BREAKING NEIL HARRIS: " UPDATES CARDIFF CITY FANS "

“ NEIL HARRIS TODAY UPDATES CARDIFF CITY FANS “


Thursday 1st October 2020


Neil Harris:

– Adomah 'on the radar' but not likely in this window
– Thinks squad is as strong now as end of last year.


NEIL HARRIS:


Callum Paterson, big character, difficult to replace?

Harris: "No I dont think Paterson will be hard to place, loved by the fans, yes but it wont be difficult to replace him."



Squad compared to last season

Harris: “This current squad is as good as what finished last season and I see the qualities there.”


NEIL HARRIS:


NH: No I don’t think so.


Incomings

How many would you like in?

NH: Good try! If you had an endless pit you’d want to add a few players to the group, but you have to be mindful.

I am really pleased with the lads who have come in and the group we’ve got.

I’ve spoken about adding to the attacking end of the pitch.




Going beyond the deadline

Next week’s deadline, not one you’re working to?

NH: No, it’s a Premier League and European deadline. We may have been close to players in the past, there are Premier Leagues that might come out of other clubs but once those windows shut a bigger pool of players might become available.

It’s about getting the right characters and the right quality of player to make us better.



NEIL HARRIS:

Question: Callum Paterson, did he go for financial reasons?

Neil Harris: Financial reasons. Opportunity from Callum’s perspective. Pecking order, possibly, strikers in the building. We brought Kieffer Moore in at the start of the window as our main summer signing, then the pecking order adjusts.

I’ve always been very clear that if people want to go in search of first-team football I have no issue with that, I’m very understanding.

Kieffer Moore has had a great start with us, Robert Glatzel was bought for a lot of money and done well after lockdown, young Mark Harris coming through.

It’s not just about financial decisions, it’s about footballing one too.






“ READ ALL NEIL HARRIS UPDATES BELOW “


WOW NEIL HARRIS DOES A UTURN LIKE BORIS JOHNSON DOES


'I support the decision of the Sale of Neil Harris.'

Clear up comments - you were aware of what was happening and in favour of it?

NH: Was brought to my attention that a player was going to be sold without the manager knowing. That’s not the case. That doesn’t happen at this football club.

We work together as a unit, so that was the case in this scenario and I support the decision.

Understand why there was confusion?

NH: Yes I can. It clearly wasn’t meant from my side that I didn’t know what was going on. My comments were misconstrued. I had just walked off the pitch and hadn’t spoken to my CEO since 10am.

What went in the press in YorkshireLive rather than anything in Wales, I wouldn’t have been aware of.

So hopefully that cleared up my comment.

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NEIL HARRIS:


'No issue whatsoever'

Paterson, any issue with you two?

NH: No issue whatsoever. Never an issue. Callum had a great attitude to play and train, very diligent boy.

What people put on social media is no concern of mine.

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Sat Sept 5th Northampton Town 3 Cardiff City 0 League Cup 1st rd.



Sat Sep 12 CARDIFF CITY 0 SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 2

Sky Sports Sat Sep 19 Nottingham Forest 0 Cardiff City 2


Sat Sep 26 CARDIFF CITY 1 READING 2


Sat Oct 03 Blackburn Rovers v Cardiff City


Sky Sports Sunday 12pm Oct 18 Preston North End A

Wed Oct 21 AFC BOURNEMOUTH H

Sat Oct 24 MIDDLESBROUGH H

Wed Oct 28 Derby County A

Sat Oct 31 Queens Park Rangers A

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NEIL HARRIS:



Going beyond the deadline

Next week’s deadline, not one you’re working to?

NH: No, it’s a Premier League and European deadline. We may have been close to players in the past, there are Premier Leagues that might come out of other clubs but once those windows shut a bigger pool of players might become available.

It’s about getting the right characters and the right quality of player to make us better.

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NEIL HARRIS:

Team news

Joe Bennett and Joe Ralls updates?

NH: Both trained today which is really good news. Benno is further down the line than Rallsy. Benno did the full session today, Rallsy the lighter session.

Hopefully they train tomorrow and ready for the weekend.

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NEIL HARRIS:


'They are a dangerous side'

Blackburn have started very well…

NH: Blackburn have been in good form the last couple of weeks. Scored some good goals, every opportunity they’ve had has gone in.

They’ve got good players and attacking players, good continuity.

They’ve added two and we’ve added three.

They are a dangerous side at the moment, Adam Armstrong a top striker at this level.

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NEIL HARRIS:



'Money has to come somewhere'

House of Parliament put forward PL helping out EFL clubs, do you echo that?

NH: I was asked by talkSPORT last week. I skirted it a little bit. Money has to come somewhere where there is money, you can’t make it up.

If the Premier League have got riches they can share then it would be the right thing to do.

We can’t allow clubs all over the UK to run bills how they see fit at certain times, you have to manage properly.

Unprecedented times calls for unprecedented action and it would be appreciated by all clubs.

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NEIL HARRIS:


Lack of fans

Is the lack of fans psychologically playing on the players’ minds?

NH: Let me be really honest. It’s important.

When we came back from lockdown and played, there was such a buzz within the football industry.

I always talk as a football fan and a parent. It’s a great buzz.

After lockdown, we knew we were going to miss the fans but being out on the pitch every day was enough.

That’s an honest assessment. We are seeing some flatter games now.

It might affect some players more than others. You are not getting the lift from the fans, but that’s the same for everyone.

It’ll even itself out over the course of the season. We have to find that momentum and form really quickly.

First couple of games I talked about focus and mentality within the group, well that’s back. We are getting better but we need wins.

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NEIL HARRIS:

Our record before there were No home crowds .

Home records:

W3 D7 L1 before,

W3 D2 L3 since.

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NEIL HARRIS:

Pressure on?

Does the pressure mount after a couple of games?

NH: I love winning.

I’ve come to the club to be successful. You set standards and you get expectation levels, from me and you get the outside expectation from fans saying we are going to win every week.

You have to live with that and I have no problems with that whatsoever.

On Saturday I was really pleased with what I watched but disappointed with the goals we conceded and cutting edge in the final third.

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NEIL HARRIS:


Back to Paterson

Callum Paterson, big character, difficult to replace?

NH: No I don’t think so.

I understand that when a player leaves a football club and they are a fan favourite, fans say ‘Oh I didn’t want them to leave!’

But ultimately, nine times out of 10, it’s because the player wants to further their career.

So, when a personality goes out of the changing room it’s down to the others to step up.

We have got good lads, really good lads.

When players say “Oh, I really liked him, he ran around and worked a lot” - and I’m not talking about Pato here - I’m talking about every player at every club, that should be an absolute bare minimum. You can’t just like a player because they run around a lot.

You can’t just like people because they are good characters or a centre forward because they score a goal.

When a player leaves who is a big personality, we have to fill that void with people stepping into their shoes in the changing room or when you sign new players.

If we are recruiting players we are looking to bring in good characters.

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NEIL HARRIS:


JONNY BONELL
'We have to balance the books'

Since Jazz, seven players have gone and only one been bought and two loaned in, are we taking anything from that in terms of finances?

NH: That’s a fair question.

Someone said to me it’s 11 or 12 since, a couple of loans gone out as well, January and just the three coming in.

We understand the current climate, but I inherited a big squad. A competitive squad but a big squad.

We knew that we had to cut the squad and we all appreciated that. One of my first questions was about the size of the squad.

We have done that.

But when players leave we have to make sure we are competitive as well and have competition for places.

I’m really pleased with the players I’ve got but we have to make sure we have strength in depth and quality as well.

Funds-wise, what I will say is that Vincent [Tan] has supported this club hugely for many a year and continues to do so.

We are looking at options in all scenarios at the moment and we will have to see where that takes us in the next couple of weeks.

I’m not the sort of person who is going to go and spend someone else’s money on a whim without it being the right person.

We have to look at who is available but we have to balance the books as well. But adding one or two would be a nice finish to the window.

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NEIL HARRIS:



Better now or then?

Is the squad now better than the one that finished last season?


NEIL HARRIS:

NH: I think the players we have brought in are good players. Kieffer Moore’s qualities have been seen by players and supporters over a couple of years now.

I think the two younger lads, people are starting to see more of them and see they have qualities as well, but are inexperienced as well.

Are we as strong? Well, we’ve lost some players that were instrumental but we’ve also lost players who didn’t play a big part after lockdown.

I’d like to think we are as strong as we were last year. But the proof of the pudding is in winning games.

Over all thus current squad is as good as what finished last season and I see the qualities there.


In my mind we are, I see the qualities every day. I never want to stand still though, so if it means we can add to the group and be better I’m all for that.

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NEIL HARRIS:



Finishing on a fitness update

Tomlin and Murphy, available for 90 minutes?

NH: Quite unlikely.

Both have been on the training pitch today which is great for us. They are players who are hugely important to us.

When they are on the pitch they are players who have that maverick nature, flair.

They give the ball away at times as well but we have to accept that. But they are players who we miss when they are not involved on matchday.

Those two, on top of Joe Ralls and Joe Bennett, are players I certainly hope to have available this weekend.

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CALLUM PATERSON:

Paterson has just posted this message on Instagram: "Very disappointed that I wasn’t needed any more and now it’s time to move on".

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NOW HARRIS IS BACK TO MAKING OUT HE IS HAPPY WITH HIS SQUAD



NEIL HARRIS:


Incomings

How many would you like in?

NH: Good try! If you had an endless pit you’d want to add a few players to the group, but you have to be mindful.

I am really pleased with the lads who have come in and the group we’ve got.

I’ve spoken about adding to the attacking end of the pitch.

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NEIL HARRIS:

A lack of creativity?

Has there been a lack of creativity so far?

NH: I think that’s a fair assessment. When you play at home and it’s 0-0 and you haven’t started great, you want the fans to get behind you.

Creativity in the first couple of games without Lee Tomlin… yeah. We have got into the final third the third most times in the division, a lot of set plays, chances, getting there is not an issue, but that creative edge and spark around the box, we have had moments, but not sustained periods.

We had it at Nottingham Forest, our best 45 minutes of the season. Against Reading we were the better team, dominated the stats, but didn’t win the game.

Fans or no fans you want to base your season on your home record.

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NEIL HARRIS:

Saturday 26th September 2020


Wow

Neil Harris on Paterson: ‘You may know more than me. I've been told today that a deal is close to being agreed. If he is leaving, then we wish Pato all the best. It’s out of my hands, If he is not leaving then I look forward to seeing him on Monday. if Callum is moving on then we certainly need to replace him.’
“I have no say on those that are leaving.”

He added: "I left Callum out of the squad today because I was informed that there might be an agreement between he clubs likely to happen.”

"I am the manger of the football club and support the club in the decisions they make.”

"It's not about me as an individual it's about me having options within the squad. Callum is one of our attacking players and we need to have strength in depth during the course of the season, I don’t make the final decision on players.”

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Sky Sports: that FFP has been stopped during this whole covid thing, allowing teams to spend what they want within reason

GLEN WILLIAMS ( Media Wales ):

Here's everything Neil Harris said today. Some key points:
– Backs decision for Paterson to leave
– Adomah 'on the radar' but not likely in this window
– Thinks squad is as strong now as end of last year
– Murphy and Tomlin 'unlikely' to last 90 mins #CCFC

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NEIL HARRIS : “THIS SQUAD IS AS GOOD AS WHAT FINISHED LAST SEASON.”




' NEIL HARRIS CARDIFF CITY SQUAD 2020-21 “


1.
2. Jordi Osei-Tutu
3. Joe Bennett
4. Sean Morrison (C)
5. Aden Flint
6. Will Vaulks
7. Leandro Bacuna
8. Joe Ralls
9. Robert Glatzel
10. Kieffer Moore
11. Josh Murphy
12. Alex Smithies
13.
14. Isaac Vassell still out injured
16. Curtis Nelson
17. Lee Tomlin
18. Greg Cunningham
19.


20. Gavin Whyte
21. Marlon Pack
22. Sol Bamba
25. Joe Day
28.
29. Mark Harris
33. Junior Hoilett

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Ticks the boxes from everyone at Cardiff City's point of view but even though he remains stubborn to getting a new player in that does not change the fact that we need quality in the team.