BREAKING NEIL HARRIS:

" NEIL HARRIS UPDATES CARDIFF CITY FANS "

Thursday 15th October 2020


Neil Harris said he needed up to four new players to strengthen his current squad, deadline day on transfers is this Friday coming.





NEIL HARRIS:


Injury latest

"Kieffer’s come back to us. Fortunately he’s healing well, so has a good chance for the weekend. Joe Bennett came off with a hamstring, so we have to keep an eye on that. We’ll have to wait and see on that."



Deadline day coming up - Lots happening over next day or so?

"Not sure about lots. I do expect us to be active in the next 36 hours. History tells us that. But also the conversations I’ve been having with the board. We’re trying. We’re trying really hard. The board have been fantastic, working hard to get people in. We all probably wisht the dealings with the PL were sorted before so that we knew where we are. "






Beauty of English pyramid is promotion and relegation

What about talk of cutting clubs?

Harris: "I think clubs at the top don’t have to worry about relegation. One of the beauties of the English pyramid is the promotion and relegation. The highs and lows that comes with the system. Play-offs have worked great for a number of seasons.
"It’ll be really interesting if we can stay at 20. Ideally from the perspective of a club looking to get there, we’re hoping there are as many teams as possible in it. "



" READ ALL NEIL HARRIS UPDATES BELOW "



First up is the subject of Project Big Picture, a principle Cardiff City was in favour of but it has since been scrapped.

What was Neil Harris' reaction to it all?

Harris: "I think the club was spot on with the response. In principle we need support.

"The funding coming from the top to the steps below needs adjusting. The gulf is getting further and further away.

"It’s just then what you give back to the clubs that are passing that money on. I’m pleased it was turned down. It’s just about negotiating what’s best for everybody. If we can find a middle ground, it will help us in the immediate future. "

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NEIL HARRIS:


Fair to say we've not seen the best of Cardiff yet?

"I think so. You have in spells. I think we saw a really strong performance at Blackburn for 70 minutes. It didn’t materialise with the red card and the subs we had to make.

"Forest was an outstanding away performance. Improvement to come, yes. I know my players will improve."

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NEIL HARRIS:


Deadline day coming up - Lots happening over next day or so?

"Not sure about lots. I do expect us to be active in the next 36 hours. History tells us that. But also the conversations I’ve been having with the board. We’re trying. We’re trying really hard. The board have been fantastic, working hard to get people in. We all probably wisht the dealings with the PL were sorted before so that we knew where we are. "

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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 0 Cardiff City 0


Sky Sports Sunday 12pm Oct 18 Preston North End v Cardiff City


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:


Flint a possible departure?


"I’m always conscious of players that haven’t appeared as much. Players want to play and Aden falls into that category. I like Aden Flint. First and foremost, he’s a great guy. He’s a huge professional and he’s a top Championship player. He’s extremely patient, waiting behind Morrison and Nelson, who’ve been one of the best pairings in the division over the last nine months. Of course he gets frustrated because he wants to play. His future’s with us, but he gets frustrated at not playing. I understand that, but if Aden or any player was to leave, we’d have to replace them."

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NEIL HARRIS:


Why so difficult to get permanent deals done?

"Goal posts change all the time. At all clubs really. Most owners’ cashflow is attached to businesses. Businesses are affected hourly at the moment, but changes to times in this country and abroad, with Covid regulations and lockdown shutting down certain industries.

"Every club are finding deals that are on the table one minute are gone the next. A lot of times you find a merry go round of players. That’s looking very difficult at the moment. I’ve gone past the stage of getting frustrated. I’m a football manager I want to win games. I want more options.”

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NEIL HARRIS:


Injury latest

"Kieffer’s come back to us. Fortunately he’s healing well, so has a good chance for the weekend. Joe Bennett came off with a hamstring, so we have to keep an eye on that. We’ll have to wait and see on that."

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NEIL HARRIS:


TOM COLEMAN
How long was it before you were on the phone to Kieffer Moore?

"I’m not sure he was even off the pitch! I’m always in touch with the players that are away.Just to make sure they’re okay. The medical team is close to the Welsh national set-up. They immediately sent a message to Kieffer. I spoke to him also just to get his thoughts. That’s pretty standard."

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NEIL HARRIS:


Kieffer Moore - How did you feel when he limped off against England?

"I was bloody nervous! Managers are always a little selfish. I love the lads getting called up. I think it’s great. The opportunity to go and represent your country. There’s no bigger honour than that. But then you have a selfish element, hoping they don’t get injured.

"But he’s playing against England at Wembley. What an opportunity for him. Kieffer player just under a game and a half, and Gav Whyte’s played a game and a half. They’ve all had minutes on the pitch. Kieffer, of course, when he went down, I was nervous. But it was really positive news to have him playing again."

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NEIL HARRIS:


Will you potentially have to sell to buy?

"I think it would be really difficult now to sell someone now to buy somebody and get those deals going. We've been active for weeks looking at deals and identifying players and trying to manoeuvre things along. If you've not had deals set up for a period, it's very difficult to do.

"There's negotiations and the constant change of financial demands. Selling someone now and then identifying someone to come in, you can never say never, of course you can't but it seems very unlikely at the moment.

"Like I said, the board have been great in this window. I've been really pleased with the players we've bought in this window. We're trying to add and if we don’t it won’t be through lack of trying or support. I am quietly confident that we’ll have something done tomorrow.

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NEIL HARRIS:



On Sanderson

"Dion’s been talked about before. He’s got himself into a position at Wolves where he’s really well thought of. He did well for us last year. If a deal was to happen to us or anyone else, it will probably be a last minute call from Wolves."

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NEIL HARRIS:

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NEIL HARRIS:



How much is it?

"A lot. It’s significant"


Covid tests - are you paying for it, or is being subsidised?

"We’re paying for it."

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NEIL HARRIS:


What team were you supporting when watching England v Wales?

"I would’ve liked to have seen 6-6. Kieffer score a hat-trick but it to be a draw!"

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NEIL HARRIS:


Lots of youngsters playing for Wales in the recent break - something you can replicate?

"That’s the way football’s going. We’ve made wholesale changes to our academy to give us that breadline, and that pathway. I’m a believer in it. At Millwall we brought a host players through to our first team. We’ve not got an abundance of players at the right age to come into the first team squad at the moment. Mark Harris and Joel Bagan have done really well for us. There may be one or two on the fringes of playing with us. But it’s a patient process. The thought of the club is to bring through young Welsh talent.

"It will happen, but you’ve just got to be patient with it."

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NEIL HARRIS:



Beauty of English pyramid is promotion and relegation

What about talk of cutting clubs?


Harris: "I think clubs at the top don’t have to worry about relegation. One of the beauties of the English pyramid is the promotion and relegation. The highs and lows that comes with the system. Play-offs have worked great for a number of seasons.

"It’ll be really interesting if we can stay at 20. Ideally from the perspective of a club looking to get there, we’re hoping there are as many teams as possible in it. "

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Neil Harris issues Cardiff City transfer update amid links with Cauley Woodrow, Dion Sanderson and Liverpool's Harry Wilson

The Bluebirds are still in the market for new recruits as we approach the final 24 hours of the domestic transfer window

By Tom Coleman

Dion Sanderson has been linked with a return to Cardiff City (Image: Athena Pictures/Getty Images)
Cardiff City boss Neil Harris insists he's confident of adding to his squad before the end of the domestic transfer window, and has played down the prospect of any departures before the window slams shut.

The Bluebirds are keen on bringing new faces on board before the close of the domestic deadline on Friday at 5pm, with Harris particularly keen on strengthening his forward options.

While admitting the club are finding it difficult to get deals done, Harris is clearly optimistic about the prospect of arrivals at Cardiff City Stadium.

"I do expect us to be active in the next 36 hours," he said. "History tells us that, but also the conversations I’ve been having with the board.

"We’re trying. We’re trying really hard. The board have been fantastic, working hard to get people in.

"I’m confident we’ll be doing some business over the course of the next 36 hours."

The likes of Cauley Woodrow, Dion Sanderson and Harry Wilson have all been linked with the Bluebirds over the last few days, but Harris is remaining tight-lipped on where things stand with their current list of targets.

"I’ve seen us linked with a few players over the course of the last few days," Harris said when quizzed on potential targets.

"Some have some substance. Some are way off the mark."

Speaking specifically on Woodrow, Harris added: "Cauley's a very good player at this level, but it’s very difficult at the moment to look at doing permanent deals.

"That’s why you’re not seeing any, and why the Paterson deal for example took so long to do. Permanent deals are so difficult for Championship clubs."

While the priority remains on strengthening his forward options, Harris is also keen on bringing in another right back before the close of the window, with Wolves youngster Sanderson recently heavily linked with a return.

"Dion’s been talked about before. He’s got himself into a position at Wolves where he’s really well thought of. He did well for us last year.

"If a deal was to happen to us or anyone else, it will probably be a last-minute call from Wolves."

As well as incomings, there have also been several players touted for moves away, including centre-back Aden Flint, who's reportedly attracted attention from elsewhere in the Championship.

However, Harris has played down the prospect of Flint, or indeed anyone else, heading out the door.

"I’m always conscious of players that haven’t appeared as much. Players want to play and Aden falls into that category.

"I like Aden Flint. First and foremost, he’s a great guy. He’s a huge professional and he’s a top Championship player.

"He’s extremely patient, waiting behind Morrison and Nelson, who’ve been one of the best pairings in the division over the last nine months.

"Of course he gets frustrated because he wants to play. His future’s with us, but he gets frustrated at not playing. I understand that, but if Aden or any player was to leave, we’d have to replace them. "

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Cardiff City are trying to bring in two new players before the transfer window closes on Friday - with Liverpool's Harry Wilson one of the targets.

Bluebirds boss Neil Harris has drawn up an exciting list of players he hopes to get over the line with 11th hour deals.

Barnsley's Cauley Woodrow and West Brom striker Charlie Austin are other men Cardiff are keen to bring in, and there is a further winger Harris is also believed to be looking at.

Each of the potential deals, we understand, have major financial complications around them.

Because of that, particularly in the current Covid-19 climate when Bluebirds owner Vincent Tan's leisure business has been badly hit, it is entirely possible Cardiff will sign no-one.

However, Cardiff still hope to get two players in for the rest of the 2020-21 campaign, even if it means loan deals, and behind the scenes negotiations will take place to try to strike agreements.

Harris is optimistic of signing new faces, saying: "The Board have been fantastic, working hard to get people in. I’m confident we’ll be doing some business over the course of the next 36 hours."

The move for Wales star Wilson is the one that will excite lots of Bluebirds fans the most, although as things stand Cardiff are viewed as outsiders to land his signature.

The 23-year-old bagged 15 goals for Derby at Championship level two years ago and would supply the goal power and creativity that has been sorely missing from Harris' team so far this season.

But Wilson is also wanted by Cardiff's arch-rivals Swansea City and his old club Derby, as well Nottingham Forest, as Liverpool look to loan him out.

Wilson's wages are not thought to be a problem, but Liverpool are said to want a £1m loan fee for the season.

Already it seems that has put off Swansea, but Cardiff would still need to come from behind to tie up a deal for a player Harris knows would instantly improve his side and who would greatly enthuse the fans.

Derby appear favourites to land Wilson at the moment, given how much he enjoyed his time there previously, but these things can change fast as the window closure approaches.

Jurgen Klopp wants Wilson to shine for another season with a promotion-chasing Championship team with a view to selling him for close on £20million next summer.

Cardiff are also in talks with Barnsley about landing Woodrow, who can play striker or 10.

There appears to be a difference in opinion over the size of the transfer fee, with Barnsley thought to be demanding around £2m, but it remains possible the gap can be bridged.

Harris rates Woodrow highly and knows how well he linked up with Kieffer Moore when the part were together at Barnsley.

Moore, of course, has also begun to strike up an understanding with Wilson at international level.

West Brom's Charlie Austin is another Harris is talking to and he has a proven goal record which could benefit a Bluebirds' promotion push.

But with Moore and Robert Glatzel already on board as centre-forwards, Austin is not necessarily viewed as big a priority as Wilson or Woodrow.

Harris is also chasing a winger, which would further bolster his creative options.

It is clear the manager has identified Cardiff's forward play as the main area of the team that needs strengthening, something that has become apparent with Cardiff failing to score in three of their five matches so far this season.

There has been far too heavy a reliance on Tomlin to create and get goals, but his fitness cannot be relied upon. The presence of Wilson or Woodrow, or even the pair of them, would resolve that dilemma and take much of the pressure off Tomlin.

It would also give Cardiff one of the most feared forward lines in the Championship, to supplement their already strong defence and hard-working midfield.

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