Before any long term damage is done regarding our chances of survival in The Premier league, should Malky leave now?
If he knows that the Norwich spot is up, and he wants it, he may as well go. Otherwise, he might as well stay
Malky is in a very strong position at the moment. High profile bringing us up as Championship winners, and seen to be holding our own (to a point) in our first season in the Prem. Working wonders with a broadly inexperienced squad at this level would attract a lot of suitors for his services. The alleged buy out clause of £3M wouldn't bother too many of the top sides, but none of them look to be struggling at the moment to warrant any thoughts of a change. The bottom half clubs including Palace and Norwich look more likely, but would possibly be reluctant to stump up the cash to get him. Having said that, the one place that would attract him and could be a possibility if they struggle and stay where they are is Big Sam's job at West Ham. Gold and Sullivan would have no problem buying him off Tan for what would be small change to them.
The way i see it Sparkey is thus, If MM goes then so be it, there are a number of good managers out there that would jump at taking the Cardiff job, and perhaps then we would see a more attack minded style of play instead of the cautious defensive set up that we are playing now. Just my opinion but i wouldn't be sorry to see him go.
Isawron - agree we'd have less trouble replacing a manager than an owner. If Malky walked, someone else would fill his boots - it's the way of the football world. The issue would remain though. A new manager could set out his gameplans more adventurously and end us up in the Championship next season because we don't possess the quality players to do just that. Apart from the entertainment point of view, the only reason I can see for playing more adventurously is to set out to win games rather than draw them. I know what you mean though and totally agree with you. Malky should show a little more confidence in his squad of 25 plus the youngsters rather than picking 11 from the same 14 that he's done all season. If we bench players like Noone and Kimbo who can both be game changers and then fail to use them at all, we just as well not have them at the club and find another half dozen Don Cowies instead.
What I find strange is that we bid 8million to bring in Ince. He rejected the move after 2 weeks of begging him to join and we don't only not replace him with a different winger (I know we tried for Montero) but we don't use the only winger we have in the squad. Noone is quick and can beat a man, he might not be obviously PL quality but he's good enough to cause problems and the goals he scores will fly in past any keeper, I can't understand why he hasn't had 1 minute of action. I seem to remember him being one of our best players against WH in the League cup, in what was basically his only chance this season. Where would Ince have played and why on earth can't Noone have a chance? You never know he might win us a couple of extra corners to try and score from.....
I agree that Malky is too defensive. I found our style of football more than a little boring in the championship but at least we were going into each game expecting to win. I guess that masked things a bit. On the whole though Malky achieved what we were all crying out for. Hopefully he will do the same this year. I think the qualities of our manager out weigh any negatives. Nobodies prefect but he is a good leader and the players seem to play for him even though they too must want the chance to be a bit more adventurous. I'd prefer to be where we are than 'going for it' and shipping goals and struggling for points.
If Malky leaves it will be because he's pushed. I am more concerned about which players he will take with him. He has created a very tight group who believe in him.
I still think that Malky is the man for us, his sole thought is survival & not to get hammered. He knows if we survive there will be more money for better players and more chance of getting them. I think he's half way through a 5 year plan, just hope he is still with us.
I agree with Dave although an offer from Norwich would be very tempting for him. Also were he to go then most of his management team would go with him. Anyone new would have to start from scratch.
I'd like him to stay and complete his job but he does need to get a bit more adventurous, although we don't know what Tan is saying to him. Is he telling him survival in premiership at all cost even if it is defensive football all season long?
