' Pundits' U-turn on Cardiff City as Neil Warnock's '

Pundits' U-turn on Cardiff City as Neil Warnock's 'incredible' side now backed to stay up

"I kept writing them off, kept thinking Cardiff haven't got enough — but then they go and find results."



Tuesday 5th February 2019



Cardiff City were the side many pundits dismissed as relegation fodder at the start of the season.

But once again, after overcoming tragic circumstances, a far from ideal transfer window and securing a morale-boosting win over Bournemouth, the Bluebirds are confounding their critics.

They sit in the bottom three, though only two points from safety and well above 19th placed Fulham and rock bottom Huddersfield.

Neil Warnock and his team are now receiving well-deserved praise from pundits for the way they have handled the Emiliano Sala tragedy and their spirit that could see them stay up against all odds this season.








Here's what the pundits are now saying...



Jamie Redknapp

The Sky Sports pundit and Daily Mail columnist has led the glowing praise, particularly for Warnock, in the past week.

He said: "After such a tragic, emotional fortnight following the disappearance of Emiliano Sala, Cardiff's battling victory over Bournemouth was the performance of the season.

"It underlined the incredible job Neil Warnock has done at this club. I'm sure every neutral will be willing Cardiff to stay up."





Michael Brown

The former Manchester City and Fulham midfielder, speaking on the BBC Football Daily podcast joined in to offer the Bluebirds plaudits, as well as reveal why Warnock — a manager he played under at Sheffield United — would thrive in the relegation battle.

He said: "I kept writing them off, kept thinking Cardiff haven't got enough, but then they go and find results, they're very strong at home and they need to be.

"They've got a couple of good games coming up — it will maybe be a good time to play Everton — so they keep grinding out results. The gap now seven points to Fulham has surprised me.

"The motivation-side is where Warnock is brilliant. What's good is that they're still in touch. The adversity and the huge loss they've had... but that (Bournemouth) was a major result for them and he'll be saying 'come on boys, we can really do this' and keep the momentum going.

"He's old school and he's good in the dressing room, relaxing you or sometimes the opposite, the hair-dryer treatment. He knows how to work situations and he'll be trying to push those players.

"Let's be honest, with the squad they've got, to even be in touch at the moment is incredible."








Alan Shearer

The legendary Match Of The Day pundit was another who didn't shy away from lauding Warnock for the way the Cardiff boss has handled an emotional time at the club.

"They've dealt with that situation very well. Neil Warnock should be proud of himself and the football club for the way they have performed. To go out and put in the performance they did (against Bournemouth) must have been very tough."

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I don't really read into the complements or the negativity from pundits because it can all change with one result with them but we will never fit their narrative deep down because of the way we play and our activity in the market.. Burnley only get praise because Dyche is no nonsense and challenges the media and pundits in press conferences which then draws attention to them to give an opinion.. I used to like Gary Lineker but gone off him a bit I can understand having connections to clubs you previously played for or supported but you are on telly to be impartial and throw up debate for each side.

Lose 2-0 at Southampton and normal service will be resumed.

I just want Chris Sutton to eat his words, claiming we'd never get 11 points.

quite a few pundits who said we were relegation certs and useless etc will no doubt come out and say how well we played, and how we may now stay up.

most punditry is just mindless chatter to fill time. most don't take an overall, rounded view because they are asked to give controversial and interesting answers on a weekly basis, when much of the time nothing changes.

the same pundits who build you up, will in the blink of an eye say you were crap and they knew so all along. they simply have no shame.