The positions Cardiff City should strengthen in January By
Tue Oct 30, 2018 10:57 am
The positions Cardiff City should strengthen in January that nobody's talking about
By Dominic Booth & Nathan Blake
Tuesday 30th October 2018
Cardiff City have a vital run of 10 Premier League fixtures before the transfer window re-opens, but to say Neil Warnock isn't already plotting his January moves would be way off the mark.
It has been extremely well documented in recent weeks that Warnock wants a striker of top flight calibre.
Callum Paterson — two goals in as many games — is proving an effective but short-term option up front, but it's nailed-on that Cardiff will foray the market for a centre forward.
Warnock, however, has been quoted as saying he wants as many as four new additions in the New Year.
And if the Bluebirds are to defy the odds and the critics to survive this season, he is justified in making that assessment. But where else needs strengthening?
Right-back
Bruno Manga is not a right back.
And you sense Bruno Manga will never be a right-back, despite some heroic displays in the position this season going head-to-head with Eden Hazard, Son Heung-Min and Sadio Mane
With Lee Peltier out with a long-term injury and Warnock seemingly unwilling to risk Jazz Richards in a back four, Manga has been a stop-gap for some time now. He's done well enough, but his skills are not a natural fit for the position.
What Cardiff need is a right-sided version of Joe Bennett: someone with the natural athleticism to get up and down the flank, someone comfortable marauding forward on the overlap but also with that defensive nous that Warnock demands.
Scour around the upper echelons of the Championship and you'll find players like Sam Byram, Andre Wisdom, Cuco Martina and, dare we suggest, Connor Roberts.
The Bluebirds require someone in the same mould, but with the necessary Premier League quality. How much will such a player cost? Upwards of £5million, you would suggest unless a loan can be agreed.
Defensive midfield
It's the Marko Grujic argument all over again — or is it? Signing Harry Arter and Victor Camarasa plugged the gap in the centre of Cardiff's team that Grujic seemed destined to fill, yet neither Arter or Camarasa are defensive-minded midfielders despite their impressive displays this season.
The worry still is Aron Gunnarsson's fitness. Taking him off at Anfield left Cardiff without that "safety valve" as Warnock put it, suggesting the manager would like another genuine holding player in January.
He doesn't seem to trust Loic Damour with anything other than a cameo appearance and Paterson's shift up front has removed another midfield option.
Gunnarssson's injury, Joe Ralls' suspension and — presumably at some stage — a suspension for Arter could leave Cardiff very short in midfield.
An experienced, physical and dominant defensive midfielder is a must. But again they will come at a premium.
There will likely be clamours for Chelsea and Wales youngster Ethan Ampadu on loan. It remains to be seen whether Warnock and his transfer team go down that route.
Winger
After the signing of Josh Murphy in the summer, the flanks were the last position Cardiff needed to strengthen.
With last season's powerhouse wide man Junior Hoilett and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing both vying to start alongside Murphy and Kadeem Harris in reserve, Warnock looked well stocked out wide.
Yet Mendez-Laing's injury and Hoilett's concerning loss of form mean Murphy is virtually a one-man wing department.
Harris has shown flickers — and gained praise from Warnock for staking a claim in training — but Cardiff probably need another speed merchant of Premier League quality.
The way Warnock has set out his side this season is reliant on width and pace.
Camarasa has even filled in on the right wing, so too Bobby Decordova-Reid, but neither are at home out there.
Someone like Ollie Watkins from Brentford, Hull's Jarred Bowen or even former Cardiff winger Tom Lawrence could be snared if Cardiff are shopping in the Championship in January.
By Dominic Booth & Nathan Blake
Tuesday 30th October 2018
Cardiff City have a vital run of 10 Premier League fixtures before the transfer window re-opens, but to say Neil Warnock isn't already plotting his January moves would be way off the mark.
It has been extremely well documented in recent weeks that Warnock wants a striker of top flight calibre.
Callum Paterson — two goals in as many games — is proving an effective but short-term option up front, but it's nailed-on that Cardiff will foray the market for a centre forward.
Warnock, however, has been quoted as saying he wants as many as four new additions in the New Year.
And if the Bluebirds are to defy the odds and the critics to survive this season, he is justified in making that assessment. But where else needs strengthening?
Right-back
Bruno Manga is not a right back.
And you sense Bruno Manga will never be a right-back, despite some heroic displays in the position this season going head-to-head with Eden Hazard, Son Heung-Min and Sadio Mane
With Lee Peltier out with a long-term injury and Warnock seemingly unwilling to risk Jazz Richards in a back four, Manga has been a stop-gap for some time now. He's done well enough, but his skills are not a natural fit for the position.
What Cardiff need is a right-sided version of Joe Bennett: someone with the natural athleticism to get up and down the flank, someone comfortable marauding forward on the overlap but also with that defensive nous that Warnock demands.
Scour around the upper echelons of the Championship and you'll find players like Sam Byram, Andre Wisdom, Cuco Martina and, dare we suggest, Connor Roberts.
The Bluebirds require someone in the same mould, but with the necessary Premier League quality. How much will such a player cost? Upwards of £5million, you would suggest unless a loan can be agreed.
Defensive midfield
It's the Marko Grujic argument all over again — or is it? Signing Harry Arter and Victor Camarasa plugged the gap in the centre of Cardiff's team that Grujic seemed destined to fill, yet neither Arter or Camarasa are defensive-minded midfielders despite their impressive displays this season.
The worry still is Aron Gunnarsson's fitness. Taking him off at Anfield left Cardiff without that "safety valve" as Warnock put it, suggesting the manager would like another genuine holding player in January.
He doesn't seem to trust Loic Damour with anything other than a cameo appearance and Paterson's shift up front has removed another midfield option.
Gunnarssson's injury, Joe Ralls' suspension and — presumably at some stage — a suspension for Arter could leave Cardiff very short in midfield.
An experienced, physical and dominant defensive midfielder is a must. But again they will come at a premium.
There will likely be clamours for Chelsea and Wales youngster Ethan Ampadu on loan. It remains to be seen whether Warnock and his transfer team go down that route.
Winger
After the signing of Josh Murphy in the summer, the flanks were the last position Cardiff needed to strengthen.
With last season's powerhouse wide man Junior Hoilett and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing both vying to start alongside Murphy and Kadeem Harris in reserve, Warnock looked well stocked out wide.
Yet Mendez-Laing's injury and Hoilett's concerning loss of form mean Murphy is virtually a one-man wing department.
Harris has shown flickers — and gained praise from Warnock for staking a claim in training — but Cardiff probably need another speed merchant of Premier League quality.
The way Warnock has set out his side this season is reliant on width and pace.
Camarasa has even filled in on the right wing, so too Bobby Decordova-Reid, but neither are at home out there.
Someone like Ollie Watkins from Brentford, Hull's Jarred Bowen or even former Cardiff winger Tom Lawrence could be snared if Cardiff are shopping in the Championship in January.
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Re: The positions Cardiff City should strengthen in January
Tue Oct 30, 2018 11:32 am
Right back, central midfield and striker, the 3 must haves of you ask me.
How long is NML out? I don't really see the need for another wide player, January is a long time as well, Hoilett could be back in form by then.
How long is NML out? I don't really see the need for another wide player, January is a long time as well, Hoilett could be back in form by then.
Re: The positions Cardiff City should strengthen in January
Tue Oct 30, 2018 11:58 am
Is it out of the question that Patterson might emerge as the centre forward we need. He has done well so far and if he got an extended run might just adapt to the position. It does not happen often but a few former centre backs have turned out to be decent centre forwards. From what I have seen so far I prefer him up front to Zohore.
Re: The positions Cardiff City should strengthen in January
Tue Oct 30, 2018 12:14 pm
who the hell wrote this?
absolutely everyone is talking about a Right back and has been for months.
absolutely everyone is talking about a Right back and has been for months.
Re: The positions Cardiff City should strengthen in January
Tue Oct 30, 2018 12:47 pm
Crayfish wrote:Is it out of the question that Patterson might emerge as the centre forward we need. He has done well so far and if he got an extended run might just adapt to the position. It does not happen often but a few former centre backs have turned out to be decent centre forwards. From what I have seen so far I prefer him up front to Zohore.
Josh Magennis used to be a goal keeper
Perhaps we can try Etheridge up top?
Re: The positions Cardiff City should strengthen in January
Tue Oct 30, 2018 5:42 pm
paulh_85 wrote:who the hell wrote this?
absolutely everyone is talking about a Right back and has been for months.
It was obvious all last season it was an area to be strengthened.
Re: The positions Cardiff City should strengthen in January
Tue Oct 30, 2018 9:50 pm
2blue2handle wrote:paulh_85 wrote:who the hell wrote this?
absolutely everyone is talking about a Right back and has been for months.
It was obvious all last season it was an area to be strengthened.
Yeah sorry not months but years
how Wales online find such a large collection of idiots astounds me