Nearly there
Cardiff City 0 v Wolverhampton Wanderers 1
Has Neil Warnock been overcome by a dose of piety? I ask the question in light of his post match reaction to the dramatic end to last night’s enthralling encounter in which Cardiff missed two stoppage time penalties. Somewhat overcome by the emotional roller coaster that he had just endured opposite number Nuno Espirito Santos could control himself no more, running onto the pitch in jubilant celebration and in the process omitting to shake Warnock’s hand. Clearly furious, the Cardiff boss disappeared into the stand, effing and blinding as he did so. When, some time later, he was asked what he thought of Nuno’s behaviour Warnock responded rather in the manner of an Indian Viceroy commenting on a servant “He has to learn that it’s not the way we do things here”. Coming from a man who famously reduced his Sheffield United side to six men in an effort to have the game v West Bromwich Albion stopped (infamously named The Battle of Bramall Lane) it struck some as a bit rich. But then that is Neil Warnock, the ultimate marmite man.
Love or loathe him no one can deny that he is a manager of great ability. The list of teams that he has successfully lead to promotion currently stands at eight. And all of them achieved in a circumstance of financial constraint. He, more than anyone, can mould a side of journeymen to achieve more than they themselves believe capable. Which begs the question. Where does his record stand alongside those of managers who grace the Premier League? And by way of a follow up if Neil Warnock is so good, why has he never been given a post at a big club?
The answer may lie in a big corporation verses small firm analogy. Would the working day of Neil Warnock be filled with taking orders on the phone, delivering product in the company van, operating the fork lift truck before paying the wages and placing an order for a new power press. Or would he rather sit at a large mahogany desk, in a plush city centre office with a big expense account arranging a multi million pound sales trip to China whilst simultaneously plotting the next move up the greasy pole.
To me he’s a man who revels in variety with his fingers in many pies. He’s a plain speaking small businessman ruffling feathers in a way that is anathema to the large clubs for whom generating shirt sales is as much a part of their ethos as the manner of their performances on the pitch. The last thing they need is an off message manager sullying their brand. Which is why the top jobs elude him and why it doesn’t trouble him unduly.
He has done a tremendous job at Cardiff but his side last night was out played by Wolverhampton Wanderers. When in the 78th minute Helda Costa nearly fashioned the most brilliant of goals it would have been the icing on the cake of a top performance. But as is his wont the Portuguese winger failed to hit the target setting up a somewhat nervous denouement. Little did we know then that Cardiff would twice be awarded penalties and twice fail to convert.
As Bumble might say “…start the car”.
Wolves: Ruddy 8, Bennett 7, Coady 7, Bolly 7, Doherty 7, Douglas 7, Neves 8, Saiss 7, Afobe 7 Sub N’Diaye, Bonatini 6 Sub Costa, Jota 6 Sub Cavaleiro
Cardiff City: Etheridge 7, Peltier 6, Morrison 6, Bamba 6, Bennett 6, Wildschutt 6, Sub Madine Petersoon Mendez Lang 6, Gunnarson 7, Bryson 6, Zohore 6 Sub Pilkington, Hoilett 7
Attendance: 29,317
Referee: Mike Dean 9
©Mark Brennand