" Who has been Cardiff City's best central midfielder? "

Who has been Cardiff City's best central midfielder?

The men in Bluebirds' engine room this term rated

Tuesday 9th Feb 2016

BY STEVE TUCKER

Peter Whittingham, Joe Ralls, Kagisho Dikgacoi, Aron Gunnarsson and Stuart O’Keefe have all played in centre-midfield




JOE RALLS
Championship appearances: 29 Goals: 1

The smash hit of the Bluebirds’ season under Slade. Ralls had featured before for the Bluebirds in previous season, but this time around he established himself as a first team regular. Good on the ball, with an eye for a run and a pass, Ralls looks like he has class and is surely only set to improve. But after a very arduous campaign, the youngster could arguably be showing some signs of fatigue in recent outings.

Rating: 8/10.






PETER WHITTINGHAM
Championship appearances: 23 Goals: 3

The long-serving midfielder has seemingly been shunted around a lot during his Cardiff career, Whether it be in the middle of the park or pushed out on the left. Many are now coming to the conclusion that Whittingham’s better days in a two-man central midfield pairing are behind him,. With the game having a tendency to pass him by. Back out on the left currently, he remains a brilliant passer and dead-ball specialists as his goals recently at Huddersfield prove.

Rating: 6/10.







ARON GUNNARSSON
Championship appearances: 18 Goals: 2

Another stalwart really for Cardiff down the years. The Icelander saw his supremacy threatened this season though. He had to bide his time as the emergence of young Ralls in particular saw him slip down the pecking order. Gunnarsson’s charms are well-known to the Bluebirds’ faithful. Combative, dogged and determined, what Gunnarsson lacks in fitness he makes up for with one of the biggest hearts in the Cardiff squad.

Rating: 6/10.






KAGISHO DIKGACOI
Championship appearances: 17 Goals: 0

The South African international endured a nightmare first season at Cardiff thanks to on-going injuries. But he finally got a good preseason under his belt and was picked by Slade to start the season in midfield as a defensive foil to Ralls’ more creative urges. He was garnering positive reviews until injury saw him side-lined then Gunnarsson usurped him and more recently O’Keefe. Dikgacoi has now not started a Championship game for the Bluebirds since the defeat at Derby back in November.

Rating: 5/10.






STUART O’KEEFE
Championship appearances: 9 Goals: 0

If patience is a virtue then O’Keefe is a saint. To say he’s had to bide his time since arriving at Cardiff a year ago from Crystal Palace would be an understatement. A clutch of appearances last season was all he had and this campaign looked the same as he haunted the bench. He had to wait until January and the clash at Wolves to earn his first start and he has seized the opportunity with both hands it seems. Has since started every game and looks dynamic and, unsurprisingly maybe, hungry. A new goal-threat has infiltrated his game too. Very promising right now.

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As much as I like Ralls, I think he is in need of a rest for Gunnarsson either full or at least a good 20-25 minutes

As much as I like Ralls, I think he is in need of a rest for Gunnarsson either full or at least a good 20-25 minutes

Totally agree

As far as choosing who has been best. I think gunnar, ralls, and okeefe have all shone at different stages this season and obviously it's okeefes time at the moment

Ralls if we are judging on the season as a whole.


Hes been poor recently though

Ralls without a doubt has been the best I know he is going through a sticky patch but he is young so its understandable.

Put whitts full back goalie striker where ever you play him he's still our best player end of

Vinnie Tan

You boys who think ralls and okeefe have been better than whitts know Nothing

You boys who think ralls and okeefe have been better than whitts know Nothing

Ralls has had the better overall season 100%