' LEE TOMLIN? ? '

Cardiff City's Lee Tomlin dilemma - just how does Neil Warnock fit Bluebirds' mercurial talent into his starting XI?


Tomlin could provide the bullets for Kenneth Zohore to fire


Sunday 17th September 2017


By Paul Abdanato

From pretty much the very spot where Ben Woodburn ignited Wales' World Cup dream in the last game played at Cardiff City Stadium, Lee Tomlin was on hand to help rescue the day for the Bluebirds at the ground too.

His sublime free-kick, superbly stopped by Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Keiren Westwood and eventually bundled in by Sol Bamba, earned Neil Warnock's men a draw which was celebrated wildly like a victory.

Which, unlike Wales' Woodburn-inspired triumph against Austria it wasn't of course, but such are the emotions that go with grabbing an equaliser deep, deep into stoppage time.

Fans, players and manager alike punched the air in glee at the final whistle. But in the cold light of day was it really a point gained, or was it two dropped against a team the Bluebirds would have hoped to overcome in their own Cardiff fortress?

Judge as you see fit the morning after, I guess, the feelgood immediacy of the moment having subsided. Warnock's team certainly have character and a refusal to give in until the final whistle is blown.

Perhaps the bigger question surrounds Tomlin and how, like Woodburn with Wales, the Bluebirds fit him into their starting XI?

For many of us this was the first sight of Warnock's team since before the international break, when they had roared to five wins on the trot by beating Queens Park Rangers.

If it is wrong to say it seemed like chalk and cheese, the dynamism, panache and defensive solidity we had witnessed throughout August was missing - particularly during a first-half in which the Bluebirds were incredibly lackadaisical for a Warnock team in such a big match at home.

Maybe that was simply down to the fact that Sheffield Wednesday are a damn good footballing side, likely to be in the promotion mix themselves come the end of the season.

Whatever, with Cardiff trailing, it was crying out for the introduction of Tomlin on Saturday to provide the flair, invention and cutting edge missing in the final third with Kenneth Zohore, Junior Hoilett and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing off their game.

But Tomlin wasn't brought on until the 83rd minute and barely had time to touch the ball before the free-kick that swung the game back more in the Bluebirds' favour right at the end.

There is obviously a dilemma here with Tomlin who, remember, arrived as the Bluebirds' big blue riband signing of the summer transfer window.

The fans were excited, Warnock was excited, the Cardiff hierarchy were excited.

Comparisons were being made with Jason Koumas, who shone so brightly for the Bluebirds under Dave Jones, and Adel Taarabt, mercurial magician behind QPR's Championship title-winning campaign under Warnock in 2011.

Those two were better than Tomlin, but like him they could be regarded as a luxury footballer. The stardust type of player you build your team around and trust, or who get the ride to the rescue cameo-type appearance Tomlin was afforded on Saturday.


Warnock, quite rightly, has concentrated upon making his Bluebirds hard to beat. A big part of that has centered around choosing three hard-working midfielders - Aron Gunnarsson and Joe Ralls, plus one of Loic Damour or Craig Bryson.

Tomlin actually started the early season wins over Burton and Sheffield United, and played his part in those triumphs, but has largely spent his time as a substitute since.

Warnock is a massive admirer of the qualities Damour and Bryson bring to the team, but is loathe to leave out Gunnarsson or Ralls.


Tomlin could provide the bullets for Kenneth Zohore to fire


Could one of Damour or Bryson play next to Gunnarsson, with Tomlin just in front?

That would certainly be a more adventurous-looking line-up, but could it leave the Bluebirds too exposed defensively?

This is the dilemma Warnock will be wrestling with because he loved managing Taarabt and he would love to work Tomlin back into his starting XI.

Tomlin's fitness may be an issue, but that's chicken and the egg because he needs game time to get match-sharp.

As the season draws on, Tomlin's vision and ability to pass through the eye of a needle could be just what is needed to get Zohore scoring goals again. He offers something no other Bluebirds player can.

Throw his Koumas-like skill on the ball in with his spiky character which gets under the skin of the opposition and Tomlin is the type of player who can become a real Cardiff fans' idol.

Fitting him in, without losing the organisation, discipline and shape Warnock insists upon, is the issue the manager faces.

But if Tomlin does play, he will invariably have an impact. As Wednesday found to their cost.

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For . Me to get tomlin in the side I would . Go with ralls and bryson as they have the energy to cover the . Middle to allow . Tomlin to roam not gunnerson

Give him a run of games ffs.

For . Me to get tomlin in the side I would . Go with ralls and bryson as they have the energy to cover the . Middle to allow . Tomlin to roam not gunnerson

I'd try this too. We need someone more forward thinking if we want to go out and try to win games and turn these performances around.

I agree with you. Thats our best 3 in midfield

He'll get his chance and play a part, it's a long old season were only 8 games in.

For . Me to get tomlin in the side I would . Go with ralls and bryson as they have the energy to cover the . Middle to allow . Tomlin to roam not gunnerson

I agree that is the option when looking to score goals and use gunnar/ Damour to tighten up

Reply from FB


NEL WIXON:

Am getting a bit annoyed and worried why warnock is not picking Lee tomlin in the starting 11 I think he the only one who can create in midfield if warnock played tomlin regularly and help to spark Kenneth Zohore goals drought because Kenneth Zohore has been running himself to the ground without getting help with the midfields department, also I would love to see Danny ward being played along with Kenneth Zohore, Danny ward has been looking really sharp

For . Me to get tomlin in the side I would . Go with ralls and bryson as they have the energy to cover the . Middle to allow . Tomlin to roam not gunnerson

Agree with this

Our most creative, skilful player....kept on the bench! To be honest I'm baffled. We need to play 4-4-1-1 to accommodate him.

For . Me to get tomlin in the side I would . Go with ralls and bryson as they have the energy to cover the . Middle to allow . Tomlin to roam not gunnerson

I agree that we need to get Tomlin in the starting 11. For me he's the most creative central player we have to get the best out of Zohore and as he showed Saturday, he's the dead ball specialist we're missing.

But I disagree on your other point. If Tomlin plays we also need our best defensive midfielder, which is Gunnar.

Team when all are fit
Camp

Patterson
Manga
Bamba
Bennett

Gunnerson
Bryson

Tomlin

Ward
Zahore
Mendez-Laing

We have to put both Tomlinson and Ward in the team

For . Me to get tomlin in the side I would . Go with ralls and bryson as they have the energy to cover the . Middle to allow . Tomlin to roam not gunnerson

I'd try this too. We need someone more forward thinking if we want to go out and try to win games and turn these performances around.

Same here especially at home

Team when all are fit
Camp

Patterson
Manga
Bamba
Bennett

Gunnerson
Bryson

Tomlin

Ward
Zahore
Mendez-Laing

We have to put both Tomlinson and Ward in the team

Same here I'm not convinced by Junior Hoillett and would like to see him replaced by Ward or Feeney.