Tue Sep 19, 2017 6:17 pm
' Re-address the midfield balance '
By Dominic Booth
Tuesday 19th September 2017
You can see why in most cases Warnock prefers a midfield three. On occasion this season it has worked to perfection, Loic Damour partnering Joe Ralls and Aron Gunnarsson to bring the Cardiff centre a solidarity that neither Wolves nor Aston Villa could crack. It was the ideal counter-balance to Fulham's swashbuckling football too.
But often it leaves the Bluebirds too deep in midfield and, thus, Zohore is isolated. It would not take a major overhaul of this Cardiff team to subtlety introduce a No.10 to that midfield in a tactical switch from 4-3-3 t 4-2-3-1. It wouldn't expose Cardiff in the middle, because Ralls and Gunnarsson (or Craig Bryson, or Damour) would still be there to protect the defence.
But it seems such a waste to leave a talent like Lee Tomlin on the bench. Especially when Cardiff are lacking guile in midfield and a top-notch set piece taker to boot.
If Warnock doesn't fancy letting Tomlin loose away from home against the division's big hitters he can always play an energetic player like Bryson or Damour as a No.10 with some licence to get forward. What must not happen, however, is for Cardiff to cede the midfield for long periods like they did against Wednesday.