' Will Vaulks '
Sun Jan 26, 2020 8:00 pm
Cardiff City's Will Vaulks puts down West Brom marker with performance seven months in the making
By Glen Williams
Sunday 26th January 2020
The Bluebirds were unlucky not to come away with an FA Cup win at Reading, but one Cardiff City player certainly courted plaudits from the fans
After seven months and the most difficult period of his career, Will Vaulks finally showed Cardiff City fans what he is about.
The Wales midfielder has been a frustrated figure since joining back in June for an initial fee thought to be around £2.1million.
But in the 1-1 FA Cup draw at Reading, he was excellent at either end of the pitch - and put down a marker for Neil Harris to start him in the Championship clash with West Brom on Tuesday night.
Cardiff's midfield has come in for a lot of criticism this season, with a lack of legs, athleticism and creativity often cited.
But Vaulks has just demonstrated what might still be to come from him... and there is a beautiful symmetry to this, too.
Back in August, the Royals inflicted a 3-0 hammering on Neil Warnock's Bluebirds and the midfielder bore the brunt of some fans' frustrations.
He was hooked at half-time that day and subsequently admitted that his relationship with Warnock changed from then on. Warnock didn't give him much of a look in after that.
Vaulks had reached a point where he had even considered going out on loan this month to get game time under his belt ahead of Euro 2020 this summer.
But, since Neil Harris took the reins, Vaulks has been afforded more opportunities and, to his credit, he certainly took his chance at Reading.
At the Madejski Stadium, the scene of his lowest point in a Bluebirds shirt, it clicked into place and we finally saw what Will Vaulks was about.
In defence he was uncompromising and positionally superb. He intercepted threatening passes and harried and pressed the excellent Charlie Adam, who was the pick of the Reading players, to stop him wielding his wand of a left foot.
In attack he sent constant reminders that the defence should not afford him space on the edge of the area.
In the first half, Vaulks cracked a stinging half-volley from 25 yards, which the sprawling Sam Walker in the Reading net could only parry to Gavin Whyte, but the winger narrowly missed the follow-up.
But the hosts did not learn their lesson and Vaulks continued to pull the strings in dangerous areas.
Cardiff had a good shout for a penalty just minutes after when the Welshman was hauled down by Teddy Howe in the penalty area after some smart footwork, but referee Marc Edwards waved away the Bluebirds' claims.
But Vaulks would not be put off. He unleashed a thunderbolt of an effort not long after that and it whistled by the post.
We have seen he can be a goal threat this season and is capable of pulling off the spectacular. In the 6-1 thrashing at QPR, City's solitary goal came by virtue of a superb strike from Vaulks.
We know this is a team in transition and perhaps the more direct approach is still the way forward. So Vaulks' throw-ins to the likes of Callum Paterson and Aden Flint are really posing a threat to opposition defences.
Importantly, he filled the void that was left when Joe Ralls was substituted after 30 minutes. He ensured Ralls' early exit was not felt too harshly in the middle of the park.
Crucially, moving forward, he is really part of this midfield debate now.
With Ralls struggling with his fitness in recent months, Vaulks is pushing Marlon Pack and Leandro Bacuna for those midfield spots.
And with a flurry of important games in such a short space of time, many fans, perhaps rightly, believe he should keep hold of the shirt.
By Glen Williams
Sunday 26th January 2020
The Bluebirds were unlucky not to come away with an FA Cup win at Reading, but one Cardiff City player certainly courted plaudits from the fans
After seven months and the most difficult period of his career, Will Vaulks finally showed Cardiff City fans what he is about.
The Wales midfielder has been a frustrated figure since joining back in June for an initial fee thought to be around £2.1million.
But in the 1-1 FA Cup draw at Reading, he was excellent at either end of the pitch - and put down a marker for Neil Harris to start him in the Championship clash with West Brom on Tuesday night.
Cardiff's midfield has come in for a lot of criticism this season, with a lack of legs, athleticism and creativity often cited.
But Vaulks has just demonstrated what might still be to come from him... and there is a beautiful symmetry to this, too.
Back in August, the Royals inflicted a 3-0 hammering on Neil Warnock's Bluebirds and the midfielder bore the brunt of some fans' frustrations.
He was hooked at half-time that day and subsequently admitted that his relationship with Warnock changed from then on. Warnock didn't give him much of a look in after that.
Vaulks had reached a point where he had even considered going out on loan this month to get game time under his belt ahead of Euro 2020 this summer.
But, since Neil Harris took the reins, Vaulks has been afforded more opportunities and, to his credit, he certainly took his chance at Reading.
At the Madejski Stadium, the scene of his lowest point in a Bluebirds shirt, it clicked into place and we finally saw what Will Vaulks was about.
In defence he was uncompromising and positionally superb. He intercepted threatening passes and harried and pressed the excellent Charlie Adam, who was the pick of the Reading players, to stop him wielding his wand of a left foot.
In attack he sent constant reminders that the defence should not afford him space on the edge of the area.
In the first half, Vaulks cracked a stinging half-volley from 25 yards, which the sprawling Sam Walker in the Reading net could only parry to Gavin Whyte, but the winger narrowly missed the follow-up.
But the hosts did not learn their lesson and Vaulks continued to pull the strings in dangerous areas.
Cardiff had a good shout for a penalty just minutes after when the Welshman was hauled down by Teddy Howe in the penalty area after some smart footwork, but referee Marc Edwards waved away the Bluebirds' claims.
But Vaulks would not be put off. He unleashed a thunderbolt of an effort not long after that and it whistled by the post.
We have seen he can be a goal threat this season and is capable of pulling off the spectacular. In the 6-1 thrashing at QPR, City's solitary goal came by virtue of a superb strike from Vaulks.
We know this is a team in transition and perhaps the more direct approach is still the way forward. So Vaulks' throw-ins to the likes of Callum Paterson and Aden Flint are really posing a threat to opposition defences.
Importantly, he filled the void that was left when Joe Ralls was substituted after 30 minutes. He ensured Ralls' early exit was not felt too harshly in the middle of the park.
Crucially, moving forward, he is really part of this midfield debate now.
With Ralls struggling with his fitness in recent months, Vaulks is pushing Marlon Pack and Leandro Bacuna for those midfield spots.
And with a flurry of important games in such a short space of time, many fans, perhaps rightly, believe he should keep hold of the shirt.
Re: ' Will Vaulks '
Sun Jan 26, 2020 8:18 pm
I thought he played well yesterday, a more mobile option over Pack
Re: ' Will Vaulks '
Sun Jan 26, 2020 11:03 pm
One to keep .
Re: ' Will Vaulks '
Mon Jan 27, 2020 2:28 am
bluebird1972 wrote:I thought he played well yesterday, a more mobile option over Pack
I agree,pack if we need to close a game out,but Vaulks to start for me,loads of energy from him Saturday, hope he continues in the same vein.
Re: ' Will Vaulks '
Mon Jan 27, 2020 7:23 am
bluesince62 wrote:bluebird1972 wrote:I thought he played well yesterday, a more mobile option over Pack
I agree,pack if we need to close a game out,but Vaulks to start for me,loads of energy from him Saturday, hope he continues in the same vein.
I agree though he needs to keep his performances at that level.
Re: ' Will Vaulks '
Mon Jan 27, 2020 9:13 am
bluesince62 wrote:bluebird1972 wrote:I thought he played well yesterday, a more mobile option over Pack
I agree,pack if we need to close a game out,but Vaulks to start for me,loads of energy from him Saturday, hope he continues in the same vein.
He's probably knackered after that!!!
Re: ' Will Vaulks '
Mon Jan 27, 2020 12:27 pm
He also scored 7 goals in the Championship for bottom of the table Rotherham last season more than our Strikers put together this season and only needs a run in the team to get more goals, must play against WBA with Ralls if fit?
Re: ' Will Vaulks '
Mon Jan 27, 2020 12:37 pm
HarriRhys22 wrote:He also scored 7 goals in the Championship for bottom of the table Rotherham last season more than our Strikers put together this season and only needs a run in the team to get more goals, must play against WBA with Ralls if fit?
He played well, I think he may lose his place as many others due to the Sat, Tues and Fri games in quick succession?
Re: ' Will Vaulks '
Mon Jan 27, 2020 3:25 pm
He just couldn't get it together until that impressive performance against Reading. Deserves more chances and i think he will get them
Re: ' Will Vaulks '
Mon Jan 27, 2020 3:44 pm
Don't get too excited about a performance against a poor reading 2nd team. He needs to do it in the league!
Re: ' Will Vaulks '
Tue Jan 28, 2020 12:59 am
HarriRhys22 wrote:He also scored 7 goals in the Championship for bottom of the table Rotherham last season more than our Strikers put together this season and only needs a run in the team to get more goals, must play against WBA with Ralls if fit?
Hmmmmmmmm but that one statement of him scoring 7 goals being more than our forwards combined,is incorrect!! Ward 6 goals,Glatzel 4 goals,in my world that's 10 goals between them,3 more than vaulks
but on your comment of him needing a run of games,I fully agree,would like to see him,ralls and Tomlin playing together a lot more,could be the cog we have been missing 
Re: ' Will Vaulks '
Tue Jan 28, 2020 1:07 am
HarriRhys22 wrote:He also scored 7 goals in the Championship for bottom of the table Rotherham last season more than our Strikers put together this season and only needs a run in the team to get more goals, must play against WBA with Ralls if fit?
if only football could be measured so easily...