The five players guaranteed to start for Cardiff City next s

The five players guaranteed to start for Cardiff City next season

Sean Morrison is one of Neil Warnock's guaranteed starters


By Ben James

Wednesday 5th June 2019


With the football season done and dusted, thoughts are already turning to strengthening for next season.

There’s plenty of business to be done for Cardiff City this summer - with Neil Warnock set to be given the financial backing to bring in six new players.

But, as things stand, who are the names certain to be on Warnock’s team sheet next season?





GOALKEEPER

Let’s start at the back and there’s no guarantees here.

Neil Etheridge l ooks to have his heart set on a return to the Premier League - with Aston Villa interested in the shot-stopper and Liverpool also believed to be potentially in the running.

It appears Neil Warnock could soon be looking for a new man between the sticks, although Etheridge's likely departure could mean Alex Smithies finally getting a proper chance after a first season of frustration at the Bluebirds.

He may well stay, but at the moment, you can’t say for certain that he’ll be plying his trade in south Wales next season.

Guaranteed starters: None



DEFENCE

Onto the back four and the sighting of our first players nailed on to start next season.

Sol Bamba and Sean Morrison formed an almost impenetrable rearguard in the Championship the season before last and you'd expect the pair to be partnering each other again more often than not.

There are strong arguments that Bruno Ecuele Manga deserves to be starting in his favoured position of centre-back, but when all three have been fit, Warnock has tended to play Manga at right-back.

And there's no guarantees that Manga will be a Bluebird next season. You sense if any of Cardiff's centre-backs are going to leave this summer, it will be the Gabon international.

Out wide, Manga's potential presence as a makeshift right-back means Lee Peltier isn't nailed on in the position.

However on the other flank, Joe Bennett saw off the competition of Greg Cunningham last season and is in pole position to start again.

Guaranteed starters: Sol Bamba, Sean Morrison and Joe Bennett





MIDFIELD

Neil Warnock is a big fan of Joe Ralls

It's a case of three out this summer in the middle of the park for the Bluebirds - but how many in?

As of yet, we don't know exactly who will replace Aron Gunnarsson, Victor Camarasa and Harry Arter.

Will Vaulks has been linked . Lewis Holtby is another name to have piqued the club's interest.

What we do know is that Joe Ralls is the next cab off the rank and, providing there isn't a masse influx of midfielders, he'll be starting for Cardiff next season.

The other midfield options at the moment? Loic Damour? Leandro Bacuna?

It's hard to push a claim for either being nailed on to make the starting XI next year.


Guaranteed starters: Joe Ralls





ATTACK

Again, it's hard to pinpoint who is guaranteed to start in the final third.

On the wings, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing's end-of-season form makes him a certainty to start if he's fit, particularly after he tore apart the second tier for large periods last time out.

However, on the other flank, it all depends on Josh Murphy's future. He's been linked with a move away and if he does go, then Junior Hoilett joins Mendez-Laing as a guarantee.

As things stand however, Hoilett's place is probably not certain.

The number ten role is a similar story - with Callum Paterson and Bobby Decordova-Reid both capable of playing there. The latter was underused last season, while the former stared in the Championship in the unorthodox role in the promotion-winning campaign.

But considering Reid scored 19 goals for Bristol City in the second tier before joining Cardiff, he may get more minutes this time around. We just don't know which way Warnock will go on this one.





And up front?

Kenneth Zohore was a big let down last season. Danny Ward's minutes were few and far between as well. Gary Madine is unlikely to stay and there's likely to be an addition in the striking department.

Again, it's a case of uncertainty up top for the Bluebirds.

Guaranteed starters: Nathaniel Mendez-Laing

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Annis and that’s what worries me Ralls guaranteed to start throw Baccuna in with him and we will be in trouble.

We need as a minimum two quality midfielders.

Annis and that’s what worries me Ralls guaranteed to start throw Baccuna in with him and we will be in trouble.

We need as a minimum two quality midfielders.

Our midfield is so weak atm I would say we need 2 real quality signings.Ralls is no where near good enough to pin our Hope's on. Bacuna what a waste of money, and another 4 years on his contract

I don't think Etheridge, Morrison and Bamba are guaranteed to start next season as they may not even be here

Etheridge and Morrison are probably our two most valuable assets and should attract interest from other clubs. And Bamba is about 34 now so I'm sure if any offers came in they would be listened to.

I don't think Etheridge, Morrison and Bamba are guaranteed to start next season as they may not even be here

Etheridge and Morrison are probably our two most valuable assets and should attract interest from other clubs. And Bamba is about 34 now so I'm sure if any offers came in they would be listened to.

I would be absolutely stunned if any Premier League team made an offer for Sean Morrison.

An extremely competent Championship defender who may attract some interest from other Championship teams but not sure he's Premier League quality.

I don't think Etheridge, Morrison and Bamba are guaranteed to start next season as they may not even be here

Etheridge and Morrison are probably our two most valuable assets and should attract interest from other clubs. And Bamba is about 34 now so I'm sure if any offers came in they would be listened to.

I would be absolutely stunned if any Premier League team made an offer for Sean Morrison.

An extremely competent Championship defender who may attract some interest from other Championship teams but not sure he's Premier League quality.

Got to agree with you here. Although he did better than I expected him to in the end. I think he's just a bit slow for the premier league but a good championship player.
Etheridge (If he's still here)
Morrisson
Bamba
Bennett
Reid
Ralls

I don't think Etheridge, Morrison and Bamba are guaranteed to start next season as they may not even be here

Etheridge and Morrison are probably our two most valuable assets and should attract interest from other clubs. And Bamba is about 34 now so I'm sure if any offers came in they would be listened to.

I would be absolutely stunned if any Premier League team made an offer for Sean Morrison.

An extremely competent Championship defender who may attract some interest from other Championship teams but not sure he's Premier League quality.

Not a chance like you said.

Annis and that’s what worries me Ralls guaranteed to start throw Baccuna in with him and we will be in trouble.

We need as a minimum two quality midfielders.

I totally agree with you! Ralls is a lower Championship level player. What are his strengths exactly because I haven't been able to figure that out? He is slow in thought and deed, isn't a great passer of the ball and constantly gets the wrong side of the player when trying to tackle.

Still work to do with Ralls future as I believe only one year left on his contract? No way club will let that run down at his age as some value to the club so either he will re sign or be sold. He’s still learning and improved a lot before his injury, it will be an interesting next month or so but we may need a completely new centre midfield if club decide to sell.......

I love it, Joe Ralls not good enough

Played 37 games in out promotion year, in a team that didn't have a decent striker, playing for a manager who probably fines you if you take more than 2 touches.

No way Sol should start ahead of Manga

Can't see Etheridge staying. £10 million profit would cancel out Warnocks "mistakes"

I think we'll build the system around Reid

Can't see any premier league team in for Morrison, he didn't have a good premier league. Same for Murphy, but he has speed, youth and is English. If he doesn't move on, him and NML need to be our 1st choice baring injuries or tiredness.

Morrison,Manga, Ralls, Reid, NML & Murphy is a great foundation for a promotion push.

I love it, Joe Ralls not good enough

Played 37 games in out promotion year, in a team that didn't have a decent striker, playing for a manager who probably fines you if you take more than 2 touches.

No way Sol should start ahead of Manga

Can't see Etheridge staying. £10 million profit would cancel out Warnocks "mistakes"

I think we'll build the system around Reid

Can't see any premier league team in for Morrison, he didn't have a good premier league. Same for Murphy, but he has speed, youth and is English. If he doesn't move on, him and NML need to be our 1st choice baring injuries or tiredness.

Morrison,Manga, Ralls, Reid, NML & Murphy is a great foundation for a promotion push.

I agree with most of what you say - Murphy and NML either side will cause most defences problems. Reid can be instrumental, sitting just behind our striker; he has pace, movement and knows how to finish. Look how many goals he bagged for a very average looking Bristol City.
However, on Ralls I'm going to have to disagree. Yes, we got promoted with him playing in midfield for us but that midfield was guilty of not retaining possession and often getting overrun. That was not a dominant midfield by any stretch of the imagination, they pressed the opposition a lot (ala Craig Bryson) but there was a distinct lack of quality in that area.

That promotion was gained on the back of a great defence, strength at set-pieces and the ability to grind out results. We got promoted despite having Ralls in midfield.