Tommy Smith praises Mackay
Thu Oct 25, 2012 5:45 am
Malky Mackay may not be the dressing room joker of old, but he is still a pleasure to work for, says former team-mate Tommy Smith.
Midfielder Smith knows better than most how much Bluebirds manager Mackay has changed since switching his football boots for a touchline suit.
The two men were Premier League team-mates at Watford, while Smith also knows Mackay the manager from their time together at Vicarage Road and now Cardiff City Stadium.
“Malky was a jovial player, one of the dressing room jokers as a player, but he’s a bit more serious now,” says Smith. “When you step to the other side into management the joking has to stop to a certain point.
“I played alongside him at Watford towards the end of his career and then Aidy Boothroyd took Malky into the coaching side.
“He is a manager who wants to learn all the time. He is taking things in all the time, any bit of knowledge he feels can be of use.
“Malky learns from other managers and is clearly a manager with a bright future in football.
“He is one of a new breed of managers coming through. Certainly, he is a pleasure to work with for the players.
“When I knew he was interested in bringing me to Cardiff I was desperate to come. This is an ambitious club, which suits me.
“I love Malky’s enthusiasm, his love for the game and the demands he puts on players, both individually and as a team.
“A blend of youth and experience is needed to be successful in Championship football. We have that here and part of what the manager is trying to do all the time is find the right balance.”
Mackay has been in management for 173 matches at Watford and Cardiff, winning 67 of those and drawing 46.
He has led Cardiff City to 32 victories and 21 draws, suffering only 17 defeats in all competitions since coming to South Wales.
Now the test for Mackay and his staff is to maintain a strong challenge for promotion and finish the job after missing out in the play-off semi-finals against West Ham last season.
And Smith, like Mackay who was promoted with Watford, Norwich City and West Ham, knows what it takes to make the jump from Championship football.
Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... z2AHqMZukk
Midfielder Smith knows better than most how much Bluebirds manager Mackay has changed since switching his football boots for a touchline suit.
The two men were Premier League team-mates at Watford, while Smith also knows Mackay the manager from their time together at Vicarage Road and now Cardiff City Stadium.
“Malky was a jovial player, one of the dressing room jokers as a player, but he’s a bit more serious now,” says Smith. “When you step to the other side into management the joking has to stop to a certain point.
“I played alongside him at Watford towards the end of his career and then Aidy Boothroyd took Malky into the coaching side.
“He is a manager who wants to learn all the time. He is taking things in all the time, any bit of knowledge he feels can be of use.
“Malky learns from other managers and is clearly a manager with a bright future in football.
“He is one of a new breed of managers coming through. Certainly, he is a pleasure to work with for the players.
“When I knew he was interested in bringing me to Cardiff I was desperate to come. This is an ambitious club, which suits me.
“I love Malky’s enthusiasm, his love for the game and the demands he puts on players, both individually and as a team.
“A blend of youth and experience is needed to be successful in Championship football. We have that here and part of what the manager is trying to do all the time is find the right balance.”
Mackay has been in management for 173 matches at Watford and Cardiff, winning 67 of those and drawing 46.
He has led Cardiff City to 32 victories and 21 draws, suffering only 17 defeats in all competitions since coming to South Wales.
Now the test for Mackay and his staff is to maintain a strong challenge for promotion and finish the job after missing out in the play-off semi-finals against West Ham last season.
And Smith, like Mackay who was promoted with Watford, Norwich City and West Ham, knows what it takes to make the jump from Championship football.
Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... z2AHqMZukk
Re: Tommy Smith praises Mackay
Thu Oct 25, 2012 9:05 am
Nice to see Smith is enjoying his Football under MM 
Re: Tommy Smith praises Mackay
Thu Oct 25, 2012 9:54 am
To me Tommy Smith looks like he is enjoying himself - he gets better the longer the game goes on what I've seen of him. Cracking player.
Definitely one of the best recruits of the summer - when he did his hamstring down by our corner in the second half he was on is own and we were stood up screaming at the City to come and help him - quite a bizarre few seconds
. Hope he isn't out too long.
Definitely one of the best recruits of the summer - when he did his hamstring down by our corner in the second half he was on is own and we were stood up screaming at the City to come and help him - quite a bizarre few seconds
. Hope he isn't out too long.
Re: Tommy Smith praises Mackay
Thu Oct 25, 2012 2:17 pm
Great player! Great on the ball, and has a cracking cross! Key player for us this season!
Re: Tommy Smith praises Mackay
Thu Oct 25, 2012 4:22 pm
Great signing for me, many were sceptical about Tommy's commitment, his attitude and effort is there for all to see, good on the ball and no slouch!
We need him back quick.
We need him back quick.