Neil Warnock, the new manager of Cardiff City, has already signed a few players, just days after landing the job. The Bluebirds completed deals for free agents Junior Hoilett, Marouane Chamakh and Sol Bamba, as they look to escape the mire at the bottom of the Championship.
Hoilett will be remembered for his time at Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League and a more unsuccessful spell at QPR, afterwards. He left the West London side earlier in the summer, with his substantial wages the cause of hesitation amongst potential suitors previously.
The Canadian had been thought of as a star of the future in his Blackburn days, but injuries have hampered his progression since. He will see Cardiff as an opportunity to get his career back on track.
Bamba, meanwhile, left Leeds United in September and has been brought in to help tighten up a defence which has already conceded 19 league goals so far this season. The experienced Ivory Coast international cited personal reasons for his recent departure from Leeds United.
Warnock will be pleased with the new additions, as the tough old Yorkshireman prepares for what will be a highly challenging task. Cardiff City, under the stewardship of Paul Trollope, suffered a torrid start to the season – currently sitting in 23rd place out of 24 teams in the division. The only club below the Welsh side at the moment, is Warnock’s last rescue job, Rotherham United. Last season, he led a miraculous recovery for the Millers in the back end of the Championship campaign, as a huge upturn in form saw them climb to safety.
Such fine work, would have been noticed by Cardiff owner, Vincent Tan, who will have recognised Warnock as a man for emergencies. The advantage he has this time around, is that he is inheriting the squad early in the season. If his side produces similar from to that of Rotherham’s under his stewardship last campaign, then his new charges could even battle for promotion. That may seem ambitious, but Warnock has already hinted at the possibility himself, during his unveiling earlier on in the week.
The club have added further attacking reinforcement in former Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh, whom Warnock managed at Crystal Palace. The Moroccan international was also a free agent, having been released by Palace in the summer.
Cardiff City will hope the signings of Hoilett, Bamba and Chamakh will cause an upward surge in form. The club’s next game against Bristol City, on Friday 14th October. That will be the first of two consecutive home fixtures for Cardiff, as Warnock searches for a positive start to his latest adventure.
