" Admits he struggled to get out of bed for FA Cup tie "

Sunday 8th January 2016

BBC

By Dafydd Pritchard

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Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock says he "struggled to get out of bed" for their FA Cup third-round defeat by Fulham.

Only 5,199 watched Cardiff lose 2-1 at home in a third-round televised tie which kicked off at 11:30 GMT.

Warnock made five changes to his team and lamented the sparse crowd as a sign of the FA Cup's declining status.

"I don't think it's just the 11:30 kick-off, it's the FA Cup in general," he said.

"When you look back to last week's game against Villa - 20,000 and the atmosphere and the way we played - it's almost a backward step.

"I struggled to get out of bed and I must admit I wasn't really excited at the prospect of playing the side I'd got to play in the FA Cup. I knew the crowd would be low and I just hoped the fans would be alright with me, and they have been."

The Bluebirds boss admitted Cardiff's Championship fixtures took priority but says the competition struggles to attract much incentive from some Premier League teams.

Top-flight Bournemouth made 11 changes for their 3-0 defeat at Millwall, while Liverpool made 10 changes against Plymouth and Tottenham made nine for their match against Aston Villa.

"It's just how it is at the minute. People have other priorities, which is sad," he said.

"That [the crowd] is a thousand more than I expected when I saw the kick-off.

"Until they make it a Champions League place if they win the FA Cup, you're going to get that with all the bottom half of the Premier League teams."

Warnock says such decisions are an example of the FA Cup's standing among clubs who fear relegation struggles that could harm finances in the long-term.

"The money that's around is quite immoral at times, and the FA Cup unfortunately takes a backseat," said Warnock.

Cardiff are 19th in the Championship table and not yet safe from relegation, prompting Warnock to rest several first-team players against Fulham.

Having led Sheffield United to the FA Cup semi-finals in 2003, the 68-year-old has experienced success in the competition.

With an important Championship fixture away at rivals Bristol City on Saturday. 15 January to prepare for, Warnock felt he had to make sacrifices against Fulham.

"It went pretty as much as I expected it to be really, if that's being a little bit negative," he added.

"I think it's a sad aspect when you play a weakened team like I have.

"The FA Cup's a great competition, but there are other priorities. Our club can't afford to go down.

"Bristol City on the horizon is a vitally important game.

"Maybe a couple of players I rested could have played, but I didn't think it was worth the gamble."

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neil warnock being very honest league is 1st priority expect a different city v wurzels next week

neil warnock being very honest league is 1st priority expect a different city v wurzels next week

Spot on. I would have taken a win but not that bothered by the defeat if I'm honest. As you said we have bigger fish to fry starting with the Wurzels

Thought that quote must have come form Emyr Huws.

So did 7 other players have trouble doing same!

He doesn't seem to have confidence in many that played today. His new signing was complete pants in fact he was garbage.

Whatever way you dress it up his comments are completely unprofessional and an insult to all those that did turn up.

He's a highly paid manager and they are highly paid players, you have people on low wages paying to watch that crap and he comes out and says 'he struggled to get out of bed' and 'wasn't really excited by the prospect of the game'.

I'm sure lots of our fans will 'struggle to get out of bed' for Burton at home or 'not be very excited at the prospect of Preston'.

Maybe they will keep their money in their pockets, serious to god, how damaging are comment's like that? How on earth can you expect floating fans to turn up when the Manger can't be bothered, Cup Game or not.

Whatever way you dress it up his comments are completely unprofessional and an insult to all those that did turn up.

He's a highly paid manager and they are highly paid players, you have people on low wages paying to watch that crap and he comes out and says 'he struggled to get out of bed' and 'wasn't really excited by the prospect of the game'.

And yet the clapping monkeys think this is great and love his "Honesty".

Wether he felt like that or not he shouldn't have said it publicly.

Whatever way you dress it up his comments are completely unprofessional and an insult to all those that did turn up.

He's a highly paid manager and they are highly paid players, you have people on low wages paying to watch that crap and he comes out and says 'he struggled to get out of bed' and 'wasn't really excited by the prospect of the game'.

And yet the clapping monkeys think this is great and love his "Honesty".

Wether he felt like that or not he shouldn't have said it publicly.

Exactly mate, I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks it

Whatever way you dress it up his comments are completely unprofessional and an insult to all those that did turn up.

He's a highly paid manager and they are highly paid players, you have people on low wages paying to watch that crap and he comes out and says 'he struggled to get out of bed' and 'wasn't really excited by the prospect of the game'.

And yet the clapping monkeys think this is great and love his "Honesty".

Wether he felt like that or not he shouldn't have said it publicly.

Exactly mate, I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks it

I couldnt stand Slade but can you imagine if he said that after the game?!!

Whatever way you dress it up his comments are completely unprofessional and an insult to all those that did turn up.

He's a highly paid manager and they are highly paid players, you have people on low wages paying to watch that crap and he comes out and says 'he struggled to get out of bed' and 'wasn't really excited by the prospect of the game'.

And yet the clapping monkeys think this is great and love his "Honesty".

Wether he felt like that or not he shouldn't have said it publicly.

Exactly mate, I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks it

I couldnt stand Slade but can you imagine if he said that after the game?!!

25 page thread, complete meltdown nailed on lol

Whatever way you dress it up his comments are completely unprofessional and an insult to all those that did turn up.

He's a highly paid manager and they are highly paid players, you have people on low wages paying to watch that crap and he comes out and says 'he struggled to get out of bed' and 'wasn't really excited by the prospect of the game'.

And yet the clapping monkeys think this is great and love his "Honesty".

Wether he felt like that or not he shouldn't have said it publicly.

Exactly mate, I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks it

I couldnt stand Slade but can you imagine if he said that after the game?!!

25 page thread, complete meltdown nailed on lol

SLADE OUT!

I was one of the ones that did bother to get out of bed this morning and I feel insulted that the manager of my club didn't feel the same i don't feel like getting up at 5 tomorrow morning but it's my job and I'm sure I don't get paid as much as Mr warnock

Whatever way you dress it up his comments are completely unprofessional and an insult to all those that did turn up.

He's a highly paid manager and they are highly paid players, you have people on low wages paying to watch that crap and he comes out and says 'he struggled to get out of bed' and 'wasn't really excited by the prospect of the game'.

And yet the clapping monkeys think this is great and love his "Honesty".

Wether he felt like that or not he shouldn't have said it publicly.

I have to agree Warnock shouldn't of said that but....at least he's honest.

So did 7 other players have trouble doing same!

We could tell Neil

He doesn't seem to have confidence in many that played today. His new signing was complete pants in fact he was garbage.

Homeless people eat garbage so garbage is useful in this case

Halford wasn't

Big fan of Warnock and his honesty. You can't deny he is the right man for us at this moment and the manager we've been crying out for.

But, for me, he shouldn't have said this. I don't think he was interested in what happened today. More interested in the league, which is fair enough but he shouldn't have made these thoughts public.

In a way it is disrespecting the fans who bothered to attend the match.

Whatever way you dress it up his comments are completely unprofessional and an insult to all those that did turn up.

He's a highly paid manager and they are highly paid players, you have people on low wages paying to watch that crap and he comes out and says 'he struggled to get out of bed' and 'wasn't really excited by the prospect of the game'.

I have to agree with this mate.

I'm a fan of warnock and he shouldn't have those comments I did post on the board earlier in the week that he was honest to say he was putting a weakened team to be fair I wasn't happy with that I think we should have put a strong team out towin the tie and try and build on what we did against villa and hopefully get a big name in the next round to give a the fans something to look forward to

I'm seriously bothered by the performance and result. Looks like all the players took the cue from Warnock that it wasn't important. We needed a good Cup run to boost our season.
Also, it shows how weak our squad is and that manager and coaches can get it disastrously wrong tactically.
Two wingers could've pinned back Fredericks and Sessegnon, who were their main threats. We ended up with five at the back and none of them pushing forward at all, except Bennett in the last ten minutes when we changed to a kind of 4-4-2.

Whatever way you dress it up his comments are completely unprofessional and an insult to all those that did turn up.

He's a highly paid manager and they are highly paid players, you have people on low wages paying to watch that crap and he comes out and says 'he struggled to get out of bed' and 'wasn't really excited by the prospect of the game'.

I have to agree with this mate.

I third that. I'm a Warnock fan but he seems immune to criticism. Imagine slade said that, holy shit.

Whatever way you dress it up his comments are completely unprofessional and an insult to all those that did turn up.

He's a highly paid manager and they are highly paid players, you have people on low wages paying to watch that crap and he comes out and says 'he struggled to get out of bed' and 'wasn't really excited by the prospect of the game'.

And yet the clapping monkeys think this is great and love his "Honesty".

Wether he felt like that or not he shouldn't have said it publicly.

I have to agree Warnock shouldn't of said that but....at least he's honest.

Dammed if he's honest dammed if he is not just about sums it up. I'm disappointed at the loss but I take NW's words as he has bigger fish to fry and I completely agree. Beat the Wurzel's Saturday and he can lie all day long as far as I'm concerned.

I'm seriously bothered by the performance and result. Looks like all the players took the cue from Warnock that it wasn't important. We needed a good Cup run to boost our season.
Also, it shows how weak our squad is and that manager and coaches can get it disastrously wrong tactically.
Two wingers could've pinned back Fredericks and Sessegnon, who were their main threats. We ended up with five at the back and none of them pushing forward at all, except Bennett in the last ten minutes when we changed to a kind of 4-4-2.

Lat season when we got knocked Out by Shewsbury like you I was furious and bothered by the result when we had great opportunity to go on a cup run get some big money and give fans something to look forward to losing to fulham has repeated what happened last season we never seem to want to take an opportunity

Well I did get out of bed and make the effort to go to the game but, after NW apologised in advance for the team he was going to play, I had little hope or expectation of a City win.

I did however expect the team to show "Desire" for the game and but for a few exceptions, Bamba, Ralls, Murphy and Morrison, the rest pretty much looked to be in the same mindset as NW, and looked like they wanted to be back home tucked up in bed. In fairness to Noone and O'Keefe when they came on they did show some energy.

I don't blame NW for yesterday, or for his comments and the result doesn't bother me BUT, if we are looking for honesty, someone take Rickie Lambert to one side a tell him he no longer has what it takes to earn a living as a professional footballer at this level.

Now that's the type of honesty we need.