" MALKY IS METICULOUS/BUT IT ALL PAID OFF "
Mon May 11, 2015 3:59 pm
The Kevin McNaughton interview: Cardiff City is my home... I will never forget the fans who took me to their hearts
Monday 11 May 2015
By Terry Phillips
Q: What are your thoughts about Dave Jones and Malky Mackay, the two main managers you played for at Cardiff City?
KM: I played my best football under Dave and he was the manager who took me to Cardiff.
Malky changed everything. When Dave was manager he used to just get you out on the pitch and give you the freedom to go and play, while Malky is meticulous.
Every ‘t’ is crossed, every ‘i’ is dotted. The planning, right down to individual players in the opposition, was there for us.
The Championship is tight and it’s the little things that make a difference. The margins are so fine.
Even things like the sports science – how you look after yourself, how you eat, the yoga – they’ve all paid off.
I was one of the guys rolling my eyes when I was told yoga would be happening once a week, you get a bit long in the tooth for things sometimes, but it made a massive difference.
I stopped doing the yoga for a while and noticed the difference almost immediately in how I felt.
It's been more than two years since Kevin McNaughton last played at Cardiff City Stadium.
Q: What are your thoughts on being offered a testimonial match or event by Cardiff City?
KM: I’m absolutely delighted. It’s a great gesture and I’d love a chance to say a proper goodbye to Bluebirds fans who have played a major part in my playing career.
It’s been such a long time since I last ran out in front of them. I can’t even remember which match it was. That sounds terrible, but it must have been at the end of Cardiff’s promotion season.
I have some great memories of my time with Cardiff City and love the rapport I have had with the fans. I’ve missed them.
Q: You almost signed for Cardiff City when Lennie Lawrence was manager? What do you know about what happened then?
KM: Lennie was the assistant manager at Bolton for a spell while I was on loan there and we chatted about that. He made an approach to Aberdeen in 2003, but I had just signed a three year contract and they wanted a transfer fee.
Yes, I might have arrived in Cardiff earlier than I did, but things didn’t work out that way.
A young Kevin McNaughton in his Aberdeen daysA young Kevin McNaughton in his Aberdeen days
Q: What are your thoughts on leaving Cardiff City? Your contract ends this summer.
KM: I am a bit sad about leaving, but it had to come to an end eventually.
I pretty much classed Cardiff as home – my family were born there.
Russell Slade and I had a good chat in his office. He has been in contact with my representatives for quite a while and it wasn’t a complete surprise.
My time playing for the Bluebirds was fantastic.
I have made a lot of friends in South Wales and will never forget those passionate Bluebirds fans.
I’d love to play again at the Cardiff City Stadium and run out in front of those supporters again.
Q: Have you made progress about where you will play next season?
KM: Not really. I have been chatting to one or two clubs, but there is nothing concrete yet. My priority is to keep making progress after suffering a fractured fibula in my right leg while playing for Bolton in March.
I’m feeling good and things are going well on that front. There will be a fair bit of fitness work over the summer to ensure I get back to the necessary levels.
Once I am fit and ready to I will get down to sorting out my playing future. There is no doubt I want to keep playing for a long time yet.
The key for me is to get back to playing regular first team football.
Q What are your hopes for Cardiff City?
KM: I’d love to see them back in the Premier League, playing at the top level. I was honoured to play in the promotion team and loved getting the chance to play against the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United.
I still keep in touch with a few of the lads at Cardiff City and I’d love to see them go back up. The club has changed a bit. This season more than any season really.
Hopefully, though, they are building a team to challenge and it would be great to see them challenging for top six or better next season.
Q: What do you remember about the night Cardiff City clinched promotion to the Premier League?
KM: The atmosphere was unbelievable in the city, and rightly so – it’s been a long time coming.
The squad went into town after the match against Charlton and it was a really amazing atmosphere.
I was told I’d never need to buy another drink in Cardiff!
There were times you thought promotion would never happen. Stephen McPhail and myself were the two longest-serving players – he signed a couple of weeks after me in 2006.
We took a wee bit of time to ourselves after the game to reflect on what we’d been through. We both found getting over the finishing line extra special.
We’d missed out in the play-offs, been through the disappointment of losing an FA Cup final and a Carling Cup final at Wembley, the whole lot.
And maybe it was relief more than anything else. I had been in and out of the team that season and it was a real squad effort, but it was great to have played all 90 minutes when the final whistle went against Charlton Athletic and the fans poured on. You could see what it meant to the supporters.
Q: What are your thoughts about Dave Jones and Malky Mackay, the two main managers you played for at Cardiff City?
KM: I played my best football under Dave and he was the manager who took me to Cardiff.
Malky changed everything. When Dave was manager he used to just get you out on the pitch and give you the freedom to go and play, while Malky is meticulous.
Every ‘t’ is crossed, every ‘i’ is dotted. The planning, right down to individual players in the opposition, was there for us.
The Championship is tight and it’s the little things that make a difference. The margins are so fine.
Even things like the sports science – how you look after yourself, how you eat, the yoga – they’ve all paid off.
I was one of the guys rolling my eyes when I was told yoga would be happening once a week, you get a bit long in the tooth for things sometimes, but it made a massive difference.
I stopped doing the yoga for a while and noticed the difference almost immediately in how I felt.
Q: What differences have you seen at Cardiff City over the last nine years?
KM: The club was ambitious when I arrived, but the training ground and stadium were poor and I wondered if I’d done the right thing. But the plans were there for the stadium and training ground, both of which are there now.
Things just needed to come together on the pitch and they did.
Q: You scored two goals for Cardiff, both in 2008. The first was a volley at Hereford in a 2-1 FA Cup win with the second against Barnsley during a 3-0 home win in the City’s last match before the cup final against Portsmouth at Wembley Stadium.
What do you remember about those?
KM: I had scored an own-goal in our first FA Cup tie during 2007-08 tie, at Chasetown. Then I scored from a volley against Hereford in the next round.
The Cardiff City players celebrate Kevin McNaughton's unforgettable goal at Hereford
Then I scored against Barnsley - and that shot was meant to be a cross!
I would have loved to score more and maybe should have gone for goal more, but I’m more than happy helping the team keep a clean sheet as long as we go on to win.
The highlights package of my goals will struggle to reach a minute!
Q: You won four senior caps for Scotland, although you were denied an international debut against France by former manager Berti Vogts when he said you were too nervous in 2002. What happened?
KM: I was told I would be playing. I’d never even kicked a ball. I’d had ONE training session.
The thing that annoyed me was I only found out I wasn’t playing in the game when I made a phone call home. It dumbfounded me that could happen at international level.
I still get nervous before games and in some ways I think that’s a good thing.
Just because you are nervous it doesn’t mean you are a bad player.
Monday 11 May 2015
By Terry Phillips
Q: What are your thoughts about Dave Jones and Malky Mackay, the two main managers you played for at Cardiff City?
KM: I played my best football under Dave and he was the manager who took me to Cardiff.
Malky changed everything. When Dave was manager he used to just get you out on the pitch and give you the freedom to go and play, while Malky is meticulous.
Every ‘t’ is crossed, every ‘i’ is dotted. The planning, right down to individual players in the opposition, was there for us.
The Championship is tight and it’s the little things that make a difference. The margins are so fine.
Even things like the sports science – how you look after yourself, how you eat, the yoga – they’ve all paid off.
I was one of the guys rolling my eyes when I was told yoga would be happening once a week, you get a bit long in the tooth for things sometimes, but it made a massive difference.
I stopped doing the yoga for a while and noticed the difference almost immediately in how I felt.
It's been more than two years since Kevin McNaughton last played at Cardiff City Stadium.
Q: What are your thoughts on being offered a testimonial match or event by Cardiff City?
KM: I’m absolutely delighted. It’s a great gesture and I’d love a chance to say a proper goodbye to Bluebirds fans who have played a major part in my playing career.
It’s been such a long time since I last ran out in front of them. I can’t even remember which match it was. That sounds terrible, but it must have been at the end of Cardiff’s promotion season.
I have some great memories of my time with Cardiff City and love the rapport I have had with the fans. I’ve missed them.
Q: You almost signed for Cardiff City when Lennie Lawrence was manager? What do you know about what happened then?
KM: Lennie was the assistant manager at Bolton for a spell while I was on loan there and we chatted about that. He made an approach to Aberdeen in 2003, but I had just signed a three year contract and they wanted a transfer fee.
Yes, I might have arrived in Cardiff earlier than I did, but things didn’t work out that way.
A young Kevin McNaughton in his Aberdeen daysA young Kevin McNaughton in his Aberdeen days
Q: What are your thoughts on leaving Cardiff City? Your contract ends this summer.
KM: I am a bit sad about leaving, but it had to come to an end eventually.
I pretty much classed Cardiff as home – my family were born there.
Russell Slade and I had a good chat in his office. He has been in contact with my representatives for quite a while and it wasn’t a complete surprise.
My time playing for the Bluebirds was fantastic.
I have made a lot of friends in South Wales and will never forget those passionate Bluebirds fans.
I’d love to play again at the Cardiff City Stadium and run out in front of those supporters again.
Q: Have you made progress about where you will play next season?
KM: Not really. I have been chatting to one or two clubs, but there is nothing concrete yet. My priority is to keep making progress after suffering a fractured fibula in my right leg while playing for Bolton in March.
I’m feeling good and things are going well on that front. There will be a fair bit of fitness work over the summer to ensure I get back to the necessary levels.
Once I am fit and ready to I will get down to sorting out my playing future. There is no doubt I want to keep playing for a long time yet.
The key for me is to get back to playing regular first team football.
Q What are your hopes for Cardiff City?
KM: I’d love to see them back in the Premier League, playing at the top level. I was honoured to play in the promotion team and loved getting the chance to play against the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United.
I still keep in touch with a few of the lads at Cardiff City and I’d love to see them go back up. The club has changed a bit. This season more than any season really.
Hopefully, though, they are building a team to challenge and it would be great to see them challenging for top six or better next season.
Q: What do you remember about the night Cardiff City clinched promotion to the Premier League?
KM: The atmosphere was unbelievable in the city, and rightly so – it’s been a long time coming.
The squad went into town after the match against Charlton and it was a really amazing atmosphere.
I was told I’d never need to buy another drink in Cardiff!
There were times you thought promotion would never happen. Stephen McPhail and myself were the two longest-serving players – he signed a couple of weeks after me in 2006.
We took a wee bit of time to ourselves after the game to reflect on what we’d been through. We both found getting over the finishing line extra special.
We’d missed out in the play-offs, been through the disappointment of losing an FA Cup final and a Carling Cup final at Wembley, the whole lot.
And maybe it was relief more than anything else. I had been in and out of the team that season and it was a real squad effort, but it was great to have played all 90 minutes when the final whistle went against Charlton Athletic and the fans poured on. You could see what it meant to the supporters.
Q: What are your thoughts about Dave Jones and Malky Mackay, the two main managers you played for at Cardiff City?
KM: I played my best football under Dave and he was the manager who took me to Cardiff.
Malky changed everything. When Dave was manager he used to just get you out on the pitch and give you the freedom to go and play, while Malky is meticulous.
Every ‘t’ is crossed, every ‘i’ is dotted. The planning, right down to individual players in the opposition, was there for us.
The Championship is tight and it’s the little things that make a difference. The margins are so fine.
Even things like the sports science – how you look after yourself, how you eat, the yoga – they’ve all paid off.
I was one of the guys rolling my eyes when I was told yoga would be happening once a week, you get a bit long in the tooth for things sometimes, but it made a massive difference.
I stopped doing the yoga for a while and noticed the difference almost immediately in how I felt.
Q: What differences have you seen at Cardiff City over the last nine years?
KM: The club was ambitious when I arrived, but the training ground and stadium were poor and I wondered if I’d done the right thing. But the plans were there for the stadium and training ground, both of which are there now.
Things just needed to come together on the pitch and they did.
Q: You scored two goals for Cardiff, both in 2008. The first was a volley at Hereford in a 2-1 FA Cup win with the second against Barnsley during a 3-0 home win in the City’s last match before the cup final against Portsmouth at Wembley Stadium.
What do you remember about those?
KM: I had scored an own-goal in our first FA Cup tie during 2007-08 tie, at Chasetown. Then I scored from a volley against Hereford in the next round.
The Cardiff City players celebrate Kevin McNaughton's unforgettable goal at Hereford
Then I scored against Barnsley - and that shot was meant to be a cross!
I would have loved to score more and maybe should have gone for goal more, but I’m more than happy helping the team keep a clean sheet as long as we go on to win.
The highlights package of my goals will struggle to reach a minute!
Q: You won four senior caps for Scotland, although you were denied an international debut against France by former manager Berti Vogts when he said you were too nervous in 2002. What happened?
KM: I was told I would be playing. I’d never even kicked a ball. I’d had ONE training session.
The thing that annoyed me was I only found out I wasn’t playing in the game when I made a phone call home. It dumbfounded me that could happen at international level.
I still get nervous before games and in some ways I think that’s a good thing.
Just because you are nervous it doesn’t mean you are a bad player.
Re: " MALKY IS METICULOUS/BUT IT ALL PAID OFF "
Mon May 11, 2015 4:40 pm
I'll bet you 8.5million quid that if Malky could rewind the clock he'd do many things differently and would have kept his gob shut. 
Re: " MALKY IS METICULOUS/BUT IT ALL PAID OFF "
Mon May 11, 2015 4:41 pm
Sneggyblubird wrote:I'll bet you 8.5million quid that if Malky could rewind the clock he'd do many things differently and would have kept his gob shut.
On that I 100% agree
Re: " MALKY IS METICULOUS/BUT IT ALL PAID OFF "
Mon May 11, 2015 4:52 pm
Sneggyblubird wrote:I'll bet you 8.5million quid that if Malky could rewind the clock he'd do many things differently and would have kept his gob shut.
He won't admit cornflower was a flop still. His ego won't allow it.
Shame he didn't cross more t's and dot mire i's for Wigan.
Re: " MALKY IS METICULOUS/BUT IT ALL PAID OFF "
Mon May 11, 2015 4:54 pm
far better football under DJ 
Re: " MALKY IS METICULOUS/BUT IT ALL PAID OFF "
Mon May 11, 2015 5:52 pm
His dossiers for players turned out well.
Re: " MALKY IS METICULOUS/BUT IT ALL PAID OFF "
Mon May 11, 2015 6:21 pm
Great Championship buys, poor premiership buys and a few complete premiership disasters ..............
Re: " MALKY IS METICULOUS/BUT IT ALL PAID OFF "
Mon May 11, 2015 6:31 pm
Bluebina wrote:Great Championship buys, poor premiership buys and a few complete premiership disasters ..............
I have to say,I agree with some of that
Re: " MALKY IS METICULOUS/BUT IT ALL PAID OFF "
Mon May 11, 2015 9:41 pm
He got us promoted ,he always be a legend for that ,faults or no ,I guess his ego made him think he was indestructible .
I think he finished now ,sad
I think he finished now ,sad
Re: " MALKY IS METICULOUS/BUT IT ALL PAID OFF "
Mon May 11, 2015 10:02 pm
Does this mean there's absolutely zero chance of super kev training with us and earning a contract?
Re: " MALKY IS METICULOUS/BUT IT ALL PAID OFF "
Tue May 12, 2015 6:38 am
Pontypool_Bluebird wrote:Does this mean there's absolutely zero chance of super kev training with us and earning a contract?
I would say so.At his age and coming back from an injury like that i think a new challenge is best for him.I sure he's got at least 2 or 3 seasons left in him and will be a good signing for someone.I wish him and his family all the best.
Re: " MALKY IS METICULOUS/BUT IT ALL PAID OFF "
Tue May 12, 2015 6:53 am
Newport county would be his best thing to do if they wanted him ,he wants to stay in the area