' Forget the prize for second place '

Nathan Blake: Cardiff City must go up as Championship champions

Jan 28 2013

Nathan Blake
Forget the prize for second place, the Bluebirds need to finish as champions. They need to be picking up that trophy come the end of the season and being rewarded from everything that goes with it.


Cardiff City get back to Championship action at Leeds on Saturday, the beginning of the final countdown towards promotion.

And my advice to them is simple: ‘Let’s go up as champions!’

I’ve heard a lot of people recently saying that provided the Bluebirds go up it doesn’t matter if they do it in first or second place.

I, however, view it differently.

Malky Mackay’s men are 10 points clear at the top of the table and the aim right now with 18 games left must be to keep that situation going right through to the end.

Forget the prize for second place, the Bluebirds need to finish as champions. They need to be picking up that trophy come the end of the season and being rewarded from everything that goes with it.

No one is saying that anything is done or dusted in the second tier quite yet, but, as I have written before, it’s going to take something pretty extraordinary for the Bluebirds to be dragged out of the automatic positions.

Watford’s impressive win at Nottingham Forest at the weekend puts them in the mix. Leicester clearly fancy their chances.

Crystal Palace will still be holding out hope that Wilfried Zaha, loaned back to them by Manchester United, can inspire them to a top-two finish this season.

But for me it’s Cardiff first... and one of the others for second.

What Cardiff must do is keep the focus fully on themselves. They have been fortunate at times in recent weeks in that they have slipped up, to then see those trying to chase them down not able to take advantage of the situation.

The Bluebirds cannot rely on that continuing, though, particularly with teams like Watford and Leicester winning so regularly.

But they need to just keep their heads down and keep doing what they have been doing. They are the most consistent team in the division and that is why they are clear at the top.

What other teams might or might not be doing should really not be relevant. A time will come in the season when it might, but for the moment the Bluebirds simply need to keep their end of the bargain by picking up the wins.

Do that and we’ll not only go up, but go up as champions.

OK, when you come in after a game you might ask how Hull did, or how Leicester got on, or how Watford fared?

If they faltered great, but you can’t rely on it and that only becomes important if you have done what needed to be done and won your own fixture. February games are upon us and, while it might be the shortest month, it’s going to be a very big month for Mackay and his men with no fewer than six games squeezed into its 28 days.

It does not take a genius to work out that come the start of March, the Bluebirds’ fortunes are very much going to be put into a much clearer perspective.

What is for certain is that if Cardiff can keep up the sort of form which has seen them only lose once in their last 13 league outings then by the start of March we might have reached some kind of tipping point.

The Bluebirds might have finally pulled cleat completely.

But, as we say in the game, we must not get ahead of ourselves. Game by game, that’s the cliché and it’s a cliché for a reason because it’s true and really the only way to go about things.

Leeds away on Saturday is the first of those tests and it is a tough one. It’s always a thrilling game with a bit of an edge.

Leeds are a big club, with a history and there’s always been a bit of fireworks when Cardiff have come up against them.

Their manager Neil Warnock knows his way about this league as well as anyone, but the Bluebirds have nothing to fear up at Elland Road.

Leeds have had a bit of an in-and-out season so far and in recent years the Bluebirds have had some good days out at Leeds.

Mackay’s men will go into the match thinking they can take three points and they will be quite right to think that way.

After Leeds is Huddersfield and they have blown a bit of a gasket this season, but will still prove a tough proposition even if Cardiff will believe they have the edge.

February was due to present us with three home games in the space of a week, the first of those scheduled for February 12 being the big one, the rearranged clash against Leicester.

The Foxes’ draw with Huddersfield, however, means their FA Cup replay will be that night, so I the fixture has been rearranged once more.

Are these delays good or bad for the Bluebirds? Time will tell on that one.

Ahead of Leicester, rescheduled for the end of February, they will have two eminently winnable games at home to Bristol City and Brighton, followed by a trip to a misfiring Wolves side.

Beat Leicester then, too, and the gap between the Bluebirds and those chasing should really start to look unbridgeable at that point.

By then, promotion will be tantalisingly close. But let’s go out there and seize it by going up in style.

As champions. Cardiff City should, because they are comfortably the best team in the division.

What Cardiff must do is keep the focus fully on themselves. They have been fortunate at times in recent weeks in that they have slipped up, to then see those trying to chase them down not able to take advantage of the situation.

Since the end of November City have Won 10 Drawn 2 and lost only 1

Not sure what old Blakey means by 'slipped up'... if we carry on with our current
form nobody will get near us.

I dont know why he bothers sometimes, he dont half write some bollocks

What Cardiff must do is keep the focus fully on themselves. They have been fortunate at times in recent weeks in that they have slipped up, to then see those trying to chase them down not able to take advantage of the situation.

Since the end of November City have Won 10 Drawn 2 and lost only 1

Not sure what old Blakey means by 'slipped up'... if we carry on with our current
form nobody will get near us.

I dont know why he bothers sometimes, he dont half write some bollocks

What i was thinking

Blakey, Stick to the Fruit machines mate and leave the write ups to the proper journos .

Firstly to offer your advice by saying "lets go up as champions"
That's not advice mate.. Just a hopeful dream of every fans dream.
Secondly you've stated many times thy you would love to be Cardiff manager, well I'm glad it's not at the moment.
Whilst your looking at where we COULD be by the end of March. Malky and the boys only have eyes for Saturday and Leeds Utd.
THAT IS WHAT SEPARATES US FROM THE REST OF THE DIVISION.

What Cardiff must do is keep the focus fully on themselves. They have been fortunate at times in recent weeks in that they have slipped up, to then see those trying to chase them down not able to take advantage of the situation.

Since the end of November City have Won 10 Drawn 2 and lost only 1

Not sure what old Blakey means by 'slipped up'... if we carry on with our current
form nobody will get near us.

I dont know why he bothers sometimes, he dont half write some bollocks

That last line tickled me

And my advice to them is simple: ‘Let’s go up as champions!’

Same old Nathan Blake, quick to build up the expectation demanded of the Cardiff team but even quicker to pick fault if it doesn't go to plan. Nathan Blake as Cardiff manager??, i'd rather have Alan Shearer in charge !!

i really like Blakey as a sports journo....someone who knows how a dressing room works, can draw on his own playing experience...bit of an ego but not has big as some on here.

Nathan Blake: Cardiff City must go up as Championship champions

Jan 28 2013

Nathan Blake
Forget the prize for second place, the Bluebirds need to finish as champions. They need to be picking up that trophy come the end of the season and being rewarded from everything that goes with it.


Cardiff City get back to Championship action at Leeds on Saturday, the beginning of the final countdown towards promotion.

And my advice to them is simple: ‘Let’s go up as champions!’

I’ve heard a lot of people recently saying that provided the Bluebirds go up it doesn’t matter if they do it in first or second place.

I, however, view it differently.

Malky Mackay’s men are 10 points clear at the top of the table and the aim right now with 18 games left must be to keep that situation going right through to the end.

Forget the prize for second place, the Bluebirds need to finish as champions. They need to be picking up that trophy come the end of the season and being rewarded from everything that goes with it.

No one is saying that anything is done or dusted in the second tier quite yet, but, as I have written before, it’s going to take something pretty extraordinary for the Bluebirds to be dragged out of the automatic positions.

Watford’s impressive win at Nottingham Forest at the weekend puts them in the mix. Leicester clearly fancy their chances.

Crystal Palace will still be holding out hope that Wilfried Zaha, loaned back to them by Manchester United, can inspire them to a top-two finish this season.

But for me it’s Cardiff first... and one of the others for second.

What Cardiff must do is keep the focus fully on themselves. They have been fortunate at times in recent weeks in that they have slipped up, to then see those trying to chase them down not able to take advantage of the situation.

The Bluebirds cannot rely on that continuing, though, particularly with teams like Watford and Leicester winning so regularly.

But they need to just keep their heads down and keep doing what they have been doing. They are the most consistent team in the division and that is why they are clear at the top.

What other teams might or might not be doing should really not be relevant. A time will come in the season when it might, but for the moment the Bluebirds simply need to keep their end of the bargain by picking up the wins.

Do that and we’ll not only go up, but go up as champions.

OK, when you come in after a game you might ask how Hull did, or how Leicester got on, or how Watford fared?

If they faltered great, but you can’t rely on it and that only becomes important if you have done what needed to be done and won your own fixture. February games are upon us and, while it might be the shortest month, it’s going to be a very big month for Mackay and his men with no fewer than six games squeezed into its 28 days.

It does not take a genius to work out that come the start of March, the Bluebirds’ fortunes are very much going to be put into a much clearer perspective.

What is for certain is that if Cardiff can keep up the sort of form which has seen them only lose once in their last 13 league outings then by the start of March we might have reached some kind of tipping point.

The Bluebirds might have finally pulled cleat completely.

But, as we say in the game, we must not get ahead of ourselves. Game by game, that’s the cliché and it’s a cliché for a reason because it’s true and really the only way to go about things.

Leeds away on Saturday is the first of those tests and it is a tough one. It’s always a thrilling game with a bit of an edge.

Leeds are a big club, with a history and there’s always been a bit of fireworks when Cardiff have come up against them.

Their manager Neil Warnock knows his way about this league as well as anyone, but the Bluebirds have nothing to fear up at Elland Road.

Leeds have had a bit of an in-and-out season so far and in recent years the Bluebirds have had some good days out at Leeds.

Mackay’s men will go into the match thinking they can take three points and they will be quite right to think that way.

After Leeds is Huddersfield and they have blown a bit of a gasket this season, but will still prove a tough proposition even if Cardiff will believe they have the edge.

February was due to present us with three home games in the space of a week, the first of those scheduled for February 12 being the big one, the rearranged clash against Leicester.

The Foxes’ draw with Huddersfield, however, means their FA Cup replay will be that night, so I the fixture has been rearranged once more.

Are these delays good or bad for the Bluebirds? Time will tell on that one.

Ahead of Leicester, rescheduled for the end of February, they will have two eminently winnable games at home to Bristol City and Brighton, followed by a trip to a misfiring Wolves side.

Beat Leicester then, too, and the gap between the Bluebirds and those chasing should really start to look unbridgeable at that point.

By then, promotion will be tantalisingly close. But let’s go out there and seize it by going up in style.

As champions. Cardiff City should, because they are comfortably the best team in the division.

He really is the worst journalist i've ever come across.

i really like Blakey as a sports journo....someone who knows how a dressing room works, can draw on his own playing experience...bit of an ego but not has big as some on here.

I wish he WOULD draw on his own playing experiences and be a bit original, give
us all the benefit of his undoubted insight into the game.

"If we carry on winning we'll go up as Champions" is hardly on a par with Einsteins
theory of relativity is it

Couldn't agree more with the sentiment though, "We are the Champions my friend"

Couldn't agree more with the sentiment though, "We are the Champions my friend"

I dont see us f*cking up from here!!

What Cardiff must do is keep the focus fully on themselves. They have been fortunate at times in recent weeks in that they have slipped up, to then see those trying to chase them down not able to take advantage of the situation.

Since the end of November City have Won 10 Drawn 2 and lost only 1

Not sure what old Blakey means by 'slipped up'... if we carry on with our current
form nobody will get near us.

I dont know why he bothers sometimes, he dont half write some bollocks

Notice the term 'RECENT weeks'. As in, vs Ipswich at home, where we should have won, and were thankful results went our way. That was a slip up, and they can't be doing it. Realistically Cardiff should win every home game, with about 1 or 2 draws. No losses.

and poor old cleat has been pulled completely.............

What Cardiff must do is keep the focus fully on themselves. They have been fortunate at times in recent weeks in that they have slipped up, to then see those trying to chase them down not able to take advantage of the situation.

Since the end of November City have Won 10 Drawn 2 and lost only 1

Not sure what old Blakey means by 'slipped up'... if we carry on with our current
form nobody will get near us.

I dont know why he bothers sometimes, he dont half write some bollocks

His articles are shocking in fairness.
The drop Hudson as captain article has to be the stupidest thing I've ever read. Don't read his other stuff since but plenty of people pick up on his clueless comments.