The Football League Paper

IT’S WIDE OPEN, INSISTS WARNOCK

- By Nicola Kenton

CARDIFF city manager Neil Warnock believes his side are still adjusting to the Championsh­ip following their relegation from the Premier League.

Squad changes aplenty have left the Bluebirds looking for new leaders within the dressing room.

Aron Gunnarsson was among those who left the club at the end of last season and Warnock singled out his departure as having left a void both on and off the field.

“It’s a bit of a transition period from coming down. Most teams have that sort of thing,” Warnock said.

“We lost Aron Gunnarsson, Victor Camarasa, Harry Arter and Kenneth Zohore. With Gunnarsson, it wasn’t just on the field, but it was the leadership part that he showed off it too. “We managed to sign a good replacemen­t in Marlon Pack and then he gets injured just after one game.

“We’ve had a few injuries, but that’s no excuse, it’s a decent squad and, apart from one really bad game at Reading, they’ve come back really well.

“I can’t fault them, we just can’t score enough goals at the moment but we’re not doing too badly at the minute.”

The Championsh­ip is one of the most unpredicta­ble leagues and Cardiff were welcomed back with a mixed set of results in the opening weeks.

Warnock recognised the fact the competitio­n is so fierce but believes the openness is what makes it so enthrallin­g.

“I think it’s a great league, because you can’t predict anything any day of the week,” he added.

“Leeds have kept their best players, spent money and got loan players in for the season. It’s the same with Fulham, they’ve got some good players in.

“West Brom are not far away, either, so there are three or four teams up there, but it’s possible for any other team over the next 39 games (to get up there). It’s very open.”

 ??  ?? VIEW: Neil Warnock
VIEW: Neil Warnock

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