CITY BENEFITTING FROM ULTIMATE CHAMPIONSHIP MANAGER

IN Neil Warnock Cardiff City are benefitting from the ultimate Championship manager
Dan Gravesby


A year is a long time in football, but not even the most optimistic Cardiff fan would have predicted where they are now.

One year ago, Cardiff City were a laughing stock.

Fans had had enough, the owner showed no interest, the football was atrocious, the Paul Trollope experiment had failed and the last man with any success was Malky Mackay, who’s fall out with the club is emblematic of Cardiff City as a bigger soap opera than Casualty.

But, at least they were back in blue!

For all his success in the Football League, Neil Warnock has not often been liked or admired, but he’s one of the best Championship managers around.

This is often because of his acid tongue, with disputes ranging calling El Hadji Diouf a sewer rat to a ruckus with Sean Bean at Bramall Lane. One of the best reads on the internet is the list of his disputes on his Wikipedia page, for the originality, variety and sheer volume.

For the surprise of many, including Neil’s wife, Cardiff fans were desperate for Warnock to come and stabilise the club.

At the time, many fans would have happily given him the money for the toll on the Severn Crossing.


The Championship Expert

His critics will always point out his failures in the Premier League, but the 68-year-old is a master at this level. Getting both Sheffield United and QPR promoted to the Premier League (and managing both without the assistance of parachute payments) is no small feat.

With seven managerial promotions and miraculously keeping Rotherham United up in 2016, it was hard not to see Warnock as the ideal man to turn around Cardiff City’s fortunes.

Taking over a side 23rd in the table with two wins from eleven is a difficult situation, and with the constant chaos surrounding the Welsh club, many were predicting that this situation would be too difficult for Warnock.

Yet, he managed to turn the team around, picking up seven wins from 10 in the New Year to guide the Bluebirds to 12th in the final Championship table.


Ultimate man-manager

Warnock’s critics will always point out his tactical deficiencies, but the way he motivates his players is second to none.

Most noticeably, the transformation of Kenneth Zahore from surplus to requirements to indispensable, for scoring 12 goals by the end of the season.

Cardiff fans would have scoffed on their Caroline Street chips and Curry Sauce at the idea of Hull City offering £10 million for the Dane.


Promotion #8

Five games into the 2017/18 season, things are looking rosy for Cardiff City after winning all five of their matches thus far, with an endless queue of pundits, players and fans alike praising the turnaround.

Whether this season ends with promotion number eight for Warnock remains to be seen.

However, if there is one man with a proven track record of getting underdogs promoted, it is a certain man from South Yorkshire.

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The right man at the right time for Cardiff City FC, it's owner and (best of all) its fans!

Has brought a positive atmosphere back to a dwindling club improved the playing side beyond recognition, contained the owner to some extent and got the fans well on board as we move forward!

The right man at the right time for Cardiff City FC, it's owner and (best of all) its fans!

Has brought a positive atmosphere back to a dwindling club improved the playing side beyond recognition, contained the owner to some extent and got the fans well on board as we move forward!

Class act, I never understand, why teams don't all know the Manager is the most important decision, taking a gamble on Ole cost us a fortune and set us back years !!!!

IN Neil Warnock Cardiff City are benefitting from the ultimate Championship manager
Dan Gravesby


A year is a long time in football, but not even the most optimistic Cardiff fan would have predicted where they are now.

One year ago, Cardiff City were a laughing stock.

Fans had had enough, the owner showed no interest, the football was atrocious, the Paul Trollope experiment had failed and the last man with any success was Malky Mackay, who’s fall out with the club is emblematic of Cardiff City as a bigger soap opera than Casualty.

But, at least they were back in blue!

For all his success in the Football League, Neil Warnock has not often been liked or admired, but he’s one of the best Championship managers around.

This is often because of his acid tongue, with disputes ranging calling El Hadji Diouf a sewer rat to a ruckus with Sean Bean at Bramall Lane. One of the best reads on the internet is the list of his disputes on his Wikipedia page, for the originality, variety and sheer volume.

For the surprise of many, including Neil’s wife, Cardiff fans were desperate for Warnock to come and stabilise the club.

At the time, many fans would have happily given him the money for the toll on the Severn Crossing.


The Championship Expert

His critics will always point out his failures in the Premier League, but the 68-year-old is a master at this level. Getting both Sheffield United and QPR promoted to the Premier League (and managing both without the assistance of parachute payments) is no small feat.

With seven managerial promotions and miraculously keeping Rotherham United up in 2016, it was hard not to see Warnock as the ideal man to turn around Cardiff City’s fortunes.

Taking over a side 23rd in the table with two wins from eleven is a difficult situation, and with the constant chaos surrounding the Welsh club, many were predicting that this situation would be too difficult for Warnock.

Yet, he managed to turn the team around, picking up seven wins from 10 in the New Year to guide the Bluebirds to 12th in the final Championship table.


Ultimate man-manager

Warnock’s critics will always point out his tactical deficiencies, but the way he motivates his players is second to none.

Most noticeably, the transformation of Kenneth Zahore from surplus to requirements to indispensable, for scoring 12 goals by the end of the season.

Cardiff fans would have scoffed on their Caroline Street chips and Curry Sauce at the idea of Hull City offering £10 million for the Dane.


Promotion #8

Five games into the 2017/18 season, things are looking rosy for Cardiff City after winning all five of their matches thus far, with an endless queue of pundits, players and fans alike praising the turnaround.

Whether this season ends with promotion number eight for Warnock remains to be seen.

However, if there is one man with a proven track record of getting underdogs promoted, it is a certain man from South Yorkshire.

Not quite sure what these tactical deficiencies are, as what I've seen is a manager who is extremely detailed when it comes to playing the opposition.

Take Bamba man-marking Grealish at home last year. Or, this season, Damour man-marking Glenn Whelan, and the way Ralls, Gunnarsson and Damour pressed Wolves' midfield (specifically Neves).

The way he gets his full-backs pressing and following their man too, no matter how far inside they come and the gap that it leaves, with the wingers covering, tracking back and following their man every single time without fail, is a tactic I've actually never seen used to this degree. It screams of detail, planning and practice. Not of a manager who is tactically inept.

The general point of the article though is right, Warnock really has performed miracles at our club.

Also... I get that about 50% of your every day forum poster can spell Zohore "Zahore" and it doesn't matter. But I really wish when it's a proper article, they would get it right.

Agree and 23 other Championship managers wish they had his 'tactical' record at this point!