Cardiff City: Vincent Tan urged to make desperate Neil Warnock call as Omer Riza situation worsens | OneFootball

FLW's Cardiff City fan pundit wants Vincent Tan to pull the trigger with under-fire manager Omer Riza following Saturday's loss at home to Stoke

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Cardiff City find themselves staring down the barrel of relegation to League One for the first time in more than 20 years following Saturday afternoon's crushing 1-0 home defeat to Stoke City.

Just two points separated the two sides prior to kick-off, with Cardiff having realistically needed all three points at home to the Potters amid a miserable run of just two victories in their previous twelve matches.

But Cardiff, for large parts, failed to turn up in what was a nervy old afternoon in the Welsh capital, and only had themselves to blame when a Will Fish own goal five minutes from time ensured their fourth straight home game without victory. The atmosphere post-match was understandably toxic and apathetic, with a growing sense of inevitability shared among supporters about just what division Cardiff are going to be plying their trade in come August.

It is becoming increasingly unlikely that under-fire manager Omer Riza can guide the side away from trouble with just four points to spare, with Cardiff now in the relegation zone and, importantly, with one less point and a vastly-inferior goal difference return to 21st-placed Derby County - who have been in strong form under John Eustace in recent weeks.

Riza, who initially took over from Erol Bulut on an interim basis back in September before being handed the permanent role until the end of the season some two months later, has come under increased scrutiny from supporters of late.

There have been suggestions that Cardiff are considering a sensational return for Neil Warnock, who was in charge between 2016 and 2019 and miraculously guided the Bluebirds to the Premier League in 2017/18, but also that owner Vincent Tan intends on keeping Riza in charge for the remainder of the campaign, which perhaps feels more likely at this stage.

Vincent Tan urged to replace Omer Riza with Neil Warnock at Cardiff City

The theory of re-appointing Warnock, even on a mere four-game basis to inspire any hope of survival, is a theory subscribed to by many supporters in light of the side's plight.

The 75-year-old is currently working for Torquay United as a football advisor, having most recently managed on a short-term basis with Aberdeen last year following a stint at Huddersfield Town, and it remains to be seen whether he would be open to a return to management with one of his former sides.

FLW asked our resident Bluebirds fan pundit, Matt Hall, if he would be open to the possibility of a return for Warnock in a gamble to retain Cardiff's second-tier status, which Riza appears increasingly incapable of doing. Matt believes such a reappointment would be a "good bet", while he also floated the more left-field theory of instating senior duo Aaron Ramsey and Joe Ralls, whose seasons have both been curtailed through injury, to replace Riza.

"I think Riza sounds like he's going to maintain the rest of the season," Matt told FLW.

"For whatever reason, Vincent Tan is going to keep him and nobody really knows why. If it was up to me, Riza would've been gone a few weeks ago but let's just go off now - he would've been gone straight after the game [against Stoke].

"Warnock would be a good bet, even just as a mentality thing. If Warnock said 'no sorry, you've left it too late', I'd also give it to something that's been murmured about, to Aaron Ramsey and Joe Ralls as a duo for the final four games.

"I wouldn't mind that. For me, it feels like we're relegated already. However, these four games, we've got nothing to lose and we've got to go for it.

"Unfortunately, I just don't think after yesterday, the way the fans reacted and how things feel, you need those two games to have a bouncing atmosphere, it's turned toxic and will not happen with Riza as manager.

"If you got Warnock or any new face in there, potentially. I'm off to Sheffield United on Friday, they're on a terrible run of form, you just need a fresh face, fresh energy to go in there and give it all we've got.

"He looks defeated on the sidelines, our players look down and defeated under him. They just need a lift. A change of voice may just do that.

"I'd do what we can to get Warnock. I'd be fine with Ralls and Ramsey, realistically outside of those you're not going to get an actual manager in unless you're looking at someone who is happy to come down with us and rebuild over the summer."

Neil Warnock could hand Cardiff City survival hope

The calls for Warnock to return to South Wales are a damning indictment of the desperate, dire straits Cardiff are in. They urgently need a shot in the arm, just about anything to give them a fighter's chance of staying in the division.

Cardiff have long had a soft underbelly, which predates Riza's tenure, of course. But fans have always been doubtful of whether he is the right man to inspire fight, resilience and doggedness from a side so sorely lacking in the sheer fundamentals required to stay up in the Championship.

Warnock, on the other hand, a renowned 'firefighter' who has previous in arriving at clubs in the face of doom and swiftly galvanising groups of players and generating momentum, could represent just what Cardiff need right now.

It's imperative they win at least one, though more likely two, of their final four matches, which will take place against Sheffield United, Oxford, West Bromwich Albion and Norwich City, and the chances of that do feel remote under Riza's watch, meaning now may just be the chance - the final one of that - for Tan to act.