" No confidence that we will make the right decisions "

I often post on here what Ali Maxwell and George Elek have said on their Not The Top 20 Podcast.

Highly recommend it, a great podcast.

This is what they've said after our relegation to League One was confirmed.





Ali Maxwell:

Cardiff City haven't been absolutely horrendous all of the time and in most of their matches they've had periods where they look like a coherent side.

But what I think has underpinned their season is their inability to put together a performance for 90 minutes. If they have a good half, they follow it up with a poor half. I don't know how that comes about, what is the things that go into a team with that sort of character? Playing well should give you confidence to continue playing well, instead they haven't been able to handle it.

They've had this thing where if the defence is playing well, the attack's not scoring goals. When the attack is playing well, the defence hasn't backed it up.

This is not a surprise. I don't think we predicted Cardiff to get relegated but if you told me pre-season that it would all unravel, I wouldn't have been surprised at all.

This is what happens when you make bad decisions consistently and when your recruitment - both managerial and player wise - is ineffective.

I felt there was an overconfidence within the whole club from the board through to Bulut and even through to the fanbase who reacted to some signings in a way that had me scratching my head. They reacted to the squad that had been built as if it was a really strong squad and I did not see it that way.

I feel like they've been circling the drain, a bit like Birmingham ahead of their relegation. But actually Cardiff hadn't spent a single week in the Championship bottom three at all before this season since December 2016 which surprised me.

Bulut had a terrible start. Riza had a genuine impact as caretaker which we loved. But it quite clearly wore off and they still hired him permanently anyway.

They stuck with him until they didn't but by that point it felt too late for Aaron Ramsey to have a real impact.

So I'm not surprised - clubs that are run like this get relegated.

A managerial sacking at Cardiff City never seems far away. That's not a great state of affairs.

A recruitment strategy that changes like the wind. Players don't establish themselves because of that. It means the squad gets clogged up and it's hard to move players on, which leads to a lack of team spirit.


George Elek:

It's interesting to see which way it's going to go. Birmingham have shown with significant investment that there's no reason why teams who get relegated from the Championship who don't believe they should be in League One, that they should struggle.

I personally don't have much faith in the decision makers at Cardiff getting the recruitment right or the managerial appointment right.

I fear for them right now.

Cardiff are going down because they never had that real moment of improvement unlike other clubs down there and it now looks like they're going to finish bottom, which didn't seem likely or possible even a couple of weeks ago.

Interesting to see what happens with Aaron Ramsey. I think the performances against Oxford and West Brom have been pretty good.

But as Cardiff have learned this season, investing in a good caretaker spell can often spell trouble.

It's a difficult time for Cardiff fans and I wouldn't say it's one of much promise or reason to be positive going into the summer.


Ali Maxwell:


It is possible for a really good appointment to come in a galvanise a team in this situation.

But I completely echo what you've said.

I've no confidence that those in charge will select the right person that can do that.

I think the way that they operate makes it more difficult for whoever they appoint.

That’s a good analogy, Ned

That’s a good analogy, Ned

Chris, I think they're spot on.

Especially the bit about overconfidence. I was one that was way too positive about our summer signings/manager.

They're also right that the people who make the decisions are a huge worry going into next season.

Aaron Ramsey has effectively told them they need to get a Sporting Director or DoF who knows football and has experienced football - but I doubt they'll do it, even though it's the obvious first step.

looking at the last couple of appointments i totally agree with you no confidence and besides that who would want the job? with the way tan runs things he doesnt have a clue think we need director of football exprienced manager coaches to back him up with his philospy

Nothing there to disagree with.

On the DoF or sporting whatever you want to call it that Ramsey said they needed & we all seem to agree on, I think that would be pointless until such a time as VT starts listening to whoever it may be rather than doing it the way he thinks it should be and until that happens any such thing would just be a waste of time. And we're not getting anyone experienced either way until he stops offering 1 year contracts or less and gets his head out of his arse.

Of course the best thing would be if he just sold up & left us alone.

Good write up. Even the pundits and wider football world can see what the problems are and what was going to happen. Yet the board and hierarchy continued with this madness and worryingly I can't see them changing their ways whilst all key decisions are down to one man.

It shows how much a person with footballing knowledge can do for a club, just look at Wrexham, an American and a Canadian who don’t have a clear understanding of football hire Shaun, who once worked for the EFL. He’s advised and guided them from National League to their promotion this past weekend.

Yes it’s Wrexham again but it truly does show the importance of somebody with that footballing knowledge working at the top

Finally an article I totally agree with.

Finally someone who agrees with me about our squad from the beginning. It was never ever good enough.

Also I would like to know why we did not once put 90 minutes of football together.

I'll get to the point..............its Tan out is the answer.

I have never felt so disengaged from this football club and I've seen all the relegations in living memory since 75

It shows how much a person with footballing knowledge can do for a club, just look at Wrexham, an American and a Canadian who don’t have a clear understanding of football hire Shaun, who once worked for the EFL. He’s advised and guided them from National League to their promotion this past weekend.

Yes it’s Wrexham again but it truly does show the importance of somebody with that footballing knowledge working at the top

Yes they did the right thing but there again come from a culture that uses experts in all things sport? Tan is polar opposite and it won't work with him in charge! As been discussed previously dof or whatever doesn't always work in fact recently they've been massive failures at clubs... what is required is a "team" manager owner coaches ect singing from same hym sheet thats as effective and cheaper.