Russell Slade time to be ruthless and drop Whittingham

Cardiff City boss Russell Slade must be ruthless and drop Peter Whittingham - the Paul Abbandonato verdict
Oct 08, 2014


BY PAUL ABBANDONATO
Cardiff City's midfield has failed to fire this season and Slade has to turn to warriors in his midfield


Huw Evans Picture AgencyPeter Whittingham and Cardiff's midfield have been overpowered this seaosn
Russell Slade is the first to admit he has an enormous job to do as manager of Cardiff City, with some huge decisions to make.

So, in my view, he may as well put his own stamp on the team by making the biggest of the lot straight away and bring an end to Peter Whittingham’s seven-year reign as an automatic pick for the Bluebirds.

Some context here. Whittingham is one of the finest players I have seen in a Cardiff shirt and after more than 300 appearances, with 68 goals and countless assists, he has already established his name in Bluebirds folklore.

Indeed, considering he cost just £350,000 when joining from Aston Villa in January 2007, I would go as far as suggesting Whittingham is one of the greatest value for money signings in the club’s history.

His set piece delivery has been exquisite, his composure on the ball classy, some of his goals quite ferocious.



But the fact of the matter is that Cardiff’s midfield has looked hopelessly lopsided and overpowered in the Championship this season and, considering games are still controlled in that area of the field, it is the first area of the side Slade has to address.

Slade needs warriors in the centre of his team and I believe his best immediate bet is to pair summer signing Kagisho Dikgacoi with Aron Gunnarsson, captain of Iceland, to give Cardiff the dog, fight, sharpness and bossy game dominance they have been lacking thus far during 2014-15.

No wonder Cardiff have appeared so powder-puff in front of goal, despite the array of striking riches available. There has been no midfield foundation from which the forwards can work off.

I don’t know if Slade is into the modern way of doing things with regards sports science, ProZone and statistical analysis of matches.


The revealing Cardiff City stats that explain where it's going wrong for Cardiff

But if he is, he will be alarmed by these figures we have dug up with regards Cardiff’s 11 Championship matches.

Only twice, in beating Huddersfield at home, then ironically in defeat to bottom club Blackpool last Friday night, have Cardiff’s expensively assembled array of stars had the better of possession in those 11 games.

The fact the Bluebirds lost at Bloomfield Road proves, I guess, that possession isn’t completely everything in football. But it is still nine tenths of the law.

As a rule of thumb, the more you keep the ball, the less pressure on your own defence, the more you make the opposition run around and tire, the more opportunities you have to create goal scoring chances.

It is down to the midfield to win the ball, keep it and set the tempo. Short, sharp bursts most of the time, a deeper range of passing when necessary. Dictating the play, in other words, in classic engine room style.

It is an area in which Cardiff have failed for pretty much the whole season to date.


The tempo was set right from the beginning, away to Blackburn on the opening day, when the home side had 65 per cent of the possession.

Wolves had 67 per cent of the ball while beating the Bluebirds at Molineux, Norwich 51 per cent in winning in Cardiff, while it was 50-50 in the home loss to Middlesbrough. Even in defeating Wigan 1-0, Cardiff only had 46 per cent of the ball, and were marginally better at 47 per cent for a 1-1 draw at Fulham.

Under the Young-Gabbidon regime, the possession stats have been arguably even worse. Derby had 73 per cent of the ball, Sheffield Wednesday 56 per cent, and Brighton 59 per cent before Cardiff finally turned things on their head at Blackpool.

Something is clearly amiss and Slade needs to address it as a matter of urgency.

From the moment he signed for Dave Jones six years ago, Whittingham’s name has been pretty much one of the first on the Cardiff team-sheet.

There was a brief period towards the end of Cardiff’s title winning campaign when he was left out for Kim Bo-Kyung and Jordon Mutch, but normal service was resumed as soon as the Premier League campaign kicked off and Whittingham was straight back in. Rightly so.

Solskjaer then dropped Whittingham for a few games, before recalling him and making him an integral part of his side again.

Slade will see undoubted strengths in Whittingham, but will also be concerned by the possession stats we’ve outlined and he will know from the evidence of his own eyes that the balance and sharpness of this Cardiff team is not right.

Personally, I believe it’s high time we saw Dikgacoi wearing a Cardiff shirt on a regular basis.



Why on earth is a bloke wanted by a Premier League team (Crystal Palace were keen to keep him) suddenly deemed not good enough for a Championship side?

I’m hearing tales about Dikgacoi’s fitness, but I can’t really comprehend that. He’s not injured, he is 29 years of age, not 39, and he played 26 top flight matches for Palace last season as Tony Pulis’ side finished in a commendable 11th place.

So Dikgacoi is good enough to shine against Steven Gerrard, Yaya Toure, Aaron Ramsey and Chelsea powerhouse Nemanja Matic in the Premier League, but can’t get a place in Cardiff’s Championship X1? Something isn’t tying up there.

I actually think Dikgacoi is exactly what Cardiff need at this moment in time. Robust in the tackle, tidy enough on the ball, he can double up by providing a defensive shield and getting Slade’s side on the front foot.

Put another warrior next to him in the shape of Gunnarsson. Look, he’s got limitations, but you don’t captain a country that gets to within a whisker of the World Cup (which Iceland did) if you are talentless.

Cardiff need new direction, impetus and leadership in the midfield. Dikgacoi and Gunnarsson together can help provide it.

Difficult to argue with that. Jordan Mutch was that type of player and we miss him, so we need Dikgacoi fit and in the team to give us some bite and then maybe Ravel and Noone can give us the flair to feed the striker(s) ?

I honestly think that is a area Slade will address straight away with a loan signing he as already stated he is putting together a little list of players who will be able to help as well as getting rid via loan

I feel every season Whittingham has got worse and we carry him most matches.

Personally I don't think any of our central midfielders are good enough! Gunnarson and Dicagoi are certainly not the answer!!!

Well we'll see re whitts every manager puts him in if slade plays him think all whitts bashers will be proved wrong

Nothing wrong with Whitts that having some decent players in there with him, and forwards that will make runs

Well we'll see re whitts every manager puts him in if slade plays him think all whitts bashers will be proved wrong

Ive posted on another thread whyva succession of managers down here have played safe and continually selected Whittingham. I think Abbandonato is 100% right here and we will see a positive impact on the squad when he is dropped. Its time for new thinking now and to leave the past behind

Yaya Toure would look poor with our set up.

We have played with non wingers as wingers and we get puzzled when we are overun in central midfield.....

Its often 4 vs 2 as no team respects our wingers. When Nooney is back firing, pack the central area and see him rip a new ass in the full back, you'll then get a bit more space in the middle.

One striker allow thier defence to play 10 meters higher up the pitch, put le fonfre of ravel buzzing around Kenwynne and watch the opposition defence drop 10 giving us more space in the middle.

The lack of movement is also worrying, Matts wants to come to the ball and drag his marker with him, he is not making over the top or diagonal runs

Cardiff City boss Russell Slade must be ruthless and drop Peter Whittingham - the Paul Abbandonato verdict
Oct 08, 2014


BY PAUL ABBANDONATO
Cardiff City's midfield has failed to fire this season and Slade has to turn to warriors in his midfield


Huw Evans Picture AgencyPeter Whittingham and Cardiff's midfield have been overpowered this seaosn
Russell Slade is the first to admit he has an enormous job to do as manager of Cardiff City, with some huge decisions to make.

So, in my view, he may as well put his own stamp on the team by making the biggest of the lot straight away and bring an end to Peter Whittingham’s seven-year reign as an automatic pick for the Bluebirds.

Some context here. Whittingham is one of the finest players I have seen in a Cardiff shirt and after more than 300 appearances, with 68 goals and countless assists, he has already established his name in Bluebirds folklore.

Indeed, considering he cost just £350,000 when joining from Aston Villa in January 2007, I would go as far as suggesting Whittingham is one of the greatest value for money signings in the club’s history.

His set piece delivery has been exquisite, his composure on the ball classy, some of his goals quite ferocious.



But the fact of the matter is that Cardiff’s midfield has looked hopelessly lopsided and overpowered in the Championship this season and, considering games are still controlled in that area of the field, it is the first area of the side Slade has to address.

Slade needs warriors in the centre of his team and I believe his best immediate bet is to pair summer signing Kagisho Dikgacoi with Aron Gunnarsson, captain of Iceland, to give Cardiff the dog, fight, sharpness and bossy game dominance they have been lacking thus far during 2014-15.

No wonder Cardiff have appeared so powder-puff in front of goal, despite the array of striking riches available. There has been no midfield foundation from which the forwards can work off.

I don’t know if Slade is into the modern way of doing things with regards sports science, ProZone and statistical analysis of matches.


The revealing Cardiff City stats that explain where it's going wrong for Cardiff

But if he is, he will be alarmed by these figures we have dug up with regards Cardiff’s 11 Championship matches.

Only twice, in beating Huddersfield at home, then ironically in defeat to bottom club Blackpool last Friday night, have Cardiff’s expensively assembled array of stars had the better of possession in those 11 games.

The fact the Bluebirds lost at Bloomfield Road proves, I guess, that possession isn’t completely everything in football. But it is still nine tenths of the law.

As a rule of thumb, the more you keep the ball, the less pressure on your own defence, the more you make the opposition run around and tire, the more opportunities you have to create goal scoring chances.

It is down to the midfield to win the ball, keep it and set the tempo. Short, sharp bursts most of the time, a deeper range of passing when necessary. Dictating the play, in other words, in classic engine room style.

It is an area in which Cardiff have failed for pretty much the whole season to date.


The tempo was set right from the beginning, away to Blackburn on the opening day, when the home side had 65 per cent of the possession.

Wolves had 67 per cent of the ball while beating the Bluebirds at Molineux, Norwich 51 per cent in winning in Cardiff, while it was 50-50 in the home loss to Middlesbrough. Even in defeating Wigan 1-0, Cardiff only had 46 per cent of the ball, and were marginally better at 47 per cent for a 1-1 draw at Fulham.

Under the Young-Gabbidon regime, the possession stats have been arguably even worse. Derby had 73 per cent of the ball, Sheffield Wednesday 56 per cent, and Brighton 59 per cent before Cardiff finally turned things on their head at Blackpool.

Something is clearly amiss and Slade needs to address it as a matter of urgency.

From the moment he signed for Dave Jones six years ago, Whittingham’s name has been pretty much one of the first on the Cardiff team-sheet.

There was a brief period towards the end of Cardiff’s title winning campaign when he was left out for Kim Bo-Kyung and Jordon Mutch, but normal service was resumed as soon as the Premier League campaign kicked off and Whittingham was straight back in. Rightly so.

Solskjaer then dropped Whittingham for a few games, before recalling him and making him an integral part of his side again.

Slade will see undoubted strengths in Whittingham, but will also be concerned by the possession stats we’ve outlined and he will know from the evidence of his own eyes that the balance and sharpness of this Cardiff team is not right.

Personally, I believe it’s high time we saw Dikgacoi wearing a Cardiff shirt on a regular basis.



Why on earth is a bloke wanted by a Premier League team (Crystal Palace were keen to keep him) suddenly deemed not good enough for a Championship side?

I’m hearing tales about Dikgacoi’s fitness, but I can’t really comprehend that. He’s not injured, he is 29 years of age, not 39, and he played 26 top flight matches for Palace last season as Tony Pulis’ side finished in a commendable 11th place.

So Dikgacoi is good enough to shine against Steven Gerrard, Yaya Toure, Aaron Ramsey and Chelsea powerhouse Nemanja Matic in the Premier League, but can’t get a place in Cardiff’s Championship X1? Something isn’t tying up there.

I actually think Dikgacoi is exactly what Cardiff need at this moment in time. Robust in the tackle, tidy enough on the ball, he can double up by providing a defensive shield and getting Slade’s side on the front foot.

Put another warrior next to him in the shape of Gunnarsson. Look, he’s got limitations, but you don’t captain a country that gets to within a whisker of the World Cup (which Iceland did) if you are talentless.

Cardiff need new direction, impetus and leadership in the midfield. Dikgacoi and Gunnarsson together can help provide it.

What a load of bollox ..............

Drop Whittingham and make him the scape goat, and blame him for the whole teams performance, rubbish article

Personally I don't think any of our central midfielders are good enough! Gunnarson and Dicagoi are certainly not the answer!!!

Exactly, what have they shown, replacements for Mutch and Medel like feck, one of them hasn't got out of the armchair yet.....

Whittingham got to be dropped simply because ravel is better and ready to take his place,the other centre midfield position should go to a defensive midfield enforcer , who that will be I don't know, I think gunnarsson is capable if he is told to play that role only and maybe dikgachoi when fit or if not a loan signing

yes agree with that m8s, whitts been shit

The Echo's football writers, and there appears to be dozens of them with opinions, haven't got a football brain cell between them. I include Blake in that. Shite article, like most from that shite paper.

I'd love to know where all our goals and assists are going to come from if Whitts gets dropped..

Witts hasn't SHOWN himself to be great recently, but he's been playing alongside some who need to get their shit together. Ok his set pieces have gone astray. Why? Because his morale is at deck level. Don't blame one man in a team. Drop Witts if he needs dropping, but he's not a fall guy.

My opinion but there you go.

Whitts hasn't been the same since Dave Jones left.

Agree Barry. Maybe Slade is akin to Malky in some ways. Could herald a new lease of life. I can understand a player struggling with pace as he gets older but losing ability at set pieces? Less likely unless environment is a factor.
Hope he gets his mojo back

Agree Barry. Maybe Slade is akin to Malky in some ways. Could herald a new lease of life. I can understand a player struggling with pace as he gets older but losing ability at set pieces? Less likely unless environment is a factor.
Hope he gets his mojo back

Correction: Akin to DJ. Willie the Wally, sorry!

Abbandonato is someone who often calls football 'soccer', and that makes his articles unreadable.

Besides, he hates Whittingham.