Things could easily change if we don’t keep doing things the
Thu Jan 17, 2013 12:28 am
Stars Bellamy and Whittingham give Cardiff City an edge, says Andrew Taylor
Jan 17 2013
“There is a lot of football to be played between today and the end of this season.
“Things could easily change if we don’t keep doing things the right way.”
Cardiff City star Andrew Taylor has outlined how Craig Bellamy and Peter Whittingham are giving Malky Mackay’s Bluebirds a decisive edge over their promotion rivals.
Defender Taylor says the rest of the Cardiff team feed off the enthusiasm and sheer will to win provided by Bellamy.
And he argues Whittingham is a Championship midfielder without peer, whose silky skills have taken the Bluebirds to the top.
Cardiff stand eight points clear at the top of the table and hope to increase that tally further by beating managerless Blackpool on Saturday.
Taylor has no hesitation in picking out Bellamy and Whittingham as two of the major influences behind the 2012-13 success.
“Bellers has been fantastic. I wasn’t at this club the first time he came here, but he has certainly had a major impact this time,” said the Bluebirds left-back.
“He has such experience, his work ethic is remarkable and he has a desire to win which goes through the lads.
“Bellers is great around the dressing room and has been a top, top signing.
“His desire to win is infectious. He wants to win in every training session, every situation and every Championship match. Every one of us feed off him.
“He has played every minute of every match over the last month and more despite the number of fixtures. That is great credit to Bellers and the club medical staff, who are outstanding in making sure players are ready for every challenge.”
Taylor continued: “With Whitts you know exactly what you get. If he’s not the best midfield player in Championship football it’s certainly not easy to think of somebody as good.
“He has the ability to win matches on his own. When you look back at the amount of goals he either sets up for others or scores himself he has won us an awful lot of points.
“Whitts is integral to how well we are doing.
“They are each crucial to our team, but the key factor is that we are in this together. Every member of the first team squad has a big role to play.”
Taylor believes there is more than enough quality in the Bluebirds squad already to fulfil their promotion dream.
But he admitted:“A couple of new faces would really help us kick on. I understand the need to bring in a couple of new signings if possible.
“But if that doesn’t happen I think we have a strong enough squad to cope with the demands of Championship football and achieve our ambition.
“We’ve been really solid with four clean sheets in five matches and we have to maintain that.
“Over the course of this season we’ve had a couple of shaky games defensively, but every team gets those and on the whole we’ve been solid.”
The Bluebirds head north to play Blackpool at Bloomfield Road this Saturday, the first of 19 Championship matches left this season.
“We have to focus on each and every game as it comes up,” says Taylor. “We cannot and will not look too far ahead.
“Nobody will be looking at fixtures and trying to decide where we should pick up points.
“The only match that counts is our next fixture and right at this moment in time that’s Blackpool.
“We are in a fantastic position and we are clear the target is automatic promotion, but we have to keep our feet on the ground.
“There is a lot of football to be played between today and the end of this season.
“Things could easily change if we don’t keep doing things the right way.”
Jan 17 2013
“There is a lot of football to be played between today and the end of this season.
“Things could easily change if we don’t keep doing things the right way.”
Cardiff City star Andrew Taylor has outlined how Craig Bellamy and Peter Whittingham are giving Malky Mackay’s Bluebirds a decisive edge over their promotion rivals.
Defender Taylor says the rest of the Cardiff team feed off the enthusiasm and sheer will to win provided by Bellamy.
And he argues Whittingham is a Championship midfielder without peer, whose silky skills have taken the Bluebirds to the top.
Cardiff stand eight points clear at the top of the table and hope to increase that tally further by beating managerless Blackpool on Saturday.
Taylor has no hesitation in picking out Bellamy and Whittingham as two of the major influences behind the 2012-13 success.
“Bellers has been fantastic. I wasn’t at this club the first time he came here, but he has certainly had a major impact this time,” said the Bluebirds left-back.
“He has such experience, his work ethic is remarkable and he has a desire to win which goes through the lads.
“Bellers is great around the dressing room and has been a top, top signing.
“His desire to win is infectious. He wants to win in every training session, every situation and every Championship match. Every one of us feed off him.
“He has played every minute of every match over the last month and more despite the number of fixtures. That is great credit to Bellers and the club medical staff, who are outstanding in making sure players are ready for every challenge.”
Taylor continued: “With Whitts you know exactly what you get. If he’s not the best midfield player in Championship football it’s certainly not easy to think of somebody as good.
“He has the ability to win matches on his own. When you look back at the amount of goals he either sets up for others or scores himself he has won us an awful lot of points.
“Whitts is integral to how well we are doing.
“They are each crucial to our team, but the key factor is that we are in this together. Every member of the first team squad has a big role to play.”
Taylor believes there is more than enough quality in the Bluebirds squad already to fulfil their promotion dream.
But he admitted:“A couple of new faces would really help us kick on. I understand the need to bring in a couple of new signings if possible.
“But if that doesn’t happen I think we have a strong enough squad to cope with the demands of Championship football and achieve our ambition.
“We’ve been really solid with four clean sheets in five matches and we have to maintain that.
“Over the course of this season we’ve had a couple of shaky games defensively, but every team gets those and on the whole we’ve been solid.”
The Bluebirds head north to play Blackpool at Bloomfield Road this Saturday, the first of 19 Championship matches left this season.
“We have to focus on each and every game as it comes up,” says Taylor. “We cannot and will not look too far ahead.
“Nobody will be looking at fixtures and trying to decide where we should pick up points.
“The only match that counts is our next fixture and right at this moment in time that’s Blackpool.
“We are in a fantastic position and we are clear the target is automatic promotion, but we have to keep our feet on the ground.
“There is a lot of football to be played between today and the end of this season.
“Things could easily change if we don’t keep doing things the right way.”
Re: Things could easily change if we don’t keep doing things
Thu Jan 17, 2013 12:40 am
I've noticed that Andrew Taylor has made quiet a few interviews of late,and talks sense about the club.
Bellers and Whitts are the key for the rest of the season ( IMO ).
I still belive we need to bring in 2 players to add to the squad,for that final push
Bellers and Whitts are the key for the rest of the season ( IMO ).
I still belive we need to bring in 2 players to add to the squad,for that final push
Re: Things could easily change if we don’t keep doing things
Thu Jan 17, 2013 8:31 am
Yes Taylor is often reported in the press, often more than higher-profile players - to me it feels like he is putting stuff out there that the club or the manager would agree with. Interesting to see this, perhaps demonstrates a side of Taylor I for one wouldn't have thought of, Malky's PR man.
Clever if it is.
Clever if it is.
Re: Things could easily change if we don’t keep doing things
Thu Jan 17, 2013 10:33 am
JimmyJazz wrote:Yes Taylor is often reported in the press, often more than higher-profile players - to me it feels like he is putting stuff out there that the club or the manager would agree with. Interesting to see this, perhaps demonstrates a side of Taylor I for one wouldn't have thought of, Malky's PR man.
Clever if it is.
Future Captain in the making perhaps
