If you are a Cardiff City fan right now, the silence is bec
Wed Jan 25, 2023 10:44 am
Vincent Tan needs to get Cardiff City out of this mess as inaction over manager decision leaves them staring at relegation.
The Bluebirds are in the middle of a relegation battle and have not appointed a manager a week and a half after sacking Mark Hudson
Cardiff have got away with paying relative pennies for the last three managers.
If you are a Cardiff City fan right now, the silence is becoming worryingly deafening.
Tan must shoulder the blame for Cardiff spiralling into this situation.
Vincent Tan needs to get Cardiff City out of this mess he has created.
Huddersfield Town have added two strikers and two wingers and all the clubs around Cardiff are doing similar.
SPORT
By Glen Williams
Wednesday 25th January 2023
If you are a Cardiff City fan right now, the silence is becoming worryingly deafening.
More than a week-and-a-half after the club sacked Mark Hudson as manager, nothing has changed. We are told there has been an influx of applications for the manager's job, but how close are we to an appointment? And what is the criteria for a successful applicant?
Let's rewind to a week ago. If Cardiff had hammered Leeds United 5-0 in the FA Cup third-round replay and they resultantly sacked Jesse Marsch, you can bet your bottom dollar they would have had five candidates lined up for interviews within the next few days. All of whom would have been like-minded with similar footballing ideals and philosophies, just like when they appointed Marsch after Marcelo Bielsa's departure.
After Cardiff let Hudson go, the names on the bookmakers' odds list, some of which had credence and others not so much, were a veritable feast of culture mish-mashes. From Sam Allardyce and Neil Warnock to ex-MK Dons boss Liam Manning and Port Vale manager Darrell Clarke.
There was about as much coherence over where the punters' money was going as there appears to be internally over the direction of the football club and that is the biggest worry of all.
A football brain on the board is a necessity now.
It has been for some time but alarmingly so now. And Vincent Tan would do well to swallow his pride and admit that. It's the right thing to do and everyone on the outside looking in is screaming it at the top of their lungs.
For one reason or another, though, Tan appears loath to appoint such a figure again. Not since Iain Moody, who was essentially that figure during Malky Mackay's days, after wasting money on players like Andreas Cornelius, which is still a massive source of pain for Cardiff's owner. Save a short-lived stint for Russell Slade, of course.
Having been convinced by the likes of Warnock to spend so heavily on players, Tan likely feels burnt by the millions of wasted pounds and feels he should have ultimate control over how it is spent, rather than delegate such costly decisions to someone else.
And there are no two ways about it, implementing a director of football would require a concession of some power and responsibility, which would doubtless leave a sour taste in the owner's mouth, but as Apple founder Steve Jobs famously said: “It doesn't make sense to hire smart people and then tell them what to do. We hire smart people so they can tell us what to do.”
Tan would do well to heed such advice.
Because now we appear to be caught between two stools, with the club at the mercy of one man's whim and that whim, if Tan gets it wrong, could leave City staring at the financially ruinous prospect of dropping into English football's third tier with no guarantees of a return in the near future.
The owner's philosophy is of giving interim managers a run at the job, as he has done with Steve Morison, Mark Hudson and now, albeit briefly, Dean Whitehead, the pattern suggests quite clearly that plan is not working.
As such, many are banging the drum for a more experienced manager to come in. A Warnock, a Sean Dyche, a Dean Smith or even a Steve Bruce at this point. It's also worth noting that none of these names can be ruled out. However Allardyce, another man cut from a similar cloth, has appeared to rule himself out of the running, which you can read about here.
Some might think that is short-term thinking but it is far better than the alternative, because dropping to League One would spell utter disaster.
Cardiff is unique in its structure and that is why it lends itself to an disciplinarian or experienced head in the dugout. The ability to cope with the size of the club, the intense scrutiny and huge media profile that goes with that, and managing upwards is just as important as coaching the players on the grass at the Vale.
You need a character of stature in the dugout to cope with the special demands.
It is why the three most successful managers of recent times — Dave Jones, Mackay and Warnock — all shared similar traits in that regard. Mick McCarthy showed signs of being able to handle the pressure cooker, too, before it all want so terribly wrong in his final eight matches. Even he isn't sure what happened there, which you can read about here.
And forgive us for continuing to throw this down your throats, but that is yet another reason why a technical director or director of football, whatever the title would be, is exactly what Cardiff need. If the club is to evolve and give younger managers a chance, they need a buffer between themselves and the owner. They need a figure, a mediator, in between to extinguish troublesome fires before they burst into destructive and harmful flames.
Because it is and has been heartening to see the club at least try to evolve the style of play, give youth its head and adopt a more manageable and, importantly, sustainable wage bill. Other clubs, with the correct structures in place, have succeeded by implementing such an approach.
But back to the manager search and the lack of movement on it all. It appears we have reached an impasse. Do the Cardiff hierarchy place more faith in the untested youth, or to go route one with the devil you know? Tan has clearly been in favour of the vigour and excitement of youth, others on the inside may be more risk averse and feel there is a need for a wise old hand at the tiller.
There is, however, a cost factor to all of this. Cardiff have got away with paying relative pennies for the last three managers, having been burnt by having to pay off McCarthy and others before him. Whitehead, or A.N. Other of a similar ilk, would be the cost-effective option.
But with the club on its current trajectory, that's a false economy. Saving pennies now will soon come back to bite them when the revenue streams through ticket sales, sponsorship and TV money dry up noticeably next season if they are relegated.
We understand both Sabri Lamouchi, formerly of Nottingham Forest, and Valerien Ismael, formerly of Barnsley, West Brom and most recently Besiktas, are among those on the club's shortlist of options, and perhaps that represents a happy medium. They are managers with experience, both in the Championship and abroad, and are of the new school, too, so to speak.
Given they have both managed big clubs recently, though, will they want too much money? That must be considered.
The point is, of course, that should have been a consideration before Tan pulled the trigger on Hudson's time at the club. Or even before Morison was sacked. These knee-jerk reactions with no plan in place to drive the club forward have become harmful, in my eyes. Surely, Tan must recognise the pattern?
They've escaped it in the past through savvy mid-season transfer windows or McCarthy going on an 11-game unbeaten run. Will they be so lucky this time, or does that luck run out soon?
Tan must shoulder the blame for Cardiff spiralling into this situation. But, pertinently, as we look forward, he also has the power to get them out of it. With the right appointment and positive transfers to reinvigorate this club, it is far from a lost cause. But time is of the essence. Urgency is required.
The Bluebirds are in the middle of a relegation battle and have not appointed a manager a week and a half after sacking Mark Hudson
Cardiff have got away with paying relative pennies for the last three managers.
If you are a Cardiff City fan right now, the silence is becoming worryingly deafening.
Tan must shoulder the blame for Cardiff spiralling into this situation.
Vincent Tan needs to get Cardiff City out of this mess he has created.
Huddersfield Town have added two strikers and two wingers and all the clubs around Cardiff are doing similar.
SPORT
By Glen Williams
Wednesday 25th January 2023
If you are a Cardiff City fan right now, the silence is becoming worryingly deafening.
More than a week-and-a-half after the club sacked Mark Hudson as manager, nothing has changed. We are told there has been an influx of applications for the manager's job, but how close are we to an appointment? And what is the criteria for a successful applicant?
Let's rewind to a week ago. If Cardiff had hammered Leeds United 5-0 in the FA Cup third-round replay and they resultantly sacked Jesse Marsch, you can bet your bottom dollar they would have had five candidates lined up for interviews within the next few days. All of whom would have been like-minded with similar footballing ideals and philosophies, just like when they appointed Marsch after Marcelo Bielsa's departure.
After Cardiff let Hudson go, the names on the bookmakers' odds list, some of which had credence and others not so much, were a veritable feast of culture mish-mashes. From Sam Allardyce and Neil Warnock to ex-MK Dons boss Liam Manning and Port Vale manager Darrell Clarke.
There was about as much coherence over where the punters' money was going as there appears to be internally over the direction of the football club and that is the biggest worry of all.
A football brain on the board is a necessity now.
It has been for some time but alarmingly so now. And Vincent Tan would do well to swallow his pride and admit that. It's the right thing to do and everyone on the outside looking in is screaming it at the top of their lungs.
For one reason or another, though, Tan appears loath to appoint such a figure again. Not since Iain Moody, who was essentially that figure during Malky Mackay's days, after wasting money on players like Andreas Cornelius, which is still a massive source of pain for Cardiff's owner. Save a short-lived stint for Russell Slade, of course.
Having been convinced by the likes of Warnock to spend so heavily on players, Tan likely feels burnt by the millions of wasted pounds and feels he should have ultimate control over how it is spent, rather than delegate such costly decisions to someone else.
And there are no two ways about it, implementing a director of football would require a concession of some power and responsibility, which would doubtless leave a sour taste in the owner's mouth, but as Apple founder Steve Jobs famously said: “It doesn't make sense to hire smart people and then tell them what to do. We hire smart people so they can tell us what to do.”
Tan would do well to heed such advice.
Because now we appear to be caught between two stools, with the club at the mercy of one man's whim and that whim, if Tan gets it wrong, could leave City staring at the financially ruinous prospect of dropping into English football's third tier with no guarantees of a return in the near future.
The owner's philosophy is of giving interim managers a run at the job, as he has done with Steve Morison, Mark Hudson and now, albeit briefly, Dean Whitehead, the pattern suggests quite clearly that plan is not working.
As such, many are banging the drum for a more experienced manager to come in. A Warnock, a Sean Dyche, a Dean Smith or even a Steve Bruce at this point. It's also worth noting that none of these names can be ruled out. However Allardyce, another man cut from a similar cloth, has appeared to rule himself out of the running, which you can read about here.
Some might think that is short-term thinking but it is far better than the alternative, because dropping to League One would spell utter disaster.
Cardiff is unique in its structure and that is why it lends itself to an disciplinarian or experienced head in the dugout. The ability to cope with the size of the club, the intense scrutiny and huge media profile that goes with that, and managing upwards is just as important as coaching the players on the grass at the Vale.
You need a character of stature in the dugout to cope with the special demands.
It is why the three most successful managers of recent times — Dave Jones, Mackay and Warnock — all shared similar traits in that regard. Mick McCarthy showed signs of being able to handle the pressure cooker, too, before it all want so terribly wrong in his final eight matches. Even he isn't sure what happened there, which you can read about here.
And forgive us for continuing to throw this down your throats, but that is yet another reason why a technical director or director of football, whatever the title would be, is exactly what Cardiff need. If the club is to evolve and give younger managers a chance, they need a buffer between themselves and the owner. They need a figure, a mediator, in between to extinguish troublesome fires before they burst into destructive and harmful flames.
Because it is and has been heartening to see the club at least try to evolve the style of play, give youth its head and adopt a more manageable and, importantly, sustainable wage bill. Other clubs, with the correct structures in place, have succeeded by implementing such an approach.
But back to the manager search and the lack of movement on it all. It appears we have reached an impasse. Do the Cardiff hierarchy place more faith in the untested youth, or to go route one with the devil you know? Tan has clearly been in favour of the vigour and excitement of youth, others on the inside may be more risk averse and feel there is a need for a wise old hand at the tiller.
There is, however, a cost factor to all of this. Cardiff have got away with paying relative pennies for the last three managers, having been burnt by having to pay off McCarthy and others before him. Whitehead, or A.N. Other of a similar ilk, would be the cost-effective option.
But with the club on its current trajectory, that's a false economy. Saving pennies now will soon come back to bite them when the revenue streams through ticket sales, sponsorship and TV money dry up noticeably next season if they are relegated.
We understand both Sabri Lamouchi, formerly of Nottingham Forest, and Valerien Ismael, formerly of Barnsley, West Brom and most recently Besiktas, are among those on the club's shortlist of options, and perhaps that represents a happy medium. They are managers with experience, both in the Championship and abroad, and are of the new school, too, so to speak.
Given they have both managed big clubs recently, though, will they want too much money? That must be considered.
The point is, of course, that should have been a consideration before Tan pulled the trigger on Hudson's time at the club. Or even before Morison was sacked. These knee-jerk reactions with no plan in place to drive the club forward have become harmful, in my eyes. Surely, Tan must recognise the pattern?
They've escaped it in the past through savvy mid-season transfer windows or McCarthy going on an 11-game unbeaten run. Will they be so lucky this time, or does that luck run out soon?
Tan must shoulder the blame for Cardiff spiralling into this situation. But, pertinently, as we look forward, he also has the power to get them out of it. With the right appointment and positive transfers to reinvigorate this club, it is far from a lost cause. But time is of the essence. Urgency is required.
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Re: Vincent Tan needs to get Cardiff City out of this mess h
Wed Jan 25, 2023 10:48 am
Cardiff are days away from next Tuesday's transfer deadline, having signed a grand total of zero players, with no manager in place, not enough goals in the squad and a group of players utterly shorn of confidence.
They are 21st in the division and it's not even in their hands anymore whether they drop into the relegation zone. Huddersfield, directly below them, are just three points behind with two games in hand. Blackpool, in 23rd, are three points adrift with a game in hand on Cardiff, too.
Who'd bet against McCarthy producing some kind of great escape act for them, just as he did initially with Cardiff upon replacing Neil Harris?
It's play-off chasing Luton Town next for City, with the Hatters having won four of their last five games under Rob Edwards, a manager who was out of work when Cardiff were looking for Morison's replacement back in the autumn.
It is genuinely worrying now. Fans who were laughing about the prospect of heading to Exeter City or Port Vale on away days next year are now angry about it becoming a reality sooner rather than later.
Other teams around Cardiff are strengthening or making moves. Blackpool have got McCarthy in the building and have made three excellent loan transfers from Premier League teams. Rotherham have signed Sean Morrison and are on the brink of adding Jordan Hugill, too, both additions will strengthen them.
Huddersfield Town have added two strikers and two wingers, among them Anthony Knockaert and Martyn Waghorn, both of whom are experienced at this level and will add to their attack. Wigan have even brought in three players to bolster the spine of their team, including Steven Caulker who was terrific against Cardiff in Hudson's last game.
The coming days MUST bring a quickening of pace in this manager search. If it doesn't and this month peters out with the club's situation remaining in its current guise, then the prospect of League One football in the summer looms large.
They are 21st in the division and it's not even in their hands anymore whether they drop into the relegation zone. Huddersfield, directly below them, are just three points behind with two games in hand. Blackpool, in 23rd, are three points adrift with a game in hand on Cardiff, too.
Who'd bet against McCarthy producing some kind of great escape act for them, just as he did initially with Cardiff upon replacing Neil Harris?
It's play-off chasing Luton Town next for City, with the Hatters having won four of their last five games under Rob Edwards, a manager who was out of work when Cardiff were looking for Morison's replacement back in the autumn.
It is genuinely worrying now. Fans who were laughing about the prospect of heading to Exeter City or Port Vale on away days next year are now angry about it becoming a reality sooner rather than later.
Other teams around Cardiff are strengthening or making moves. Blackpool have got McCarthy in the building and have made three excellent loan transfers from Premier League teams. Rotherham have signed Sean Morrison and are on the brink of adding Jordan Hugill, too, both additions will strengthen them.
Huddersfield Town have added two strikers and two wingers, among them Anthony Knockaert and Martyn Waghorn, both of whom are experienced at this level and will add to their attack. Wigan have even brought in three players to bolster the spine of their team, including Steven Caulker who was terrific against Cardiff in Hudson's last game.
The coming days MUST bring a quickening of pace in this manager search. If it doesn't and this month peters out with the club's situation remaining in its current guise, then the prospect of League One football in the summer looms large.
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Re: Vincent Tan needs to get Cardiff City out of this mess h
Wed Jan 25, 2023 10:48 am
Quite plain he is now being bloody minded and running us into the ground
Re: If you are a Cardiff City fan right now, the silence is
Wed Jan 25, 2023 11:13 am
All the sides around us at the bottom and I mean ALL of them have strengthened their squads over the last few weeks and will be better than they were up until now
We haven’t even got a permanent Manager and haven’t strengthened the squad at all
The next 7 days are huge for the future of Cardiff City
Tan needs to get some big,big decisions correct over the next week or we WILL be relegated
We haven’t even got a permanent Manager and haven’t strengthened the squad at all
The next 7 days are huge for the future of Cardiff City
Tan needs to get some big,big decisions correct over the next week or we WILL be relegated
Re: Vincent Tan needs to get Cardiff City out of this mess h
Wed Jan 25, 2023 11:19 am
fred keenor wrote:Quite plain he is now being bloody minded and running us into the ground
I hear what you’re saying mate but surely he’s not that crazy? He’d be sending his own money effectively down the pan. Why oh why can’t he appoint a manager and say ‘there you go, 6 days to get a few loans in’.
Re: If you are a Cardiff City fan right now, the silence is
Wed Jan 25, 2023 11:34 am
Even I will admit that I have to agree with you, it is becoming very worrying that there seems to be so little much of anything going on, not that we can see anyway. It certainly seems as though the deleted post about Whitehead as manager until the end of the season is becoming reality slightly, which in itself is worrying as I questioned why he was even brought in as a coach (Hudsons mate) and here we are.
I have no answers as even if he did sell it will be late to change anything, looks as though a trip to the Gas (another 12 sunday kick off) after all these years is in the pipeline.
I have no answers as even if he did sell it will be late to change anything, looks as though a trip to the Gas (another 12 sunday kick off) after all these years is in the pipeline.
Re: If you are a Cardiff City fan right now, the silence is
Wed Jan 25, 2023 11:35 am
Tan simply wont do anything due to the money he might be about to spend on the whole Sala situation.
The board has next to no power in the club to make big decisions like who is manager and who to sign.
Our club is slowly becoming a club that is gearing up for life in League 1. And like i said before with teams buying new players I can only see them overtaking Cardiff in the table. The only way to improve our club is if Tan Choo and Dalmin all leave and the only way to do this is relegation. Our club need to rebuild an identity all over again and become the great club we was over 10 years ago.
The board has next to no power in the club to make big decisions like who is manager and who to sign.
Our club is slowly becoming a club that is gearing up for life in League 1. And like i said before with teams buying new players I can only see them overtaking Cardiff in the table. The only way to improve our club is if Tan Choo and Dalmin all leave and the only way to do this is relegation. Our club need to rebuild an identity all over again and become the great club we was over 10 years ago.
Re: If you are a Cardiff City fan right now, the silence is
Wed Jan 25, 2023 1:25 pm
If we had anyone lined up surely they would have been here by now a bit like all the clubs around us signing 3/4 players amd it was tan that fired hudson in rhe middle of a transfer window
Hudson should come out and say what players he had lined up if any.
Hudson should come out and say what players he had lined up if any.
Re: If you are a Cardiff City fan right now, the silence is
Wed Jan 25, 2023 4:30 pm
montyblue wrote:If we had anyone lined up surely they would have been here by now a bit like all the clubs around us signing 3/4 players amd it was tan that fired hudson in rhe middle of a transfer window
Hudson should come out and say what players he had lined up if any.
Relegation confirmed when Swansea do the double again? Dreading April Fools day.
Re: If you are a Cardiff City fan right now, the silence is
Wed Jan 25, 2023 6:49 pm
I don’t think he’s going to get another manager ,
He’s going to keep the one who is temporarily in charge .
We are doomed to leugue 1
He’s going to keep the one who is temporarily in charge .
We are doomed to leugue 1
Re: If you are a Cardiff City fan right now, the silence is
Wed Jan 25, 2023 8:46 pm
I can not see a way out of our current situation without relegation. We just have to suck it up and hope Tan leaves when we land in league 1 before he totally destroys our club. 
Re: If you are a Cardiff City fan right now, the silence is
Wed Jan 25, 2023 10:29 pm
Nature abhors a vacuum.
I normally don't get too carried away with the owner stuff, but I am struggling at the moment. All things come to an end at some time and this may be it for me. I can handle relegation that's fine, it's part of the football success and failure cycle. Its the piss poor communication and general fcuk you all attitude.
Whitehead and we stay up and I am out. A manager with some experience and pedigree and relegation then I'll be there.
Money and face is the only thing that VT cares about, he can do without my £700 but the two empty seats along with 1000's will hurt him.
I have a feeling (unsubstantiated) that the penny has dropped and he is scrambling to bring someone decent in. Whether his reputation hinders that is massive, so assurance will have to be written in the contract (IMO)
I normally don't get too carried away with the owner stuff, but I am struggling at the moment. All things come to an end at some time and this may be it for me. I can handle relegation that's fine, it's part of the football success and failure cycle. Its the piss poor communication and general fcuk you all attitude.
Whitehead and we stay up and I am out. A manager with some experience and pedigree and relegation then I'll be there.
Money and face is the only thing that VT cares about, he can do without my £700 but the two empty seats along with 1000's will hurt him.
I have a feeling (unsubstantiated) that the penny has dropped and he is scrambling to bring someone decent in. Whether his reputation hinders that is massive, so assurance will have to be written in the contract (IMO)
Re: If you are a Cardiff City fan right now, the silence is
Wed Jan 25, 2023 10:43 pm
It's obvious what he's doing his red dragons finished bottom of the premier league now he's going for a bluebirds premier league and championship bottom finish double.
Re: If you are a Cardiff City fan right now, the silence is
Thu Jan 26, 2023 12:32 am
"Silence is Gold Tan" 
Re: If you are a Cardiff City fan right now, the silence is
Thu Jan 26, 2023 11:00 am
Cardiff need a short-term appointment to get us out of relegation and need to this immediately.
Meanwhile, they should be researching globally for their summer appointment. No more managers with old tactics, no more managers that don’t know what they are doing. We should have a football philosophy in place (please be attacking football) and stick to it.
Meanwhile, they should be researching globally for their summer appointment. No more managers with old tactics, no more managers that don’t know what they are doing. We should have a football philosophy in place (please be attacking football) and stick to it.
Re: If you are a Cardiff City fan right now, the silence is
Thu Jan 26, 2023 12:46 pm
TopCat CCFC wrote:"Silence is Gold Tan"
1/10