"Cardiff should Admire Watford" Says
Thu Dec 13, 2018 6:53 am
Southampton win gives the huge away form solution and why Cardiff City should admire Watford
By Nathan Blake
Thursday 13th December 2018
The win over Southampton potentially provided Neil Warnock with the answer to one of Cardiff City's biggest problems so far this season.
I think with the players he has at his disposal, the team that started in the win against the Saints probably gives you the best balance all round.
It offers a good defensive unit, and while I think they're lacking with the full-backs from an attacking stand point, I think as a defence, you can't argue that they've done well.
I think the trio of Harry Arter, Aron Gunnarsson and Victor Camarasa gives you everything you need.
It gives you physicality, pace in Camarasa attacking from midfield, strength in the tackle from Arter and Gunnarsson, combative skills, so those three give you everything you need.
That's a big part of Cardiff's success going forward, having those three available.
The Southampton game showed how effective Victor Camarasa can be through the middle (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd)
You can switch them where you have Gunnarsson sitting with Arter and Camarasa pressing high or you can have Gunnarsson and Arter sitting deep with just Camarasa up on his own.
So in a counter attacking game like we'll probably see against Watford, I would probably go with two holders in Arter and Gunnarrson whereas at home against Southampton I'd go with Gunnarsson holding with Arter and Camarasa ahead.
It gives you that option and you've got to be adaptable in certain games, especially in midfield.
Then with Josh Murphy and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing out wide, they give you that pace you need to be able to counter attack so I would go with the same team that started against Southampton for the Watford game and play on the counter.
It obviously means Joe Ralls missing out again, but it's an 11 man game, and as I've mentioned on the Bootroom, if a striker comes in during the January window, what happens to Callum Paterson?
He's proven he's an integral part of the team, and he's also proven he's great as a No. 10 arriving late in the box, but if you play him as a 10 then you probably have to leave out Camarasa, so these are the decisions that have to be made.
When you're winning games and playing well, it encourages people to work even harder to try and get in the team and maintain a place so competition is always healthy.
Cardiff have picked up just one point from their seven away games in the league so far this season, but I think the balance that the team had in the win over Southampton showed the way forward.
So my team to face Watford has to be as follows:
Cardiff City: Etheridge; Manga, Morrison, Bamba, Bennett; Gunnarsson, Arter; Mendez-Laing, Camarasa, Murphy; Paterson.
Cardiff should follow Watford's example
I watched Watford in the Monday Night Football game against Everton and it's very difficult to say where you can hurt them.
They're very strong in midfield, and that's where they seemed to dominate Everton the other night.
They play quite a weird system aswell. Roberto Pereyra doesn't always play on the wing, sometimes he tucks inside.
Isaac Success has good strength and physicality, Troy Deeney aswell, so they're certainly not going to give your centre-halves an easy ride.
They're very strong right down the centre of the team and they have people who can score from all areas so make no bones about it, it's a very good Watford team, so to go there and pick up points will be very difficult.
You go back down the years and they were a little bit of a yo yo side, but they've developed and have become an established team again.
It just shows what you can do if you've got a plan and you've got a good structure in place where you know what you're doing.
They're probably a step above the likes of Southampton and Burnley. I would say Watford are similar to Bournemouth, they're becoming a well-established Premier League club, and ultimately that's where I want to see Cardiff.
The threat of relegation looms on most clubs minds at the start of the season, but I'd like to see Cardiff become like Watford where relegation isn't something that is talked about, it'd be more about where we could finish or what would actually represent a good season.
It takes time, and it takes foresight aswell. You've got to be able to pick and buy players that you know are not just good for the here and now, but for what you're building towards.
But they're definitely showing how it can be done.
By Nathan Blake
Thursday 13th December 2018
The win over Southampton potentially provided Neil Warnock with the answer to one of Cardiff City's biggest problems so far this season.
I think with the players he has at his disposal, the team that started in the win against the Saints probably gives you the best balance all round.
It offers a good defensive unit, and while I think they're lacking with the full-backs from an attacking stand point, I think as a defence, you can't argue that they've done well.
I think the trio of Harry Arter, Aron Gunnarsson and Victor Camarasa gives you everything you need.
It gives you physicality, pace in Camarasa attacking from midfield, strength in the tackle from Arter and Gunnarsson, combative skills, so those three give you everything you need.
That's a big part of Cardiff's success going forward, having those three available.
The Southampton game showed how effective Victor Camarasa can be through the middle (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd)
You can switch them where you have Gunnarsson sitting with Arter and Camarasa pressing high or you can have Gunnarsson and Arter sitting deep with just Camarasa up on his own.
So in a counter attacking game like we'll probably see against Watford, I would probably go with two holders in Arter and Gunnarrson whereas at home against Southampton I'd go with Gunnarsson holding with Arter and Camarasa ahead.
It gives you that option and you've got to be adaptable in certain games, especially in midfield.
Then with Josh Murphy and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing out wide, they give you that pace you need to be able to counter attack so I would go with the same team that started against Southampton for the Watford game and play on the counter.
It obviously means Joe Ralls missing out again, but it's an 11 man game, and as I've mentioned on the Bootroom, if a striker comes in during the January window, what happens to Callum Paterson?
He's proven he's an integral part of the team, and he's also proven he's great as a No. 10 arriving late in the box, but if you play him as a 10 then you probably have to leave out Camarasa, so these are the decisions that have to be made.
When you're winning games and playing well, it encourages people to work even harder to try and get in the team and maintain a place so competition is always healthy.
Cardiff have picked up just one point from their seven away games in the league so far this season, but I think the balance that the team had in the win over Southampton showed the way forward.
So my team to face Watford has to be as follows:
Cardiff City: Etheridge; Manga, Morrison, Bamba, Bennett; Gunnarsson, Arter; Mendez-Laing, Camarasa, Murphy; Paterson.
Cardiff should follow Watford's example
I watched Watford in the Monday Night Football game against Everton and it's very difficult to say where you can hurt them.
They're very strong in midfield, and that's where they seemed to dominate Everton the other night.
They play quite a weird system aswell. Roberto Pereyra doesn't always play on the wing, sometimes he tucks inside.
Isaac Success has good strength and physicality, Troy Deeney aswell, so they're certainly not going to give your centre-halves an easy ride.
They're very strong right down the centre of the team and they have people who can score from all areas so make no bones about it, it's a very good Watford team, so to go there and pick up points will be very difficult.
You go back down the years and they were a little bit of a yo yo side, but they've developed and have become an established team again.
It just shows what you can do if you've got a plan and you've got a good structure in place where you know what you're doing.
They're probably a step above the likes of Southampton and Burnley. I would say Watford are similar to Bournemouth, they're becoming a well-established Premier League club, and ultimately that's where I want to see Cardiff.
The threat of relegation looms on most clubs minds at the start of the season, but I'd like to see Cardiff become like Watford where relegation isn't something that is talked about, it'd be more about where we could finish or what would actually represent a good season.
It takes time, and it takes foresight aswell. You've got to be able to pick and buy players that you know are not just good for the here and now, but for what you're building towards.
But they're definitely showing how it can be done.
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Re: "Cardiff should Admire Watford" Says
Thu Dec 13, 2018 9:39 am
Mendez Laing is a big plus for us now, like a new signing. Quality.
Re: "Cardiff should Admire Watford" Says
Thu Dec 13, 2018 9:43 am
no wins in 6 and they don't talk about relegation....
keep it up Watford..
keep it up Watford..
Re: "Cardiff should Admire Watford" Says
Thu Dec 13, 2018 11:49 am
It’s amazing how a little club like Watford are in the Premier League.They change managers more than any club in four leagues and yet always seem to stay up smelling of roses with only a 20k fan base! Malkly left them for us and they sacked Sean Dyche but still in Premier League!
Re: "Cardiff should Admire Watford" Says
Thu Dec 13, 2018 1:04 pm
HarriRhys22 wrote:It’s amazing how a little club like Watford are in the Premier League.They change managers more than any club in four leagues and yet always seem to stay up smelling of roses with only a 20k fan base! Malkly left them for us and they sacked Sean Dyche but still in Premier League!
this is their 4th season..
Re: "Cardiff should Admire Watford" Says
Fri Dec 14, 2018 10:30 am
HarriRhys22 wrote:It’s amazing how a little club like Watford are in the Premier League.They change managers more than any club in four leagues and yet always seem to stay up smelling of roses with only a 20k fan base! Malkly left them for us and they sacked Sean Dyche but still in Premier League!
Hate when cardiff fans call established clubs small it's so embarrassing.
Re: "Cardiff should Admire Watford" Says
Fri Dec 14, 2018 2:19 pm
Watford are no way an established Premier League Club,Swansea,Stoke and WBA were more established but look what happened to them! Clubs like Watford,Burnley,Fulham,Palace and Bournemouth etc Are small clubs in Premier League because of their fan base and support! Our crowd average is already 10th highest in league and will grow if we are successful,we are not a small club,we are Capital of Wales and the 5th largest city in the League!
Re: "Cardiff should Admire Watford" Says
Fri Dec 14, 2018 2:28 pm
HarriRhys22 wrote:Watford are no way an established Premier League Club,Swansea,Stoke and WBA were more established but look what happened to them! Clubs like Watford,Burnley,Fulham,Palace and Bournemouth etc Are small clubs in Premier League because of their fan base and support! Our crowd average is already 10th highest in league and will grow if we are successful,we are not a small club,we are Capital of Wales and the 5th largest city in the League!
I honestly think Watford will be up there for a few more seasons the least. Wouldn't hardly call them a small club just by fan base. They may and good chance they do, have more fans than us anyway. I'm surprised we don't get 40k tbh giving or catchment area and as you rightfully stated we are the capital of Wales. Each to their own anyway.
P.s I say "our catchment area" I live in bridgend.
