Marshall Says" We lost our fighting spirit under Solskjaer "

Cardiff City keeper David Marshall: 'We lost our fighting spirit under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer' but now it's back

Thurs Oct 02, 2014

By Terry Phillips


The Bluebirds captain insists the passion has returned in the squad since Scott Young and Danny Gabbidon took charge.



Captain David Marshall believes Cardiff City lost their fighting spirit at the end of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reign as Bluebirds manager, but insists: “We are right back on course.”

The Bluebirds goalkeeper was the man of the match during City’s 1-1 draw at Brighton, a result which extended their unbeaten run under co-caretaker managers Scott Young and Danny Gabbidon to three matches.

“They have done a great job along with their backroom staff, who have come up from the academy,” said Marshall. “For two home games in a row, against Norwich and Middlesbrough, there was not enough fight there. That’s all the fans can ask for, and we had to put that right.

“The first things which were put across to the players when Young and Gabbidon took charge was that passion was lacking from our performances. It probably was.



"They are Cardiff through and through, we all know that, and are making sure we give everything we have as a team.

“There was a need for organisation and direction. They have provided that and we are unbeaten in three matches. Our aim is to make sure we extend that against Blackpool.”

Marshall is the main link between Young, Gabbidon and players, ensuring everybody understands the information being put across and know what they have to do.

“I have not played a big part because all the preparation work is done by the managers and staff,” says Marshall. “They ask me how well the boys are taking things on board and I tell them because we are trying to get promoted.”

Young and Gabbidon have been in charge for two weeks since Solskjaer left, and City hope to appoint Russell Slade early during the international break.


They have, though, made progress, climbed three places in the table and now play bottom club Blackpool, who are still without a win this season, at Bloomfield Road on Friday.

“This is not a transition period and it’s been made clear the season will pass us by if we don’t pick up every point we possibly can,” says Marshall, who joins the Scotland squad next week for their European qualifiers against Georgia and Poland.

“It would be easy to use the excuse that we don’t have a manager, but nobody will do that and we have shown that with draws away against Derby and Brighton plus the win at home to Sheffield Wednesday.

“Now we have to go again in our final match before the international break. We need three points, and anything less will be disappointing.

“It’s crucial that we give Blackpool the respect they deserve because they have been unlucky at times. It’s going to be a difficult match and we will have to earn anything we get.”

I hope he is right, although the passion seems to have been a bit on and off also after Solskjær left, and the lack of possession is still evident. The coaches might be Cardiff through and through, but are the players?

Still waiting for the big turn-around, not only when it comes to results in form of lucky points, but also how it looks on the pitch throughout a game. I was hoping to see that against Brighton, and I´m certainly hoping to see it tonight!

But I´m an optimist by nature, and tonight is a perfect opportunity to show what the team is all about!

I don't think we'll see a super quick transformation, but I do think this team will build into a very strong one as continuity in selection and style of play takes effect.
100% effort, concentration for 90 mins and very importantly increased confidence and we can do very well in this league


I hope...........................

Really?