Is it now time for Tomlin as City look to regain a cutting edge?
CARDIFF City have a chance to right the wrongs form their Millwall stalemate with another home game against Ipswich Town tonight.
But how does Neil Warnock find a greater cutting edge for his side? What team should be pick against Mick McCarthy’s outfit?
With Aron Gunnarsson and Kenneth Zohore likely to miss the clash, but Joe Bennett a possible starter despite his recent injury, our experts pick their ideal teams to take on the Tractor Boys...
Time to pick Tomlin as Bluebirds playmaker - Paul Abbandonato (Head of Sport)
CARDIFF City clearly need a cutting edge — and Lee Tomlin is the man to provide it. The Bluebirds are wonderfully competitive under Neil Warnock and have made a sensational start to the season, the fans believing again that the Premier League dream could be back on.
But the next trick for Warnock is to work out how his combative, organised and difficult-to-beat approach can be married with a little more flair further forward. That’s even more important if and when Kenneth Zohore, the focal point of the side and biggest goal threat, is missing.
With or without Zohore, Cardiff have actually scored just three goals in their last six games. One of those was a last-gasp equaliser against Sheffield Wednesday, brought about as a result of a Tomlin cameo appearance.
I believe he should start as a ‘false nine’ dropping in and allowing others to run beyond him. If one man in the squad has the vision and passing ability to release the pace of MendezLaing and Hoilett, then it’s Tomlin.
Warnock likes numbers in the middle to ensure his team are never overrun. That is fair enough. By and large it has worked. But I think Loic Damour would add something in the No.10 role and given Gunnarsson’s absence maybe Bamba should return to midfield.
Abbo’s team (4-2-3-1): Etheride; Paterson, Manga, Morrison, Bennett; Bryson, Bamba; Mendez-Laing, Damour, Hoilett; Tomlin.
Five at the back could work with Paterson - Dominic Booth (Football writer)
I think most Cardiff fans were surprised to see Warnock field a five-man defence against a team like Millwall and, in truth, it didn’t really work. Cardiff weren’t able to win the midfield battles and lacked penetration going forward.
Most fans agree that Lee Tomlin ought to come into the frame after spending far too long on the periphery but the question is: how do you get him in the side? And if you revert to a four-man defence, which centre-back do you leave on the bench?
My solution is one that allows both Tomlin and Bruno Manga (who would be the defender to drop out) a place in the side.
Callum Paterson replaces Lee Peltier as a more natural and attacking wing-back and Tomlin joins MendezLaing in a free role behind Ward. It’s harsh on Junior Hoilett, but I feel Cardiff’s forward options need a little shake-up, without sacrificing the defensive resilience they are renowned for. Hoilett would be a superb option from the bench and the combination of Paterson and Mendez-Laing down the right could be a lethal one.
Dom’s team: (3-4-3) Etheridge; Manga, Morrison, Bamba; Paterson, Bryson, Ralls, Bennett; Mendez-Laing, Tomlin, Ward.
Peltier in the back three - Nathan Blake (former Bluebirds striker)
I think Cardiff need to change things up a little bit. We’ve seen fairly consistent teams from Warnock so far but, for me, they need to give a different sort of challenge to Ipswich.
I would go with three at the back, and in that system the new lad Paterson needs to play a right wing-back. But I’d want to keep Lee Peltier in the team so he drops into the back three with Bruno Manga making way.
In midfield, Lee Tomlin should play as a creative central player pushing on behind the front three, Mendez-Laing and Hoilett offering pace and Danny Ward continuing if Zohore remains injured. That way, the team has goals, pace and creativity.
Blakey’s team: (3-4-3): Etheridge: Peltier, Morrison, Bamba; Paterson, Bryson, Tomlin, Bennett; MendezLaing, Hoilett, Ward.
Pilkington should be in the mix - Scott Johnson (Fan columnist)
I thought fielding three centre backs against Millwall was a little bit unnecessary. Most of Cardiff’s attacks in the first half also ended up going through Lee Peltier. It was as if Callum Paterson had been playing from the start and it all made far more sense when he came on and Peltier switched flanks to cover for the injured Joe Bennett.
I would like to see Cardiff drop a centre back in favour of Lee Tomlin for
the visit of Ipswich and, based on Saturday, that would have to be Bruno Manga. The Millwall game was crying out for Tomlin’s craft, but he was introduced far too late to make any real impact. Should Gunnarsson and Zohore return, as Cardiff’s two best players, they would have to go straight back in to the side.
But if, as the case may be, they’re still sidelined, I’d have Bryson and Ralls stationed deep, Hoilett, Tomlin and Mendez-Laing behind Ward. But I would be tempted to go with the marginalised Anthony Pilkington up front. I would certainly have him as an option from the bench either way.
Scott’s team (4-2-3-1): Etheridge; Paterson, Bamba, Morrison, Bennett; Gunnarsson, Ralls; Hoilett, Tomlin, Mendez-Laing; Ward.