" THE EFFECT NEIL WARNOCK HAS HAD ON CARDIFF CITY "

" NEIL WARNOCK "

By Ned Thomas


When Neil Warnock was appointed our manager back in October, we were second bottom in the league with just eight points from eleven games. We'd only won two league games, against Rotherham and Blackburn - two other teams struggling,


Fast forward to today, just over three months to the day since Warnock's first match in charge, and it shows the improvements that have already been made. In that time, we have picked up 22 points from his 14 games in charge. We are six points clear of the bottom three, and have a game in hand.

Over the last six matches, we're 8th in the form table.

We have to credit Warnock and his team for that turnaround, there's obviously been a massive improvement from the disastrous start to the season. The players must have more confidence now, and that comes from good management and coaching.

But let's not forget that we mustn't get carried away. Bristol City have now lost seven league games in a row. On paper, that was a match we should have been winning. Obviously it felt good due to it being a derby and the way the match was won. But it's arguably a match we were expected to win.

Warnock's mistakes can't be forgotten either. He seemed to change the game in our favour with his substitutions, which is great to see. But was that because he made mistakes with the starting line-up? Perhaps he was just correcting errors in the starting eleven.

But one of the best things that Warnock has brought to the club is the unity. Obviously it's easy to say stuff like this after a win, but this sort of togetherness hasn't been seen at our club for a while now. Great to see the players, coaching staff and supporters all together as one at the end of the game on Saturday.

It does seem that he has created a positive atmosphere around the club which has been missing for a while now.

We can hope that Vincent Tan backs him in the summer, because I can't see Warnock sticking around otherwise. He wants another promotion before he retired, or at least a shot at another promotion. Goes without saying that it won't be with us, unless key improvements can be made.

Safe to say that we won't be troubling the top eight this season, but I would say we're unlikely to go down now. That was his job when he was appointed, and hopefully he'll be able to push on with us next season when he's had a full pre-season at the club.

He's been a breath of fresh air, those results without Bamba for a few too!!!

I agree with most of this but you also have to give Warnock credit for winning games thst 'arguably we are ecpected to win'. Over the last few tears we have lost these more often than not. Take Preston and Leeds as examples this year. On both occasions we list when expecting to win against teams on losing streaks. It still takes skill to ensure that you win those games and Wigan apart he has done. You could quote Barnsley as well but they are no pushovers and the team on the pitch screwed up there.

Yes he did make mistakes with the starting 11 but I think it wonderful, even at his age, he's prepared to correct them.

No one can be expected to get it right every time but Warnock demonstrates a rare tactical understanding and fluidity of opinion which is really exciting. We haven't seen his ilk down here for a long time.

Under NW we have seen a remarkable upturn in both performances and results with the exception of clean sheets. In my opinion our inability to keep clean sheets was the main reason on Saturday he set the team up "Not to lose" rather to go all out for the win from the start.

In my opinion it doesn't matter if the changes he made on Saturday were forced on him or planned but no one can doubt that they inspired the City victory. It's that ability to read the game and make the important changes at the right time which makes NW one of the best managers around at this level and we are lucky to have him.

Already the points return he has achieved from 14 games would get you 72 points over a 46 game season, and that with a squad struggling to win a corner when he arrived, shows you how good a manager he is.

I believe VT will see this and will back him to develop the squad into making a real fist of it next season, and knowing NW he won't need £10m, just give him £2-3m and a reasonable wage budget and next season will be one hell of a ride.

and that with a squad struggling to win a corner when he arrived, shows you how good a manager he is.

Nicely put

I think NW is a perfect fit for city, and he's the man who can help rebuild the trust from the fans, get the fighting spirit back on and off the pitch, and like it's been said above, if he gets any sort of money to buy players, I'm looking forward to next season already!!

Surely if youre going to pinch other peoples work the least you can do is give credit to the author?

Surely if youre going to pinch other peoples work the least you can do is give credit to the author?

I agree, and I normally do. But wrote this one myself.

Under NW we have seen a remarkable upturn in both performances and results with the exception of clean sheets. In my opinion our inability to keep clean sheets was the main reason on Saturday he set the team up "Not to lose" rather to go all out for the win from the start.

In my opinion it doesn't matter if the changes he made on Saturday were forced on him or planned but no one can doubt that they inspired the City victory. It's that ability to read the game and make the important changes at the right time which makes NW one of the best managers around at this level and we are lucky to have him.

Already the points return he has achieved from 14 games would get you 72 points over a 46 game season, and that with a squad struggling to win a corner when he arrived, shows you how good a manager he is.

I believe VT will see this and will back him to develop the squad into making a real fist of it next season, and knowing NW he won't need £10m, just give him £2-3m and a reasonable wage budget and next season will be one hell of a ride.

He will get us clean sheets with, Manga & Bamba, he may have to wait for a fullback or two and keeper but they will definately come.

Surely if youre going to pinch other peoples work the least you can do is give credit to the author?

I agree, and I normally do. But wrote this one myself.

My apologies if that's the case it's just hard to tell on here.

Slowly but surely it does appear to be coming together and he deserves credit for picking the Squad up from where it was under Trollope. We need to kick on now though, Saturday is another must win for me with the six games that follow.

We play 4 of the top 7 away and Preston 9th and Norwich 11th at home.

and that with a squad struggling to win a corner when he arrived, shows you how good a manager he is.

Nicely put

I think NW is a perfect fit for city, and he's the man who can help rebuild the trust from the fans, get the fighting spirit back on and off the pitch, and like it's been said above, if he gets any sort of money to buy players, I'm looking forward to next season already!!

City fans should come back in there droves know we got the right man we should have had nw years ago

and that with a squad struggling to win a corner when he arrived, shows you how good a manager he is.

Nicely put

I think NW is a perfect fit for city, and he's the man who can help rebuild the trust from the fans, get the fighting spirit back on and off the pitch, and like it's been said above, if he gets any sort of money to buy players, I'm looking forward to next season already!!

City fans should come back in there droves know we got the right man we should have had nw years ago

The City fans that we have lost since the Premiership season won't come back in 'droves' until we are challenging again.

We are averaging 16,500 at the moment, that is pretty good by our standard to be fair.

To put an even more positive spin on it we have the 3rd highest average attendance out of the bottom 10 Clubs in the Division so in comparison to the teams around us our crowds are ok.

Enjoyed reading and Warnock has brought so much positivity to Cardiff City with his attitude, his comments and of course it's a results game and we are slowly getting there

The fans now have belief under Warnock