By Graham Thomas
The highest profile manager in the Championship goes head-to-head against the league’s biggest nobody in Cardiff on Saturday.
Omer Riza – Cardiff City’s interim boss, who might struggle to be identified by any base other than Bluebirds fans – is up against Plymouth Argyle.
That means a visit from Wayne Rooney, who brings enough fame, notoriety and excess baggge to fill a touchline dug-out from floor to roof.
Rooney seems to create headlines every time he breathes. Forget his playing days as one of England’s greatest ever players, and just consider his brief managerial career.
He was at Derby County, where he earned praise for trying to hold things together as the club imploded under financial pressures, he went off to DC United in the USA but left after failing to make the MLS play-offs, only to resurface at Birmingham City.
https://twitter.com/Argyle/status/1847261350478631263
At St. Andrew’s, it went badly with just two wins in 15 matches before he was sacked.
The contrast with Riza could not be greater, though. Whilst Riza waits to hear if Vincent Tan thinks he cuts the mustard, it’s a fair bet that no-one else in the Championship will come rushing in to hire him if Cardiff decide to look elsewhere for their permanent appointment.
That’s what comes of having a low profile and modest back catalogue. He may have plenty of coaching talent, but he needs someone to offer a break.
Rooney’s catastrophic time at Birmingham, however, did not prevent him from being appointed by Plymouth in the summer – confirmation of the power of celebrity.
Whatever tools Rooney may lack when he becomes boss at any club, the ability to gain media attention will not be among them.
https://twitter.com/CardiffCityFC/status/1846936709688152500
So far, he has been thrashed 4-0 by Sheffield Wednesday on opening day, bounced back to win three of his last five matches and earn a manager of the month nomination, been sent off against Blackburn Rovers, and charged with improper conduct by the FA.
As a consequence of that charge, Rooney will not be on the touchline in Cardiff, but up in the stands.
He admitted to the three charges against him and will have to watch the game from the director’s box after also being fined £5,500 by the FA.
https://twitter.com/CardiffCityFC/status/1847253798697173472
It all makes Riza’s three game stint – a win, a draw, and a defeat – look a little dull by comparison.
Of course, there are no prizes handed out at the end of the season for column inches, social media mentions, or video clips.
But Rooney has done enough to guide Plymouth to 14th in the table, meaning they are already 10 places and six points better off than Cardiff.
Even though Riza has given Cardiff their first win and taken four points from three matches, the club are still bottom of the table and facing a winter of relegation-threatened discontent. Bookmakers DragonBet, however, believe a Cardiff win in the capital on Saturday is more likely than one for Plymouth.
The Bluebirds are 11/10 to pick up what would be only their second win in 10 games, whilst Argyle are 5/2, with the draw also at 5/2.
https://twitter.com/lancstelegraph/status/1847500318051094550
A win might nudge Riza closer to becoming a full-time appointment, although that would depend on what, if any, negotiations are going on behind the scenes with potential new managers.
“It might be the case of I’m here today and gone tomorrow. Which would be sad for me, but that’s football,” said Riza earlier this week.
“I can’t really over-elaborate on it because I don’t really know myself. I’m just trying to do the best job I can and it is important to me the fans are happy. I’m hoping over this period they will be as happy as they can be with what we give them.” Swansea City – who have stalled in three games without a win – are 29/10 to win at Blackburn on Saturday, with the home side 11/10 favourites. The draw is 5/2.
Despite their lofty position of second place in league One, Wrexham are also narrow outsiders at 11/5 to win at in-form Rotherham.
In League Two, inconsistent Newport County are coming off the back of two defeats and are 3/1 outsiders to win at home against Chesterfield, who are 3/4.
https://twitter.com/RotherhamUnited/status/1847231535000293771
