' A united club from top to bottom '
Thu Oct 05, 2017 3:12 pm
The key things Neil Warnock changed behind the scenes to transform Cardiff City in a year
By Ian Mitchelmore
Thursday 5th October 2017
' A united club from top to bottom '
But how exactly has he done it?
Here are the key things that have helped to turnaround Cardiff's fortunes...
Personnel is probably the most obvious thing that has changed during the Yorkshireman's reign so far.
Just four players that started for the Bluebirds in the 2-0 defeat to Burton - Paul Trollope's final game in-charge of the club - last term were named in Warnock's starting XI for the recent 0-0 draw with Derby at Cardiff City Stadium (Sean Morrison, Lee Peltier, Bruno Manga and Joe Ralls).
And two of the men Warnock snapped up before he even got to witness his refreshed Bluebirds side defeat Severnside rivals Bristol City 2-1 in the Welsh capital have epitomised exactly what Warnock is all about.
Sol Bamba and Junior Hoilett were both at a crossroads in their careers and opted to link-up with Warnock in South Wales.
And not only have the duo become key figures for Cardiff, but their performances - particularly this season - have seen the rest of the Championship stand up and take note.
While the signings of Marouane Chamakh and Kieran Richardson were ultimately disastrous, Warnock wasted no time in getting rid and moving on.
Greg Halford has proved to be a useful squad signing while Allan McGregor filled the void when Cardiff struggled between the sticks in the latter half of the previous campaign.
And the summer recruitment all pointed to one goal. Promotion.
The astute Bosman signings of Neil Etheridge and Loic Damour among others have ensured the Bluebirds have the squad depth needed to compete with the division's big guns while he has certainly unearthed a gem in winger Nathaniel Mendez-Laing.
And it's been Warnock's swift and shrewd dealings in the transfer market that have helped give Cardiff the platform to challenge in one of the most competitive divisions.
Getting players to buy into his plans
Cardiff ended the 2016-17 campaign in the top half of the Championship having been locked firmly in a relegation battle when Warnock took to the helm.
But even after the club's remarkable recovery, there were huge concerns that key members of Warnock's squad would move on to pastures new in the summer.
Joe Bennett, Kenneth Zohore and Sean Morrison were all linked with big-money moves away from Cardiff City Stadium while Kadeem Harris, Hoilett and Bruno Manga all faced uncertain futures as their deals were due to expire in June.
But Warnock managed to convince each of those players that their careers would benefit if they were to remain in Wales, with Zohore putting pen to paper on a new deal in April just weeks after Warnock had himself committed his future to the club.
Bennett said no to Fulham, bids were knocked back for Zohore, Manga opted against a lucrative move to Turkey while others were also convinced that staying with the Bluebirds was the best move to make.
The club's hierarchy deserve immense credit for the way they have backed Warnock during his time in the Welsh capital, but their job has no doubt been made easier by the fact Warnock has managed to get those among his ranks to commit to what he's trying to achieve.
Instilling a never-say-die attitude
A goal down to Fulham, then a point gained. A goal down to Sheffield Wednesday, another point gained. A goal down to Queens Park Rangers, but three points gained.
It's telling just how often Cardiff have managed to salvage results from losing positions under Warnock.
The fact Sol Bamba's leveller against Sheffield Wednesday came as late as the 94th minute tells you all you need to know. Warnock's players will fight until the bitter end.
Sol Bamba of Cardiff City celebrates after he scores in added time to level the match (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)
Even when they've been pegged back after taking the lead in games, (Sunderland and Wolves spring to mind this season) heads don't drop.
And this isn't something new either. Cardiff were officially crowned the comeback kings of the Championship last term having secured six league wins from games in which they conceded the first goal, a tally no other side could match.
Warnock has got his men playing till the final whistle. And as fans have seen on numerous occasions, there have been plenty of points won in the dying embers of matches under the veteran boss.
Reinvigorating underperforming players
It's already been mentioned how Bamba and Hoilett have thrived under Warnock's tutelage.
But these are some who were already at Cardiff that were struggling to prove their worth. None more so than Kenneth Zohore.
The Danish forward failed to score in his five appearances under Trollope and struggled to oust the likes of Rickie Lambert and Frederic Gounongbe from the starting side when the Bluebirds were at their lowest point prior to Warnock's arrival.
But after netting his first goal of the season in the 2-2 draw with Brentford on Boxing Day, Zohore soon became a key cog in the Warnock revolution, going on to score a remarkable 11 goals in the second half of the 2016-17 Championship season.
And there are others who have progressed too.
Aron Gunnarsson is currently the Bluebirds' longest serving player, and his excellent form earned him the player of the season award last time out. But he has continued to be a vital player for Cardiff while fellow central midfielder Joe Ralls has come on leaps and bounds this season.
And it's Warnock's incredible ability to get players to play to their maximum that has been a real driving factor behind the club's barn-storming start to the 2017-18 campaign.
A united club from top to bottom
On the field, the Bluebirds were in disarray as the club made the decision to axe Trollope after a disastrous run of just two wins from 11 league matches.
But from the moment he was appointed, Warnock has re-iterated that his relationship with the men above him has been nothing short of brilliant.
Vincent Tan was in the crowd as Cardiff thrashed much-fancied Aston Villa 3-0 earlier this season, the first time the Malaysian businessman had watched the Bluebirds with Warnock in the hotseat.
And the pair's celebrations together after the match showed how everyone at the club was singing from the same hymn sheet.
Success has undoubtedly played a key part in Cardiff's bumper crowds this season, with more than 27,000 witnessing Cardiff's memorable 3-1 win over Leeds in September.
And it serves to show that - with everyone aiming in the same direction - the club can achieve pretty special things.
By Ian Mitchelmore
Thursday 5th October 2017
' A united club from top to bottom ' But how exactly has he done it?
Here are the key things that have helped to turnaround Cardiff's fortunes...
Personnel is probably the most obvious thing that has changed during the Yorkshireman's reign so far.
Just four players that started for the Bluebirds in the 2-0 defeat to Burton - Paul Trollope's final game in-charge of the club - last term were named in Warnock's starting XI for the recent 0-0 draw with Derby at Cardiff City Stadium (Sean Morrison, Lee Peltier, Bruno Manga and Joe Ralls).
And two of the men Warnock snapped up before he even got to witness his refreshed Bluebirds side defeat Severnside rivals Bristol City 2-1 in the Welsh capital have epitomised exactly what Warnock is all about.
Sol Bamba and Junior Hoilett were both at a crossroads in their careers and opted to link-up with Warnock in South Wales.
And not only have the duo become key figures for Cardiff, but their performances - particularly this season - have seen the rest of the Championship stand up and take note.
While the signings of Marouane Chamakh and Kieran Richardson were ultimately disastrous, Warnock wasted no time in getting rid and moving on.
Greg Halford has proved to be a useful squad signing while Allan McGregor filled the void when Cardiff struggled between the sticks in the latter half of the previous campaign.
And the summer recruitment all pointed to one goal. Promotion.
The astute Bosman signings of Neil Etheridge and Loic Damour among others have ensured the Bluebirds have the squad depth needed to compete with the division's big guns while he has certainly unearthed a gem in winger Nathaniel Mendez-Laing.
And it's been Warnock's swift and shrewd dealings in the transfer market that have helped give Cardiff the platform to challenge in one of the most competitive divisions.
Getting players to buy into his plans
Cardiff ended the 2016-17 campaign in the top half of the Championship having been locked firmly in a relegation battle when Warnock took to the helm.
But even after the club's remarkable recovery, there were huge concerns that key members of Warnock's squad would move on to pastures new in the summer.
Joe Bennett, Kenneth Zohore and Sean Morrison were all linked with big-money moves away from Cardiff City Stadium while Kadeem Harris, Hoilett and Bruno Manga all faced uncertain futures as their deals were due to expire in June.
But Warnock managed to convince each of those players that their careers would benefit if they were to remain in Wales, with Zohore putting pen to paper on a new deal in April just weeks after Warnock had himself committed his future to the club.
Bennett said no to Fulham, bids were knocked back for Zohore, Manga opted against a lucrative move to Turkey while others were also convinced that staying with the Bluebirds was the best move to make.
The club's hierarchy deserve immense credit for the way they have backed Warnock during his time in the Welsh capital, but their job has no doubt been made easier by the fact Warnock has managed to get those among his ranks to commit to what he's trying to achieve.
Instilling a never-say-die attitude
A goal down to Fulham, then a point gained. A goal down to Sheffield Wednesday, another point gained. A goal down to Queens Park Rangers, but three points gained.
It's telling just how often Cardiff have managed to salvage results from losing positions under Warnock.
The fact Sol Bamba's leveller against Sheffield Wednesday came as late as the 94th minute tells you all you need to know. Warnock's players will fight until the bitter end.
Sol Bamba of Cardiff City celebrates after he scores in added time to level the match (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)
Even when they've been pegged back after taking the lead in games, (Sunderland and Wolves spring to mind this season) heads don't drop.
And this isn't something new either. Cardiff were officially crowned the comeback kings of the Championship last term having secured six league wins from games in which they conceded the first goal, a tally no other side could match.
Warnock has got his men playing till the final whistle. And as fans have seen on numerous occasions, there have been plenty of points won in the dying embers of matches under the veteran boss.
Reinvigorating underperforming players
It's already been mentioned how Bamba and Hoilett have thrived under Warnock's tutelage.
But these are some who were already at Cardiff that were struggling to prove their worth. None more so than Kenneth Zohore.
The Danish forward failed to score in his five appearances under Trollope and struggled to oust the likes of Rickie Lambert and Frederic Gounongbe from the starting side when the Bluebirds were at their lowest point prior to Warnock's arrival.
But after netting his first goal of the season in the 2-2 draw with Brentford on Boxing Day, Zohore soon became a key cog in the Warnock revolution, going on to score a remarkable 11 goals in the second half of the 2016-17 Championship season.
And there are others who have progressed too.
Aron Gunnarsson is currently the Bluebirds' longest serving player, and his excellent form earned him the player of the season award last time out. But he has continued to be a vital player for Cardiff while fellow central midfielder Joe Ralls has come on leaps and bounds this season.
And it's Warnock's incredible ability to get players to play to their maximum that has been a real driving factor behind the club's barn-storming start to the 2017-18 campaign.
A united club from top to bottom On the field, the Bluebirds were in disarray as the club made the decision to axe Trollope after a disastrous run of just two wins from 11 league matches.
But from the moment he was appointed, Warnock has re-iterated that his relationship with the men above him has been nothing short of brilliant.
Vincent Tan was in the crowd as Cardiff thrashed much-fancied Aston Villa 3-0 earlier this season, the first time the Malaysian businessman had watched the Bluebirds with Warnock in the hotseat.
And the pair's celebrations together after the match showed how everyone at the club was singing from the same hymn sheet.
Success has undoubtedly played a key part in Cardiff's bumper crowds this season, with more than 27,000 witnessing Cardiff's memorable 3-1 win over Leeds in September.
And it serves to show that - with everyone aiming in the same direction - the club can achieve pretty special things.
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Re: ' A united club from top to bottom '
Thu Oct 05, 2017 3:18 pm
For me the club are now finally together from Top to Bottom and united as one 
Now for the Fans to turn up and be that 12th man, Warnock keeps asking for
Quarter of the season in and " WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE " for me if other clubs regularly get 27,000 plus crowds, not asking much for 20,000 plus at Cardiff City
The Club have done their bit,on and off the pitch. In fact more than their bit and cheap season tickets and cheap match day prices
Now its over to us 
Now for the Fans to turn up and be that 12th man, Warnock keeps asking for
Quarter of the season in and " WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE " for me if other clubs regularly get 27,000 plus crowds, not asking much for 20,000 plus at Cardiff City
The Club have done their bit,on and off the pitch. In fact more than their bit and cheap season tickets and cheap match day prices
Now its over to us
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.