Cardiff City Managerial Situation: Fan Perspectives on Omer Riza, Mark Robins, and the Need for a Decision

Supporters have offered their perspectives on Cardiff City’s ongoing managerial situation. Many have weighed in on whether interim manager Omer Riza should be appointed permanently, if the temporary arrangement in place since Erol Bulut’s departure in September should continue, or if the club should explore other candidates. Potential news is on the horizon following reports that Riza has traveled to Malaysia for discussions with Cardiff owner Vincent Tan. Below are some of the submitted opinions regarding the current circumstances. Andrew: Great improvements under Riza, but need to see a response to two losses now and the goals have dried up again. Suggest wait until after Christmas, and if still positive then offer a one- or two-year contract with another year based on performance, but let Riza know this is the plan. Jack: Give Riza the chance now. Mary: Yes, keep him. Tough on players to keep changing managers with different styles and expectations each time. David: Without doubt Riza should get the job! Chris: The inertia is damning. Either give the guy the job or appoint someone else. Make a decision! Robin: While this man has been in charge we have seen a vast improvement in City’s performances. Yes we have lost two, and 1-3 at home [to Blackburn last weekend] is not good. But who are we going to bring in? The board have failed with everyone they have brought in, sacked all of them. Give the man a chance, the players all like him, give him the job for this season. Mike: Should give Riza until January transfer window then decide based on his results and future thoughts for transfers etc. The team are definitely playing better but still room for improvement. Martin: Time for change – Mark Robins for me. Tom: The silence from the board has become deafening. Full credit to Omer for what he has done in the interim, in difficult circumstances, not helped by key injuries. Can the board please make a decision and communicate this to us stakeholders? The club need to be planning ahead for the January window – continued uncertainty is doing none of us any good. Phil: A decision needs to be made one way or another so everyone, particularly Riza, knows where they stand. The club has treated him appallingly and [it] is indicative of the shambles that is Cardiff City. No plan, no strategy, no communication. It’s no wonder that fans have voted with their feet and attendances have fallen off a cliff. Darren: I think Riza has done enough to get the job until the end of the season. The players seem to trust and enjoy his methods. A new coach would have to get to know the players and figure out what we need in the transfer window in January. Riza probably has ideas already in place and irons in the fire. Omer Riza is the right man for the job. Clive: Either give Riza the job now or get Mark Hughes in. Edge: I think it would be better to make a decision one way or another now for everyone, team and fans. The football style is much better now to watch. Rod: Whichever way we twist, the manager needs some decent investment in the squad. We have three strikers who need moving along and need more firepower to complement Callum Robinson. Any new appointment is doomed to fail without this and bringing through talented academy players is imperative too. Jordi: Under Riza, we look like we’re finally playing flowing, attacking football for the first time in a while. We got our biggest win in six years under him when we beat Plymouth 5-0, the players like him and he’s got a good reputation with the fans. As a passionate season ticket holder, I say keep him around, we surely can’t do any worse than before! Iain: The board have taken far too long to come to a decision and it is undermining all aspects of the club, from fans to players and the staff. Based on this inability to decide they should take the simple and perhaps easier option and give the job to Omer until the end of the season and then review. It may not work out but it would end the uncertainty. Viv: Riza should stop talking about whether or not he’s retained and get on with job. It’s hard without a fit, consistent striker, and with a poor subs’ bench, but in that Blackburn game we were as bad as under Bulut. Jarrad: I think they should give Riza the job until the end of the season and evaluate from there. Performances and results have been far better, and players like him and seem far happier than they were under Bulut. Reports have already suggested the Cardiff hierarchy have been underwhelmed by available candidates so let’s just stick with what we’ve got Dave: I strongly believe City should appoint Mark Robins, who is available. He has an impressive track record having led Coventry from League Two to the brink of Premier League status. He was also close to beating Manchester United in the FA Cup last season. He’s made these achievements on a relatively low budget. Go get him Vincent Tan. This is an opportunity not to be missed.