' Cardiff City Does Not need a New Striker, Says '

Cardiff City don't need a new striker... Why has everyone forgotten Russell Slade requires an all-action midfielder?


Wednesday 5 Jan 2016

BY STEVE TUCKER


Steve Tucker asks why as soon as the transfer window opens, people forget the talk all season of the need for a ball-winner in the middle of the park?



If you had sat round a pub table with a group of Cardiff City fans at any point this season discussing what was needed in the Bluebirds’ side you would have heard a familiar refrain.

“What they need is an all-action midfielder, a ball-winner, a man who can break things up and drive the side forward, a dynamo in the engine-room. Go get him Russell Slade!”

You've heard that often enough right? You most likely said it yourself or even heard a mate utter it.



So why, just when the transfer window opens and something can actually be done about it, do we experience radio silence when it comes to this mythical midfield maestro?

It seems the Bluebirds plans in the transfer market have been laid bare; a permanent deal for the on-loan Tony Watt, a replacement for the now sun-kissed Kenwyne Jones and maybe a winger, despite the fact many regard Matthew Kennedy as the best player at the club and he can’t even get on the bench.


It has been apparent throughout the whole of a Championship campaign which has so far waxed and waned like an errant moon, that the Cardiff midfield has been problematic.

For too long at the start of the season it seemed that Slade had in fact just got things wrong and was loathe to change it despite his own dog probably barking at him, “Stop playing Ralls out-wide and, by the way, I’ve pooped on the patio.”


To be fair to the Bluebirds’ boss, the alterations to that ‘lop-sided’ system did come.

Club legend Peter Whittingham was dropped to the bench with Joe Ralls indeed tucked inside with the out-and-out wide instincts of Anthony Pilkington and Craig Noone employed to finally give the Cardiff side some semblance of balance.

Slade’s tinkering did not stop there.

Kagisho Dikgacoi, a stalwart for Slade since the start of the campaign, succumbed to injury and in came Aron Gunnarsson.

Then, with Dikgacoi finally fit again, the Icelander it seemed would not be moved and the South African too joined Whittingham amongst the replacements.



Things have certainly looked better particularly in the middle of the park.

Ralls, in his favoured position, seemingly matures game by game in what has been a breakthrough season for the 22-year-old.

Gunnarsson, an excellent servant to the club already, has started to find form again too.

If he has not perhaps hit the heights of old, the Icelander seems right now the best option to partner Ralls, a fact enforced by the his fine second-half showing in the win over Blackburn last time out.




But is everything in the Bluebirds midfield garden really so rosy?

Recent results would suggest not.

Four points from the 12 on offer over the festive period hardly inspired confidence and, but for that ugly, determined win over Rovers, it was almost a run of results poised to derail the Bluebirds play-offs hopes if it hasn’t already.


And if the defence has been criticised for failing to help hold on to leads and the attack questioned for failing to provide said leads in the first place, one could argue the midfield is culpable for failing in its service to aid both endeavours.

Which makes one wonder that, whilst Watt needs to be signed for sure and Jones replaced, surely an experienced, forward thinking central midfielder really has no business dropping off the Bluebirds’ January transfer window agenda at all.

The need for dynamism in the middle of the park remains as prevalent as ever.

It is the area of the pitch where Cardiff have been out fought and out thought most often this campaign so a canny acquisition in there this month could prove priceless.

Or at least equally as important as another striker or quick winger anyway.



Perhaps the fact that the need for a midfielder has fallen off the radar this month as far as many fans and pundits are concerned, does not mean it is forgotten by the club itself.

There were reports the Bluebirds had been sniffing around cash-strapped Bolton’s Josh Vela, a 22-year-old who can play central midfield, but who hardly ticks the boxes when you think of the experience Slade could do with when the chips are down.

In the end perhaps we do the club a disservice by suggesting they are over-looking arguably the most important component they need to be resolving this month.

But you do get the impression that, if Slade’s men do miss out on the top-six come May, then the failure to make just one key signing this month might well be a major contributing factor.

A lot of words, but it says so little.

Is he saying that Ralls isn't the dynamic midfielder we need or Gunnar isn't good enough ?

We know Tucker was in the anti Whitts lobby, so we've moved Ralls inside and started Gunnar and publically dropped Whitts, so why haven't results improved ? Where are the with & without Whitts stats for this season ?

We don't need a new striker or midfielder as much as a new manager.

This fantasy 424 that Slade wanted to plays hasn't yeilded the results, its the same as when Ole played it and ultimately the same as when DJ played it (but better). Two real prancing wingers and 2 strikers leave too much room in the middle for the midfield duo to cover especially when one drops back and the other is slightly advanced.

I've noticed Pilkington is playing inside a lot in the lopsided formation dropped but hurriedly reinstated and we have stopped conceeding so many but are scoring less again.

We do not need a new midfielder if we play route one hoof ball we need strikers and wingers

We do not need a new midfielder if we play route one hoof ball we need strikers and wingers

We don't play alot of hoof ball anymore, the players look for a pass now. Alot more hoof ball under both malky and Ole.

We do not need a new midfielder if we play route one hoof ball we need strikers and wingers

We don't play alot of hoof ball anymore, the players look for a pass now. Alot more hoof ball under both malky and Ole.

Correct we are playing Sladealona football.

We do not need a new midfielder if we play route one hoof ball we need strikers and wingers

You couldn't of seen us this season coz we play it out from the back

We do not need a new midfielder if we play route one hoof ball we need strikers and wingers

We don't play alot of hoof ball anymore, the players look for a pass now. Alot more hoof ball under both malky and Ole.

Correct we are playing Sladealona football.

Wait and see route 1 is on the way

We do not need a new midfielder if we play route one hoof ball we need strikers and wingers

We don't play alot of hoof ball anymore, the players look for a pass now. Alot more hoof ball under both malky and Ole.

Correct we are playing Sladealona football.

Wait and see route 1 is on the way

Hope not.

Basically Tucker wants Steven Gerrard circa 2005.

If a player can do all he demands they won;t be playing for Cardiff or even in the championship

We need a striker and a midfielder. Also someone to replace Ameobi.

We do not need a new midfielder if we play route one hoof ball we need strikers and wingers

either you are blind, don't understand football, are an armchair fan, or all three.