Bluebirds could mirror formation used byWales
Joe Ledley/Joe Ralls or Aron Gunnarsson The Bluebirds are again spoilt for choice for other midfield options, with Kagisho Dikgacoi, Stuart O’Keefe and Aron Gunnarsson also in the mix. It may be that over the course of the season, Gunnarsson’s greater tenacity wins the day. You can’t be captain of a last-16 team of the Euros if you can’t play. Ralls is the man in possession of the shirt after an excellent season last year. His energy and shooting ability could be key, although in terms of shielding a defence, one of the other three could be more like-for-like for Ledley. Wales play with two 10s, so to speak, and Trollope looks like he is following suit with Cardiff. Republic of Ireland international Pilkington is no Ramsey, but he does have ball-playing ability, creativity and, as we saw at the start of last season, goal-getting threat which could prove vital. It’s unlikely that he could pull the strings for Cardiff the way Ramsey does so masterfully with Wales, but Pilkington could well flourish in a free role nonetheless. An unfair analogy, of course, because there is only one Gareth Bale. But Noone does wear 11, he has a superb left-foot and like our Welsh talisman, loves taking on players and possesses blinding pace. Noone was tried briefly in the hole behind the main striker by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer but seemed to lack the vision required to make a success of the role. But after what we saw on Wednesday night against RW Ahlen, Noone could be the other free 10 utilised by the Bluebirds. The Bluebirds, of course, have signed Federic Gounongbe and still have Kenneth Zohore, Adam Le Fondre and Federico Macheda on their boooks. But Immers has to play and he may well start the season up top, although he could just as easily fill one of the two 10 roles Trollope seems set on using. The key here is goals from the striker, although it’s not as if RobsonKanu is prolific with Wales. Ultimately, in the Championship you need a 20-goal a season front man. Immers, or Gounongbe, will need to fit that bill.