' Get the best out of Murphy and Wilson '
Next to Morrison, the other kingpin of the team under McCarthy is likely to be Kieffer Moore.
The big man has been outstanding this season, despite the chronic lack of service at times.
What happens around him, with the Bluebirds' flair players, holds the key to whether Cardiff will be more easy on the eye than they were under Harris.
Harry Wilson arrived as the marquee signing in the summer and on occasions has shown his undoubted talent.
But, certainly recently, the Liverpool loanee has looked out of sorts - demonstrating, more than anything else, what is so badly wrong with the side.
Wilson is a much better footballer than we are seeing. Hopefully McCarthy will free him up from any defensive duties, get the ball to his feet and instruct him to drop grenades around the opposition penalty box.
The case of Josh Murphy is more complicated, he divides opinion.
Those in the Murphy camp see an £11m player who has been poorly used by Cardiff, someone with pace, ability to go past players, a ferocious shot and able to score goals, but who gets an odd cameo appearance here or there, never a consistent run.
Those in the other camp see a footballer who flatters to deceive, isn't consistent enough, doesn't work hard enough and doesn't deserve his place in the team.
But if Cardiff have got Josh Murphy on their books, then Cardiff have to start properly utilising a player who cost them a fortune.
Murphy is clearly a confidence footballer. What he needs is an arm put around him, told he is an absolute key player in this side and given a proper run of matches to prove his worth.
Look at Jamal Lowe with Swansea. Do Cardiff fans really think he's got more ability than Murphy?
Yet Lowe was told by Steve Cooper he was fundamental to the game plan. He kept being told that when criticism came from the fans.
Look how Lowe has flourished under that tutelage, knowing he's not going to be dropped for a sub-par performance, or offered five minutes as a substitute. His confidence has soared as a result and he looks a really effective player.
Can that not happen with Josh Murphy, whether he has trained well or not?
Sometimes players just have to be treated differently. Normally it's the flair ones.
At 25, Murphy should be approaching his peak years. Something had to change for him and hopefully. McCarthy will recognise his talent. Then it's down to Murphy himself.
He certainly has the ability. If Murphy and Wilson start shining, and Lee Tomlin comes back into the mix, with Moore there as well the Bluebirds can have a potent front line and become a joy to watch.
Just eight days to make new signings
McCarthy recognises the quality of the underperforming squad he has inherited, but every manager wants his own players.
To that end, McCarthy has just eight days before the transfer window closes to make recommendations to Bluebirds owner Vincent Tan.
Time is tight, but the manager wants to first assess the players in training over the next couple of days, and in action at Barnsley, and then make decisions.
He is likely to want to strengthen in a couple of areas.
McCarthy may want a new centre-half, for starters, and he might also ask for a midfielder who is capable of dominating matches. Cardiff have functional players in that department, and McCarthy may be happy with them, but it's certainly an area he will look at.
Forward players? No need.
Left back? No need.
Goalkeeper? No need.
Right back? They've just signed Perry Ng.
Given the numbers on the Bluebirds' books, it's hard to see where else he needs to strengthen.
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