Don’t worry be happy

It is a loving morning and I'm happy to have seen my team bag three points last night at the Cardiff City Stadium not just the points, but the manner they achieved it.

They were plenty of guts on show last night for the fan at the game and those listening on the radio. Maybe the manager/players and fans put up a circle for protection around the stadium expecting the worst form a free scoring top of the table Southampton. I know many fans who when to the game thinking a point would be a good outcome.

Everyone at the game and listeners around the world would have noticed the atmosphere a 100% better than recent game something we need to hear at every game. Last night was also helped along by a great turnout from Southampton (2,000).

The doom and gloom surrounding the game, injuries and all that was washed away with a brace of goals from Kenny Miller.The Cardiff City striker has come in for some stick over his lack of goals, but tonight even any doubters have to stand up a give him a chap. His first goal of two come via the old route-one style of football with goalkeeper David Marshall credited with the assist with Miller on handed to head the ball over the Southampton keeper into the back of net. Aron Gunnarsson provided the assist for his second goal it was a close range effort into the bottom right corner of the Southampton goal.

About last night he said,

“I always want to score goals, but chances have been few and far between. I was fortunate to get on the end of a couple tonight."

It was a pity Cardiff could not keep a clean sheet keeper Marshall deserved one along with the back four who could a useful visitors attack. Warning lights were flash when Cardiff lost Kevin McNaughton and Filip Kiss both nursing knocks but hopefully both will make the trip to Hull City Saturday.

Cardiff City boss Malky Mackay said after the game,

"We were looking to try and make sure we even had a bench tonight. The options were probably not what we'd have hoped for, but, in terms of positions, it was what we had left fit in the building.

"It was a test for us but we had to be brave and believe in the players and tactics we had to beat Southampton.

"There is a togetherness in the squad and that has grown as the weeks have gone along, and everyone wants to do well for each other. There are no fractures in our team and that is paying off.

"I'm delighted for Kenny. He has been a proven goalscorer throughout his career and his hard work has finally paid off with goals.

"The first goal was a really good counter-attack as David (Marshall) kicks it early to Kenny and he's been ever so brave because the goalkeeper can easily smash him in that situation.

"Then he took his second goal incredibly well. It was a lovely finish. But he also put in a lot of work off the ball and channel runs that he deserved those two goals."

Southampton boss Nigel Adkins who was doing some punditry at the Leicester game Sunday must have had jumped up and down watching Mackay injury problems mount.However, he was truly mugged last night and told the press after the game,

"I counted that we had six real good chances in the latter part of the game. Rickie Lambert had two headers which you would put your mortgage on him to score.

"Richard Chaplow has shaved the post and de Ridder also missed before he scored. But we're still top and that is a positive for us."

They seek him here, they seek him there.

Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay is hitting a brick wall in search of players to add to his squad has he looks to strength it.

According to the local press, he as failed in six attempts to sign loan players in recent days has he continue to look. The need to find players is empathise by the number of player in the treatment room out at the Vale training centre. After Saturday and the Hull City game, there is a two week international break that will help heal the wounded, but a number of the squad could find themselves still playing on international duty.

Mackay said,"It's immediately trying to get a couple of bodies in the door to help the short term.  

"[We were] waiting on the Premiership clubs, on their thoughts on what they were going to do with their squads and when they were going to let that player out... but the last two days has changed that focus. 

"Please believe me there's an awful lot of 'phone calls gone in the last 10 days about players coming to the club. 

"It's something we're working on hard and it's not always about us not willing to pay money, there is a lot of factors involved in it. 

"It's quite a small market we're fishing in right now, along with a lot of other clubs."

A newbie now with two games left before the international break, would it worth it. Any player would have little time to settle in. Rushing to put a bum on the bench a false dawn when there are a number of young players who would love the chance to be part of match day at Cardiff.

It will not be too easy next week and the week after with players on international duty along with the seniors the under 21’s have fixtures as well. That could lead to managers keeping hold of players just in case of injuries.

More waiting time for Miller deal

The Miller deal is still on but Cardiff are still waiting on some documents coming through from his club Bursaspor. Cardiff are hoping to deal will go through sometime today after he passed his medical and personal terms have been agreed.

At the Cardiff City press conference this morning manager Malky Mackay said about the striker playing in tomorrow’s friendly if he feels fit enough to play then I will take some part in the game. The City boss has been eyeing Filip Kiss for a year or so and as even been out to Slovakia to watch him play while manager of Watford he relieved to the press conference this morning. He will hopeful part some part of tomorrows trip to Bournemouth.

The trialist who has scored Cardiff only goal in pre-season after two games Rudy Gestade is coming back for talks with Cardiff today, but will not play tomorrow. Mackay is still in the market for players and the search will continue and could go beyond the transfer window.

Manager with passion

It has not happened in awhile a Cardiff City manager talking to the local press or then in the press room, but today the South Wales is carrying an interesting interview with the new Cardiff City boss Malky Mackey.

Mackey see the most important issue in front of him is the squad and new players to add to it. The paper has mentioned a figure of £5 million much less than the £12 million quoted previously. Then, on Talksport radio a journalist from the same paper 'South Wales Echo' Mark Bloom is talking about £12 to £15 million.

Prioity must be up front, there are only two strikers in the squad one of those is a first-year-professional and we are just over 27 days until the first pre-season friendly against Charlton in Spain. What will he make of his squad some of whom he has not seen play for the club? Must he make do with what he has and add to them? He only has 16out fielders in his squad and one of his strikers has yet to make is debut for the club and he joined by goalkeeper Jordan Santigo, defenders Alex Evans and Jonathan Meades along with midfielder Ibrahim Farah all turn professional for the upcoming season.

Then you have midfielder Aaron Wildig who has only made a handful of appearances off the bench. He spent time out on loan last season to SPL club Hamilton for a few months until the end of last season. You also have midfielder Solomon Taiwo signed two seasons ago in his first season he made two starts and came off the bench eight times. Last season he spent the season back with club Cardiff had ordinary sign him from on a season loan.

You could the guarantee one question at the top of any journalist mind OK Alan Shearer and the other Craig Bellamy. Mackey did not say no and did not see yes about him making a return, but like he said he is a Manchester City player and his future is down to them. The Cardiff manager knows Bellamy, as they were teammate's way back when at Norwich. They played together for a season, but the following year Bellamy missed most of the season (1999/2000) with a knee injury making it back for a few games at the end of the season. In the summer, Norwich sold him to Coventry City for a sum of £6.5 million.

Talk about is time with Bellamy he said,

“He’s someone I’ve kept in touch with throughout my career after coming across him at various times. He’s someone I know very well and someone I know did well for this football club last year.

“But he was here on loan and he is contracted to Manchester City, so it would be wrong to talk too much about him.

“But we all know he is a local boy and he is someone in this division who is one of those X-Factor players.

“I don’t know if Craig will want to come because I kicked lumps out him for most of my time at Norwich.”

 

Fans and pundits alike have been waxing lyrical over his style of football as the Echo said,' Mackay's team were renowned for playing attractive, passing football'. We from time to time seen City use the passing game, but far too often the game would switch to route one football with Jay Bothroyd the target. The last two seasons Cardiff were just too predicable going forward it made the fans very frustrated which then give the whole stadiums atmosphere turn negative.

It all played into the hands of the opposition the atmosphere the tactics, but Dave Jones gave us the best years seen by Cardiff fans in donkey's years. Why Jones could not take us a few more steps to the top of the mountain I don't know maybe Mackey can. He will not fail for the lack of support fans have been in the whole have been positive on is arrival he looked impressive at the press conference. Fans realise he is on a rebuild job so will cut him some slack keep Cardiff in the Championship is of paramount importance, but promotion would be great as for the play-off, does anyone want to go there again however, if it has to be so be it.

Malky the Bluebird

Only at Cardiff City, you tell the world a press conference will take place at 3pm and all you see is an empty table and chairs and a room full of press. The poor guy from Sky Sports News must have been sick of saying, "Any moment now we will be going across to Cardiff a here from new manager Malky Mackey" The delay was explained by a club official has a fax being held up at Watford's end, though it's nothing malicious, yet I bet. After 1hour 40 minutes, the man himself walks into the conference room, we have a manager.

FOLLOW link to more picture on Media Wales Website

 

He said all the right things during the press conference oozing confidence about ability said he moved to a bigger club and was looking to be fighting it out at the top end of the table. He also praised the Cardiff fans stating he has seen they passion.

Mackay said: "I see a club with massive ambition, an infrastructure that is exciting, a beautiful stadium, great training facilities and a club that wants to go places.

"I know the division and I know the type of players we want.

"Everyone goes into the race to win it and we will be one of the clubs trying to win it.

"Cardiff are a team that have done very well over the last few years. Two play-offs and a Wembley final appearance can't be criticised.

"It's well documented the finances we've been working under at Watford. Watford over the last couple of years have fought hard under the restrictions. But coming here gives me an opportunity to challenge at the top of the table."

Watching the press conference, Malky Mackey looks hard as nails. I hear Jon Parkin as changed is nickname for ‘The Beast’ to ‘Poodle’. You bet none of his players goes out on the piss in the early hours of the morning before an important match unless he is there.

 

Watford owner, Laurence Bassini, on the Watford's website said,

"Cardiff City has now confirmed Malky Mackay as its new manager – and he leaves with the best wishes of the Hornets' leadership team.

"I can't hide the fact I'm disappointed to see Malky leave. I do, however, wish him the very best of luck and every success for the future as he begins work at his new club."

It is Malky Mackey then

Cardiff finally got their man in the end with Malky Mackey is on board has the new manager. It now closes the door officially on the madness surrounding the post we the fans have had to put up with after the sacking of Dave Jones. Now the work begins a new squad to build and fans to impress and the owners and board who are looking beyond the Championship. I was not a fan of Dave Jones but give him my full support has manager of Cardiff City until the Reading game. If he had stayed with the Bluebirds, he would still have my support because at the end of the day it is about Cardiff City not the individual.

From what I have heard we have a new boss with passionate about his football, someone who unlike the past manager would not talk about a game against your local and deadly rivals as just another game. Something I have been hoping for some time is passion in the dugout

His managerial career consists of a short stint has caretaker at Watford. Then, a manager Brendan Rodgers left for Reading, he moved on from coach to boss for the last two seasons for the same club. In his two-year tenure in charge at Watford there finished mid-table both seasons. Before joining the Bluebirds, other clubs Newcastle and Burnley were looking towards him as a possible manager. Instead of moving he signed a new three- and a half year contract in March with Watford.

Is Malky on the way?

You just can take your eyes off the whole Cardiff City merry-go-round one minute the rumour is the Watford boss Malky Mackay has walked out on the club so clearing the way for Cardiff City. Next he hasn't, but Cardiff City have now received reports to have permission to talk to their manager. Any second now I expect Sir Alex Ferguson to walkout on Manchester United to become the new boss at Cardiff City.

After the brief flirtation with Alan Shearer, it looks like the Bluebirds are zeroing in on the man they always wanted. Well maybe zeroing in on someone on their list. Now does he want the job? Both clubs are rumoured to have sorted out compensation for Watford before speaking to Mackay so it looks like it down to him and we could know something today or tomorrow if he is up for the job.

He will walk into this office at the Vale training ground with a mountain of work to do his biggest task to put together a squad. He will need at least ten new signs if he is happy with the present squad and will Craig Bellamy be in his plans. There is the coaching staff will they be part of his plans or will he have plans of his own along those lines.

God knows what will happen if he was to turn the job down maybe we could start the season with a manager ned like goalie net also known as 'rush goalie'

Description on the term Goalie ned

The goalkeeper position is left unfilled until the ball comes near the goal. At this point the nearest player to the ball will take on the role of goalkeeper. Once the danger has passed the player in goal may then return being a normal outfield player again. Goalie ned is only played in informal football matches, usually by children, and often when all of the players wish to play a more active role in the game than the position of goalkeeper would normally allow or when the number of players per side is particularly low.

This there any manager that has been missed out in the search for the new manager who they have turned down or were not interested. Where next! Hopefully there will be press conference.

Is Mackay the one

Is he the one

According to rumours and paper chatter Cardiff City will meet with Watford manager Malky Mackay sometime today and could be name manager today. It looks like Cardiff's Chief Executive Gethin Jenkins and director Alan Whitely have found their man if you believe to rumours. He has been linked to a number of clubs since taking over at Watford, Newcastle and Burnley being two.

While all this rumours surrounding Mackay play out in the press and internet there has been no word from Watford until today. The Watford Chairman and ex-England boss Graham Taylor is quoted as saying,

"At this moment in time, we have not had an approach from any club for Malky.

"That said, in football you never know what will happen so you can never tell.

"Malky is linked with virtually every job that comes up. That is because he has done a decent job at Watford and, football being what it is, what you come to expect."

Is Mackay the right man for the job or the cheapest? He has been with Watford since signing for them from West Ham on a free transfer back in 2005. In January 2007 he took over as first team coach at Watford and played his last game the following January on the departure of Aidy Boothroyd later that year he became caretaker until Brendan Rodgers was appointed. When Rodgers resigned in 2009 Mackay was offered the job and as recently as March signed an extended three-and-a-half years contract.

In the two seasons he has been in control at Watford they have finished the seasons mid-table. Not the best record compared with some of the others linked with the club so what makes him so special to put him in front of the pack.