Page 1 of 1

" Cardiff City legend Kevin McNaughton reveals "

PostPosted: Wed May 16, 2018 2:31 pm
by Forever Blue
Cardiff City legend Kevin McNaughton reveals the lessons Bluebirds must learn from the Class of 2013 to stay in the Premier League -


Thursday 16th May 2018



Cardiff City legend Kevin McNaughton believes signing players with Premier League experience will be key for the Bluebirds' survival hopes next season.

Neil Warnock stressed that he will continue to put his faith in the stars who guided Cardiff to promotion last term when it comes to playing in England's top flight, although the Yorkshireman admitted he was hoping to make no fewer than six signings to bolster his squad ahead of the 2018-19 campaign.

And McNaughton - who was part of the Cardiff side that gained promotion under Malky Mackay in the 2012-13 season - believes Warnock's men have what it takes to stay up if they can add some much needed top flight experience to their ranks in the summer.

When asked if he think the Bluebirds will stay up next term, McNaughton responded: "I think so.

"Signings are going to be massive. If they can get that early win and build a bit of momentum early on in the season so they're not scrapping away under pressure then they can stay up.

"He's got a group of guys who will work their socks off for each other. He's got the right mix and balance in that they're a physical side.

Kevin McNaughton celebrates with the fans after Cardiff City's promotion into the Premier League in 2013 (Image: Getty Images)
"But the work rate is second to none. You look at the stats this season in terms of their passing and things like that, they're a more direct team than anything else but they just know what they are, make no bones about it and get the job done.

"You can see the way the fans were after the Reading game and how they celebrated. That's been brilliant and it's great to watch. It's thoroughly deserved so you've got to keep that togetherness because it'll be important to help them stay in the league.

"The season we got promoted, we didn't have any standout goalscorers, everybody chipped in. It was a real squad effort when we got over the line. It's the squad that gets you promoted at the end of the day so in that sense there are a lot of similarities (between the two promotion winning sides).

"We went down the foreign approach and it didn't really work out to be honest with you. Our identity was lost but looking at the current crop, I think they've got to bring in some experience of Premier League football into the side, maybe guys who are out of favour in one or two of the clubs already in the Premier League.

"I think that'd be a bonus to get a few bodies in who have been there and done it. I think that's something that looking at our squad, we didn't have bags of experience in terms of Premier League experience.

"The other two teams who got promoted at the time, Hull and Crystal Palace, they probably looked at that and brought in the experience."


Warnock was quick to tie key players down to new contracts ahead of the promotion winning campaign, with stars including Junior Hoilett and Sol Bamba among those to pen new deals to remain in the Welsh capital last summer.

He was also able fight off Premier League interest to convince Kenneth Zohore to stay at Cardiff City Stadium at the back end of the 2016-17 season as well as bringing in Scotland international Callum Paterson from Hearts, the man who struck 10 league goals last season - despite being sidelined through injury until late October - to finish as Cardiff's top scorer in the Championship.

And McNaughton - who made 28 appearances for the Bluebirds in all competitions during the 2012-13 season - believes Zohore is more than capable of cutting the mustard in the Premier League, adding that he was not surprised by compatriot Paterson's impact in his debut season in South Wales.

"They have to try and keep hold of everybody and keep that same squad and momentum they've got so they can try and take it into next season," added the Scot.


"That's something Huddersfield did well, they kept that momentum going into the start of the campaign and they held on in the end and picked up a few key results.

"If you've built something it'd be stupid to start dismantling it and building from scratch. The start of the season is going to be really important for Cardiff so if they can get that win quickly then hopefully it'll get the ball rolling.

"The one guy I think has got all of the attributes is Kenneth Zohore. Every time I see him he causes problems. I think if he gets himself back to his best, I think he'll be a major asset. They might have a tough time keeping hold of him if he plays at his best at the top level.

"And Paterson's been a different class. I knew he'd be a good acquisition but to be honest I thought he'd be playing at full-back. He's been moved around a bit and he's scored some really important goals over the course of the season so he's had a fantastic year."

Re: " Cardiff City legend Kevin McNaughton reveals "

PostPosted: Wed May 16, 2018 3:04 pm
by Bluebina
Forever Blue wrote:Cardiff City legend Kevin McNaughton reveals the lessons Bluebirds must learn from the Class of 2013 to stay in the Premier League -


Thursday 16th May 2018



Cardiff City legend Kevin McNaughton believes signing players with Premier League experience will be key for the Bluebirds' survival hopes next season.

Neil Warnock stressed that he will continue to put his faith in the stars who guided Cardiff to promotion last term when it comes to playing in England's top flight, although the Yorkshireman admitted he was hoping to make no fewer than six signings to bolster his squad ahead of the 2018-19 campaign.

And McNaughton - who was part of the Cardiff side that gained promotion under Malky Mackay in the 2012-13 season - believes Warnock's men have what it takes to stay up if they can add some much needed top flight experience to their ranks in the summer.

When asked if he think the Bluebirds will stay up next term, McNaughton responded: "I think so.

"Signings are going to be massive. If they can get that early win and build a bit of momentum early on in the season so they're not scrapping away under pressure then they can stay up.

"He's got a group of guys who will work their socks off for each other. He's got the right mix and balance in that they're a physical side.

Kevin McNaughton celebrates with the fans after Cardiff City's promotion into the Premier League in 2013 (Image: Getty Images)
"But the work rate is second to none. You look at the stats this season in terms of their passing and things like that, they're a more direct team than anything else but they just know what they are, make no bones about it and get the job done.

"You can see the way the fans were after the Reading game and how they celebrated. That's been brilliant and it's great to watch. It's thoroughly deserved so you've got to keep that togetherness because it'll be important to help them stay in the league.

"The season we got promoted, we didn't have any standout goalscorers, everybody chipped in. It was a real squad effort when we got over the line. It's the squad that gets you promoted at the end of the day so in that sense there are a lot of similarities (between the two promotion winning sides).

"We went down the foreign approach and it didn't really work out to be honest with you. Our identity was lost but looking at the current crop, I think they've got to bring in some experience of Premier League football into the side, maybe guys who are out of favour in one or two of the clubs already in the Premier League.

"I think that'd be a bonus to get a few bodies in who have been there and done it. I think that's something that looking at our squad, we didn't have bags of experience in terms of Premier League experience.

"The other two teams who got promoted at the time, Hull and Crystal Palace, they probably looked at that and brought in the experience."


Warnock was quick to tie key players down to new contracts ahead of the promotion winning campaign, with stars including Junior Hoilett and Sol Bamba among those to pen new deals to remain in the Welsh capital last summer.

He was also able fight off Premier League interest to convince Kenneth Zohore to stay at Cardiff City Stadium at the back end of the 2016-17 season as well as bringing in Scotland international Callum Paterson from Hearts, the man who struck 10 league goals last season - despite being sidelined through injury until late October - to finish as Cardiff's top scorer in the Championship.

And McNaughton - who made 28 appearances for the Bluebirds in all competitions during the 2012-13 season - believes Zohore is more than capable of cutting the mustard in the Premier League, adding that he was not surprised by compatriot Paterson's impact in his debut season in South Wales.

"They have to try and keep hold of everybody and keep that same squad and momentum they've got so they can try and take it into next season," added the Scot.


"That's something Huddersfield did well, they kept that momentum going into the start of the campaign and they held on in the end and picked up a few key results.

"If you've built something it'd be stupid to start dismantling it and building from scratch. The start of the season is going to be really important for Cardiff so if they can get that win quickly then hopefully it'll get the ball rolling.

"The one guy I think has got all of the attributes is Kenneth Zohore. Every time I see him he causes problems. I think if he gets himself back to his best, I think he'll be a major asset. They might have a tough time keeping hold of him if he plays at his best at the top level.

"And Paterson's been a different class. I knew he'd be a good acquisition but to be honest I thought he'd be playing at full-back. He's been moved around a bit and he's scored some really important goals over the course of the season so he's had a fantastic year."



Cardiff City legend Kevin McNaughton believes signing players with Premier League experience will be key for the Bluebirds' survival hopes next season.

Like Fabianski

Re: " Cardiff City legend Kevin McNaughton reveals "

PostPosted: Fri May 18, 2018 9:23 am
by CaerphillyBluebird15
He sent me a tweet yesterday saying he's still got 10 years left in the tank.
After I'd asked him to join my local club next season he replied " I thought we were talking about fifa"

blokes a City Legend :ayatollah: :bluebird: