Who Has Been Cardiff City's Player Of The Season So Far

Who Has Been Cardiff City's Player Of The Season So Far

The Trinity Mirror

Tuesday 8th November 2016

A third of the season has gone and we have looked at the best players from every Championship club. Here's the best throughout the division

Just over a third of the season has gone and Cardiff City stand only marginally outside the Championship relegation spots.

But even though there have been more lows than highs, the international break is still a time for reflection and analysis. Bad and good.

So who has been the Bluebirds' best player of the 2016-17 campaign so far?

Trinity Mirror canvassed nationwide views of journalists covering every team in the league, asking them to select their own team's Player of the Season thus far.

Here's the Cardiff verdict... and the poll of names taken from journalists who report on the other 23 Championship sides.

CARDIFF CITY - Peter Whittingham

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Blackburn Rovers at home.

Finally, Cardiff City are on the score sheet. Indebted to Shane Duffy they certainly were, but the two goals that day were initiated by that fabled left boot of Peter Whittingham.

The first, a raking crossfield pass to release Declan John, whose shot off the post was turned in by Duffy. The second, a trademark free-kick whipped in from the right. Duffy headed in. If he hadn’t, someone else would have, such was the quality.

No wonder Bluebirds fans chant 'He does what he wants' about their star midfielder.

Onto Fulham. No assists there, but a free-kick rattled the bar and almost sealed three unlikely points.

At Norwich, introduced after 64 minutes. Two Anthony Pilkington goals. Each tap-ins after excellent crosses from Whittingham caused havoc in the Canaries’ box.

At Rotherham. Rickie Lambert’s equaliser at back post header from a Whittingham free-kick. Bristol City. A Whittingham penalty to give Cardiff a precious lead. Sheffield Wednesday, a Whittingham free kick.

Nottingham Forest. An Aron Gunnarsson header from a perfect Whittingham corner. Newcastle United, a superb Whittingham half-volley just minutes after coming on as a substitute.

Everything considered, then, Whittingham has had a central role in nine of the 13 competitive goals scored by Cardiff City this season.

Picking a player of the season so far is a difficult task given how badly the Bluebirds have disappointed but clearly, it is Whittingham’s contribution that has rescued them from an even more brutal beginning.

There are still plenty who question Whittingham’s general contribution. Many think, and with some justification, that he is one of a number of Bluebirds who fade as the game goes on.

Cardiff’s chronic habit of conceding last gasp goals is one of the things that as held them back most.

The simple fact is, however, that on balance, Cardiff are a better side with Whittingham in it.

In a side short of creativity, struggling to put away teams at home, he remains their best hope of solving the puzzle.

Without him at St James’ Park, Cardiff lacked the same threat from set piece situations and were left without much poise in midfield. While Jonjo Shelvey pulled the strings, the Bluebirds struggled to put their foot on the ball.

Whittingham started the season as a deep playmaker, Paul Trollope clearly hoping he could coax a Pirlo-esque Indian summer out of his best passer of the ball.

It wasn’t the worst idea, but the sale of Fabio and the decline in Declan John’s form meant Whittingham had precious few targets to hit with those superb diagonal passes.

With no pace up front, there was no one to release with a ball over the top.

Neil Warnock quickly put an end to that and installed Aron Gunnarsson in front of the defence to give a faltering back four better protection. Whittingham has enjoyed playing a little higher up the field, and has even shown there is still plenty of time left with some impressive surging runs.

Which just serves to underline how important it is that he is rewarded with a new contract. January is set to be a huge window for the Bluebirds but as important as any new signing should be securing the veteran’s services.

As Neil Warnock plots for what he hopes will be one last promotion, Whittingham’s continued class will surely be central to his plans.

Whittingham is often described as a luxury player, but not picking him is increasingly becoming a luxury Cardiff City cannot afford.

THE FULL LIST OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP'S BEST (as chosen by local journalists regularly watching the clubs)

Aston Villa - Jonathan Kodjia

Barnsley - Andy Yiadom

Birmingham City - Ryan Shotton

Blackburn Rovers - Sam Gallagher

Brentford - Ryan Woods

Brighton - Anthony Knockeart

Bristol City - Tammy Abraham

Burton Albion - Matt Palmer

Cardiff City - Peter Whittingham

Aston Villa - Scott Carson

Fulham - Scott Parker

Huddersfield Town - Aaron Mooy

Ipswich Town - Bartosz Bialkowski

Leeds United - Pontus Jansson

Newcastle United - Dwight Gayle

Norwich City - Wes Hoolahan

Nottingham Forest - Ben Osborn

Preston - Jordan Hugill

Queens Park Rangers - Alex Smithies

Reading - Jon Swift

Rotherham United - Danny Ward

Sheffield Wednesday - Kieran Lee

Wigan Athletic - Max Power

Wolves - Romain Saiss

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But what about 'the mesia'

But what about 'the mesia'

For me its Aron Gunnarsson, he's been virtually faultless and has proven many fans wrong

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But what about 'the mesia'

But what about 'the mesia'

The forum fool won't like this.

For me its Aron Gunnarsson, he's been virtually faultless and has proven many fans wrong

I'm one of those fans. And happy to be proved wrong. Finally a manager that can see his best position.