24 hours on

Big decisions for the club hierarchy.

I believe the clubs plan for this season has followed its path. Buy top end young or prime championship players and premier league quality loans and see if we can get 17th. This has come short but that was always the likelihood.

The question for me was this a one year plan or was it part of a two/three year plan and if so what is it.

For all of Neils experience we'll soon be his third longest stint (sheff u 388, Notts county 209 & Palace 129) he has manged us for 125 games.
Does his abrasive style or obvious favourites lose dressing rooms ?
Do we have enough money to bring in fresh faces to replace those he has lost ?
Is his football philosophy only suited to the EFL and not the elite level?
Is there enough in the squad to bounce back straight away.


My opinion is we'll be in the championship with money and Neil has the blueprint even though the game is changing. We'll need to acquire midfielders who can hold on the ball and at least one dead ball specialists as our set plays have been Sunday league stuff.

I hope he stays, but won't be too disappointed if he leaves. But i will be petrified who we choose t replace him.

Big decisions for the club hierarchy.

I believe the clubs plan for this season has followed its path. Buy top end young or prime championship players and premier league quality loans and see if we can get 17th. This has come short but that was always the likelihood.

The question for me was this a one year plan or was it part of a two/three year plan and if so what is it.

For all of Neils experience we'll soon be his third longest stint (sheff u 388, Notts county 209 & Palace 129) he has manged us for 125 games.
Does his abrasive style or obvious favourites lose dressing rooms ?
Do we have enough money to bring in fresh faces to replace those he has lost ?
Is his football philosophy only suited to the EFL and not the elite level?
Is there enough in the squad to bounce back straight away.


My opinion is we'll be in the championship with money and Neil has the blueprint even though the game is changing. We'll need to acquire midfielders who can hold on the ball and at least one dead ball specialists as our set plays have been Sunday league stuff.

I hope he stays, but won't be too disappointed if he leaves. But i will be petrified who we choose t replace him.

Its quite a dilema for club whilst he may be best manager to get us out championship think this season as shown his weaknesses when it comes to player and tactic choices? So will players that are excellent championship standard like Reid whos been overlooked despite being sighned by him want to stay? I believe NW as very limited life span and maybe its time to go different path to get best out of players like Reid murphy ect ect. As said before yes nw best to get us out championship but then what same style same tactics as this season because he wont change thats for sure and do we want that as fans?...

Interesting post,,, and on a topic I myself and I’m sure many others are pondering at this moment? First of all, my main concern is with your first concern,,, the “hierarchy”... What exactly is the plan of action and long term objectives for our club?

Very good OT.
I said something similar yesterday on the "Warnock please leave" thread, but you have summed up the issues far better.
I also think Neil Warrnock himself should give it serious thought as to what is best for him. At present the vast majority of fans recognise that he has, on balance, done a fine job even if we go down.
It is quite possible that we do not get off to a good start next year. Suddenly there will be a lot of fans questioning him and saying he is too old. Then the hierarchy really would be under pressure.
One other point you make is about his favourites.

Sol Bamba be will be 35. I like Sol but I think bringing in Bruno (only because of injury) at centre half improved our defence considerably. Would we have secured more points had the manager identified and acted on this ear!er?
Junior Hoillet has been picked irrespective of form and despite a lack of pace, whereas NML was not picked for a long time. He sacrificed or hardly ever tried pace down both wings. i don't accept that JH is much better in assisting in defence duties. JH is technically very skilled but he isn't getting any quicker and won't be improving. Should we have used more pace in counter attacking would it have brought more success?
Did he persevere with Patterson upfront for far too long?
Have we underused some players E.g. Reid and NML?
Did basically saying we had no chance against the top 6 teams help us taking the pressure off? Or should we only have said this for the top 2?
It turned out to be a self fulfilling prophesy!
It's a game of opinions but such questions will be voiced far more loudly if things don't go well next year!
I must say 24 hours later, and after the Brighton game I feel more annoyed that we weren't more positive against Fulham. I was at the home match and came away thinking how well we played and with pace. If memory serves had Murphy and Reid playing and both did well. (I have a feeling that Harris played a part as well.). we scored 4. We did the opposite for 80 mins yesterday!
Anyway I agree that NW deserves another season if he wants it. I f he does then I will be 100% hoping things go well and that we have a plan for the longer term.

Very good OT.
I said something similar yesterday on the "Warnock please leave" thread, but you have summed up the issues far better.
I also think Neil Warrnock himself should give it serious thought as to what is best for him. At present the vast majority of fans recognise that he has, on balance, done a fine job even if we go down.
It is quite possible that we do not get off to a good start next year. Suddenly there will be a lot of fans questioning him and saying he is too old. Then the hierarchy really would be under pressure.
One other point you make is about his favourites.

Sol Bamba be will be 35. I like Sol but I think bringing in Bruno (only because of injury) at centre half improved our defence considerably. Would we have secured more points had the manager identified and acted on this ear!er?
Junior Hoillet has been picked irrespective of form and despite a lack of pace, whereas NML was not picked for a long time. He sacrificed or hardly ever tried pace down both wings. i don't accept that JH is much better in assisting in defence duties. JH is technically very skilled but he isn't getting any quicker and won't be improving. Should we have used more pace in counter attacking would it have brought more success?
Did he persevere with Patterson upfront for far too long?
Have we underused some players E.g. Reid and NML?
Did basically saying we had no chance against the top 6 teams help us taking the pressure off? Or should we only have said this for the top 2?
It turned out to be a self fulfilling prophesy!
It's a game of opinions but such questions will be voiced far more loudly if things don't go well next year!
I must say 24 hours later, and after the Brighton game I feel more annoyed that we weren't more positive against Fulham. I was at the home match and came away thinking how well we played and with pace. If memory serves had Murphy and Reid playing and both did well. (I have a feeling that Harris played a part as well.). we scored 4. We did the opposite for 80 mins yesterday!
Anyway I agree that NW deserves another season if he wants it. I f he does then I will be 100% hoping things go well and that we have a plan for the longer term.

Well said.

The main positive for me this is season is that I really feel for the first time that the City of Cardiff / South Wales generally, the club itself and the supporters are ready to embrace a prolonged place in the top flight. Being ready for it, doesn't get you there. Its a big step in the right direction but you have to earn it on the field. Looking forward to next season already wherever we're playing.

This is a really good discussion thread tbh. Id like to know what the club wants in regards to signings going forward and in terms of what we're looking to do long term, as I said in another thread this team is ageing a bit now and would be nice to see a few players below the age of 24 who can be the future of this club. I've always liked to see youth players given an opportunity and hope they are but there are players out there like Jarrod Bowen, Neal Maupay, Ollie Watkins, Che Adams who we could buy. And if we had a decent scouting/transfer policy we'd hopefully be able to identify quality youngsters from top 2 Spanish and German leagues. Even the Danish league seems to have worked wonders for Huddersfield and Brentford. Unfortunately we very rarely go anywhere outside of England and Scotland where players cost a premium.

Big decisions for the club hierarchy.

I believe the clubs plan for this season has followed its path. Buy top end young or prime championship players and premier league quality loans and see if we can get 17th. This has come short but that was always the likelihood.

The question for me was this a one year plan or was it part of a two/three year plan and if so what is it.

For all of Neils experience we'll soon be his third longest stint (sheff u 388, Notts county 209 & Palace 129) he has manged us for 125 games.
Does his abrasive style or obvious favourites lose dressing rooms ?
Do we have enough money to bring in fresh faces to replace those he has lost ?
Is his football philosophy only suited to the EFL and not the elite level?
Is there enough in the squad to bounce back straight away.


My opinion is we'll be in the championship with money and Neil has the blueprint even though the game is changing. We'll need to acquire midfielders who can hold on the ball and at least one dead ball specialists as our set plays have been Sunday league stuff.

I hope he stays, but won't be too disappointed if he leaves. But i will be petrified who we choose t replace him.

Its quite a dilema for club whilst he may be best manager to get us out championship think this season as shown his weaknesses when it comes to player and tactic choices? So will players that are excellent championship standard like Reid whos been overlooked despite being sighned by him want to stay? I believe NW as very limited life span and maybe its time to go different path to get best out of players like Reid murphy ect ect. As said before yes nw best to get us out championship but then what same style same tactics as this season because he wont change thats for sure and do we want that as fans?...

sorry but achieving 31 points with this squad means his tactics and team selections was our/his biggest strength..

we are not liverpool or man city..and real madrid are not in for ralls and pelts this summer..or do you think premier league clubs will be chasing a raft of our under achieving players ?

your post is really not doing our manager justice Allan..

Big decisions for the club hierarchy.

I believe the clubs plan for this season has followed its path. Buy top end young or prime championship players and premier league quality loans and see if we can get 17th. This has come short but that was always the likelihood.

The question for me was this a one year plan or was it part of a two/three year plan and if so what is it.

For all of Neils experience we'll soon be his third longest stint (sheff u 388, Notts county 209 & Palace 129) he has manged us for 125 games.
Does his abrasive style or obvious favourites lose dressing rooms ?
Do we have enough money to bring in fresh faces to replace those he has lost ?
Is his football philosophy only suited to the EFL and not the elite level?
Is there enough in the squad to bounce back straight away.


My opinion is we'll be in the championship with money and Neil has the blueprint even though the game is changing. We'll need to acquire midfielders who can hold on the ball and at least one dead ball specialists as our set plays have been Sunday league stuff.

I hope he stays, but won't be too disappointed if he leaves. But i will be petrified who we choose t replace him.

Its quite a dilema for club whilst he may be best manager to get us out championship think this season as shown his weaknesses when it comes to player and tactic choices? So will players that are excellent championship standard like Reid whos been overlooked despite being sighned by him want to stay? I believe NW as very limited life span and maybe its time to go different path to get best out of players like Reid murphy ect ect. As said before yes nw best to get us out championship but then what same style same tactics as this season because he wont change thats for sure and do we want that as fans?...

sorry but achieving 31 points with this squad means his tactics and team selections was our/his biggest strength..

we are not liverpool or man city..and real madrid are not in for ralls and pelts this summer..or do you think premier league clubs will be chasing a raft of our under achieving players ?

your post is really not doing our manager justice Allan..

Maybe not doing him justice yes hes done wonders to get us this far cannot help thinking that his stubborn way with playing Patterson every game when wasn't working did same with niasse and the countless times he only used subs after 80 mins swapping like for like so not doing anything to change games as cost us point's .... yesterday classic example played same way as previous 35 games when it was crying out for more adventurous game against worst defence in league result same as most games waited until we conceded then puts on 2 subs that this time was not like for like it changed game hey presto more shots and efforts on goal than Fulham despite only having 27% possession all in last 10 mins ... will still think same if by miracle we win next 2 games

Big decisions for the club hierarchy.

I believe the clubs plan for this season has followed its path. Buy top end young or prime championship players and premier league quality loans and see if we can get 17th. This has come short but that was always the likelihood.

The question for me was this a one year plan or was it part of a two/three year plan and if so what is it.

For all of Neils experience we'll soon be his third longest stint (sheff u 388, Notts county 209 & Palace 129) he has manged us for 125 games.
Does his abrasive style or obvious favourites lose dressing rooms ?
Do we have enough money to bring in fresh faces to replace those he has lost ?
Is his football philosophy only suited to the EFL and not the elite level?
Is there enough in the squad to bounce back straight away.


My opinion is we'll be in the championship with money and Neil has the blueprint even though the game is changing. We'll need to acquire midfielders who can hold on the ball and at least one dead ball specialists as our set plays have been Sunday league stuff.

I hope he stays, but won't be too disappointed if he leaves. But i will be petrified who we choose t replace him.

"Premier league quality loans" well niasse is useless, and i've said many times over this season, as much as i like warnock, he is totally out of his depth in the premier league.

I want Warnock to stay.

Not so much from a playing perspective but for the club as a whole. What is, surely, beyond dispute is that the last two and a half years have been the most joined up the club and supporters have been for many years.

We know from our experience, and that of many other clubs, that to be relegated and change managers can have a hugely de-stabilising effect . Not many relegated clubs stick with their managers . But those that do, e.g. Newcastle, Burnley, etc., do seem to have more success in getting straight back up.

I'm not sure there are many available managers that would be better equipped to get us promoted again if we are to be relegated.

That said, our position is slightly different in that we know that Warnock will retire in the next season or two and we do need to have some succession planning in place, even if we miraculously manage to rescue ourselves. So that makes this a much more difficult call for the club and maybe the biggest reason why this has to be considered.