NATHAN BLAKE: " CARDIFF WILL NOT MISS STEVEN CAULKER "

Wednesday May 07th, 2014.

By Jon Doel

Former Cardiff City star Nathan Blake says the Bluebirds should cash in on Caulker, Gary Medel and David Marshall



Former Cardiff City star Nathan Blake believes the Bluebirds should cash in on their three star players, insisting captain Steven Caulker would not be missed by the club in the Championship.

Speaking on Tuesday's edition of Blakey's Bootroom, Blake criticised Caulker's defensive performances during a diabolical campaign that ended in relegation on the weekend.

And he believes Cardiff would be wise to cash in on their sought-after skipper, as well as Chile international Medel and sensational goalkeeper David Marshall.

"I'll be honest, I'll say it. I think Caulker is a great athlete but defensively he has got a lot to learn," Blake said.

"If you look at some of the goals conceded, even at Newcastle, he could have done better.

"I think we've got a better opportunity without Caulker in the Championship. He is a great athlete but leaves a lot to be desired defensively.

"You can't keep saying it's Theophile's fault or Declan John's fault. He has totally got away scott free.

"People who watch football should go and analyse it. I'm telling you, he has been at fault just as much as anyone else. He has not stood head and shoulders above anybody.

"For me, losing Caulker and Gary Medel would not be a problem at all."

As for the decision to hand Caulker the captaincy, at the start of the season Blake said: "I just don't think he was old enough or experienced enough."


http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/foot ... er-7079255

actually agree with Blake for once!

Must say I have been pretty disppointed with some of the displays by Caulker and Medel.

Caulker never looked like a true captain and as Blakey stated he was at fault for some goals as much as he other he is meant to oversee. Never really saw the "Pit Bull" element of Medal apart from the incident with Fellani (apologise for spelling).

Neither would be a greta loss to us and just think of the money we could save.

On a more positive note I really feel Fabio will become a better player in the championship and has shown more passion than some of our more established players/signings

Hope we keep hold of John Brayford,actually looking forward to seeing him play,should be good in the championship!
Best caulker moment had to be his goal against the jacks,but more so since Mackay left our whole defensive unit was a shambles,if he goes I wish him all the best and think he has a decent future,think we got to give spurs 50% of any sale over 7m.
Medel good player but for his price could of brought similar plus a goal scorer,hope he has a good World Cup and adds some value to his price tag!tho will be surprised if we get back what we paid for him!
Can't help but feel since Mackay left Medel wasn't quite the same,by what I read Malky made effort to sign him,plus he based his game more on defence so maybe Medel preferred his role more earlier on in the season!
Plus after the whole Malky,Moody,painter,lim,tan circus he must of thought what the hell am I doing here!i think medel's a Malky type of player not so much a ole type of player!

Disagree with Marshall, he should be the one we try and keep!

Must say I have been pretty disppointed with some of the displays by Caulker and Medel.

Caulker never looked like a true captain and as Blakey stated he was at fault for some goals as much as he other he is meant to oversee. Never really saw the "Pit Bull" element of Medal apart from the incident with Fellani (apologise for spelling).

Neither would be a greta loss to us and just think of the money we could save.

On a more positive note I really feel Fabio will become a better player in the championship and has shown more passion than some of our more established players/signings

Couldn't agree more. For all the stick Fabio has been getting he's quickly establishing himself as one of my favourite current players. As you said, he's been showing more passion than any of the other kunts and as he's had more game time his performances have improved massively. I think I'd be happy in the championship with Brayford Hudson Cala Fabio (if Brayford ends up staying).

Disagree with Marshall, he should be the one we try and keep!

After the season he's had he's a wanted man!prob worth 6-7 mill now!but would be sad to see him go!wish we still had Heaton as cover!

Disagree with Marshall, he should be the one we try and keep!

After the season he's had he's a wanted man!prob worth 6-7 mill now!but would be sad to see him go!wish we still had Heaton as cover!

Marshall has had 2 great seasons now and you're right will def be a wanted man. If he's happy and settled, I wouldn't let him go for anything under £10 mil.

Blake is starting to grow on me. Suddenly of speaking a lot off footballing sense of lately. Much needed in Cardiff, where, I'll be honest, most don't understand the game.

Blake is starting to grow on me. Suddenly of speaking a lot off footballing sense of lately. Much needed in Cardiff, where, I'll be honest, most don't understand the game.

He is right that Chaulker has got a way scott free most season. He made quite a few errors that resulted in goals. If Fabio or KTC make similar errors they are crucified by media and fans.
Southampton fans have the same assessment of Chaulker. Great athletic ability,sometimes looks clumsy on the ball and doesn't read the game that well.
I think we should cash in on him and i am sure we will since he has a relegation clause. As for Medel sell him and get a holding midfielder with more pace. Actually get a CB with pace too. Too many slow players in our team.
If marshall wants to stay keep him.

Fabio is better at his job than Caulker is at his IMO. Caulker is massively overhyped as he's British and relatively young for a defender.

Should have played him up front

Caulker needs experience next to him and he shouldn't be captain.

---------------Marshall
Brayford--Hudson-Cala--Fabio
--------------Whitts
---------Mutch------Matts
Noone-----------------------Harris
----------------Guerra

Subs: Campbell, Ralls, Kim, Lewis, Turner, KTC, Eikrem, Berget, Jones, Gunnarson, McNaughton, Mason, Moore, Healey etc

That is with Medel and Caulker gone and assuming Guerra still comes. Also assuming we do not renew the likes of Lappin, Smith and Cowie who are out of contract and get rid of the likes of Connelly.

Without even signing any new players (Guerra aside) we more than have a squad built to be a powerhouse in the championship. Hudson is a fantastic leader and will add steel and organisation into the defence at Championship level, we have attacking potency in Noone and Matts and hopefully in Guerra will have a striker who can actually finish.

Whitts and Mutch are top of the tree midfielders at Championship level and can cope bossing the middle and with the likes of Ralls, Kim, Gunnarson, Eikrem we have plenty of cover, depth and flexibility.

I can see us going back up. We just need to be smarter with signings next promotion as Malky royally fucked us in the arse last Summer and cost us any hope of staying up.

I don't care if we lose the entire team as long as we keep Fabio.

Fabio's my new fave player

Fabio for the World Cup

Blake is spot-on with this one, hes obviously been reading my posts

We wont miss either of them.

I don't care if we lose the entire team as long as we keep Fabio.

Fabio's my new fave player

Fabio for the World Cup

Finally Fabio is getting some love!
Honestly though Fabio has shown a lot of passion i am surprised the fans don't have more love for him.

---------------Marshall
Brayford--Hudson-Cala--Fabio
--------------Whitts
---------Mutch------Matts
Noone-----------------------Harris
----------------Guerra

Subs: Campbell, Ralls, Kim, Lewis, Turner, KTC, Eikrem, Berget, Jones, Gunnarson, McNaughton, Mason, Moore, Healey etc

That is with Medel and Caulker gone and assuming Guerra still comes. Also assuming we do not renew the likes of Lappin, Smith and Cowie who are out of contract and get rid of the likes of Connelly.

Without even signing any new players (Guerra aside) we more than have a squad built to be a powerhouse in the championship. Hudson is a fantastic leader and will add steel and organisation into the defence at Championship level, we have attacking potency in Noone and Matts and hopefully in Guerra will have a striker who can actually finish.

Whitts and Mutch are top of the tree midfielders at Championship level and can cope bossing the middle and with the likes of Ralls, Kim, Gunnarson, Eikrem we have plenty of cover, depth and flexibility.

I can see us going back up. We just need to be smarter with signings next promotion as Malky royally fucked us in the arse last Summer and cost us any hope of staying up.

I actually agree with Blakey that OGS should play Daehli or Kim further up behind the striker. Preferably Daehli for my money.

Yea got to agree, where Caulk and Medal started bright, they went backwards where Fabio has got better. I think what lets Fabio down is mainly his decision making e.g. jumping into a tackle in a bad place on the pitch. Hopefully something that could be sorted by video review etc

Blake is spot-on with this one, hes obviously been reading my posts

We wont miss either of them.

Be calling you Roathie next.

I don't care if we lose the entire team as long as we keep Fabio.

Fabio's my new fave player

Fabio for the World Cup

Finally Fabio is getting some love!
Honestly though Fabio has shown a lot of passion i am surprised the fans don't have more love for him.

I'd have more love for him if he could defend.

Seeing as he's meant to be a defender.

Fabio is better at his job than Caulker is at his IMO. Caulker is massively overhyped as he's British and relatively young for a defender.

Got to agree Barney. If he wasn't english he'd have cost us about £2m/maybe 3m. Not even sure we'd have bought him if he wasn't english as he wouldn't be as overhyped.

I don't care if we lose the entire team as long as we keep Fabio.

Fabio's my new fave player

Fabio for the World Cup

Finally Fabio is getting some love!
Honestly though Fabio has shown a lot of passion i am surprised the fans don't have more love for him.

I'd have more love for him if he could defend.

Seeing as he's meant to be a defender.

Chaulker is just as error prone. He made massive defensive errors at Newcastle for instance, that is what Blakey is getting at.