BREAKING MICK McCARTHY: " FRIDAY 26TH FEBRUARY 2021 "

“ MICK McCARTHY WILL TODAY UPDATE CARDIFF FANS “


Friday 26th February 2021



MICK MCARTHY:


"Lee Tomlin not fit enough yet, no where near to put the effort I require, he is not there yet, I expect 90 minutes of 110%, Lee is a long way off that yet."
“Tomlin will have another run out with the U23’s v Charlton next week and maybe quite a few more.”



MICK McCARTHY:

"Kieffer Moore is needing to recover as everyone is trying to get stuck in to him, but he is alright."


"We’ve got to travel up to Teeside & I know we’ll be expecting a really tough game."

"But when a game comes along, we're looking forward to it because we're winning. Let's hope that continues."



'Boro got beaten by Bristol City in midweek, so they’ll be wanting a reaction."

“I’m looking forward to the game. We’re all looking forward to the games because we’re winning them, and let’s hope that continues. If the players keep playing the way they have been, there’s no reason why we should be beaten.”

"We are very similar in how we see things."

"Thanks to Neil, I am at Cardiff today, but all that goes out the window tomorrow, for ninety minutes we will be up against each other, then afterwards, the best of pals."




“ READ BELOW ALL BIG MICKS UPDATES “





MICK MCARTHY:

"Joe Ralls looking ok, possibly making it for Saturday, we will see."

"Lee Tomlin not fit enough yet, no where near to put the effort I require, he is not there yet, I expect 90 minutes of 110%, Lee is a long way off that yet."

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

MICK McCARTHY:

"Its so important that my players get a good rest between matches, they are giving everything."

“The big lads like Sean, Flinty, Nels and Kieffer, they need to recover because they get sore bodies. It’s a tough time for them at the minute, with games coming thick and fast. But we’re managing it, and the players are managing it themselves very well.”

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

Sat Feb 27 Middlesbrough v Cardiff City




7pm Tue Mar 02 CARDIFF CITY v DERBY COUNTY


Live on Sky: 7:45pm Friday Mar 05 Huddersfield Town v Cardiff City

Sat Mar 13 CARDIFF CITY v WATFORD

7pm Tues Mar 16 CARDIFF CITY v STOKE CITY


Live on Sky 5:30pm Sat Mar 20 Swansea City v Cardiff City

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

MICK McCARTHY:


"When you have a bit of adversity, thats when its how our team is and what they do, I've seen it on the pitch, i dont really particularly want to see it with a defeat."

"But the way we are playing and keep playing that way and with our performances, I dont see why we can be beat."

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

MICK McCARTHY:

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

MICK McCARTHY:

"We’ve got to travel up to Teeside & I know we’ll be expecting a really tough game."

"But when a game comes along, we're looking forward to it because we're winning. Let's hope that continues."

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

MICK McCARTHY:

"Neil is a good mate of mine, but obviously for ninety minutes on Saturday he won’t be, and it will be the same feeling for him."

“If anyone ever says one of my teams is nice to play against, I’d be annoyed and insulted. The best teams are horrible to play against, for whatever reason.

“Neil’s teams are likewise. If we came off on Saturday and I said to him: "You were really pleasant to play against", I think he’d be as annoyed as I would be – and that’s not going to be the case.”

"We are very similar in how we see things."

"Thanks to Neil, I am at Cardiff today, but all that goes out the window tomorrow, for ninety minutes we will be up against each other, then afterwards, the best of pals."

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

NEIL WARNOCK:


The former Cardiff City boss Warnock said: "Mick was my apprentice at Barnsley. We've always stayed in touch. I've got so much time for him. Management is all about getting the best out of the players, and I'm so pleased for him."

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

Mick McCarthy comes up against former Bluebirds boss and old pal Neil Warnock this weekend, and the latter has heaped praise on the current Cardiff City boss

Neil Warnock believes Cardiff City could not have chosen anyone better than Mick McCarthy to take the reins for the back half of the season and believes the Bluebirds can "absolutely" get promoted this season.

McCarthy took over from Warnock's successor Neil Harris in January after a poor first half of the season and the results since then have been nothing short of remarkable.

McCarthy has simplified City's game and tinkered the formation to deploy five at the back. The club have now won their last six games in a row, having drawn the previous two.

And Warnock, adored by all those in the Welsh capital for achieving promotion to the Premier League, is delighted his old pal is thriving in the Welsh capital.





NEIL WARNOCK:


"He was my apprentice at Barnsley," Middlesbrough boss Warnock said ahead of the clash with Cardiff City this weekend.

"He was the same old Mick McCarthy back then. He could play a bit.

"He did my boots for a year - not very well.

"You couldn't have got anybody better at Cardiff, I spoke to him and said 'you've got a great group of lads'.

"It will be interesting seeing those message boards, all those who wanted pure football.

"When we played them last year, when they'd changed their style, I'd never seen so many long throws and free-kicks.

"It doesn't bother Mick.

"When I was at Cardiff he was one of the panels as a pundit on the TV. I was getting criticism about the style, he said that's rubbish, there are no laws or legislation, what's the hassle? He's winning games.

"It's appropriate he's got the group and they're winning every game, especially how he left Ipswich. The grass isn't always greener, they haven't pulled up any trees and neither have Republic of Ireland."

McCarthy penned a short-term deal at Cardiff until the end of the season, however there is scope to extend that should the Bluebirds hierarchy see fit.

Just this week, the former Republic of Ireland manager was linked with the vacant Celtic job, with reports saying the Parkhead club perceive McCarthy to be an attractive prospect following Neil Lennon's resignation.

Many Cardiff fans would like to see McCarthy stay on, especially if this incredible form continues, but should that not be the case, Warnock is not worried about the manager's future.

"Mick will get another job if Cardiff don't want him [in the summer], it's one of those situations, nobody really knows what they want," Warnock said.

"I would imagine Vincent [Tan] is absolutely delighted, whereas before I'm not sure he'd have been his choice.

"You know what you're getting with Mick, he's genuine, honest. You have to be careful what you wish for.

"I keep looking at Arsenal, for two years they wanted Wenger out, you can't tell me they've improved since."

When McCarthy took charge, City were wallowing in 15th place and were far more focused on fighting off the the threat of relegation than climbing into the play-off spots.

However, after the impressive 2-1 win away at Bournemouth in midweek, Cardiff leapfrogged the Cherries into sixth place and there is a quiet optimism now reverberating around the City fan base.

And Warnock, who knows a thing or two about achieving promotion at Cardiff City, is confident they can emulate the class of 2017/18 this season with McCarthy at the helm.

"Absolutely," Warnock said when asked if Cardiff can go up this season. "Who'd want to play them? There's only us who'd want to play them and we might not be in them [the play-offs].

"Why would you want to play Cardiff and get battered and kicked and tormented?"

McCarthy himself is looking forward to pitting his wits against Warnock this weekend. However, he knows that for 90 minutes that friendship will be put to one side.

And, after Boro's defeat by Bristol City in midweek, he is expecting a reaction.

“He is a good mate of mine, Warny," McCarthy said. "Obviously for 90 minutes on Saturday he won’t be and it will be the same feeling for him.

“He’s always been bright and innovative in the way he plays.

“If we come off on Saturday and I say to him ‘that was a nice game Neil, you’re really pleasant to play against’, I think he’d be as off as I would be.

“That’s not going to be the case.

“We have to recover, travel and get up there, and I know we’ll be expecting a really tough game because they got beaten by Bristol City so they will be wanting reaction.”

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

Cardiff City given boost with 25-y/o Middlesbrough man ruled out of ‘crucial’ top-six clash tomorrow


MIDDLESBOROUGH INJURY UPDATE:


Middlesbrough will be without forward Ashley Fletcher for their Championship clash with Cardiff City tomorrow, reports Scott Wilson.

The 25-year-old has only just returned from a spell on the sidelines. He spent several months out with a hamstring injury but returned to action last month, having scored twice in his last three outings for Boro.


But he was forced off in the first-half of the 3-1 defeat to Bristol City last time out and now faces ‘up to three weeks’ out with a muscular injury.

#Boro forward Ashley Fletcher ruled out for up to three weeks with muscular injury – also updates in here on Marcus Tavernier and Yannick Bolasie.

It’s terrible timing for Fletcher and Middlesbrough – the striker was a welcome return for Neil Warnock’s often goal-shy side, and his injury comes in the middle of contract discussions with the striker.

His absence will make the task of overcoming Cardiff City in the Championship tomorrow a whole lot harder for Boro.




BORO TEAM NEWS:

Middlesbrough will be without Ashley Fletcher for the clash with Cardiff City.

The striker came off clutching his hamstring against Bristol City and according to Neil Warnock the player could be out for two or three weeks as a result.

Elsewhere Marcus Tavernier and Yannick Bolasie are closing in on a return to action but may not be ready for the weekend’s clash with the Bluebirds.


There’s a lot riding on this game with Middlesbrough in 9th, only three points behind Cardiff City in 6th. Mick McCarthy remains unbeaten since taking charge last month with his side winning their last six in the league.


It’s made the game at the Riverside tomorrow an all-important one in the bid for a spot in the top-six this season – a win for Cardiff could see them leapfrog 4th-place Reading, whilst a win for Middlesbrough could see them replace Cardiff in 6th.

McCarthy has performed against the odds at Cardiff. His appointment seemed an underwhelming one but to be his credit, he’s galvanised a rapidly deflating side in Cardiff City, who’ll give Boro a lot of problems tomorrow.

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

ROB PHILLIPS: TAKING ON NEIL WARNOCK:


MICK McCARTHY:

"I'm not taking on Neil Warnock, my players are playing against Middlesborough."

"Warnock has always been bright and the way he plays, you have to really know your game, this is going to be a really tough game."

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

ROB PHILLIPS: THEY ARE A HORRIBLE TEAM TO PLAY AGAINST?








MICK McCARTHY:

"I did not say that,you said that, No I'm looking forward to the game."

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

MICK MCARTHY:




PERRY NG

"Perry is getting better and better and he is learning how tough this league is, he is being aggressive and winning that ball back, he is brilliant, I am loving him."

"By the way being aggressive is not nasty football, its about winning the ball back."

"Ive told him its not about playing nice football, its about winning the ball back, stopping the opposition, getting back up and he is doing that."

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

ROB PHILLIPS:



NOW YOUR IN THE TOP SIX, YOUR THERE TO BE HUNTED?


MICK MCARTHY:

"Being in the top six, we are there, I would prefer to be there than being in the bottom six,than being hunted by the bottom six, if we drop out of the top six, people will be saying oh you dropped out, so what?, we will end up where we end up, just keep winning our games."

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

MICK MCARTHY:

"Joe Ralls looking ok, possibly making it for Saturday, we will see."

"Lee Tomlin not fit enough yet, no where near to put the effort I require, he is not there yet, I expect 90 minutes of 110%, Lee is a long way off that yet."

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

Nathaniel Mendez-Laing is "busting a gut" to make his first Middlesbrough start and has "had one eye" on making it against his former club Cardiff City, Neil Warnock has said.

Mendez-Laing was sacked by Cardiff on the eve of the season when the club released a bombshell statement which stated the player had been released following a serious breach of contract.

It has since come to light that Mendez-Laing was banned twice last season after cocaine was found in his system, with the second offence leading to the termination of his contract.

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

MICK MCARTHY:

"Joe Ralls looking ok, possibly making it for Saturday, we will see."

"Lee Tomlin not fit enough yet, no where near to put the effort I require, he is not there yet, I expect 90 minutes of 110%, Lee is a long way off that yet."




Joe Ralls / Junior Hoilett will be decided on Friday after a late fitness test.

Jonny Williams and Sheri Ojo will be on the bench.


Lee Tomlin still not fit, but will play for the U23’s next Tuesday v Charlton.

Isaac Vassell remains the long-term absentee, while Jordi Osei-Tutu is still not back to full fitness as he recovers from his hamstring injury.

Sol Bamba, sadly seriously ill.

Has Tomlin a place in a Mick's side?

Mick McCarthy said today that Lee Tomlin was nowhere near ready to play the way Wilson and Murphy do. Given that his fitness has never been at the sort of level that you need to play a pressing game, I doubt we will ever see him start while MM is in charge, and a place on the bench even, not guaranteed.

Mick McCarthy says he would rather play golf than allow Cardiff City to become a side Championship rivals enjoy playing against.

The Bluebirds have surged into the second tier's top six having won six straight games.




Friday 26th February 2021



Midfielder Will Vaulks reckons Cardiff are a "horrible" opponent - and his manager agrees.





MICK McCARTHY:

"If anybody every says one of my teams is nice to play against, I will be so annoyed and insulted," McCarthy said.

"The best teams are horrible to my play against, for whatever reason.

"Manchester City are horrible to play against because of their press and (the way) they keep the ball - they just run all over the top of you.

"Liverpool last year ran all over the top of teams.

"Manchester United in their pomp were the hardest-working team. They might have had the best players, but they worked harder than everyone else as well. Strange isn't it?

"So if anybody comes off and says 'that was a nice game Mick, you are really pleasant to play against', well I might be packing it in and playing golf somewhere I think."


Mick McCarthy reflects on moving into the play-off places


Cardiff were 17th in the Championship and 13 points adrift of the play-off places when McCarthy replaced Neil Harris.

They have since gone unbeaten in eight games - midweek victory at Bournemouth means McCarthy's rejuvenated side have taken 20 points from a possible 24 - and head to Middlesbrough this Saturday.

That means a reunion with Neil Warnock, the man who led Cardiff to promotion to the Premier League in 2018.

"He is a good mate of mine, Warny," McCarthy added. "Obviously for 90 minutes on Saturday he won't be and it will be the same feeling for him.

"He's always been bright and innovative in the way he plays.

"If we come off on Saturday and I say to him 'that was a nice game Neil, you're really pleasant to play against', I think he'd be as (annoyed) as I would be.

"That's not going to be the case."

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

Has Tomlin a place in a Mick's side?

Mick McCarthy said today that Lee Tomlin was nowhere near ready to play the way Wilson and Murphy do. Given that his fitness has never been at the sort of level that you need to play a pressing game, I doubt we will ever see him start while MM is in charge, and a place on the bench even, not guaranteed.

I agree.

I didn’t think Murphy would adapt but he’s found a work rate that many of us didn’t exist in him. But I just don’t think Tomlin is physically capable of playing in this set-up.

Not a bad sub in a tight game mind !!