Noone return gives Malky selection headache

Malky Mackay has a selection headache ahead of Cardiff City’s televised trip to Blackburn Rovers.

Craig Conway capped a man-of-the-match performance with a late winner in Sunday’s 1-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday, having replaced the suspended Craig Noone.

But Noone – who was sent off in the 1-1 draw at Derby after showing some impressive form – is available for the visit to Ewood Park.

“Craig had the shirt against Wednesday and did all he could to keep it,” said Bluebirds boss Mackay.

“Players must make the most of every chance they get and Craig did that.

“Now my job is to select a team I believe can win against Blackburn away and that’s what I will do.

“We go to Blackburn having notched four points from six in the last two away games.

“Had it not been for the sending-off (Noone for two bookings) we could have made it two wins.

“We are delighted with our form right now and are looking forward to taking on Blackburn as the team top of the league.”

While Mackay ponders whether to make a switch out wide, he knows there must be a change to the midfield which eventually overcame Dave Jones’ Owls.

Jordon Mutch is suspended after picking up a fifth booking of the season and Aron Gunnarsson is the likely candidate to step in alongside Peter Whittingham.

Cardiff are on their best run of the season, having earned 13 points from the last 15 on offer, and travel to Blackburn confident they can build on a recent upturn in away form.

Blackburn are in ninth spot, 12 points behind Cardiff and the pressure is already on new Rovers boss Henning Berg.

They were relegated from the Premier League last season and go into the Ewood Park clash having managed only one win in their last seven outings.

Berg’s men have also failed to win in the last three home attempts, a draw against Birmingham plus further defeats against Millwall and Bolton.

Blackburn global advisor Shebby Singh has made it clear what is expected, saying: “Promotion is the minimum and the maximum.

“We have emphasised that time and again to Henning.

“But the most important thing is that Henning welcomes the pressure, he welcomes the challenge.

“He didn’t say ‘I need three years to build a team or two seasons to get promotion.’

“He said ‘I know what you want and I want to be the man to deliver that.’

"The targets are very clear between us.”

Meanwhile, Bluebirds midfielder Tommy Smith has come through a high-intensity training schedule this week to take a step closer to full fitness.

The former Queens Park Rangers and Watford star has been out for almost six weeks since suffering a hamstring tear in Cardiff’s 2-1 home victory over Watford on October 23.

But he is nearing full fitness and Mackay said: “Tommy has been out on the training pitches working with the rehab team.

“He has come through a lot of individual work and this week has been doing a lot of high intensity work.

“When we started the week our medical team rated Tommy at between 80 to 90 per cent fit and we will now have another assessment of how well he has progressed.”

Smith is unlikely to be involved at Blackburn with Mackay pinpointing the visit of Peterborough on December 15 as his return date.




Read more: Wales Online http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... z2ED5XzAzM

Maybe Noone and Conway, with Kimbo stepping down ? or will Malky keep Noone on the bench to come on against tired defenders ? Its a nice problem to have. Last season the team picked itself.

Maybe Noone and Conway, with Kimbo stepping down ? or will Malky keep Noone on the bench to come on against tired defenders ? Its a nice problem to have. Last season the team picked itself.

I would definitely drop kimbo with noones pace and trickery on one side and the quality deliveries that Conway can put in on the other I think it could be effective

Leave Conway on the bench

Leave Conway on the bench

Step 1 - Conway requests transfer
Step 2 - Malky rejects the offer, says Conway is still part of his plans
Step 3 - Conway starts when called upon, scoring the winner against Wednesday

You would leave him on the bench after that?

I'd like to see Kimbo have a place in the middle with Mutch banned, so Conway left Noone right Whitts and KimBo in the middle. As for the forwards, I'm not sure Bellers was all that efefctive against Wednesday based on what I ehard, althought the highlights on City player showed him making some good touches. A good headache to have if you ask me.

You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

At the end of the day when you get a chance and you take it then theres no doubt you'll start the next game.

For away games Conway is perfect because of his delivery and also his trackin back and helping out for Taylor because we al know Taylor is usually the most attacked player in a game.

all i would like to say is. kimbo is a great championship player. got slagged off for his performance against wednesday. but it was a shit night for football with the weather. id stick kimbo in again. got some lovely touches in his football ability... in kimbo i trust

My team

:ayatollah:

How do you make these litle team selector things?

Leave Conway on the bench

Step 1 - Conway requests transfer
Step 2 - Malky rejects the offer, says Conway is still part of his plans
Step 3 - Conway starts when called upon, scoring the winner against Wednesday

You would leave him on the bench after that?

Yes I would definately leave Conway on the bench, he is a decent squad player but just not quite got it at our level for me. You have to pick your best 11 and im sure malky will bring noony back in and drop Conway as he did to Ben Nugent who hadn't put a foot wrong.

Midfield of Noone, Whitts, Gunnar and Conway for me.
With Bellamy told to stay closer to Helguson up front.

........................................Marshall..................................

Connolly.........Hudson...................Turner............John

....................................Gunnarsson................................

Noone..........Whittingham.............Kimbo.......Conway

.....................................Helgusson..................................


Lewis, McNaughton, Mason, Bellamy, Gestede, Velikonja, Kiss

:ayatollah:

How do you make these litle team selector things?

http://www.footballuser.com/

Leave Conway on the bench

Step 1 - Conway requests transfer
Step 2 - Malky rejects the offer, says Conway is still part of his plans
Step 3 - Conway starts when called upon, scoring the winner against Wednesday
Step 4 - Noone starts on friday-Conway on bench
Step 5 - Conway used as backup till Jan then sold on.
You would leave him on the bench after that?

YUP

Leave Conway on the bench

Step 1 - Conway requests transfer
Step 2 - Malky rejects the offer, says Conway is still part of his plans
Step 3 - Conway starts when called upon, scoring the winner against Wednesday

You would leave him on the bench after that?

Sorry for the delayed reply but yes I would , I like conway very much but Kimbo gives us a better balance , he looks to recieve all the time and lays off well so on an away game such as this we need a ball player who will make himself available at all time ...even under pressure he, still happy to recieve no matter how tight the game

TEAM NEWS

Blackburn midfielder David Dunn is fit after a lengthy calf injury and could start, while Dickson Etuhu has recovered from illness.

Veteran forward Nuno Gomes (hamstring) misses out although fellow Portuguese forward Fabio Nunes could feature.

Leaders Cardiff will again be without Tommy Smith (hamstring) but he is closing in on fitness and could play against Peterborough on 15 December.

However, winger Craig Noone is available after suspension.