The plan Steve Morison had for Romaine Sawyers was like music to the midfielder's ears.
Cardiff City's 13 recruits have all brought something a little different, however there has been a quiet buzz around the signing of former West Brom midfielder Sawyers. Rightly so, it seems, after his stunning debut goal against Norwich City helped earn the Bluebirds a crucial three points on the opening day of the campaign.
It is widely said that if Cardiff get the Sawyers of Brentford and Walsall, his other former clubs, compared to the player who played for the Baggies in his second stint, they will have some player on their hands. There were flashes of that on Saturday afternoon.
By Sawyers' own admission, his three years at his boyhood club, West Brom, didn't go according to plan, but there is mitigation for that, at least in his mind. He played a more defensive, sitting role and his assets were wasted in such a deep-lying position.
Well, when Steve Morison told him what he wanted out of him this season, it couldn't have gone much better for the 30-year-old playmaker.
"He might not like it, but he is a bit of a football geek," Morison told WalesOnline. "He loves the game, he loves the tactical side of it and understands it really well.
"He is an organiser when he is out there. He really does get it. I had to show him exactly what he wanted and he asked me questions and I had to be able to answer them. I showed him exactly what we wanted from him. It simplifies the game for him and allows him to go and have moments like that.
"We spoke at half-time about how our two No. 8s didn't get high enough up in the first half to be able to get into the box to score a goal. So it sounds like he decided to just get the ball a little bit further out and just hit it, rather than run into the box! It was great for him and I thought it was great for everyone involved today."
There were a number of clubs after Sawyers in the summer, but Cardiff won that race. And from Sawyers' pre-match programme notes, you can see just why he chose the Bluebirds over a number of other suitors.
"I spoke to the gaffer before I signed my contract and he had ambitions which were aligned with where I want to be going," Sawyers said in the pre-Norwich matchday programme. "Since then, it's been great to talk with him about my qualities on the pitch and discussing where I like to play.
"He wants me to be playing with an attacking mindset in a slightly more advanced role than where I was playing at West Brom.
"The coaching staff want me to get on the ball, make things happen, get the boys in the attacking roles into dangerous positions and chip in with goals myself - that's been exciting for me to hear.
"They want me to be a nuisance and be a player that opposition teams have to try and stop. It's nice to hear those things being brought into my game; it's better for me, better for the team and I'll have more of an influence on the game."
Well, the club's vision couldn't have worked out much better on the opening day of the season. One thing's for sure, he certainly irritated his old Brentford and Walsall boss Dean Smith.
"I'm not sure the goal was a shot," said the sceptical Canaries manager. "I've worked with Romaine Sawyers a long time and he's gone for the pass without a shadow of a doubt. The lad's made a run and it's gone off Andrew's [Omobamidele] calf. I think he got one in training from that distance! He's a talented kid, got all the time in the world for him. But not when he tries a pass and it goes in."
READ NEXT:
- Cardiff City 1-0 Norwich City: 10-man Bluebirds produce statement victory thanks to Romaine Sawyers stunner
- The Cardiff City player exciting Steve Morison and why he reminds the manager of his younger self
- Cardiff City will carry on taking the knee as statement issued on eve of season opener against Norwich City
- Cardiff City transfer news as chairman reveals Aaron Ramsey stance and Steve Morison says deals are 'in the pipeline'
- Cardiff City in talks with striker targets and could pay transfer fee for first time in 18 months
