WHAT IS CARDIFF CITY'S BEST XI ?
Mon Aug 17, 2015 5:38 pm
What is Cardiff City's best XI? We look at how Bluebirds' team is shaping up after opening Championship matches.
Steve Tucker looks at the men who are making a case for inclusion, particularly further up the field, as Russell Slade continues to opt for continuity
Has anyone else noticed how the best Cardiff City starting XI seems suddenly to be picking itself despite the best efforts of boss, Russell Slade, to stand in the way?
The Bluebirds start to the season has been relatively positive. Cardiff are unbeaten, but without a win and they still travel into the unknown rather in hope than expectation and with those niggly questions hanging over Slade and his management decisions.
The biggest of these remains his selection of the team itself, leaving aside his formation for a moment, of which there are plenty of critics, Slade’s natural instinct when it comes to his best personnel to start to the campaign remains debatable.
Slade continuity.
It is one of the biggest conundrums a football manager will face. Having spent pre-season, up close and personal with his players, sorting the wheat from the chaff as the real action gets underway remains a testing task.
Slade himself has in many ways gone for continuity, not overburdened with summer arrivals so far, the Cardiff manager’s take on the situation seems to be ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ although many might suggest a more appropriate appraisal right now might be ‘even if it is broke, don’t fix it.’
Defensively, despite injuries or perhaps because of them, the back-line has been relatively straight forward for anyone with any knowledge at all of the squad.
But it is when it comes to going forward that the problems seem to arise. Cardiff may have carved out two reasonable draws in the Championship so far, but goal-wise the reliance has, again, been on set-pieces and, so far, a couple of absolute world class strikes from Craig Noone and Scott Malone.
Malone of course rescued a point with his effort at QPR on the weekend, in a game that clearly illustrated for all to see the men who should really be starting for Cardiff right now.
Revell persistence.
Trailing 2-0, the intervention of Noone, Kenwyne Jones and to some extent Sammy Ameobi from the bench helped transform Cardiff’s fortunes and stated the case surely for a rethink ahead of the up-coming clash at Blackburn.
Noone has shown enough to be starting right now, it’s hard to discern what else he can do now to force his manager’s hand.
Up-front the persistence with Alex Revell remains confusing for most with Jones clearly the best player at the club to fill that offensive role.
For me too, Ameobi has to be shown some faith. He is in on loan from Newcastle to play matches, why is Slade merely pussy-footing around when it comes to giving him a run of games.
With all this in mind, let’s take a look at the 11 men I believe should start for the Bluebirds at Ewood Park.
Goalkeeper - Simon Moore
David Marshall is available again after suspension, but with his move to West Brom apparently inching closer, keep faith in Moore. For me he can fill Marshall’s boots and gloves. Despite a horrendous error on his big day against Fulham he bounced back with an excellent display against QPR. He is showing good form and above all that, a new level of maturity.
Right-back - Lee Peltier
Cardiff are hardly over burdened with options here, but Peltier so far had proved he can be relied upon. Defensively Peltier has been reasonably solid and secure, with a good reading of the game and nose for danger. Not the most spectacular when it comes to getting forward, but not a problem position at all right now.
Centre-half - Matthew Connolly
He has probably got this run in the first team due to injuries to Bruno Manga and Ben Turner, but the centre-half has grabbed his chance with both hands. Connolly remains perhaps the most intelligent centre-back the club currently has. He has not been without the odd error, but has justified his inclusion and potentially will still justify it when others are back to fitness.
Centre-half - Sean Morrison
He has been given the captaincy at the moment and kind of embraced it. Again there has been the odd lapse in concentration, there often is, but a reliable performer all the same and that goal at QPR showed what he is capable of from the set-piece. Many might like to see his partnership with Connolly given the chance to grow.
Left-back - Scott Malone
The surprise package in some ways at the start of the campaign. After arriving from Millwall last season there were plenty who believed the full-back was not up to the job, but he is proving those doubters wrong now. Defensively he has looked much sharper and brighter this season and as for that goal at QPR to earn the point, well, what can you say? Absolutely brilliant.
Right wing - Craig Noone
The winger has hit the ground running this season and given real glimpses of what a danger he can be at his best. He is bubbling with confidence right now, a state you fear might not last too much longer if he is left kicking his heels on the bench, and a place needs to be found for him. He looks perhaps Cardiff’s best player right now so why on earth is he not starting?
Centre-midfield - Kagisho Dikgacoi
OK, he is still striving for a bit of fitness right now, he needs to get a bit more mobile, but he is showing that he might indeed be the man to add a bit of solidity to the Bluebirds midfield and help shield that back-line too. A reassuring start to the season with the promise of more to come.
Centre-midfield - Joe Ralls
The brightest youngster to come through the club in a while. He has impressed out wide, but his self-confessed best position is in the centre. Cardiff need some dynamism in the middle of the park and Ralls can provide it. For me, a new central midfielder is essential, but up until then Ralls can do a job.
Left wing - Sammy Ameobi
He is at Cardiff on loan from Newcastle to get games, so why is he not being started? We know he is packed with skill and ability and the time is surely coming to unleash it. If he has looked shaky then that is all the more reason to boost his confidence with a run of games. Cardiff are in danger of wasting a real asset in Ameobi if they are not careful.
Striker - Kenwyne Jones
OK, the guy earns too much apparently, he is leaving anyway, he’s not fully fit. Yes, I see all that, but he is still at the club, he is the club’s best striker by a mile, so it seems logical to start him. I mean, if he tires, you can always take him off. Jones is a defender’s nightmare, rough, tough and skillful. To persist with Alex Revell whilst Jones is on the bench just seems totally bizarre.
Striker - Joe Mason
For me the jury is still out on Mason, but Slade has shown faith in him and so give the guy a chance. Mason still seems a little lightweight for the rough and tumble of the Championship, but there’s no doubts he knows where the goal is. Better service would help his cause a lot too and you suspect playing along-side Jones might benefit Mason too.
Steve Tucker looks at the men who are making a case for inclusion, particularly further up the field, as Russell Slade continues to opt for continuity
Has anyone else noticed how the best Cardiff City starting XI seems suddenly to be picking itself despite the best efforts of boss, Russell Slade, to stand in the way?
The Bluebirds start to the season has been relatively positive. Cardiff are unbeaten, but without a win and they still travel into the unknown rather in hope than expectation and with those niggly questions hanging over Slade and his management decisions.
The biggest of these remains his selection of the team itself, leaving aside his formation for a moment, of which there are plenty of critics, Slade’s natural instinct when it comes to his best personnel to start to the campaign remains debatable.
Slade continuity.
It is one of the biggest conundrums a football manager will face. Having spent pre-season, up close and personal with his players, sorting the wheat from the chaff as the real action gets underway remains a testing task.
Slade himself has in many ways gone for continuity, not overburdened with summer arrivals so far, the Cardiff manager’s take on the situation seems to be ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ although many might suggest a more appropriate appraisal right now might be ‘even if it is broke, don’t fix it.’
Defensively, despite injuries or perhaps because of them, the back-line has been relatively straight forward for anyone with any knowledge at all of the squad.
But it is when it comes to going forward that the problems seem to arise. Cardiff may have carved out two reasonable draws in the Championship so far, but goal-wise the reliance has, again, been on set-pieces and, so far, a couple of absolute world class strikes from Craig Noone and Scott Malone.
Malone of course rescued a point with his effort at QPR on the weekend, in a game that clearly illustrated for all to see the men who should really be starting for Cardiff right now.
Revell persistence.
Trailing 2-0, the intervention of Noone, Kenwyne Jones and to some extent Sammy Ameobi from the bench helped transform Cardiff’s fortunes and stated the case surely for a rethink ahead of the up-coming clash at Blackburn.
Noone has shown enough to be starting right now, it’s hard to discern what else he can do now to force his manager’s hand.
Up-front the persistence with Alex Revell remains confusing for most with Jones clearly the best player at the club to fill that offensive role.
For me too, Ameobi has to be shown some faith. He is in on loan from Newcastle to play matches, why is Slade merely pussy-footing around when it comes to giving him a run of games.
With all this in mind, let’s take a look at the 11 men I believe should start for the Bluebirds at Ewood Park.
Goalkeeper - Simon Moore
David Marshall is available again after suspension, but with his move to West Brom apparently inching closer, keep faith in Moore. For me he can fill Marshall’s boots and gloves. Despite a horrendous error on his big day against Fulham he bounced back with an excellent display against QPR. He is showing good form and above all that, a new level of maturity.
Right-back - Lee Peltier
Cardiff are hardly over burdened with options here, but Peltier so far had proved he can be relied upon. Defensively Peltier has been reasonably solid and secure, with a good reading of the game and nose for danger. Not the most spectacular when it comes to getting forward, but not a problem position at all right now.
Centre-half - Matthew Connolly
He has probably got this run in the first team due to injuries to Bruno Manga and Ben Turner, but the centre-half has grabbed his chance with both hands. Connolly remains perhaps the most intelligent centre-back the club currently has. He has not been without the odd error, but has justified his inclusion and potentially will still justify it when others are back to fitness.
Centre-half - Sean Morrison
He has been given the captaincy at the moment and kind of embraced it. Again there has been the odd lapse in concentration, there often is, but a reliable performer all the same and that goal at QPR showed what he is capable of from the set-piece. Many might like to see his partnership with Connolly given the chance to grow.
Left-back - Scott Malone
The surprise package in some ways at the start of the campaign. After arriving from Millwall last season there were plenty who believed the full-back was not up to the job, but he is proving those doubters wrong now. Defensively he has looked much sharper and brighter this season and as for that goal at QPR to earn the point, well, what can you say? Absolutely brilliant.
Right wing - Craig Noone
The winger has hit the ground running this season and given real glimpses of what a danger he can be at his best. He is bubbling with confidence right now, a state you fear might not last too much longer if he is left kicking his heels on the bench, and a place needs to be found for him. He looks perhaps Cardiff’s best player right now so why on earth is he not starting?
Centre-midfield - Kagisho Dikgacoi
OK, he is still striving for a bit of fitness right now, he needs to get a bit more mobile, but he is showing that he might indeed be the man to add a bit of solidity to the Bluebirds midfield and help shield that back-line too. A reassuring start to the season with the promise of more to come.
Centre-midfield - Joe Ralls
The brightest youngster to come through the club in a while. He has impressed out wide, but his self-confessed best position is in the centre. Cardiff need some dynamism in the middle of the park and Ralls can provide it. For me, a new central midfielder is essential, but up until then Ralls can do a job.
Left wing - Sammy Ameobi
He is at Cardiff on loan from Newcastle to get games, so why is he not being started? We know he is packed with skill and ability and the time is surely coming to unleash it. If he has looked shaky then that is all the more reason to boost his confidence with a run of games. Cardiff are in danger of wasting a real asset in Ameobi if they are not careful.
Striker - Kenwyne Jones
OK, the guy earns too much apparently, he is leaving anyway, he’s not fully fit. Yes, I see all that, but he is still at the club, he is the club’s best striker by a mile, so it seems logical to start him. I mean, if he tires, you can always take him off. Jones is a defender’s nightmare, rough, tough and skillful. To persist with Alex Revell whilst Jones is on the bench just seems totally bizarre.
Striker - Joe Mason
For me the jury is still out on Mason, but Slade has shown faith in him and so give the guy a chance. Mason still seems a little lightweight for the rough and tumble of the Championship, but there’s no doubts he knows where the goal is. Better service would help his cause a lot too and you suspect playing along-side Jones might benefit Mason too.
Re: WHAT IS CARDIFF CITY'S BEST XI ?
Mon Aug 17, 2015 5:41 pm
Tucker too stupid to realise you can't start a player who can only last 20 minutes.
Re: WHAT IS CARDIFF CITY'S BEST XI ?
Mon Aug 17, 2015 5:51 pm
If Slade doesn't know his best 11,how do you expect us mere mortals to know
Re: WHAT IS CARDIFF CITY'S BEST XI ?
Mon Aug 17, 2015 5:51 pm
"Connolly has grabbed his chance with both hands." Tucker obviously wasn't watching the game on Saturday! 
Re: WHAT IS CARDIFF CITY'S BEST XI ?
Mon Aug 17, 2015 6:17 pm
James the bluebird fan wrote:"Connolly has grabbed his chance with both hands." Tucker obviously wasn't watching the game on Saturday!
An even better one
"Connolly remains perhaps the most intelligent centre-back the club currently has"
Re: WHAT IS CARDIFF CITY'S BEST XI ?
Mon Aug 17, 2015 8:18 pm
Even though it isn't what he was getting at our best XI then fully fit IMO
Marshall
Fabio
Manga
Turner
Malone
Pilkington
Digachoi
Ralls
Noone
Jones
Mason
Marshall
Fabio
Manga
Turner
Malone
Pilkington
Digachoi
Ralls
Noone
Jones
Mason
Re: WHAT IS CARDIFF CITY'S BEST XI ?
Mon Aug 17, 2015 8:30 pm
Good shout by Tucker but a couple of changes, I dont think you'd get away with playing Noone and Ameobi in the same team away from home, too lightweight.
I'd suggest:
Moore
Fabio
Connolly
Morrisson
Malone
Gunnarsson
Ralls
Digkakoi
Pilkington
Mason
Macheda
But....Kenwynne coming on off the bench some time in the game!
I'd suggest:
Moore
Fabio
Connolly
Morrisson
Malone
Gunnarsson
Ralls
Digkakoi
Pilkington
Mason
Macheda
But....Kenwynne coming on off the bench some time in the game!
Re: WHAT IS CARDIFF CITY'S BEST XI ?
Mon Aug 17, 2015 8:34 pm
phildavies wrote:Even though it isn't what he was getting at our best XI then fully fit IMO
Marshall
Fabio
Manga
Turner
Malone
Pilkington
Digachoi
Ralls
Noone
Jones
Mason
Sorry Phil, I didn't see you Fully Fit rider, in which case I'd agree and substitute Manga and Turner for Connolly and Morrisson