WHITTS 'WE CAN STOP SWANSEA'

Tuesday October 29th.



PETER Whittingham insists Bluebirds’ belief can nullify Swansea City’s celebrated passing game.

Michael Laudrup’s Swans regularly feature among the top teams when it comes to passing statistics and their 87% pass completion rate earlier this season put them in the top 10 in the whole of Europe and above the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City and Paris St Germain.

It will be the same again at the Cardiff City Stadium this weekend when the two bitter rivals clash in the first South Wales derby to be played in the top flight.

Pass, pass, pass. Or as former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson might have put it after being bemused by Barcelona’s tiki-taka football “they get you on the carousel and can leave you dizzy.”

Swansea seek to leave teams in a blur with their pass-and-move patterns, then strike by the likes of Michu and Wilfried Bony finding space.

It’s a formula which has served Swansea well in recent years under various managers, even winning them silverware in the form of the Capital One Cup and a shot at European competition.

But while some see possession as nine-tenths of the law, it doesn’t always work out that way on football’s final scoreline.

“They have been in the Premier League longer than us and it may be that some people may class them as favourites – but we can’t see it that way,” said Whittingham.

“We know our team, we can pass the ball well and we work hard for each other.

“Everybody in our dressing room believes we can do well in the derby clash.

“Who may or may not be the favourites is not something we are thinking about.

“Yes, Swansea pass the ball well, they set up in the way which suits them and they knock it around.

“There could be times when we have to be patient and Swansea have possession.

“If that happens we have to stay compact and when we have possession work to expose Swansea.”

The former England Under-21 midfield lost his place in the Championship-winning season last term when his form and confidence dipped.

But he has been an ever-present in the Premier League this season, filling a left-sided role in what has usually been a five-man City midfield.

Mackay will probably set up his side the same way again on Sunday with Swansea expected to dominate possession, but many Cardiff supporters questioned Mackay’s caution in the goalless draw at Norwich on Saturday.

Don Cowie and Aron Gunnarsson were both introduced for the second half at Carrow Road which, although definitely tightening up midfield matters, restricted City ambitions of scoring a winner.

Whether Mackay is as conservative on derby day remains to be seen, but Whittingham is one of the derby veterans on both sides set to grace this fixture again on Sunday.

The 29-year-old has tasted victory twice, lost twice and experienced the emotion of Ross McCormack’s 90th-minute penalty equaliser in a 2-2 draw at Ninian Park four years ago.

“Every time I have played in a derby match for Cardiff the atmosphere has been amazing, like nothing I have known before,” he said.

“If you can’t get up for this match you won’t feel anything about any match.

“For 15 to 20 minutes the pace is going to be fast and fierce before it starts to settle down.

“There will be plenty of tackles and players on both sides will be totally committed – and there is no question every player in our dressing room will be up for this.

“It’s massive for each one of us, but it is a match we think and hope we can win.

“It will be tough to stay cool in that atmosphere, but you must temper your own game because it would severely hurt your own team if you are sent off.

“People in our squad are talking about it now. That started after our draw at Norwich.

“Players have asked me what it’s like and I’ve told them to enjoy the occasion.

“Let’s just hope Cardiff players, staff and fans are able to enjoy it.”

Whittingham has scored 77 goals in 325 first-team appearances since joining the club from Aston Villa in 2007.

And the second longest serving player on the Bluebirds staff – only behind defender Kevin McNaughton, who is currently out on loan at Bolton – knows how a packed Cardiff City Stadium can work in the Bluebirds’ favour.

“Home advantage is a huge factor in these derbies – and Cardiff fans can play a part for their team,” he said.

“The feeling I had during our win against Manchester City was something I didn’t know could happen.

“We were 1-0 down and about to kick-off and restart the match when our fans went again with a roar which sent a clear message to every player.

“They were fully behind us and believed we could get something from the match.

“That was an unbelievable experience, we scored and the place erupted again.

“Our home venue with the passion of Cardiff fans behind us is huge.”

“We know how tough this will be. Swansea are a good team, we understand that, but these are the matches we want to be involved in.

“Every player will be focused. This match is being shown around the world, but that won’t affect us.

“There is a lot at stake and each player, no matter where they are from, will understand how important this is.

“Once you live in a city and are out and about you quickly understand how much it means to people.

“This is huge. We will be prepared, we will be ready.”

We have shown we can stop teams..

Everton and Norwich and almost spurs...


But no point stopping teams if we cannot capitalise on our own chances...

We have shown we can stop teams..

Everton and Norwich and almost spurs...


But no point stopping teams if we cannot capitalise on our own chances...

Of course there's a point. If you can't win at least don't lose.

We have shown we can stop teams..

Everton and Norwich and almost spurs...


But no point stopping teams if we cannot capitalise on our own chances...

Of course there's a point. If you can't win at least don't lose.

Exactly.

Swansea are weak at set pieces, thats where i think we'll take them

Carpe if we drew every game til may.... We would drop....

Carpe if we drew every game til may.... We would drop....

I didn't mean we shouldn't try and win, just that by stopping the other team at least we've got the draw and a chance to nick it. If we can't win, I'd rather draw than lose, so stopping the other team is vital regardless of whether we then take our chances or not.

Or are you advocating that we just go for it and make games really open? Entertaining but risky!

Positive talk from Whitts, let's hope the players do enjoy it but also put in a real shift

Come on Cardiff

Dave Jones got it spot on when we last played them at the Liberty Stadium.

PETER Whittingham insists Bluebirds’ belief can nullify Swansea City’s celebrated passing game.

Well, as much as I like Whittingham, he needs to pull his finger out of his arse and start putting himself about a bit if he believes what he's saying.

That's if he gets selected.

Dave Jones got it spot on when we last played them at the Liberty Stadium.

In terms of tactics, I agree, but I always hated his 'it's just another game' attitude...

Swansea are weak at set pieces, thats where i think we'll take them

Agreed, this will be a major weak point for us. With the height of Caulker, Whittinghams deliveries matched up against Vorm looking a little uncomfortable dealing with set pieces and our lack of height... This is where you could certainly exploit us and fully expect you to set up to kill the game and play for set pieces or the odd breakaway.

Swansea are weak at set pieces, thats where i think we'll take them

Agreed, this will be a major weak point for us. With the height of Caulker, Whittinghams deliveries matched up against Vorm looking a little uncomfortable dealing with set pieces and our lack of height... This is where you could certainly exploit us and fully expect you to set up to kill the game and play for set pieces or the odd breakaway.

That's the way that we have played every game this season, so I don't see us changing anything for the visit of Swansea

Dave Jones got it spot on when we last played them at the Liberty Stadium.

In terms of tactics, I agree, but I always hated his 'it's just another game' attitude...

Yeah agree there his attitude towards the derby was awful though his tactics were spot on.

Dave Jones got it spot on when we last played them at the Liberty Stadium.

In terms of tactics, I agree, but I always hated his 'it's just another game' attitude...

Yeah agree there his attitude towards the derby was awful though his tactics were spot on.