The radical changes Cardiff City could now make as Neil Warnock shakes things up -
By Dominic Booth
Sunday 31st December 2017
Neil Warnock's hint that he would make radical changes for Cardiff City's clash at Queens Park Rangers was both a promise and a threat.
Three defeats on the bounce isn't a catastrophe given Cardiff's league position — which is still very impressive — but the boss would be wise to consider these left-field options for Monday's visit to west London...
" Start Rhys Healey "
In two cameo appearances off the bench against Fulham and Preston, we've seen what Healey is really about. He's not a natural out-and-out striker — especially in a Warnock team that prioritises strength and power —but he's a hard worker and an alternative to Lee Tomlin behind the frontman.
Healey has the fleet-footed movement and eye for a pass that make him a defender's nightmare.
And with Tomlin slightly off-colour against Preston (plus Warnock's reluctance to start the ex-Bristol City star in back-to-back games) Healey could bring his skill set to the No.10 role.
After 10 months out with a horrendous injury a start against QPR would be huge reward for Healey. The dark days of rehabilitation and recovery would be forgotten and you sense the 23-year-old has the hunger needed to make a difference to this faltering Cardiff team.
With Kenneth Zohore slowly regaining fitness, Warnock may feel he has a new strike duo to call upon.
" Bring back Connolly in a three-man defence "
Matthew Connolly has split opinion throughout his lengthy stay at Cardiff City.
Some admire his relaxed approach to defending and obvious abilities on the ball, others view him as a liability. In any case, it's become clear — despite Warnock's well-documented faith in Connolly — that he's the fourth choice centre-back these days.
But with Sean Morrison still sidelined and doubts over Joe Bennett's fitness, Warnock's 'something different' could be a return to 3-5-2 (or 5-3-2, whatever you want to call it).
Playing such a system could require Lee Peltier to move into the back three, with Callum Paterson and Junior Hoilett as potential wing-backs. Or it could mean a sensational return for the forgotten man, Connolly.
Now 30, the defender — having won the Championship with Warnock's QPR in 2011, Reading in 2012 and Cardiff back in 2013 — has no shortage of promotion experience.
He's only featured in one game this season for the Bluebirds, the 2-1 Carabao Cup defeat to Burton, is now the right time to welcome Connolly back to the fold?
" Put Sol Bamba back into midfield "
When Aron Gunnarsson was first injured this season, playing Bamba in defensive midfield was Neil Warnock's go-to option.
But the recent injury to Morrison has necessitated Bamba playing alongside Bruno Manga in central defence... that is unless either Connolly or Peltier plays at centre-back to allow Bamba to shift up the pitch and provide cover for Joe Ralls and Loic Damour, neither of whom is comfortable playing the 'destroyer' role that Gunnarsson has perfected. Nor is Craig Bryson, who could come back into the mix at Loftus Road too.
The emphatic 3-1 victory over Leeds showed what Bamba is capable of doing in that role — dominating the 50-50 challenges and distributing the ball out wide.
Against the midfield precision of Luke Freeman and Massimo Luongo Warnock might be tempted to bring the Ivorian back to the middle of the park at Loftus Road. It could be a risk, given Morrison won't be there to cover in defence, but Warnock's post-match words after Preston suggested he needs to take such a risk.
" Drop Kenneth Zohore "
Hear us out on this one. Zohore is clearly not quite back to his best, based on his lacklustre performance against Preston. Even in the Fulham game, his overall contribution was minimal aside from the long-range goal.
So why not rest the big man in favour of Omar Bogle and allow him to regain fitness in the 10-day break before Cardiff's next league match against Sunderland?
Then we might see the Zohore of early 2017, a player who could yet drive the Bluebirds to automatic promotion.
Bogle hasn't let anyone down when he's played and actually seems to have a relationship with Tomlin, which could be vital in breaking down QPR. Another move that seems risky, but given the nature of this game and how important three points would be to Cardiff's confidence and promotion hopes, it's worth Warnock taking a punt.
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