" Malky dismisses calls to rest Whittingham "

CARDIFF CITY boss Malky Mackay has dismissed calls to rest Peter Whittingham and reckons his midfield talisman can fire the Bluebirds’ promotion dream in the next few weeks.

Cardiff’s stuttering run of form, which has seen them take just four points out o the last 12 available, has led to many fans calling for Whittingham to be left out.

Bluebirds legend Nathan Blake also made the suggestion, arguing Whittingham might have to be taken out of the firing line momentarily.

Doing that, explained Blake, would get Whittingham fresh, fit and firing again for Cardiff’s crucial promotion run-in.

Whittingham has not scored for 22 matches and has been below his best. But Mackay insisted he would be one of the very first picks for tomorrow night’s mouth-watering showdown with Leicester.

“Peter is among the best players in his position in Championship football,” said Mackay.

“He is and will continue to be one of the first names on my team sheet.

“Peter is an excellent professional who is able to maintain high levels of consistency and has shown that since I came to this club.

“He’s a fantastic person, somebody I think will play at the highest level.”

Whittingham has started in every one but one of City’s 35 Championship matches, but Mackay has no intentions of leaving him out.

After tomorrow night’s hame, City meet Sheffield Wednesday and Peterborough away before the end of March.

“Peter is extremely professional who sets high, high standards in his football,” says Mackay.

“Other Championship teams would like it if they saw he was not in our starting line-up.

“That would give the opposition a lift and that’s not something we wish to do.”

The Bluebirds were without a game at the weekend, but saw their promotion prospects enhanced as their rivals each dropped points.

Watford threw away a goal elad to crash at home to Blackpool, while Crystal Palace were held at home by Leeds.

Leicester lost at home to lowly Sheffield Wednesday, while Hull travel to Burnley tonight.

The Bluebirds are still five points clear at the top, with two games in hand, and will have Craig Bellamy and skipper Mark Hudson back to bolster their Premier League bid when leicester come to town.

Bellamy missed the home draw with Derby in midweek after coming off in the closing stages of the 2-1 defeat at Middlesbrough with calf and ankle injuries.

But Mackay said: “Craig had a few days away for rest and recuperation but he’ll be okay for Leicester,.

“He is a player who works to keep his body in amazing condition and he will be involved on Tuesday.

“Mark Hudson, too, has made good progress after injury and will be back in full training and in the squad for the Leicester game.”

Hudson has missed the last two games against Middlesbrough and Derby which saw only one point collected.

But if he is set to return next to Ben Turner at the centre of the defence against Leicester with Ben Nugent dropping out.

Bellamy will return for Heidar Helguson, while Mackay could also make other changes with Craig Noone and Kim Bo-Kyung among those pressing for a starting place.

Craig Conway could find his place under threat.

Leicester were rocked by a home defeat to Sheffield Wednesday and manager Nigel Pearson admitted: “I think the biggest thing was that we looked a side having a bit of a crisis of confidence at the minute.

“I can’t fault the players for their efforts, but we were not fluid and didn’t solve the problems Wednesday gave us.

“They came with a solid foundation and things didn’t quite go our way for a number of reasons.

“Our creativity is not quite there but I don’t think there is a fear factor there.

“We are not a defensive team and we are creating opportunities, but not taking them.

“We are a bit inconsistent and unfortunately for us at the moment it is not just quite happening.

“But I have a strong belief in these players and the collective spirit is going to serve you better than the individual approach.

“We looked nervy at times and at this stage of the season you don’t really want that. We have got to keep our nerve.”

Wednesday manager Dave Jones said: “It shows you how far we have come as a football club because when we played them in November they were far the better team and we had some catching up to do.

“I think we were a bit naive earlier in the season in what we were doing and it took us a little time to adapt. We have lost that naivety and become a bit more solid.

“The centre-halves were magnificent, throwing their bodies on the line. This is not the easiest place to come, although I have had joy here in the past.

“Hopefully the run will continue because the players had to put a shift in against a very good side.”

Read more: Wales Online http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... z2NA4KfW1y

If he's not going to drop him, he needs to find it why his form is the worst it's been in 4 years.

If he's going to carry on playing him, he's got to play him behind Bellamy and Fraizer, and let him influence the game.

Nothing will change. MM will play him in the same deep role. I don't so much as long as he reacts when the midfield clearly isn't working, like against derby when him and gunner were shite. Change it when you have to malky ffs

If he's not going to drop him, he needs to find it why his form is the worst it's been in 4 years.

Even those with glasses can see why Whitts has lost form and not scoring

Wonder if nathan blakes next article will be a follow up to his "hudson should be dropped as captain"masterpeice
Lets trust malky and let him pick the team

If he's not going to drop him, he needs to find it why his form is the worst it's been in 4 years.

Even those with glasses can see why Whitts has lost form and not scoring

Stevie wonder could see hes lost his form and playing as a third center half at times which amazes me

He just needs to help Pete.

Teams have sussed a way to play us at home, cram the middle play with little width and cut the supply to the wings and the front men (our tactic last season). Too often its 5 vrs 2 in the middle and we can't get a foothold in the game.

When Kimbo was starting he drifted inside a lot as the middle is his natural preference so he helped out, especially recieving short passes. Tommy Smith is a lovely neat player, but to me he is best in a 433 wide forward role.

Drop HH go three up front throw Cowie or Kimbo with Whitts and Gunnar in a narrower midfield and let Pete float again.

Job done........

He just needs to help Pete.

Teams have sussed a way to play us at home, cram the middle play with little width and cut the supply to the wings and the front men (our tactic last season). Too often its 5 vrs 2 in the middle and we can't get a foothold in the game.

When Kimbo was starting he drifted inside a lot as the middle is his natural preference so he helped out, especially recieving short passes. Tommy Smith is a lovely neat player, but to me he is best in a 433 wide forward role.

Drop HH go three up front throw Cowie or Kimbo with Whitts and Gunnar in a narrower midfield and let Pete float again.

Job done........

pretty much spot on there mate

I have no problem with Malky continuing to pick Whittingham.

But, I would like to see him pushed forward.

and if Malky wants to continue him in the role he's doing now, then he needs to be brave enough to substitute him when things aren't going well for him, as everyone could see in the last game.

Im concerned all the hype on internet will turn into a negative and people will start to boo whitts if he misplaces his first couple of passes on tuesday night
Everyones entitled to their opinion but i just dont feel the time is right for the media and some fans to single out one of our best players

Said it b4 and will say it again. Whitts influences the game more when cowie is with him. They compliment each other well.

Cowie, Whitts and Gunnar are all attacking midfield players naturally drifting forward and have a history of scoring (important) goals, They all bring different attributes to the middle.
Gunnar is a combative little bugger who niggles away all game.
Cowie has an engine and will cover an inordinate amount of miles throughout the game.
Whitts has a passing range and vision beyond nearly every other player in this division.

In my opinion they are all bright enough to know when to go forward and when to stay. Whitts is taking the decision he needs to stay back as now he can see 5 or 6 ahead of the ball and only him and 3 other behind.

Remember once coming to Wolves home when I read in the echo that Whittingham would be played forward and he scored a hat trick that game.

I'd like to see this:

Marshall

Taylor Hudson Turner Connolly

Gunnarsson

Noone Whittingham Kim

Campbell and Bellamy/Smith.

He just needs to help Pete.

Teams have sussed a way to play us at home, cram the middle play with little width and cut the supply to the wings and the front men (our tactic last season). Too often its 5 vrs 2 in the middle and we can't get a foothold in the game.

When Kimbo was starting he drifted inside a lot as the middle is his natural preference so he helped out, especially recieving short passes. Tommy Smith is a lovely neat player, but to me he is best in a 433 wide forward role.

Drop HH go three up front throw Cowie or Kimbo with Whitts and Gunnar in a narrower midfield and let Pete float again.

Job done........

Spot on I'm with you on this mate, I don't blame whitts I blame our predictable formation, teams have prob sussed us and we need to change things and mix it up imo

Whitts is capable of turning his form round with one kick. He could score a free kick and this thread wouldn't exist.

I back Malky to keep him in the team