Cooper really wanted it / Do Cardiff managers?

Do Bluebirds managers really 'get' the derby and Swansea's intensity?





"This is for you [fans]," Steve Cooper said.

The previous year, in victory at the Liberty, he went to almost every corner of the ground to punch the air in front of the fans.




By Chief of Sport

Monday 14th December 2020


From the top to the managers Swansea seem to be more hyped up than their rivals Cardiff and you could see that once again on Saturday.

There is a strong argument for saying the fixture means a teeny bit more to Swans fans than it does Bluebirds followers.

Getting one over Wales' capital city club, who have the bigger stadium and crowds, are the perceived media darlings, receive greater publicity. That sort of thing.

Beating the Bluebirds is absolutely imperative for Swans fans - and don't their managers and players know it. The passion and desire shines through loud and clear.

Whether Cardiff supporters want it to quite the same degree is open to debate, but want it nonetheless they most certainly do.

And there is a feeling from some their managers don't fully grasp that the way the likes of Steve Cooper, who is Welsh, or Garry Monk and Roberto Martinez, who were steeped in Swans history, most certainly did.

Dave Jones used to anger Cardiff supporters by hinting it was another game, another three points. No, it was always more than that.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is accustomed to bigger things at Manchester United and certainly didn't appear to get Cardiff v Swansea for his one game in charge which culminated in a 3-0 thrashing.

Neil Warnock, and this one did surprise because he's 100 per cent about football passion, didn't either ahead of Cardiff's 1-0 defeat at the Liberty last season.

Neil Harris says he understands what derbies mean and has a good record in them. With respect, Millwall versus Charlton, Crystal Palace or West Ham is a galaxy away from the intensity required for Cardiff v Swansea.

From the first minute, Cooper had his Swans up for the battle.

Forget his tactical masterclass. He made sure his players were first to the ball, won the 50-50s, were there for the second challenges and were on the front foot from the off.




STEVE COOPERS:


It was good old-fashioned Welsh hwyl and Cooper's post-match huddle on the pitch, with his players and coaching staff, demonstrated his mind-set.

"This is for you [fans]," he said.

The previous year, in victory at the Liberty, he went to almost every corner of the ground to punch the air in front of the fans.

The contrast on Saturday with Cardiff's limp showing could not have been starker.

The Bluebirds have to match this Swans desire of the game being so big for them.

Yet there is a feeling from one or two fans that only Malky Mackay, of recent Cardiff managers, really understood the magnitude of the derby and what it truly means to the people.

His one game in charge culminated in a 1-0 Bluebirds Premier League victory.

Maybe it's the fellow Celt in Glaswegian Malky that did the trick.






Who knows?

But if Harris is still in charge of Cardiff by the time of the return game in mid-March, he'll most certainly know it's a game he dare not lose. His players won't be so timid next time.

Cooper's Swans are chasing the first league double between these sides.

The fact it's never been done in the 91-year history of the fixture demonstrates just how important it is for the two clubs.

VINCE ALM:
( Head of Cardiff City Supporters Club)


One manager in 20 years has taken this fixture seriously Malky Mackay.

Another lack lustre Derby performance unfortunately no energy, no game plan, no desire, no idea.

Another game to forget quickly

I guess cooper had more reasons to get one over on city given the connection with his father! Obviously our managers take game seriously but dont think they grasp the importance of it like say man u liverpool games ...
As for Saturday just poor management by Harris in not rotating players like cooper did

Always regarded Bristol City as my derby game. Nice to beat fellow Welsh teams but anything can happen when we play them. This time we lost but not the end of the world, with no fans there I guess our cockney manager just treated it as another game with an eye on the next mid week game in terms of team selection and tactics

Always regarded Bristol City as my derby game. Nice to beat fellow Welsh teams but anything can happen when we play them. This time we lost but not the end of the world, with no fans there I guess our cockney manager just treated it as another game with an eye on the next mid week game in terms of team selection and tactics

Traditionally, remembering Swansea were nothing before the Toshack era, the Bristol City 'derby' was seen as the game the supporters wanted to win; and it remains so to this day

Cardiff/Wrexham and Cardiff/Newport (both classed as 'Welsh derbies' regardless of distance of between us and the latter) have both been 'needle' games in Bluebird history and Swansea currently hold that mantle due to their modern success and proximity to us in the football hierarchy

If there is any 'needle', it is mainly down to said Toshack era and one specific game where the traditionally cowardly Swansea supporters attacked and threw wooden chairs at OAPs and children in the Ninian Park Grandstand; and those of us who were there will never forgive/forget

If it's about 'tradition' (a word usually disliked by those, like Swansea who don't really have it) then Bristol City take that mantle hands down. That is not to demean the current 'Welsh derby' or their deserved win totally; it is currently (rather than historically) an important fixture in our season and anyone who says differently is fooling themselves

However, it is clearly a far bigger event for Swansea (what else do they have? ) and you only have to look at social media (and the sudden appearance of the usual Swansea suspects, including the mass multi, on this Bluebird Forum) to see that

It was well over the top and embarrassing in both tone and language; you'd swear they'd won a civil war (quite apt given their siege mentality) and I genuinely don't think most (there will always be the exception) Bluebird supporters would have reacted the same

Jubilation and bragging rights, YES, but behaving like Neanterthals, most certainly NO

It is not and has not ever been the 'biggest' event in our season

We are bigger than that...

If cooper didn’t take it seriously the jacks will turn on him they where turning on him before last season derby lucky for him he won the game down there and the jacks know his fathers links to Cardiff

Cooper wanted it more because he’s a South Walian from Pontypridd. Like his father he obviously supported Cardiff as a kid and wanted to prove to the Jacks that he is on their side now as they are paying his wages! Seen reports that if he continues to be successful he will follow other Jack Managers into the Premier League not necessarily with Swansea. Already has better results than Potter despite having less money, pity we hadn’t signed him same happened with Toshack!

Saturday was a disgrace.

I said on another topic, and stand by it, that the last manager of ours who understood the importance of this match and managed to put that across to the players was Malky.

Ok, let's say the manager matches the fans views and see it as your cup final each year... what does he do differently?

I don't think there is anything he could have done personally, your squad is limited and when it comes up against technical players it struggles. Your ideal scenario is a physical dogfight, which is something we will never provide.

It's a horrible match up for you and will remain so until either style changes. There is going to be a lot more disappointment in these fixtures, regardless of what certain people want to make others believe.

Saturday was a disgrace.

I said on another topic, and stand by it, that the last manager of ours who understood the importance of this match and managed to put that across to the players was Malky.

.shame he didnt motivate us against Norwich the game before or Villa the game after.. the point at Norwich being the least deserved point ive seen us get in nearly 50 years....31 shots ffs

Cooper wanted it more because he’s a South Walian from Pontypridd. Like his father he obviously supported Cardiff as a kid and wanted to prove to the Jacks that he is on their side now as they are paying his wages! Seen reports that if he continues to be successful he will follow other Jack Managers into the Premier League not necessarily with Swansea. Already has better results than Potter despite having less money, pity we hadn’t signed him same happened with Toshack!

This added to the fact it's their fans World Cup final, they have to win or the deliverance fans would be straight down from the backcountry giving them hell, it's life or death for them and three points or not for us!

The worst thing about the game is Moore was injured and Ralls will be suspended for the next game!

Cooper wanted it more because he’s a South Walian from Pontypridd. Like his father he obviously supported Cardiff as a kid and wanted to prove to the Jacks that he is on their side now as they are paying his wages! Seen reports that if he continues to be successful he will follow other Jack Managers into the Premier League not necessarily with Swansea. Already has better results than Potter despite having less money, pity we hadn’t signed him same happened with Toshack!

This added to the fact it's their fans World Cup final, they have to win or the deliverance fans would be straight down from the backcountry giving them hell, it's life or death for them and three points or not for us!

The worst thing about the game is Moore was injured and Ralls will be suspended for the next game!

You honestly believe that, its become a standing joke now which cardiff side will turn up on the day , the one who've lost it before the ball is kicked or the one not good enough to win it . by the way thanks for 3 points see you in March

Cooper wanted it more because he’s a South Walian from Pontypridd. Like his father he obviously supported Cardiff as a kid and wanted to prove to the Jacks that he is on their side now as they are paying his wages! Seen reports that if he continues to be successful he will follow other Jack Managers into the Premier League not necessarily with Swansea. Already has better results than Potter despite having less money, pity we hadn’t signed him same happened with Toshack!

This added to the fact it's their fans World Cup final, they have to win or the deliverance fans would be straight down from the backcountry giving them hell, it's life or death for them and three points or not for us!

The worst thing about the game is Moore was injured and Ralls will be suspended for the next game!

You do realise there is no contact between fans and players right? And hasn’t been for a very long time. There are many players in our side that have never played in front of Swansea fans, including the player that scored both goals.

Judging from how many threads on this forum about the game versus how many on the Swansea forum, I think it may just have been your Cup Final

Cooper wanted it more because he’s a South Walian from Pontypridd. Like his father he obviously supported Cardiff as a kid and wanted to prove to the Jacks that he is on their side now as they are paying his wages! Seen reports that if he continues to be successful he will follow other Jack Managers into the Premier League not necessarily with Swansea. Already has better results than Potter despite having less money, pity we hadn’t signed him same happened with Toshack!

This added to the fact it's their fans World Cup final, they have to win or the deliverance fans would be straight down from the backcountry giving them hell, it's life or death for them and three points or not for us!

The worst thing about the game is Moore was injured and Ralls will be suspended for the next game!

You honestly believe that, its become a standing joke now which cardiff side will turn up on the day , the one who've lost it before the ball is kicked or the one not good enough to win it . by the way thanks for 3 points see you in March

Yes it's just another game, sure we have to put up with tools like Roathy on here but other than that it's becoming pretty irrelevant, you got three points Sunday we got three points yesterday, we are back where we were!

12 points out of 15 is a very good run especially when we have been playing badly

Cooper wanted it more because he’s a South Walian from Pontypridd. Like his father he obviously supported Cardiff as a kid and wanted to prove to the Jacks that he is on their side now as they are paying his wages! Seen reports that if he continues to be successful he will follow other Jack Managers into the Premier League not necessarily with Swansea. Already has better results than Potter despite having less money, pity we hadn’t signed him same happened with Toshack!

This added to the fact it's their fans World Cup final, they have to win or the deliverance fans would be straight down from the backcountry giving them hell, it's life or death for them and three points or not for us!

The worst thing about the game is Moore was injured and Ralls will be suspended for the next game!

You do realise there is no contact between fans and players right? And hasn’t been for a very long time. There are many players in our side that have never played in front of Swansea fans, including the player that scored both goals.

Judging from how many threads on this forum about the game versus how many on the Swansea forum, I think it may just have been your Cup Final

I do realise how life and death it is with your fans, I've worked with many, annoying fuckers most of them are as well, they take the rivalry much more seriously than we do, mostly because your a smaller weaker town, and also because you are out on a limb with no teams anywhere near you other than us 45 miles away.

I#ve also seen the likes of Tate and Trundle being hero worshiped because they held a childish flag

Cooper wanted it more because he’s a South Walian from Pontypridd. Like his father he obviously supported Cardiff as a kid and wanted to prove to the Jacks that he is on their side now as they are paying his wages! Seen reports that if he continues to be successful he will follow other Jack Managers into the Premier League not necessarily with Swansea. Already has better results than Potter despite having less money, pity we hadn’t signed him same happened with Toshack!

This added to the fact it's their fans World Cup final, they have to win or the deliverance fans would be straight down from the backcountry giving them hell, it's life or death for them and three points or not for us!

The worst thing about the game is Moore was injured and Ralls will be suspended for the next game!

You do realise there is no contact between fans and players right? And hasn’t been for a very long time. There are many players in our side that have never played in front of Swansea fans, including the player that scored both goals.

Judging from how many threads on this forum about the game versus how many on the Swansea forum, I think it may just have been your Cup Final

I do realise how life and death it is with your fans, I've worked with many, annoying fuckers most of them are as well, they take the rivalry much more seriously than we do, mostly because your a smaller weaker town, and also because you are out on a limb with no teams anywhere near you other than us 45 miles away.

I#ve also seen the likes of Tate and Trundle being hero worshiped because they held a childish flag

That’s anecdotal, I could say the same but the opposite.

However when we look at the spectrum of the thousands of registered users on the clubs forums, it seems it was far more life and death to your lot. Which common sense suggests considering we have achieved so much where as you seem to have a lot to prove.

Singing about us on your promotion parade suggests this is also the case. Bristol are the convenient go to team when things aren’t going well with your more illustrious neighbours. We both know that’s true.

I’d be interested to count up the threads regarding the Bristol City “derby” too and compare. What you reckon that would be?...

Cooper wanted it more because he’s a South Walian from Pontypridd. Like his father he obviously supported Cardiff as a kid and wanted to prove to the Jacks that he is on their side now as they are paying his wages! Seen reports that if he continues to be successful he will follow other Jack Managers into the Premier League not necessarily with Swansea. Already has better results than Potter despite having less money, pity we hadn’t signed him same happened with Toshack!

This added to the fact it's their fans World Cup final, they have to win or the deliverance fans would be straight down from the backcountry giving them hell, it's life or death for them and three points or not for us!

The worst thing about the game is Moore was injured and Ralls will be suspended for the next game!

You do realise there is no contact between fans and players right? And hasn’t been for a very long time. There are many players in our side that have never played in front of Swansea fans, including the player that scored both goals.

Judging from how many threads on this forum about the game versus how many on the Swansea forum, I think it may just have been your Cup Final

I do realise how life and death it is with your fans, I've worked with many, annoying fuckers most of them are as well, they take the rivalry much more seriously than we do, mostly because your a smaller weaker town, and also because you are out on a limb with no teams anywhere near you other than us 45 miles away.

I#ve also seen the likes of Tate and Trundle being hero worshiped because they held a childish flag

That’s anecdotal, I could say the same but the opposite.

However when we look at the spectrum of the thousands of registered users on the clubs forums, it seems it was far more life and death to your lot. Which common sense suggests considering we have achieved so much where as you seem to have a lot to prove.

Singing about us on your promotion parade suggests this is also the case. Bristol are the convenient go to team when things aren’t going well with your more illustrious neighbours. We both know that’s true.

I’d be interested to count up the threads regarding the Bristol City “derby” too and compare. What you reckon that would be?...

Jesus Christ, can you get more boring?

I've said what I said, it's a much bigger deal for you, as we have Newport and Bristol as close or closer, it's just three points no one cares what you think, now bore off

Jesus Christ, can you get more boring?

I've said what I said, it's a much bigger deal for you, as we have Newport and Bristol as close or closer, it's just three points no one cares what you think, now bore off

It’s not about entertainment, it’s about accuracy.

Proximity doesn’t mean anything. There is 500 miles between Real Madrid and Barca, Preston are closer to Man United than Liverpool etc etc

Your fans don’t care about Newport or Bristol City, regardless of what you try and claim to ease the pain of losing. Again, when you play Bristol City, it’s like a normal game on here. Win or lose, the reaction is the same as any other game. That’s not a derby.

As I also said, being a bigger deal to us will mean we were incessantly talking about it. There was barely a mention on either Swans forum. Why? Because we have nothing to prove, we know we are better and have shown it time and time again. You guys are still talking about it today, why? Because you still have everything to prove.

Not nice to accept I’m sure. But the truth all the same.

Shall we do a thread count?

Jesus Christ, can you get more boring?

I've said what I said, it's a much bigger deal for you, as we have Newport and Bristol as close or closer, it's just three points no one cares what you think, now bore off

It’s not about entertainment, it’s about accuracy.

Proximity doesn’t mean anything. There is 500 miles between Real Madrid and Barca, Preston are closer to Man United than Liverpool etc etc

Your fans don’t care about Newport or Bristol City, regardless of what you try and claim to ease the pain of losing. Again, when you play Bristol City, it’s like a normal game on here. Win or lose, the reaction is the same as any other game. That’s not a derby.

As I also said, being a bigger deal to us will mean we were incessantly talking about it. There was barely a mention on either Swans forum. Why? Because we have nothing to prove, we know we are better and have shown it time and time again. You guys are still talking about it today, why? Because you still have everything to prove.

Not nice to accept I’m sure. But the truth all the same.

Shall we do a thread count?

Just another smaller club and three points up for grabs, it's getting less and less significant every year. What a joke a Swansea tramp on their World cup final rivals board STILL ( days after the event premature ejaculating in his pants) because they won the game and are a couple of points above us saying WE think it's important when everyone is telling you it's just not that important to us bore off you tool

Just another smaller club and three points up for grabs, it's getting less and less significant every year. What a joke a Swansea tramp on their World cup final rivals board STILL ( days after the event premature ejaculating in his pants) because they won the game and are a couple of points above us saying WE think it's important when everyone is telling you it's just not that important to us bore off you tool

The content on here and the other forums clearly goes against what you are trying to claim.