HONOURS EVEN IN AERIAL BATTLE
Verdict
NOBODY expected a fiesta of football at the Riverside, and this was certainly no game for the purists.
The ball spent longer in the sky than a Boeing 747, and the average height of the players on show must have been around seven feet. “It’s not the best game
I’ve ever seen,” admitted Mick McCarthy. “In fact, it was probably one of the worst.” For both managers, there was a sense of a point hard earned, but Boro will surely wonder what might have been had they made their tactical switch earlier.
Once Neeskens Kebano arrived and began asking sterner questions of Cardiff’s back four, the visitors looked ready to crumble and – had the game lasted ten minutes longer – Middlesbrough might well have snatched a winner.
In the end, a point was a fair result but - given their respective positions - it is certainly one that does Cardiff more good than Boro.
ONE of the questions I’m always asked – especially as a former Crystal Palace player – is whether you can look at a player and see a future manager.
We had Chris Coleman, Gareth Southgate, Alan Pardew.
All of them have had successful managerial careers at the top level.
But the truth is, you can’t. It’s just such a different role. When you’re a player - even if you’re doing your badges, like I did you can’t think about coaching. It takes all your focus and concentration to succeed on the pitch.
What I would say is that it’s easier to see in defenders.
They tend to be more pragmatic in their approach to the game.
They’re very organised and they know how to talk. Communication is a cornerstone of their position.
If you think of
Mick McCarthy and Nigel Pearson, they were classic central defenders who led the line, marshalled the team and, as captains, had a leading role in the dressing room.
A lot of the fundamental skills required were already there, and I think it does give defenders an advantage.
MICK McCarthy thinks Cardiff have turned themselves into a team others want to beat after pushing themselves into the promotion picture.
The Bluebirds were 15th when McCarthy took over, but the 2-1 midweek win at Bournemouth saw them rise to sixth.
McCarthy said: “The lads have been brilliant and have earned their position in the table with wins they have had.
“They have reacted well to me coming in and the shifts they are putting in have been amazing.
“Now everybody will want to beat us. We’ve put a bit more pressure on us and won’t want to drop out of the top six.”