NEIL WARNOCK PONDERS BOBBY REID DILEMMA AHEAD OF SPURS GAME
Mon Dec 31, 2018 8:31 pm
The Bobby Reid dilemma, Cardiff City's left back situation and other Tottenham headaches for Neil Warnock
By Dominic Booth
How Cardiff City could line up against Tottenham Hotspur this weekend
Cardiff City have turned a corner in more ways than one.
It's not just that they're into the second half of the season, nor that 2018 has been completed. Neil Warnock spoke at his pre-Tottenham press conference like a man who knows things are on the up.
Of course, a wounded Spurs side could put that into perspective on the first day of 2019, but the selection issues Warnock now faces following the Bluebirds' brilliant 1-0 win at Leicester City speak volumes about his team's development...
The Bobby Reid dilemma
He's done nothing wrong, but the former Bristol City man just cannot get a run of games in this Cardiff City team.
There will be those who argue Reid deserves a chance ahead of Callum Paterson (who, lest we forget, isn't a natural striker). He's managed to collect two goals and two assists, despite only starting eight games this season.
Even Warnock feels a little bit for the 25-year-old, who can play either as a main striker or in the pocket behind.
Bobby Decordova-Reid of Cardiff City celebrates a goal at Watford with Callum Paterson (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)
The veteran boss requires both Reid and Josh Murphy to work on their physicality for them to become trusted regulars.
There have been games where both have been omitted with Warnock's focus on defence rather than attack.
"Bobby can defend alright, he plays in that No.10 role where I see him, but I thought he did well at Palace," said Warnock.
"And when he came on (at Leicester), he held it up more.
"Poor old Paters is doing his best but I thought Bobby brought us into it and made us more of a threat. It's good to have these dilemmas.
"He was disappointed he didn't (start) at Leicester, but then it's great for a manager to say 'I was right' — they can't do anything about it, can they?
"The thing about Bobby is I think him and Murph have come from situations where physically they've got to improve and they are.
"Bobby's working like hell and so is Murph. They've got to be a bit more aggressive, stronger physically."
Warnock's reaction
Whether Reid will get another chance as the main striker — where he played at Crystal Palace — seems unlikely in this game against Spurs, who boast a physically imposing central defence. But you suspect his time will come.
The left back situation
"My problem now is team selection. I'm nearly there, I've probably got one decision to make which I'm going to do now when I've left here (the press conference)."
Those were Warnock's words before deliberating over the team he'll name against Mauricio Pochettino's men.
The final, agonising, call is likely to be between Joe Bennett and Greg Cunningham, who have both made strong cases to start at left-back.
"Bennett and (Lee) Peltier I thought were fabulous at Palace," said Warnock, despite dropping both players.
Yet Cunningham then had arguably his best game in a Cardiff shirt against Leicester.
For that reason it may be the Irishman, with his defensive qualities, who gets the nod unless the gaffer decides to rotate again.
Other issues Warnock has ahead of Spurs game
There are plenty of others keen to stake their claim if given a chance against Tottenham.
Kadeem Harris and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing may both feel they deserve more minutes after waiting in the wings.
"Kadeem has got better this last few weeks, it's as good as I've seen him," said Warnock on the former.
"And when I put him on on Saturday I said 'don't let me down defensively' because there was 20 minutes to go. He made a great tackle before the end, so Kadeem has come up in my estimation in that respect."
The Spurs challenge could be the perfect game for Mendez-Laing to use his pace on the counter-attack, with Harris now having completed the transition from forgotten man to important impact player.
As Warnock said, it's good for him to have these dilemmas to mull over while sitting with a drink or two on New Year's Eve.
Predicted Cardiff City XI: Etheridge; Manga, Morrison, Bamba, Bennett; Gunnarsson, Arter, Camarasa; Mendez-Laing, Murphy, Paterson.
By Dominic Booth
How Cardiff City could line up against Tottenham Hotspur this weekend
Cardiff City have turned a corner in more ways than one.
It's not just that they're into the second half of the season, nor that 2018 has been completed. Neil Warnock spoke at his pre-Tottenham press conference like a man who knows things are on the up.
Of course, a wounded Spurs side could put that into perspective on the first day of 2019, but the selection issues Warnock now faces following the Bluebirds' brilliant 1-0 win at Leicester City speak volumes about his team's development...
The Bobby Reid dilemma
He's done nothing wrong, but the former Bristol City man just cannot get a run of games in this Cardiff City team.
There will be those who argue Reid deserves a chance ahead of Callum Paterson (who, lest we forget, isn't a natural striker). He's managed to collect two goals and two assists, despite only starting eight games this season.
Even Warnock feels a little bit for the 25-year-old, who can play either as a main striker or in the pocket behind.
Bobby Decordova-Reid of Cardiff City celebrates a goal at Watford with Callum Paterson (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)
The veteran boss requires both Reid and Josh Murphy to work on their physicality for them to become trusted regulars.
There have been games where both have been omitted with Warnock's focus on defence rather than attack.
"Bobby can defend alright, he plays in that No.10 role where I see him, but I thought he did well at Palace," said Warnock.
"And when he came on (at Leicester), he held it up more.
"Poor old Paters is doing his best but I thought Bobby brought us into it and made us more of a threat. It's good to have these dilemmas.
"He was disappointed he didn't (start) at Leicester, but then it's great for a manager to say 'I was right' — they can't do anything about it, can they?
"The thing about Bobby is I think him and Murph have come from situations where physically they've got to improve and they are.
"Bobby's working like hell and so is Murph. They've got to be a bit more aggressive, stronger physically."
Warnock's reaction
Whether Reid will get another chance as the main striker — where he played at Crystal Palace — seems unlikely in this game against Spurs, who boast a physically imposing central defence. But you suspect his time will come.
The left back situation
"My problem now is team selection. I'm nearly there, I've probably got one decision to make which I'm going to do now when I've left here (the press conference)."
Those were Warnock's words before deliberating over the team he'll name against Mauricio Pochettino's men.
The final, agonising, call is likely to be between Joe Bennett and Greg Cunningham, who have both made strong cases to start at left-back.
"Bennett and (Lee) Peltier I thought were fabulous at Palace," said Warnock, despite dropping both players.
Yet Cunningham then had arguably his best game in a Cardiff shirt against Leicester.
For that reason it may be the Irishman, with his defensive qualities, who gets the nod unless the gaffer decides to rotate again.
Other issues Warnock has ahead of Spurs game
There are plenty of others keen to stake their claim if given a chance against Tottenham.
Kadeem Harris and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing may both feel they deserve more minutes after waiting in the wings.
"Kadeem has got better this last few weeks, it's as good as I've seen him," said Warnock on the former.
"And when I put him on on Saturday I said 'don't let me down defensively' because there was 20 minutes to go. He made a great tackle before the end, so Kadeem has come up in my estimation in that respect."
The Spurs challenge could be the perfect game for Mendez-Laing to use his pace on the counter-attack, with Harris now having completed the transition from forgotten man to important impact player.
As Warnock said, it's good for him to have these dilemmas to mull over while sitting with a drink or two on New Year's Eve.
Predicted Cardiff City XI: Etheridge; Manga, Morrison, Bamba, Bennett; Gunnarsson, Arter, Camarasa; Mendez-Laing, Murphy, Paterson.
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Re: NEIL WARNOCK PONDERS BOBBY REID DILEMMA AHEAD OF SPURS G
Mon Dec 31, 2018 10:56 pm
When he plays, he needs to play as a striker.
It doesn’t seem to work when he plays wide, nowhere near the same levels of performance.
Paterson may well be tired after Saturday, so possibly Reid will replace him?
My team below:
Etheridge
Manga
Morrison
Bamba
Cunningham
Gunnarsson
Arter
Camarasa
Murphy
Hoilett
Decordova-Reid
It doesn’t seem to work when he plays wide, nowhere near the same levels of performance.
Paterson may well be tired after Saturday, so possibly Reid will replace him?
My team below:
Etheridge
Manga
Morrison
Bamba
Cunningham
Gunnarsson
Arter
Camarasa
Murphy
Hoilett
Decordova-Reid
Re: NEIL WARNOCK PONDERS BOBBY REID DILEMMA AHEAD OF SPURS G
Mon Dec 31, 2018 11:31 pm
reid in my opinion is not at the required standard at the moment, and i think warnock will be looking to strengthen this position. paterson, through sheer determination, has stepped up and proved his worth despite being average technically. zohore should be the first choice striker but hasn't been at the races this season - a real shame.
reid's problem is that we need a big man up front because of the way we play. his finishing is average, and he is not a target man.
reid's problem is that we need a big man up front because of the way we play. his finishing is average, and he is not a target man.
Re: NEIL WARNOCK PONDERS BOBBY REID DILEMMA AHEAD OF SPURS G
Tue Jan 01, 2019 10:14 am
The only way he plays in this team is when we play wing backs or a 442 which is not often.
Other than that he is a impact player at the moment. He has not really taken his chance when given it and really stood out. He just does " well " which is not really enough
Other than that he is a impact player at the moment. He has not really taken his chance when given it and really stood out. He just does " well " which is not really enough
Re: NEIL WARNOCK PONDERS BOBBY REID DILEMMA AHEAD OF SPURS G
Tue Jan 01, 2019 12:44 pm
I have loved having Mad Dog up front and he has done well for us but I think Bobby Reid can do even better for us ,Bobby done well at Bristol and what I can see he has done well with his limited game time for us , give him a run of games and see him get better , he has quality and works his socks off .
Re: NEIL WARNOCK PONDERS BOBBY REID DILEMMA AHEAD OF SPURS G
Tue Jan 01, 2019 4:16 pm
Paul’s Taxi wrote:I have loved having Mad Dog up front and he has done well for us but I think Bobby Reid can do even better for us ,Bobby done well at Bristol and what I can see he has done well with his limited game time for us , give him a run of games and see him get better , he has quality and works his socks off .
This is the second post of yours that I've agreed with in the space of about 2 minutes!
Re: NEIL WARNOCK PONDERS BOBBY REID DILEMMA AHEAD OF SPURS G
Sun Jan 13, 2019 10:22 am
Alan_in_China wrote:Paul’s Taxi wrote:I have loved having Mad Dog up front and he has done well for us but I think Bobby Reid can do even better for us ,Bobby done well at Bristol and what I can see he has done well with his limited game time for us , give him a run of games and see him get better , he has quality and works his socks off .
This is the second post of yours that I've agreed with in the space of about 2 minutes!
Reid has been shit so far for us, he's had chances and done very little, just because we are losing suddenly he is the answer
