BRUNO’S CENTRAL TO CITY SUCCESS
THE PLAYERS CARDIFF HAVE TO TURN TO IN BID TO BEAT DROP:
A SECOND Premier League win is in the bag for Cardiff City and the nature of their 2-1 triumph over Brighton will please many supporters.
It’s not often the Bluebirds dominate possession and carve out so many chances, albeit against 10-men opponents.
So, despite second-half fears that Cardiff would struggle to assert themselves on a game that was there for the taking following Dale Stephens’ sending-off, they eventually knocked the door down thanks to some fleet-footed forward play.
Neil Warnock, therefore, will be compelled to use the nature of victories over Fulham and Brighton as a template for the next six or seven matches, which offer the chance for Cardiff to pick up more points.
So, which players must he now consider for a regular starting place?
KADEEM HARRIS
If you’d told Cardiff fans in the summer that Kadeem Harris would quickly become one of their key Premier League players, they wouldn’t have believed you.
Yet following a number of impactful substitute appearances – and some excellent displays in training, according to Warnock – Harris was entrusted with his first start of the
season against Brighton. And he delivered.
Providing a genuine right-wing option, which Cardiff haven’t had this season since Nathaniel MendezLaing’s injury, Harris hugged the touchline and chose his moments to pounce. Gaetan Bong struggled to contain his searing pace and ability to
dart beyond the full-back.
Harris deserved to score with a stonking left-foot curler that smashed off the crossbar in the second half, but he had already played a key role in carving out Callum Paterson’s opener.
The 25-year-old was deservedly named man of the match and even found himself in pundits’ Teams Of The Week on Monday morning.
He shouldn’t be displaced at the moment.
BOBBY DECORDOVA-REID
Flitting in and out of the Cardiff team this season, there are echoes of Lee Tomlin’s 2017/18 situation in the one engulfing Reid right now. In other words, Cardiff have a naturally talented No.10 who they cannot always fit into their side – even though Warnock is clearly a fan.
You feel, however, that Reid is ready to make a huge mark on this campaign. He’s desperate to build on an excellent display (and a first topflight goal) against Fulham but hasn’t competed 90 minutes since.
In truth, he was ineffectual in the games against Chelsea, Man City and Liverpool, but will feel frustrated to have played a combined 44 minutes across the Newcastle, Huddersfield and Brighton contests – the games that would have suited his adventurous style.
The former Bristol City star is a luxury Cardiff must indulge when faced with the ‘lesser’ teams.
He made a big difference as a substitute against Brighton and can do something similar in the next batch of games. The Bluebirds just need to devise a system that suits him.
JOE BENNETT
There will be those who claim Bennett’s demotion to the bench against Brighton was justified. He made a bad mistake in allowing Demarai Gray to score for Leicester a week earlier.
Greg Cunningham didn’t do much wrong coming into the side either.
Yet there is a feeling with Bennett that he has plenty more to offer, especially from an attacking perspective.
He’s the most able Cardiff full-back when it comes to overlapping, the most adept crossing in the final third.
With the onus on Warnock’s side to cause problems for their opponents in the coming weeks and months, Bennett seems the obvious choice at left-back, despite the solidity Cunningham brings.
BRUNO MANGA
This might sound strange given Manga has played every single minute (in all competitions) for Cardiff this season, the only player to do so.
Yet in the Premier League, the Gabon international has just 200 minutes in his favoured centre-back position. He’s largely been a stand-in right-back – and a good one too.
Is he being wasted?
Manga needed just 20 minutes in the heart of defence against Brighton to showcase his ability, once Sean Morrison had gone off injured and replace by Lee Peltier.
He won countless headers, passed the ball out with composure and showed rock-solid strength.
So, the question rears its head once again, should Warnock accommodate Manga at centre-back?
Dropping either Sol Bamba or Sean Morrison would be a bold call, so Manga in a back three may become an option over the next month or so, particularly with midfield options limited.
There is no question that Manga is more comfortable at centre-back and must play there more often.