Can McNaughton cut it in Premier League?

Kevin McNaughton is so popular amongst Cardiff City fans they have made up TWO songs about him.

One is a simple ‘Super Kev McNaughton’ ditty.

The other, is about Bluebirds fans wanting silver hair too (that’s the printable version of it, anyhow). A tribute indeed.
McNaughton embodies everything City fans like in their players. Spirit, commitment, tigerish tackling, a refusal to give up even on the most lost of causes. He puts his body on the line where it hurts like no other Bluebird.

I still wince at one challenge I recall McNaughton making against Reading at the Madjeski Stadium in a play-off semi-final two years ago. A Reading player was clean through on goal when McNaughton, chasing back frantically from halfway, suddenly lunged through the air for about five yards to cleanly win the ball with the best tackle I have seen anybody make.
What a bloke. ‘Super, super Kev’ the 3,000 visiting fans chanted.

It is almost tantamount to football heresy, therefore, to even remotely question McNaughton in these parts. But I recall using that very phrase in mid-March when I suggested Peter Whittingham, Bluebirds midfield playmaker supreme and fans’ idol, needed to be rested from the team because he was under-performing too much. You can’t say that about our Whitts, was the instant response. He offers so much to the side, even if it seems to outsiders he’s not playing as well as he was.

Two games on, Malky Mackay dropped Whittingham for a home game against Blackburn. In came Kim Bo-Kyung and Jordon Mutch, to form an exciting new midfield triumvirate with Aron Gunnarsson.

The Bluebirds blew Blackburn away, Kimbo and Mutch at the centre of everything good that they did with their energy, directness and skill. That trio were to stick together for the rest of the season as the Bluebirds went unbeaten to finally cross that elusive promotion line.
Whittingham is too good a player not to feature again next season and I fully expect him to be in the mix as Malky Mackay plans for the sterner tests at Premier League level.
So too, it seems, will McNaughton, who appears to be on the brink of a new two-year deal with the club.

I have to say I’m somewhat surprised by that... and I fully accept that, like my March remarks concerning Whittingham, that goes against the grain somewhat, it isn’t exactly a populist view. But it’s my belief that Mackay will need not just one, but two quality new full-backs when the Bluebirds kick off in the Premier League. Defence has been the foundation behind the Bluebirds’ Championship title charge, Mackay doing things the good old-fashioned way by building from the back. It needs to be the foundation again in the Premier League when Cardiff’s full-backs will be coming up against quick and tricky wide men pretty much every single week.

It’s not just about a Gareth Bale, Theo Walcott or Daniel Sturridge. Wigan’s Callum McManaman was unsung most of the season... but he tore an experienced campaigner like Gael Clichy apart in the FA Cup Final. That is the quality of player the Bluebirds will be facing. McNaughton’s pace would be a bonus, of course, but also ironically less of an asset at Premier level where lots of players are whippet-like anyway.

What concerns me most about McNaughton, though, is a capacity for giving the ball away too much. You can get away with that in Championship football. Do it in the top flight and the ball is likely to end up in the back of your net. I always thought McNaughton’s many other strengths masked limitations he had in possession of the ball and he rarely ventured over halfway under Dave Jones’ tenure anyway. But Mackay gives his full-backs more of a freedom to get forward and let’s just say McNaughton hasn’t always looked the silkiest.

Cardiff will need full-backs next season capable of defending stoically, but also ones who use the ball effectively and efficiently. The best we can say about McNaughton and Andrew Taylor is that the jury has to be out on them as Premier League performers. We keep hearing Mackay needs a new team, but I believe he already has the bulk of a decent enough Premier starting XI on his hands.
Marshall, Ben Turner, Gunnarsson, Mutch, Kim, Craig Bellamy and Fraizer Campbell, backed up by Whittingham, Nicky Maynard and Matt Connolly.

The other positions do need looking at, though. And as a matter of urgency, because every point will count next season and it’s no good waiting until after the summer transfer window has closed to realise players may not be quite up to the standard required.
My fear is that Kevin McNaughton may be one of them. I fervently hope he proves me wrong. Because, given his service and commitment to Cardiff City, no-one deserves a new contract more.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/foot ... ty-3861353

Unfortuntley he has no chance, He'll be a good squad player and probably only feature in cup games unless our first choice right back is injured.

NO, I am shocked Malky has offered him a new contract, but I respect Malky's decisions, as he is our manager.

He will be used as a squad player.

We need to keep what we got and add to it not get rid of everybody.

No i'm afraid he will be a squad player for cup matches. his low wages make him an easy option to keep on board.As has been said his final ball and ability to keep the ball have stopped him going further, athough he may get more time on the ball in the premiership. but he gets himself out of trouble with his pace, but that is no good in the premier.once you make a mistake its too late. look at roger johnson he gets turned far too much and his pace is no help as sides have passed through him when at brum and wolves.know he likes living down here and he has been one of my favorite players. hope he enjoys the next 2 seasons and gets some sort of job with the city....real good pro.

Kev can cover left,right full back and centre half position. Might not be the best in possession but always gives 100%.

Also marked Zaha out of the game on Boxing Day so much so Zaha got booked in frustration.

Will be a good squad player.

So one day it's Tucker going on about Whitts and today we have Abbandanto having a go at Super Kev. I suppose it must be right if the head f**kwit of sport at MediaWales thinks it. All I can say is thank f**k this idiot has nothing to do with Cardiff City Football Club.


All of this is just the start of this lot salivating at the prospect of City struggling in the Premier League next season. What's next MM should get the sack.


It's only a matter of time before this lot start on that. Trust me.

He's going to be back up anyway which alot of people are seeming to forget. He's great cover for the back 4 and can actually defend.

By the way who was the right back playing at the u21 final? Cause if it was Coulsen he's great going forward but he's rubbish defending

It's a no brainer to keep someone so versatile.
A new right back and probably Connelly will be ahead of him.

Probably not, but he's a better RB than Connolly.

He'll be a fantastic squad player as he can play anywhere across the back four

Not good enough for premiership games, but its a long season and I think to survive in the league we will need a big change in our cup teams, so can see him slotting in for league cup and fa cup games

gives the ball away far to many times. wont get away with it in the prem. could cost us goals,points, although he does give 100% ,

NO, I am shocked Malky has offered him a new contract, but I respect Malky's decisions, as he is our manager.

I agree with you. In my opinion, not good enough, even as back up in the Premier League. What if the new first choice right-back gets a serious injury in September. We'll be stuck with McNaughton in the starting XI until January!
Has he accepted the new terms offered to him yet?

Rather have Kevin McNaughton who will give his all than some of the supposedly better players weve had on loan.

He struggled in the Champonship by the end of the season, so no chance .......

He struggled in the Champonship by the end of the season, so no chance .......

He looked much better at the end of the season

Kev is God so a big fat yes from me

Super Kev is awesome, everyones favourite city player, but I think he was at fault for a couple of goals at the end of the season, one which springs to mind is a header at the back post, not sure who scored? Definately worth a contract though.

So one day it's Tucker going on about Whitts and today we have Abbandanto having a go at Super Kev. I suppose it must be right if the head f**kwit of sport at MediaWales thinks it. All I can say is thank f**k this idiot has nothing to do with Cardiff City Football Club.


All of this is just the start of this lot salivating at the prospect of City struggling in the Premier League next season. What's next MM should get the sack.


It's only a matter of time before this lot start on that. Trust me.

Spot on!

This Abbandonato tw*t keeps going on about how CCFC have got the 'bulk of a decent enough Premier League starting XI', and the players he mentions are fair enough (Marshall, Turner, Mutch, Kim etc.) but he always omits Hudson, who is the club captain and the supporters' player of the year!

Kevin McNaughton: 249 FL Championship appearances, 1 goal; 175 SPL appearances (Aberdeen), 3 goals

OR

Simon Lappin: 29 FL Championship appearances (Norwich, Cardiff), 0 goals; 38 SPL appearances (St Mirren, Motherwell), 3 goals


A two-year contract might be pushing it a little, but Kev will be of far greater use to us than Lappin next season.

If Kev scores a goal...

He struggled in the Champonship by the end of the season, so no chance .......

What games were you watching?