PLUS WEST HAM V CARDIFF CITY BUILD-UP
‘I can’t tell you how I really feel about Kenneth Zohore,’ says Warnock
BLUEBIRDS BOSS ON THE BIG DANE AS HE PREPARES FOR THE TOUGH MIDWEEK ASSIGNMENT AT WEST HAM
How did you celebrate your birthday on Saturday night?
Celebrated with just the kids. Lovely time with them all around, doesn’t happen often as they’re all over the shop but great to get them down and have a meal. Early one as well. The result makes it as well. It was a great night and one of the best I’ve had in my career when you look at the circumstances. The fans made it. They were amazing.
And the players had something lined up for your birthday?
I had a few presents. I’m not going to tell you what they are. Very nice from the staff. It’s nice for them to put their hands in their pockets. They must be fines that I’ve been fined. I must be paying for it myself. It’s an evening away in a nice hotel in London. One of the top hotels, they know they like it. Afternoon tea and everything. The works.
Three wins this season and all of them have come from behind?
It’s so difficult. That makes us the best in the league for coming from behind. It’s so difficult at this level but it shows we don’t know when to give in. That’s epitomised the last couple of years. We’ve always hung in and got results. I can’t praise the lads enough. They;re such a good group. We know we’re limited but when the crowd get going, it drives you on. They’re playing their part.
Why does this group need to go behind?
Why can’t they defence better? That’s what I say. I’m the manager and I’m saying that. It’s not for the lack of trying. At least they’re sharing around. It’s not one particular player, they’re all having a go! I don’t know the answer honestly. I thought we were as good as anything last year. But we’re not, we have to go back to basics. First it’s Sol, then it’s Bruno. So many things wrong with the first goal. I don’t think there’s much more we can do, the lads have got to try a bit harder and concentration levels. You get punished for the slightest mistake at this level. You probably get away with that in the Championship.
Do they need that air of desperation?
I don’t think so. We started the game well. To concede a goal like that, it deflates you. That was out most vulnerable time. Traore was through with a 3-on-1 and he overstepped it. That could have killed the game.It’s one of those where you can’t get down too low, you have to get back in the game. When we concede, if we can just have another five minutes to get together again, we’re ok. After that, I thought we dominated. We started on the front foot and never eased up.
Is the focus now on improving away form?
You’re always striving for that. It is difficult in the Premier League. We try to be positive. We’re struggling a bit injury-wise. Another couple of lads had knocks. I was going to change it and rest players but I don’t think I can now. I’ll have to ask the lads to perform three times in a week. All the usuals one who were out on Friday. Jazz is definitely out, Cunningham isn’t as bad as we thought, he did some light work on Saturday. Ken is stepping up from Monday. He’s pain free for the first time and has done some work with the rehab guys. I said to Ken he’s got to set his stall out. I know Paterson is doing well but he’s a made to measure striker. He’s got to push himself now to get back in the team.
Are you frustrated with Zohore?
I think you’re really being kind. I don’t think I could tell you how I really feel. You could say I’m mildly frustrated. I see so much talent in those legs. He should steamroll this league and that’s my frustration.
Do you think he ever will steamroll it?
I don’t know if he ever will. I have no idea
What about West Ham then?
I think Rafa Benitez made the point that you have £45m and £30m players, they have a very good front four. We’d have any of them. We have to go there and compete. It’s important we’re strong and organised to start with. But I do think with Mendez-Laing coming back, we have a few more options to change the game which is important. But we don’t want to give away an early goal. People like Sol and Morrison are playing really well. They’re not in awe of people. You saw an excellent Everton team do so well against Liverpool and yet they had few chances against us. That pleases me. We’re not far off.
And what about Manuel Pellegrini?
He’s doing a steady job. They’ve had to spend some money. They’re not in any doubt now in terms of the league. They’ll finish above halfway. When he was at Man City, there’s no airs or graces with him. I don’t know anything bad about him.
Jurgen Klopp caused a stir with his derby day celebrations. Thoughts?
I thought it was lovely. He said he apologised to Silva. As long as you shake the manager’s hand after. I’m sure he’ll get disciplined because there’s no excuse for celebrating such a wonderful goal in the 96th minute because people who make the rules have no idea about emotion! There’s no rules for emotion. It’s such an emotional game. It’s moments like that, you can’t legislate for them. I could have done it on Friday!
Southampton boss Mark Hughes has just had the sack days before you were due to face each other. Surprised?
I think we all know it’s around the corner. Not just Mark, but everybody. It’s such a short tenure now. They’ve got Tottenham away before us. They’ll be looking at our game as the one to bring in a new manager - what an opportunity. I’m never surprised when any manager leaves because sometimes it’s how someone wakes up in the morning. It’s on a thread. There’s pressure on everyone, apart from Wagner! Huddersfield have told him it’s alright if they get relegated so that’s fantastic!
Anything you’d like to say to football owners in general?
Not really. People buy football clubs for different reasons. They’re from different cultures. I don’t know what the answer is. The grass isn’t always
greener. Watford have done it every year and been successful. Now he’s signed a new contract so he probably won’t win again! You know it’s around the corner and it’s only got worse. It doesn’t take anything to get the sack. Usually fan power so at least that won’t happen to me. People always think they know better. I remember having pressure at Gainsbrough Trinity. If you get the sack, there’s nothing you can do apart from your best. If I left Cardiff tomorrow, I would be really proud of what I’ve done. We’ve got a big battle but it’s one that we revel in.
Do you need to be a certain type of personality to be a manager?
I think everyone is different. I look at Wenger and he never shouted. Mark was one of the best players in the world and he’s done his own thing. Players have all the power now. Sod qualifications, you have to handle the players. I don’t think we as a group could get more out of the players. Whatever happens, we’ve laid foundations for the club. It needs to go on. Vincent knows that. It needs a bit doing behind the scenes to cement it. First and foremost, staying up would help.
Can you build momentum from Friday night with such a busy week?
I haven’t missed the midweek games but this week I’ve got a really busy week as I’m going abroad to watch a game on Wednesday. I’ve not been to Stratford before. We usually go there as underdogs. Our lads are looking forward to this. We’ve got players who can play on this stage.
What did you make of Callum Paterson’s celebration?
I loved that, me. Amy sent it to me. It just epitomises what he’s like. He’s not the full shilling. He’s the Scottish version of Sol Bamba. He moans and moans and moans. We’d be in trouble without him. Madine isn’t fully fit, Ward isn’t either. He’s put a shift in. It’s lovely to watch celebrations like that. I’m surprised that wasn’t on Two Good, Two Bad on Match of the Day.
Were you pleased with Junior Hoilett against Wolves?
He’s deserved it. He’s been on fire in training last two weeks. I had to get my faith back in him. I’ve been a bit disappointed sometimes. He’s our best defensive winger. Sometimes, he doesn’t create things in games but neither does the full-back he’s marking. That’s something that the fans don’t always notice, but the manager does. Even if he hadn’t scored, I’d have been happy with his performance. I didn’t want to put Kadeem or Josh on the left because of the defensive situation. I was pleased. That’s how I see him. Last year, he scored some cracking goals. I said to him before, cut inside and have a shot, I don’t care where it goes. Just keep going because he has it in his locker. Kadeem is doing it as well. Murphy’s lost a bit of spark, but that’s what happens with wingers. You just hope someone comes good while someone else is struggling.
Should Kenneth Zohore be looking at doing something similar to Hoilett?
Absolutely. I said to Ken, when you look at that game, you should be there. He knows. He’s a good lad. I don’t think he’d doing something purposely. I don’t know the ins and out, especially when you’ve had a baby. Hopefully now he can sort himself out and push. I think we’ve improved as a team and it’s easier to come into a team that’s playing well. I think there’s an opportunity but he has to have that desire. Hoilett has seen Kadeem come through and he’s not had a look in. But he’s been superb in training and made up for it. He’s the one I would trust with my life in that area defensively. To be able to defend against Docherty and then come up with the goods. That’s the way to answer the fans. I’ll remember that for the rest of my life.
Is there a possibility you could sign Victor Camarasa on a permanent deal?
We’ve got him for the season. That’s way down the line. He’s just lovely to have around. He’s such a good lad. There was a tackle he should have won that led to a goal. I showed him and he knew. He’s getting better. He does things nobody else does. He just fits in. We were lucky with Camarasa. We went to watch Bournemouth as they were our opponents and we saw this lad. You need luck with signings. That’s why I’m hoping this week, we had a good report about one of our targets so we’ll watch him this week and I’m going to fly out to watch someone else. If we could just have a bit of luck with two or three signings.
Were you surprised to see Hughes sacked so soon after signing a three-year deal?
I think good luck if you get a three year deal. You don’t see that unless you’re Pep - he’d probably get a 10-year deal. Contracts don’t mean that much. When you’re younger, you want three or four year deals. I remember telling chairman I wanted to build the club up. I did at Sheffield United but I think those days are gone. You realise if you hit the buffers, you know what the situation is.