Tue Feb 21, 2017 4:00 pm
Cardiff given new lease of life under Neil Warnock
Michael Jones
Cardiff City was languishing in 23rd place when Neil Warnock strolled through the doors at the Cardiff City Stadium. He was the appointment the fans craved – he brought fire, passion and confidence. The City faithful breathed a sigh of relief, as they knew Warnock would steer them clear of any trouble.
Well, he has done more than that. In a week that has seen three consecutive wins, 11 goals scored (including a 5-0 rout against Rotherham), and two major scalps away at Leeds United and Derby County, City is revitalised under Warnock.
Cardiff fans have been used to gloom and pessimism; the club witnessed a Premier League debut shatter in humiliation upon the Malky Mckay and Vincent Tan fiasco, with their team showing no gumption in the following years in the Championship. There was a discernible lack of fight, and commitment, in the Welsh capital.
It seemed that the club was going nowhere, resigned to accept its state as a Championship club.
However, Warnock has brought back ambition and determination. There are whispers of a late play-off surge (although they are 13 points adrift).
His men are playing with conviction and confidence – Warnock has rejuvenated a number of players who had fallen well below par. Craig Noone and Sean Morrison are perhaps the most pertinent examples: both players were simply trodding along at Cardiff, but Warnock has transformed them into the players they were, and now are.
The passion is back, both in the stands and on the pitch. The challenges are full of intent and the fans can see that. The fans know that the players are playing for them, and for their manager.
Warnock has cut through the dense fog of cliche and platitudes: he has set the line straight. Cardiff fans and players, more importantly, can see this. Warnock does not hide behind waffle and it has earned him a great deal of respect in Wales.
He is revered and there is an ongoing petition from the City faithful to hand him a permanent deal in the summer as there are sure to be a number of clubs, including Nottingham Forest, interested in getting him in.
Warnock has stated that he wants to take a club back to the Premier League one more time. He will stay at Cardiff if they reciprocate his ambitions. However, funds are low and the club is restricted by Financial Fair Play regulations.
But, Warnock’s power to transform his current crop of players into fighters, and winners, demonstrates his quality. The City board should give him money – as much as they can muster – because Warnock appears to be the man to take them back to the Premier League.
The City board can, at best, provide around a £10 million kitty. When one considers that Championship clubs are willing to spend that on one player alone, it appears an insignificant sum. But, with Warnock at the helm, it isn’t.
He can make it work; his graft and determination will make it work.
If the Cardiff hierarchy offers him the job – and they should – and give him a kitty to work with, then it will not be long until the City following will be entertaining the prospect of Premier League football once again.