"There’s a sickness bug going round, Declan John is definitely out and there’s another couple of lads out. I don’t want people travelling if there’s sickness in the camp."
"It’s not often I’m in mid-table - I’m always fighting relegation or going for promotion. It’s different but we’ve got to try and make our own edge. The effort I’m looking for can’t just be switched on.
"Players can’t decide just to have a day off. We’ve got fans travelling to Wigan and Sheffield and the expectation is a minimum 100% effort. No excuse."
"They’re going to have loads of time off in a couple of weeks, so it’s not a lot to ask - but they’re not those type of lads."
A few months ago, after the sacking of Warren Joyce from Wigan, many media outlets reported that Warnock felt the Latics weren’t a threat with him as manger. Now as Cardiff prepare to take on a side under the stewardship of interim boss Graham Barrow, Warnock has clarified his comments...
NEIL WARNOCK:
"There’s no pleasure in sending them down. I wanted to beat Forest especially having an interview with them in pre season. But we don’t want Wigan to have a double on us."
"I think some of you guys twisted what I actually said - what I said was his inexperience in the Championship makes it difficult. It’s a league which is difficult to come and manage for your first time. there’s nothing wrong with saying that, it wasn’t a criticism of Warren himself. But for someone who’s never been in the Championship, it was a massive gamble and it didn’t pay off."
Neil Warnock has reiterated that Bruno Manga is unlikely to be at the club next season and in fact the Bluebirds have already lined up the Gabon international’s replacement - along with another five players who they’ve held talks with.
Here is the full story
NEIL WARNOCK:
"I was supposed to meet his agent and they cancelled the meetings - but now it will be next week. You can’t agree anything if you don’t talk to anybody! His agent doesn’t speak the best English."
"Bruno tells me one thing but I know what agents will be like and I don’t expect that to be successful. We’re down the line on somebody else coming in as well for that position so we’re not going to let anything worry us. If people don’t want to play for Cardiff City and if they don’t want to put a blue shirt on, then they’re not for us."
"It’s a toss of a coin, referee’s decision - anything can happen in 3 games. Blackburn and Forest are in the same situation."
"Birmingham have got new faces now with Harry and Steve Cotterill. Bristol City have got Tammy Abraham - this season anyhow! It’s between those clubs although Burton will be delighted after last week. I thought they’d struggle but I’m really hoping they can stay up."
"I’ve done 1400 odd games in 37 years in management. It takes inner strength and desire - the highs are so good, when you’ve won a game you can’t replicate that."
"Seeing a player score goals when you’ve coached him."
"So many things that inspire you as a manager. And seeing the fans enjoy your presence at the club. If the fans hadn’t been like they have I wouldn’t be here next season. They’ve really come on board."
Warnock doing it for the fans and the Bluebirds hierarchy
NEIL WARNOCK:
"It’s a difficult job as it is. Contracts don’t matter to me, As long as they want me I’ll be doing the best for the fans."
" I love the Championship like no other league I’ve been in. The support I’ve had from Vincent and Ken has been very good and I’m repaying the faith they’ve shown in me."
The manager has spoken about the tragic death of former England defender Ehiogu.
"You can’t really say anything, you’re just speechless. I spoke to him at Villa but it’s cruel, it’s just how life is. For a young man to pass away like that is a tragedy and my feelings are for his family. I know how important your family is and that’s why I’m enjoying my time now. Sharon’s never been happier and she’s coming up to the game on Friday. But she seems to be enjoying it."
"If my wife’s happy, I’m happy. I look after my health, my blood pressure and you’ve got to keep healthy when you’re working with a group of young lads."
"We’ve spoken to Kadeem’s dad a couple of times and we’ve spoken to others like Kenneth Zohore and Lee Peltier and one or two others."
"I’d like to tie a number down if I can but sometimes you’ve just got to go slowly. Sometimes there’s only so much meat on the bone, you can’t spend it all! So we’re talking to all the lads and we don’t want to lose anybody. If we could keep everyone I wouldn’t mind. I’m not into pre-season plans yet. I had three good players (who I was talking to) for one position. I haven’t a clue which one I’ll end of signing but I want one of them to sign for us."
" I hope the club situation appeals to people. I’m pleased when players want to play for me."
"Wigan are a good footballing team and they have a lot of possession. Powell’s had a good run in front of goal so I’m expecting a good game."
" People say there’s pressure at the top of the table but I wouldn’t want to be in their position. I think there’s far more pressure at the other end of the table. "
"I think the Championship as as difficult as any league in the world to get out of. But the rewards are as big as any in the world too." "You can see with the tenure of a Championship manager being one year and two months, it’s not the longevity job you’re looking for." "You’ve got to win games at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how old you are whether you’re young or old, you get the sack!"
'Harry makes me feel young!' Neil Warnock explains why Harry Redknapp's Birmingham City appointment proves experience is everything
Friday 21st April 2017
Neil Warnock was delighted with Harry Redknapp's appointment at Birmingham City... primarily because it meant he was no longer the oldest manager in the league.
But he revealed the "buzz" of top level football kept older heads like himself and Redknapp in the game after the latter returned to management at the age of 70.
Owners are increasingly opting for experienced managers, and Warnock explained the nous of gnarled veterans could achieve far more than aimless money spending under a young "billboard" boss.
"When you look at the situation, I don’t think I’ve ever been more popular in the Championship as I have in the last few years, when I look at the number of clubs I've spoken to " said Warnock.
"Some people prefer an older manager.
"They had a fad a couple of years ago when everybody wanted a young manager with his billboard or whatever they call it and it was the coaching manual, but now they’ve gone for experience. I suppose in a couple of years it'll be different.
"It depends what time of board you are. Some will come in and splash multi-millions in the Championship. But I'm not sure that's the answer."
The Cardiff boss expects to spend around £6milliion in the summer transfer window , but explained why Redknapp's appointment at Birmingham City was a gamble.
The Blues are in a relegation fight that Cardiff could impact by beating Wigan Athletic this weekend. A Bluebirds win could send the Latics to League One depending on other results.
And Warnock said Redknapp would face a scrap to keep Birmingham in the division.
"It’s a toss of a coin, a referee’s decision — anything can happen in three games. Blackburn and (Nottingham) Forest are in the same situation.
"Birmingham have got new faces now with Harry and Steve Cotterill. Bristol City have got Tammy Abraham — this season anyhow! It’s between those clubs although Burton will be delighted after last week. I thought they’d struggle but I’m really hoping they can stay up.
"Harry makes me feel young now!" joked Warnock when asked about Redknapp's return.
"I’m lucky I’m not as old as Harry — he’s similar to me in that you can only do so much gardening and looking after the grandkids! I got the bug back at Rotherham like I’ve not had for about five years.
"And the same here (at Cardiff), The challenge of turning around a massive club that was on a downward spiral; to put the confidence back in the club and smiles on people’s faces, that’s important."
Warnock knows the pitfalls of the Championship and had a stern warning for any manager, young or old.
"I think the Championship as as difficult as any league in the world to get out of. But the rewards are as big as any in the world too," he added.
"You can see with the tenure of a Championship manager being one year and two months, it’s not the longevity job you’re looking for.
"You’ve got to win games at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how old you are whether you’re young or old, you get the sack!
"I love the Championship like no other league I've been in and as long as I've got my health, I think there's a place here for me."
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