Whether or not he likes it nor not, there’s a cloud of historical past over Mick McCarthy on Wednesday night time, the place Bringing It All Again House could possibly be the soundtrack for his begin to life as Cardiff Metropolis supervisor.
is first sport in cost is in opposition to his home-town membership, Barnsley.
One of many most important duties for the 61-year-old is to show that he’s not yesterday’s man, a determine from soccer’s previous who doesn’t belong within the current.
Time isn’t his buddy, both. Whereas he was given a two-year contract (which ended after two months) at his final job, in Cyprus, there was no such dedication at Cardiff, the place McCarthy has been given till the tip of the season and now not.
No three-year plan, no challenge. He has a easy job, in concept: enhance a shedding aspect and edge them away from a relegation zone which they at the moment sit 9 factors above. His employers will even need him to win again some delight that has been dented by months of distress.
Even when he can get them motoring, reaching the play-off positions – 13 factors away – appears to be wildly out of attain.
The tough actuality is that McCarthy can solely win hearts and minds by successful video games.
When he was named as their new supervisor final week, the appointment was greeted by Cardiff supporters, by and huge, with a shrug of indifference. A touch of anger however no actual pleasure.
The native paper in Cardiff, a robust voice on the membership’s affairs, spoke of a “backlash from followers” and famous that “the angst from many Cardiff followers is completely comprehensible… He will not be the hungry younger supervisor Bluebirds followers are coveting”.
On native radio, former Cardiff participant Ian Walsh mentioned the appointment was “horrible – it’s all short-termism”. Nonetheless, he was extra crucial of the membership for the six-month temporary given to McCarthy, quite than hammering McCarthy as a supervisor.
Both manner, it’s one other style of the bitterness that McCarthy inherits in Wales.
In fact his final two jobs, with Eire and APOEL, didn’t go to plan. In each cases, he was ushered to the exit door earlier than his due departure date.
Nonetheless, if he pulls off one thing between now and the tip of the season, he may earn himself an extended keep in Wales.
Cardiff Metropolis FC is an sad place proper now, with the crew on a run of seven defeats in eight video games, one among which was a painful loss to bitter rivals Swansea Metropolis.
Followers have watched a sterile crew who’re over-reliant on set-pieces for targets and painfully brittle at residence fall down the desk, turning into an irrelevance within the promotion race with relegation now a nagging fear.
The hope is that McCarthy nonetheless possesses the abilities which noticed him flip Sunderland and Wolves into promotion-winning sides, and which additionally made Ipswich promotion candidates whereas working off a meagre finances.
The worry is that McCarthy’s finest days ended when he left Ipswich. His Eire aspect was solely a slight enchancment on the crew he inherited from Martin O’Neill, whereas an APOEL aspect which misplaced 4 video games in a row on the finish of his reign have, since he departed, gone 5 unbeaten.
Brief on time, McCarthy has to point out – and immediately – that he’s not yesterday’s man.