Cardiff City will find it easier to replace Bruno Manga the
Thu Jul 25, 2019 9:26 am
Cardiff City will find it easier to replace Bruno Manga the player than Bruno Manga the man
By Scott Johnson
Thursday 25th July 2019
Cardiff City may well find that it will be a lot easier to replace Bruno Ecuele Manga the player than it will be replacing Bruno Ecuele Manga the man.
One of the game’s good guys, you can always tell how much a player is valued by the words of their team-mates when they leave. The Manga tributes were glowing and plentiful. Neil Warnock himself admitted that his farewell was an emotional one. “Tears were shed between Bruno and I,” Warnock admitted.
“It was disappointing because I did not want Bruno to go. We had a great time for three years, but he was offered a three-year contract and a lot more money. It is also true he has not had family around him during the time in Cardiff. He has been fantastic. I asked him every day on our pre-season tour if he would stay at Cardiff and the club offered him a new two-year contract, but the move to Dijon was right for him and we got decent money in.”
Five years, 150 league starts, 12,563 minutes and five goals, Manga was a key player from the beginning until the end. Signed as part of an Ole Gunnar Solskjaer trolley dash, Manga was brought in to shore up the Cardiff defence with a view to making a swift return to the Premier League.
With Mark Hudson, Ben Turner, Sean Morrison, Matthew Connolly and Danny Gabbidon already on their books, the signing of Manga seemed like overkill, but instead proved that you tend to get what you pay for. Manga cost a reported £5m, but from the off, you could see where the money went.
A cut above everyone else, Manga eased his way in to the Championship and proved to be Cardiff’s most naturally talented centre-back since Gabbidon in his pre-West Ham pomp. If anything, he seemed to find it too easy and was prone to mistakes when his concentration wandered, but he mostly ironed that out of his game and won Cardiff’s Player of the Year award in his debut season.
Manga joined with designs on playing in the top flight, but widespread cost-cutting quickly took hold and that ambition soon looked like a pipe dream. Then Warnock arrived.
One of Warnock’s greatest achievements at the club may be, against all odds, convincing Manga to agree to a new deal at the end of his first season in charge. Had he walked away, chances are that Cardiff wouldn’t have secured automatic promotion. Instead he stayed, was virtually an ever-present and a massive influence in Cardiff finishing second.
Three years later than he was expecting, Manga had finally made it to the Premier League and he was arguably Cardiff’s best outfield player last year. Often filling in at right-back, he was excellent in an unfamiliar position, seamlessly moving back in to the centre when required.
Aden Flint has already arrived as Manga’s replacement, but Manga was so versatile, it may actually take two players to adequately fill the void.
Now 31, the £3m Cardiff have received from Dijon may be about the going rate for a player of his age entering the final year of his contract, but you could also question whether it would have been better to keep hold of him and sacrifice that relatively paltry amount rather than undermine your promotion chances.
That is with a hard-nosed business head on though. The fact of the matter is that Manga was keen to return to France and such is the respect on both sides, the club did the right thing in sanctioning the move and did well to act so swiftly in bringing in his successor.
Manga released a statement to thank the Cardiff supporters and it was as kind and considerate as you would expect. “To Cardiff City, as you will know I have decided to leave but I didn’t want to go without saying a proper goodbye,” he confirmed. “There are loads of people I’d like to thank for the five years I spent in South Wales.
“I loved my time at the club and will have many fond memories. Playing in the Premier League was a dream for me and the journey to get there was incredible and one I will never forget. The final game of the season vs. Reading will remain one of my favourite memories in football.
“Thank you to the manager, the owner and the board for giving me the opportunity to play for you, and the brilliant players and staff that helped me along the way. I have made some great friends and will be sorry to say goodbye. Finally, to the fans... you have been incredible to me over the last five years, and know that I will never forget you.”
Where all this leaves Cardiff remains to be seen. Flint is a very solid Championship defender, but may be a bit too similar to Morrison. Also, who will be the odd one out when Sol Bamba returns to fitness? Manga compensated for Morrison and Bamba’s more erratic behaviours, so there is some fear regarding the heart of Cardiff’s defence, post-Manga, on my part.
I also have some concerns regarding Cardiff’s goalkeeping situation. I assume the plan is to not have all three current goalkeepers in situ when the season starts, so one will surely soon depart, but will it be Neil Etheridge or Alex Smithies? I doubt Etheridge headed up any Premier League shopping lists, but as clubs begin to run out of options, he may yet become a target.
With Cardiff losing Manga, Aron Gunnarsson, Kenneth Zohore plus loan pair Harry Arter and Victor Camarasa, the spine of the side has been diminished. The focus in the next couple of weeks needs to be reinforcing it, rather than weakening it any further.
Manga will certainly be missed, but hopefully, in the grand scheme of things, not too much.
By Scott Johnson
Thursday 25th July 2019
Cardiff City may well find that it will be a lot easier to replace Bruno Ecuele Manga the player than it will be replacing Bruno Ecuele Manga the man.
One of the game’s good guys, you can always tell how much a player is valued by the words of their team-mates when they leave. The Manga tributes were glowing and plentiful. Neil Warnock himself admitted that his farewell was an emotional one. “Tears were shed between Bruno and I,” Warnock admitted.
“It was disappointing because I did not want Bruno to go. We had a great time for three years, but he was offered a three-year contract and a lot more money. It is also true he has not had family around him during the time in Cardiff. He has been fantastic. I asked him every day on our pre-season tour if he would stay at Cardiff and the club offered him a new two-year contract, but the move to Dijon was right for him and we got decent money in.”
Five years, 150 league starts, 12,563 minutes and five goals, Manga was a key player from the beginning until the end. Signed as part of an Ole Gunnar Solskjaer trolley dash, Manga was brought in to shore up the Cardiff defence with a view to making a swift return to the Premier League.
With Mark Hudson, Ben Turner, Sean Morrison, Matthew Connolly and Danny Gabbidon already on their books, the signing of Manga seemed like overkill, but instead proved that you tend to get what you pay for. Manga cost a reported £5m, but from the off, you could see where the money went.
A cut above everyone else, Manga eased his way in to the Championship and proved to be Cardiff’s most naturally talented centre-back since Gabbidon in his pre-West Ham pomp. If anything, he seemed to find it too easy and was prone to mistakes when his concentration wandered, but he mostly ironed that out of his game and won Cardiff’s Player of the Year award in his debut season.
Manga joined with designs on playing in the top flight, but widespread cost-cutting quickly took hold and that ambition soon looked like a pipe dream. Then Warnock arrived.
One of Warnock’s greatest achievements at the club may be, against all odds, convincing Manga to agree to a new deal at the end of his first season in charge. Had he walked away, chances are that Cardiff wouldn’t have secured automatic promotion. Instead he stayed, was virtually an ever-present and a massive influence in Cardiff finishing second.
Three years later than he was expecting, Manga had finally made it to the Premier League and he was arguably Cardiff’s best outfield player last year. Often filling in at right-back, he was excellent in an unfamiliar position, seamlessly moving back in to the centre when required.
Aden Flint has already arrived as Manga’s replacement, but Manga was so versatile, it may actually take two players to adequately fill the void.
Now 31, the £3m Cardiff have received from Dijon may be about the going rate for a player of his age entering the final year of his contract, but you could also question whether it would have been better to keep hold of him and sacrifice that relatively paltry amount rather than undermine your promotion chances.
That is with a hard-nosed business head on though. The fact of the matter is that Manga was keen to return to France and such is the respect on both sides, the club did the right thing in sanctioning the move and did well to act so swiftly in bringing in his successor.
Manga released a statement to thank the Cardiff supporters and it was as kind and considerate as you would expect. “To Cardiff City, as you will know I have decided to leave but I didn’t want to go without saying a proper goodbye,” he confirmed. “There are loads of people I’d like to thank for the five years I spent in South Wales.
“I loved my time at the club and will have many fond memories. Playing in the Premier League was a dream for me and the journey to get there was incredible and one I will never forget. The final game of the season vs. Reading will remain one of my favourite memories in football.
“Thank you to the manager, the owner and the board for giving me the opportunity to play for you, and the brilliant players and staff that helped me along the way. I have made some great friends and will be sorry to say goodbye. Finally, to the fans... you have been incredible to me over the last five years, and know that I will never forget you.”
Where all this leaves Cardiff remains to be seen. Flint is a very solid Championship defender, but may be a bit too similar to Morrison. Also, who will be the odd one out when Sol Bamba returns to fitness? Manga compensated for Morrison and Bamba’s more erratic behaviours, so there is some fear regarding the heart of Cardiff’s defence, post-Manga, on my part.
I also have some concerns regarding Cardiff’s goalkeeping situation. I assume the plan is to not have all three current goalkeepers in situ when the season starts, so one will surely soon depart, but will it be Neil Etheridge or Alex Smithies? I doubt Etheridge headed up any Premier League shopping lists, but as clubs begin to run out of options, he may yet become a target.
With Cardiff losing Manga, Aron Gunnarsson, Kenneth Zohore plus loan pair Harry Arter and Victor Camarasa, the spine of the side has been diminished. The focus in the next couple of weeks needs to be reinforcing it, rather than weakening it any further.
Manga will certainly be missed, but hopefully, in the grand scheme of things, not too much.
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Re: Cardiff City will find it easier to replace Bruno Manga
Thu Jul 25, 2019 9:41 am
Good player, nice guy but we now move on.
Re: Cardiff City will find it easier to replace Bruno Manga
Fri Jul 26, 2019 10:28 am
Unbeaten in pre season. OK not testing opposition but respected Real Vallodid, a LA Liga side. We will be in a more clearer position on Warnock's team selection for Wigan, after the game on Saturday against Nice. They will prove a sterner test.
With Maxine, Tomlin, Bamba and Patterson to return, it looks a strong squad. The Fans are united. If the Squad are as one, we are a safe bet for a challenge for the top 2.
Saturday evening will give us a better idea
With Maxine, Tomlin, Bamba and Patterson to return, it looks a strong squad. The Fans are united. If the Squad are as one, we are a safe bet for a challenge for the top 2.
Saturday evening will give us a better idea
Re: Cardiff City will find it easier to replace Bruno Manga
Fri Jul 26, 2019 11:50 am
City1983 wrote:Unbeaten in pre season. OK not testing opposition but respected Real Vallodid, a LA Liga side. We will be in a more clearer position on Warnock's team selection for Wigan, after the game on Saturday against Nice. They will prove a sterner test.
With Maxine, Tomlin, Bamba and Patterson to return, it looks a strong squad. The Fans are united. If the Squad are as one, we are a safe bet for a challenge for the top 2.
Saturday evening will give us a better idea
I think we are way off at the moment and I think some are massively underestimating the championship if I'm honest.
At the moment I don't see us more than a 10th-5th team, we need at least 3 good players, probably 4 before considering the top 2.
Re: Cardiff City will find it easier to replace Bruno Manga
Fri Jul 26, 2019 12:00 pm
2blue2handle wrote:City1983 wrote:Unbeaten in pre season. OK not testing opposition but respected Real Vallodid, a LA Liga side. We will be in a more clearer position on Warnock's team selection for Wigan, after the game on Saturday against Nice. They will prove a sterner test.
With Maxine, Tomlin, Bamba and Patterson to return, it looks a strong squad. The Fans are united. If the Squad are as one, we are a safe bet for a challenge for the top 2.
Saturday evening will give us a better idea
I think we are way off at the moment and I think some are massively underestimating the championship if I'm honest.
At the moment I don't see us more than a 10th-5th team, we need at least 3 good players, probably 4 before considering the top 2.
Agree we need maybe a striker and midfielder but I wouldn’t say ‘way off’.
We are weaker than last season but I’d say stronger than when we were in the championship the year before. 2 quality additions and Bingo imho
Re: Cardiff City will find it easier to replace Bruno Manga
Fri Jul 26, 2019 7:27 pm
After the signing of Flint, I’m more concerned about replacing Bruno Manga the RB. His versatility was an asset and although Peltier is a reliable option, I’d be concerned due to Jazz being injured quite often. Maybe Cameron Cox has shown enough for Warnock to trust him as back up?
Re: Cardiff City will find it easier to replace Bruno Manga
Fri Jul 26, 2019 7:32 pm
bluebirdoct1962 wrote:2blue2handle wrote:City1983 wrote:Unbeaten in pre season. OK not testing opposition but respected Real Vallodid, a LA Liga side. We will be in a more clearer position on Warnock's team selection for Wigan, after the game on Saturday against Nice. They will prove a sterner test.
With Maxine, Tomlin, Bamba and Patterson to return, it looks a strong squad. The Fans are united. If the Squad are as one, we are a safe bet for a challenge for the top 2.
Saturday evening will give us a better idea
I think we are way off at the moment and I think some are massively underestimating the championship if I'm honest.
At the moment I don't see us more than a 10th-5th team, we need at least 3 good players, probably 4 before considering the top 2.
Agree we need maybe a striker and midfielder but I wouldn’t say ‘way off’.
We are weaker than last season but I’d say stronger than when we were in the championship the year before. 2 quality additions and Bingo imho
Agree with this, although I’d actually choose a midfielder as a priority if both wasn’t an option. Good to see someone using a common sense approach and not just comparing our current side to the relegated side as we’re now competing against a lower standard of opposition.
Re: Cardiff City will find it easier to replace Bruno Manga
Fri Jul 26, 2019 8:15 pm
103 Barmy Army wrote:bluebirdoct1962 wrote:2blue2handle wrote:City1983 wrote:Unbeaten in pre season. OK not testing opposition but respected Real Vallodid, a LA Liga side. We will be in a more clearer position on Warnock's team selection for Wigan, after the game on Saturday against Nice. They will prove a sterner test.
With Maxine, Tomlin, Bamba and Patterson to return, it looks a strong squad. The Fans are united. If the Squad are as one, we are a safe bet for a challenge for the top 2.
Saturday evening will give us a better idea
I think we are way off at the moment and I think some are massively underestimating the championship if I'm honest.
At the moment I don't see us more than a 10th-5th team, we need at least 3 good players, probably 4 before considering the top 2.
Agree we need maybe a striker and midfielder but I wouldn’t say ‘way off’.
We are weaker than last season but I’d say stronger than when we were in the championship the year before. 2 quality additions and Bingo imho
Agree with this, although I’d actually choose a midfielder as a priority if both wasn’t an option. Good to see someone using a common sense approach and not just comparing our current side to the relegated side as we’re now competing against a lower standard of opposition.
