Miserable fare at Leckwith following Warnock’s shake up of City’s Under 23s.

11 Responses to Miserable fare at Leckwith following Warnock’s shake up of City’s Under 23s.

1. Anthony O'Brien says:

   December 6, 2016 at 9:07 pm

   This evening (Tuesday) I had the pleasure of listening to Neil Warnock in a question and answer session at a pub in Pontypridd, which raised £500 for Velindre hospital. He had volunteered to come to Pontypridd not only because he has personal reasons to help raise money for cancer sufferers but also because he wanted to reach out to Cardiff City supporters in the Valleys. As someone rightly said to me afterwards, he’s a man you’d want to play for.
   One of the questions was about the cut back to the Under-23 squad. He said that he insisted on telling the players face-to-face, and did so at this early date to give them time to find another club where they could get first-team football, though they will, if required, still have a contract with Cardiff until the summer. In effect, he was saying that if the older Development players have not broken through into the Cardiff first-team squad by this time, they were unlikely to do so in the future. This makes sense. However, the aim is now to bring through younger players and give them opportunities to reach first-team standard.
   Mr Warnock also said that Craig Bellamy is still around the club and doing a good job with the youngsters. Some time ago Craig Bellamy had agreed to sign for Mr Warnock, but said that if his dream team of Liverpool came in for him, that’s who he’d sign for. This is exactly what happened on deadline day, but Craig made a point of personally phoning Neil Warnock with the news. As an obvious straight-shooter himself, Mr Warnock appreciated the way in which Craig Bellamy had been up-front with him.
   Asked about Peter Whittingham, our manager said he would still have a role to play, but not necessarily in every game. In addition, he has regular comprehensive reports on Cardiff players currently on loan.
   One of the main reasons he chose to come to Cardiff was that Cardiff wanted him — end of! His wife then looked at the various blogs and sites relating to Cardiff City and told him that the fans actually like him. Thus encouraged, he forgot about retirement and joined us. How glad I am he did so!
2. Clive Harry says:

   December 6, 2016 at 9:08 pm

   Thanks for the report Paul. I was working and was disappointed I wouldn’t be able to watch but I feel a lot better having read that!
   Something undoubtedly had to be done at U23 level with players seemingly stagnating and hopefully, the proposed changes will have a radical effect. I’m actually writing this whilst listening to the County game and despite being two down, the commentators have again been impressed by Rhys Healey. Perhaps regular first team football will finally see him fulfill his early promise and impress Colin.
3. The other Bob Wilson says:

   December 7, 2016 at 10:30 am

   We saw two awful Monday afternoon games at Leckwith earlier in the season didn’t we Clive (0-0 against Charlton and 0-1 against Barnsley with the goal coming from a rebound after a penalty had been saved) – the Blackburn was another level down (at least!) from those two and you would have had far more fun in work.
   I listened to a bit of the County game as well and it sounds as if Healey was playing quite well, but I’d say that we are now at the stage where he’d be getting into the Wharton/O’Sullivan type situation if he came back here next season and was in the Under 23s team every week – he’d be better off signing a permanent deal for a lower division club I reckon.
   Thanks for that about last night AMO. Neil Warnock is putting younger City managers (as an aside, have we ever had an older manager than him?) to shame with the way he is touring the area meeting City fans – there’s already been that well attended night at Cardiff City Stadium, a meeting with supporters in Maesteg, last night and that visit he paid with Ken Choo to the Penderyn Whisky factory last month.
   On the subject of the reforms at Academy and Under 23 level, I’m told that midfield player Sion Spence (who only turned 16 in October) tweeted that he would have been in the squad for the game on Monday were it not for an injury – I hope this is not one of those stories that creates a bit of a fuss when it comes out and is then quietly forgotten about, but that little snippet of news suggests it’s not going to be and so, again, Neil Warnock is showing himself to be someone who backs up his words with actions.
   Interesting comments about Craig Bellamy which back up one or two little things I’ve heard regarding the youngsters at the club – I’m guessing Warnock tried to sign him when he was at QPR.
   Glad to hear those comments about Peter Whittingham, he’s still the best at the club in many of the facets of midfield play and it should also mean that he will complete ten years with us – it’s an outstanding achievement for any player to stay with any club as a first team player for a decade these days.
4. Clive Harry says:

   December 7, 2016 at 10:41 am

   Paul, I hope referring to me as Colin isn’t subconsciously drawing a parallel with the other well known ‘Colin’ nickname!
5. The other Bob Wilson says:

   December 7, 2016 at 12:45 pm

   Just noticed it now before I came across your second message Clive. We do have a Colin who often posts on here, so maybe I was thinking of him – sorry about that.
6. Dai Woosnam says:

   December 9, 2016 at 5:32 am

   Thanks Paul, for enduring the miserable December Leckwith weather, and football that mirrored it.
   Was also very struck by AMO’s account of the Pontypridd pub visit. Hope Neil was looking a little less gaunt than he has of late: the boy needs fattening up. I can recommend a good fish and chip shop in Ponty…though, in truth, probably average by Grimsby/Cleethorpes standards.
   And, btw, AMO…as you know, I used to sell beer, wines and spirits to many Ponty pubs. What pub was it? And what was Neil drinking…? As for the latter question, I guess that the “Woodward/Bernstein” in you will surely have ensured that such information was neatly entered into your reporters’ notebook.
   I jest of course, AMO. But seriously, I would love to know the pub. I still wince at memories of the watering hole of another Woodward – this time Tommy Jones Woodward – viz., The Greyhound, and the Irish landlord who 23 years ago did a runner and took me for close on £2K. The warning signs had been there…he had taken to sleeping some nights on the pool table, being unable to climb the stairs to his accommodation. But alas, I only found this out …subsequently.
   And when the gumshoe in me eventually after a myriad bum steers traced him to his brother’s place in Chislehurst, and I sent him a letter asking him to pay me, I got a snooty letter back from the CAB asking me not to harass their client…!!
   Ah…we do indeed live in interesting times. Carey Street, where are you when we need you? And as for the CAB…stop believing people who do not deserve your belief.
   By comparison, Cardiff City have no problems at all. A great manager at the helm of a weakish squad that may well not survive the drop. Players who were vastly overpriced like Sean Morrison who I still have hopes for …but up front…he is not a true defender.

   And finally a playful note to Clive…there are worse epithets than that to come one’s way! As I always say, I am impervious to any insult more subtle than physical assault, and when I have been called that, I have been happy to take it in my stride, warm and secure in the knowledge that I have thus not impregnated some beauty and thus done my bit to avoid the overstocking of the human race.
   And if only Tina Turner had the slightest idea of the frequency of our imaginary encounters, she would breathe one mighty sigh of relief … !!
   Enough of my (semi) witterings…thanks again Paul, and the MAYA team.
7. Anthony O'Brien says:

   December 9, 2016 at 10:02 am

   In answer to Dai’s query, the pub in Pontypridd which hosted Neil Warnock’s question and answer session was “The Rose and Crown” on the Graig. In mournful testimony to how the landscape and tastes of the town have changed it is now the only genuine public house between the Tumble and the heights of Penycoedcae, The sole survivor on the Tumble itself is the former “Greyhound”, now horrendously renamed as “the Skinny Dog”. The Greyhound in days of yore used to be a depository of items reflecting the sporting history of Pontypridd, but presumably no longer. This small, cramped pub once boasted a large oval-framed photograph of Frank Moody which he had donated after boxing in American but I hardly think it still graces the walls of the place. (Frank Moody gave my grandfather the same oval-framed photo, and it’s still on show in my house, though sadly no longer recognised by anyone).
   Unfortunately I did not have a reporter’s notebook with me and so have to rely on a very untrustworthy memory as to what Neil Warnock was drinking, but I can confirm it was non-alcoholic and limited to a single glass. What struck me about him was his willingness to be there and sign autographs and pose for photos at the end of the session, his honest and easy going style (I jest not) and his manifest love of football. He also genuinely wants success for Cardiff City as well as reaching the record of eight promotions, but what I think was also apparent was his wish to stay in football when he finally retires, presumably with Cardiff, and become some kind of wise old adviser to the new management. He clearly delights in the game too much to withdraw entirely. And I, who once regarded him merely as a pugnacious and often biased critic of referees who were doing their best, now regard him as a good man at heart who is Cardiff City’s best bet eventually to become a successful side in which we can all take pride.
   One final thought, Dai: Tina Turner! As an old pop song has it (by Bobby Vee?) “Mammaries are all I have to cling to”.
8. Colin Phillips says:

   December 9, 2016 at 10:10 am

   I believe it was the Rose and Crown, Dai.
9. Dai Woosnam says:

   December 9, 2016 at 2:32 pm

   Thanks to Colin and AMO for The Rose And Crown.
   I recall coming down the hill one evening rush hour, and passing it on my left, and deciding to turn right down Union Street to avoid a gridlock by the traffic lights.
   Only problem was that it was a “no right turn”…and a bobby was there to issue me with a fixed penalty document.
   As for Neil Warnock, I think I always liked him right back in the days when he had that war with Megson, and got sufficient of his own players red carded, as to make the ref abandon the game …as he only had 8 players left…!! I cannot recall if he was fined for that cunning stunt.*
   But I do agree that his bullying of officials was not a particularly endearing quality, and I used to feel nothing short of COMPASSION for any linesman on his side of the pitch. But I always knew that Warnock the MAN was a man with a big heart and a most winning personality.
   And this has been brought home to me in recent years with him often appearing as Alan Brazil’s sidekick on Talksport. And he comes across ever-so-well…albeit that he has a semi Tourette’s habit of mentioning his beloved schoolboy son William every programme without fail..!!
   Btw…just as we know that Jose Mourinho stays in The Lowry Hotel in Manchester, do we know where the new Cardiff management trio are living? Are they all in The Vale Of Glamorgan spa hotel?
   * With apologies to Blackadder. And try saying those two words quickly some ten times.
   Almost as hard as “red lorry yellow lorry”…and with far more embarassing pitfalls …!!
10. Dai Woosnam says:

    December 9, 2016 at 5:01 pm

    Oh, I forgot to say, AMO…
    …re the Bobby Vee allusion: wrong part of the anatomy!

    I was rather thinking of the song made memorable by Art Garfunkel (among a great many others)
    “I only have THIGHS for you”.
11. Royalewithcheese says:

    December 10, 2016 at 3:57 pm

    It was Bobby Darin.

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