did not have any time for the fans that paid him an extortionate wage.

Personally I will be glad when this game is over with the hope that Jones never visits our stadium again.

Progression year on year, a good cup run, some unbelievable memories mostly under very tough circumstances.

Certainly a warm welcome from me before the game.

I wont boo him

i wonder if hell get asked to do the ayatollah

I certainly wont welcome Jones, but I wont boo either.

Davy Jones Barmy Army

Agree 100%. You can choose to remember either the highlights or the negatives of the man, says a lot about the individual.

Progression year on year, a good cup run, some unbelievable memories mostly under very tough circumstances.

Certainly a warm welcome from me before the game.

This.

Malky Mackay hopes Cardiff fans give ex-manager Dave Jones a warm welcome on his return to the Welsh capital.

Jones returns to the Cardiff City Stadium for the first time with Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday.

Mackay, in his second season in charge at the Bluebirds, replaced Jones in June 2011 .

"There will obviously be fond memories and I would hope people would take that into account and give Dave a warm welcome on Sunday," said Mackay.

Jones had six years at the Bluebirds and led them to the FA Cup final in 2008, losing 1-0 to Portsmouth, and a Championship play-off final in 2010, losing 3-2 to Blackpool.

He is credited with turning Cardiff City from a mid-table Championship side to genuine Premiership promotion contenders.
Continue reading the main story

“To be at a football club for six years is a long time now”

Malky Mackay Cardiff City manager

Jones, who led his new club Sheffield Wednesday from League One to the Championship last summer, will return to Cardiff for the first time since he was sacked in May 2011 .

I'm happy to applaud him and that's it. He's the opposition now.