‘ Sol Campbell ‘

Nathan Blake names Sol Campbell as the man he'd like to succeed Neil Warnock as Cardiff City manager



Glen Williams


Wednesday 25th September 2019


Bluebirds boss Neil Warnock has said this season could be his last in management - and Blakey reckons another Sol would be best fit




A recurring topic of conversation surrounding Cardiff City this season is who will be the man to take over from Neil Warnock in the dugout when he eventually leaves.

We still don't know for sure, but in all likelihood Warnock will step down at the end of the season and while that is still a long way off — we have most of a Championship campaign to get through yet — it is only natural to look forward and plan.

I was asked by one Bluebirds fan on my Blakey's Bootroom podcast whether I thought Gary Rowett, who was sacked by Stoke in January but who did okay with Derby and Birmingham, would be a good appointment after Warnock's departure.

Well, in a word, no. I don't think he is the right man. Are you mad?

There are lots of names that have begun to be floated around, including that of Sol Bamba.

Everyone knows how much I love Bamba, but he's the wrong Sol for me with regards this particular job.

There is a name I would like to put forward for the post.

His name is also Sol, but it's Campbell, not Bamba.

No-one really mentions the name of Campbell, but for me he would be the perfect fit for Cardiff.

He is probably the best defender this country has seen since England's 1966 World Cup-winning captain Bobby Moore.

OK, maybe it is between him, Tony Adams, maybe there is a collection of five or six of them. But my point is that Campbell's reputation and record as a player would ensure he had the utmost respect in that Cardiff City dressing room.



He was a member of that incredible Arsenal 'Invincibles' side, he won two Premier Leagues, three FA Cups, was a Champions League finalist and was capped 73 times by England. There are not many people with better CVs than that.

As for his management experience, for me he was chucked a hospital pass at Macclesfield at the bottom of League Two. It looked like giving him that job was almost a means to shut him up.

They were a team who were really struggling, right at the bottom of the league. So, if he took them down, everyone could then say, "Oh, I told you so, you're not as good as you think you are."

But Sol didn't. Under his management, Macclesfield earned 31 points from 25 league games and secured League Two survival on the final day of the season. It was nothing short of amazing.

He kept them up when they were odds on to be relegated.

Yes, it was only Macclesfield, but Sol's pedigree speaks for itself.

To see him sitting where he is sitting at the moment, doing nothing, is an absolute crime, especially when you see the likes of Steven Gerrard managing Rangers and Frank Lampard in charge of Chelsea. They were England playing contemporaries of Sol's.

Even Jurgen Klopp has come out and said he wants Gerrard to take over from him as the next Liverpool manager.

Gerrard was a superb player, but in management he has been given a job to go up there and babysit Rangers until he strolls into the Liverpool job.

That is some privilege.




For what Sol Campbell has done in the game, for him to have to go down to that level in order for him to prove himself just sickens me.

I would love to see him get a chance at Championship or Premier League level and yes, for me Cardiff City would be the right fit.

I know Sol personally, but I'm not just saying all this because I know him. I don't think we've spoken for about 15 years, to be honest.

But I know how he ticks. I know how his mind works. I know the professionalism and the standards he brings.

Yes, he is opinionated. But so what?

If Cardiff City are linked with the likes of Rowett, Tony Pulis, these sort of people, managers who are on the merry-go-round, I don't want that.

I want a manager who wants to go to the top, brimming with ambition.

I want someone like Sol Campbell, who talked the talk, but when he was given Macclesfield, one of the worst clubs to have taken charge of at that point, and he succeeded, all you can do is bow down and acknowledge what a tremendous job he did.

All the doubters have to button it.

Going from zero money, not even getting paid, you can only imagine how difficult a job that must have been for him.

So, I guess we will have to see, but I would love to see him get an opportunity at this level... and at this club.

Food for thought for Cardiff City, perhaps?

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It’s a NO from me

No from me too

No.

Blake says stupid things for money to make headlines.

Campbell

Absolutely NOT He'll ruin us. He will milk the club for all he can. takes us down and f**** off, won't even remember Cardiff City aa week later

Absolutely NOT He'll ruin us. He will milk the club for all he can. takes us down and f**** off, won't even remember Cardiff City aa week later

I wouldn't want him either but I think that's a bit Extreme

A most definite no.

Good God no.

No chance. Blake is slowly losing the plot.

Did a fantastic job at Macclesfield but I’m a bit put off by how shortly he was there. Though saying that I do think that Bamba could do a good job with no experience

Nooooooo runa crp chesire club does not fill you with excitement

I'm a little shocked but who truly knows; he could be the new Messiah?

They all have to start somewhere but my own money would be on a Neil Warnock extension, IF we don't get promoted this season

He's made a few off-handed comments in that direction and I'm not so sure he is quite ready to retire yet

no, he had a short but successful spell with macclesfield, he should get a decent league one side next.

NW replacement will be Kevin Blackwell

One thing I do agree with in Nathan's article is Sol Campbell was the best English Centre-Half since Bobby Moore.

On the managerial side one thing is certain, when NW stands down we are not going to get a stellar proven manager to replace him. Which means we will be back to thinking outside the box again.

Maybe Sol Campbell comes into the thinking as would Mike Flynn and Sol Bamba if that is the case.

One thing I do agree with in Nathan's article is Sol Campbell was the best English Centre-Half since Bobby Moore.

On the managerial side one thing is certain, when NW stands down we are not going to get a stellar proven manager to replace him. Which means we will be back to thinking outside the box again.

Maybe Sol Campbell comes into the thinking as would Mike Flynn and Sol Bamba if that is the case.

Why would we not be able to get a "stellar proven manager"

Would like to see Alex Neil from Preston here tbh. Done a great job at Preston with no money, brought through youth, his style of football is close enough so it wouldn't be a culture shock for our players and he's proven in this league unlike so many names being touted about atm. But back to the topic I don't want Sol Campbell here

No no No!! Ffs... We need to move forward after Warnock and I mean that in a good way. Bluebirds!

I’d prefer Kevin Campbell or even Andy Campbell

I’d prefer Kevin Campbell or even Andy Campbell

Or even Alan Campbell from the 70’s who according to google is the same age or thereabouts as Warnock

Cambell is not eddie howe if people want a punt on someone like cambell they might as well go for Neports manager, i thought we where going straight back to the prem this season so someone with a bit more experience please, but not a bobby gould.