“ Robinson tells Erol Bulut he will give 100% “
Fri Aug 02, 2024 11:40 am
CALLUM ROBINSON:
"I said 'If you're going to give me 100%, I will give you 100%' and that was the truth. As you can see now I'm showing it on the pitch.”
Callum Robinson entered this pre-season at Cardiff City with a small question mark hanging over his head. Nothing to do with his ability, of course, he's demonstrated time and again he can do the business at this level, but what role did he have in Erol Bulut's second act as Bluebirds boss?
Robinson was an SOS signing by Steve Morison on the final day of the 2022 summer transfer window, when the club was in desperate need of a seasoned, quality striker up front. City stumped up £1.5m for his services from West Brom and he started quickly. Despite not playing in the back half of that season, only Sory Kaba managed more goals than him in what was ultimately a disappointing team campaign.
His first year under Bulut was trying, though. A back injury against Wycombe Wanderers during pre-season really set him back, while Bulut challenged him to offer more off the ball. The issues didn't end there, either, with Robinson omitted from the squad over disciplinary reasons back in April, following a string of illnesses and injury niggles.
For some, it appeared too much water had gone under the bridge and the forward looked destined for a summer exit. That's why, on the second day of pre-season, Robinson's future at the club appeared to hinge on a sit-down chat with the gaffer.
"It just didn't work out for me on the pitch last year," Robinson said. "He probably expected a little bit more from me. But we had a good conversation on the second day of pre-season and it was really good for me to know where I stood.
"I said 'If you're going to give me 100%, I will give you 100%' and that was the truth. As you can see now I'm showing it on the pitch.
"It's not that I wasn't giving 100% last year, but my body just didn't allow me. He didn't get to see me at the top, top level I know I can be at. So he said last year is done and he'll give me 100% and it's proving to be like that on the pitch at the moment.
"I came here as a nine. I sat down with the manager in pre-season and said that even at the top level (Premier League) I've played as a nine, off the left. Nine at Sheffield United, nine or 10 at West Brom, I've always been in those areas,
"The manager probably looked at me as only a 10 last year. But we sat down and spoke and I wanted to let him know I give him other options as a nine, off the left or as a 10. I always like to be a threat, to score goals and assist and that's what I signed here to do.
"I did that when I signed before my hamstring injury. But hopefully I've shown the manager what I can do on the pitch."
That striker spot is still up for grabs. Yes, Cardiff have signed Wilfried Kanga on loan from Hertha BSC and he comes off the back of a good season on loan with Standard Liege in Belgium, where he scored 12 league goals, but with a mixed overall record throughout his career. Sign up to our Cardiff City newsletter here.
Robinson, on the other hand, is showing red-hot form in pre-season, way out in front of the scoring tally with six to his name. You see supporters start to piece together their ideal XIs for the season opener against Sunderland and it seems a pretty even split at the time of writing, with half opting for Kanga to lead the line and the others wanting Robinson to get the nod.
"I'm just proving to him what I can do. I think he knows what I can do, but realistically, if I'm honest, [Bulut] didn't see the full Callum Robinson last season," he added.
"I'm trying to show him what I can do and hopefully he picks me. That's all any professional would want. I'm doing everything I can to get into that starting XI.
"The club is going to sign whoever they are going to sign. You just need to make sure you do the business. That's what I've been concentrating on. I know I'm good enough to be in that starting XI. No matter who the club bring in, if you're doing the business you have to be in."
The signing of Kanga has thrown down the gauntlet to Robinson and Bulut believes the competition will get the best out of all the strikers and will only serve to up City's goal output this season, which is much-needed.
Bulut said of Robinson after his two-goal outing in the win over Reading in midweek: "It's good he has pressure. In pre-season he has scored six goals. We are happy, I hope he continues to score goals.
"With the new offensive part, there was a pressure to score more goals so everybody has to push each other to get to a better level. This is a hard job to fight for the shirt they have to make it difficult for me."
Robinson, who has 49 goals and 35 assists in the Championship to his name, more than anyone else in the squad, excelled in pre-season last year, too, for those with good memories. But he explained that this time, it feels different.
"From last season, confidence was probably the lowest it's been," he said. "When you score goals it always gives you confidence. But it's just how my body feels and how fit I feel. That's the main things for me. Because goals then come. I'm a confident man at the moment!
"But forget the goals, just my body, how I feel, I feel sharp and I feel like I can make the box, that's the main thing in pre-season, that my body feels right.
"I scored a few last pre-season but I feel like this pre-season, I feel sharper and I'm moving way better than all of last season and that's down to all the hard work that I've put in.
"I had a back injury against Wycombe in the last pre-season game (last year) and I struggled to get back. I did get back, but as I player, I have played a lot of years, and I knew I wasn't feeling 100%. If you don't get game time you lose fitness as well and it was a bit of a cycle.
"As a professional, you don't want a year like that, but in 12 years I'm fortunate I've had only one year like that. But I've been putting the hours in the gym to make sure I have a good pre-season."
While the style of football seemed to change mid-season last year as injuries piled up and results started to drop off, it's clear that this pre-season there is far more emphasis on playing out from the back, being patient and pressing from the front, which Robinson is particularly good at. All things seem to be pointing towards the football suiting him far better this season.
Indeed, he hopes to play a big part in the Bluebirds' push for the top this term, just like he did when he helped West Brom achieve promotion out of the Championship in 2020.
"We were three wins from the play-offs last year," Robinson said. "We need to try and creep into that. The top two, that will be very tough. The quality of other teams, but if you look around this season, the Championship might be wide open this year.
"I think the standard of the players who have come in and to know we weren't far away last year, we just need to add on to that.
"There were a few stats like open-play goals, we should be getting more, out set-piece goals were through the roof, but we need to be better at breaking down teams and keeping it in the final third a lot more.
"Working from the back, dragging people in to get out the other side, a lot of that stuff we have done in pre-season. Hopefully we can bring that into the season.
"New signings have come in, Chris (Willock) and Chambo (Calum Chambers), the striker who came in this week (Kanga), (Anwar) El Ghazi has a lot of quality. A lot of competition. But I've been promoted from this league and I know you need a squad. It's impossible without a top-quality squad. You need players coming in with a similar level of ability and players that offer something different.
"That's what we had at West Brom when we got promoted and hopefully that's what we're building here."
"I said 'If you're going to give me 100%, I will give you 100%' and that was the truth. As you can see now I'm showing it on the pitch.”
Callum Robinson entered this pre-season at Cardiff City with a small question mark hanging over his head. Nothing to do with his ability, of course, he's demonstrated time and again he can do the business at this level, but what role did he have in Erol Bulut's second act as Bluebirds boss?
Robinson was an SOS signing by Steve Morison on the final day of the 2022 summer transfer window, when the club was in desperate need of a seasoned, quality striker up front. City stumped up £1.5m for his services from West Brom and he started quickly. Despite not playing in the back half of that season, only Sory Kaba managed more goals than him in what was ultimately a disappointing team campaign.
His first year under Bulut was trying, though. A back injury against Wycombe Wanderers during pre-season really set him back, while Bulut challenged him to offer more off the ball. The issues didn't end there, either, with Robinson omitted from the squad over disciplinary reasons back in April, following a string of illnesses and injury niggles.
For some, it appeared too much water had gone under the bridge and the forward looked destined for a summer exit. That's why, on the second day of pre-season, Robinson's future at the club appeared to hinge on a sit-down chat with the gaffer.
"It just didn't work out for me on the pitch last year," Robinson said. "He probably expected a little bit more from me. But we had a good conversation on the second day of pre-season and it was really good for me to know where I stood.
"I said 'If you're going to give me 100%, I will give you 100%' and that was the truth. As you can see now I'm showing it on the pitch.
"It's not that I wasn't giving 100% last year, but my body just didn't allow me. He didn't get to see me at the top, top level I know I can be at. So he said last year is done and he'll give me 100% and it's proving to be like that on the pitch at the moment.
"I came here as a nine. I sat down with the manager in pre-season and said that even at the top level (Premier League) I've played as a nine, off the left. Nine at Sheffield United, nine or 10 at West Brom, I've always been in those areas,
"The manager probably looked at me as only a 10 last year. But we sat down and spoke and I wanted to let him know I give him other options as a nine, off the left or as a 10. I always like to be a threat, to score goals and assist and that's what I signed here to do.
"I did that when I signed before my hamstring injury. But hopefully I've shown the manager what I can do on the pitch."
That striker spot is still up for grabs. Yes, Cardiff have signed Wilfried Kanga on loan from Hertha BSC and he comes off the back of a good season on loan with Standard Liege in Belgium, where he scored 12 league goals, but with a mixed overall record throughout his career. Sign up to our Cardiff City newsletter here.
Robinson, on the other hand, is showing red-hot form in pre-season, way out in front of the scoring tally with six to his name. You see supporters start to piece together their ideal XIs for the season opener against Sunderland and it seems a pretty even split at the time of writing, with half opting for Kanga to lead the line and the others wanting Robinson to get the nod.
"I'm just proving to him what I can do. I think he knows what I can do, but realistically, if I'm honest, [Bulut] didn't see the full Callum Robinson last season," he added.
"I'm trying to show him what I can do and hopefully he picks me. That's all any professional would want. I'm doing everything I can to get into that starting XI.
"The club is going to sign whoever they are going to sign. You just need to make sure you do the business. That's what I've been concentrating on. I know I'm good enough to be in that starting XI. No matter who the club bring in, if you're doing the business you have to be in."
The signing of Kanga has thrown down the gauntlet to Robinson and Bulut believes the competition will get the best out of all the strikers and will only serve to up City's goal output this season, which is much-needed.
Bulut said of Robinson after his two-goal outing in the win over Reading in midweek: "It's good he has pressure. In pre-season he has scored six goals. We are happy, I hope he continues to score goals.
"With the new offensive part, there was a pressure to score more goals so everybody has to push each other to get to a better level. This is a hard job to fight for the shirt they have to make it difficult for me."
Robinson, who has 49 goals and 35 assists in the Championship to his name, more than anyone else in the squad, excelled in pre-season last year, too, for those with good memories. But he explained that this time, it feels different.
"From last season, confidence was probably the lowest it's been," he said. "When you score goals it always gives you confidence. But it's just how my body feels and how fit I feel. That's the main things for me. Because goals then come. I'm a confident man at the moment!
"But forget the goals, just my body, how I feel, I feel sharp and I feel like I can make the box, that's the main thing in pre-season, that my body feels right.
"I scored a few last pre-season but I feel like this pre-season, I feel sharper and I'm moving way better than all of last season and that's down to all the hard work that I've put in.
"I had a back injury against Wycombe in the last pre-season game (last year) and I struggled to get back. I did get back, but as I player, I have played a lot of years, and I knew I wasn't feeling 100%. If you don't get game time you lose fitness as well and it was a bit of a cycle.
"As a professional, you don't want a year like that, but in 12 years I'm fortunate I've had only one year like that. But I've been putting the hours in the gym to make sure I have a good pre-season."
While the style of football seemed to change mid-season last year as injuries piled up and results started to drop off, it's clear that this pre-season there is far more emphasis on playing out from the back, being patient and pressing from the front, which Robinson is particularly good at. All things seem to be pointing towards the football suiting him far better this season.
Indeed, he hopes to play a big part in the Bluebirds' push for the top this term, just like he did when he helped West Brom achieve promotion out of the Championship in 2020.
"We were three wins from the play-offs last year," Robinson said. "We need to try and creep into that. The top two, that will be very tough. The quality of other teams, but if you look around this season, the Championship might be wide open this year.
"I think the standard of the players who have come in and to know we weren't far away last year, we just need to add on to that.
"There were a few stats like open-play goals, we should be getting more, out set-piece goals were through the roof, but we need to be better at breaking down teams and keeping it in the final third a lot more.
"Working from the back, dragging people in to get out the other side, a lot of that stuff we have done in pre-season. Hopefully we can bring that into the season.
"New signings have come in, Chris (Willock) and Chambo (Calum Chambers), the striker who came in this week (Kanga), (Anwar) El Ghazi has a lot of quality. A lot of competition. But I've been promoted from this league and I know you need a squad. It's impossible without a top-quality squad. You need players coming in with a similar level of ability and players that offer something different.
"That's what we had at West Brom when we got promoted and hopefully that's what we're building here."
Re: “ Robinson tells Erol Bulut he will give 100% “
Fri Aug 02, 2024 12:19 pm
He wasn't himself last year. I'd written him off. If he gets up to his earlier days form then we are in for a treat!!
Really impressed on his attitude this pre-season.
Really impressed on his attitude this pre-season.
Re: “ Robinson tells Erol Bulut he will give 100% “
Fri Aug 02, 2024 12:36 pm
Callum Robinson sat down with Erol Bulut on the second day of pre-season and said: "If you're going to give me 100%, I will give you 100%."
It was the frank conversation they needed. He told Bulut he can be his striker and has scored 6 goals in pre-season
It was the frank conversation they needed. He told Bulut he can be his striker and has scored 6 goals in pre-season
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Re: “ Robinson tells Erol Bulut he will give 100% “
Fri Aug 02, 2024 2:05 pm
Made alot of good runs in pre season, down the middle and back post deffo took pre season most serious 
Re: “ Robinson tells Erol Bulut he will give 100% “
Fri Aug 02, 2024 2:52 pm
14% on Monday
14% on Tuesday
14% on Wednesday
14% on Thursday
14% on Friday
15% on Saturday
15% on Sunday
14% on Tuesday
14% on Wednesday
14% on Thursday
14% on Friday
15% on Saturday
15% on Sunday
Re: “ Robinson tells Erol Bulut he will give 100% “
Fri Aug 02, 2024 3:04 pm
He's our best forward by a country mile with body and head on song.
Fingers crossed we get the real CR7 this season!
Fingers crossed we get the real CR7 this season!
Re: “ Robinson tells Erol Bulut he will give 100% “
Fri Aug 02, 2024 5:49 pm
He gets my vote .I think he's been excellent in pre season .Was always a good player I really hope he gets a chance this season good luck to him
Re: “ Robinson tells Erol Bulut he will give 100% “
Fri Aug 02, 2024 10:33 pm
brickyblue wrote:He gets my vote .I think he's been excellent in pre season .Was always a good player I really hope he gets a chance this season good luck to him
Spot On
Re: “ Robinson tells Erol Bulut he will give 100% “
Sat Aug 03, 2024 9:04 am
He can be like a new signing based on the bit part he played last season. Could give us a major boost.