After a lengthy, elongated search, the Brian Barry-Murphy era begins in earnest. Why independent assistance was required to identify Barry-Murphy, Nathan Jones and Aaron Ramsey is another matter, but the end result is that Cardiff have landed an exciting, thoroughly modern manager and the future suddenly looks a little brighter.
To address the reservations first. Yes, Barry-Murphy does have a CV short of senior management experience, which may feel like an unnecessary risk, given recent history and the current circumstances. He does also have a relegation to his name and for some, that is the mark of the devil, but you could just as easily class that as a valuable learning experience that will aid Cardiff’s current plight.
Cardiff have been circling Barry-Murphy for many years now, who has become a pet project of sorts and it is easy to understand why. He’s a very impressive guy and you can imagine him interviewing very well, which was evidently the case. He’s a charismatic, football obsessive akin to Craig Bellamy and his career trajectory to date is broadly similar. He spent a decade at Rochdale, as a player, player coach and eventually manager, where he had them playing the sort of football you share clips of online. They played that way to set them apart from wealthier, stronger opponents, turning players into sellable assets for the club’s long-term sustainability.
Embed from Getty ImagesHe was hired by Manchester City on the strength of this and replaced Enzo Maresca, who went on to get Leicester promoted to the Premier League at the first attempt and has just secured Champions League football for Chelsea. BarryMurphy held that role for three seasons and cultivated a group that contained such luminaries as James Trafford, Gavin Bazunu, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, CJ Egan-Riley, Callum Doyle, Josh Wilson-Esbrand, Rico Lewis, Romeo Lavia, Tommy Doyle, Cole Palmer, James McAtee, Nic O’Reilly, Oscar Bobb, Morgan Rogers, Liam Delap and Cardiff’s very own Alex Robertson.
I’m sure some will say that a squad that talented manages itself, but Barry-Murphy succeeded in a high-pressure environment, with a group of big personalities, under Pep Guardiola’s exacting standards. He has already seen what it takes to thrive at the top of the table and also experienced how things can go wrong when near the foot.
In terms of Cardiff’s current requirements, his characteristics appear a good fit. They’re a group in desperate need of good coaching and some sort of identity, having only ever flirted with an ethos in recent years, briefly under Steve Morison and initially under Omer Riza. A traditional Cardiff side is the direct, no frills approach of Neil Warnock. It’ss their comfort zone and there has always been reluctance and impatience to anything different, but I think everyone is now ready for anything other than further struggle and failure.
Embed from Getty ImagesWhat Barry-Murphy inherits is a talented group that has massively underachieved, with confidence that is through the floor. He will have a full summer to drill, engage and enthuse them. As Rubin Amorim has found at Manchester United, it is very difficult to parachute in mid-season and cultivate a new identity. League One will need to be a proving ground for Cardiff to mount a return to the Championship and you would expect that the vast majority of the squad will likely remain intact, so improving existing players is very much the order of the day.
Barry-Murphy’s reputation and standing in the game will hopefully aid Cardiff’s chances of securing talented youngsters on loan, to compliment what they already have. Steve Cooper benefitted from his links with a very talented crop of English players when he took charge at Swansea and many of the players Barry-Murphy worked with at Manchester City will now be at the stage in their development where they will be seeking senior football. Leicester, where he spent the back end of last season as assistant to Ruud van Nistelrooy, also have a very talented academy, as evidenced by Will Alves.
In interviews during his brief break between Manchester City and Leicester, Barry-Murphy, a keen student of the game, explained that he was keeping a keen eye on the Championship and League One, so he knows the lay of the land. He should therefore also be well aware of Cardiff’s recent failings and the size of the task that awaits him.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe problem is, as we all know far too well, that Cardiff is the eater of reputations, so however pretty a picture I can paint about Barry-Murphy, it all comes down to how he fits and adapts to a club that has become close to unmanageable. How he communicates, both internally and externally. Patience will be required from supporters, and they’ve proven to be a very patient bunch in recent years. Winning will certainly help with that, but there will likely be a stylistic culture shock that may be jarring at first. Wales are going through a similar evolution under Bellamy and the difference between now and the Robert Page days is remarkable.
The Welsh FA is a very modern, cutting-edge organisation these days though and Cardiff may be many things, but they’re not that. I’m pleased that Cardiff did not turn to a jaded journeyman for their next chapter, but to get the most out of their shiny, new manager, they will have to meet him at least half way, with Barry-Murphy needing support and a staff that can help him achieve his goals. It feels like a good fit because both parties are at a stage where they need each other equally and if we’re all pointing in the same direction, maybe good times await.