McPhail regrets staying at Cardiff it was the worst of my ca

' Midfielder Stephen McPhail says his final season with Championship title winners Cardiff City was the "worst of his career". '



The Republic of Ireland international has ended a seven-year spell with the newly promoted Premier League club. McPhail, 33, admits being frustrated at being sidelined for the Bluebirds' promotion push and regrets not moving away a year ago.

"I probably should have moved club in the summer last year," said McPhail. I was told I would be involved this year and that didn't materialise and that was disappointing. I want to be playing and as a footballer you don't want to be sitting on the bench, or sitting in the stand, because you want to be on the pitch and playing. It was a disappointing year and probably the worst of my career in terms of playing football, but it was great to see the club do well and progress."

McPhail had been dogged by injury and illness in his last few seasons at Cardiff City and did not play a league game this season.

His only two appearances for Cardiff this season was the Capital One Cup defeat at Northampton in August, in which he suffered a hamstring injury, and the FA Cup defeat to Macclesfield in January. He was diagnosed with a form of lymphoma in November 2009 and then the autoimmune disease Sjogren's Syndrome. The former Leeds United player had stated he wanted to remain a part of Cardiff's future and manager Malky Mackay had said he was coach material.

McPhail made more than 200 appearances for Cardiff since moving on a free transfer from Barnsley in 2006 but was out of contract at the end of the current season. He has no intention of retiring and has revealed that Championship clubs have shown an interest and there is the possibility of a move abroad to continue his career.

"I have made the decision to leave and look forward to a new challenge now," said McPhail. I had great years at Cardiff and it's been amazing. The fans have been unbelievable and the support has been staggering since it has been announced I am being let go. I have a lot of good memories but all good things have to come to an end. It's great the club are in the highest division and hopefully they can grow and get better and I will always keep a close eye on what they are doing."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22555108

Interesting.... Malky has only had good words to say about Stevie, seems strange that he's comes out and has a little pop at him

Always in our hearts Mr MacPhail

I thought his health was the most important thing?
Malky had been very considerate to Stephen considering some hard nosed managers would've thrown the sentiment out of the window and cut Macca loose a while ago.

wasnt good enough to be frank.

wasnt good enough to be frank.

Don't think he was trying to be frank

The Macca we all know and Love would've been ideal in the Barnsley match, would've killed the game but kept it flowing. Maybe wouldn't of conceded the late goal?
But he hasn't been at that level for a long long time.

He wasn't available for a fair portion of the season, mainly due to his illness!

If he was being completely honest, the only reason be stayed with us, was because of the uncertainty over his future due to his illness and the fact that he was guaranteed a fat cheque every month, whilst he was in contract with us!

wasnt good enough to be frank.

Don't think he was trying to be frank

He's certainly no Michael Crawford!

wasnt good enough to be frank.

Don't think he was trying to be frank

That's made my day

Seems as though he was promised games but havent been forthcoming ,thought i read few months back that he was fit and ready to play,maybe malky kept using his illness as an excuse not to play him,coming from him does sound as though he was ready to play,hope he finds a good club and can finish his career playing as hes had a few tough years.....thanks for the service macca ,good luck.

Just think he is saying he wanted to play but his best chance was away from Cardiff City which is true.

At the end of the day there was a lot of competition for the midfield places in the team last season and it would have taken a huge injury crisis for him to get a look in. Even then I suspect MM would have gone out and got a loan player in.

It'a always sad when a decent player, and McPhail was that for us, loses his place through illness and injury which then results in the player leaving the club. But that's football it moves on and hopefully McPhail can find a home for his undoubted talents, fitness allowing of course.

Good luck to the guy.

The Macca we all know and Love would've been ideal in the Barnsley match, would've killed the game but kept it flowing. Maybe wouldn't of conceded the late goal?
But he hasn't been at that level for a long long time.

That has been the big problem with fans blinkered view of McPhail over the years, they invent situation where he would have saved us, or give him over credit.

Come on he was hapless and the only thing he killed was our promotion chances. He totally flattered to deceive and was a modern day cheaper version of Ray ‘the crab’ Wilkins as he only went sideways or backwards.

It’s no coincidence IMO that the season he gets on where near the first team we piss the division but get knocked out of the cup competition when he does.

In a division as competitive as the Championship you can’t afford the luxury of carrying a player and that is exactly what we did when McPhail played.

Nice guy but simply not up to the task.

Tony, there were 2 games every season that were made for McPhail... unfortunately, that's not enough! Supporters of McPhail will always point out those 2 games though.

I've always liked McPhail for his personality. I grew tired of his style of play after he had that one decent season for us when we blew the Championship apart for the first three months. Since then he's been on the downhill and needs to be honest with himself. How he can say the past year was the worst of his footballing life is beyond me after the troubles he went through before. Getting paid thousands as a squad player in a title winning side? I'd take that any day of the week.

I have to admit, he's gone down a little in my estimations after these comments.

Frustration coming out. His shot at the premier league with us has come a little to late for him.

The guy is a footballer who wants to play football, of course he is going to be frustrated when he's not getting a look in.

The Macca we all know and Love would've been ideal in the Barnsley match, would've killed the game but kept it flowing. Maybe wouldn't of conceded the late goal?
But he hasn't been at that level for a long long time.

That has been the big problem with fans blinkered view of McPhail over the years, they invent situation where he would have saved us, or give him over credit.

Come on he was hapless and the only thing he killed was our promotion chances. He totally flattered to deceive and was a modern day cheaper version of Ray ‘the crab’ Wilkins as he only went sideways or backwards.

It’s no coincidence IMO that the season he gets on where near the first team we piss the division but get knocked out of the cup competition when he does.

In a division as competitive as the Championship you can’t afford the luxury of carrying a player and that is exactly what we did when McPhail played.

Nice guy but simply not up to the task.

Couldn't have put it better myself Tony, Agree with everything you say here.
Simply not good enough to get near the team, Too slow,wont shoot,cant tackle etc etc The odd nice pass doesn't wash with me.

The Macca we all know and Love would've been ideal in the Barnsley match, would've killed the game but kept it flowing. Maybe wouldn't of conceded the late goal?
But he hasn't been at that level for a long long time.

That has been the big problem with fans blinkered view of McPhail over the years, they invent situation where he would have saved us, or give him over credit.

Come on he was hapless and the only thing he killed was our promotion chances. He totally flattered to deceive and was a modern day cheaper version of Ray ‘the crab’ Wilkins as he only went sideways or backwards.

It’s no coincidence IMO that the season he gets on where near the first team we piss the division but get knocked out of the cup competition when he does.

In a division as competitive as the Championship you can’t afford the luxury of carrying a player and that is exactly what we did when McPhail played.

Nice guy but simply not up to the task.

Couldn't have put it better myself Tony, Agree with everything you say here.
Simply not good enough to get near the team, Too slow,wont shoot,cant tackle etc etc The odd nice pass doesn't wash with me.

Spot on. If he did not like it why didn't he leave? Because he is not good enough. He has had 2 years at least, of being paid big bucks to be nowhere near the team. Happy to take the money, but now it is stopping he claims he could have played. Well, look at his record. All 3 games he played last season (and against s**t teams) we lost - Forest Green (although he only lasted 2 mins and we had to play 43 mins with 10 players). Northampton and Macclesfield. Just another bitter DJ type imo. Glad he is off the books soon and we can get someone in who can actually contribute.

The Macca we all know and Love would've been ideal in the Barnsley match, would've killed the game but kept it flowing. Maybe wouldn't of conceded the late goal?
But he hasn't been at that level for a long long time.

How can he kill the game and keep it flowing?

If he had played we would probably have lost to Barnsley - one of the big bottlers of the DJ period of bottlers.

He got injured first game of the season and wasn't fit again till November, when we hit some good form, so he weren't going to get a look in. Played in the cup against a non league team and wasn't all that impressive.

I've got total respect for Steve, but it seems a bit ungrateful from him. He was looked after by Malky regarding his illness and he even made him available for loan, but nobody came in for him

he wasnt good enough it seems, either that or if we'd had kimbo and not gavin rae, we might have been successful with him. seems like a nice guy and did amazingly overcoming his problems but its there is full view, he didnt play and we got promoted.
and yes you should have moved last summer but who would have paid his high wages? dont be bitter steve.

Personally, I think Cardiff really looked after him well, they def did off the pitch. On the pitch Malky was the manager and he picked who he thought would get us promotion and was spot on.
Good luck to McPhail

He played some lovely football and played with great passion.
He just wasn't as good or maybe just just not as fit as other players in the squad.

Will always be one of my favourite city players and I wish him all the luck in the world

At the end of the season he wished us all the best for next season and said "will always be a bluebirds fan." All this via twitter.

He is speaking from a professional point of view.

The guy has been excellent for us.

He had to leave we got 2 games against the Jacks next season, Steve loved running the bath for the boys in those games.

Needs to talk himself up, he is trying to get find a club.

Will always get a warm welcome at the CCS from me.

I wouldn't take his reported comments to heart though, we all know how reporters can twist words.

Understandable bitterness, city are heading for prem and he's heading for league 1 / 2.

Understandable bitterness, city are heading for prem and he's heading for league 1 / 2.

Rumoured to be in talks with a league 2 club.
Good luck to him

Correct me if I'm wrong but Chopra was at his best when linking up with McPhail? Realise that's a while ago now but I think all he's really saying is that he would liked to have played more. Nothing derogatory really.

Understandable bitterness, city are heading for prem and he's heading for league 1 / 2.

Rumoured to be in talks with a league 2 club.
Good luck to him

Newport?? Makes sense as he can head back to City in a coaching capacity later on.