NEIL HARRIS: “ NEW SIGNINGS / WE HAVE IDENTIFIED “

Cardiff City: Neil Harris working hard on new signings

Monday 20th January 2020



NEIL HARRIS:

Cardiff boss Neil Harris says the club are working "every hour," to bolster their squad but the Bluebirds "are not going to overpay," for players.

The Championship club have yet to sign a player this month and have cooled their interest in Wales striker Kieffer Moore after Wigan rejected a £2.3m bid.

"We will not sign players on deals we don't want to do," Harris explained.

"I am not about that, because ultimately you end up signing the wrong players on the wrong values.

"That is not going to happen while I am here," he added.

Harris pointed to the transition at the club since he succeeded Neil Warnock as manager in November with a significant change in the scouting department.

Glyn Chamberlain, head of recruitment under Warnock departed and was replaced by Tim Henderson.

"A couple of clubs have signed a couple so far," Harris added.

"It is a bit different for us with me not being here that long, with a new recruitment department being set up, it does not make it as smooth or as easy to do business. We are in that period at the moment.

"But we have identified players and I have identified players who can add quality to the group and support the dynamics we have already. If we can get them brilliant.”

"I did say I am really happy with the group, it’s a big quality squad, but I don't want to to sound like we are not going to add to it, that is not the case, we are trying. But it has to be the right personnel."

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The window closing at 23:00 GMT on Friday, 31 January; Scotland's window closes an hour later.

Excuses already. Scouts in and out of jobs are constantly on the look for players. For when they walk into new clubs.

I could probably do a list of 30 players based around EU who would be affordable. And I'm no scout. Maybe I should be.... How do I hand my CV in? Anyone know

Harris is making the right noises when it comes to recruitment. As much as I loved Sir Neil, even I can admit he made some dubious decisions when it came to new signings.

I have accepted that we are probably a mid table team this season so the right planning for the future is essential, no quick fixes, it's about time we took a longer view.

Harris is making the right noises when it comes to recruitment. As much as I loved Sir Neil, even I can admit he made some dubious decisions when it came to new signings.

I have accepted that we are probably a mid table team this season so the right planning for the future is essential, no quick fixes, it's about time we took a longer view.

I agree and I’ve already said that I’d rather see nobody come in until the summer unless we could unearth a real gem which seems unlikely.

Harris is making the right noises when it comes to recruitment. As much as I loved Sir Neil, even I can admit he made some dubious decisions when it came to new signings.

I have accepted that we are probably a mid table team this season so the right planning for the future is essential, no quick fixes, it's about time we took a longer view.

Yes that's what happens when you play to the crowd, you bow to the pressure and give them signings, whether good, bad or indifferent!

This part concerns me...
"I did say I am really happy with the group, it’s a big quality squad"

How can anyone say this is a quality group of players? It's plain to see, when watching them, that we LACK quality!

He has made offers to 5 players to come here on loan
None of them would come
Give him some time ffs
Played 14 lost 2
I do know weve drawn too many
And perfomances are poor and very inconsistant
Pity warnocks not got a club yet
Im sure a few of ours would want to go play for him again
And we could move on to signing others to play a new style

We have had this all before but I beieve the circumstances are different this time.

The previous times we have been pushing for promotion/play off but this time most of us will be happy for mid table. So with that in mind why spend silly money on players in January which lets be honest will most likely be a big gamble. That is what the January window is paying high prices for players usually no where near fit.

I wont be bothered if we don't bring anyone in. We look safe to survive this season. This gives Harris time to get rid of what he does not want and then go for what he does want. Next season we should really start judging him.

Harris has been left with players other teams don’t want on big contracts and ageing and slow squad. Always interesting watching other teams and most seem to be more skilful teams than us ( but a results business ) The academy has really nothing coming through Coxe got the big next thing tag from some but disappointed in what I have seen from him
We are really entering a rebuilding period and need to give a manager time to do that If Harris is the man time will tell but do we really think things would be easy for any manager who came in
Warnock was loved by the vast majority of fans and who ever came in would not get the support that warnock has I think sometimes the players knew that the manager was more liked than they were and if things went wrong the players would get the abuse rather than Warnock and they put in the extra effort
Let’s not buy any players for the sake of buying Madine being an example

This part concerns me...
"I did say I am really happy with the group, it’s a big quality squad"

How can anyone say this is a quality group of players? It's plain to see, when watching them, that we LACK quality!

You could flip that argument.Why would any manager worth his salt publicly rubbish a player he's hoping to move on.

Harris has been left with players other teams don’t want on big contracts and ageing and slow squad. Always interesting watching other teams and most seem to be more skilful teams than us ( but a results business ) The academy has really nothing coming through Coxe got the big next thing tag from some but disappointed in what I have seen from him
We are really entering a rebuilding period and need to give a manager time to do that If Harris is the man time will tell but do we really think things would be easy for any manager who came in
Warnock was loved by the vast majority of fans and who ever came in would not get the support that warnock has I think sometimes the players knew that the manager was more liked than they were and if things went wrong the players would get the abuse rather than Warnock and they put in the extra effort
Let’s not buy any players for the sake of buying Madine being an example

Madine is a great example... we had 8 points from the previous 8 games ,were in relegation form...our manager identified we needed back up for Ken.. abracadabra. promotion.

Excuses already. Scouts in and out of jobs are constantly on the look for players. For when they walk into new clubs.

I could probably do a list of 30 players based around EU who would be affordable. And I'm no scout. Maybe I should be.... How do I hand my CV in? Anyone know

As you seem to know more than the club just e mail it in!

Harris has been left with players other teams don’t want on big contracts and ageing and slow squad. Always interesting watching other teams and most seem to be more skilful teams than us ( but a results business ) The academy has really nothing coming through Coxe got the big next thing tag from some but disappointed in what I have seen from him
We are really entering a rebuilding period and need to give a manager time to do that If Harris is the man time will tell but do we really think things would be easy for any manager who came in
Warnock was loved by the vast majority of fans and who ever came in would not get the support that warnock has I think sometimes the players knew that the manager was more liked than they were and if things went wrong the players would get the abuse rather than Warnock and they put in the extra effort
Let’s not buy any players for the sake of buying Madine being an example

Madine is a great example... we had 8 points from the previous 8 games ,were in relegation form...our manager identified we needed back up for Ken.. abracadabra. promotion.

Should the club spend 2mill on another striker then to take some pressure off Glatzel? We can always barely play him, loan him out and then terminate his contract after we sign him.

We need to be honest. We have a squad who are too slow with no creativity and a manager who left Millwall 18th in the league and are now 7th with a new manager but the same players. I'm not asking to be Liverpool, Man City etc. but the board has made a huge mistake appointing Neil Harris. The game has moved on in the last two years where teams are playing more football with pace except us. We are slow at the back, slow in midfield and lacking any creativity apart the odd bit of class from Tomlin. Is it too much to ask to go to the games and enjoy the football. Getting fed up with the style city are playing. Will still be season ticket holder but need convincing the board know what they are doing.

All the hate is so unnecessary.
In my opinion Harris has real potential if given time and some realism from our fickle fan base.
Warnock reunited us(FOREVER GRATEFUL). The prem run was great, even though we were bottom feeders relying scrappy goals the last 5mins of games after chasing shadows for 85mins.
Then we found ourselves back in the stupidly competitive championship, hadn't won a single away game, playing dog shite football, players lost interest, no formula or ideas going forward and a bench full of dead wood on 30k a week.

Harris had a huge task ahead of him for a young English manager.
But he jumped in at the deepend with the right mentality and intelligence. He's trying to bring structure in at every department. The man's thorough in the way he handles his businesses, knows what he wants and has a clear vision for a club that has real potential but needs time to re-stabilise it self, build a solid foundation, and a superb fan base that need to take their blinkers off and get behind our team like we used to pre CCS.

I miss the unconditional support, the chanting all game, the comedy and realness.
And I also missed seeing us trying to play some intelligent football.
Yes, we have no pace, leaky at the back with a defence that's had years of protection by the brick wall Gunnerson.
But I'm bloody enjoying watching games. Even Sean Morrison was playing some decent stuff last game.
All I'm saying is Harris ain't no Slade. Just listen to the man..he isn't stupid and is growing in experience and handling the pressure really well with his head up high.

We need to be honest. We have a squad who are too slow with no creativity and a manager who left Millwall 18th in the league and are now 7th with a new manager but the same players. I'm not asking to be Liverpool, Man City etc. but the board has made a huge mistake appointing Neil Harris. The game has moved on in the last two years where teams are playing more football with pace except us. We are slow at the back, slow in midfield and lacking any creativity apart the odd bit of class from Tomlin. Is it too much to ask to go to the games and enjoy the football. Getting fed up with the style city are playing. Will still be season ticket holder but need convincing the board know what they are doing.

Can't argue much against this.

I'm not too sure what has happened to Millwall of late with regards to Harris. A couple of seasons ago he nearly got them into the playoffs with a not so good squad. Perhaps his style has been sussed hence why they struggled this term.

I think the board brought in Harris because he is familiar with our type of players. On record they are better players than at Millwall so working on that he should be able to get them to the Playoffs.

We have had 3 poor transfer windows in a row and we have a new Manager nobody else wanted

We have an average at best, slow ageing squad with very little creativity

We have a CEO and Chairman who are mostly anonymous and absent and an owner who hasn’t been to the stadium for nearly a year

We are still waiting to appoint a recruitment dept and still don’t have a academy manager

The legacy and money from our premier league adventure has unfortunately been completely wasted. We had a great chance to completely revamp and improve our whole infrastructure but we didn’t do it

We do have good players.

Harris has greatly improved possession stats and for spells against Swansea we looked fantastic.

What we lack is IMHO a midfield. We have bacuna arguably playing the best for us but he was brought is as squad cover last season. Therefore our best performing midfield player was not brought in with any particular style in mind. Ralls has been injured but has been criticised for a while with question marks as to his ability to control and boss games.

We have vaulks who seemingly was signed because he was available not because he fitted with any style.

Pack is a cool head but again does he do what we need?

We do have pace and we have Tomlin finally able to show us what he can do. What we lack is a thought out and planned midfield with players that actively compliment each other and someone who can control a game with links from back to front and wide

Harris has been left with players other teams don’t want on big contracts and ageing and slow squad. Always interesting watching other teams and most seem to be more skilful teams than us ( but a results business ) The academy has really nothing coming through Coxe got the big next thing tag from some but disappointed in what I have seen from him
We are really entering a rebuilding period and need to give a manager time to do that If Harris is the man time will tell but do we really think things would be easy for any manager who came in
Warnock was loved by the vast majority of fans and who ever came in would not get the support that warnock has I think sometimes the players knew that the manager was more liked than they were and if things went wrong the players would get the abuse rather than Warnock and they put in the extra effort
Let’s not buy any players for the sake of buying Madine being an example

Madine is a great example... we had 8 points from the previous 8 games ,were in relegation form...our manager identified we needed back up for Ken.. abracadabra. promotion.

Should the club spend 2mill on another striker then to take some pressure off Glatzel? We can always barely play him, loan him out and then terminate his contract after we sign him.

its a totally different situation.. we were 2nd and Madine was brought in as back up ...Glatzel ? not even sure he is first choice ,he wasn't Saturday and didn't even come on for Ward. top 2 is out of reach and play offs even if we could get there is a 1 chance in 4 lottery.. so half of me thinks if your going to be fair and its a striker you need go get.. the other half is January is a got you over a barrel month....we did actually offer just under 2mill for Madine , they wanted 6.. so we persued other targets who turned out to be even more expensive so went back and came to this 2+4 if promoted.. I honestly think most fans would have preferred to not go up and save the 4 mill..

2 things from harris first sentence we are not going to pay over the odds,
Thats why players go elsewhere,
And his last sentence, we need to get the right personnel.
That has been the same mantra for season after season, and is trundled out come febuary,
they where to exspensive or not the right personnel.

2 things from harris first sentence we are not going to pay over the odds,
Thats why players go elsewhere,
And his last sentence, we need to get the right personnel.
That has been the same mantra for season after season, and is trundled out come febuary,
they where to exspensive or not the right personnel.

it is why players go elsewhere. but when we do sign anyone people go into meltdown if its more than a 2 quid fee and 50p a week..

2 things from harris first sentence we are not going to pay over the odds,
Thats why players go elsewhere,
And his last sentence, we need to get the right personnel.
That has been the same mantra for season after season, and is trundled out come febuary,
they where to exspensive or not the right personnel.

Well have enough complaints about wasting money so we wont be wasting money this window, but that wont satisfy people as will complain didn't sign anyone .! Lose lose for Harris it appears to be..

DOGFOUND
i agree we obviously don' t want to pay way over the odds, but its a free market and you have to do that bit extra to get your man
but we always seem to want to knock down the price and end up loosing out and moving on to the next, then run out of time or do a snap buy at the end of the window.

Harris has been left with players other teams don’t want on big contracts and ageing and slow squad. Always interesting watching other teams and most seem to be more skilful teams than us ( but a results business ) The academy has really nothing coming through Coxe got the big next thing tag from some but disappointed in what I have seen from him
We are really entering a rebuilding period and need to give a manager time to do that If Harris is the man time will tell but do we really think things would be easy for any manager who came in
Warnock was loved by the vast majority of fans and who ever came in would not get the support that warnock has I think sometimes the players knew that the manager was more liked than they were and if things went wrong the players would get the abuse rather than Warnock and they put in the extra effort
Let’s not buy any players for the sake of buying Madine being an example

Madine is a great example... we had 8 points from the previous 8 games ,were in relegation form...our manager identified we needed back up for Ken.. abracadabra. promotion.

Should the club spend 2mill on another striker then to take some pressure off Glatzel? We can always barely play him, loan him out and then terminate his contract after we sign him.

its a totally different situation.. we were 2nd and Madine was brought in as back up ...Glatzel ? not even sure he is first choice ,he wasn't Saturday and didn't even come on for Ward. top 2 is out of reach and play offs even if we could get there is a 1 chance in 4 lottery.. so half of me thinks if your going to be fair and its a striker you need go get.. the other half is January is a got you over a barrel month....we did actually offer just under 2mill for Madine , they wanted 6.. so we persued other targets who turned out to be even more expensive so went back and came to this 2+4 if promoted.. I honestly think most fans would have preferred to not go up and save the 4 mill..

With Madine you act like he was the bargain of the century and that it was a master stroke by Warnock to sign him every time his transfer is mentioned on here. He helped us get promotion, as did the rest of the squad, he was not the single reason why we did get promoted. He will be viewed as a massive waste of money and a flop because of the circumstances when he was here. He barely played, played in the U23's, was loaned out and eventually had his contract terminated despite us struggling for goals and needing players in other positions. Regardless of what we got from promotion that is not good business by the club as we are now in a position where we have lost a £6mill purchase for nothing and where we now need to spend millions again to replace him. I liked Madine and thought he got a lot of unnecessary stick but his £6million transfer can only be seen as a massive waste of money.

DOGFOUND
i agree we obviously don' t want to pay way over the odds, but its a free market and you have to do that bit extra to get your man
but we always seem to want to knock down the price and end up loosing out and moving on to the next, then run out of time or do a snap buy at the end of the window.

agreed I will be gobsmacked if we spend any money this window tbh I'd b gobsmacked if we get anyone in

Spade said more or less exactly the same when he was in charge, expect the same old lower league players and sales of our best players.

We are only 2 wins off the play offs in a league where 10 ordinary teams are vying for play off places..... why no go fir it ?
We must be due a few wins on the bounce so a couple of signings could make all the difference .

We are only 2 wins off the play offs in a league where 10 ordinary teams are vying for play off places..... why no go fir it ?
We must be due a few wins on the bounce so a couple of signings could make all the difference .

A very very mediocre Championship and like you say so near to the play offs we should be going for it.

4 players out so far, a decent striker and we would be there

Can’t see the point in signing anyone this window. Even if we got in the play-offs we’d get stuffed by the teams there now. We’re not going down, and Harris and his crew need time to see a way forward.