New Cardiff City signing Jack Moylan has insisted the Bluebirds must not fall into the trap of simply wanting to survive in the Championship on their return. Moylan claimed that teams with a safety-first mentality will get “eaten alive” in the second tier.
Immediate Impact and Ambition
The 24-year-old signed a four-year deal earlier this month from Lincoln City and made an immediate impact on his competitive debut, scoring the winner in Cardiff’s 3-2 EFL Cup victory over Swindon Town. He now looks set to be an integral part as Cardiff begin life back in the Championship against fellow Welsh side Wrexham on Monday night.
The Republic of Ireland international believes Cardiff’s long-term ambitions should be beyond just settling at this level. “It might not be promotion this year, or next year, but it’s definitely our target,” he said. “To be in this division and to have a mindset of just wanting to stay up, you’ll get eaten alive, you can’t do it. This is a club that wants to get back to the Premier League, that’s what I know the club as.”
Welsh Derby Awaits
Cardiff secured an instant return to the Championship under fellow Irishman Brian Barry-Murphy last season, and Moylan admitted that he is relishing the prospect awaiting the Bluebirds this term. For the first time in decades, three Welsh sides are all competing together in England’s second tier in Cardiff, Swansea City and Wrexham. That makes the Bluebirds' Championship opener against Wrexham on Monday evening that little bit more interesting.
For Moylan, it is also set to be the biggest club game of his career. The attacking midfielder is well aware of the atmosphere that awaits, having watched Cardiff’s 2-1 victory over Wrexham in the EFL Cup fourth round last season while still a Lincoln player. “I watched it on Sky that night because we didn’t have a game,” he said. “I think Will Fish scored the winner, and the away end was bouncing. You shouldn’t need any extra motivation when you see that the first game of the season is this. It is what it’s about. I really can’t wait for it. You get out of bed in the morning to play in game like these.”
Style of Play and International Hopes
Moylan admitted joining Cardiff was an opportunity he simply “could not turn down”, especially after seeing the way Barry-Murphy's side went about their business during their League One automatic promotion campaign last season. His former club Lincoln pipped Cardiff to the League One title with a 103-point haul and a record 29-game unbeaten run, yet Moylan firmly believes the Bluebirds were comfortably the division’s best watch. “Last year, Cardiff were the best footballing team in the league by a country mile. I don’t even think that would be up for debate,” he said. “I was kind of amazed about how good they were, how well they moved the ball and how much everybody wanted the ball as well. In the Lincoln dressing room, we knew that as well. We had our ways of winning games, a team that was very direct.”
The former Shelbourne man believes that the style of football, combined with the profile Cardiff offer, could also help him in his international ambitions. Moylan has two senior caps for the Republic of Ireland, netting a hat-trick on his debut in a 5-0 victory over Grenada in June. “To be on this higher platform (at Cardiff) and playing in a lot bigger games would definitely stand out to me,” he stated.
Fans and Legacy
When asked whether his move to south Wales might sour his relationship with the Lincoln fanbase, Moylan was quick to dismiss the suggestion. “It’s part of a football. I’m a football fan myself,” he added. “I’d be giving out to players if they did what I did, but I think everybody deep down understands. You can’t say no to an offer like this and a chance like this to play for this club.”
There have already been comparisons drawn between Moylan and Cardiff's legendary midfielder Graham Kavanagh, another Irishman who wore the number eight shirt during his time in South Wales. And Moylan admitted he also received a message from another popular Irish figure at the club in light of his move. “I got a text off Stephen McPhail the other day as well,” he said. “This club have great connections to Ireland, so hopefully I’ll be the next on that conveyor belt.”
Moylan has already made a dream start to life in a Bluebirds shirt. Having trained with his new team-mates for just one day, he came off the bench against Swindon last Saturday, scoring the winner within five minutes of entering the pitch. He coolly stroked a first-time finish into the top-right corner after excellent hold-up play from bustling centre-forward Yousef Salech. However, it was not just the manner of his goal that impressed. His willingness to want the ball, create opportunities and get back in and make blocks proved there is much more to his game than his goal contributions alone.
If his debut is a small teaser of what is to come, Cardiff supporters have every reason to be excited about their latest Irish recruit who could well emulate in the footsteps of Kavanagh, McPhail and Co.
