A ‘WARNOCK WAY’? ALL I CARE ABOUT IS WINNING
NEIL Warnock has hit back at any suggestions Championship rivals are beginning to figure out his Cardiff City side, saying the ‘Warnock Way’ is winning games.
The Bluebirds had a storming start to the season, enjoying a five-game winning streak from the campaign’s kick-off and losing just once in a run leaves them level on points at the top of table heading into today’s trip to Sunderland.
But the first dropped points of the campaign, including draws against Fulham and Sheffield Wednesday either side of defeat at Preston, has left Warnock open to a first taste of – albeit mild – criticism from some quarters.
It includes the stats that show Cardiff are bottom of the passing table, attempting fewer passes than any other side in the second-tier.
But Warnock wasted little time in scoffing at such figures, and insisted his only focus is on winning football games – and reckons the Cardiff fans are just fine with that.
And he pointed to the statistics that show Cardiff are testing out opposition goalkeepers more than anyone Sunderland vs Cardiff City, Sky Bet Championship Where: The Stadium of Light. When: Saturday, September 23, 3pm kick-off. Odds: Sunderland win 19/10, Cardiff win 7/5, Draw 11/5 Key Men: Aiden McGeady (Sunderland) — The Irish international is actually a doubt for the game but, should he play, will provide Sunderland’s most potent and creative threat going forward.
He has proven a smart piece of business by the Black Cats, who were hurt by the departures of Wahbi Khazri, Jermain Defoe and Fabio Borini in the summer. else with 48 shots on target from their eight games so far.
Asked whether teams were beginning to work out the way his team play, Warnock said: “What is the way we play? I don’t mean to be disrespectful and say it’s a silly question, but I don’t honestly know.
“I once went to an interview at Norwich Aron Gunnarsson (Cardiff City) — The rock at the heart of Cardiff’s midfield, the Iceland international will be the one constant this season, despite Neil Warnock’s array of options.
Should Gunnarsson perform — and he usually does — the Bluebirds will have a platform on which to launch their speedy attacking play. What the managers have said: Simon Grayson: “We look ahead now to Cardiff, Ipswich and Preston, and they are games we are looking forward to and hopefully put some more points on the board.
Marc Wilson will hopefully be back on Saturday and one or two others might be too.” Neil Warnock: “Simon did such a and they asked if their fans would accept the ‘Warnock Way’? I said what do you mean, winning? I don’t understand what the ‘Warnock Way’ is.
“I want to entertain. I saw the stats this week about passing and things, but would you rather pass the ball across the pitch 10 yards, 15 yards, get 10 passes in?
“Or would you rather be the best in the league on shots? We’ve had 48 shots – nobody is anywhere near us.
“So what do you want as a fan? Do you want to see shots on target or do you want us to pass the ball across the pitch on the halfway line?
“Last weekend’s game, Sheffield Wednesday had two shots on target – well, one on target and one missed effort in 90 minutes and goodness knows how much possession they had.
“So if I get criticised for wanting to entertain and enjoy chances and crosses and shots then fire away, yeah, yeah, that’s the ‘Warnock Way’ – you’ll get plenty of that.”
Meanwhile, a group of Cardiff City supporters will travel to Sunderland on the team flight, Warnock has revealed.
The Bluebirds take on the Black Cats at the Stadium of Light this afternoon, with Warnock delighted to have his request for the players to fly to the north east accepted by the club’s hierarchy.
And he revealed at his weekly press conference that nine Cardiff fans – who contribute to the club with regular sponsorship – will also be treated to a fast-track travel service as well as aQ & A session with the boss. good job at Preston and Leeds. You can’t change what’s there as quickly as you like after you come down from the Premier League. I’ve listened to some of the fans up there and while they aren’t happy with things, they still think he’s the right man. You can’t keep changing managers and he knows what he’s doing at Championship level.” Probable teams: Sunderland: (4-1-4-1): Ruiter; Matthews, Kone, Wilson, Oviedo; Cattermole; McGeady, Ndong, Williams, McManaman; Vaughan. Cardiff (4-3-3): Etheridge; Peltier, Morrison, Bamba; Bennett; Ralls, Gunnarsson, Bryson; Mendez-Laing, Zohore, Hoilett. Ref: Peter Bankes (Merseyside).
It’s part of a scheme to give something back to the club’s loyal and local sponsor base.
“We are taking a number of fans with us and they are contributing to the flight,” said Warnock.
“We are doing our bit to try to help the club to get some of the locals to come with us. There are two or three games after Christmas to which I’d like to fly as well.
“If we can get the sponsorships into that to help pay for the flights it will be great.
“We’ve got nine fans travelling with us and I’ll be having a Q&A session with them at the hotel. It is important that we give something back to these sponsors rather than just take the money off them and give nothing back.
“I believe you have to give value for money. If you do that then sponsors will come back and give you even more money.”
Warnock admitted fatigue was an issue for Cardiff at Preston North End, where the Bluebirds lost 3-0 after some relentless travelling.
“We will be there in an hour and we wouldn’t even be at Bristol on a coach. Unless we diverted around Newport. I have been in Newport more than I have been in Cardiff since I’ve been here! You might just as well turn off your sat nNav and follow a van that you fancy is going to the motorway.”
“I asked Vincent Tan and Mehmet Dalman a long time ago and it’s fabulous to fly up, same as Middlesbrough because the motorways are getting worse,” he added.
“Four out of five days on the motor-