The Flint-Morrison dilemma By Nathan Blake

The Flint-Morrison dilemma


By Nathan Blake

Friday 20th December 2019


It's easy to look at the Tomlin inspired last 15 minutes against Leeds and focus on that, but what about the horrors of the first 75 minutes?

Look, we know Cardiff keep going right until the end. They did under Warnock, they clearly do the same under Harris.

But why do we keep starting so badly? There are so many areas of the team that need fixing - basic defending, the shape of the side in and out of possession of the ball.

Part of the problem is the Aden Flint and Sean Morrison pairing at the back. They are each good Championship defenders, but they are also a carbon copy of one another and partnerships are about a blend.

Because Flint and Morrison lack pace, they sit too deep at times to compensate. That means our midfield also have to drop in, which in turn means there is too big a gap up to the front men.

You need to be compact in football, press together, move up together, drop together, but Cardiff are far too stretched.

That means a team like Leeds just cut through us, dominating the ball right from the off. There are massive gaps for the opposition to run in to. They look good, we look poor.

But the good news for Cardiff, in a bizarre way, is that the problems are of our own making. Thus they are fixable.

Something needs to change. The defence, and the side, has looked a lot better with Curtis Nelson at the back. He has more mobility and speed than either Flint or Morrison.

The fact Harris dropped Nelson at Leeds surprised and disappointed me. But he will be back against Preston, with Morrison suspended and Flint injured.






That could mean a new pairing of Nelson, with Sol Bamba next to him?

Everyone knows what I think about Sol, the qualities he brings to the side, although I'd just caution against putting too much expectation upon him straight away, given his age and the fact he's returning from a bad injury.

We don't want to see Sol having to stretch those gangly legs for last-ditch tackles, his speciality, against Preston, in case a hamstring goes. He needs to work his way back in because there is a world of difference between under-23s football and the Championship. It's like ordering a bacon sandwich or a steak meal.

What Sol can bring, though, are the verbals and leadership. Let him lead Nelson, make him an even better player. Nelson, Lee Peltier and Joe Bennett can do some of Sol's covering on this occasion.

Marlon Pack can also offer support in front.

As I say, I feel this is probably a game too early for Sol and Cardiff to win. But, as per normal, they'll be competitive and with Tomlin playing are always in with a chance of producing a goal out of nothing.

Tomlin and Glatzel can cement their partnership up top; is this a chance for Harris to see what Nelson and Bamba can do together at the back?

There is no Flint dilemma for me. Flint had a couple good performances a few weeks ago, but other that he's consistently tragic. Take last week for example, we were 2-0 down in 7 minutes with Flint, one of the goals was a corner counter so he can't be blamed for it, however we looked like conceding every second Flint was on the pitch. When Nelson replaced Flint we were much more compact, they didn't have any clear cut chances, the only goal we conceded for Nelson's 55 minutes on the pitch was a penalty committed from no particular danger, and not Nelson' fault.

Morrison OR Bamba next to Nelson will work wonders. Flint though is too clumsy and there's a reason why we've conceded more with him in the team than we have in years.

I don't think there is a Flint-Morrison dilemma, its plainly obvious they must not play together without a major injury crisis. Im still amazed that Harris chose them last week and dropped Nelson. If it was Harris first game I would have understood but it wasn't and he claims to have watched back all our games and still chose them together, I honestly cant get my head around it.

No dilemma for me either. Morrison and Flint to play together every time opposition will play long balls to two 6'2 strikers. Every other game they don't.

Morrisons form has not been what it was in promotion season. I think he is better than Flint but no doubt hampered by his various injuries.

I just don't see Flint as a top end championship defender

The gaffers already identified the problem,the fix is getting all to buy into it.When we lose possession the gap between the midfield and defence is often huge.The problem for Flint and Mozza is if they squeeze up flat they can get caught out by striker playing off their shoulder too but not so much with Bamba and Nelson it is hoped.

A decent article by Blake as most fans have realised that the pairing doesn’t work.
Let’s hope it’s clicked with Harris as well because I’m amazed at the side he picked against Leeds.

A decent article by Blake as most fans have realised that the pairing doesn’t work.
Let’s hope it’s clicked with Harris as well because I’m amazed at the side he picked against Leeds.

I’d back Harris and Warnock’s football knowledge over Blakey’s any day. There’s good reason why he never became a manager.

Blake is good when he talks about technique when playing, particularly as a striker, but for the rest of it he just sounds like a lazy fan who makes assumptions without watching carefully and checking facts.

A decent article by Blake as most fans have realised that the pairing doesn’t work.
Let’s hope it’s clicked with Harris as well because I’m amazed at the side he picked against Leeds.

I’d back Harris and Warnock’s football knowledge over Blakey’s any day. There’s good reason why he never became a manager.

Blake is good when he talks about technique when playing, particularly as a striker, but for the rest of it he just sounds like a lazy fan who makes assumptions without watching carefully and checking facts.

You can say that about any punter getting paid to write articles.

As an example, I’d back Mourinho against Scholes as a manager with football knowledge any day but Scholes still made valid points occasionally.

Blake talks some shite at times but also gets a lot right.

Mostly talks shit though.
I’ve been told he hardly writes any of it himself either.

Don’t know if that’s true, but some of the stuff he comes out with sounds like it’s been written by some miserable fecker off social media.

I have my suspicions too

A decent article by Blake as most fans have realised that the pairing doesn’t work.
Let’s hope it’s clicked with Harris as well because I’m amazed at the side he picked against Leeds.

decent ?
the tomlin MYTH
myths are about king Arthur and dragons....not about something that was not said.. but did actually happen at 5 clubs under 5 managers....not sure its possible to write a more stupid article...
followed up by a general pop at NW... loved the player but as a pundit you shouldn't just be writing shit..

i think its a good article