' Cardiff City have to start with him v Ipswich Town '
Sun Oct 29, 2017 7:14 pm
Next up are Ipswich this week, followed by Brentford after the international break.
City need to start with Lee Tomlin, a player who creates goals and can score goals.
By Chris Wathan
Sunday 29th October 2017
There is no doubt Cardiff need more creativity, a cutting edge, someone to deliver the decisive blow. And surely that has to come in the shape of Lee Tomlin, the club's marquee summer signing, but of whom we have seen too little.
He was introduced long after he should have been against Millwall and a 15-minute glimpse was not enough for Tomlin to magic one point into three.
He was given a similar cameo last month against Sheffield Wednesday and produced a free kick — which was eventually poked towards goal-scorer Sol Bamba — that helped rescue an unlikely point.
But this time, no such heroics were forthcoming despite the best efforts of the former Bristol City playmaker, who plays on the edge and is an instinctive risk-taker.
Warnock's men are always dogged, usually determined but against Millwall they were a little toothless. They lacked decisiveness in the Lions' penalty box.
Perhaps the Bluebirds were due a poor performance given how they have exceeded expectations this season. Some will argue they cannot produce magnificent displays that make us marvel every single week.
There's plenty of sound reasoning behind that argument.
Except on this occasion, when they were shorn of star men Zohore and Aron Gunnarsson, the Bluebirds left one of their most destructive and creative weapons on the bench for 75 minutes of the game.
When finally introduced, Tomlin almost made a decisive difference. One jinking run through the Millwall defence ended with a stinging right-foot shot that tested the reach of visiting goalkeeper Jordan Archer.
Minutes later, he had the ball in the net and it ought to have been allowed. He had perfectly anticipated the moment Archer would release the ball before an attempt to boot the ball down-field, nicked it, cutely controlled and passed the ball into an empty net.
His protestations received a yellow card from referee Steve Martin — but it should have been a confidence-boosting maiden Cardiff goal for Tomliln.
Ultimately Cardiff never really did enough to warrant victory. But the fact remains it should have been 1-0 and it would have come courtesy of Tomlin's quick thinking.
Whether Zohore is fit to play against Ipswich not, the case for Tomlin's inclusion is even more compelling when you consider how his mere presence on the pitch always seems to get fans on the edge of their seats.
Such is his influence, other Cardiff players were seen checking where their No.7 was when seeking an opening in those final Millwall moments.
Former Cardiff striker Nathan Blake described Tomlin as a 'locksmith', adept at picking apart the most resolute defences. The best teams in the Championship all have them. Jonjo Shelvey was a prime example for Newcastle last season, Diogo Jota and Ruben Neves do it for Wolves, Tom Cairney for Fulham.
Warnock must begin to put faith in his most creative player if Cardiff's challenge is to last the distance this season.
The veteran boss is smart enough to know the value of such a player. It is, presumably, the reason why Cardiff broke their backs — if not their transfer record — to take Tomlin from Bristol City in the summer. The reason he was heralded as such an important signing.
It was a £1.5million move that sent shockwaves through the division. A signal of intent.
'Cardiff have resilience AND creativity', came the worried murmurs from rival fans. Parallels were made with former QPR magician Adel Taraabt, a former Warnock protegee.
Fans have understood Warnock's reticence to use Tomlin in recent weeks, given the gaffer's favoured 4-3-3 system has been working more often than not. The manager also works under the mantra that 'you don't change a winning side'.
But Cardiff will have earmarked these home games against Milwall and Ipswich as eminently winnable and a minimum of four points from six must be taken.
After the dour draw must come the response.
Tomlin's talents must be utilised on Tuesday if the Bluebirds are to deliver a finishing blow and seal a win.
City need to start with Lee Tomlin, a player who creates goals and can score goals.
By Chris Wathan
Sunday 29th October 2017
There is no doubt Cardiff need more creativity, a cutting edge, someone to deliver the decisive blow. And surely that has to come in the shape of Lee Tomlin, the club's marquee summer signing, but of whom we have seen too little.
He was introduced long after he should have been against Millwall and a 15-minute glimpse was not enough for Tomlin to magic one point into three.
He was given a similar cameo last month against Sheffield Wednesday and produced a free kick — which was eventually poked towards goal-scorer Sol Bamba — that helped rescue an unlikely point.
But this time, no such heroics were forthcoming despite the best efforts of the former Bristol City playmaker, who plays on the edge and is an instinctive risk-taker.
Warnock's men are always dogged, usually determined but against Millwall they were a little toothless. They lacked decisiveness in the Lions' penalty box.
Perhaps the Bluebirds were due a poor performance given how they have exceeded expectations this season. Some will argue they cannot produce magnificent displays that make us marvel every single week.
There's plenty of sound reasoning behind that argument.
Except on this occasion, when they were shorn of star men Zohore and Aron Gunnarsson, the Bluebirds left one of their most destructive and creative weapons on the bench for 75 minutes of the game.
When finally introduced, Tomlin almost made a decisive difference. One jinking run through the Millwall defence ended with a stinging right-foot shot that tested the reach of visiting goalkeeper Jordan Archer.
Minutes later, he had the ball in the net and it ought to have been allowed. He had perfectly anticipated the moment Archer would release the ball before an attempt to boot the ball down-field, nicked it, cutely controlled and passed the ball into an empty net.
His protestations received a yellow card from referee Steve Martin — but it should have been a confidence-boosting maiden Cardiff goal for Tomliln.
Ultimately Cardiff never really did enough to warrant victory. But the fact remains it should have been 1-0 and it would have come courtesy of Tomlin's quick thinking.
Whether Zohore is fit to play against Ipswich not, the case for Tomlin's inclusion is even more compelling when you consider how his mere presence on the pitch always seems to get fans on the edge of their seats.
Such is his influence, other Cardiff players were seen checking where their No.7 was when seeking an opening in those final Millwall moments.
Former Cardiff striker Nathan Blake described Tomlin as a 'locksmith', adept at picking apart the most resolute defences. The best teams in the Championship all have them. Jonjo Shelvey was a prime example for Newcastle last season, Diogo Jota and Ruben Neves do it for Wolves, Tom Cairney for Fulham.
Warnock must begin to put faith in his most creative player if Cardiff's challenge is to last the distance this season.
The veteran boss is smart enough to know the value of such a player. It is, presumably, the reason why Cardiff broke their backs — if not their transfer record — to take Tomlin from Bristol City in the summer. The reason he was heralded as such an important signing.
It was a £1.5million move that sent shockwaves through the division. A signal of intent.
'Cardiff have resilience AND creativity', came the worried murmurs from rival fans. Parallels were made with former QPR magician Adel Taraabt, a former Warnock protegee.
Fans have understood Warnock's reticence to use Tomlin in recent weeks, given the gaffer's favoured 4-3-3 system has been working more often than not. The manager also works under the mantra that 'you don't change a winning side'.
But Cardiff will have earmarked these home games against Milwall and Ipswich as eminently winnable and a minimum of four points from six must be taken.
After the dour draw must come the response.
Tomlin's talents must be utilised on Tuesday if the Bluebirds are to deliver a finishing blow and seal a win.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Re: ' Cardiff City have to start with him v Ipswich Town '
Mon Oct 30, 2017 8:17 am
Totally agree. Bryson hardworking but looks like a regular option from the bench. He's too slow, loses tackles and doesn't offer that touch of skill Tomlin does. Tomlin also excellent at free-kicks and corners.
Re: ' Cardiff City have to start with him v Ipswich Town '
Mon Oct 30, 2017 8:23 am
Have to agree. I was in the Canton and he produced an amazing pass just inside the area at that end which no one saw coming- even he was looking the other way! It completely opened up a packed defence. Holliet didn't see it either which meant he couldn't quite get to it. We need to get him playing more regularly- Her Majesty's Court Service allowing- so the rest of the side can get into his thinking.
Re: ' Cardiff City have to start with him v Ipswich Town '
Mon Oct 30, 2017 8:36 am
Don’t agree with the Bryson abuse, he’s streets ahead of Ralls and has been pretty consistent only playbto try playing box to box. For me we need a centre midfield 3 of Gunnar Bryson and at the top attacking Tomlin
Re: ' Cardiff City have to start with him v Ipswich Town '
Mon Oct 30, 2017 9:48 am
Blue_Barber wrote:Don’t agree with the Bryson abuse, he’s streets ahead of Ralls and has been pretty consistent only playbto try playing box to box. For me we need a centre midfield 3 of Gunnar Bryson and at the top attacking Tomlin
Totally agree with this.
Bryson is a top top championship midfielder.
Re: ' Cardiff City have to start with him v Ipswich Town '
Mon Oct 30, 2017 9:51 am
CaerphillyBluebird15 wrote:Blue_Barber wrote:Don’t agree with the Bryson abuse, he’s streets ahead of Ralls and has been pretty consistent only playbto try playing box to box. For me we need a centre midfield 3 of Gunnar Bryson and at the top attacking Tomlin
Totally agree with this.
Bryson is a top top championship midfielder.
Yep, he is no flair player but he does his job well and (more importantly) Neil Warnock rates him!
Re: ' Cardiff City have to start with him v Ipswich Town '
Mon Oct 30, 2017 9:52 am
i'd definitely start him at home v ipswich - if nothing else to get a bit of rotation in the squad.
we have pace and power up front, but clearly lack intelligence and players who can churn out chances. tomlin can be that man
we have pace and power up front, but clearly lack intelligence and players who can churn out chances. tomlin can be that man
Re: ' Cardiff City have to start with him v Ipswich Town '
Mon Oct 30, 2017 12:56 pm
Ralls for me needs to be the one to swap. Not that he's been poor, its just the last game he didn't really bring anything to the game.
Tomlin shows a bit of flair and not only that, he can see a pass which we are missing at the moment
Tomlin shows a bit of flair and not only that, he can see a pass which we are missing at the moment