" IT IS FRIGHTENING "

Spoilt for choice! Peter Whittingham on the 'frightening array of options' available to Cardiff City
by Terry Phillips

Peter Whittingham Says
“We have a frightening array of options and the gaffer may chop and change Saturday to Tuesday.


Thursday September 4th 2014

Whittingham has played every minute for the Bluebirds in the Championship so far this season

Peter Whittingham is ready to embrace change in his quest to help Cardiff City earn promotion to the Premier League for the second time in three seasons.

Midfield playmaker Whitts can be Cardiff's heartbeat as manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer works to build on a solid start and find the fluency needed to challenge among the leading Championship clubs.

“The gaffer is always talking about changing formation to suit us,” says Whittingham. “That keeps other teams guessing.

“We have a frightening array of options and the gaffer may chop and change Saturday to Tuesday.

“Look at our attacking options. When I look to get the ball forward it’s brilliant to have Kenwyne Jones up there, while Adam le Fondre, Nicky Maynard, Javi Guerra and Federico Macheda all make great runs for us. Whoever plays, we will cause opposing teams a lot of problems with that mix of strikers.”

Cardiff City analysis: Why the strongest squad in Championship history must start delivering

Danny Gabbidon: Cardiff City return surprised me but it's so good to back

Solskjaer is also working closely with Whittingham to find his best role within City’s team – and that means extra training sessions on shooting and set-piece deliveries.

“He wants me to get on the ball, score goals and make sure I defend as much as possible,” says Whittingham, who has played deep in midfield and in more attacking roles during the five Championship fixtures played so far.

“He speaks to me a lot about how I can move my game along and where I need to improve. It’s something I am always striving for. My aim is to get better as a player and help the team even more.”

Whittingham has scored 80 goals in almost 350 appearances during seven years with the Bluebirds and has played every minute in five League matches this season.

The former Aston Villa player looks certain to start in Cardiff’s back-to-back home matches, against Norwich City on Saturday week and Middlesbrough the following Tuesday, as the Bluebirds aim to move up from their current ninth into the top six.

He committed to Solskjaer by signing a new three-year contract this summer through to 2017 and says: “The plan is to help Cardiff go back to the Premier League.

“Everybody saw how good it was last season and it was amazing for our club to be part of the Premier League.

“We know how hard it is to get out of the Championship, but we went up and showed plenty of promise in the top flight.

“During most games we held our own and they could have gone either way. That is a great incentive for us to get on a run, earn promotion and return to where we think we should be.”


Peter Whittingham of Cardiff City scores a goal.

Cardiff’s squad has changed in a big way from the group who showed great character and togetherness when they won the Championship title in 2012-13, conceding only 45 goals in 46 matches.

This time, though, there is a far more attacking look to the team and Whittingham says: “There will be more goals this time, but when we are not playing at our best it’s important that we grind out results and nick those 1-0 wins.”

The addition of new £5m centre-back Bruno Manga from French club Lorient has added a new dimension to the back four.

Gabon international Manga is comfortable with the ball at his feet and his link with Whittingham is going to be crucial with Solskjaer keen to see his team play football from deep to launch attacks.

Cardiff are rated among the favourites to go up and will be seen as a big scalp in the Championship, but Whittingham believes they will cope with the high expectations.

“We coped well when we went up a couple of seasons ago and it’s a case of going again,” he says.

“We are a good team and Cardiff were competing towards the top end of the Championship for a number of seasons before going up in 2013.

“It is always going to be hard for us, but we feel that we have always dealt well with that situation in the last and we’ll do that again this season.”

What is frightening

I'm hearing and reading all this......but I'm not seeing it.

I'm hearing and reading all this......but I'm not seeing it.

That's what I was thinking too.



... Midfield playmaker Whitts can be Cardiff's heartbeat as manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer works to build on a solid start and find the fluency needed to challenge among the leading Championship clubs ...

I think he needs a pacemaker inserted.

I'm hearing and reading all this......but I'm not seeing it.

Ian, I think Whitts is saying that its frightening by how much array of talent Cardiff City has at the moment?

I'm hearing and reading all this......but I'm not seeing it.

Ian, I think Whitts is saying that its frightening by how much array of talent Cardiff City has at the moment?

I'm with you Bakedalasker - squad looks good on paper - but haven't shown it on the pitch yet! High hopes this will change soon - especially when Noone is fully fit.

I'm hearing and reading all this......but I'm not seeing it.

That's what I was thinking too.



... Midfield playmaker Whitts can be Cardiff's heartbeat as manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer works to build on a solid start and find the fluency needed to challenge among the leading Championship clubs ...

I think he needs a pacemaker inserted.

we are only 5 games in!

I'm hearing and reading all this......but I'm not seeing it.

That's what I was thinking too.



... Midfield playmaker Whitts can be Cardiff's heartbeat as manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer works to build on a solid start and find the fluency needed to challenge among the leading Championship clubs ...

I think he needs a pacemaker inserted.

we are only 5 games in!

And already 5 points behind the leaders. Loose against Norwich & that could be 8. We don't want to be playing catch up this early in the season.

When you consider, in seasons past, both Crystal Palace and Blackpool came from behind I am not too bothered about us being slightly off the pace this early in the season.

What really impresses me about the squad that we have is that we do not need a "Set Formation" and we can pick and choose the players that play depending on the opposition. In fact, such is the strength in depth, that our best XI could be any 11 from 16

In a 46 game league season I think, with the exception of Marshall, most players are likely to play around 30 times - due to squad rotation. Come January and February players will still be fit whereas other teams may start to struggle.

Over the years we have all become used to seeing the same players play every week and sometimes irrespective as to whether they deserve that place or not. This season I think is going to be different and I am quite looking forward to it.

I am fully with Whitts when he says the options are frightening. They are. Other teams have good players but no team has the Strength in Depth that we have.

I'm hearing and reading all this......but I'm not seeing it.

That's what I was thinking too.



... Midfield playmaker Whitts can be Cardiff's heartbeat as manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer works to build on a solid start and find the fluency needed to challenge among the leading Championship clubs ...

I think he needs a pacemaker inserted.

we are only 5 games in!

And already 5 points behind the leaders. Loose against Norwich & that could be 8. We don't want to be playing catch up this early in the season.

I understand what your saying but its a 46 game season and we are 5 points behind now, not 8, even if we did fall 8 behind we would have another 40 games to push on and play the type of football that ole is looking to play so I just dont feel saying "we havent seen it yet" is justified. Theres 10 new players that have been brought in and they will need a few games to hopefully start showing the style of football he's talking about.

I have been terrified watching us play this season

Kind of discouraging to hear ole is placing so much faith in whittingham. Whittingham has no way been the heart beat of this team for a long time now. Playmaker? I must be watching a different footballer.

I'm hearing and reading all this......but I'm not seeing it.

Ian, I think Whitts is saying that its frightening by how much array of talent Cardiff City has at the moment?

I'm with you Bakedalasker - squad looks good on paper - but haven't shown it on the pitch yet! High hopes this will change soon - especially when Noone is fully fit.

I agree Noone will make a difference, but if the squad has this frightening array, the team should already be winning more. I still feel uncomfortable "playing chess" with team selections. All for picking the best squad possible. Let the opponents worry about adjusting to it. It seems to be playing into the hands of rivals when teams are selected to try and second guess the situation. Far too much respect shown IMHO.

Strong

I'm hearing and reading all this......but I'm not seeing it.

Ian, I think Whitts is saying that its frightening by how much array of talent Cardiff City has at the moment?

I'm with you Bakedalasker - squad looks good on paper - but haven't shown it on the pitch yet! High hopes this will change soon - especially when Noone is fully fit.

I agree Noone will make a difference, but if the squad has this frightening array, the team should already be winning more. I still feel uncomfortable "playing chess" with team selections. All for picking the best squad possible. Let the opponents worry about adjusting to it. It seems to be playing into the hands of rivals when teams are selected to try and second guess the situation. Far too much respect shown IMHO.

Strong

I agree, I would rather keep a formation and stick to it, all this chopping and changing formations and players will cost us this season and cost ole his job aswell if it dosent work, I don't think it will work but only time will tell I guess

I'm hearing and reading all this......but I'm not seeing it.

Ian, I think Whitts is saying that its frightening by how much array of talent Cardiff City has at the moment?

I'm with you Bakedalasker - squad looks good on paper - but haven't shown it on the pitch yet! High hopes this will change soon - especially when Noone is fully fit.

I agree Noone will make a difference, but if the squad has this frightening array, the team should already be winning more. I still feel uncomfortable "playing chess" with team selections. All for picking the best squad possible. Let the opponents worry about adjusting to it. It seems to be playing into the hands of rivals when teams are selected to try and second guess the situation. Far too much respect shown IMHO.

Strong

I agree, I would rather keep a formation and stick to it, all this chopping and changing formations and players will cost us this season and cost ole his job aswell if it dosent work, I don't think it will work but only time will tell I guess

I'm hearing and reading all this......but I'm not seeing it.

That's what I was thinking too.



... Midfield playmaker Whitts can be Cardiff's heartbeat as manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer works to build on a solid start and find the fluency needed to challenge among the leading Championship clubs ...

I think he needs a pacemaker inserted.

Lol! Very good Latcher! I think Whittingham's been frightened for a few seasons now. He usually looks like a rabbit caught in headlights.

I'm hearing and reading all this......but I'm not seeing it.

That's what I was thinking too.



... Midfield playmaker Whitts can be Cardiff's heartbeat as manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer works to build on a solid start and find the fluency needed to challenge among the leading Championship clubs ...

I think he needs a pacemaker inserted.

we are only 5 games in!

And already 5 points behind the leaders. Loose against Norwich & that could be 8. We don't want to be playing catch up this early in the season.

If we lose the 10 next ones, we could be 35 points behind. This does not look good

I'm hearing and reading all this......but I'm not seeing it.

The squad has outgrown him.

I feel Ole is trying to build a squad to besides win promotion from this league but to substain itself in the premier. I feel Hudson will have well passed his sell by date for the premier if we get there next season so it is best to get someone in who has potential to make it.

Awwww you are really like a weather forecast at times.. Mainly 30% positive and 70% mr negative!

I agree with your second post from another thread... Only 5 games played, I think the team will be more attacking n we will go up

I have been terrified watching us play this season

It's tragic. Such a waste given all the players we have in the team we play away from home like a poor mans Sunderland