WILL VAULKS:
Mon Feb 08, 2021 9:05 am
Will Vaulks says Mick McCarthy has lifted the cloud hanging over Cardiff City and insists he's not yet given up on ambitions of a top-six finish.
Monday 8th February 2021
The midfielder put in a superb showing during the 2-0 win over Severnside rivals Bristol City on Saturday - their first win under the new boss, and their first positive return since December.
In terms of the quality of the performance, this was one of City's best for some time, and it was impossible not to notice the renewed verve and confidence pulsating throughout the team at Ashton Gate.
And while Vaulks admits that some of the calls made by the new boss have raised a few eyebrows, the change in mood means everyone has clearly bought into the new regime.
WILL VAULKS:
"Everyone is more happy and I think happy players make better players," Vaulks explained.
"He’s not afraid to say what he thinks, but he will also encourage you and say, ‘you’ve been brilliant, but you could do better in this.’
"So far, I’d say it’s his man-management skills that have lifted us. But he also knows what he is doing, tactically.
"Against Barnsley, when we were 2-0, down, he put a centre-half on.
"I thought, ‘what’s going on here?’ But he changed the team shape and we came back to 2-2 and almost won that game.
"Our aim at the moment is just to build on each result. I felt as though we got better after Barnsley, when we played Millwall, and we were better again against Bristol.
"We know from when we won four on the spin previously, we’re not that far off. We’re aware as players that we need a run."
According to the Wales international, one of the key advantages McCarthy brings to the table is that he understands not only the strengths of each player, but also their limitations.
It's perhaps no coincidence then that the frustrations over square pegs being shoved into round holes that often punctuated the latter part of the Neil Harris era have now eased slightly, making way for a more expansive system that appears to suit each member of the team.
"We’re told what to do and if we do that then he’s happy," Vaulks added. "We are happy as players too. Since he came in he’s expected you to be the best you can be, do what you’re good at, and he’ll take care of everything else.
"If you’re not good at headers or whatever, he’ll accept that, so long as you’re good at what you’re good at. The minimum he expects is workrate, winning your fights and your battles.
"You have to always maintain belief in the team and yourself as an individual. We haven’t had much luck over the last little while, including some goals we conceded, so it felt like everything was against us.
"With the new gaffer coming in, there was a line drawn in the sand. Today, all we did was cut out errors, and when you cut our errors you win the game of football."
Of course, one of the men at the forefront of Cardiff's recent revival is Kieffer Moore, who has now scored in each of the first three games under McCarthy and, given his relationship with the Yorkshireman and assistant Terry Connor, there are high hopes that he can keep that rich run of form going.
Then again, Vaulks himself is clearly getting sick of talking about his former Rotherham team-mate.
He joked: "Every time I do a Zoom, all I get asked about is Kieffer Moore! I’m sick of talking about him – the big oaf!
"Nah, he’s brilliant. He’s our talisman and he did so much running today. I think with this shape you rely on your No.9 to do a lot of running and chase everything.
"I have known Kieffer for a long time. He’s getting – not back to his best, because he was never off form – but he’s bounced back from injury really well and we’re seeing what he can really do.
"I’d like him to get me an assist because I put him through twice today and he missed both, so that wasn’t good enough from him!"
Few will be asking the question too loudly in the dressing room, but the recent upturn in performances will certainly leave many fans wondering just how far City can really go this season after such a slow start.
The official party line is clearly to take each game at a time, but Vaulks himself has his own ideas.
"I’m not lying to say that as players we believe the club should be up there," he added.
"We know that we’re not going to be right up there this season, because too much has gone. But I’m not going to be shy about it, I want to push for that sixth place. Why not?
"Why not try and get as far up the league as possible? If you’re not trying to then what’s the point. But we know we’re a little while off that and we just have to keep racking up the wins and see where that takes us."
That has to continue with a win at in-form Rotherham United on Tuesday night.
Monday 8th February 2021
The midfielder put in a superb showing during the 2-0 win over Severnside rivals Bristol City on Saturday - their first win under the new boss, and their first positive return since December.
In terms of the quality of the performance, this was one of City's best for some time, and it was impossible not to notice the renewed verve and confidence pulsating throughout the team at Ashton Gate.
And while Vaulks admits that some of the calls made by the new boss have raised a few eyebrows, the change in mood means everyone has clearly bought into the new regime.
WILL VAULKS:
"Everyone is more happy and I think happy players make better players," Vaulks explained.
"He’s not afraid to say what he thinks, but he will also encourage you and say, ‘you’ve been brilliant, but you could do better in this.’
"So far, I’d say it’s his man-management skills that have lifted us. But he also knows what he is doing, tactically.
"Against Barnsley, when we were 2-0, down, he put a centre-half on.
"I thought, ‘what’s going on here?’ But he changed the team shape and we came back to 2-2 and almost won that game.
"Our aim at the moment is just to build on each result. I felt as though we got better after Barnsley, when we played Millwall, and we were better again against Bristol.
"We know from when we won four on the spin previously, we’re not that far off. We’re aware as players that we need a run."
According to the Wales international, one of the key advantages McCarthy brings to the table is that he understands not only the strengths of each player, but also their limitations.
It's perhaps no coincidence then that the frustrations over square pegs being shoved into round holes that often punctuated the latter part of the Neil Harris era have now eased slightly, making way for a more expansive system that appears to suit each member of the team.
"We’re told what to do and if we do that then he’s happy," Vaulks added. "We are happy as players too. Since he came in he’s expected you to be the best you can be, do what you’re good at, and he’ll take care of everything else.
"If you’re not good at headers or whatever, he’ll accept that, so long as you’re good at what you’re good at. The minimum he expects is workrate, winning your fights and your battles.
"You have to always maintain belief in the team and yourself as an individual. We haven’t had much luck over the last little while, including some goals we conceded, so it felt like everything was against us.
"With the new gaffer coming in, there was a line drawn in the sand. Today, all we did was cut out errors, and when you cut our errors you win the game of football."
Of course, one of the men at the forefront of Cardiff's recent revival is Kieffer Moore, who has now scored in each of the first three games under McCarthy and, given his relationship with the Yorkshireman and assistant Terry Connor, there are high hopes that he can keep that rich run of form going.
Then again, Vaulks himself is clearly getting sick of talking about his former Rotherham team-mate.
He joked: "Every time I do a Zoom, all I get asked about is Kieffer Moore! I’m sick of talking about him – the big oaf!
"Nah, he’s brilliant. He’s our talisman and he did so much running today. I think with this shape you rely on your No.9 to do a lot of running and chase everything.
"I have known Kieffer for a long time. He’s getting – not back to his best, because he was never off form – but he’s bounced back from injury really well and we’re seeing what he can really do.
"I’d like him to get me an assist because I put him through twice today and he missed both, so that wasn’t good enough from him!"
Few will be asking the question too loudly in the dressing room, but the recent upturn in performances will certainly leave many fans wondering just how far City can really go this season after such a slow start.
The official party line is clearly to take each game at a time, but Vaulks himself has his own ideas.
"I’m not lying to say that as players we believe the club should be up there," he added.
"We know that we’re not going to be right up there this season, because too much has gone. But I’m not going to be shy about it, I want to push for that sixth place. Why not?
"Why not try and get as far up the league as possible? If you’re not trying to then what’s the point. But we know we’re a little while off that and we just have to keep racking up the wins and see where that takes us."
That has to continue with a win at in-form Rotherham United on Tuesday night.
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Re: WILL VAULKS:
Mon Feb 08, 2021 10:11 am
No way we are finishing top six. Even if we go on a little winning run, we have to rely on everyone else above us to drop points at some stage. No reason why we can’t finish inside the top ten, but the playoffs are a million miles away at the moment.
Re: WILL VAULKS:
Mon Feb 08, 2021 10:17 am
It would be some achievement to get to the top 6 for sure.
Making us safe from relegation is the priority. If what he is saying is true about round pegs in square holes then we will soon be out of the relegation fight. We will find out very soon.
Making us safe from relegation is the priority. If what he is saying is true about round pegs in square holes then we will soon be out of the relegation fight. We will find out very soon.
Re: WILL VAULKS:
Mon Feb 08, 2021 10:33 am
Refreshing to hear i have been a big critic of vaulks he has been shocking all season but put in a shift sat
but my mother put in shifts every day of her life
vaulks to me has just started so will praise saturdays effort but will reserve judgment
The bigger question is whats a matter with these professional footballers need all this loving before they can perform a bit wet if you ask me but hey ho whatever it takes.
but my mother put in shifts every day of her life
vaulks to me has just started so will praise saturdays effort but will reserve judgment
The bigger question is whats a matter with these professional footballers need all this loving before they can perform a bit wet if you ask me but hey ho whatever it takes.
Re: WILL VAULKS:
Mon Feb 08, 2021 10:36 am
same again please CITY
Re: WILL VAULKS:
Mon Feb 08, 2021 12:33 pm
Vaulks, Ralls and Bacuna's biggest assets are their engines. Their ability to cover ground, make a tackle get a block in, just cover, follow a runner. It's not taking the ball down and controlling the pace and direction of the game with their passing game, they need to be able to pass but they are not going to win any plaudits.
When we played with three it takes away their biggest asset as they get in each other's way, so Harris's solution was to throw Rall upfield, which was a disaster every time.
Vaulks and Ralls are stoppers with the ability to make the odd great pass. Their work rate compensates a Tomlin and that's what Harris accidentally arrived at at the end of last season.
I give it to Mick, I never saw a 343 working, but he somehow got it working
When we played with three it takes away their biggest asset as they get in each other's way, so Harris's solution was to throw Rall upfield, which was a disaster every time.
Vaulks and Ralls are stoppers with the ability to make the odd great pass. Their work rate compensates a Tomlin and that's what Harris accidentally arrived at at the end of last season.
I give it to Mick, I never saw a 343 working, but he somehow got it working
Re: WILL VAULKS:
Mon Feb 08, 2021 1:53 pm
llan bluebird wrote:Vaulks, Ralls and Bacuna's biggest assets are their engines. Their ability to cover ground, make a tackle get a block in, just cover, follow a runner. It's not taking the ball down and controlling the pace and direction of the game with their passing game, they need to be able to pass but they are not going to win any plaudits.
When we played with three it takes away their biggest asset as they get in each other's way, so Harris's solution was to throw Rall upfield, which was a disaster every time.
Vaulks and Ralls are stoppers with the ability to make the odd great pass. Their work rate compensates a Tomlin and that's what Harris accidentally arrived at at the end of last season.
I give it to Mick, I never saw a 343 working, but he somehow got it working
A lot of people have said it all season, that you don't need 3 of them in the team. Either Harris was completely stubborn in his tactics and wanted to show that his tactics would work, or he was completely clueless. Either way it cost him his job and cost us a crack at promotion. Mick has shown more tactical awareness in 3 games than Harris did the entire time he was here.
Re: WILL VAULKS:
Mon Feb 08, 2021 2:09 pm
montyblue wrote:Refreshing to hear i have been a big critic of vaulks he has been shocking all season but put in a shift sat
but my mother put in shifts every day of her life
vaulks to me has just started so will praise saturdays effort but will reserve judgment
The bigger question is whats a matter with these professional footballers need all this loving before they can perform a bit wet if you ask me but hey ho whatever it takes.
we changed manager 3 games ago mate.... and selection / game plan / tactics / formation changed along with it...
i know your mum was hard working but whatever her job if her boss told her to do it a different way , thats what she would have had to do...and if by doing that she became far less productive.. you maybe then wouldnt be so proud of her through no fault of her own.. ?