Have Cardiff City improved under Neil Harris?

Have Cardiff City improved under Neil Harris? That is the question and jury is still out on that one.


By Scott Johnson

Tuesday 28th January 2020


The fact that we’re even asking the question is instructive and suggests that they probably haven’t. One thing is clear though and that is that Millwall have certainly improved since Harris left. Significantly so and that is plain for all to see.

Having lost only one game in the last 12, only in-form Brentford have collected more points than Millwall’s 30 accumulated since Gary Rowett took charge in October. Only Preston, Fulham and Derby have picked up more home points and they have started winning away, which was a long-standing issue during Harris’ reign.

They have also already matched their points total from last season, with 18 games still remaining and their sights are now firmly set on the top six.

Cardiff, meanwhile, gently bob, just below the surface of mid-table.

Cardiff are nondescript. There is just not much they’re especially good at at the moment. They’re not scoring many goals or managing to keep them out at the other end. Their passing is poor, they’re not particularly quick, physical or intense and it's all a bit boring. How did it get so boring?

In fairness to Harris, these problems pre-date him at Cardiff and his Millwall side were not boring. They were effective too. Having got them promoted from League One, they then took the Championship by storm. Like Cardiff, they were a throwback. Tough and direct, just how their fans like it.

They’re the sort of fans who boo when you pass backwards. Everything has to be intense and forward-facing. If you play at Millwall, you know you’ve been in a game.

In the second half of their first season back in the Championship, they went on a lengthy unbeaten run from the beginning of January through to mid-April, the longest in their history at that level. Not only that, from a home draw to Cardiff onwards, they took a remarkable 29 points from a possible 33.



How his current club could do with a run of form like that just now.

All the while, Millwall ranked 21st in the league for possession and 23rd for passes completed. It was accepted while it was successful, but as soon as it wasn’t, it was used as a stick to beat him with. Sound familiar?

Rowett has made them more three-dimensional, but they’re still Millwall. It was telling though that when they beat London rivals Charlton in November, their performance was described in the local press as "Harris-like".

The report elaborated on that term to describe a game where "Millwall were wasteful in possession, relied on the impeccable deliveries of Jed Wallace and Shaun Williams to break through and were generally desperate from open play".

Cardiff do see more of the ball under Harris. Against Swansea City, it was a shock to see them match both their possession and passing stats. Having plenty of the ball is all well and good, it's what you do with it that counts, though.

Cardiff are not particularly comfortable in possession and are rather blunt with it too, but that is far from their biggest problem at the moment. Their biggest failing is how sluggishly they start games.

Cardiff got a reasonable point away at Birmingham in their last league outing, but that only told half the story. They were dreadful in the first half, and not just technically, in terms of their effort and application, which is unforgiveable. It’s not the first time and it has become a habit for Cardiff to gift the opposition a head start. If they miss out on the top six, which looks increasingly likely, this has cost them more than any other failing.

It is something that is hard to explain and even harder to know who to blame. Harris, as the manager, will always be left to carry the can, but he surely can’t be held solely responsible for a lack of application? Is it a failure to motivate his players, a failure of effort on their part or a mixture of the two?

Cardiff were often sheepish under Neil Warnock, especially away from home in the Premier League. Maybe this is partly a hangover from that. Maybe it's now ingrained in them to be tentative by nature? Having lost most of their quality players in the summer, maybe they’re now not capable of digging themselves out of a hole like they once could.

When you break down all the things going against Harris, it starts to look like an insurmountable task.

Harris is replacing one of Cardiff’s greatest-ever managers, who fell on his sword, just like he did at Millwall. He is tasked with reviving a talented but limited squad that is underachieving and look like they’re feeling a bit sorry for themselves.

He was an unpopular choice, so has the fans on his case from the off. The club have given him next to nothing to spend and very little scope to make his mark on the squad. The head of recruitment left just before the transfer window too. Plus, his replacement is working wonders back home.

There was very little patience to begin with and it's wearing thinner all the time. It’s not fair, but that’s how it works. Don’t hate the player, hate the game.

You can get away with most things if you’re winning and Harris is not. They’re not losing many, but they’re not winning many either and look more like losing than winning most weeks. Cardiff look fragile and you fear another stuffing, like QPR away, may be just around the corner.

Cardiff have spent the season on the ropes, so any improvement under those circumstances is only ever going to be marginal at best. Most supporters seem to have braced themselves for more of the same for the foreseeable future, but that will be no fun and will take its toll.

A new signing or two would certainly help, if only to give everyone a bit of a lift, but if their struggles extend to the transfer window, a sense of dread will likely follow. A pivotal week awaits.

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F. F.S. give the man a break. This is Warnock's squad and until Harris has had a chance to bring in some fresh blood of his own choosing let's not judge him. We couldn't have carried on under Warnock cos sadly his time had come and gone.

Define improved ?

Improved style of play
Improved goals scored
Improved goals conceded
Improved points per game etc

From my seat - not much has changed in terms of style , although from the stats I'd say we are losing less games, what was it - played 14 games and lost 2 of them ? - something like that. Not a bad start at all.

I would say we are a little bit better overall. So yes an improvement, but above all that we are in blue and that’s what’s most important.

I would say we are a little bit better overall. So yes an improvement, but above all that we are in blue and that’s what’s most important.

Agreed, yes he has improved us slightly and had a tough run of fixtures, we might have a better idea in five or six games time!

Yes an improvement Football a little bit better to watch but with the group of players we have it is never going to be entertaining
Think anyone following Warnock was going to have a hard time in improving this squad without additions The lack of pace Warnock injected into the squad at the last transfer window was shocking

We are further away from the top 6 than before he arrived.
The football has shown little sign of development.
Admission that we had to revert away from his plans in a recent game.
Have seen some of the most boring home games in years under his tenor and worst defeat in years.

But yes doing okay.

He seems to be doing okay, but I also find it hard to judge him with a squad he inherited. Perhaps the question would be more appropriate this time next year.

Small strides. He needs a summer window, and a pre season more importantly.

The problem is Harris is not a bad manager but he is not a paticularly good one either. He has improved things slightly but they were pretty poor before so it is all still a bit mediocre. Certainly deserves more time. Let's see how he is doing half way through next season. I agree it is worrying how much Milwall have improved since he has left.

Football improved not for me no think the only thing that has is possession that's it saying that hes in a tough situation taking over from the crap warnock left him dont think theres anything close to enough quality in the squad

I think harris tactics has revealed the true quality of a fare few players.

Passing out from the back has shown that 2 of our CB can not pass a quality ball effectively.

Build up play under warnock was non exsistent and 1 midfielder in particular cannot handle the pressure of controlling the ball and distributing it to championship quality

Ultimately I think we need a new CB a new centre midfielder that can control the pace of the game.

Then see if we need a new striker.

Alot of people are going to slate me for saying this but I think it's time Morrison moved on and we found that solid CB

Bacuna is being played slightly out of position
Pack picks the ball up well he just can move it around effectively enough

Vaulks is a bottom of the championship player can get improve ? Personally I dont think so

Murphy is very frustrating you can see he has it all but comes across as he just dont want to be here and reflects massively in his game.

Whyte should be given a chance on the left I think he will be able to cut inside alot better then junior and push junior on the right. Whyte is your typical left midfielder not a winger under the warnock style of play as its was not existent !!

My answer to harris improving the team would be yes

Hes shown very large weaknesses in certain players

Hes shown he can change tactics early on and late.

He just needs to show he has some balls to make changes for the future !!

Things have improved based on results but not on style ...Harris has said d he has a talented squad etc etc but we seem very limited in some areas and certain players have seemed to be off the pace all season.
We start games so slowly and then find it hard to win.

Let’s see what this week brings in transfers and then we will learn more about NH

Yes, football quality is marginally better, players have let him down though.

Yes, football quality is marginally better, players have let him down though.

football quality ? you mean that pass it sideways 4 times to knock the pos stats up, concede a couple then play long ball and to some extent get back in the game...
big no from me.. this football is neither one thing or the other.

No

He’s done nothing.

F. F.S. give the man a break. This is Warnock's squad and until Harris has had a chance to bring in some fresh blood of his own choosing let's not judge him. We couldn't have carried on under Warnock cos sadly his time had come and gone.

Really good managers shouldn’t need a transfer window to make a mark. Look at what Rowett has done at Millwall, O’Neil at Stoke and Pearson at Watford - all have another managers players but have transformed the fortunes of those teams in about the same time Harris has been here.

Whilst it might not all click, I really can’t see any improvement anywhere - if there had been a distinct shift in style, but results weren’t clicking we might be able to say that there is a clear plan; if style was the same, but results significantly improved, we could say he is getting more from the players. Weren’t not much better defensively, we’re no better in attack.

It’s a sea of averageness and after almost 3 months and 14ish games, you would expect to be able to hold up some kind of improvement.

As for not having had a transfer window - we are 27 days into one. The fact that we haven’t signed anyone, suggests he didn’t really have a plan of who/what he wanted or doesn’t have the status to convince them to come.