Warnock is no fool… sometimes the old way is the best way
AFTER Cardiff secured their very first win of the season, the stadium DJ decided the Jurassic Park theme tune was an appropriate pick at full-time.
Some may consider Neil Warnock a dinosaur and his style of management prehistoric, but sometimes the old way is the best.
Fulham coach Slavisa Jokanovic could learn a thing or two from his pragmatic counterpart. Saturday was painful to watch from a Cottagers point of view.
You could call the defending schoolboy but that would do a disservice to a few pupils. You could call it Sunday League but, again, too harsh on the weekend warriors.
Jokanovic’s expansive style was captivating in the Championship last season but it is simply not working in the Premier League.
They have now conceded 25 goals, more than any other club in all of Europe’s top five leagues.
Should they continue at their current rate they will leak 106, which would break the record for a 38-game Premier League season by 17 goals (beating Derby’s 89 in 2007-08). Cardiff had scored four times all season but doubled their total in a single afternoon.
It was a shameful showing from the visitors and the next few weeks are crucial for Jokanovic.
Fulham owner Shahid Khan withdrew his £600million bid to buy Wembley Stadium but may have other big decisions to make soon. Stick with Jokanovic, who performed a marvellous job to get Fulham into the Premier League, or twist by bringing in a pragmatist such as Sam Allardyce.
Fulham winger Andre Schurrle scored a splendid opener from 35 yards but Josh Murphy and Bobby Reid replied, exploiting a dire defence. Ryan Sessegnon, 18, then made it 2-2 with his first Premier League goal but Callum Paterson and Kadeem Harris finished things off for Cardiff.
Warnock is no fool. He set out his team to test Fulham’s defence with long balls, crosses, whatever they could throw at them. Right back Calum Chambers was a weak link and the Arsenal loanee was hooked at half-time.
No one has made more changes to his starting line- up than Jokanovic this season. Fulham spent £105million in the summer but the Serb seems no closer to knowing his best XI.
Fulham have some big names and may look good on paper but are being ripped apart on a weekly basis.
Relegation favourites Cardiff were simply the latest side to tear through them.
CARDIFF (4-4-1-1): Etheridge 6; Manga 6, Morrison 6, Bamba 6, Bennett 6; Camarasa 6, Gunnarsson 6.5 (Richards 77min), Arter 6.5 (Damour 86), MURPHY 8 (Harris 82);