The unexplored Cardiff City partnership we haven't seen enou

The unexplored Cardiff City partnership we haven't seen enough of


By Scott Johnson


Thursday 6th June 2019


Football is littered with ‘what if’ moments.

The one Cardiff fans have been chewing over in the last few months is what if Bobby Reid had featured more last season? Would it have made any difference?

Would he have provided the cutting edge that Cardiff lacked at times?

Unfortunately for Reid, Victor Camarasa was signed about six weeks after he joined and blocked his path to regular first team football. Neil Warnock seemed unwilling or unable to find a way to crowbar both into the side, so, more often than not, Reid watched on as Cardiff struggled to fashion chances in his absence.

The last game of the season offered a timely reminder of Reid’s talents. In Camarasa’s absence, he dovetailed beautifully with a potent front three of Josh Murphy, Kenneth Zohore and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing to embarrass Manchester United at Old Trafford.

It was the best possible way to end the season, ahead of the summer break. Cardiff looked in good shape for a swift return to the top flight and now that Camarasa has returned to Real Betis, Reid will surely be an integral part of the side. Or will he?

Another absentee for the trip to Manchester was Callum Paterson, who missed the final month of the season after picking up an ankle injury on international duty with Scotland. He was a big loss for the final few games, but will be fit and firing for the new season and that may prove bad news for Reid.

Paterson is one of Warnock’s tried and trusted lieutenants, usually playing somewhere when fit. When Zohore was not cutting the mustard, Paterson was called upon to fill in up top and did a sterling job. You could argue that he was actually more effective than loanee Oumar Niasse and maybe Cardiff would have fared better by keeping him in the side. Another what if.


The side Cardiff fielded at Old Trafford was just about first choice, but you imagine Paterson will be in there somewhere and it may again be at the expense of Reid. Paterson often played in the number 10 role during Cardiff’s promotion season and responded with 10 goals. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him re-employed in that role.

Last season, Camarasa, Reid and Paterson scored five, five and four goals respectively, but Reid made half as many starts as Camarasa and played 10 games less than Paterson. He always impressed when called upon and at times, like Camarasa, looked a cut above those around him.

Reid also showed signs of a good understanding with Murphy, who is also a technically gifted - albeit a consistently inconsistent - versatile attacker. It took until the United game for Cardiff to select Reid, Murphy and Zohore together, to thrilling effect. I was left with the assumption from Warnock’s summer dealings that incorporating them as a trio was always the plan, but it never materialised. Yet another what if!

Of course, Warnock will be in the market for attacking options over the summer and the Cardiff squad may look rather different by August. It’s not out of the question that some of these players might attract Premier League interest too, although that does seem unlikely and Cardiff appear under no pressure to sell anyway.

It also feels like it will be either/or with Reid and Paterson, but they may not be as mutually exclusive as Reid and Camarasa proved. In Cardiff’s most thrilling attacking display last season, Reid played behind Paterson as both scored in the 4-2 thrashing of Fulham.

In the 2-0 win over Bournemouth, Niasse headed up the attack and Paterson moved over to the right. That worked rather well too, as Reid bagged both goals and Paterson was the target for diagonal balls, as he drifted in from the flank.


Cardiff are likely to soon bring in a striker, but it is unlikely to be anyone coming off the back of a 20+ goal season. I doubt that Cardiff can afford someone like Neal Maupay, Dwight Gayle or Che Adams, so chances are that they may not necessarily buy better than what they already have.

That may not be such a bad thing because I think there is a lot of potential in a possible partnership between Paterson and Reid. They are versatile enough to swap between the number 9 and 10 roles, offering a fluid threat. They also both always put in a shift and have both shown a keen eye for goal when a chance presents itself.

Standing in their way is Zohore, who looked sharp at Old Trafford, but far too often has not. It feels a little like when Joe Mason was at the club and everyone kept waiting for him to recapture the brilliant form of his first season with the club, but he never quite managed it. Hopefully that is not the case for Zohore and he’s back for good like Take That, but you can’t wait forever and some lost patience long ago.

If Zohore is not cutting it, Paterson has already proven that he can step in, if required. Reid is adept just behind, so the Big Dane’s number may finally be up. If Zohore remains a fixture though, Reid and Paterson may be required to duke it out as the support act. If that proves the case, history suggests that Reid may be the odd man out once more.

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Well know which two out of that I'd go with, Time for Ken to move on imho.

That front 4 would tear up the championship. But if the midfield isn't sorted we'll also be torn apart at the back...

Expect a lot of 4-4 draws. Hahaha.

FOREVER BLUE

You say we could not afford to pay to much for a striker such as the ones you listed, why?
Are we still in the bargain basment, with the tv profits supposedly 114 million and parachute payments,
Surely this is the one area of the field we should push the boat out for a top striker, this was glaringly obvious all this season just gone.

I would love to see Reid, Murphy and Mendez in the team at the same time. Add on to that Hoilette (if still here) and Harris.
And I think we have a some real pace in the side. The defence is fine as it is. Need a midfield general from somewhere and we need to work out what we are doing with Ken (or rather Ken needs to work out what he wants to do with his career).

Cant wait.

I agree though - we need to spend a little bit more on a proven striker. Doubt we'll that person from league 1 or even a championship team. So it's going to have to be from abroad or wait until the PL teams have a cull and see who is available

FOREVER BLUE

You say we could not afford to pay to much for a striker such as the ones you listed, why?
Are we still in the bargain basment, with the tv profits supposedly 114 million and parachute payments,
Surely this is the one area of the field we should push the boat out for a top striker, this was glaringly obvious all this season just gone.

The comments are not from Forever Blue. The report is from Scott Johnson.

MOODYBLUEBIRD

apologies for mistake.

MOODYBLUEBIRD

apologies for mistake.

Nice for someone to acknowledge a mistake However, don't you think your original point is still valid? We have earned £130m PL payments with another £80m in parachute payments over the next two years.

You have to deduct running costs (plus the cost of the new training ground) but we must be in a very healthy financial position.

Surely we can afford a good striker especially if we have some out going players such as Etheridge and Manga.

I think Paterson has all the attributes to be a decent centre midfielder.

Think he would score plenty.

I think Paterson has all the attributes to be a decent centre midfielder.

Think he would score plenty.

To be honest he seems to have the attributes to play anywhere apart from right-back

I would also like to see how he would do in centre midfield

TONY BLUE WILLIAMS

patterson could end up wearing gloves next season," in goal"
he's played every other position.

MOODYBLUEBIRD

apologies for mistake.

No apologies needed Monty but cheers anyhow.

I'll prob get shot down for this but I honestly don't think we need to sign a striker. Ward, Zohore, Reid, Patterson all capable of doing a job and I still have a feeling Healey could come good.

NML and Murphy will get goals as well if we hold onto them.