Malky: Whittingham has improved over the last 18 months.

Malky says that he is unconcerned about Whittingham's form - that he is a midfielder and not a striker. Here are a few highlights from the WO article.

Peter is someone who over the whole of this season has been incredibly consistent for us,” said Mackay.

“He’s not a forward, he’s a midfielder and if you get the bonus of some goals from a midfielder then that is great.

“But that is not the first thing I look for from Peter. Every Saturday I don’t look to see if Peter Whittingham has scored.

“Maybe I differ in that view from a few other people.

“I see the value of him. I see his maturity now. I see the difference in the boy now from the boy I spoke to the first day I took over at Cardiff. They are completely different people to be honest.

“Also in that midfield area, Peter is someone who has built the game for us in the middle of the pitch. Again it might not be sexy, but I think back to the Bristol City game where Peter controlled the last 20 minutes and just slowed it down when he wanted to.

“He saw a lot of the ball and just dampened things down. Peter controlled the tempo of that game and there are not a lot of players around who can do that.


Read more: Wales Online http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/cardiff-city/cardiff-city-fc/2013/02/26/91466-32886655/?#ixzz2M6dQvuM3


Do you agree with Malky? Is Whittingham better utilized as a deep midfielder, controlling the pace of play or etc - or is his attacking ability currently being wasted?

Is this newspaper article from an alternative dimension?

I said yesterday that Malky should be looking to bring in a deeplying midfielder to allow Whitts to push further up.

I think in the Prem he might struggle playing that deep.

Then again I'm probably wrong.

Not wrong slum - just different.

think mutch should play that deep role and pw moved further up. this would free up gunarsson for bench warming duties.

In Malky we trust.

He knows his preferred system and obviously that's how we would play in the Prem. And it's probably extremely difficult to get a player who can fulfill that role. So perhaps Whitts it is.

we do not have a single goal scorer in the list of top 18 championship scorers, therefore we must get as many as possible from other areas and that includes midfield

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/top_scorers/default.stm

We should be okay with Fraizer now...and next season Nicky will be back (although I doubt he would be prolific in the Prem) and we will probably sign another striker in the summer

Whitts in form has the best left foot in the league. Personally, I still feel not allowing him to use it is criminal. Whitts is an attacking midfielder, able to play good balls forward in attack and also provide a long shot option from the edges of the box. I personally don't feel he's very good in the holding position he's being asked to play, and is being made to to do it simply because he's the player Malky has the most faith in.

Lets bring in a true defensive midfielder, someone who can support the defence and retain the ball when we have our backs against the wall. Then let Whittingham move forward to the attacking edge of the diamond.

Rhys wrote:Not wrong slum - just different.

Oh no he's wrong... WaaaaAAAAAAY wrong in many, many, many areas

Valley Trash wrote:

Rhys wrote:Not wrong slum - just different.

Oh no he's wrong... WaaaaAAAAAAY wrong in many, many, many areas

Clearly my real-life reputation precedes me

You are indivisible from you board persona...

Just look out for a 6.1 foot tall Glenn Quagmire look-a-like patrolling Cardiff

It's not so much the lack of goals from open play that is concerning but the total loss of his set piece ability. His corners used to fizz in to the middle of the box, now they loop lazily past the far post. His free kicks either went in or skimmed the woodwork, now they hit the wall or are saved with ease. It is perplexing.

His set pieces are worrying. Massive decline in their quality.