WARNOCK VERDICT ON CITY CUP EXIT
HOW SOME CITY STARS FAILED TO MAKE THEIR CASE FOR A PREMIER LEAGUE CALL-UP AS THOUGHTS TURN TO GUNNERS:
NEIL Warnock faced the media straight after Cardiff City’s 3-1 Carabao Cup defeat to Norwich and had plenty to say on the performance, his squad and the injury to Nathaniel Mendez-Laing.
Here is the full transcript of that press conference. Neil, what’s your reaction to that defeat? NW:
“I think it showed quite a lot of the lads need games really, we were a bit off the pace and you can’t get what we’ve had tonight on the training ground, you need competitive games.
“There are four or five really good things for me tonight regarding my squad selection. And obviously disappointments too, so it’s a mixture really.” You got your first goal of the season... NW:
“Yeah! Good old Bruno! “I mean we had better chances than them. Paterson’s was a great chance, he could have actually pulled it down and side-footed in... then Kadeem’s through on the goal.
“We haven’t been taking them all season really and that’s disappointing.
“But it’s opened my eyes to team selection for Sunday a little bit and that’s what it was meant to be.” Those who haven’t been playing haven’t give you a reason to be selected, have they? NW:
“I think you get that with some lads. Probably one major decision I had in my mind for Sunday, I won’t be doing that now.
“Other than that I more or less know what my team’s going to be and tonight didn’t put me off that. 10 out of 11 players I’ve got in my mind.” It must be annoying to have gone out and not have those games to trial fringe players? NW:
“Yeah, we said it’d be great to have another game at this level and get some minutes on board.
“But it’s not to be and we’ll have to make sure we keep up the minutes. It shows you’ve got to train really hard so you’re ready for your chance when it comes.” Any movement out in terms of loans? NW:
“Not at the moment as I’m aware. One or two rumours and things but you’re going to get that. It’ll be right to the death, desperado coming in!
“Everyone knows we’re probably one player missing that just wasn’t meant to be. So we’ve got to go with what we’ve got, that’s how it is.” Are you concerned about a lack of depth? NW:
“Not really, I think the depth is there, I think we’ve got to keep the fitness levels up for the lads not involved because the Premier League is such a massive step regarding movement and things like that.
“You haven’t got to get too carried away when you look at the players who were missing tonight and what they could do... would we have got better supply? Better areas?
“But tonight hasn’t answered my questions, which I’d hoped it would.” How is Mendez-Laing’s injury? NW:
“He’s done his posterior cruciate, which is good news my physio says.
“Because if he’d done his anterior [cruciate ligament] that’s all season, whereas he’ll probably be back in December. Three months, something like that.” And Hoilett? NW: “We’re crossing our fingers now, treating him with kid gloves. “I’m hoping he’ll train on Friday. If he’s anywhere near, he’ll play [against Arsenal on Sunday] because that’s the type of lad he is.
“But I won’t risk him if he’s not. We’ve got two weeks international break and, as much as I’d love to, I don’t want to jeopardise him, not now we’ve got Mendez-Laing out.” Is wing now a position of concern? NW:
“I know. I thought we were laughing there. We tried to get another one on the right before the deadline but unfortunately that wasn’t really acceptable. It’s one of those things.” How much of a loss is Mendez? NW:
“There’s a number of players missing, we’re missing Gunnars as well – he is training well at the moment – and another one or two with niggles.
“But at least we’ve then got two weeks before the next two easy games (against Chelsea and Man City)... what stress in this game?!
“My missus says ‘it’s not stressful your job’ and I say ‘I know love!’
“We’ve just got to take it on board and enjoy it. It’ll be difficult for us in the next few weeks and somehow I’ve got to come up with a recipe that means we can give our fans something to cheer about during the game. Not just everyone behind the ball. That’s what we’re here for and I don’t think the fans should miss out on that.”