Cardiff City vs. Burnley has taken on a new level of importance after three successive defeats. Perhaps not quite a six-pointer, but it’s as close as you can get at this stage of the season. So some of the VFTN team sat down and chose their ideal starting line-ups for this weekend. Have a read and let us know what you think in the comments.
Scott Johnson
I don’t think Cardiff have a combination of variables that could have made any difference against Manchester City on Saturday. If anything, 5-0 flattered Cardiff and now the task is to get back on the horse for the visit of Burnley on Sunday. For me, it feels like Cardiff may have sacrificed a little too much of what made them successful in the Championship recently. A little evolution was needed, but not a revolution.
I would like to see them return to their favoured 4-3-3 formation and a back four of Joe Bennett, Sol Bamba, Sean Morrison and Bruno Manga. Ahead of the recent run of daunting games, they looked rock solid at Huddersfield and I would restore them. I would keep the central midfield three of Harry Arter, Victor Camarasa and Joe Ralls intact too.
Josh Murphy has been sorely missed in recent weeks and should start on the left, if fit. Junior Hoilett has struggled in recent weeks and would probably benefit from a few games coming off the bench anyway. I would also station Danny Ward on the right. He impressed there in the closing stages at Huddersfield and his energy on that flank would be an asset.
The reason I’m shifting across is to accommodate Kenneth Zohore because in all honesty, Cardiff can’t do it without him. That may be harsh on Bobby Reid, who has done OK, but Cardiff need Zohore right now and the fate of their season probably depends on him finding some form. He’s had dry spells before when he’s looked a bit disinterested and come good. Here’s hoping he would reward a show of faith.
Etheridge; Bennett, Bamba, Morrison, Manga; Arter, Ralls, Camarasa; Murphy, Zohore, Ward
Ben James
The Man City game left me feeling hopeless, and I’m not entirely sure why. Warnock needs a reaction from his troops and I really hope he makes some big decisions against Burnley. Defensively, I’d like to see Bennett back in. Not that Cunningham was awful against Man City, I just think Bennett was one of our best performers before he was dropped. I’d stick with Manga and Morrison at CB and bring in Richards at right back. I was baffled he didn’t start ahead of Peltier and think it’s time Jazz shows just why Neil has retained so much faith in him.
Ralls, Arter, Camarasa, are the first names on the team sheet as far as I’m concerned but I hope we bring back some the tactical flexibility we showed against Arsenal. Victor filling in as a winger at times as we flicked between a traditional four across the middle and our normal five.
Up top, Murphy needs to come back in because he was terrifying teams before his injury and Hoilett has a habit of slowing down the game while Murphy speeds it up. As much as Reid has done well, I’d swap him out for Paterson for this game. Paterson can feel aggrieved about being left out and I think if we gave him an advanced attacker role alongside Ward, we’d get some good out of him. He can finish, create, and he works hard. He deserves a start and in a dogged game like Sunday could be, he’d get a start for me.
While I’m at it, I’d put Kadeem Harris on the bench too. Recent benches have seen us have four defenders, two strikers, and nothing in between. Warnock needs to throw caution to the wind and Harris could be a gem at this level.
Etheridge; Bennett, Morrison, Manga, Richards; Ralls, Arter, Camarasa; Murphy, Paterson, Ward.
Paul Gronow
Cardiff City are desperately in need of a win. Whilst I’m uncomfortable about adding to the pressure the team is already under, it’s clear that a game against a team that’s struggled (in the main) must offer the best opportunity of a win since the Newcastle game at home.
The Bluebirds should continue with Etheridge between the posts, but make a couple of changes to a back line that has leaked 12 goals in the last 3 matches (albeit against top 6 sides). Richards should come in at right-back and Bamba replace the unimpressive Morrison, who has struggled to adapt to the top tier more than any other defender, in my opinion. Lastly, Joe Bennett should regain the left-back position as at present, he remains the stronger of the two options the Bluebirds have.
Cardiff City should stick with a midfield trio that can get better and offers the strongest solution to a tough Burnley midfield. Ralls, Arter and Camarasa are the best options the Bluebirds currently have as Gunnarsson seems set for a longer spell on the sidelines. Whilst there is definitely room for improvement, there are currently no better options available.
Gary Madine arrived in January with little fanfare and even less excitement, as many Bluebirds decided from the outset that he wasn’t good enough to lead the Cardiff City front line. Sadly, he has done little since then to dissuade his critics.
However, given the brute force and strength of the Burnley defence, it would be fair to say that he needs to be employed from the outset to make his mark. He can score and given time will surely score, but more than that, his physical nature can really offer a firm foundation from which Cardiff City can build.
In other circumstances, one might have recommended Kenneth Zohore, but given his low confidence and negligible work-rate at present, disappointingly this does not seem to be an option.
Etheridge; Richards, Bamba, Manga, Bennett; Ralls, Arter, Camarasa; Murphy, Reid, Madine
Scott Salter
Things just aren’t going well for Cardiff City at the moment. Warnock seems to have abandoned his trusted 4-3-3 in favour of an old fashioned 4-4-2. I don’t think it’s quite gone to plan. Against Arsenal it looked a wise move as the Cardiff front two were able to put pressure on an uncertain back line. Against Manchester City and Chelsea, though, it left too many holes in midfield.
I’d abandon the formation in favour of a back three. I can’t see Warnock doing it – he loves a winger after all – but I think it could be effective in nullifying Burnley and making us hard to beat, whilst still providing an attacking threat. Burnley play two up top usually, so I think it makes sense to have an extra body there.
Neil Etheridge has performed admirably despite City’s poor form and deserves to keep his place in goal. I’d have a back three in front of him consisting of Sean Morrison, Sol Bamba and Bruno Manga.
I’d play two wing-backs; Jazz Richards and Joe Bennett, who I think deserves to come back into the side – it was strange to drop him against Manchester City. Both are solid enough defensively, but can also provide an attacking outlet.
In midfield, I’d go for a central three. I think Callum Patterson deserves a shot and I’d bring him in for Victor Camarasa, who I think looks a little jaded. Harry Arter and Joe Ralls keep their places.
Up top I think Danny Ward keeps his place; he’s been working hard and there’s a lack of options. I’d bring Josh Murphy in to support him, he’s by far our most dangerous player.
Etheridge; Manga, Morrison, Bamba; Richards, Bennett; Arter, Ralls, Patterson; Murphy, Ward
(Editors note: Scott Salter went for the classic Sports Cafe shirt in his line-up)