' Cardiff City's best starting XI from the current squad '

' Cardiff City's best starting XI from the current squad '

Inside Cardiff City

http://insidecardiffcity.co.uk/look-car ... s-best-xi/


By Michael Jones

20th Jan 2016

http://insidecardiffcity.co.uk/look-car ... s-best-xi/


David Marshall

There’s little dispute when it comes to the goalkeeping position: his shot-stopping ability is among the best in English football, and he has been a permanent fixture in the City side, staying loyal to the club even when lucrative Premier League offers were thrown his way.



Lee Peltier

Alongside Tony Watt’s loan, he is probably the only decent signing Slade has made. Peltier is a reliable, consistent right-back; granted, he doesn’t have a tendency for the sublime, but as far as solid right-backs go, he’s a good choice.



Mathew Connolly

Connolly came under fire when asked to play at right-back, prior to Peltier’s arrival: his lack of pace and creativity going forward were exposed. Now, in his preferred position, at centre-back, City fans are seeing his true colours.



Bruno Manga

Solskjaer’s best signing, by far. It is painfully evident that he is too good for this league, and it is surprising that no Premier League clubs have come sniffing. City may have to face losing his services as the club looks to generate income, but for now, the Gabonese international remains one of Cardiff’s best players.



Fabio

Erratic, but passionate. The ex-Manchester United full-back is a fan favourite; in every game he plays he shows the City faithful he cares – a refreshing sentiment. His pace and desire are what set him apart from Scott Malone. Despite Fabio’s propensity for naivety, he provides a potent threat going forward and his tenacious attitude serves him well in defence.




Aron Gunnarsson

The Icelandic captain has regained the form he showed when he first arrived. He is boisterous in midfield and calm on the ball; his qualities match that of a box-to-box midfielder, and that is how I would deploy him.



Joe Ralls

Last year’s young player of the year, he has made his stamp in the side this season. Rall’s collected manner, ability to initiate defence from attack and ‘rough it up’ in the centre of the park mean he’s a perfect partner for Gunnarsson. With regards to his position, I’d use him as a defensive guard, floating just above the back four, but with licence to advance.



Peter Whittingham

I am not the biggest admirer of Whittingham, but I feel he still has a role to play, and an effective one at that; however, this is only the case if he plays in his best position. Personally, I feel he is best deployed as no.10. Behind the striker, and in-front of the midfield, Whittingham’s capacity to thread defence-splitting passes would add a greater threat to City’s offensive game.



Craig Noone

Like Gunnarsson, City’s fall from the Premier League coincided with Noone’s dip in performance; the winger was outstanding in England’s top league, but failed to repeat the same level of skill last season. Recently, the ex-Brighton wide-man is showing his class: two superb goals against Wolves last Saturday illustrate this. Long may it continue.



Anthony Pilkington

Also one of Solskjaer’s better signings, Pilkington is direct with the ball, and is always looking to go forward: precisely what this City team needs. With Pilkington and Noone on either flanks, Cardiff pose an accomplished threat going forward.




Joe Mason

Cardiff’s lack of strikers who can consistently score is a serious worry: there is little point in having the creativity that the Bluebirds possess in midfield, when we don’t possess a player who can finish them off. Cardiff need a new striker, desperately. Joe Mason is included for the mean-time, simply because he is marginally better than the likes of Macheda and Revell. Hopefully Mason will come-good, and start to finish off chances, but it remains unlikely: in fairness, he never was a born-goal scorer.

There we have it, a 4-1-3-1-1 formation, with Ralls sitting in-front of the back four, Gunnarsson assuming a box-to-box role and Whittingham’s creative spark given the freedom to flourish behind the striker.

Ralls in front of the back 4 and Whitts No.10 ?!?!

Thank god hes not the manager.

a 4-1-3-1-1 formation????

Football really is a simple game why complicate things????

Whitts is not a 10 and Ralls is not a defensive midfielder..

Ralls in front of the back 4 and Whitts No.10 ?!?!

Thank god hes not the manager.

My thoughts exactly.

Ralls in front of the back 4 and Whitts No.10 ?!?!

Thank god hes not the manager.

I second that

I've seen worse opinions. As much as I prefer the modern 4-2-3-1 formation, I cannot see Mason scoring a lot of goals up front on his own. I think we definitely need 2 strikers up there, because we are missing goals!

Massive shame we can't get Tony Watt back so either Macheda or Saadi will have to do (although injury prone). Not a massive fan of Revell. When we have a fully fit squad, this would be my choice.

Starting XI (4-3-1-2):

GK - David Marshall.
RB - Lee Peltier.
RCB - Bruno Ecuélé Manga.
LCB - Matt Connolly.
LB - Fábio.
RM - Craig Noone.
CM - Aron Gunnarsson.
LM - Anthony Pilkington.
CAM - Joe Ralls.
RS - Idriss Saadi.
LS - Joe Mason.

Ralls in front of the back 4 and Whitts No.10 ?!?!

Thank god hes not the manager.

I second that

So you're saying Whitts has the capabilities to be a CDM? He's certainly not a box-to-box... Under Dave Jones he scored goals for fun from midfield, because he was given licence to push forward. He's much more use in an attacking position.

I've seen worse opinions. As much as I prefer the modern 4-2-3-1 formation, I cannot see Mason scoring a lot of goals up front on his own. I think we definitely need 2 strikers up there, because we are missing goals!

Massive shame we can't get Tony Watt back so either Macheda or Saadi will have to do (although injury prone). Not a massive fan of Revell. When we have a fully fit squad, this would be my choice.

Starting XI (4-3-1-2):

GK - David Marshall.
RB - Lee Peltier.
RCB - Bruno Ecuélé Manga.
LCB - Matt Connolly.
LB - Fábio.
RM - Craig Noone.
CM - Aron Gunnarsson.
LM - Anthony Pilkington.
CAM - Joe Ralls.
RS - Idriss Saadi.
LS - Joe Mason.

True, maybe Saadi will be the answer, if he can stay fit. Looked okay when he came on for a brief spell, before he got injured...

I've seen worse opinions. As much as I prefer the modern 4-2-3-1 formation, I cannot see Mason scoring a lot of goals up front on his own. I think we definitely need 2 strikers up there, because we are missing goals!

Massive shame we can't get Tony Watt back so either Macheda or Saadi will have to do (although injury prone). Not a massive fan of Revell. When we have a fully fit squad, this would be my choice.

Starting XI (4-3-1-2):

GK - David Marshall.
RB - Lee Peltier.
RCB - Bruno Ecuélé Manga.
LCB - Matt Connolly.
LB - Fábio.
RM - Craig Noone.
CM - Aron Gunnarsson.
LM - Anthony Pilkington.
CAM - Joe Ralls.
RS - Idriss Saadi.
LS - Joe Mason.

Id go with that.