SHOULD CARDIFF CITY SPLASH THE CASH ON NATHAN JONES?

Nathan Jones has emerged as a strong candidate over the last few days. Despite reports initially claiming Charlton Athletic were wanting £1M for Jones, The Addicks are reportedly holding out for more for the Welshman.

Nathan Jones celebrating

Reports emerged over the weekend that Cardiff City are pushing to appoint Charlton Athletic manager Nathan Jones. The Blaenrhondda-born manager is a known Bluebird and has never shied away from the fact he'd like to manage his boyhood club one day. The Addicks are holding out for more than £2M reportedly, but should City fork out the fee for Jones?

Proven Track Record in League One:

Nathan Jones has played a key role in two promotions from League One. Despite leaving Luton half way through the season, Jones had The Hatters sat in second, and his most recent promotion came just over a week ago with Charlton. Therefore it's fair to say he knows how to assemble a promotion winning side.

This really is invaluable in Cardiff's case. Considering City have been away from the third tier for so long, to have someone that understands it and has just had a successful season in that division would be game changing for City. Jones will also know what type of characters you need for promotions.

Good fit for a Rebuild:

Jones has a keen eye for a bargain, which will be music to Vincent Tan's ears. Not only does Jones make the best of the free agent market for example, he also maximises and gets the most out of his squad. The fact Jones can be successful on a small budget could make him a strong fit for Cardiff.

The 52 year-old also has a track record of bringing through Academy prospects. Again, music to the ears, Bluebird supporters are eager and excited to see some of our own flourish, and Jones is the type of manager to let them do that. This could be pivotal in getting a DNA back into Cardiff City.

Boyhood Bluebird:

Nathan Jones is one of us. A boyhood Bluebird who will understand the demands of managing Cardiff City. Jones' emotional, full-throttle approach could mirror the passion of the fanbase and finally see a strong connection once again between a manager and the fan base.

His high-intensity style suits a cauldron-like home crowd. With results and effort, it could bring back the fire to the Cardiff City Stadium, which has lacked identity and energy for a long time. Appointing Jones, a passionate Rhondda-born Welshman, would restore some pride.

Tactically Astute:

Jones primarily uses a 3-5-2 or 3-4-1-2, with wing-backs providing width and mobility. But he’s not rigid — he has shown the ability to adjust shapes in-game, sometimes switching to a back four or asymmetric midfield. Jones put an emphasis on defensive discipline, compactness, and shape, which aligns with the previous identity Cardiff had of being a solid, hard to beat side.

Jones favours fast, vertical attacking transitions — win the ball, then attack quickly. His teams are drilled to counterattack ruthlessly, often via channel balls to mobile forwards. One of his under-appreciated strengths is his in-game adjustments. He’s not afraid to make early subs or switch roles if something isn’t working — not a passive touchline figure.

The Fee:

The fee is a lot. In comparison to Liam Manning who's set to join Norwich City for around £800k, Miron Muslic joined Schalke for £1.2M, therefore over £2M for Nathan Jones is a lot. That's for Nathan Jones alone, it will add up to even more as we'd have to pay compensation for his staff as well.

Cardiff are constantly criticised for 'going cheap' and that's fair criticism, there's nothing more annoying than an internal appointment when the pool of managers are strong. But, if Cardiff do spend money on a manager and go for the 'expensive option', it needs to be someone who is almost guaranteed to succeed, and given Jones' track record at slightly bigger clubs, is it guaranteed Jones succeeds in the Welsh Capital?

Style of Play:

Whilst it's not a big problem for me, it will be for those who are keen to see City dominate the division playing attractive football. Yes, Jones' football has an emphasis on being defensively solid and fast in transition, but to put it bluntly, it's ugly football. This could lead to fans turning quicker if things begin to fail.

Despite winning nineteen league games in his first season, Erol Bulut’s biggest criticism was the fact his football was ugly, will Jones get the same treatment and same criticism?

Failure at Bigger Clubs:

Cardiff aren't a humongous club, but we're still fairly big, especially for the third tier. Jones has emphatically failed at both slightly big clubs he's been at, and that's an obvious red flag. Jones has shown he excels in tight-knit, humble environments.

If City pay a big fee and he fails again, that is millions that essentially go down the drain and you have to start again. For me, it's certainly something that has to be considered when you're weighing up if you'll pay such a substantial fee.

Style doesn't fit current Squad:

This Cardiff squad doesn't suit Nathan Jones football. City have a squad full of technical footballers, not athletes who will run and run and run. Jones' system doesn't suit highly technical players. Some would see this as a positive, as it would mean a lot of those players being relegated with Cardiff would move on.

However, you have to consider a good chunk of these will either be difficult to move on or will be on long-term deals and City's asking price could be too high. So, there'd be a realistic chance Jones is left with a squad of players that don't fit his style.

Summary - Should Cardiff City splash the cash on Nathan Jones?

I would say yes, as long as the money doesn't get to a silly figure.

Paying the money to get Nathan Jones would be statement of intent that Cardiff don't plan on sticking about, but if we were to pay a ridiculous fee, one it puts instant pressure for success, and two, if it doesn't work, Tan simply won't do it again.

But, if it's a reasonable fee, or maybe slightly premium, I feel it's a no brainer for City to secure the services of someone so successful at this level and could elevate and rebuild Cardiff City.

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