Josh Murphy and Bobby Reid

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Josh Murphy and Bobby Reid

Postby Forever Blue » Sat Jul 21, 2018 7:56 am

Josh Murphy and Bobby Reid are already indispensable and other things we learned from Cardiff City's draw with Torquay -

By Tom Coleman

Saturday 21st July 2018

After the rain, comes the drought.

Cardiff City's first two games on the pre-season tour of Devon and Cornwall had been littered with goals, with players boosting their confidence against inferior opposition.

Torquay United, despite sitting five divisions below the visitors, had other ideas and ground out a 1-1 draw at Plainmoor to give more cause for thought amid Bluebirds fans.

After Josh Murphy's well-taken opener, Ruairi Keating was the toast of the hosts to ensure Neil Warnock had plenty to ponder on the journey back to South Wales.

This is what he might have learned from the Torquay result...



Reid and Murphy already indispensable?

It feels strange to say it, given how effective Cardiff's forward players were during their sensational promotion last season, but new signings Josh Murphy and Bobby Reid already feel like integral components of this revamped side.

Nobody, bar perhaps Junior Hoilett - who accompanied them in an attacking trio in the first half at Torquay - can control the ball at such close quarters. Few have the vision of Reid, the pace of Murphy, the trickery of both.

Cardiff City trio Bobby Reid (L), Josh Murphy (C) and Greg Cunningham (R)
Warnock's decision to remove both his new boys - who came at a combined cost of £21million - was completely understandable.

As he explained after the match : "If you want to win the game, you don't want to bring people like Murphy and Reid off, but it's all about minutes.

"Those two have done more than enough minutes this pre-season so it was important they only played until half-time and then have the weekend off."

There was something in that response that suggested even Warnock knows how important Murphy and Reid will be next season. They have the ability to play in between the lines, something Cardiff weren't renowned for in the Championship - but something that will be vital against top Premier League sides.

Without the duo after the break at Torquay, the Bluebirds looked just a little stodgy, a little short of ideas in the final third.

Warnock is completely right to wrap Murphy and Reid in cotton wool and get them ready for Bournemouth on August 11. They are already crucial.

A new midfielder a must

It was telling that Joe Ralls completed 90 minutes in two of the three games on Cardiff's pre-season tour - against Tavistock and Torquay.

That's not just an indication of how Warnock sees Ralls, the non-stop metronome of the Bluebirds' midfield, but something that shows just how much a new central midfielder is needed.

Samir Nabi of Torquay is tackled by Joe Ralls of Cardiff City
Yes, Aron Gunnarsson is still to return and will no doubt play a huge role.

But Callum Paterson playing in a deeper-lying midfield role didn't seem a natural fit and Loic Damour doesn't have the range of passing that someone like Marko Grujic possesses.

Warnock insists he is still optimistic about securing the Grujic deal , but the transfer continues to rumble on and Cardiff might have to prioritise other targets.

But he will also have some irons in the fire and may choose to spend the rest of his budget on a midfielder rather than also pursue a striker. It was apparent throughout the pre-season tour that Cardiff are thin in midfield.

Zohore's return will take time

If there's one thing we've learned about Kenneth Zohore in the past 18 months, it is that he often takes time to hit maximum speed.

The Dane looks a physical specimen this season, perhaps even bigger and stronger than before.

And some of his link-up play against Torquay was excellent, with the finish not quite there on this occasion.

But just like when he was returning from injury around Christmas time, Cardiff shouldn't rush their kingpin striker. Zohore is one of those players who needs game time before becoming the unstoppable freight train Bluebirds fans know and love.

The striker has admitted this is already the "best summer of his life", after promotion and the birth of his child.

A couple of goals before the Premier League gets under way would make it even better.


Who is winning goalkeeper race?

Neither Neil Etheridge nor Alex Smithies has been overly tested in pre-season so far, but both might feel they could have done more to prevent the one goal each they have conceded.

Smithies' distribution was good in the 45 minutes he played against Torquay, while he was untroubled in terms of saves to make.

Etheridge meanwhile committed himself a touch too soon when Keating race through on goal and will be disappointed to have his tour clean sheet spoiled in the final game.

Based on last season's performance and being the 'man in possession', you would still give the starting jersey to Etheridge at the moment. But the battle is on. Next week's pre-season games might prove a better barometer of who Warnock considers his No.1 goalkeeper.
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Josh Murphy and Bobby Reid

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