Swans loss left me embarrassed, it surely must be the end the road
AND now, the end is here. And so we face, that final curtain. Mick McCarthy has certainly done it his way, but his way has become increasingly problematic. Now, there is nowhere left to go.
I take no pride whatsoever in suggesting that a manager should lose his job and it is not something I would ever say with haste, but here we are again. It’s become a seasonal change. The trees shed their leaves and Cardiff shed another manager. I assume that is not the intention. I would have said not part of the plan, but I think we have all since realised that there isn’t one.
There are lots of ways to look at Cardiff ’s current predicament and plenty of people to point the finger at, but there is only ever really one metric that counts and that is the league table. Cardiff are plummeting down the Championship and unless they find a way to arrest that slide, League One awaits.
That feels like a ridiculous statement to make because this is not a squad that should be troubling the lower reaches of the second tier, but the reality is that there are not three worse teams in this division at present. Cardiff are currently hopeless. Devoid of all confidence and beaten before the first bell.
I would love nothing more than for McCarthy to go on another run akin to his first few months in charge, but that now feels like a very long time ago. The shape that he introduced, which provided so much solidity and made best use of the available options, now looks like a straitjacket.
Things turned sour very quickly, but now it’s unbearable. I now look forward to the international breaks, not so I can watch Wales, but for a break from watching Cardiff. The situation can’t get any worse during those couple of weeks. They can’t inflict any more pain, because the situation has become painful.
This run of games was always set to make or break McCarthy. First up was Reading and the return of Junior Hoilett, a beloved former Bluebird and a player that McCarthy played in his first game, before casting him aside and never using him again. Of course he would score the winner. Hoilett never celebrated, but it must have felt sweet.
That aside, it was a game where Cardiff showed significant signs of improvement. They altered their shape to a more progressive formation and created countless chances. The question now remained whether or not McCarthy would retain that formation for the looming trip to Swansea. He did not.
Supporters had been crying out for him to ditch five at the back, which over time incorporated five centrebacks, like a tag-team of wrestlers. When it finally happened, everyone breathed a sigh of relief and the switch appeared to be justified. It remained to be seen whether or not that was due to the absence of Sean Morrison though and as soon as he returned, so did five at the back.
To do that for the derby is a cardinal sin. It was viewed as cowardly and the defeat that followed was embarrassing. The crowd turned on McCarthy during the recent defeat against West Brom, but they responded to the improvement in the subsequent Reading game. It may have saved McCarthy’s bacon, but that goodwill vanished at the weekend and supporters have now had more than enough.
McCarthy is a great manager to have when things are going well because he doesn’t get carried away and feels like a safe pair of hands, which was exactly what was needed when he arrived. Those same qualities can be used against you when things take a turn for the worse though.
Now it feels like McCarthy is aloof and not particularly fussed. The fact that he has failed to nurture any sort of bond with Cardiff supporters is also significant. He is not one for acknowledging fans on the pitch after games and if that’s not your style, you can’t force it, but things like that go a long way and put credit in your
account. Next up is Fulham tonight, a side that Cardiff have developed a recent rivalry with and the most fluid, potent attacking side in the Championship.
I really fear for Cardiff. Then Saturday will bring the return of Neil Warnock, still Cardiff’s spirit animal, and Sol Bamba.
The only thing that can give Cardiff a lift now is a change.
Something different. We’ve gone too far down this road to turn back now, so the choice is to endure more pain or do something different.
The club showed admirable patience with Neil Harris, who was trying to do the right thing and lost his way.
All we’re doing with McCarthy is delaying the inevitable and receiving greater collateral damage. There is no light at the end of this tunnel.
No sane club would go from Malky Mackay to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, to Russell Slade, to Paul Trollope, to Neil Warnock, to Neil Harris, to Mick McCarthy.
They have nothing in common and every appointment represented a significant stylistic shift.
Do you now go for another young manager, or another veteran?
As already mentioned, there is evidently no plan in place, so where Cardiff goes from here is anyone’s guess. Nothing fills me with more dread than when the club are looking for a new manager.
Actually, one thing fills me with more dread; more of this.
STEVE Morison’s Cardiff City under23s continued their incredible start to the Professional Development League 2 campaign with their six successive victory of the season thanks to a James Crole hat-trick.
Charlton were the victims this time, with two goals inside the first 10 minutes putting them right behind the eight-ball early doors.
With Cardiff without a number of regulars in their side, including Kieron Evans, Isaak Davies and Chanka Zimba, it prompted many to question whether some of the young tyros who had impressed this season had received the call-up for first-team action at Craven Cottage.
It meant stand-ins who had played sparingly, if at all, were given the nod by Morison and they certainly delivered.
It was, in fact, a trialist who opened the scoring for City. He intercepted a horribly-misplaced pass back the Addicks goalkeeper and took one touch before opening his body and bending into the far corner to hand the Bluebirds the lead with one minute on the clock.
Next it was James Crole’s turn. The young striker has been impressive for the under-18s and took his chance after being asked to step up when he
headed home powerfully after a looped cross was sent into a dangerous area.
It was Crole who made it three on the stroke of half time. The youngster was sent clean through on goal before sprinting 30 yards into the box and coolly finishing by lifting over the keeper.
Just after the break, Crole was on hand again to slot home his third of the afternoon and make sure the tie was done.
Richard Chin grabbed a consolation for the visitors, but they were well beaten at Cardiff City Stadium
The result means Cardiff usurp Bristol City at the top of the PDL2 Group B table, having played one fewer game, boasting a perfect record of 18 points from six games.