Apology from Omer

[Michael Morris]

Omer Riza spoke exclusively to cardiffcityfc.co.uk from the Bluebirds’ Sheffield base ahead of this evening’s Good Friday clash with Sheffield United (kick-off 5.30pm).

With City kicking off later than most of our immediate rivals in the division, the significance of this one could have a huge impact on how our campaign plays out.

And ahead of the game, Omer referenced recent frustrations with a frank apology to Bluebirds supporters.

“Tonight’s game is huge for us as a Club and I wanted to take a moment to address our fans personally in respect of some comments that I made in Wednesday’s press conference,” said Omer. “It was absolutely not my intention to cause any offence to a fanbase that has been so supportive of me personally since I took charge earlier in the season. I guess I was thinking of a very small minority of messages that had been a little too personal and it was out of that frustration and the pressure of the job that I said what I said. Quite frankly, I’m sorry for the hurt.”

City travel to Bramall Lane having already tasted victory there this season, Cian Ashford’s goal sending City into the fourth round of the F.A. Cup at the Blades’ expense.

And ahead of Monday’s visit of Oxford United, the Gaffer spoke of the need for absolute unity on and off the field as we begin the first of four critical tests tonight in Yorkshire.

“We are fighting, with everything, to stay in the Championship,” Omer continued. “There have been high moments but too many low ones in recent weeks. We have the time to change that and put it right, but it starts now.

“I’ve spoken with our Ticketing team and know that there are over 1,000 of you making the journey to join us later this afternoon. That’s another huge number and as we saw at Blackburn and Preston in recent weeks, it’s that kind of support that can get us over the line in games and win us invaluable points.

“Home and away, we have to give ourselves the best chance as one entity to achieve our goal of securing Championship football next season. I sincerely apologise for the mistakes I’ve made in disrupting that unity and I hope we can put all our focus as a collective now on doing what we need to do. Please accept my apology and thank you as always.”

[Dorcus]

Omer Riza spoke exclusively to cardiffcityfc.co.uk from the Bluebirds’ Sheffield base ahead of this evening’s Good Friday clash with Sheffield United (kick-off 5.30pm).

With City kicking off later than most of our immediate rivals in the division, the significance of this one could have a huge impact on how our campaign plays out.

And ahead of the game, Omer referenced recent frustrations with a frank apology to Bluebirds supporters.

“Tonight’s game is huge for us as a Club and I wanted to take a moment to address our fans personally in respect of some comments that I made in Wednesday’s press conference,” said Omer. “It was absolutely not my intention to cause any offence to a fanbase that has been so supportive of me personally since I took charge earlier in the season. I guess I was thinking of a very small minority of messages that had been a little too personal and it was out of that frustration and the pressure of the job that I said what I said. Quite frankly, I’m sorry for the hurt.”

City travel to Bramall Lane having already tasted victory there this season, Cian Ashford’s goal sending City into the fourth round of the F.A. Cup at the Blades’ expense.

And ahead of Monday’s visit of Oxford United, the Gaffer spoke of the need for absolute unity on and off the field as we begin the first of four critical tests tonight in Yorkshire.

“We are fighting, with everything, to stay in the Championship,” Omer continued. “There have been high moments but too many low ones in recent weeks. We have the time to change that and put it right, but it starts now.

“I’ve spoken with our Ticketing team and know that there are over 1,000 of you making the journey to join us later this afternoon. That’s another huge number and as we saw at Blackburn and Preston in recent weeks, it’s that kind of support that can get us over the line in games and win us invaluable points.

“Home and away, we have to give ourselves the best chance as one entity to achieve our goal of securing Championship football next season. I sincerely apologise for the mistakes I’ve made in disrupting that unity and I hope we can put all our focus as a collective now on doing what we need to do. Please accept my apology and thank you as always.”

He's on a steep learning curve

[J R Hartley]

Put him out of his misery ffs. It’s starting to become cruel.

[Crisp White Lines]

He's on a steep learning curve

In his case, it’s a slippery slope.

[Llandaff Blue]

He comes off very pathetic, the begging for the job when he was interim said it all. Relegation or survival he has to go this summer. I'll bet anything he gets nowhere near a management job again, he'd be lucky to get another first team coaching role

[A Quiet Monkfish]

Can you imagine what would happen if the players reacted the same Riza ? For crying out loud players of every club are utterly slagged off every single day up and down the country, yet they just get on with things. They probably have a good laugh amongst themselves anyway. He's utterly pathetic, heaven knows what the players think of him..

[B. Oddie]

I think his apology is fair enough, per my post last night.

Still though, this is an absolute baptism of fire for him and it's not fair on neither him or us for him to be the manager.

This isn't confined to football, either - a drop to a lower league is less money for the local economy. Less people in the pubs on matchday, less customers for the burger vans, etc. Plus, there are the inevitable redundancies at the clubs who are relegated.

The success or failure of the club has a massive, often overlooked impact.

[Trigger]

He's a very inexperienced manager and seems like quite a sensitive guy (he's reading the comments, calling fans etc).

Sadly for us he's learning on the job.

I don't blame him, he took his chance and is reluctant to give it up. Id rather blame the people that have lazily put him there and kept him in place offering next to no help. He brought in one coach, the rest are equally as inexperienced as him.

He has made a load of mistakes and continues to but the anger should really be aimed above him.

The players who take the vast bulk of club salary seem to usually hide away, both on and off the pitch. They are just usually far better media trained than Omer who is fast becoming Tan's scapegoat. A position he seems in a rush to fill.

[The Lone Gunman]

He's on a steep learning curve

If he has to learn that describing supporters as clueless during a relegation battle is unwise, then he’s even less intelligent than I thought.

[Mr Soul '68]

He comes off very pathetic, the begging for the job when he was interim said it all. Relegation or survival he has to go this summer. I'll bet anything he gets nowhere near a management job again, he'd be lucky to get another first team coaching role

He'll end up managing in the 7th tier which is where he was with Cheshunt Town. That is really his level..

[The Bloop]

He'll end up managing in the 7th tier which is where he was with Cheshunt Town. That is really his level..

Steve Morison ended up at Hornchurch didn't he and then Sutton? Something similar would be appropriate.

[delmbox]

Can you imagine what would happen if the players reacted the same Riza ?

what would happen?

[Optimistic Nick]

He'll end up managing in the 7th tier which is where he was with Cheshunt Town. That is really his level..

That's where he was until Cheshunt sacked him. Worth remembering that was his reason for exit.

[superfeathers]

He’s clearly had enough but wants the small payout of being sacked.
Can’t blame him, it’s likely as far as he goes in management.
Sadly for him it’s not going to come.
Dead man walking, but he won’t walk

[JamesWales]

Agree with much of the above but I do applaud him and the club for apologising.

It's wrong to say what he did and with that having happened it is right to apologise.

[Divine Wright]

I think his apology is fair enough, per my post last night.

Still though, this is an absolute baptism of fire for him and it's not fair on neither him or us for him to be the manager.

This isn't confined to football, either - a drop to a lower league is less money for the local economy. Less people in the pubs on matchday, less customers for the burger vans, etc. Plus, there are the inevitable redundancies at the clubs who are relegated.

The success or failure of the club has a massive, often overlooked impact.

I don't this is necessarily going to be the case....at least in terms of direct effect on local economy (pubs/"food"outlets etc)

Brum, Bolton and Huddersfield have averaged higher crowds than us this season.

We will need to be competing at the right end of the division. But to do that the club hierarchy needs to be gutted and drastically rethought. Without that the club will just continue failing......and eventually we'll be averaging four-figure home gates again.