' Peter Whittingham now forced to fight for his place '

Peter Whittingham forced to fight for place as 'quarterback' Magnus Wolff Eikrem joins Cardiff City
9th Jan 2014


When Ole Gunnar Solskjaer finally landed Norway star Magnus Wolff Eikrem, he described him as his “quarterback”


Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has described new signing Magnus Wolff Eikrem as his “quarterback”, throwing a question mark over the future role of Peter Whittingham in Cardiff City's first team.

Former Aston Villa man Whittingham has been City’s playmaker this season and throughout their years as a Championship force but Solskjaer made it clear that his new Norwegian man will be his midfield kingpin.

Eikrem, 23, is the first signing for the new manager and is set to make his Premier League debut against West Ham on Saturday.

Magnus Wolff Eikrem signs for Cardiff City

Solskjaer said: “He’s a playmaker, a quarterback if you will, someone who likes to get on the ball and can see a pass.

“He’s technically very good, including set pieces and has great vision.”

Those words will concern Whittingham, who has played that quarterback role and taken charge at set-pieces, since he first signed seven years ago.

Eikrem joins the Buebirds from Dutch club Heerenveen for an undisclosed fee, thought to be £2m-plus. He played under Solskjaer for Manchester United reserves and his former club Molde.

“Magnus will add a lot to Cardiff City and will blend in very well with the midfield players in the squad,” added Solskjaer.

“I’ve known him for many years, having worked with him at Manchester United and then signing him for Molde. While I was there I had to sell him as he was our best player - and now I feel lucky to get to sign him again for Cardiff City for a reasonable price. I see this as money well spent.

“He’s a playmaker, a quarterback if you will, someone who likes to get on the ball and can see a pass. He’s technically very good, including set pieces and has great vision.”



Eikrem only joined Heerenveen from Molde last summer and made 13 appearances in the Dutch top flight this season.

He was on Manchester United’s books from 2006 until 2011, but did not make a first team appearance.

The 13 times capped star has been at Cardiff’s Vale of Glamorgan resort training headquarters for the last few days, having completed his medical on Monday.

Fellow former Molde man Mats Moller Daehli has also been with Eikrem and Solskjaer Cardiff this week and his transfer is expected to be imminent.

While the paperwork on a deal for the promising youngster is completed over the next couple of days, Solskjaer continues to assess his squad and is still hoping to strengthen his squad with further signings.

That will inevitably lead to players going out with Nicky Maynard linked with a loan move to Wigan, while fringe player Filip Kiss has joined Scottish club Ross County on loan for the rest of this season.

competition is a good thing

Whitts goes missing in too many games but does pop up with the odd assist from a corner. I hope he knuckles down and fights for his place although I think a rest from the team will do him a world of good.

This is brilliant news! Onwards and upwards under Ole!

Great news... Hopefully it will motivate Whitts too

Thank god whitts can hardly run past a player these days or i can not remeber the last time i seen him pick the ball up and run 20meters with it and he carnt get the ball over the 1st man in a set piece half the time, time for new blood in there the old players who dont cut it for me will move on to championship clubs imo where there level is at

Whittingham hardly looks interested half the time so hopefully wolf steps up and whittingham becomes decent back up for us

He has carried our team for seasons. Malky tempered any attacking intent from him and tossed him around. Funny how many players are not coming out in support for Malky, I don't think many liked him.


PS- Our "quarterack" got us over the line last season

I really hope Wolf is the real deal, but until I see he is better than Whitts, all hail the chief

He has carried our team for seasons. Malky tempered any attacking intent from him and tossed him around. Funny how many players are not coming out in support for Malky, I don't think many liked him.


PS- Our "quarterack" got us over the line last season

I really hope Wolf is the real deal, but until I see he is better than Whitts, all hail the chief

I think you're gonna be pleasantly surprised. All hail the new chief!

The 2 can play together. Whitts just behind the striker where he's at his best

The 2 can play together. Whitts just behind the striker where he's at his best

But who you then gonna leave out?
Mutch - obviously not
Kim - our flair player, no
Medel - is a given

Just leaves Noone and hes been a revelation.

Two Quarter backs - no real sense in that. Its gonna be between Eikrem and Whittingham; hmmmmmm!

The 2 can play together. Whitts just behind the striker where he's at his best

But who you then gonna leave out?
Mutch - obviously not
Kim - our flair player, no
Medel - is a given

Just leaves Noone and hes been a revelation.

Two Quarter backs - no real sense in that. Its gonna be between Eikrem and Whittingham; hmmmmmm!

Mutch is injured. Kim wide left. Time for Whittingham to show he deserves to be in the team. Whittingham is wasted playing deep. He can't tackle and is not going to get stuck in. He has created more chances than anyone else in our team according to a thread higher up. Get him further forward

Let Whitts start on Saturday and see how he responds.

Whitts is 30 this year perhaps his best days are behind him

Our fans are so fickle, if you can't see Malky has ruined him then you are just living in Malky can't do nothing wrong land.

This is brilliant news! Onwards and upwards under Ole!

Seems you are very gleeful about any bad news for Whittingham, Roathie.

Last edited by Cwmann_Bluebird on Fri Jan 10, 2014 1:37 am, edited 1 time in total.

He has carried our team for seasons. Malky tempered any attacking intent from him and tossed him around. Funny how many players are not coming out in support for Malky, I don't think many liked him.


PS- Our "quarterack" got us over the line last season

I really hope Wolf is the real deal, but until I see he is better than Whitts, all hail the chief

Amen

Not a bad thing, might make him keep focused and not fade away like he's been the last few seasons, could be the kick up the back side he needs, we'll see...........

whitts has had some fantastic games for us this season, i hope he can thrive under a new manager.

This is brilliant news! Onwards and upwards under Ole!

Seems you are very gleeful about any bad news for Whittingham, Roathie.

Delighted Roathie! Hows your jacks performing these days?

whitts has had some fantastic games for us this season, i hope he can thrive under a new manager.

Paul I love your "tongue in cheek" quotes!

Not a bad thing, might make him keep focused and not fade away like he's been the last few seasons, could be the kick up the back side he needs, we'll see...........

its not only Whitts that faded..the team...and results did also.....its the result of the run for 90minutes even after lost causes philosophy... of course its impossible over 40 odd games,so you tail off...MMs teams do it every year.. cant teach an old dog new tricks

every player should be fighting for his place

This is brilliant news! Onwards and upwards under Ole!

Seems you are very gleeful about any bad news for Whittingham, Roathie.

Delighted Roathie! Hows your jacks performing these days?

I think you're a bit confused. You're Roathie, not me

This is brilliant news! Onwards and upwards under Ole!

Seems you are very gleeful about any bad news for Whittingham, Roathie.

Delighted Roathie! Hows your jacks performing these days?

I think you're a bit confused. You're Roathie, not me

Roathie I don't know how to spell it out in words of two syllables to you...I DO NOT LIVE IN ROATH! I live about 7 miles away from there. You however live in some sleepy Jack outpost near Cardigan and English is probably a foreign language to you judging by your puerile posts. Please stop being so irritating. By all means contribute something interesting instead of childish jibes constantly!8

This is brilliant news! Onwards and upwards under Ole!

Seems you are very gleeful about any bad news for Whittingham, Roathie.

Delighted Roathie! Hows your jacks performing these days?

I think you're a bit confused. You're Roathie, not me

Roathie I don't know how to spell it out in words of two syllables to you...I DO NOT LIVE IN ROATH! I live about 7 miles away from there. You however live in some sleepy Jack outpost near Cardigan and English is probably a foreign language to you judging by your puerile posts. Please stop being so irritating. By all means contribute something interesting instead of childish jibes constantly!8

This is brilliant news! Onwards and upwards under Ole!

Seems you are very gleeful about any bad news for Whittingham, Roathie.

Delighted Roathie! Hows your jacks performing these days?

I think you're a bit confused. You're Roathie, not me

Roathie I don't know how to spell it out in words of two syllables to you...I DO NOT LIVE IN ROATH! I live about 7 miles away from there. You however live in some sleepy Jack outpost near Cardigan and English is probably a foreign language to you judging by your puerile posts. Please stop being so irritating. By all means contribute something interesting instead of childish jibes constantly!8

You are 'Roathie' or 'Roath', the individual who has multiple accounts on this forum, 'Castro' being one such account.

This is brilliant news! Onwards and upwards under Ole!

Seems you are very gleeful about any bad news for Whittingham, Roathie.

Delighted Roathie! Hows your jacks performing these days?

I think you're a bit confused. You're Roathie, not me

Roathie I don't know how to spell it out in words of two syllables to you...I DO NOT LIVE IN ROATH! I live about 7 miles away from there. You however live in some sleepy Jack outpost near Cardigan and English is probably a foreign language to you judging by your puerile posts. Please stop being so irritating. By all means contribute something interesting instead of childish jibes constantly!8

You are 'Roathie' or 'Roath', the individual who has multiple accounts on this forum, 'Castro' being one such account.

Have they ever shown the film "Dumb and Dumber" down there in Jackland? Watch my lips ....I AM NOT FROM ROATH! Call me Splottie if you like! I'll show you City Road and Roath Park one day if you like Roathie since you have such an obsession with the area and I guess you've never been to Cardiff in your life! As for Castro, I dont know the guy; maybe he comes from Cuba!