" Cardiff City's midfield isn't working "

" Cardiff City's midfield isn't working "


Warnock keeps making changes to the midfield unit and that is because it lacks the dynamism and high tempo required for modern-day Championship football


By Nathan Blake

Wednesday 8th February 2017


When Neil Warnock discussed how he planned to strengthen his team in the January transfer window, in the main he spoke about the striker and wide positions, whilst also landing Allan McGregor as his new goalkeeper.

Warnock didn't talk too much about the midfield, had inherited a plethora of central talent, yet the fact that he keeps making changes in there indicates to me he is not happy with the blend and balance.

The limitations were in evidence during the 1-0 home defeat to Norwich at the weekend when Cardiff again lacked any real creativity or zip. That, to me, underlines that you can't really play Peter Whittingham and Joe Ralls in there together because more dynamism and a greater tempo is required for the modern-day Championship game.

Warnock hasn't exactly been short of options since coming in as manager - Whitts, Ralls, Aron Gunnarsson, Emyr Huws, Stuart O'Keefe. He's tried Anthony Pilkington as the most advanced midfielder and even Sol Bamba at the base in the victory over Aston Villa.

But still he continues to switch things around as he seeks to build a team capable of winning promotion to the Premier League. The only shoo-in there is Gunnarsson, who has really stepped up a level since Warnock came in and is displaying the type of form he did as captain of Iceland during the Euros.


Joe Ralls was another midfielder who failed to make an impact against the Canaries
Gunnarsson is the type of dog of war in the middle that Warnock likes. He's strong in the tackle, organises, drives forward, shows leadership skills. He has started doing this because Bamba is also doing it behind him at centre-half. The two dovetail nicely.

The rest of the defence is fine, although I prefer Bruno Manga and Matt Connolly to Sean Morrison, while I still want to see more from the likes of Pilkington, Craig Noone, Junior Hoilett. Even Kadeem Harris, who I've often talked up in this column, but who needs to focus on the offensive side of his game, rather than be too pre-occupied with defence.

But underpinning everything must be getting that midfield balance right, the team revolves around it, and Warnock knows that can be described as work in progress at the very best. Otherwise, why the ongoing changes?

Whittingham was substituted at Bristol City as the game turned Cardiff's way, found himself left out of the next three games, was back in for Preston, started against Norwich but was substituted again when things weren't going well.

Will he start at Leeds this weekend? Who knows, but this is the dilemma Warnock faces.

I don't think Whittingham can play 50 games a season any more at the level and pace Cardiff want, but he can still do his bit in 25 or 30 of them. He can start some or, perhaps better still, come on as a substitute when needed in certain games, depending on the opposition or the tactics required.

This could be whether Cardiff are ahead, with Whittingham providing a calming influence to see the game out, or with them losing, with Whitts brought on to provide the moment of magic needed to get back in the game.

When it comes to shooting or passing, Whittingham remains the master. As good as they come. But the influx of foreign players in the Premier League means more and more midfielders are dropping down into the Championship who would normally expect to play at the higher level and who have upped the ante.

Just look at sides such as Fulham, Sheffield Wednesday, Huddersfield, Brighton, Newcastle, even Norwich to a lesser degree. They play with real dynamism and tempo, have legs, athleticism and mobility in the midfield and win more games than they lose as a result of that.

The modern-day Championship midfielder has to be able to run for 90 minutes, cover pretty much every blade of grass, but they also have to be able to pass the ball beautifully over distance and short. There is intricacy to that, playing an eight-yard ball so that somebody running onto it at speed doesn't have to break stride.

Whitts has the passing, but in my view not necessarily the mobility and speed any more. Ralls has the legs, but not necessarily the passing.

You could argue, of course, they should complement one another. But look at our midfield at the moment and you just feel they won't a) either overpower the opposition or b) pass them out of the game.

Paul Trollope was trying to do the passing bit, but lacked the personnel required to carry it out successfully.

The game comes so easy to someone as naturally talented as Whittingham that he doesn't always play at a high enough tempo, in my opinion. Ralls ticks a lot of boxes but is not what I'd call a standout performer in any of those areas. Pilkington can score brilliant goals on any given day, but is he the dynamic presence we need?

The teams up in and around the top have the type of high tempo midfield dynamism and athleticism that is the difference between winning and losing matches, particularly in the final third of the pitch.

Neil Warnock knows he is short of that proper balance. It's the difference between Cardiff being down in 17th place, or 8th or 9th and pushing for the play-offs.

The dilemma will go on for a while. But it's my guess Warnock will seek to address it during the summer.

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We've lacked an attacking midfielder since we went down and that's why strikers are struggling here It was KJ was the only one that had a pretty decent goal ratio was because our only source was really set pieces but can't create from open play like through balls for strikers and if we want to challenge then that's really got to change.

Our best scoring option always seems to be set plays these days anyway - corners and Whitt's magic delivery. When we get some forwards who can go past players and shoot on target we will be world beaters

I think Nathan may have missed a point. The midfield hasn't really worked since Warnocks arrival and the constant is gunnar but then talks about Whitts ?????

Ralls can't pass like Whitts or tackle like gunnar but he can tackle better than Whitts and pass better than Gunnar and is by far the most mobile. I can see him staying with Gunnar and Whitts leaving over the summer.

Its funny we got promoted with Whitts behind Gunnar now its the other way around. In your heart of hearts is Sol a better stopper then Gunnar especially away from home.

The real madrid 3 midfielders would struggle to get Zohore,Harris and Holiett into double figures though.

Blake makes a lot of valid points in fairness but he's also looking for someone in midfield who can run for 90 minutes, tackle, pass, shoot, see the game put, get us back into a game.etc.etc.

These players barely exist in the Premiership let alone championship

Blake makes a lot of valid points in fairness but he's also looking for someone in midfield who can run for 90 minutes, tackle, pass, shoot, see the game put, get us back into a game.etc.etc.

These players barely exist in the Premiership let alone championship

Wait for Wez.

Blake makes a lot of valid points in fairness but he's also looking for someone in midfield who can run for 90 minutes, tackle, pass, shoot, see the game put, get us back into a game.etc.etc.

These players barely exist in the Premiership let alone championship

Wait for Wez.

He's too busy pretending to be Nigel Farage to talk football tonight

Blake makes a lot of valid points in fairness but he's also looking for someone in midfield who can run for 90 minutes, tackle, pass, shoot, see the game put, get us back into a game.etc.etc.

These players barely exist in the Premiership let alone championship

Wait for Wez.

He's too busy pretending to be Nigel Farage to talk football tonight

Oh but I want to know if he's found any gems in the lower leagues that yet hasn't been snapped up by a top 4 side.

Blake makes a lot of valid points in fairness but he's also looking for someone in midfield who can run for 90 minutes, tackle, pass, shoot, see the game put, get us back into a game.etc.etc.

These players barely exist in the Premiership let alone championship

Plenty of rounded midfielders in this league mate. Problem is with whitts and gunnar they are both very one dimensional and i've been struggling to see what it is that ralls brings to the table lately, he's average on levels.

I would personally sit bamba in front of the back 4 as per villa.

Blake makes a lot of valid points in fairness but he's also looking for someone in midfield who can run for 90 minutes, tackle, pass, shoot, see the game put, get us back into a game.etc.etc.

These players barely exist in the Premiership let alone championship

Plenty of rounded midfielders in this league mate. Problem is with whitts and gunnar they are both very one dimensional and i've been struggling to see what it is that ralls brings to the table lately, he's average on levels.

I would personally sit bamba in front of the back 4 as per villa.

There's some who can do both don't get me wrong (Dale Stephens and Will Hughes instantly spring to mind) but anyone who can pass and strike a ball as well as Whitts and is as tenacious as Gunnar? I don't know.

Jonny Shelvey is brilliant on the ball but he can't run and cover ground he just likes to hover around the centre circle.

Blake makes a lot of valid points in fairness but he's also looking for someone in midfield who can run for 90 minutes, tackle, pass, shoot, see the game put, get us back into a game.etc.etc.

These players barely exist in the Premiership let alone championship

Wait for Wez.

He's too busy pretending to be Nigel Farage to talk football tonight

Oh but I want to know if he's found any gems in the lower leagues that yet hasn't been snapped up by a top 4 side.

who. blake,farage, polo,or wez ?

Blake makes a lot of valid points in fairness but he's also looking for someone in midfield who can run for 90 minutes, tackle, pass, shoot, see the game put, get us back into a game.etc.etc.

These players barely exist in the Premiership let alone championship

Wait for Wez.

Plank

Farage is a strong right winger but goes missing after scoring on big occasions - I think he'll go to the MLS and play for the Trumpton Nukes. Corbyn is an old fashioned left winger that has led from the back for so long that he doesn't understand the modern game and so will probably see his career out at Islington Rovers.

Farage is a strong right winger but goes missing after scoring on big occasions - I think he'll go to the MLS and play for the Trumpton Nukes. Corbyn is an old fashioned left winger that has led from the back for so long that he doesn't understand the modern game and so will probably see his career out at Islington Rovers.

Whiting ham doesn't offer enough....he was a great force but has been missing for far to long

" Cardiff City's midfield isn't working "


Warnock keeps making changes to the midfield unit and that is because it lacks the dynamism and high tempo required for modern-day Championship football


By Nathan Blake

Wednesday 8th February 2017


When Neil Warnock discussed how he planned to strengthen his team in the January transfer window, in the main he spoke about the striker and wide positions, whilst also landing Allan McGregor as his new goalkeeper.

Warnock didn't talk too much about the midfield, had inherited a plethora of central talent, yet the fact that he keeps making changes in there indicates to me he is not happy with the blend and balance.

The limitations were in evidence during the 1-0 home defeat to Norwich at the weekend when Cardiff again lacked any real creativity or zip. That, to me, underlines that you can't really play Peter Whittingham and Joe Ralls in there together because more dynamism and a greater tempo is required for the modern-day Championship game.

Warnock hasn't exactly been short of options since coming in as manager - Whitts, Ralls, Aron Gunnarsson, Emyr Huws, Stuart O'Keefe. He's tried Anthony Pilkington as the most advanced midfielder and even Sol Bamba at the base in the victory over Aston Villa.

But still he continues to switch things around as he seeks to build a team capable of winning promotion to the Premier League. The only shoo-in there is Gunnarsson, who has really stepped up a level since Warnock came in and is displaying the type of form he did as captain of Iceland during the Euros.


Joe Ralls was another midfielder who failed to make an impact against the Canaries
Gunnarsson is the type of dog of war in the middle that Warnock likes. He's strong in the tackle, organises, drives forward, shows leadership skills. He has started doing this because Bamba is also doing it behind him at centre-half. The two dovetail nicely.

The rest of the defence is fine, although I prefer Bruno Manga and Matt Connolly to Sean Morrison, while I still want to see more from the likes of Pilkington, Craig Noone, Junior Hoilett. Even Kadeem Harris, who I've often talked up in this column, but who needs to focus on the offensive side of his game, rather than be too pre-occupied with defence.

But underpinning everything must be getting that midfield balance right, the team revolves around it, and Warnock knows that can be described as work in progress at the very best. Otherwise, why the ongoing changes?

Whittingham was substituted at Bristol City as the game turned Cardiff's way, found himself left out of the next three games, was back in for Preston, started against Norwich but was substituted again when things weren't going well.

Will he start at Leeds this weekend? Who knows, but this is the dilemma Warnock faces.

I don't think Whittingham can play 50 games a season any more at the level and pace Cardiff want, but he can still do his bit in 25 or 30 of them. He can start some or, perhaps better still, come on as a substitute when needed in certain games, depending on the opposition or the tactics required.

This could be whether Cardiff are ahead, with Whittingham providing a calming influence to see the game out, or with them losing, with Whitts brought on to provide the moment of magic needed to get back in the game.

When it comes to shooting or passing, Whittingham remains the master. As good as they come. But the influx of foreign players in the Premier League means more and more midfielders are dropping down into the Championship who would normally expect to play at the higher level and who have upped the ante.

Just look at sides such as Fulham, Sheffield Wednesday, Huddersfield, Brighton, Newcastle, even Norwich to a lesser degree. They play with real dynamism and tempo, have legs, athleticism and mobility in the midfield and win more games than they lose as a result of that.

The modern-day Championship midfielder has to be able to run for 90 minutes, cover pretty much every blade of grass, but they also have to be able to pass the ball beautifully over distance and short. There is intricacy to that, playing an eight-yard ball so that somebody running onto it at speed doesn't have to break stride.

Whitts has the passing, but in my view not necessarily the mobility and speed any more. Ralls has the legs, but not necessarily the passing.

You could argue, of course, they should complement one another. But look at our midfield at the moment and you just feel they won't a) either overpower the opposition or b) pass them out of the game.

Paul Trollope was trying to do the passing bit, but lacked the personnel required to carry it out successfully.

The game comes so easy to someone as naturally talented as Whittingham that he doesn't always play at a high enough tempo, in my opinion. Ralls ticks a lot of boxes but is not what I'd call a standout performer in any of those areas. Pilkington can score brilliant goals on any given day, but is he the dynamic presence we need?

The teams up in and around the top have the type of high tempo midfield dynamism and athleticism that is the difference between winning and losing matches, particularly in the final third of the pitch.

Neil Warnock knows he is short of that proper balance. It's the difference between Cardiff being down in 17th place, or 8th or 9th and pushing for the play-offs.

The dilemma will go on for a while. But it's my guess Warnock will seek to address it during the summer.

Which begs the question,why didn't Warnock try to rectify the problem in the transfer window instead of falling asleep on the job

Blake makes a lot of valid points in fairness but he's also looking for someone in midfield who can run for 90 minutes, tackle, pass, shoot, see the game put, get us back into a game.etc.etc.

These players barely exist in the Premiership let alone championship

Wait for Wez.

Plank

So have you found the complete midfielder in the lower leagues yet?

Blake makes a lot of valid points in fairness but he's also looking for someone in midfield who can run for 90 minutes, tackle, pass, shoot, see the game put, get us back into a game.etc.etc.

These players barely exist in the Premiership let alone championship

Wait for Wez.

Plank

So have you found the complete midfielder in the lower leagues yet?

I don't think you need to find one, just 3 good ones.

Blake makes a lot of valid points in fairness but he's also looking for someone in midfield who can run for 90 minutes, tackle, pass, shoot, see the game put, get us back into a game.etc.etc.

These players barely exist in the Premiership let alone championship

Wait for Wez.

Plank

So have you found the complete midfielder in the lower leagues yet?

I don't think you need to find one, just 3 good ones.

Exactly

Blake makes a lot of valid points in fairness but he's also looking for someone in midfield who can run for 90 minutes, tackle, pass, shoot, see the game put, get us back into a game.etc.etc.

These players barely exist in the Premiership let alone championship

Wait for Wez.

Plank

So have you found the complete midfielder in the lower leagues yet?

I don't think you need to find one, just 3 good ones.

We need 2 Gunnar is fine we need an upgrade on Ralls unless he improves massively and get a new attacking midfielder.

Blake makes a lot of valid points in fairness but he's also looking for someone in midfield who can run for 90 minutes, tackle, pass, shoot, see the game put, get us back into a game.etc.etc.

These players barely exist in the Premiership let alone championship

Wait for Wez.

Plank

So have you found the complete midfielder in the lower leagues yet?

I don't think you need to find one, just 3 good ones.

We need 2 Gunnar is fine we need an upgrade on Ralls unless he improves massively and get a new attacking midfielder.

Agree, Gunnar superbly efficient, we'd be lost without him this season. I've still got hope for Ralls but would gladly take a better replacement now. We need a third, pacy, dynamic, creative player urgently.

Blake makes a lot of valid points in fairness but he's also looking for someone in midfield who can run for 90 minutes, tackle, pass, shoot, see the game put, get us back into a game.etc.etc.

These players barely exist in the Premiership let alone championship

Wait for Wez.

Plank

So have you found the complete midfielder in the lower leagues yet?

I don't think you need to find one, just 3 good ones.

We need 2 Gunnar is fine we need an upgrade on Ralls unless he improves massively and get a new attacking midfielder.

Agree, Gunnar superbly efficient, we'd be lost without him this season. I've still got hope for Ralls but would gladly take a better replacement now. We need a third, pacy, dynamic, creative player urgently.

Totally agree, wait for Peter polo to disagree

Totally disagree Nigel