Why Sutton making Cardiff comparison to Derby’s struggles doesn’t make sense
SO, it has taken just a single game for the critics to come in a flurry in Cardiff City’s direction.
Led by the perennially outspoken Chris Sutton, pundits have taken a swipe at the Bluebirds following their 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth on the Premier League’s opening day.
The former Chelsea and Blackburn Rovers striker suggested Neil Warnock’s side would get relegated with a worse points total than the mere 11 accrued by Derby County in 2007/08, a record low.
That was after journalists, ex-players and commentators in their droves penned in Cardiff as certain 20th place finishers for 2018/19.
But while Cardiff’s performance at Bournemouth was poor and improvements will need to be made, a detailed look at that infamous Derby team compared with Warnock’s current crop makes Sutton’s outburst look slightly ridiculous...
HOW THEY GOT UP
WHILE it would be unfair to call Derby’s promotion to the Premier League in 2007 a fluke – all teams get there on merit – they probably went up a year too soon under Billy Davies.
The Rams were heavily reliant upon the goals of target man Steve Howard and scraped through to the play-off final thanks to a penalty shoot-out win over Southampton, before nicking a 1-0 final win over West Brom.
This current Cardiff vintage, however, stormed to automatic promotion ahead of teams the calibre of Fulham, Aston Villa and Middlesbrough, winning 90 points in the process. They also did it with a swagger and a power that was unrivalled.
THE MANAGERS
WHILE doubts remain over Warnock’s ability to last the distance in the Premier League, there is no contest when comparing him to 2007/08 Derby boss Billy Davies.
The Scot’s play-off win with the Rams is his only promotion to date, whereas Warnock has won a record eight -- no manager has more.
The Yorkshireman has also proven more adept in the transfer market and boasts a longevity few managers have ever been able to match. His charisma and man management skills give Cardiff a much better chance of surviving in the Premier League than Derby had.
Yes, the critics can rightly point to Warnock’s top-flight record, but he certainly earned more points with Sheffield United and Queens Park Rangers than Davies -- or his mid-season replacement Paul Jewell -- managed at Pride Park.
Cardiff fans can be confident that even if their side is relegated, they will at least go down fighting with Warnock at the helm.
THE TEAM, TRANSFERS (AND DRESSING ROOM SPIRIT)
ANOTHER gaping hole in Sutton’s argument is the simple comparison between the Derby side that took to the field in their 2007/08 Premier League opener and Cardiff’s current best XI.
Derby actually secured a respectable 2-2 draw with Portsmouth in their opening game, but with Howard, Matt Oakley, Craig Fagan and Gary Teale as their ‘stars’ (yes, you might well ask ‘who?’), they never looked like challenging for survival.
In terms of transfer business, the Rams went haphazard in January, bringing in the likes of Danny Mills, Laurent Robert, Roy Carroll and Robbie Savage, but the damage had already been done. They did pay £3.5million for Robert Earnshaw in the summer of 2007, but the Bluebirds icon endured a very poor season.
Another former Cardiff striker, Kenny Miller, ended up as the Rams’ top scorer with just four league goals.