McPhail passes cup test to give manager another option

STEPHEN McPhail came through 90 minutes of FA Cup action at Macclesfield Town and pledged: “I’m raring to go in the Championship.”

Cardiff City are seven points clear in the table and McPhail is under no illusions about the next few months.

“Our remaining 20 matches are defining moments in the club’s history,” he said.

“We set our sights on promotion from the off and that remains the aim.

“We are just over halfway through, there is a long way to go and we can only deal with the next match.

“Right now that’s Ipswich at home and they have been climbing the table.

“I know Mick McCarthy from his time in charge of Ireland and he’s an outstanding manager.”

“I felt sharp and I’m ready to play if the gaffer needs me,” he said. “We have a big squad, particularly in midfield, and the lads are performing.

“I can’t complain that I haven’t been involved and I will keep working hard to make sure I am ready. I love playing, I love training and being involved.

“Squad-wise, the group we have at the club now is as strong as every in terms of depth and quality.

“I don’t know if I will play many games this season, but I will keep pushing and trying to impress from now until the end of the final fixture.

“The players who are not in the starting line-up are crucial to what is happening.

“We must make sure those who are playing keep performing and know there is somebody ready to step in. That competition helps everybody.”

Bluebirds boss Mackay applauded McPhail’s performance at Moss Rose, with Kevin McNaughton the only other senior player on view.

“I knew what I would get from Stephen in terms of leadership, calmness on the ball and performance,” he said.

“He has class, quality and helped the young players around him.

“Stephen is part of my first-team squad, that is a given.”

McPhail had not made a first team appearance since August but has played a series of development league matches to prove his fitness.

“There were a lot of young players out there who did well and it was a shame to concede all the good work which had been done up to and beyond 80 minutes,” he said.

“The lads are gutted in there because we should have won the game.

“We took a chance by not playing a lot of senior players but the young players have learned a lot from the experience.

“A lot of good things happened out there. It was a sloppy first goal to concede when it was too easy for Macclesfield to cross and we didn’t defend it. The home team had a go and the referee awarded a penalty.

“The lads did well overall, while personally I enjoyed being out there again. I felt sharp and enjoyed being on the ball.”




Read more: Wales Online http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... z2HGMRsw41

Somebody is having a laugh.

no thanks.

Love Stephen McPhail. Give him a contract. I enjoy players who want to play for us not like others who bugger off

Love Stephen McPhail. Give him a contract. I enjoy players who want to play for us not like others who bugger off

Bullshit!

I want to play for Cardiff, I should get a contract

McPhail isn't good enough.

Players come here and don't want to be here sometimes!

Nice guy or not, but Steve McPhail is not the answer.
Ignoring his health problems, his style of play ruins what City do best and that's a quick counter attack.
Steve likes to get his foot on the ball, do his obligitory pirouette and finish with a sideways or backwards pass using his cultured left peg.
By now the opportunity to break has gone and the opposition now have men behind the ball. Can't remember his last killer pass or 30 yard strike at goal. Was shocked tbh when he had an effort on Saturday.
We now have better players in his position. To earn a new contract would be throwing money away.
Coaching? Rather see Kav here.

Nice guy or not, but Steve McPhail is not the answer.
Ignoring his health problems, his style of play ruins what City do best and that's a quick counter attack.
Steve likes to get his foot on the ball, do his obligitory pirouette and finish with a sideways or backwards pass using his cultured left peg.
By now the opportunity to break has gone and the opposition now have men behind the ball. Can't remember his last killer pass or 30 yard strike at goal. Was shocked tbh when he had an effort on Saturday.
We now have better players in his position. To earn a new contract would be throwing money away.
Coaching? Rather see Kav here.

Nice guy or not, but Steve McPhail is not the answer.
Ignoring his health problems, his style of play ruins what City do best and that's a quick counter attack.
Steve likes to get his foot on the ball, do his obligitory pirouette and finish with a sideways or backwards pass using his cultured left peg.
By now the opportunity to break has gone and the opposition now have men behind the ball. Can't remember his last killer pass or 30 yard strike at goal. Was shocked tbh when he had an effort on Saturday.
We now have better players in his position. To earn a new contract would be throwing money away.
Coaching? Rather see Kav here.

Not the answer? What's the question

Only in the delusional world of Steve McPhail can a 2-1 loss to Macclesfield Town be discribed as passing the 'test'

He has been a millstone around our necks for years and I hope to God he doesn't make his usual end of season comeback just in time to shag up another promotion.

Nice guy or not, but Steve McPhail is not the answer.
Ignoring his health problems, his style of play ruins what City do best and that's a quick counter attack.
Steve likes to get his foot on the ball, do his obligitory pirouette and finish with a sideways or backwards pass using his cultured left peg.
By now the opportunity to break has gone and the opposition now have men behind the ball. Can't remember his last killer pass or 30 yard strike at goal. Was shocked tbh when he had an effort on Saturday.
We now have better players in his position. To earn a new contract would be throwing money away.
Coaching? Rather see Kav here.

Not the answer? What's the question

The question being as to whether Steve McPhail after 'passing' his cup test should be considered in Malky's plans or not.
The answer being 'no'.
But I think u knew what I meant already.

Only in the delusional world of Steve McPhail can a 2-1 loss to Macclesfield Town be discribed as passing the 'test'

He has been a millstone around our necks for years and I hope to God he doesn't make his usual end of season comeback just in time to shag up another promotion.

Last season when we were struggling we looked far better when he was on the pitch.

And in fact I'd wager that most of our goals came after he had been subbed.

Players come here and don't want to be here sometimes!

but some of them players where brilliant here, class out weighs passion mate, its sad but true

Nice guy or not, but Steve McPhail is not the answer.
Ignoring his health problems, his style of play ruins what City do best and that's a quick counter attack.
Steve likes to get his foot on the ball, do his obligitory pirouette and finish with a sideways or backwards pass using his cultured left peg.
By now the opportunity to break has gone and the opposition now have men behind the ball. Can't remember his last killer pass or 30 yard strike at goal. Was shocked tbh when he had an effort on Saturday.
We now have better players in his position. To earn a new contract would be throwing money away.
Coaching? Rather see Kav here.

Agree with everything written above.Well said NB

sorry. hes not in my team?

Sorry I have to agree with Dando, yes he's getting on and what have you but he's still top draw and can certainly help all the other lads out.I hope he plays a big part in the running, he'll have my backing all day before cowie, and also cowie is brilliant but just doesnt do it for me, he can run all day long but if we go 1-0 down he cant do anything where in my opinion McPhail has that extra bit of knowledge to do something special.

He want to be here and don't demand much in wages.

Also how class would it be to see him play even a game in the Premier League if we are to make it, be special for him.

He want to be here and don't demand much in wages.

Also how class would it be to see him play even a game in the Premier League if we are to make it, be special for him.

why does it matter if its special to him? we arent a charity.

it would be special for me if i could play a game? will the club pay me 8 grand a week for it?

He wants to play for us and Its nice to see that because other players ent like that.