Bruno Manga / Joe Ralls

As you may or may not know I have always been a big critic of Ralls & Manga.

This season I have watched Ralls closely and I have now realised the class he has.
Manga on the other hand I really can't get my head around. Why is he rated so highly by so many?
Even Warnock has suggested he is one of the best players in the team. my motto is that the majority is usually right.
so, what am I missing with Manga!?

Just needs to be left as a centre back as he will never be a full back.

As for Ralls,he come on leaps and bounds and don't think he'll be here next year if we don't make it.

Just needs to be left as a centre back as he will never be a full back.

But he's not as good as Bamba or Morrison so I don't get the " he's probably the only player who would get in the top 10 premiership sides " comment from Warnock.

Ralls has been one of my favourite players this season, I didn't rate him before this
I am wrong sometimes

I like Bruno myself and think he'd be class in a back three or even in place of Bamba with the errors sneaking in.

Cue abuse

Just needs to be left as a centre back as he will never be a full back.

But he's not as good as Bamba or Morrison so I don't get the " he's probably the only player who would get in the top 10 premiership sides " comment from Warnock.

Ralls has been one of my favourite players this season, I didn't rate him before this
I am wrong sometimes

i dont think its hes not as good as, he just doesn't gel like those two do. I think he's a better CB than both on his day, but hasn't got the partnership in him with either, as good as bamba and morrison.

I like Bruno myself and think he'd be class in a back three or even in place of Bamba with the errors sneaking in.

Cue abuse

This is why I don't rate Manga to be honest mate. I can see he tackles well and he's quite quick.
The issue I have is the turns and flicks he does - GET RID OF THE BALL!!!!! frustrates me beyond belief mate.
I'm with the old school players who hoof if you are in trouble. none of this turn and short passing crap.

i dont think its hes not as good as, he just doesn't gel like those two do. I think he's a better CB than both on his day, but hasn't got the partnership in him with either, as good as bamba and morrison.

That's what I'm trying to say but you have put it a lot better

Bruno is not helped by playing right back. He is not great in that position. Decent centre back

I like Bruno myself and think he'd be class in a back three or even in place of Bamba with the errors sneaking in.

Cue abuse

This is why I don't rate Manga to be honest mate. I can see he tackles well and he's quite quick.
The issue I have is the turns and flicks he does - GET RID OF THE BALL!!!!! frustrates me beyond belief mate.
I'm with the old school players who hoof if you are in trouble. none of this turn and short passing crap.

And this is why he would be better suited in a top 10 premier league team

I am not sure you are watching the right player! Manga’s sense of positional play is second to none, this is why he stays back at most corners we have. He doesn’t often give possession away, but does get outpaced often. Bamba has played several suicidal passes last 3 games, and has not simply cleared his lines, Gunnarsson has been woeful all over, yet manga seems to be getting stick??

Ralls has had a great season, but, he is very prone to losing him man, this seems to be overlooked a lot but I have to disagree with this, manga is quality, yep he makes the odd mistake but tell a player who doesn’t.

I am not sure you are watching the right player! Manga’s sense of positional play is second to none, this is why he stays back at most corners we have. He doesn’t often give possession away, but does get outpaced often. Bamba has played several suicidal passes last 3 games, and has not simply cleared his lines, Gunnarsson has been woeful all over, yet manga seems to be getting stick??

Ralls has had a great season, but, he is very prone to losing him man, this seems to be overlooked a lot but I have to disagree with this, manga is quality, yep he makes the odd mistake but tell a player who doesn’t.

You must watch games through my eyes, absolutely 100% spot on fella and my sentiments exactly

I actually think that Manga would be the best CB we've got in the Prem. His distribution and pace are exceelent for a CB and that's exactly what you need in the top division. He's also very good in the air but I would agree, because he's been switched about so often, he has struggled to form a partnership with Bamba or Morrision but that's mainly because, to be fair to them, Bamba and Morrison have done so well as a pairing.

Bamba and Morrison simply don't have the same turn of pace and therefore if we do manage to get promoted I would be very wary of playing either of them without the back-up of Manga's pace.

As for Ralls, well he has certainly reached levels that I didn't think he was capable of this season so hats off to him. The criticism/concern that I have is that he doesn't grab games by the scruff of the neck if we're struggling. If Cardiff play well, Ralls plays well; if Cardiff struggle, Ralls is largely annonymous.

Personally id start Manga ahead of Bamba at the moment, he looks all over the place.

I actually think that Manga would be the best CB we've got in the Prem. His distribution and pace are exceelent for a CB and that's exactly what you need in the top division. He's also very good in the air but I would agree, because he's been switched about so often, he has struggled to form a partnership with Bamba or Morrision but that's mainly because, to be fair to them, Bamba and Morrison have done so well as a pairing.

Bamba and Morrison simply don't have the same turn of pace and therefore if we do manage to get promoted I would be very wary of playing either of them without the back-up of Manga's pace.

As for Ralls, well he has certainly reached levels that I didn't think he was capable of this season so hats off to him. The criticism/concern that I have is that he doesn't grab games by the scruff of the neck if we're struggling. If Cardiff play well, Ralls plays well; if Cardiff struggle, Ralls is largely annonymous.

Manga doesn't look fast to me, any ball over the top and he gets murdered by all the wingers lately?

He's a decent centre half, but struggles at right-back, I would always put Jazz or Peltier in there before him.

I think the tenacity and determination of Bamba and Morrison put them slightly ahead of Manga in a Championship defence, he is great to cover if either is injured though.

I actually think that Manga would be the best CB we've got in the Prem. His distribution and pace are exceelent for a CB and that's exactly what you need in the top division. He's also very good in the air but I would agree, because he's been switched about so often, he has struggled to form a partnership with Bamba or Morrision but that's mainly because, to be fair to them, Bamba and Morrison have done so well as a pairing.

Bamba and Morrison simply don't have the same turn of pace and therefore if we do manage to get promoted I would be very wary of playing either of them without the back-up of Manga's pace.

As for Ralls, well he has certainly reached levels that I didn't think he was capable of this season so hats off to him. The criticism/concern that I have is that he doesn't grab games by the scruff of the neck if we're struggling. If Cardiff play well, Ralls plays well; if Cardiff struggle, Ralls is largely annonymous.

Manga doesn't look fast to me, any ball over the top and he gets murdered by all the wingers lately?

He's a decent centre half, but struggles at right-back, I would always put Jazz or Peltier in there before him.

I think the tenacity and determination of Bamba and Morrison put them slightly ahead of Manga in a Championship defence, he is great to cover if either is injured though.

No he does get out paced but he’s not a full back. But, he is solid, good on the ball, and I cannot praise his positional play enough.

I actually think that Manga would be the best CB we've got in the Prem. His distribution and pace are exceelent for a CB and that's exactly what you need in the top division. He's also very good in the air but I would agree, because he's been switched about so often, he has struggled to form a partnership with Bamba or Morrision but that's mainly because, to be fair to them, Bamba and Morrison have done so well as a pairing.

Bamba and Morrison simply don't have the same turn of pace and therefore if we do manage to get promoted I would be very wary of playing either of them without the back-up of Manga's pace.

As for Ralls, well he has certainly reached levels that I didn't think he was capable of this season so hats off to him. The criticism/concern that I have is that he doesn't grab games by the scruff of the neck if we're struggling. If Cardiff play well, Ralls plays well; if Cardiff struggle, Ralls is largely annonymous.

Manga doesn't look fast to me, any ball over the top and he gets murdered by all the wingers lately?

He's a decent centre half, but struggles at right-back, I would always put Jazz or Peltier in there before him.

I think the tenacity and determination of Bamba and Morrison put them slightly ahead of Manga in a Championship defence, he is great to cover if either is injured though.

You're right, Manga does get murdered by wingers, but that's because he's a centre back and not a full back

The main reason Manga gets switched to full back is that Warnock knows he is quicker and better able to cope out there than Morrison, Bamba or, for that matter, Connolly.

I would wager that over 10-20 yards he's significantly quicker than Bamba or Morrison.

There is a reason that they often leave Bennett and Manga back when we've got an attacking corner; it's because they are quick enough to cover any coounter attack if the ball breaks lose.

The argument as to which of the three of them is the best CB is an interesting one but I don't think there's much question as to who's the quickest out of the three of them whatever your views on who's best.

Manga has been a quality signing for us. but RB is not his position he has played there for Warnock when he has to but whenever he comes up against a tricky/speedy winger he looks vunerable.

The position he thrives in is CB and looks the most solid and commanding. positional sense and timing of tackles is second to none but unfortunately for him Bamba and Morrison have been solid majority of the season and become a excellent pairing for us.

Would like to see him get his position at CB back but I am big fan of big Sol and we know he has his one or two crazy moments but aside from them the leadership and influence he has on the team is massive and a solid/commanding presence to go with it.

Manga as a center back offers something Bamba and Morrison do not - he’s a ball player and comfortable under pressure. The poor guy is being moved around right to center and sometimes during games - I’m sure this is why he has been caught straying out of position (namely RB) and cost us goals via the overlapping wingers. Warnock always will prefer Pelts who sticks to his position, nothing fancy just gets it done. My criticism of Pelts is his speed and his lack of ball playing skills.
With Manga, we have three good centerbacks. With mistakes should come rotation imo.

Manga suits a team that has the likes of Tomlin / Whittingham. He needs players who are comfortable having the ball to feet and dropping deep to get it. Ralls is the closest player who does this now, but Manga would thrive in a quality team.

Manga suits a team that has the likes of Tomlin / Whittingham. He needs players who are comfortable having the ball to feet and dropping deep to get it. Ralls is the closest player who does this now, but Manga would thrive in a quality team.

And here we have the most sensible post of the thread IMO.
Manga is a ‘footballer’. When he first came to the City he won MOM nearly every game because of his skills. He’s a ball player and has excellent technique and passing abilities.
But now, under Warnock, he’s playing at right back to which he’s still very good but as all the rest of the players - he’s instructed to boot the ball up the flanks aimlessly most of the time as we don’t play along and through the midfield anymore.
In a footballing team he would be a top player.