‘Would be a very strange appointment’ – Cardiff City eyeing up PL coach as potential managerial solution: The verdict | OneFootball

This article is part of Football League World’s ‘The Verdict‘ series, which provides personal opinions from the FLW writers regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Cardiff City are facing a vital choice over the direction that they should go in to replace Mick McCarthy and help to stabilise their situation in the Championship table.

The Bluebirds in the end were forced into deciding to part ways with McCarthy following their eighth successive defeat against Middlesbrough on Saturday.

There are different choices available to them now over whether to go for more of an experienced manager with Chris Hughton and Chris Wilder having already been linked with the job so far.

However, they could also go down the route of appointing a young up-and-coming manager to try and help take the Bluebirds in a different direction.

Wales Online have reported that former Rochdale manager Brian Barry-Murphy is on the radar of Cardiff and is an option that is being considered by the club. That comes with him having moved to Manchester City’s coaching set-up recently.

So, with Barry-Murphy having emerged on Cardiff’s radar, we asked some of our FLW writers whether they feel he would be the right fit for the Bluebirds…

Marcus Ally

I am not sold on this one at all. If Cardiff City wanted to head in a completely new direction from their last three managers in Neil Warnock, Neil Harris and Mick McCarthy then it does not make sense that they would allow James Rowberry to leave the club for Newport County.

Brian Barry-Murphy pulled off some excellent results with admirable style with his hands tied behind his back somewhat at Rochdale. The Irishman would have to leave a very nice job with Manchester City U23s for a Championship relegation battle, I can’t see it and I do not think it is what Cardiff need right now.

Judging by their appointments in previous years it would seem that an attractive brand of football is fairly low on the Bluebirds’ priority list. It would be a strange appointment for me.

Have Cardiff City had a higher or lower average attendance compared to these 23 sides this season?

Chris Thorpe

This would be a very strange appointment in my eyes, as I think he is the opposite to what they need right now.

Admittedly he does play far more attractive and expansive football than McCarthy but on the flip side he has little in the way of Football League experience.

His Rochdale side were free-flowing yet dangerously open at the back, which ultimately saw them relegated.

Add to the fact that he currently holds a good role at Manchester City and you’d have to question whether he’d have the desire to leave there and take on the challenge at Cardiff.

However it is a big job and for that reason most managers worth their salt would fancy taking it on, so let’s watch this space.

Billy Mulley

It is interesting to see how the Cardiff hierarchy approach appointing a new manager, as there are lots of options and lots of different avenues to go down.

Ultimately, they are looking for someone who can eliminate the threat of relegation, whilst also getting someone in who can progress the club.

Brian Barry-Murphy is certainly a candidate who fits the young and progressive type of manager, and whilst he has shown excellent promise in his managerial and coaching career thus far, his lack of experience would make such an appointment a gamble.

That is not necessarily a bad thing, as Cardiff have recently gone with a certain type of manager, and this could be an opportunity to change the club’s identity.

There is still a lot of time in what remains of this Championship season, which points towards trusting an up-and-coming manager.

Cardiff possesses young talents in Rubin Colwill, Mark McGuinness and Mark Harris, all who could thrive under a young and progressive manager.