"Cardiff in battle for play-offs says Malky Mackay "

10 February 12 13:43 GMT

Cardiff boss Malky Mackay has warned his players the battle for a play-off place could go down to the end of the season.

At present the Bluebirds are in the play-off zone, in fourth place, six points behind leaders West Ham.

But Mackay believes there are still a lot of clubs capable of making the play-offs.

"There's still a lot of points to play and if anyone can hit a run of games anyone can get up there," said Mackay.

"There's bags of points to go for at the moment. You can look at teams all the way down the league and if you look most teams have hit a vein of form.

"There are teams that are doing it just now, there are teams coming out of it and that teams that I'm sure will start going into it again.

"Everyone knows the points tally to get into the play-offs is round about 75 points. That's your target to get into the play-offs and that's where teams right down to even bottom half of the table can still do that.

"I think two years ago on the second last day of the season QPR were the only team in mid-table who couldn't be promoted or relegated. That just shows you how tight the league is."

Cardiff's play-off hopes suffered a setback last weekend when they went down 3-1 at home to Blackpool and then watched as Birmingham City went a place above them in midweek with a 1-0 win over Portsmouth.

The Blackpool reversal was Cardiff's second defeat in 17 games and Mackay is confident his side can put it behind them.

"We had the debriefing on Tuesday and it comes down to the fact that too many players weren't up to their usual standards against Blackpool," he said.

"It's something that's not happened very often this season though and we've had a very good week's training off the back of it.

"We've been competitive all season and Blackpool was just our second defeat in 17.

"We have a group here who are tough; they are resilient and want to play for each other every week. We want to make sure they are back on it again now at Leicester."

Cardiff's away form has been one of their main strengths this season and a draw at Leicester City on Saturday would make it 10 games on the road unbeaten.

Mackay puts down that form to his players getting to know each other through the campaign.

"Momentum builds, confidence builds and the resilience of the team has built as the season has gone on," he said.

Mackay is wary of Leicester despite them sitting in 13th place, 11 points behind the Bluebirds.

"They [Leicester] have got a massive squad of players who can play in the Championship because they put two different teams out against us in the space of four days," he added.

"They are still adding to that and are a very wealthy club with a new manager in Nigel [Perason]. They have great talent and depth.

"They have got a depth of talent to their squad.

"At the start of the season Leicester were tipped to go a straight up because of their financial clout and who is to say that's still not the case."

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Don't get me wrong I'd be happy with the play offs and I think that is a more realistic ambition, but by that article it sounds as if we are no longer aiming for automatics if we can get 2 more players in a winger and a striker then i think with the current crop of players we got we can go on a good run be a match for anyone in this league and push for autos, but are theses words by malky a possible hint that we wont be getting the added quality we need to go for the automatic places? Don't mean to be negative but only time will tell hope I'm wrong and we get another 1 or 2 in and keep vuckic till the end of season too then the bluebirds will be flying

I have to agree. City have never IMO been a top 2 team - there is insufficient depth and flair to their squad. Better character and grit than last season granted but lacking Burke, Bothroyd, Chopra & Bellamy (and in part Ramsey) at this level is the real diffference this season.

Birmingham and West Ham have to look good shouts for autos with us, Southampton, Blackpool, Hull, Reading, Leeds, Boro and a few others in the mix for play off's.

For City to hold their top 6 spot, they do need that extra flair and quality especially out wide and up front.

I fear for a barren February and would be surprised if they get more than 2 points in the next 2 away games.

That's how I see it.

I have to agree. City have never IMO been a top 2 team - there is insufficient depth and flair to their squad. Better character and grit than last season granted but lacking Burke, Bothroyd, Chopra & Bellamy (and in part Ramsey) at this level is the real diffference this season.

Birmingham and West Ham have to look good shouts for autos with us, Southampton, Blackpool, Hull, Reading, Leeds, Boro and a few others in the mix for play off's.

For City to hold their top 6 spot, they do need that extra flair and quality especially out wide and up front.

I fear for a barren February and would be surprised if they get more than 2 points in the next 2 away games.

That's how I see it.

even th0 these 3 were alm0st t0tally ineffective last seas0n? jay by his 0wn admissi0n says his head was turned after his england call up which 0f c0urse he denied at the time like the mercenary he is. ramsey did great but left a huge gaping wh0le when he left and we fell apart. burke and ch0ps were awful. malky is d0ing a great j0b but we cud easily fal 0ut f the play0ff p0siti0ns. he's talking us d0wn a bit which is g00d i feel.

He prob seen or heard about the reaction of our fans after 1 defeat and now playing it down a bit. Very clever.

He prob seen or heard about the reaction of our fans after 1 defeat and now playing it down a bit. Very clever.

and possibly just as clever is that these type of comments are available to the players to read also! Maybe he's given Hudson a shove and said "Huds, gee the boys up, I'm setting down a challenge for them here, by playing them down and saying we're only capable for playoff's if we are lucky" ?

Maybe he'll get the reaction he needs to spur a good run.

If they are mind games as well, very clever yes.

I'm sure he doesn't say the same to the players as he does the local media.
I'm sure the players are well aware of what is expected of them.

I have to agree. City have never IMO been a top 2 team - there is insufficient depth and flair to their squad. Better character and grit than last season granted but lacking Burke, Bothroyd, Chopra & Bellamy (and in part Ramsey) at this level is the real diffference this season.

Birmingham and West Ham have to look good shouts for autos with us, Southampton, Blackpool, Hull, Reading, Leeds, Boro and a few others in the mix for play off's.

For City to hold their top 6 spot, they do need that extra flair and quality especially out wide and up front.

I fear for a barren February and would be surprised if they get more than 2 points in the next 2 away games.

That's how I see it.

[quote="Danny Says"]I have to agree. City have never IMO been a top 2 team - there is insufficient depth and flair to their squad. Better character and grit than last season granted but lacking Burke, Bothroyd, Chopra & Bellamy (and in part Ramsey) at this level is the real diffference this season.

Birmingham and West Ham have to look good shouts for autos with us, Southampton, Blackpool, Hull, Reading, Leeds, Boro and a few others in the mix for play off's.

For City to hold their top 6 spot, they do need that extra flair and quality especially out wide and up front.




Forever blue wrote.

Sadly spot on with this Danny.

I read that article and just KNEW that some feckers would start saying he's
given up on the automatic promotion spots!!

Of course he f*cking hasnt, jesus!!!

I read that article and just KNEW that some feckers would start saying he's
given up on the automatic promotion spots!!

Of course he f*cking hasnt, jesus!!!

Malky never gives up! He ain't a quitter - ala 1-0 Crystal Palace 1st leg - to the penalty shoot out - He knew we were gonna av em'

Malky is a shrewd guy, quite clever to keep everybody in check, I'm sure he's still aiming for playoffs as a minimum.
Still feel everything to play for too, pressure is all on West Ham, they were tipped for the top and nothing changed, you can have 27 strikers, but can only play a few which could rock the boat. Also, seeing the way boring Sam celebrated last weeks win, I'm not convinced they're certs to go up.
Saints have had a blip but will have other good runs as will we & others.
Brum have had a great run, but there's one thing doing it from mid table virtually unnoticed and another when you're up there in the spotlight ready for a fall. I really don't think they'll keep their charge going for long, as I think their goals will dry up somewhere along the way, Burke has been scoring regularly (he's hardly prolific) and Zigic getting 4 was an absolute freak, think they'll finish playoffs at best.
It's another classic Championship race which is wide open and whilst it's difficult not to dream "again" we really should be so grateful to Malky to have got us anywhere near the playoffs.

Malky is a shrewd guy, quite clever to keep everybody in check, I'm sure he's still aiming for playoffs as a minimum.
Still feel everything to play for too, pressure is all on West Ham, they were tipped for the top and nothing changed, you can have 27 strikers, but can only play a few which could rock the boat. Also, seeing the way boring Sam celebrated last weeks win, I'm not convinced they're certs to go up.
Saints have had a blip but will have other good runs as will we & others.
Brum have had a great run, but there's one thing doing it from mid table virtually unnoticed and another when you're up there in the spotlight ready for a fall. I really don't think they'll keep their charge going for long, as I think their goals will dry up somewhere along the way, Burke has been scoring regularly (he's hardly prolific) and Zigic getting 4 was an absolute freak, think they'll finish playoffs at best.
It's another classic Championship race which is wide open and whilst it's difficult not to dream "again" we really should be so grateful to Malky to have got us anywhere near the playoffs.

This is an excellent post - and I agree with it

I read that article and just KNEW that some feckers would start saying he's
given up on the automatic promotion spots!!

Of course he f*cking hasnt, jesus!!!

I def know he hasn't, you would be mad to, but Dave he needs more players.

I have said it all along give Malky the tools and he will deliver.

Malky is a shrewd guy, quite clever to keep everybody in check, I'm sure he's still aiming for playoffs as a minimum.
Still feel everything to play for too, pressure is all on West Ham, they were tipped for the top and nothing changed, you can have 27 strikers, but can only play a few which could rock the boat. Also, seeing the way boring Sam celebrated last weeks win, I'm not convinced they're certs to go up.
Saints have had a blip but will have other good runs as will we & others.
Brum have had a great run, but there's one thing doing it from mid table virtually unnoticed and another when you're up there in the spotlight ready for a fall. I really don't think they'll keep their charge going for long, as I think their goals will dry up somewhere along the way, Burke has been scoring regularly (he's hardly prolific) and Zigic getting 4 was an absolute freak, think they'll finish playoffs at best.
It's another classic Championship race which is wide open and whilst it's difficult not to dream "again" we really should be so grateful to Malky to have got us anywhere near the playoffs.

Spot on mate