Malky Mackay Backs Filip Kiss!
Tue Jun 05, 2012 12:24 am
Slovakian midfielder Filip Kiss has been backed to play a big role at Cardiff City next season.
Bluebirds boss Malky Mackay feels Kiss will develop into a huge asset at Cardiff after finding his feet in British football last season.
The under-21 international joined the Bluebirds on a season-long loan from Slovan Bratislava and found it tough adapting to the physical demands of Championship football, playing 90 minutes only once after the turn of the year.
But Mackay said: “I can’t wait to see how far he can go over the next few seasons.
“Filip can have a big impact in his second Championship season.
“He will have a full pre-season programme with us and, like others before him, we expect him to have a bigger impact in his second and third seasons at the club.”
Mackay was delighted when Kiss committed himself to a long-term City contract, which runs until 2016 after he completed a near £500,000 move from Slovan.
“It was fantastic to see Filip come into British football and do as well as he did from the start,” said Mackay.
“He fitted in well and really enjoyed playing Championship football.
“He picked up a couple of knocks and maybe took time adjusting to the physical demands of football at that level.
“The number of matches we play in Championship football took a toll on Filip and a number of young players in our squad.
“But they all gradually adapted and grew stronger and Filip is still only 21.
“He is going to grow stronger and, with that often difficult first season behind him I am looking forward to seeing how far he can go over the next few seasons.
Mackay tracked the progress of Kiss for more than a year, well before he was appointed Bluebirds’ manager.
But the box-to-box midfielder player is just one of Mackay’s talented young guns, alongside the likes of Joe Mason, Joe Ralls and Kadeem Harris.
“Championship football is quicker than I was used to back home and the tackling is different,” said Kiss.
“But I’m happy to fill the role of the tackler.
“Football is not just about the passing side of football. Hopefully, playing the role I do I can free up space for others around me to create chances.
“My preferred position is in the centre of midfield, but I’ll fit in wherever the manager wants me.”
The 6ft 1ins Kiss made 33 appearances last season with 17 of those coming from the substitutes’ bench.
“I will be stronger still next season,” promised Kiss, who helped Slovan win the Slovak Super League and Cup in the 2010-11 season before joining Cardiff.
“I knew from the start that Championship football would be tough and I prepared myself physically for the challenge.
“I enjoy that aspect of football and I am always prepared to put in a tackle.
“Good teams need a balance of passers and tacklers but I know I can make more of a contribution.
“Our aim last season was a top-six finish and promotion.
“We didn’t quite make it but now we will push even harder.
“There is a lot of ability in our squad and if we stick together as we did last season then anything is possible.”
The Bluebirds saw their Premier League dream vanish when they lost the play-off semi-final to West Ham.
Mackay has targeted 10 new recruits this summer but only goalkeeper Joe Lewis has arrived from Peterborough so far.
Coventry City defender Richard Keogh is on the wanted list and Mackay is expected to return with an offer after his initial bid was turned down.
While Mackay and his recruitment team work to bring in new signings, City players have only a few weeks off before they return to their Vale of Glamorgan training base for the start of start pre-season training.
The squad then head off to Switzerland for a week-long training camp before returning for the start of pre-season friendly action, the first game at Forest Green Rovers on July 28.
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... -31112011/
Bluebirds boss Malky Mackay feels Kiss will develop into a huge asset at Cardiff after finding his feet in British football last season.
The under-21 international joined the Bluebirds on a season-long loan from Slovan Bratislava and found it tough adapting to the physical demands of Championship football, playing 90 minutes only once after the turn of the year.
But Mackay said: “I can’t wait to see how far he can go over the next few seasons.
“Filip can have a big impact in his second Championship season.
“He will have a full pre-season programme with us and, like others before him, we expect him to have a bigger impact in his second and third seasons at the club.”
Mackay was delighted when Kiss committed himself to a long-term City contract, which runs until 2016 after he completed a near £500,000 move from Slovan.
“It was fantastic to see Filip come into British football and do as well as he did from the start,” said Mackay.
“He fitted in well and really enjoyed playing Championship football.
“He picked up a couple of knocks and maybe took time adjusting to the physical demands of football at that level.
“The number of matches we play in Championship football took a toll on Filip and a number of young players in our squad.
“But they all gradually adapted and grew stronger and Filip is still only 21.
“He is going to grow stronger and, with that often difficult first season behind him I am looking forward to seeing how far he can go over the next few seasons.
Mackay tracked the progress of Kiss for more than a year, well before he was appointed Bluebirds’ manager.
But the box-to-box midfielder player is just one of Mackay’s talented young guns, alongside the likes of Joe Mason, Joe Ralls and Kadeem Harris.
“Championship football is quicker than I was used to back home and the tackling is different,” said Kiss.
“But I’m happy to fill the role of the tackler.
“Football is not just about the passing side of football. Hopefully, playing the role I do I can free up space for others around me to create chances.
“My preferred position is in the centre of midfield, but I’ll fit in wherever the manager wants me.”
The 6ft 1ins Kiss made 33 appearances last season with 17 of those coming from the substitutes’ bench.
“I will be stronger still next season,” promised Kiss, who helped Slovan win the Slovak Super League and Cup in the 2010-11 season before joining Cardiff.
“I knew from the start that Championship football would be tough and I prepared myself physically for the challenge.
“I enjoy that aspect of football and I am always prepared to put in a tackle.
“Good teams need a balance of passers and tacklers but I know I can make more of a contribution.
“Our aim last season was a top-six finish and promotion.
“We didn’t quite make it but now we will push even harder.
“There is a lot of ability in our squad and if we stick together as we did last season then anything is possible.”
The Bluebirds saw their Premier League dream vanish when they lost the play-off semi-final to West Ham.
Mackay has targeted 10 new recruits this summer but only goalkeeper Joe Lewis has arrived from Peterborough so far.
Coventry City defender Richard Keogh is on the wanted list and Mackay is expected to return with an offer after his initial bid was turned down.
While Mackay and his recruitment team work to bring in new signings, City players have only a few weeks off before they return to their Vale of Glamorgan training base for the start of start pre-season training.
The squad then head off to Switzerland for a week-long training camp before returning for the start of pre-season friendly action, the first game at Forest Green Rovers on July 28.
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... -31112011/
Re: Malky Mackay Backs Filip Kiss!
Tue Jun 05, 2012 10:02 am
He's a fantastic ball winner and should have played more this season. Especially against the big sides like West Ham in the play offs.
He's young and improving by the second. He is a huge prospect
He's young and improving by the second. He is a huge prospect
Re: Malky Mackay Backs Filip Kiss!
Tue Jun 05, 2012 11:31 am
I like him. Definitely think he should be classed as one of the core squad members next season.
Re: Malky Mackay Backs Filip Kiss!
Tue Jun 05, 2012 2:27 pm
He certainly has a certain something, plenty to improve on but great to see us signing players with potential as well as ability
Re: Malky Mackay Backs Filip Kiss!
Tue Jun 05, 2012 3:35 pm
Fantastic player ! Hopefully we can get more like him and joe mason 
Re: Malky Mackay Backs Filip Kiss!
Tue Jun 05, 2012 3:37 pm
2blue2handle wrote:He certainly has a certain something, plenty to improve on but great to see us signing players with potential as well as ability
I hope the potential that you're referring to, is not in his potential to get sent off in every game!
Re: Malky Mackay Backs Filip Kiss!
Tue Jun 05, 2012 9:19 pm
Nothing better than no nonsense midfielders like Kiss and Gunnarsson. Both bringing the physical side of Football back in the right way. I back Kiss to give away the most fouls next season! 
Re: Malky Mackay Backs Filip Kiss!
Tue Jun 05, 2012 9:25 pm
Aaaahhhhh... so this is why he signed him!