' The Lee Tomlin myth '
Fri Dec 20, 2019 1:12 pm
The myth Cardiff City created about Lee Tomlin and why he has proved Neil Warnock so spectacularly wrong
There never seemed to be an issue about Tomlin's ability to last 90 minutes when he played for Bristol City
By Natan Blake
Friday 20th December 2019
Cardiff City host Preston at lunchtime on Saturday hoping, momentarily at least, to draw level on points with Fulham in the play-off positions.
Personally I think the game will end in a 2-2 draw. I don't think Cardiff are yet in a position under Neil Harris where they are going to be keeping clean sheets in a game like this.
But at least they are creating, and scoring, goals from open play. And much of that is down to Lee Tomlin, who is being given his head under Harris in a way he wasn't under previous boss Neil Warnock.
' The Lee Tomlin myth '
It was Tomlin, of course, who dragged the Bluebirds back from the brink at Leeds, scoring Cardiff's first goal and then superbly setting up Robert Glatzel's equaliser at the end with his brilliant back flick.
The previous weekend, deep into injury time, he bagged the winner against Barnsley.
So what does this tell me? That Tomlin directly influences matches right to the very end, turning them back Cardiff's way - dispelling this myth that he can't play for 90 minutes.
You can see here how a myth can be created around a player, how people pick it up and run with it.
In my view, though, this myth was created by the old manager and it was exactly that - a myth.
Even though he bought Tomlin from Bristol City, and amid something of a fanfare, personally I was never convinced Warnock really wanted him in the team. He sent him off to Nottingham Forest, then Peterborough.
When he returned two stone lighter in the summer, he was in and out. At best. Never given 90 minutes, invariably substituted early on the occasions he did start.
The fans just kind of started to accept it. Hence the 'He can't last 90 minutes' cliche.
Yet I never heard that myth when Tomlin was shining for Bristol City, who, on the contrary, made sure they played so much through him.
Where was the evidence, I ask, to prove Tomlin couldn't play 90 minutes? He wasn't given a chance, but he has been under Harris.
How does he respond? By getting more match sharp, which can only come from playing regularly, and producing those matchwinning and then match-rescuing moments against Barnsley and Leeds.
I didn't see much evidence there of Tomlin tiring, or not being able to last 90 minutes.
When you're tired, your mind and technique doesn't enable you to produce such moments.
His goal against Leeds, where he put the ball in the only small area of the goal where he could have scored, was of the highest quality. The keeper was out of position and everyone was saying 'Lob him.' But with a defender straight up upon you, saying it, and executing it, are two entirely different things.
As for the flick for Glatzel's goal, that was a sign of the understanding these two can have in the final third of the pitch.
And it augurs really well, I hope, for the rest of the season.
Out of the corner of his eye, almost with periphery vision, Tomlin noticed a blue shirt running into space and he flicked the ball between two Leeds defenders and right into Glatzel's path.
We're talking about split seconds here. Glatzel made the run, anticipating a Tomlin flick; Tomlin noted the run, and put the ball through.
Tomlin knew what Glatzel was going to do and Glatzel knew what Tomlin was doing to do.
I have consistently said from first seeing him in action that Glatzel is the type of player who wants to be running on to balls like that. He doesn't want to be battling in the air with two giant centre-backs, as he was unfairly being asked him to do.
Don't just look at his size and assume he's a big target man who's good in the air, look at his footballing ability.
His strengths are anticipation and running into space and perhaps, having seen that goal against Leeds, people can see what I have been trying to point out, how Cardiff were using him wrongly.
I wasn't having a dig at anyone, I'm not here either. I'm just re-iterating the type of player Glatzel is... which is why he will love having Tomlin next to him.
Tomlin, they say, isn't the quickest. He's certainly not the most athletic of 10s. But he is two steps ahead of everybody else in his thought process, that's where his speed comes in.
How many times do we think Tomlin is about to shoot, only for him to suddenly alter his body shape and deftly put the ball into the path of a team-mate?
He's faster of mind than most and Glatzel, I feel, has that anticipation too.
These two can get lots of goals between them, if Cardiff play the right way. But there are still lots of issues for Harris to sort out on the training ground for that to happen.
There never seemed to be an issue about Tomlin's ability to last 90 minutes when he played for Bristol City
By Natan Blake
Friday 20th December 2019
Cardiff City host Preston at lunchtime on Saturday hoping, momentarily at least, to draw level on points with Fulham in the play-off positions.
Personally I think the game will end in a 2-2 draw. I don't think Cardiff are yet in a position under Neil Harris where they are going to be keeping clean sheets in a game like this.
But at least they are creating, and scoring, goals from open play. And much of that is down to Lee Tomlin, who is being given his head under Harris in a way he wasn't under previous boss Neil Warnock.
' The Lee Tomlin myth '
It was Tomlin, of course, who dragged the Bluebirds back from the brink at Leeds, scoring Cardiff's first goal and then superbly setting up Robert Glatzel's equaliser at the end with his brilliant back flick.
The previous weekend, deep into injury time, he bagged the winner against Barnsley.
So what does this tell me? That Tomlin directly influences matches right to the very end, turning them back Cardiff's way - dispelling this myth that he can't play for 90 minutes.
You can see here how a myth can be created around a player, how people pick it up and run with it.
In my view, though, this myth was created by the old manager and it was exactly that - a myth.
Even though he bought Tomlin from Bristol City, and amid something of a fanfare, personally I was never convinced Warnock really wanted him in the team. He sent him off to Nottingham Forest, then Peterborough.
When he returned two stone lighter in the summer, he was in and out. At best. Never given 90 minutes, invariably substituted early on the occasions he did start.
The fans just kind of started to accept it. Hence the 'He can't last 90 minutes' cliche.
Yet I never heard that myth when Tomlin was shining for Bristol City, who, on the contrary, made sure they played so much through him.
Where was the evidence, I ask, to prove Tomlin couldn't play 90 minutes? He wasn't given a chance, but he has been under Harris.
How does he respond? By getting more match sharp, which can only come from playing regularly, and producing those matchwinning and then match-rescuing moments against Barnsley and Leeds.
I didn't see much evidence there of Tomlin tiring, or not being able to last 90 minutes.
When you're tired, your mind and technique doesn't enable you to produce such moments.
His goal against Leeds, where he put the ball in the only small area of the goal where he could have scored, was of the highest quality. The keeper was out of position and everyone was saying 'Lob him.' But with a defender straight up upon you, saying it, and executing it, are two entirely different things.
As for the flick for Glatzel's goal, that was a sign of the understanding these two can have in the final third of the pitch.
And it augurs really well, I hope, for the rest of the season.
Out of the corner of his eye, almost with periphery vision, Tomlin noticed a blue shirt running into space and he flicked the ball between two Leeds defenders and right into Glatzel's path.
We're talking about split seconds here. Glatzel made the run, anticipating a Tomlin flick; Tomlin noted the run, and put the ball through.
Tomlin knew what Glatzel was going to do and Glatzel knew what Tomlin was doing to do.
I have consistently said from first seeing him in action that Glatzel is the type of player who wants to be running on to balls like that. He doesn't want to be battling in the air with two giant centre-backs, as he was unfairly being asked him to do.
Don't just look at his size and assume he's a big target man who's good in the air, look at his footballing ability.
His strengths are anticipation and running into space and perhaps, having seen that goal against Leeds, people can see what I have been trying to point out, how Cardiff were using him wrongly.
I wasn't having a dig at anyone, I'm not here either. I'm just re-iterating the type of player Glatzel is... which is why he will love having Tomlin next to him.
Tomlin, they say, isn't the quickest. He's certainly not the most athletic of 10s. But he is two steps ahead of everybody else in his thought process, that's where his speed comes in.
How many times do we think Tomlin is about to shoot, only for him to suddenly alter his body shape and deftly put the ball into the path of a team-mate?
He's faster of mind than most and Glatzel, I feel, has that anticipation too.
These two can get lots of goals between them, if Cardiff play the right way. But there are still lots of issues for Harris to sort out on the training ground for that to happen.
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Re: ' The Lee Tomlin myth '
Fri Dec 20, 2019 1:25 pm
Yes, not many players can score goals like that. He weights it perfectly, as was his through ball for Ward against Barnsley..it’s innate skill.
Re: ' The Lee Tomlin myth '
Fri Dec 20, 2019 1:26 pm
Apparently in talks with club about contract extension 
Re: ' The Lee Tomlin myth '
Fri Dec 20, 2019 1:48 pm
pembroke allan wrote:Apparently in talks with club about contract extension
Great news.
My only worry is that I'd imagine he's on a fair whack and I'm thinking the club may think about offering lower terms.
Hope it gets done quick though.
Is it a reliable source Al?
Re: ' The Lee Tomlin myth '
Fri Dec 20, 2019 2:58 pm
Don't often agree with Blakey but he is spot on this time as Warnock didn't/ wouldn't use either correctly.
Re: ' The Lee Tomlin myth '
Fri Dec 20, 2019 6:11 pm
JulesK wrote:Don't often agree with Blakey but he is spot on this time as Warnock didn't/ wouldn't use either correctly.
Not knocking Warnock, but I have said on a few occasions in Glatzel’s defence,he wasn't being utilised, and neither were a few others.can't wait to see how the partnership develops under Harris.
Re: ' The Lee Tomlin myth '
Fri Dec 20, 2019 10:17 pm
bluebirdoct1962 wrote:pembroke allan wrote:Apparently in talks with club about contract extension
Great news.
My only worry is that I'd imagine he's on a fair whack and I'm thinking the club may think about offering lower terms.
Hope it gets done quick though.
Is it a reliable source Al?
Re: ' The Lee Tomlin myth '
Sat Dec 21, 2019 11:18 am
JulesK wrote:Don't often agree with Blakey but he is spot on this time as Warnock didn't/ wouldn't use either correctly.