Omer Riza has finally lost the loneliest job in football. By the end, he was asking for it, calling out supporters and snapping at post-match interviewers. Some would say he’s been asking for it for a very long time, after a lengthy run of rotten results, but this has proved to be a familiar tale.
It easy to lose sight of the bigger picture, but Cardiff’s immediate troubles certainly pre-date Riza.
After a disappointing end to last season, Erol Bulut’s contract effectively expired and not for the first time, Cardiff headed into the summer in limbo. What followed was a protracted mutual ponder, as both sides agonised for weeks over whether or not they wanted to continue working with each other. In the end they did, but it felt grudgingly so and the delay fatally undermined the dynamic.
It was evidently the wrong call because the players voted with their application and six game into the new season, he was gone. Bulut and his staff represented a significant financial outlay for the club and their hands were effectively tied with regards to adequately replacing him. Vincent Tan also appears to have a Donald Trump like disregard for expertise, so was happy to promote from within, at a fraction of the cost.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe man next to the man at Cardiff is one of the best jobs in football and Riza was the beneficiary of the club’s fast track apprenticeship scheme. Initially, it looked like it might have worked because Cardiff started playing free-flowing, effective football and went on an impressive run. The 5-0 demolition of Plymouth was as good as they’ve played in years and the players were vocal in their support of Riza.
A conservative substitution at Bristol City, which saw Cardiff surrender a lead, was the first chink in his armour. Whether that was a representation of his defensive mindset, or the actions of a temporary hire trying to protect his career prospects, we will never know, but it was not a one off. Continuing the theme, by the time the club made a call on his future, Riza’s star was already beginning to fall and despite another good run of form mid-season, his stock was never quite as high again.
Riza’s greatest challenge was trying to overcome the preconceptions of following various other assistants that were promoted and ultimately failed. The claim that he would never have got the job had he not already been in the club is true, but also misses the point. Bulut is essentially still on the payroll, until he finds another job. Its no guarantee that Cardiff would have acted any differently had he found alternative employment, but their hands are tied in the meantime.
Embed from Getty ImagesCardiff’s distinct disadvantage in their relegation battle is that all the teams around them have shelled out to upgrade their manager. It’s a financial risk, but not as great as losing your Championship status and the accompanying drop in revenue. They all also have managers that they would be confident of making a swift return from League One with. Cardiff, as ever, face another uncertain post season.
There’s a collective sense of relief that Riza has been put out of his misery because he has endured a tough time, on and off the pitch. I have to say though that I think he was treated terribly by some online, and its important to make that distinction because there is a very real difference between the virtual world and the real world.
In real life, the crowd always supported Riza and never turned on him, yet online, some never really gave him much of a chance from the very beginning and were vindictive in their messages. When you bear in mind that this is a man evidently struggling through the death of his father, it makes it all the more offensive and disagreeable. This is the way football is going though and the difference between the heightened state of the virtual world and the more rational, considered real world grows every season. Ultimately, he was doing his best and he didn’t hire himself.
Embed from Getty ImagesWhen Riza lashed out at “clueless” supporters, we all know who he was really talking about, but the offence was universally received. He later clarified that it was aimed at posts he deemed “too personal,” but the damage was done. It was similar to Yakou Meite cupping his ear to supporters earlier in the season. He did it at an away game and those are the most committed, considerate supporters, but it was not aimed at them. That was when the opportunity presented itself, but the message was misconstrued.
The Oxford game tomorrow would have been toxic and everyone was dreading it, but with Aaron Ramsey in charge, supported by Chris Gunter and Joe Ralls, the place will now be bouncing. It may prove too little too late, bit at least offers some hope and that’s all we ask for.
I wish Riza well and when the dust finally settles, I think the prevailing mood will be that he did his best in a very difficult situation and still managed to mastermind a glorious derby victory. You never know whether or not a manager is truly up to the challenge until things take a turn for the worse and Riza was swallowed whole by a club that has become one of the hardest jobs around. What he leaves behind is the real problem and while the club continues to make it up as they go along, they can never expect success and failure may have instead finally caught up with them.