Graham Kavanagh questions Neil Harris' misfiring team - 'Whe

Graham Kavanagh questions Neil Harris' misfiring team - 'Where's the philosophy?'

Bluebirds manager Harris described his team's performance as 'outstanding' at times during the 1-0 loss to Bristol City, but many Cardiff City fans disagreed and so did former skipper Kavanagh




Sky Sports:

Saturday 7th November 2020



Former Cardiff City captain Graham Kavanagh has questioned 'what the philosophy is' with Neil Harris' Bluebirds after another Championship failure against Bristol City.

The Bluebirds' 1-0 home loss on Friday night leaves them languishing in mid-table, with just three wins from their opening 11 matches and way off the pace being set by the top two.

Harris maintained his team had played 'outstanding' football at times and were robbed.

However, many Bluebirds fans completely disagreed and took to social media to vent their concerns and anger at a poor start to the campaign which has seen Harris' side lack in real creativity.

Kavanagh, who became an iconic figure and huge fans' favourite during a four-year spell as Bluebirds captain, took to twitter himself to outline his own views and engage with supporters.

He said Cardiff "have been poor tonight with no creativity at all. Not sure what the philosophy is."



In another post, Kavanagh went on: "I think there needs to be more energy in the team in general. They look very one paced. I don’t see anyone overlapping or breaking the attacking line to stretch the game. They play the game in front of the opposition and it’s too predictable for me. Not enough questions asked."

Kavanagh retains a huge soft spot for the Bluebirds, leading them into the Championship with that epic play-off final win over Queens Park Rangers in 2003.

He is warmly remembered by Cardiff fans and spoke to some of them after hugely disappointing result.

One suggested the Bluebirds had something of a hangover after being defeated by Fulham in the play-offs, something Harris himself has previously wondered about.

But Kavanagh argued: "That’s long gone. Players have to come to terms with that and put it behind them. A game plan of lumping it then hoping for second balls is not going to get you out of the league, unless it’s dropping a division."

However, as fans start calling for Harris' head, Kavanagh tweeted that he felt Cardiff should stick by their manager.

"I personally think the manager needs time but he needs backing and I'm not sure they can give it to him cause the squad needs an overhaul," he tweeted.


Tan and chairman Mehmet Dalman have set the top six as a minimum target from January onwards, although many feel this squad of players is good enough to achieve automatic promotion this season.

The Bluebirds are way off the pace, but Harris is adamant results will be turned around.

"We have created enough chances to win two or three games and we have to find that clinical edge. Some of our football was outstanding and it baffles me how we have not won the game," he insisted after the Bristol City loss.

"Any sane person who watched that could see it was a very strong and good performance, but people also look at results first and we should have more points.

"Our performances are improving massively and we will pick up results."

You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

What a photo of the team and what a day.

Thanks for posting

What a photo of the team and what a day.

Thanks for posting

Ditto...!

In some ways it seems like yesterday.

Loads under the bridge.

I remember the anticipation, the togetherness and belief. I knew it was our time.

Andy scoring THAT goal.

Embracing one of my sons that was with me. The constricted throat.

Memories live forever.

Hes right, most the time we look like 11 players been picked and told to go out and play, thats about it.

Never really understood why we always had these great wingers, Bennett at LB and we dont see great wing play or overlaps, or give and go with the wingers.

Its just so basic football

Agree with Annis that is what’s the point of dumping Harris as only another yes man will be appointed. Not every manager has the presence of Warnock. Need to get a Howe type manager.
But let’s be honest most fans on here have been supporting Harris like the hokey kokey in out in out ra ra.

For me there is something drastically wrong...we have gone behind in 7 out 11 league games...we have seen error after error like Ralls giving a sloppy pass at Derby which resulted in a goal...Bennett !exactly the same against Bristol... and Ralls leaving his man ...Morrison switching off with balls being played in.
Nelson s positioning at times.
Balls being played back or sideways slowing the game down.
Its not right and i dont think Harris can turn it around...he may have a response for Barnsly ...then 3 days later sloppy play again.
If we fall behind a draw is the most we have retreived...i agree if Harris goes ..another Yes man comes in...Slade to Trollope
Harris to ...?

For me there is something drastically wrong...we have gone behind in 7 out 11 league games...we have seen error after error like Ralls giving a sloppy pass at Derby which resulted in a goal...Bennett !exactly the same against Bristol... and Ralls leaving his man ...Morrison switching off with balls being played in.
Nelson s positioning at times.
Balls being played back or sideways slowing the game down.
Its not right and i dont think Harris can turn it around...he may have a response for Barnsly ...then 3 days later sloppy play again.
If we fall behind a draw is the most we have retreived...i agree if Harris goes ..another Yes man comes in...Slade to Trollope
Harris to ...?

if Harris goes is a difficult one...there was a meltdown Friday but most of what i read yesterday was people prepared to give him 2 or 3 more games or until the new year.. generally fans are not really sure mostly down to that 9 game run in...so id assume the board are equally unsure....is the real Harris this one or the one from the run in ..and its complicated by results.. pretty sure had we not beaten Barnsley he would be toast by now ? so going forward..Millwall ..a draw probably keeps him in place...beat Coventry...he becomes safer..then lose to Luton and we are back to square one bottom half but now having burnt 3 more games.... as for who replaces him... think that depends on how desperate we are if he gets sacked.. i doubt we would have had Warnock had it not looked realistic that we could actually go down...

Kav right on the money here for me.

In another post, Kavanagh went on: "I think there needs to be more energy in the team in general. They look very one paced. I don’t see anyone overlapping or breaking the attacking line to stretch the game. They play the game in front of the opposition and it’s too predictable for me. Not enough questions asked."


I will say we are trying to play the right way but its too deliberate and too slow especially in the final third.

For me there is something drastically wrong...we have gone behind in 7 out 11 league games...we have seen error after error like Ralls giving a sloppy pass at Derby which resulted in a goal...Bennett !exactly the same against Bristol... and Ralls leaving his man ...Morrison switching off with balls being played in.
Nelson s positioning at times.
Balls being played back or sideways slowing the game down.
Its not right and i dont think Harris can turn it around...he may have a response for Barnsly ...then 3 days later sloppy play again.
If we fall behind a draw is the most we have retreived...i agree if Harris goes ..another Yes man comes in...Slade to Trollope
Harris to ...?

if Harris goes is a difficult one...there was a meltdown Friday but most of what i read yesterday was people prepared to give him 2 or 3 more games or until the new year.. generally fans are not really sure mostly down to that 9 game run in...so id assume the board are equally unsure....is the real Harris this one or the one from the run in ..and its complicated by results.. pretty sure had we not beaten Barnsley he would be toast by now ? so going forward..Millwall ..a draw probably keeps him in place...beat Coventry...he becomes safer..then lose to Luton and we are back to square one bottom half but now having burnt 3 more games.... as for who replaces him... think that depends on how desperate we are if he gets sacked.. i doubt we would have had Warnock had it not looked realistic that we could actually go down...

A lot of people didn't want Harris as manager and i don't think even reaching the playoffs was enough to win them over if they were being truly honest. I still think Harris can turn things around. But we need to stop gifting away goals and we need to be more clinical in the final 3rd. Too many wasted shots and poor crossing. If we had an extra 4-6 points Friday's result would have just been put down as one of those games that goes against you sometimes. They scored (from another mistake) and then parked the bus. Pretty much how we got promoted. They offered nothing other than the goal and we didn't have the quality to break down a team that have been top 6 all season. There will be other games this season where we play worse and win, and play better and lose/draw. That's football. Our current form/position just makes it harder to accept. Doesn't help we have to sit on that result for 2 weeks now.

The win at Barnsley bought Harris some time. But at what point do you switch from an inconsistent manager? Can't see the board backing a manager who is regularly playing for their job over 3 games. Millwall, Coventry and Luton up next. Surely if the club are serious about top 6 then a minimum of 7 should be expected. If not, might be worth getting our next manager in and start the rebuild from January.

We could really do with a kavanagh type player in the middle!

For me there is something drastically wrong...we have gone behind in 7 out 11 league games...we have seen error after error like Ralls giving a sloppy pass at Derby which resulted in a goal...Bennett !exactly the same against Bristol... and Ralls leaving his man ...Morrison switching off with balls being played in.
Nelson s positioning at times.
Balls being played back or sideways slowing the game down.
Its not right and i dont think Harris can turn it around...he may have a response for Barnsly ...then 3 days later sloppy play again.
If we fall behind a draw is the most we have retreived...i agree if Harris goes ..another Yes man comes in...Slade to Trollope
Harris to ...?

if Harris goes is a difficult one...there was a meltdown Friday but most of what i read yesterday was people prepared to give him 2 or 3 more games or until the new year.. generally fans are not really sure mostly down to that 9 game run in...so id assume the board are equally unsure....is the real Harris this one or the one from the run in ..and its complicated by results.. pretty sure had we not beaten Barnsley he would be toast by now ? so going forward..Millwall ..a draw probably keeps him in place...beat Coventry...he becomes safer..then lose to Luton and we are back to square one bottom half but now having burnt 3 more games.... as for who replaces him... think that depends on how desperate we are if he gets sacked.. i doubt we would have had Warnock had it not looked realistic that we could actually go down...

A lot of people didn't want Harris as manager and i don't think even reaching the playoffs was enough to win them over if they were being truly honest. I still think Harris can turn things around. But we need to stop gifting away goals and we need to be more clinical in the final 3rd. Too many wasted shots and poor crossing. If we had an extra 4-6 points Friday's result would have just been put down as one of those games that goes against you sometimes. They scored (from another mistake) and then parked the bus. Pretty much how we got promoted. They offered nothing other than the goal and we didn't have the quality to break down a team that have been top 6 all season. There will be other games this season where we play worse and win, and play better and lose/draw. That's football. Our current form/position just makes it harder to accept. Doesn't help we have to sit on that result for 2 weeks now.

The win at Barnsley bought Harris some time. But at what point do you switch from an inconsistent manager? Can't see the board backing a manager who is regularly playing for their job over 3 games. Millwall, Coventry and Luton up next. Surely if the club are serious about top 6 then a minimum of 7 should be expected. If not, might be worth getting our next manager in and start the rebuild from January.

We could really do with a kavanagh type player in the middle!

trouble is if this continues until Jan ...another 11 games and 13 points...even if its 15 or 16 pints play offs will be all but gone....so would there be a point in change bareing in mind there is no way we can finance this squad next season..

For me there is something drastically wrong...we have gone behind in 7 out 11 league games...we have seen error after error like Ralls giving a sloppy pass at Derby which resulted in a goal...Bennett !exactly the same against Bristol... and Ralls leaving his man ...Morrison switching off with balls being played in.
Nelson s positioning at times.
Balls being played back or sideways slowing the game down.
Its not right and i dont think Harris can turn it around...he may have a response for Barnsly ...then 3 days later sloppy play again.
If we fall behind a draw is the most we have retreived...i agree if Harris goes ..another Yes man comes in...Slade to Trollope
Harris to ...?

if Harris goes is a difficult one...there was a meltdown Friday but most of what i read yesterday was people prepared to give him 2 or 3 more games or until the new year.. generally fans are not really sure mostly down to that 9 game run in...so id assume the board are equally unsure....is the real Harris this one or the one from the run in ..and its complicated by results.. pretty sure had we not beaten Barnsley he would be toast by now ? so going forward..Millwall ..a draw probably keeps him in place...beat Coventry...he becomes safer..then lose to Luton and we are back to square one bottom half but now having burnt 3 more games.... as for who replaces him... think that depends on how desperate we are if he gets sacked.. i doubt we would have had Warnock had it not looked realistic that we could actually go down...

A lot of people didn't want Harris as manager and i don't think even reaching the playoffs was enough to win them over if they were being truly honest. I still think Harris can turn things around. But we need to stop gifting away goals and we need to be more clinical in the final 3rd. Too many wasted shots and poor crossing. If we had an extra 4-6 points Friday's result would have just been put down as one of those games that goes against you sometimes. They scored (from another mistake) and then parked the bus. Pretty much how we got promoted. They offered nothing other than the goal and we didn't have the quality to break down a team that have been top 6 all season. There will be other games this season where we play worse and win, and play better and lose/draw. That's football. Our current form/position just makes it harder to accept. Doesn't help we have to sit on that result for 2 weeks now.

The win at Barnsley bought Harris some time. But at what point do you switch from an inconsistent manager? Can't see the board backing a manager who is regularly playing for their job over 3 games. Millwall, Coventry and Luton up next. Surely if the club are serious about top 6 then a minimum of 7 should be expected. If not, might be worth getting our next manager in and start the rebuild from January.

We could really do with a kavanagh type player in the middle!

trouble is if this continues until Jan ...another 11 games and 13 points...even if its 15 or 16 pints play offs will be all but gone....so would there be a point in change bareing in mind there is no way we can finance this squad next season..

If form continues as it is, I dont think he'll be here for that long to be honest. He either turns it around, results improve and we climb the table, it stays as it is and he's fone in 5-6 games time or it gets worse and he's moved on a bit sooner.

I've still got a feeling things will improve though. Just need to stamp these silly goals out and build from there

My concern is where will we be if we stick with Harris, the bottom 3? the new manager will have a terrible job to come into who ever he is and Harris did the same at Milwall his second season was poor and he is a hero there and they are better now harris has gone.