Our midfield without Whitts

I am probably one of the biggest Whitts supporters on this board but, in my opinion, it is almost impossible to argue the case for his regular inclusion in a team which has won 6 of the last 9 League games. The 3 games lost in that run were against Brighton, Reading and Norwich all defeats by the odd goal and Whitts started in only 1.

During this run of games NW has pretty much stayed with the same spine to the team, McGregor or Murphy, Morrison and Bamba, Gunnarsonn and Ralls with Zohore as the lone striker. Other than that NW has changed the other players on a regular basis like the last two away games by including Halford as the defensive midfield player protecting the back 4 the Gunnarsonn / Ralls CM partnership. The results speak for themselves.

This Saturday does anyone believe NW will start at Home against the bottom team in the League with Halford as the defensive midfield player? I don't and with the spine of the team picking itself and Harris and Noone surely having earned their place in the team who will replace Halford. I don't think it will be Whitts and it's far more likely to be Hoilett or Healey playing higher of the field with Zohore. Where does that leave Whitts?

It's easy to rubbish a club Legend by suggesting he lacks pace and mobility and our midfield is much better without him, can anyone seriously suggest that, for instance, the last two away wins are purely down to the midfield partnership of Gunnarsonn and Ralls. Really? Neither of them are blessed with pace or fantastic mobility but boy as the hardworking CM partnership they are making a massive contribution to the team, as Morrison and Bamba, so is Zohore and the same applies to McGregor and Murphy.

Right now as the OP rightly states Whitts is nothing more than a squad player, but what a squad player, but to suggest he is no longer effective is laughable. Right now Whitts has hit more accurate "Key Passes", 47, than any other player in the Championship this season, he is equal 4th in Championship assists, he has had just 9 unsuccessful touches and lost possession just 9 times. In comparison Gunnarsonn has 17 and 13 and Ralls it's 24 and 28 respectively. I could go on with passing accuracy, shooting accuracy but all that will show is Whitts is superior not just to the current CM partnership but to any other player at the club.

NW has turned results around and right now he has found a set up which is bringing results and if he is here next season we can expect to see an improvement in the quality of the players in our squad. NW is one record as saying he wants improved quality "Up Front" next season and he will need players of delivering quality supply to them and I have no doubt we have that player already. Whitts.

Great post and, as a huge fan of Whitts, one I agree whole heartedly with.
The thing is the 'knuckledraggers' as polo calls them still cannot see it as he doesn't run around like Robbie Savage.

in conclusion Whitts is now just a squad player ?

Warnock is probably the best manager we have had for the last 25 years and knows this league inside out. He has sussed a formation and tactic that works away, the 4141 that is designed to be an out and out counter attacking unit, working perfectly away or a relegation scrap when the better teams come to our place to get the three points.

Now, if next season we are serious about having a crack how many teams will turn up to the CCS and have a go ? Very few. Most will turn up with a 4141 soak up the pressure and hit you on the counter, like we are doing now. We will need someone to pull the opposition out of position and you need possession or a class above the opposition dribbler. If we get a premier league quality "10" then i guess Whitts may go, but they are as rare as rocking horse shit, coupled with our inherent inability to purchase decent players we need to think about holding onto the ball and stopping treating it as a radio active bomb.

I don't think he'll play him. This would be the perfect opportunity to try Nooney or Holeitt as a 10 or Lambert and Zohore in a 442

Out of interest (little interest outside of CCFC) when did Warnock last get promoted ? How did he play at home

Warnock is probably the best manager we have had for the last 25 years and knows this league inside out. He has sussed a formation and tactic that works away, the 4141 that is designed to be an out and out counter attacking unit, working perfectly away or a relegation scrap when the better teams come to our place to get the three points.

Now, if next season we are serious about having a crack how many teams will turn up to the CCS and have a go ? Very few. Most will turn up with a 4141 soak up the pressure and hit you on the counter, like we are doing now. We will need someone to pull the opposition out of position and you need possession or a class above the opposition dribbler. If we get a premier league quality "10" then i guess Whitts may go, but they are as rare as rocking horse shit, coupled with our inherent inability to purchase decent players we need to think about holding onto the ball and stopping treating it as a radio active bomb.

I don't think he'll play him. This would be the perfect opportunity to try Nooney or Holeitt as a 10 or Lambert and Zohore in a 442

Out of interest (little interest outside of CCFC) when did Warnock last get promoted ? How did he play at home

His last promotion was with QPR IN 2010-11 and the most used tactical formation, both Home and Away, was 4-2-3-1.

The 2 holding midfield players were Derry and either Faurlin or Busacky. Taarabt played the centre of the 3 midfield players behind Heidur Helguson.

Taarabt was his PL number 10 who we know was at times unplayable at Championship level. As you say will he be able to find another player like that.

Warnock is probably the best manager we have had for the last 25 years and knows this league inside out. He has sussed a formation and tactic that works away, the 4141 that is designed to be an out and out counter attacking unit, working perfectly away or a relegation scrap when the better teams come to our place to get the three points.

Now, if next season we are serious about having a crack how many teams will turn up to the CCS and have a go ? Very few. Most will turn up with a 4141 soak up the pressure and hit you on the counter, like we are doing now. We will need someone to pull the opposition out of position and you need possession or a class above the opposition dribbler. If we get a premier league quality "10" then i guess Whitts may go, but they are as rare as rocking horse shit, coupled with our inherent inability to purchase decent players we need to think about holding onto the ball and stopping treating it as a radio active bomb.

I don't think he'll play him. This would be the perfect opportunity to try Nooney or Holeitt as a 10 or Lambert and Zohore in a 442

Out of interest (little interest outside of CCFC) when did Warnock last get promoted ? How did he play at home

His last promotion was with QPR IN 2010-11 and the most used tactical formation, both Home and Away, was 4-2-3-1.

The 2 holding midfield players were Derry and either Faurlin or Busacky. Taarabt played the centre of the 3 midfield players behind Heidur Helguson.

Taarabt was his PL number 10 who we know was at times unplayable at Championship level. As you say will he be able to find another player like that.

Cheers Castleblue- Great stats (as usual) Just looked on Wiki. Bloody hell Connolly was there then, and Helguson, Tommy Smith and Routledge. He brought 10 in that season in the summer with 5 more at christmas

As I recall both the DM's were real DM's, comfortable on the ball and in Derry's case a good tackler to boot. I don't think Ralls, Gunnar or Whitts fit into that category.
I think our recent good results have come with a decent defender as the DM rather than Gunnar, Ralls mobility is his greatest asset and Warnock wants the DM to tackle or impose so that rules out Whitts.

I am still unsure what he does. Taarabt (19) was the top scorer with the helguson (13) with the wingers chipping in so i think he wants a goal scoring 10 and they won't come cheap.

I think he'll keep Whitts on a much lower deal, but won't be overly worried if he leaves and sell Gunnar to help fund the "10", a conventional DM,a striker, and two wide forwards (may keep Holiett and Harris)

I am probably one of the biggest Whitts supporters on this board but, in my opinion, it is almost impossible to argue the case for his regular inclusion in a team which has won 6 of the last 9 League games. The 3 games lost in that run were against Brighton, Reading and Norwich all defeats by the odd goal and Whitts started in only 1.

During this run of games NW has pretty much stayed with the same spine to the team, McGregor or Murphy, Morrison and Bamba, Gunnarsonn and Ralls with Zohore as the lone striker. Other than that NW has changed the other players on a regular basis like the last two away games by including Halford as the defensive midfield player protecting the back 4 the Gunnarsonn / Ralls CM partnership. The results speak for themselves.

This Saturday does anyone believe NW will start at Home against the bottom team in the League with Halford as the defensive midfield player? I don't and with the spine of the team picking itself and Harris and Noone surely having earned their place in the team who will replace Halford. I don't think it will be Whitts and it's far more likely to be Hoilett or Healey playing higher of the field with Zohore. Where does that leave Whitts?

It's easy to rubbish a club Legend by suggesting he lacks pace and mobility and our midfield is much better without him, can anyone seriously suggest that, for instance, the last two away wins are purely down to the midfield partnership of Gunnarsonn and Ralls. Really? Neither of them are blessed with pace or fantastic mobility but boy as the hardworking CM partnership they are making a massive contribution to the team, as Morrison and Bamba, so is Zohore and the same applies to McGregor and Murphy.

Right now as the OP rightly states Whitts is nothing more than a squad player, but what a squad player, but to suggest he is no longer effective is laughable. Right now Whitts has hit more accurate "Key Passes", 47, than any other player in the Championship this season, he is equal 4th in Championship assists, he has had just 9 unsuccessful touches and lost possession just 9 times. In comparison Gunnarsonn has 17 and 13 and Ralls it's 24 and 28 respectively. I could go on with passing accuracy, shooting accuracy but all that will show is Whitts is superior not just to the current CM partnership but to any other player at the club.

NW has turned results around and right now he has found a set up which is bringing results and if he is here next season we can expect to see an improvement in the quality of the players in our squad. NW is one record as saying he wants improved quality "Up Front" next season and he will need players of delivering quality supply to them and I have no doubt we have that player already. Whitts.

Great post and, as a huge fan of Whitts, one I agree whole heartedly with.
The thing is the 'knuckledraggers' as polo calls them still cannot see it as he doesn't run around like Robbie Savage.

Knuckledraggers or realist

Wez whos your favourtie City player ever?

Wez whos your favourtie City player ever?

i wish Paddy power had a market for this. id be on Maxwell or revell

Wez whos your favourtie City player ever?

i wish Paddy power had a market for this. id be on Maxwell or revell

Wez whos your favourtie City player ever?

Phil stant

Wez whos your favourtie City player ever?

Phil stant

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I'd keep Whitts as an impact player that left foot doesn't grow on trees but I'm beginning to think he will go in the summer and finding a replacement won't be easy unless Emyr Huws steps up here after his loan.