Neil Warnock says club need 'five or six' signings

Cardiff City: Neil Warnock says club need 'five or six' signings

Monday 7th May 2018

'Hey ho, it's better than the Championship!' - Cardiff boss Neil Warnock on PL promotion

Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock says the club need "five or six" summer signings after their promotion to the Premier League in order to stay up.

However, the record-breaking boss, who has achieved an eighth promotion, says he will not risk team spirit by signing "big-time Charlies".

"We want to stay up and to do that we have to be at the top end at the bottom half of the table," Warnock explained.

Warnock is also confident of keeping out of contract Aron Gunnarsson.

The Bluebirds secured promotion from the Championship with Sunday's 0-0 draw at home against Reading.

Bluebirds owner Vincent Tan has promised Warnock funds to improve his squad this summer, but the 69-year-old does not expect big money to spend, nor does he feel it is necessary, as he begins planning for the top flight.

"It's been a wonderful 24 hours for me and the family," he told BBC Sport Wales.

"It was such a relief… because we deserve to be where we are and now the planning for next season starts from today, really.

Neil Warnock receives a phone call from afar
"I've got to plan pre-season straight away and I've already got transfer targets that I have got to try and get permission from the board to try and sign.

"Vincent and the owners know I don't spend silly money, they are aware of that, but at the same time we do need five or six players to add to the squad to give us a chance really.

"I've got a great group of lads and I think most of them can play in the Premier League. And we need players to supplement that; we won't be signing any big name, big-time Charlies who will disrupt our spirit."

Warnock is hopeful keeping midfielder Gunnarsson whose contract expires at the end of June.

The 29-year-old, who joined Cardiff from Coventry in 2011, may have played his last game for the club after rejecting a new contract in November.

Gunnarsson is currently fighting to regain fitness for Iceland's first World Cup game against Argentina on 16 June and Warnock previously said he would be 'daft' to leave the Bluebirds if they were promoted.

Asked if the promotion would change the likelihood of keeping the Icelandic international, Warnock said: "Of course I can persuade him to stay. Where is he going to go that is better than us?

"Which manager is going to pick him? I told his wife at the player of the year do, 'he will have to come crawling to me now'.

"He didn't get in the team here before I arrived."

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Cardiff City: Neil Warnock says club need 'five or six' signings

Monday 7th May 2018

'Hey ho, it's better than the Championship!' - Cardiff boss Neil Warnock on PL promotion

Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock says the club need "five or six" summer signings after their promotion to the Premier League in order to stay up.

However, the record-breaking boss, who has achieved an eighth promotion, says he will not risk team spirit by signing "big-time Charlies".

"We want to stay up and to do that we have to be at the top end at the bottom half of the table," Warnock explained.

Warnock is also confident of keeping out of contract Aron Gunnarsson.

The Bluebirds secured promotion from the Championship with Sunday's 0-0 draw at home against Reading.

Bluebirds owner Vincent Tan has promised Warnock funds to improve his squad this summer, but the 69-year-old does not expect big money to spend, nor does he feel it is necessary, as he begins planning for the top flight.

"It's been a wonderful 24 hours for me and the family," he told BBC Sport Wales.

"It was such a relief… because we deserve to be where we are and now the planning for next season starts from today, really.

Neil Warnock receives a phone call from afar
"I've got to plan pre-season straight away and I've already got transfer targets that I have got to try and get permission from the board to try and sign.

"Vincent and the owners know I don't spend silly money, they are aware of that, but at the same time we do need five or six players to add to the squad to give us a chance really.

"I've got a great group of lads and I think most of them can play in the Premier League. And we need players to supplement that; we won't be signing any big name, big-time Charlies who will disrupt our spirit."

Warnock is hopeful keeping midfielder Gunnarsson whose contract expires at the end of June.

The 29-year-old, who joined Cardiff from Coventry in 2011, may have played his last game for the club after rejecting a new contract in November.

Gunnarsson is currently fighting to regain fitness for Iceland's first World Cup game against Argentina on 16 June and Warnock previously said he would be 'daft' to leave the Bluebirds if they were promoted.

Asked if the promotion would change the likelihood of keeping the Icelandic international, Warnock said: "Of course I can persuade him to stay. Where is he going to go that is better than us?

"Which manager is going to pick him? I told his wife at the player of the year do, 'he will have to come crawling to me now'.

"He didn't get in the team here before I arrived."

I think we will have and need more than six!!

Cardiff City: Neil Warnock says club need 'five or six' signings

Monday 7th May 2018

'Hey ho, it's better than the Championship!' - Cardiff boss Neil Warnock on PL promotion

Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock says the club need "five or six" summer signings after their promotion to the Premier League in order to stay up.

However, the record-breaking boss, who has achieved an eighth promotion, says he will not risk team spirit by signing "big-time Charlies".

"We want to stay up and to do that we have to be at the top end at the bottom half of the table," Warnock explained.

Warnock is also confident of keeping out of contract Aron Gunnarsson.

The Bluebirds secured promotion from the Championship with Sunday's 0-0 draw at home against Reading.

Bluebirds owner Vincent Tan has promised Warnock funds to improve his squad this summer, but the 69-year-old does not expect big money to spend, nor does he feel it is necessary, as he begins planning for the top flight.

"It's been a wonderful 24 hours for me and the family," he told BBC Sport Wales.

"It was such a relief… because we deserve to be where we are and now the planning for next season starts from today, really.

Neil Warnock receives a phone call from afar
"I've got to plan pre-season straight away and I've already got transfer targets that I have got to try and get permission from the board to try and sign.

"Vincent and the owners know I don't spend silly money, they are aware of that, but at the same time we do need five or six players to add to the squad to give us a chance really.

"I've got a great group of lads and I think most of them can play in the Premier League. And we need players to supplement that; we won't be signing any big name, big-time Charlies who will disrupt our spirit."

Warnock is hopeful keeping midfielder Gunnarsson whose contract expires at the end of June.

The 29-year-old, who joined Cardiff from Coventry in 2011, may have played his last game for the club after rejecting a new contract in November.

Gunnarsson is currently fighting to regain fitness for Iceland's first World Cup game against Argentina on 16 June and Warnock previously said he would be 'daft' to leave the Bluebirds if they were promoted.

Asked if the promotion would change the likelihood of keeping the Icelandic international, Warnock said: "Of course I can persuade him to stay. Where is he going to go that is better than us?

"Which manager is going to pick him? I told his wife at the player of the year do, 'he will have to come crawling to me now'.

"He didn't get in the team here before I arrived."

I think we will have and need more than six!!

I agree. 8-10 for me

Joe Allen, Rambo, Bale and Messi I have heard.

Waiting on the other 2 suggestions.

Joe Allen, Rambo, Bale and Messi I have heard.

Waiting on the other 2 suggestions.

Neymar & dembella

Can't fault the current squad for the drive and commitment shown in getting us back in the Prem. However, he is right in that we do need at the very least 3-4 signings for the starting XI to have a chance of staying up.

Etheridge, Morrison, Manga, Paterson, Ralls, Gunnarsson (if he renews his contract) and Hoilett are the players who I would pick to continue in the starting XI next year.

IMO Warnock will definitely need to sign key players in following positions:

1. A Left Back to replace Joe Bennet who has given his all this season but I do not think is cut out to start in the Prem.
2. A Right Back who plays there as their natural position. Manga isn't completely competent at RB and Paterson looks like he is more comfortable in midfield.
3. A Centre-mid who is able to be creative in the middle of the park. Assuming Gunnars signs a new contract, we can continue to utilise him as a holding midfielder with either Paterson/Ralls putting balls into the box and playing it out further wide like they have done this season. We are missing someone who is good with the ball at their feet and can play some creative football.
4. A Striker - most importantly. Zahore is a strong centre forward but is pretty inconsistent and will find himself up against players as strong as him in the Prem. I hope we look to get someone with a lot of experience who has done this before and not take a gamble on an unknown.

The biggest challenge will be starting to move away from the physical football we have played this year because it is not going to fly in the Prem where the standard is that much higher. Looking forward to seeing who we get connected with in the transfer window - roll on silly season!

Etheridge
Bamba
Morrison
Ralls
Paterson
Hoilett
Are the only ones I'd keep for the first 11. Zohore is quality but is inconsistent

I think it will be more than 6. I reckon we need between 7-10, with so many fringe players leaving such as Camp, Connolly, Traore, Damour, Halford, Harris, Feeney, Bryson, Grujic, Jamie Ward, Wildshcut, Gounongbe, Pilkington, Tomlin, Bogle, Healey, and maybe even Madine or Danny Ward on loan I dunno. That's 14-17 players leaving in the summer.

Joe Bennett is defo cut out for the premier league!

I personally think we will need at least 8 new quality players

Joe Bennett is defo cut out for the premier league!

Totally agree. Bennett deserves his opportunity and in my opinion he has been one of the most consistent and top performers this season. Got caught out once against Reading but has put in some good performances this season.

I would have put him behind Hoilett, Morrison & Bamba in player of the season but in the same category as Ralls, Etheridge & Paterson.

Bennett can absolutely cut it in the Premiership. In fact, he’d be one of the first names on the team sheet for me.

Warnock will sign more than 6 players. I suspect he’s making comments like this to stop agents and clubs thinking we are out to spend silly money on just about anyone.

There are priorities right across the park, but we definitely need a new striker. Probably two, if I’m honest. One needs to be a proven player who has scored in the double figures in the Premier League, the other can be a quality player who maybe hasn’t had an opportunity at that level yet, or is from abroad. We simply can’t go into this league lacking a goal scorer yet again, after what happened last time. Hell, we’ve gone about five years now without a proven goalscorer at the level we were/are playing at!

Imo Bennett will get his chance but I can see us going back in for Cunningham at Preston?

He is a big lad who plays at left back or centre back and is a NW type of player.

Imo Bennett will get his chance but I can see us going back in for Cunningham at Preston?

He is a big lad who plays at left back or centre back and is a NW type of player.

If he’s got pace as well, then yes, sign him.

I think it will be more than 6. I reckon we need between 7-10, with so many fringe players leaving such as Camp, Connolly, Traore, Damour, Halford, Harris, Feeney, Bryson, Grujic, Jamie Ward, Wildshcut, Gounongbe, Pilkington, Tomlin, Bogle, Healey, and maybe even Madine or Danny Ward on loan I dunno. That's 14-17 players leaving in the summer.

I agree with this. I pray he don't keep the likes of Harris,ward,Healey and co.

Jerome if (when) Derby fail.

I think it will be more than 6. I reckon we need between 7-10, with so many fringe players leaving such as Camp, Connolly, Traore, Damour, Halford, Harris, Feeney, Bryson, Grujic, Jamie Ward, Wildshcut, Gounongbe, Pilkington, Tomlin, Bogle, Healey, and maybe even Madine or Danny Ward on loan I dunno. That's 14-17 players leaving in the summer.

I agree with this. I pray he don't keep the likes of Harris,ward,Healey and co.

I think Kadeem Harris signed a 2 year deal so now would be the time to sell him and get a fee. Healy doesn't seem up to it either sadly. I disagree about Ward though, I think you need that kind of worker in the squad, he seemed to have an eye for goal for us as well.

Bennet is good enough for the top flight.
The back 4 should be untouched, especially on a tight budget

Jerome if (when) Derby fail.

No he's one of those players who goes between championship and premiership teams without doing anything! there are several players have rotated between both leagues for past 4 or 5 seasons just on previous reputation

Just hope to feck we don't end up with a pile of has beens!! Crouch springs to mind.

Just hope to feck we don't end up with a pile of has beens!! Crouch springs to mind.

Agree we need better than that.

Bennett would be first choice but you need two for every position in the Prem, you can't get away with it like you can in the championship. Bennett could break a leg the day after the transfer window closes, we need back up.

Adel hernadez from hull and fredericks from fulham if they dont go up i think they be good additions to squad

From what we have seen this season we are desperate for a goalscorer. But who would fit this bill ? May have to go abroad for a striker.

Deck, Marriott, Honeyman, Fredricks, Lee Grant and Yaya Toure (come on Bamba have a word) Rondon. 7 for me. I think raiding relegated clubs and top of League one has to be priority Incase we are relegated. It’s about building stability now, the last thing the club needs is foreign, untried and tested- we went for that last time.