Sun Nov 14, 2021 3:15 pm
‘ Sean Morrison/Aden Flint ‘
There was a school of thought under Neil Harris that Sean Morrison and Aden Flint could not play together. They were too similar, too slow in a two-centre-back system.
Given the emergence of Mark McGuinness, it looks likely one of the above will be pushed to the side. McGuinness has largely been fantastic this season, although his howler against Huddersfield Town will be a blot on his copybook.
Morrison has not been himself recently, whether that is a hangover from a series of injuries to his calf and elbow it is not quite known, but he is not showing the form he did last season when he was included in the Championship Team of the Season.
Flint, meanwhile, has probably been Cardiff's most consistent centre back, all things considered. He has been monstrous in the air, propped up Cardiff's goal tally early doors and has largely been sound.
Morison appears to favour the pace of Curtis Nelson and the mobility of McGuinness, meaning that one of Flint or captain Morrison has been left out of the starting lineup in each of the manager's three games in charge.
Morrison, Flint and Nelson were all preferred under McCarthy and performed well last season, but it has been the right call to break that up in recent weeks to afford McGuinness his opportunity.
Another interesting aspect of this dilemma is that Morrison and Flint are both out of contract next summer. Big contract talks will be under way soon enough and they are both on sizeable wages.
Whether both, one or none are at the club this time next year is a big talking point as things stand - but who will be given the biggest chance to earn a new deal?