Mon Nov 15, 2021 8:36 am
‘ Leandro Bacuna and the midfield ‘
Finally, a manager who looks like he will play Leandro Bacuna in central midfield!
It was borne of necessity under Neil Harris, having failed to bring in a back-up right back and seeing Jordi Osei-Tutu sustain horrendous injury problems, but Mick McCarthy seemed belligerent in his view that Bacuna was a forward.
McCarthy deployed Bacuna on the wing, as a playmaker and even as a second striker during his reign and while the player, of course, enjoyed being given the freedom of playing further forward (who wouldn't?), it simply did not work. The fans got on his back and were outraged by the continued deployment of Bacuna at the top of the pitch.
There might be too much water under the bridge for some, but for others, they recognise that Bacuna is a very competent midfielder at Championship level. Indeed, towards the end of Neil Warnock's reign, when the midfielder was playing week in, week out in the middle of the park, he was beginning to show just what he can do.
Bacuna does offer a point of difference in midfield. He is the quickest and most athletic of the lot; he will run confidently with the ball and has a strength and low centre of gravity which makes it difficult for opponents to knock him off the ball. Having him in midfield, which Morison has opted for so far, is good for all concerned.
Indeed, the midfield as a whole will benefit from Morison's change of system. A greater emphasis on passing will utilise the midfielders far better. While Marlon Pack is prone to the odd clanger, his range of passing can be a big asset and he will be allowed to dictate proceedings far better in this system.
Joe Ralls, too, will be allowed to embark on those mazy runs we sometimes see when Cardiff are on the front foot. Sam Bowen has flourished in more advanced roles when we've seen him and he will likely embrace this new philosophy, too.
Even Will Vaulks, perhaps the biggest battler and more defensive-minded midfielder in Cardiff's squad, has spoken about how the change in style will benefit those playing in the middle.
"He has tried to instil belief in us that we can play better football, we are better players than what we’ve shown over the period of poor results," Vaulks said recently of Morison.
"[At] Stoke, we had more passes than we have done for any game previous to that this season.
"It’s something that, under the previous manager, let’s be honest about it, the midfield was bypassed a lot. It was a case of winning the fight in there, turning around and giving the ball back behind.
"We came under quite a bit of stick as midfielders for not passing the ball enough or dictating play enough, but I’d like to see any midfielder in the world come in and do that when we’re playing that style of football.
"That’s not a dig at the style of football, but that’s not what was required, getting the ball off the centre half and spraying it about.
"At Stoke, how many more passes we made, how much more we were passing the ball, that’s because of the style of football we were playing, trusting each other more.
"That does annoy me at times. People say we need someone in there who can pass the ball. We can all pass the ball if that’s required! But we do what the manager asks and if that’s to win the fight then you do that."