Are we better off with Solskjaer than we were with Mackay?

Being in the prem is not everything. Look at west hams fans, they are also pissed off with the drab football allardyce is playing. Malkys football was the most boring iv watched from many managers. I pay my money to be entertained, whether thats in the prem or champ, and Ole is the man to deliver that.

Surely you are better off staying up at least 1 season before wanting to play expansive football? Allardyce has been at West Ham a few years now. I read a piece by a Hammer yesterday basically telling his fellow fans to shut up. It said to keep Allardyce in the job until they move to the Olympic stadium so that they will remain in the top flight and can make a real go of spending more money and expansive football then.

The thing is we were a sinking ship under malky, dropping down the league with our toughest month of fixtures to come. We are still a sinking ship but atleast the football is more enjoyable. If it means being relegated so Ole can get rid of all Malkys deadwood then so be it. I have no doubt we will bounce back up under Ole, we will also enjoy the football played under Ole whether it's in the prem or champ.

I enjoyed that maybe should of gone in to more detail on Oles reign so far.
You were fair on Malky and I enjoyed reading Malky's reign.
Tomorrow for me is the big test for Ole, any club can rise when they play big name clubs, but tomorrow is what really matters

That would have been great! Every stat behind every match show great decline in the players.. Running stats are down, passing stats and tackle stats and so on. It should include how solskjaer have turned this arround and have the players fighting with spirits again, after mackays reign. If a theory was to be included how this could have been turned in one week or so, would be great. But history show some fixes are quick, some are not. Everyone with a bit knowledge knows balance in squad is a quick fix, but change of style and confidense is not. And change of style was most certanly pressed!

Written by Ned Thomas

http://www.annisabraham.co.uk/?p=916

Featured on http://www.newsnow.co.uk/h/Sport/Footba ... rdiff+City

In December 2013, Cardiff City lost 3-0 at home to Southampton. Following that result, Malky Mackay lost his job as club manager. The following month, former Manchester United star Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was named as his replacement.

So, was it the right decision? Was it the right timing? Is Solskjaer a more suitable manager for the club than Mackay?

' Let's start with Mackay. '

The Scotsman was given the job in the summer of 2011. Cardiff City had been flirting with promotion, under Dave Jones, for years. New owner, Dato Tan Tien Ghee decided to make the change in manager following the 3-0 aggregate defeat to Reading in the play-offs.

Mackay, who left Watford to join the Bluebirds, had come into a difficult situation. He only had a handful of players due to loanees returning to their clubs and others moving on. Jay Bothroyd, Craig Bellamy and Michael Chopra were just three of these.

So, in the summer of 2011, he had to re-build a new squad. He brought in the likes of Kenny Miller, Don Cowie and Joe Mason.

In his first season, he achieved a play-off position. City would eventually be thrashed by recently-relegated West Ham United. The season was best known, however, for Mackay taking the club to the League Cup Final, with his new-look side taking Kenny Dalglish's Liverpool to a penalty-shoot out.

The following summer was one of controversy. Vincent Tan had now taken over the club and made the decision to change the home shirts from the traditional blue to red. A colour he felt would help the club grow financially in Asia.

Was it lucky red? Perhaps not, but Mackay led the Welsh capital to the Championship title and the riches of the Premier League that came with it. He made one of the best signings of the January transfer window in Frazier Campbell for less than £1 million.

If the 2012/13 season was one of success for Mackay and his staff, the next was one of pain. Mackay had started the season well. Beating oil-rich Manchester City, drawing with the champions in Manchester United and who could forget the win over Swansea?

However, the tension between manager and owner began to grow. First, there was the reported row that players' agreed bonuses were not being paid.

Several other controversial issues were being reported by natural and local media. Iain Moody was then removed from his role as chief scout for overspending on the summer transfer window, notably the signing of Andreas Cornelius.

It was clear that Mackay's position was untenable, he was told by Vincent Tan that he must resign or he'd by sacked. It was reported that Mackay replied with a simple, "no thank you". Shortly afterwards, Mackay was sacked.


' As for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. '

The Norwegian did a brilliant job at Molde in his home country. But this was his first big job, his first Premier League job. Was it the right time? Maybe, maybe not.

He started slowly. The 3-0 loss at Swansea hurt all of us fans, but also hurt Solskjaer.

However, in recent weeks, we have seen a big difference. The team were perhaps unlucky not to come away with a point at Tottenham and Everton, while a good first half display was put in against in-form Liverpool.

Most importantly though, he has got the win where it matters. This started against Norwich City and continued in the do-or-die game with Fulham.

So, back to my original question. Are we better off with Solskjaer than we were with Mackay? At the moment I'd be inclined to say no.

But Solskjaer has grown into the job well, and if he keeps up what he's been doing in recent weeks then Cardiff City will be a Premier League team next season.

What is crucial though, is that the team rally behind the players and the manager. The Great Escape is still possible.

Malky set out to survive.Under him we would have.He was aiming for 17th and we would have made that.In my view Tan has made another of his many cock up's.I would rather go down and return to blue.Sad after seeing us go down from the top flight in the 60s'and dreamed ever since of getting back.So its Malky for me.

[/quote]
Malky set out to survive.Under him we would have.He was aiming for 17th and we would have made that.In my view Tan has made another of his many cock up's.I would rather go down and return to blue.Sad after seeing us go down from the top flight in the 60s'and dreamed ever since of getting back.So its Malky for me.[/quote]

So in fact football has nothing to do with it! Its all about color, and solskjaer who said he like to address the matter on later stages is label red. But Malky who embraced red is pro blue? Fair play

Long term yes. We have young players with talent. If Ole stays then in the summer he can assemble a good enough team to challenge for promotion and we can actually have a PL worthy team rather than the team we have now. Ole is far more ruthless in getting rid of players unlike Milky

Yes we are better off with Ole he wants the team to play football and we will get even better once he's had time to bring in his own players.
Malky did well for us but after watching his style of play i can honestly say whether we won ,drew or lost i have never witnessed such boring , negative football in 30 or so years of watching Cardiff City.
Thanks Malky but christ i'm glad he's gone

Goals scored under Malky: 13
Goals conceded under Malky: 28

Goals scored under Ole:14
Goals conceded under Ole:29

Goals scored under Malky: 13
Goals conceded under Malky: 28

Goals scored under Ole:14
Goals conceded under Ole:29

Not much difference there. We are more of an attacking force under Ole, just a shame Ole came to the party so late on in the season. Given a full season under him we would be doing much better sadly he has to make do with some players who are Malkys championship players and are certainly not good enough t6o be playing in the Premier League

Goals scored under Malky: 13
Goals conceded under Malky: 28

Goals scored under Ole:14
Goals conceded under Ole:29

Not much difference there. We are more of an attacking force under Ole, just a shame Ole came to the party so late on in the season. Given a full season under him we would be doing much better sadly he has to make do with some players who are Malkys championship players and are certainly not good enough t6o be playing in the Premier League

Malky had 16 pts out of 18, Ole has 8 out of 12, so they're more or less the same but we've scored a goal more than we did under Ole with six games less played. I agree, he would have given us such attacking belief and had more time to identify targets.

Personally I rather draw 3-3 than 0-0,enough said

Ogs for me, didn't realise at the time, but looking back MMs time was up. Malky was the man to get us up, and will always be a legend for finally getting doing it, although he was backed with cash that DJ would have dreamed of. Also MM didn't develop a playing style in the Champ apart from grinding out results and work rate which isn't enough for the Prem IMO. Also think he was too inexperienced at Prem level tactically and contacts wise for players (which meant we arguably ended up overpaying, and got no prem experience players like Hull). He was learning though, and could have kept us up by grinding out results, and parking bus in last 20 mins of every game. Not sure though, as passion and enthusiasm of newly promoted teams (and fans) apparently only lasts until Christmas.
Ogs seems to be better tactically, formations, substitutions and contacts for players. Again learning, but reason for backing Ogs over MM, is that IMO if he had a full season with a full transfer budget, I would have been more confident he could have have kept us up. Still hoping he can obviously. Finally, I enjoy Ogs football better.

Malky had a few seasons Ole only been here since January so nobody can fairly say if we will be

I got fed up with the tagline "Malky is young he is still learning" In the toughest league in the world he was badly exposed. We were the man U of the championship last season, so he did what was expected.

Malky teams historically crashed and burnt after Christmas, we were showing signs of that early December....

Ole does my head in.....We are not man u, we can't switch tactics willy-nilly as our players are designed to stop the opposition playing and if you ask a few of them to pass and be creative they fail.

I guess what I am saying is Jose Mourhino would be lucky to finish above the relegation zone with our squad.

I am unsure if either will make it as a top manager, but at least its entertaining under OGS

Both useless

Both useless

Bag full of happiness

OGS may not keep us up but we don't have to watch the bore fest that was MM.

OGS may not keep us up but we don't have to watch the bore fest that was MM.

This ^^ I go to games to be entertained under malky it felt like a punishment

No OGS is clueless, MM would have kept us up, next years PL teams will be the richest ever, great for the smaller PL clubs this will make them far stronger and will pull them away from all the championship sides

No OGS is clueless, MM would have kept us up, next years PL teams will be the richest ever, great for the smaller PL clubs this will make them far stronger and will pull them away from all the championship sides

Kenny miller wasn't greatest signing either, and well past his best IMO. Malky had the budget, but him and Moody only had limited contacts from Champ level.

No OGS is clueless, MM would have kept us up, next years PL teams will be the richest ever, great for the smaller PL clubs this will make them far stronger and will pull them away from all the championship sides

Glad a fellow supporter agees with me about OGS

OGS may not keep us up but we don't have to watch the bore fest that was MM.

This ^^ I go to games to be entertained under malky it felt like a punishment

Spot on. Mackays football was painful to watch 90% of the time.

No point crying over spilt milk. MM u can judge how he performs in the prem next year at the Boleyn .

End of season:

18. Norwich
19. Sunderland
20. Fulham

Have a GREAT day everyone!

End of season:

18. Norwich
19. Sunderland
20. Fulham

Have a GREAT day everyone!

my thoughts too.

Ogs for me, didn't realise at the time, but looking back MMs time was up. Malky was the man to get us up, and will always be a legend for finally getting doing it, although he was backed with cash that DJ would have dreamed of. Also MM didn't develop a playing style in the Champ apart from grinding out results and work rate which isn't enough for the Prem IMO. Also think he was too inexperienced at Prem level tactically and contacts wise for players (which meant we arguably ended up overpaying, and got no prem experience players like Hull). He was learning though, and could have kept us up by grinding out results, and parking bus in last 20 mins of every game. Not sure though, as passion and enthusiasm of newly promoted teams (and fans) apparently only lasts until Christmas.
Ogs seems to be better tactically, formations, substitutions and contacts for players. Again learning, but reason for backing Ogs over MM, is that IMO if he had a full season with a full transfer budget, I would have been more confident he could have have kept us up. Still hoping he can obviously. Finally, I enjoy Ogs football better.

Spot on

Ogs for me, didn't realise at the time, but looking back MMs time was up. Malky was the man to get us up, and will always be a legend for finally getting doing it, although he was backed with cash that DJ would have dreamed of. Also MM didn't develop a playing style in the Champ apart from grinding out results and work rate which isn't enough for the Prem IMO. Also think he was too inexperienced at Prem level tactically and contacts wise for players (which meant we arguably ended up overpaying, and got no prem experience players like Hull). He was learning though, and could have kept us up by grinding out results, and parking bus in last 20 mins of every game. Not sure though, as passion and enthusiasm of newly promoted teams (and fans) apparently only lasts until Christmas.
Ogs seems to be better tactically, formations, substitutions and contacts for players. Again learning, but reason for backing Ogs over MM, is that IMO if he had a full season with a full transfer budget, I would have been more confident he could have have kept us up. Still hoping he can obviously. Finally, I enjoy Ogs football better.

Spot on

Agree. A playing style will keep you in the prem, grinding out results just burns the team out, as past seasons suggests. The players would either be picking up injuries left right and centre, or burnt right out by now under mm.

Well, well, well...

10 times better off.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing