Nathan Blake " City should win Title,Why I fear they wont "

DO YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH NATHAN BLAKE?


Why Cardiff City SHOULD win the Championship title and why I fear they won't - Nathan Blake
Thursday Jun 19, 2014

By Steve Tucker


Speaking in a special Blakey's Bootroom show, Nathan Blake admitted that the squad at Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's disposal should win the league but he fears they will fall short


The pressure will build on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his men come August

Cardiff City legend Nathan Blake believes the Bluebirds should win the Championship, but fears Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his men might fall just short.

As the fixtures were released our hard-hitting columnist said with the quality of the Cardiff squad they should bounce straight back to the top-flight, but he has grave concerns that unless everyone is pulling in the right direction at the club it could be set to prove a difficult campaign.

And the former striker admits Cardiff might miss out on the play-offs let alone automatic promotion.

“I hope we’ll be in the top six, but I think we’ll finish around eighth,” said Blake.

“With the squad Cardiff City have at the moment, they should not fail to go up. There is no argument they have the best squad in the division right now.

“City should walk it with the quality of the players they have, but I think it will be one of those seasons where it won’t quite happen.

“Its going to be another long campaign. I fear we have many of the same problems we had last year. We need to make a clean, fresh break, but things look set to rumble on.

“Unless you’ve got everybody believing in what Ole is doing, you’ve got a problem. That would be my only concern.

“I hope he has the tactics and training programme ready for the players and hopefully they will want to run through brick walls for him.

“Last time fans would have accepted promotion in any way. Now they want to win it in style.

“People are paying hard earned money and they want to be entertained by the team. I would rather see that style of football than any other.”




Solskjaer and his men look to have a difficult start to the campaign. After a trip to Blackburn, the Bluebirds then face early tough fixtures against the likes of Wigan, Wolves, Fulham and Norwich.

Blake said it was essential Cardiff got off to a storming start when the season kicks off on August 8.

“It’s down to confidence. You’ve got to get off to a good start,” said Blake.

“If you win that first game at Blackburn, it will be a big relief and by the second and third game the players can just go on from there. If you’ve done really well after five or six games it takes a massive crash not to be there or thereabouts by the end of November.

“What the Championship lacks in quality it makes up for in hard work and endeavour.”

And when it comes to Solskjaer himself, Blake said the pressure would be intense.

He added: “Ole can only afford to lose eight or nine games all season.

“It’s vital he not only hits the ground running, but keeps winning games regularly too.”

Another negative post from Blake

I think he is just saying it as it is.My only critisism of him is he just states the obvious..........but very rarely does he offer an alternative.We can all spot a problem.....its fixing it is the hard bit.

Blake reckons we prob wont even make the play-offs.

He does state this,
“What the Championship lacks in quality it makes up for in hard work and endeavour.”

If I am honest that does worry me as well, we do lack that, we also need battlers to grind out results at Rotherham away on a Tuesday night for example.

Pretty football does not guarantee promotion, its a long hard slog and many games are boring and more about battling your way through them,its been that way for years.

You need never say die players as well as class players

Blake reckons we prob wont even make the play-offs.

He does state this,
“What the Championship lacks in quality it makes up for in hard work and endeavour.”
If I am honest that does worry me as well, we do lack that, we also need battlers to grind out results at Rotherham away on a Tuesday night for example.

Pretty football does not guarantee promotion, its a long hard slog and many games are boring and more about battling your way through them,its been that way for years.

You need never say die players as well as class players

Quite right, lets not forget thats how we got up from this league, it was not just the money, but the hard work put in by the players and manager, fighting for points away on a wet tuesday night.
We can all see Ole has taken on board Fergies attacking policy, but lets not forget Fergies sides also played with committment and passion, very often grinding out results and scoring vital goals in the last few minutes of games by simply refusing to give up and playing to the final whistle.We need to see that from the off this season because it was not evident at the end of last season.

We have only won the Football League Trophy once in our history and now Blakey says we should win it again this season, sort of sums up the unreasonable expectation levels contained in that article. But lets face it MediaWales would absolutely love us to f**k this up which would give thier rag tag band of failed journos something negative to write about.

We all know how hard a division the Championship is and teams like West Ham and QPR who had the "biggest" budgets and best squads in recent seasons both needed the playoffs to get promoted.MediaWales should rename Blakeys Bootroom to Blakeys Bullshit room because nothing can be taken for granted in this division. Burnley were one of the favourites for relegation last season but they will be playing PL football next season.

As fans we need to affect what we can affect and that is support our manager and ALL our players for every minute of the season and hopefully we will get what we all want - Promotion.

However it is achieved.

I think we could win the Championship in a canter but it very much depends on the fans, as negativity from the fans soon transfers itself on to the field of play. We all know every man and his dog wants blue back (I include myself in that) and everybody wearing blue is statement enough I think (personally I have always worn blue to games and always will). The message WILL hit home with Tan if it already hasn't. However if our fans carry on this god awful singing of ""always be blue rather than get behind the team during matches I fear the worst. So called fans leaders could be very influential in making this happen couldn't they? but I suspect they won't as they are gunning for Tan and that will be at the expense of promotion. So its over to you fans leaders isn't it

We have only won the Football League Trophy once in our history and now Blakey says we should win it again this season, sort of sums up the unreasonable expectation levels contained in that article. But lets face it MediaWales would absolutely love us to f**k this up which would give thier rag tag band of failed journos something negative to write about.

We all know how hard a division the Championship is and teams like West Ham and QPR who had the "biggest" budgets and best squads in recent seasons both needed the playoffs to get promoted.MediaWales should rename Blakeys Bootroom to Blakeys Bullshit room because nothing can be taken for granted in this division. Burnley were one of the favourites for relegation last season but they will be playing PL football next season.

As fans we need to affect what we can affect and that is support our manager and ALL our players for every minute of the season and hopefully we will get what we all want - Promotion.

However it is achieved.

good post - as a pundit he is, at times, cringeworthy; he is only there for his name in these articles, helping to sell for his employer.

to be fair, though, I find him better on the radio

Negative post from Blake, Negative stigma this is what's wrong with Britain.

You only have to look at England they will always fall short at the world cup no matter what player's they have because negative stigma has re-wired their minds and they will always be bottlers.

People like Nathan Blake inflicting their negative venom all over there local clubs and then moaning when they don't win. He would be a great Columist to have at Swansea

Negative post from Blake, Negative stigma this is what's wrong with Britain.

You only have to look at England they will always fall short at the world cup no matter what player's they have because negative stigma has re-wired their minds and they will always be bottlers.

People like Nathan Blake inflicting their negative venom all over there local clubs and then moaning when they don't win. He would be a great Columist to have at Swansea

Thank you, Nathan Blake...

Fortunately, whether your negativity's ultimately proven right or wrong, I take little notice of your rhetoric other than to frown sadly at how someone once so revered could be on a mission to 'down' the club at every opportunity

Then again, I remember Gunter's (off-field) performance after he left and FAILED at Spurs and I thnk "Hmmm, maybe it's just the modern way to forget so easily where you came from"

Don't we have the same battlers we had when we went up last season? The only one we have lost I can think of is Taylor but I'd hardly call him a battler.
We have just added quality. To be honest I think the squad is far from finished.

If we don't go up, more chance of Tan leaving mind. Hence getting blue back, which should be our only aim as fans this season.

If we do go up, it means that some fickle fans will forget about the fight for blue whilst were successful, as happened during our promotion season, and under Malky in the Premier League. As soon as Ole came in, and results started to fade, the fight for our identity became more prominent.

There is a clear link to the team's success and how strongly we fight for our identity, sadly.

Let's be honest all Nathan Blake does is talk bollocks.

This thread is likely to be a self-fulfilling prophecy!

The season hasn't even started and doom-and-gloom merchants are sticking the boot in.

I thought this was a fans' forum, not an anti-Cardiff propaganda machine.

C'mon Cardiff City Bluebirds. We are all behind you!!!!

This thread is likely to be a self-fulfilling prophecy!

The season hasn't even started and doom-and-gloom merchants are sticking the boot in.

I thought this was a fans' forum, not an anti-Cardiff propaganda machine.

C'mon Cardiff City Bluebirds. We are all behind you!!!!

Blakes spot on, not negative, hes a realist. I said this a few days ago on a diff post ''By Which date will we win the title by this season? ''...When pps wer talking about winning leagues before it even kicked off. My biggest worry has to be instability. few bad results and Tan comes out the woodwork and kicks of the circus show all over again!

Negative post from Blake, Negative stigma this is what's wrong with Britain.

You only have to look at England they will always fall short at the world cup no matter what player's they have because negative stigma has re-wired their minds and they will always be bottlers.

People like Nathan Blake inflicting their negative venom all over there local clubs and then moaning when they don't win. He would be a great Columist to have at Swansea

Yet both the championship and the premier league are won by British teams every year, aren´t they?

Bet365

To win Championship
Norwich - 8/1
Cardiff - 9/11
Fulham/Derby/Wigan - 11/1.

To be Promoted
Norwich - 3.25
Cardiff - 3.50
Fulham/Derby/Wigan - 4.33

From Facebook



Ben Harding The idiot don't no what he's on about. Basically still got the same team we won the championship wiv better players..
5 hrs · Like · 2

Kevin Hamilton Same team near enough yes, but a manager who knows his tactics and discipline as we had last time out? Remains to be seen.
4 hrs · Like · 3

Andrew Williams What the f**k does that pissed up c**t know, jealous much?
4 hrs · Like

Gareth Partridge Ole will struggle. This is the Championship not the Norwegian Premier League. Can't see us going up with him at the helm. Play offs at best.
4 hrs · Edited · Like · 1

Gareth Lodwick We will win the league easily if I'm wrong I will post a foto of me in a jack shirt as my profile pic for a month
3 hrs · Like · 3

Kevin Hamilton I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy fella!
3 hrs · Like

Gwyn Allen Like i said they will end up about 10th with 55 points hope i am .wrong.
3 hrs · Edited · Like · 2

Glyn Perham Gareth just go to swansea shopping or on the piss in a cardiff shirt lol dont every put that ugly duckling shirt on. lol
2 hrs · Like

Lauren Ann McNie Right now we have a lot of the same players, but how many will still be here come the start of the season?! Last time out we had Malky, too and personally I think he is a much better manager than Ole; he had a lot more charisma and fight as opposef to ...See More
2 hrs · Like · 2

Gareth Lodwick Cheers lads but I really reckon we gonna smash it this season but then again I've said it every year since 1994 lol
2 hrs · Like · 1

Leigh Jones I don't understand why there is so much negativity. Most of these players are used to championship football and with some better players such as dhaeli things can only get better. Yes ole isn't exactly the most tactful minded manager but at least give ...See More
2 hrs · Like · 1

Marc Pugh I'm putting 15 quid on us too go straight back up anyway
2 hrs · Edited · Like · 1

David Bradley As well as swanky attacking football we hope to see, we need to have some grit about us. A bit of ole style mixed with mackay style if you like. Smash teams when on ascendancy. Grind out results in the tougher matches. Remains to be seen if oles teams do grit and determination but we will find out this season without question.
1 hr · Like · 1

Kevin Hamilton Dave Jones was an attacking manager, not that preston realized when they knocked us for 6. Getting forward is all well and good, bit of your attackers lose the ball in stupid places then our four defenders are up against 6/8 attackers, that's how our second half of last season went.
24 mins · Like · 1

Kevin Rees Its easy for Blake to criticise Ole, he has never been a manger he just sits on his ass and pretends to be a football pundit, put your money where mouth is blake and try being a manager for a season lets see where your team would be!!!!
12 mins · Like

Negative post from Blake, Negative stigma this is what's wrong with Britain.

You only have to look at England they will always fall short at the world cup no matter what player's they have because negative stigma has re-wired their minds and they will always be bottlers.

People like Nathan Blake inflicting their negative venom all over there local clubs and then moaning when they don't win. He would be a great Columist to have at Swansea

Yet both the championship and the premier league are won by British teams every year, aren´t they?

Manchester city hardly have an Englishman on their team.

Same guy who said Marshall and Hudson should have been dropped after Charlton home.

DO YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH NATHAN BLAKE?


Why Cardiff City SHOULD win the Championship title and why I fear they won't - Nathan Blake
Thursday Jun 19, 2014

By Steve Tucker


Speaking in a special Blakey's Bootroom show, Nathan Blake admitted that the squad at Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's disposal should win the league but he fears they will fall short


The pressure will build on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his men come August

Cardiff City legend Nathan Blake believes the Bluebirds should win the Championship, but fears Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his men might fall just short.

As the fixtures were released our hard-hitting columnist said with the quality of the Cardiff squad they should bounce straight back to the top-flight, but he has grave concerns that unless everyone is pulling in the right direction at the club it could be set to prove a difficult campaign.

And the former striker admits Cardiff might miss out on the play-offs let alone automatic promotion.

“I hope we’ll be in the top six, but I think we’ll finish around eighth,” said Blake.

“With the squad Cardiff City have at the moment, they should not fail to go up. There is no argument they have the best squad in the division right now.

“City should walk it with the quality of the players they have, but I think it will be one of those seasons where it won’t quite happen.

“Its going to be another long campaign. I fear we have many of the same problems we had last year. We need to make a clean, fresh break, but things look set to rumble on.

“Unless you’ve got everybody believing in what Ole is doing, you’ve got a problem. That would be my only concern.

“I hope he has the tactics and training programme ready for the players and hopefully they will want to run through brick walls for him.

“Last time fans would have accepted promotion in any way. Now they want to win it in style.

“People are paying hard earned money and they want to be entertained by the team. I would rather see that style of football than any other.”




Solskjaer and his men look to have a difficult start to the campaign. After a trip to Blackburn, the Bluebirds then face early tough fixtures against the likes of Wigan, Wolves, Fulham and Norwich.

Blake said it was essential Cardiff got off to a storming start when the season kicks off on August 8.

“It’s down to confidence. You’ve got to get off to a good start,” said Blake.

“If you win that first game at Blackburn, it will be a big relief and by the second and third game the players can just go on from there. If you’ve done really well after five or six games it takes a massive crash not to be there or thereabouts by the end of November.

“What the Championship lacks in quality it makes up for in hard work and endeavour.”

And when it comes to Solskjaer himself, Blake said the pressure would be intense.

He added: “Ole can only afford to lose eight or nine games all season.

“It’s vital he not only hits the ground running, but keeps winning games regularly too.”

He is covering himself as most pundits do.

We "should" walk it. If we do he says he was right.

If we fail by a little margin he's right again.

I take no notice of pundits. We could all make the same statement and we would all be equally right.

I agree with you Seanpaul that Blakey is trying to set himself up to be right.

Unfortunately, as a past player, he should be more empathetic towards the team. He should understand that his comments can have a real impact on the progress of the squad. It's not a very nice thing to do.

When Blakey played for Cardiff, it wasn't in the PL so I hope there's not a touch of jealousy creeping in.

We need total positivity to allow the lads to prepare with proper focus and feeling that they will be a force to be reckoned with.

C'mon BLUEBIRDS!!!!!

I agree with you Seanpaul that Blakey is trying to set himself up to be right.

Unfortunately, as a past player, he should be more empathetic towards the team. He should understand that his comments can have a real impact on the progress of the squad. It's not a very nice thing to do.

When Blakey played for Cardiff, it wasn't in the PL so I hope there's not a touch of jealousy creeping in.

We need total positivity to allow the lads to prepare with proper focus and feeling that they will be a force to be reckoned with.

C'mon BLUEBIRDS!!!!!

Hes a pundit. Are you seriously suggesting that he should only have positive opinions about the club? What nonsense. He has concerns that many of the other fans do too & is totally allowed to air them.

He's paid to give his opinion & that's what he has done.

A bit over the top to say we should walk this league, for a start there's 2 teams in Norwich and Fulham who finished above us last year. We will also, obviously lose 3 of our best players from last year, the expectation this year, is that we will play more expansive, entertaining football, but I don't hear anyone thinking we should win the title and whats more in style I think that we are expected to be in the mix and who knows if things click we could be in with a shout for automatic promotion, but that is a BIG if.

I agree with you Seanpaul that Blakey is trying to set himself up to be right.

Unfortunately, as a past player, he should be more empathetic towards the team. He should understand that his comments can have a real impact on the progress of the squad. It's not a very nice thing to do.

When Blakey played for Cardiff, it wasn't in the PL so I hope there's not a touch of jealousy creeping in.

We need total positivity to allow the lads to prepare with proper focus and feeling that they will be a force to be reckoned with.

C'mon BLUEBIRDS!!!!!

Hes a pundit. Are you seriously suggesting that he should only have positive opinions about the club? What nonsense. He has concerns that many of the other fans do too & is totally allowed to air them.

He's paid to give his opinion & that's what he has done.

Blakey's Bootroom is unashamedly Cardiff biased and understandably so.

He can express his opinions as you said but this is before one single ball has been kicked.

I think Seanpaul got it right: Blakey's motives are not purely opinion, but a case of hedging his bets. What he said was totally designed to make him look good and sod the club.

Why do we have to spread negativity without giving the team a chance??

The other thing that really annoys me is that comments are made but no solutions offered.