Steve Morison: ‘ Curtis Nelson ‘

Morison heaps praise on Nelson

Cardiff City boss Steve Morison has hailed the impact of Curtis Nelson during Saturday's 2-1 win over Reading.

Nelson made his first league start since January against the Royals, and even took the armband after Joe Ralls was replaced. You can read more about that here.

With the futures of Aden Flint and Sean Morrison still up in the air due to their respective contract situations, there is every chance Nelson could be more heavily involved next season, although his efforts during the current campaign have admittedly been hampered by a calf problem. Morison was certainly pleased with what he saw from the centre-back in Berkshire, and explained his reasoning for giving the former Oxford United starlet a run out.



"Having Nels back was great because it gave us the ability to have someone who's really good in one v one situations," Morison explained after the win. "That's why he came back in the team.

"He was excellent. He's excellent all the time and it's been a tough one for him. He had a little knock that he didn't think too much of and then it escalated into being something a little bit more that we had to manage properly. I'm really pleased and proud."

Not sure on Nelson myself. Had a really, really good first season under Harris in a back four but he seems to really struggle in a back 5. Maybe the coaching staff know that too and they were waiting for the right time to go back to a 4 and to bring Nelson back in.

If he’s a first choice CB next season with NG then we lose a lot of our attacking threat at set pieces and will concede more goals as we did on Saturday. I’m all for a ball playing cb but I would prioritise physical attributes for a centre back over anything in my opinion.

Nelson is a beast and great in the air. What he doesn't have is that height as he's slightly shorter than the others.

He's probably the only one of the three (Flint and Moz) that will be here next year. Him and McGuinness at CB with. Defensive full backs. Ng and Bagan at the minute. And play with some proper wingers. Wouldn't be a bad back 4 in a 4231.

He is very poor passing the ball to another team mate, so if we want to play the ball out from the back, er maybe not him⚽

He is very poor passing the ball to another team mate, so if we want to play the ball out from the back, er maybe not him⚽

McGuiness isn’t great at that either.

Nelson is a beast and great in the air. What he doesn't have is that height as he's slightly shorter than the others.

He's probably the only one of the three (Flint and Moz) that will be here next year. Him and McGuinness at CB with. Defensive full backs. Ng and Bagan at the minute. And play with some proper wingers. Wouldn't be a bad back 4 in a 4231.

I think if we relied on Nelson and Bagan as mainstays in our back four then we will finish next season roughly where we are now. If flint and Morrison are going then a new centre back will need to be brought in with Nelson as the backup.

This worries me going into next season. Nelson's distribution is awful. We need somebody comfortable who can carry the ball out from the back. Also gets done in the air to many times. We need better.

Statistically. There are only two defenders better than Nelson and as it stands both of them are leaving. Moz and Flint. He loses less possession in the air (of which he excels, not sure what others are watching) and on the floor.

He has won more duels than McGuinness and has better poasession retention than Ng.

I know this board loves a scapegoat. But as it stands he's the best we're gonna have next season. Of course we want better, even Man City are always on the look out for better players.

Nelson did well Saturday. Plays better in a back 4. And we won. Long may it continue.

Statistically. There are only two defenders better than Nelson and as it stands both of them are leaving. Moz and Flint. He loses less possession in the air (of which he excels, not sure what others are watching) and on the floor.

He has won more duels than McGuinness and has better poasession retention than Ng.

I know this board loves a scapegoat. But as it stands he's the best we're gonna have next season. Of course we want better, even Man City are always on the look out for better players.

Nelson did well Saturday. Plays better in a back 4. And we won. Long may it continue.

Nelson was also part of the team that went on an horrendous run of defeats and made at least one mistake in every single one of those games. His last game away at Bristol city before he was injured he set one of their goals up with a beautiful tackle on…Aden Flint. Bloke isn’t championship quality unfortunately.

Statistically. There are only two defenders better than Nelson and as it stands both of them are leaving. Moz and Flint. He loses less possession in the air (of which he excels, not sure what others are watching) and on the floor.

He has won more duels than McGuinness and has better poasession retention than Ng.

I know this board loves a scapegoat. But as it stands he's the best we're gonna have next season. Of course we want better, even Man City are always on the look out for better players.

Nelson did well Saturday. Plays better in a back 4. And we won. Long may it continue.

Nelson was also part of the team that went on an horrendous run of defeats and made at least one mistake in every single one of those games. His last game away at Bristol city before he was injured he set one of their goals up with a beautiful tackle on…Aden Flint. Bloke isn’t championship quality unfortunately.

So were 10 others. As I said. Some like to point fingers. And unfortunately next season he's the best we've got. Support the lad.