Bluebirds versatility can give them edge in race
BLUEBIRDS legend Nathan Blake believes versatility can be key to the club’s prospects of promotion this term.
Cardiff City clinched a battling 1-0 victory on a wet night in Barnsley this week, displaying the sort of resolve to bag the three points which underlines the club’s serious promotion ambitions.
That they pulled the victory off with a number of key personnel sidelined and others playing in unfamiliar positions serves to underline why the club can stay the distance in the battle for elevation to the Premier League.
And Blake, who bagged 35 goals for the Bluebirds during a four season spell during the early 90s, feels that ability for players to adapt to new positions is a huge advantage over other promotion candidates.
“Callum Paterson has brought so much to the team,” said Blake.
“He scored the winning goal, of course – and from right midfield, as opposed to his customary full-back position.
“Again, that’s something that gives me great encouragement for the rest of the season because over the course of a gruelling nine-month Championship campaign you need players who are versatile.
“And I’m not sure I’ve known a Cardiff squad before with so many able to play in so many different positions with equal aplomb.
“You don’t get it at many clubs, with Cardiff it’s almost unprecedented.
“Paterson can play right-back, wing-back or midfield. He pops up everywhere on the field, anyway.
Sol Bamba has proven equally adept at centre-back, or as a six holding the midfield.
“Bruno Manga is a centre-half who has been magnificent at right-back in the last two games and helped set up Danny Ward’s goal against Brentford.
“Lee Peltier, normally a right-back, played well at left-back at Bristol City. Junior Hoilett can play anywhere across the front three, Loic Damour can play as a 10 or as a deeper midfielder. Craig Bryson too. Ward can feature up top or out wide. Greg Halford can play, well pretty much anywhere!
These are huge plusses for Warnock, particularly will be when injuries and suspensions bite as we approach the spring.
As for Paterson, he’s quick, athletic, tall, good on the ball and scores goals. A class act who has given the team a new dimension, in more ways than one.
Meanwhile Blake, who perform in the Premier League with Sheffield United, Bolton and Blackburn, reckons the manner in which Cardiff snatched the points at Oakwell on Tuesday is another clear indicator the club are on the up.
“It’s a bit of a cliche to say one-nils up north on a cold Tuesday night in the Championship are what promotion is about,” added Blake.
“But it’s also true. Let me try to explain, from a dressing room perspective, why the victory up at Barnsley was so important and Neil Warnock called it Cardiff’s best win of the season so far.
“Oakwell is never an easy place to visit, their manager was being touted for the Sunderland job, it’s a cold, rainy night, you’ve got to travel up there and get home in the early hours of the morning.
“Yet Cardiff have taken everything in their stride and produced what in football parlance is the perfect result away from home.
“I know fans want to see four or five goals, end to end entertainment. Trust me, Warnock would prefer a good old-fashioned 1-0.
“As a manager there is nothing better than going away from home, nicking a goal and then displaying togetherness and resilience to hold onto that lead by keeping a clean sheet.
“On the same night Liverpool were 3-0 up in Seville – and only drew. They had a three-goal cushion, Cardiff only had one – and they won.
“Naturally, when you’re in the lead you retreat in the closing 10 minutes, try to hold onto what you’ve got. I know Cardiff scored near the end, but there were still about 10 minutes to play, plus injury time. “The pressure was on. “You put in last-ditch tackles and blocks. So when that final whistle goes, you’ve held on and you’re on the bus journey home, there is a special warmth. There is so, so much more to it than a simple 1-0 scoreline.
“That’s why Warnock was so happy.”