Daily Mail's Martin Samuel does a hatchet job on City.

[the other bob wilson]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...Sala-died.html

First thing I'd say about the article is that it is effective and hits the target often, he asks pertinent questions regarding some of City's dealings in the past and the charge that it is all about the money with the club is a hard one to argue against.

However, a major flaw in Samuel's argument for me is the way he claims that none of this would be happening if Emiliano Sala were still alive. He brings attention to the Vincent Tan/ Malky Mackay/Iain Moody situation while making particular reference to the Andreas Cornelius transfer, but doesn't our owner's use of the legal system in that case show that there is at least the possibility that City would be acting in exactly the same way if Emiliano was still with us? My own view is that City's off field management were reactive, rather than proactive, when it came to the Cornelius transfer and the same may be true about Sala as well, but I think Samuel is misjudging Vincent Tan when it comes to when he would turn to litigation.

While reading the article, I also had a vague memory of Neil Warnock mentioning Martin Samuel, and not in a complimentary way, by name in one of his press conference as City manager, so I did some checking and I think it's fair to say that there is a bit of history between the two men;-

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...lace-boss.html

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/w...el-b6rqmbt5zk5

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...ek-433835.html

http://archive.onetouchfootball.com/...1;t=010196;p=3

Samuel also wrote a piece on last season's FA Cup match with Man City which had the subtitle "Guardiola masterclass gives Cardiff cloggers the boot".

it's a powerful piece by Samuel and I believe he makes a number of valid points, but he is hardly an impartial bystander in all of this and I find it hard to avoid the feeling that the article might have read differently if Neil Warnock was not our manager.

[Der Kaiser]

It's fairly obvious at this point that someone at Cardiff City has upset someone at the Daily Mail.

[Cowbridge Blue]

Uncomfortable questions, though.

My first reaction within hours of early reports about Sala's last flight was along the lines: if Mrs Choo or Mrs Dalman made it known to their spouses they had the offer of a flight home in a light aircraft, would their husbands merely say "ok, sweetheart, see you when you get back".

I don't believe Vincent Tan is anyone's mug. I wonder what he thinks to himself about all this.

[Cowbridge Blue]

And also; if we're fortunate enough to scrap it out for another season in the Premier League... then the club really needs an experienced Director of Football (or whatever title you want), someone with wide connections and long experience in life at the top.

[Rock_Flock_of_Five]

Uncomfortable questions, though.

My first reaction within hours of early reports about Sala's last flight was along the lines: if Mrs Choo or Mrs Dalman made it known to their spouses they had the offer of a flight home in a light aircraft, would their husbands merely say "ok, sweetheart, see you when you get back".

I don't believe Vincent Tan is anyone's mug. I wonder what he thinks to himself about all this.

I'm no aviation expert, however, I'm sure Dalman and Choo would never have imagined it would have been a single engine plane that was built 35 years ago. They would have probably been accustomed to travelling in Learjets or twin turbo prop' planes themselves and would no doubt have expected the same for Emiliano at the very least.

[the other bob wilson]

I'm no aviation expert, however, I'm sure Dalman and Choo would never have imagined it would have been a single engine plane that was built 35 years ago. They would have probably been accustomed to travelling in Learjets or twin turbo prop' planes themselves and would no doubt have expected the same for Emiliano at the very least.

The relevant question here for me is what is the "norm" in the Premier League? Do other clubs at this level make all of the arrangements for the sort of trip Sala made themselves? Neil Warnock often says that we got promoted earlier than expected, so it could be that we are out of step with the rest on many levels when it comes to administration and off field management or are we the club that has just happened to be found out so to speak for practices that are/were prevalent at Premier League clubs?

Also, I agree with Cowbridge Blue about uncomfortable questions being asked by the article, but I'd be very surprised if the current manager would ever agree to a Director of Football type being introduced while he was at the club - even though I feel one is needed.

[Cyclops]

I have to say that the legal line City are taking has echoes of their naive and ill-advised actions during the Malky fiasco.

[Hilts]

The relevant question here for me is what is the "norm" in the Premier League? Do other clubs at this level make all of the arrangements for the sort of trip Sala made themselves? Neil Warnock often says that we got promoted earlier than expected, so it could be that we are out of step with the rest on many levels when it comes to administration and off field management or are we the club that has just happened to be found out so to speak for practices that are/were prevalent at Premier League clubs?

Also, I agree with Cowbridge Blue about uncomfortable questions being asked by the article, but I'd be very surprised if the current manager would ever agree to a Director of Football type being introduced while he was at the club - even though I feel one is needed.

Simon Jordan was in Talksport a couple of weeks ago. Said as soon as the player is out of the club travel arrangements are normally sorted by the player or more likely his agent.

[Trigger]

The relevant question here for me is what is the "norm" in the Premier League? Do other clubs at this level make all of the arrangements for the sort of trip Sala made themselves?

Well it would seem we offered a commercial flight. I can't see clubs forking out on private jets everytime one of their foreign players wants to pop home for a few days. I read the other week that Liverpool's Wijnaldum was on a commercial flight, only made news as there was interaction with a fan on the plane whilst he was tweeting about him.

[goats]

I'm no aviation expert, however, I'm sure Dalman and Choo would never have imagined it would have been a single engine plane that was built 35 years ago. They would have probably been accustomed to travelling in Learjets or twin turbo prop' planes themselves and would no doubt have expected the same for Emiliano at the very least.

Exactly, I doubt either would have got on such a plane. Emi probably wouldn’t have had much idea about private jets I’d imagine.
Whoever arranged it and the pilot definitely has important questions to answer

[EastbourneBlue]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...Sala-died.html

First thing I'd say about the article is that it is effective and hits the target often, he asks pertinent questions regarding some of City's dealings in the past and the charge that it is all about the money with the club is a hard one to argue against.

However, a major flaw in Samuel's argument for me is the way he claims that none of this would be happening if Emiliano Sala were still alive. He brings attention to the Vincent Tan/ Malky Mackay/Iain Moody situation while making particular reference to the Andreas Cornelius transfer, but doesn't our owner's use of the legal system in that case show that there is at least the possibility that City would be acting in exactly the same way if Emiliano was still with us? My own view is that City's off field management were reactive, rather than proactive, when it came to the Cornelius transfer and the same may be true about Sala as well, but I think Samuel is misjudging Vincent Tan when it comes to when he would turn to litigation.

While reading the article, I also had a vague memory of Neil Warnock mentioning Martin Samuel, and not in a complimentary way, by name in one of his press conference as City manager, so I did some checking and I think it's fair to say that there is a bit of history between the two men;-

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...lace-boss.html

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/w...el-b6rqmbt5zk5

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...ek-433835.html

http://archive.onetouchfootball.com/...1;t=010196;p=3

Samuel also wrote a piece on last season's FA Cup match with Man City which had the subtitle "Guardiola masterclass gives Cardiff cloggers the boot".

it's a powerful piece by Samuel and I believe he makes a number of valid points, but he is hardly an impartial bystander in all of this and I find it hard to avoid the feeling that the article might have read differently if Neil Warnock was not our manager.

I think it’s pretty spot on to be honest.

[Joe Gillis]

Samuel hasn't got any time for the City. He did a real hatchet job on us following the Leeds Cup game

[EastbourneBlue]

Interesting comments about the Bamba signing. When you see it like that in black and white it does seem a little...odd.

Signing of the Mckay twins is just embarrassing.

[the other bob wilson]

Interesting comments about the Bamba signing. When you see it like that in black and white it does seem a little...odd.

Signing of the Mckay twins is just embarrassing.

I don't see how City could be criticised for the Bamba signing though - he was released by Leeds while Paul Trollope was manager and he only became a target of ours after Neil Warnock was appointed.

Agree about the McKay twins.

[EastbourneBlue]

I don't see how City could be criticised for the Bamba signing though - he was released by Leeds while Paul Trollope was manager and he only became a target of ours after Neil Warnock was appointed.

Agree about the McKay twins.

Bamba left Leeds on September 1 2016 citing personal reasons (which as far as I know were never disclosed).

One month and four days later Warnock arrives at CCFC. Think it’s fair to say the writing was on the wall for Trollope before that.

Bamba’s agent - big Willie McKay.

Have other clubs got a relationship with McKay? Undoubtedly - but we’re the ones who were lumbered with his sons (signed under Warnock) so it’s safe to assume our/Warnock’s relationship with McKay is closer than others.

[the other bob wilson]

Bamba left Leeds on September 1 2016 citing personal reasons (which as far as I know were never disclosed).

One month and four days later Warnock arrives at CCFC. Think it’s fair to say the writing was on the wall for Trollope before that.

Bamba’s agent - big Willie McKay.

Have other clubs got a relationship with McKay? Undoubtedly - but we’re the ones who were lumbered with his sons (signed under Warnock) so it’s safe to assume our/Warnock’s relationship with McKay is closer than others.

You make a case for a relationship between Warnock and McKay, but I specifically said City because I fail to see how any sort of case against Messrs Tan, Dalman and Choo could be made on the basis of some sort of deal whereby Leeds cancel Bamba's contract with the object of letting us have him as part of deal concocted between Neil Warnock and the hierarchy at City at a time when Trollope had only been in charge for three or four matches.

[The Lone Gunman]

TOBW, you said: "A major flaw in Samuel's argument for me is the way he claims that none of this would be happening if Emiliano Sala were still alive. He brings attention to the Vincent Tan/ Malky Mackay/Iain Moody situation while making particular reference to the Andreas Cornelius transfer, but doesn't our owner's use of the legal system in that case show that there is at least the possibility that City would be acting in exactly the same way if Emiliano was still with us?"

Correct me if I'm wrong (and I might be), but hadn't Cornelius been at the club for a number of months and been proving a disappointment before Tan began questioning his transfer? Also, wasn't his 'legal investigation' into Mackay and Moody far more wide-ranging than the Cornelius transfer alone?

[A Quiet Monkfish]

Let's face it, for 7/8 seasons the club has been pretty useless when trying to get the players they want, especially when it's an urgent/marque signing. Cornelius, Madine, and possibly Sala. All bought for well over the odds, with not a whiff of competition from other clubs in sight. No doubt Madine's agent was saying that there were loads of other clubs bidding for him as the window closed but 'lucky for Cardiff he wants to come to you and you can have him for £6m'. This from a club that is absolutely broke and couldn't pay the players wages !!! And Nantes ? Raided yesterday by the French equivalent of the Inland Revenue !!

And the McKay boys joining the City ?? Nothing illegal or wrong, but for a club with sustained Premier league ambitions it hardly sends out the right message to other players when favours like that are handed out as if it were a Cardiff and District under 11's.

Sala would almost certainly have been insured from the moment he became a City player. [if he wasn't would be gross negligence - you don't buy a house and then take out insurance]. Were he to have been killed crossing the A48 then I have no doubt there would have been every likelyhood of City recovering most if not all of the fee. But with the emails from McKay snr. coming to light, the 'value' of City's loss may be a lot less than £15m. If a spiv flogged me a watch for £10k but was worth only £5k, then I'll only get £5k from the insurer - it's up to be to get the other £5k from McKay - sorry, the spiv.

[dml1954]

Bamba left Leeds on September 1 2016 citing personal reasons (which as far as I know were never disclosed).

One month and four days later Warnock arrives at CCFC. Think it’s fair to say the writing was on the wall for Trollope before that.

Bamba’s agent - big Willie McKay.

Have other clubs got a relationship with McKay? Undoubtedly - but we’re the ones who were lumbered with his sons (signed under Warnock) so it’s safe to assume our/Warnock’s relationship with McKay is closer than others.

Why are you posting drivel like this. Talk about conspiracy theories !. Over the last two years it has been stated publicly by Bamba and NW, on a number of occasions, that they knew each other well previously and that when Bamba left Leeds (and NW was out of a job at the time) they spoke and that NW told Bamba to hold fire on signing for anyone because it was very likely that he (NW) would be back employed shortly and that the first thing he would do is bring Bamba on board. Bamba agreed to this because of his respect and like for NW. He had offers from other clubs but turned them down because he knew that NW was a man of his word and wanted to work with him again. The rest is history. Nothing to do with Willie Mckay or any other agent.

[Pedro de la Rosa]

Interesting comments about the Bamba signing. When you see it like that in black and white it does seem a little...odd.

Bamba was released by Leeds. Over a month later we appointed Warnock. It's utter bollocks what Samuel has written regarding that but he's trying to drag as many people into this as he can.

[EastbourneBlue]

Bamba was released by Leeds. Over a month later we appointed Warnock. It's utter bollocks what Samuel has written regarding that but he's trying to drag as many people into this as he can.

Bamba asked to be released from a lucrative contact at Leeds with apparently nowhere else to go. Or perhaps someone had a word in his ear and told him he'd get himself a lovely signing on fee if he made himself a freebie.

Not even sure if there is anything wrong with that.

[Loramski]

Bamba asked to be released from a lucrative contact at Leeds with apparently nowhere else to go. Or perhaps someone had a word in his ear and told him he'd get himself a lovely signing on fee if he made himself a freebie.

Not even sure if there is anything wrong with that.

He had nowhere else to go if he'd stayed at Leeds, the transfer window had shut the day before. I've already put up a link where Monk explains how it was his call that Bamba left (https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co....monk-1-8114966). Feel free to put up some links of your own that contradict it.

[Pedro de la Rosa]

Bamba asked to be released from a lucrative contact at Leeds with apparently nowhere else to go. Or perhaps someone had a word in his ear and told him he'd get himself a lovely signing on fee if he made himself a freebie.

Not even sure if there is anything wrong with that.

Other people have put articles on this, and as someone who lives in Leeds, their fans weren't exactly sorry to see him go. There is nothing dodgy going on here, Leeds didn't want him. He was out of the side and on decent money, so they paid him up. Warnock told him to wait until he had a job but that's hardly immoral. Samuel has put 2 and 2 together and came up with 5.

[Baloo]

Begs the question why Martin Samuel didn’t apparently care about the Bamba and McKay transfer dealings before Emiliano’s death created a worldwide news story. Not jumping to the clubs defence about anything here, just a bit ironic given the theme of the article.

[Trigger]

Begs the question why Martin Samuel also didn’t apparently care about cardiff’s transfer dealings before Emiliano’s death created a worldwide news story. Not jumping to the clubs defence about anything here, just a bit ironic given the theme of the article.

Easy target at the moment.

I'm sure you could look into most transfers in the PL and find fault with something.