Ole: It took me time to be convinced about Whittingham'

Saturday 19th July 2014.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has admitted “It took time for me to be convinced” about Peter Whittingham – days after the star signed a three-year contract.

The Cardiff City boss, who is now well and truly convinced, has challenged the man the players call ‘Whitts’ to score the goals and create the chances to fire the Bluebirds back to the Premier League.


The long serving star, who is preparing for his eighth season with the club, signed a new three-year contract on Wednesday, committing his future until 2017.

Whittingham, who is four matches short of his 300th league appearance for Cardiff, is a key player in Solskjaer’s squad as he plans for a speedy return to the Premier League.



“Peter is a laid-back person and it took me a while to get used to him,” admits Solskjaer.

“But towards the end of last season I could see how much value he has, what he means to everybody around him, what he means to this club and the attributes he can give us.”

Solskjaer believes that in Whittingham and Norwegian Magnus Eikrem he will have two of the best players in Championship football when it comes to delivery from free-kicks and corners.


“With Peter and Magnus we have two of the best set piece players in our league,” he said. “Peter has one of the best feet I have seen.

“He has been a fantastic servant for Cardiff, but his contract is not a reward for what he has done before.

“It’s a sign that we think he is going to give us our team a lot over the next three years. He has experience of the Championship, while he has also been in the Premier League and wants to bounce back quickly.

“He is a all-round central midfield player, not somebody who sits deep or predominately gets forward. He can do both. Peter never really gives a pass away.



“My job is to get him back to his best in terms of delivery. He needs to score more goals and create chances from corners and set piece moves.

“Peter is going to be practicing his delivery a lot.”

The former Aston Villa player 29, signed for City in 2007 and has scored 79 goals in 340 first team appearances, including 25 during the 2009-10 campaign, in which he was the Championship's joint top scorer alongside Nicky Maynard.

Credit: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/foot ... ty-7456163

Agreed he does need to practice his corners. For someone who used to light the place up with some stunning free kicks he now finds it hard to get the ball over the first man when taking corners.

Whitts at his best is a key player but anything less and he'll spend lots of time out of the side again.

Took him a few months tbh. Not a long time at all

That's good Ole because after months I am still not convinced by Magnus.....

That's good Ole because after months I am still not convinced by Magnus.....

Wolff played better against Aston Villa during his half hour on the pitch than I've ever seen Whittingham play.

That's good Ole because after months I am still not convinced by Magnus.....

Wolff played better against Aston Villa during his half hour on the pitch than I've ever seen Whittingham play.

How often have you seen Whittingham play?

That's good Ole because after months I am still not convinced by Magnus.....

Wolff played better against Aston Villa during his half hour on the pitch than I've ever seen Whittingham play.

Well, no disrespect, but you obviously haven't see Cardiff/Whittingham play for very long. I've seen nothing with Eikrem that suggests he will fit the team & judging by his lack of first team appearances, is seems Ole would agree.

That's good Ole because after months I am still not convinced by Magnus.....

Wolff played better against Aston Villa during his half hour on the pitch than I've ever seen Whittingham play.

Well, no disrespect, but you obviously haven't see Cardiff/Whittingham play for very long. I've seen nothing with Eikrem that suggests he will fit the team & judging by his lack of first team appearances, is seems Ole would agree.

Same here, one good corner against Man City and a decent game against Villa can't compare to anything Whittingham has done. After having time out of the squad Whitts came back a much better player

I do think Wolf is more direct than Whitts, both have pros and cons.

Its a new season coming up, what happened last season doesnt really matter now, lets hope they both pick up some form in pre-season. I think both can be key players for us give a shot of confidence.

That's good Ole because after months I am still not convinced by Magnus.....

Wolff played better against Aston Villa during his half hour on the pitch than I've ever seen Whittingham play.

Eikrem hasn't been anywhere his best at Cardiff. The lad was dropped at the national team and by ole so I'd say his managers were in agreement he wasn't performing very well.

For my money whitts is a key player for Cardiff
Ole has a lot of new young players you need a couple of those older players that provide continuity and experience. At molde he had a team of youngsters interspersed with a couple of older long serving players. Whitts and Marshall are those players at Cardiff.
Eikrem will get his chances and if he can get back to his best I can't see no reason why he won't figure quite a lot. He a really accomplished passer of the ball, got good vision and a good shot. He can be a good player for Cardiff.

That's good Ole because after months I am still not convinced by Magnus.....

Wolff played better against Aston Villa during his half hour on the pitch than I've ever seen Whittingham play.

Eikrem hasn't been anywhere his best at Cardiff. The lad was dropped at the national team and by ole so I'd say his managers were in agreement he wasn't performing very well.

For my money whitts is a key player for Cardiff
Ole has a lot of new young players you need a couple of those older players that provide continuity and experience. At molde he had a team of youngsters interspersed with a couple of older long serving players. Whitts and Marshall are those players at Cardiff.
Eikrem will get his chances and if he can get back to his best I can't see no reason why he won't figure quite a lot. He a really accomplished passer of the ball, got good vision and a good shot. He can be a good player for Cardiff.

I quite like the little I've seen of Eikrem & hope he progresses but to say he's done more in half an hour than Whitts has done is naive in the extreme.

That's good Ole because after months I am still not convinced by Magnus.....

Wolff played better against Aston Villa during his half hour on the pitch than I've ever seen Whittingham play.

Well, no disrespect, but you obviously haven't see Cardiff/Whittingham play for very long. I've seen nothing with Eikrem that suggests he will fit the team & judging by his lack of first team appearances, is seems Ole would agree.

Same here, one good corner against Man City and a decent game against Villa can't compare to anything Whittingham has done. After having time out of the squad Whitts came back a much better player

All of this is true, I'm not saying Wolff is better than Whittingham, just that since I started watching Cardiff, Whittingham hasn't made one great performance, while Wolff has. It's all well and good to have faith in Whittingham over his past exploits, but it should probably be done without defending his slump.

Hopefully, they will both excel in the championship.

PS: I'm also aware that Wolff's worst app (Bolton, FA cup) was worse than Whittingham's worst. All I'm saying is that they will hopefully succeed as a team rather than fail as competitors.

That's good Ole because after months I am still not convinced by Magnus.....

Wolff played better against Aston Villa during his half hour on the pitch than I've ever seen Whittingham play.

Eikrem hasn't been anywhere his best at Cardiff. The lad was dropped at the national team and by ole so I'd say his managers were in agreement he wasn't performing very well.

For my money whitts is a key player for Cardiff
Ole has a lot of new young players you need a couple of those older players that provide continuity and experience. At molde he had a team of youngsters interspersed with a couple of older long serving players. Whitts and Marshall are those players at Cardiff.
Eikrem will get his chances and if he can get back to his best I can't see no reason why he won't figure quite a lot. He a really accomplished passer of the ball, got good vision and a good shot. He can be a good player for Cardiff.

I quite like the little I've seen of Eikrem & hope he progresses but to say he's done more in half an hour than Whitts has done is naive in the extreme.

Mate, I didn't say that. I completly disagree with that sentiment. Whitts was one of the better players at the end of the season.
For me he is one of the key players. Eikrem was very inconsistent in the matches I saw. Hopefully he will be better this season.

That's good Ole because after months I am still not convinced by Magnus.....

Wolff played better against Aston Villa during his half hour on the pitch than I've ever seen Whittingham play.

Eikrem hasn't been anywhere his best at Cardiff. The lad was dropped at the national team and by ole so I'd say his managers were in agreement he wasn't performing very well.

For my money whitts is a key player for Cardiff
Ole has a lot of new young players you need a couple of those older players that provide continuity and experience. At molde he had a team of youngsters interspersed with a couple of older long serving players. Whitts and Marshall are those players at Cardiff.
Eikrem will get his chances and if he can get back to his best I can't see no reason why he won't figure quite a lot. He a really accomplished passer of the ball, got good vision and a good shot. He can be a good player for Cardiff.

I quite like the little I've seen of Eikrem & hope he progresses but to say he's done more in half an hour than Whitts has done is naive in the extreme.

Mate, I didn't say that. I completly disagree with that sentiment. Whitts was one of the better players at the end of the season.
For me he is one of the key players. Eikrem was very inconsistent in the matches I saw. Hopefully he will be better this season.

Tommy mate you've got it wrong! I'm agreeing with you!
It was the handkerchief guy's comment I was talking about being naive.

That's good Ole because after months I am still not convinced by Magnus.....

Wolff played better against Aston Villa during his half hour on the pitch than I've ever seen Whittingham play.

Eikrem hasn't been anywhere his best at Cardiff. The lad was dropped at the national team and by ole so I'd say his managers were in agreement he wasn't performing very well.

For my money whitts is a key player for Cardiff
Ole has a lot of new young players you need a couple of those older players that provide continuity and experience. At molde he had a team of youngsters interspersed with a couple of older long serving players. Whitts and Marshall are those players at Cardiff.
Eikrem will get his chances and if he can get back to his best I can't see no reason why he won't figure quite a lot. He a really accomplished passer of the ball, got good vision and a good shot. He can be a good player for Cardiff.

I quite like the little I've seen of Eikrem & hope he progresses but to say he's done more in half an hour than Whitts has done is naive in the extreme.

Mate, I didn't say that. I completly disagree with that sentiment. Whitts was one of the better players at the end of the season.
For me he is one of the key players. Eikrem was very inconsistent in the matches I saw. Hopefully he will be better this season.

Tommy mate you've got it wrong! I'm agreeing with you!
It was the handkerchief guy's comment I was talking about being naive.

Oh ok- got you!

Ole I am ashamed, Whitts is the king of the central midfield.