Ole's praise for Craig Noone

Cardiff City boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hails wing wizard Craig Noone after stunning display in Manchester City defeat

Solskjaer was upbeat about his team's prospects despite seeing them drop to the bottom of the Premier League table

Cardiff City manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insisted there were moments he thought his side were on the verge of springing a major surprise against Manchester City.

The Bluebirds eventually lost 4-2 and fell to the bottom of the Premier League, but the new Bluebirds boss said there were encouraging signs in the performance at the Etihad Stadium.

"We felt that with 15 minutes to go maybe we had the crowd turning a little bit against the. Only a little. They weren't sure of the three points. We made them make a few mistakes," said Solskjaer.

"It was a great response after the poor start we had because the start was disappointing again. That mind-set has to change, we have to come and expect to play better than we did.

"I could have been sat here and be talking about being the first manager to take something here. But I will take the performance after a bad start.

Parts of this performance will give me belief. Not the start . It was too negative and on the back-foot, we have to change that because they are good players. When they got on the ball and passed it about we played through them.

"Of course you are going to have to defend against sides like Manchester City, but parts of the performance were very encouraging."

Cardiff's goals came from Craig Noone and Fraizer Campbell and Solskjaer was particularly impressed by the showing of wideman Noone.

"Noone is a terrific little player," said Solskjaer.

"He causes defenders problems with his pace and his technique, he can go inside and outside. He's got a good left foot, but he can cross it with his right. He got us back in the game with a great goal and his performance was one of his best. He's not played that many Premier League games so to come here and play like that shows courage. That is what we need. Courage to get on the ball at places like this.

The Bluebirds are now bottom of the table on goal difference with a tough trip to Manchester United up next in the league. Solskjaer said he knew he was in for a tough job at Cardiff and that his side needed to go to the club where he made his name as a player and try to get a result.

"I knew what I was up against when I came to Cardiff," said Solskjaer.

"I did not come here and think everything was going to be all singing and dancing. It's going to be a tough league. But there's only five points up to number ten. It's still tight. We have to make sure we keep performing.

"The Manchester United game is very important. Every single game is important in that you can take something, take the point, that might take you over the line towards the end. We will come back to Manchester and give it a go"

And Solskjaer was full of praise for the travelling Cardiff fans at the Etihad, adding: "Our fans are fantastic, that has never been in doubt. We heard them more than the home fans at times. That was very pleasing for me of course."

A striker himself as a player though, Solskjaer admitted his side had come up against a Manchester City front-line that was amongst the very best Europe has to offer right now.

"There's no doubt Manchester City is a terrific team with terrific players," added the Cardiff manager.

"We got tested against some of the best players in Europe and one of the best teams in the league. Maybe Bayern Munich is the only ream in Europe with the same home record. We knew it was going to be tough. These are the games we have to learn from. You have to feel you can play against them, some might not think that, but I want players who want the ball and have the courage and bravery to get on the ball."

Craig Noone has been outstanding and has got better and better game by game

Shame he barely played under Malky as we could have done with him at the start of the season

Sadly Ole, the negative mindset is ingrained in them from the previous manager - great to see some attacking football today....

In Ole I trust!

Noone was absolutely outstanding today. International defenders were terrified of his pace and balance. He showed great courage and confidence in his ability. He also suffered two of the worst tackles from behind by Kolorov I have seen this season, if he was not a Manchester City player he would have walked, Swarbrick should be embarrassed.

Shame he barely played under Malky as we could have done with him at the start of the season

This

Craig Noone has been outstanding and has got better and better game by game

Agree, But what I can't understand is..... WHY THE HELL DIDN'T MALKY PLAY HIM?!

The more the season goes on the more i'm shaking my head at what Malky has done.

I just got in from the game, what can I say about Noone, at times he made Zabeleta look like a little school boy, it was a pleasure to watch. they even had to double up on him at times and he was still jigging round them. if you haven't seen any of the game today, watch MOTD, they may be more biased toward Man City but they may show Noone skinning players left right and centre, if not Football first on skysports is a must, I for one will be watching the whole game again

Craig Noone has been outstanding and has got better and better game by game

Noone has got better and better by the game since he's been selected Annis. Obviously the new manager is giving him the confidence to perform

He's amazing. Reminds of Giggs about 15 years ago... Players like Noone, who can put the head down and take players on and put the ball in the back of the net (now 2 in 3 games) are rare in the league full stop... I think he could be huge for us in the league in the remaining games

As a fan, you have to ask where as Noone's confidence and courage come from? There is evidently a very positive influence on the training ground.

We need Kim playing with Noone's confidence and we'll be flying... Our attacking players are close to getting something really special going IMO...

Craig noone was superb..glad ole said so. His head could have easily dropped under mckay. But he waited for his chance and grabbed it..hope he keeps it up. You know where he going to go but u still cant stop him.

Noone was immense. Our best player and the way he skinned Kompany & made a mug of Hart with the goal was quality. What a finish it was!

The goal was something else.

Noone is our talisman, what a cracking little nippy player, causes problems everywhere on the pitch as much as i love him i honestly cant see him in the Cardiff squad next year

Shame he barely played under Malky as we could have done with him at the start of the season

Wow you cant talk negative about Malky............

Noone had a cracking game. Yesterday will have given Noone loads of confidence, I can only see him getting better.

This^^^^^

An fantastic performance, tied the Man City defenders in knots. Need another down the other wing, perhaps instead of Whitts who just kept backing off and not sticking his foot in! Saying that there were parts of the game where we did play some good football but the class of the Man City strickers shone through in the end. Roll on February, a few home games and points up for grabs

I think that was the best individual performance I have ever seen in a city shirt.
I bet a few scouts are already watching him

Craig Noone has been outstanding and has got better and better game by game

He's really surprised me. Thought he was inconsistent last season but as you say, he's got better with every game this season. He will be key to us if we are to survive

We got well and truly mugged when we let him go. Poyet is the biggest fuckwit I know and I'll never forgive the monkey face buffoon for allowing such a deal to go ahead. Our two wingers are the biggest sick notes going and cant play for more than 60 minutes without pulling their hamstrings. If we tried to buy Noone now he'd cost £6m.

Rant over

We got well and truly mugged when we let him go. Poyet is the biggest fuckwit I know and I'll never forgive the monkey face buffoon for allowing such a deal to go ahead. Our two wingers are the biggest sick notes going and cant play for more than 60 minutes without pulling their hamstrings. If we tried to buy Noone now he'd cost £6m.

Rant over

malky would have sold him back to you for a sack of spuds.. he was never keen on attacking talent