Manga's on his way back: - http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/bruno-manga-heads-back-cardiff-8514526 Personally I don't think he'll make much difference. Didn't he cost us about £4m (Wiki says 5m Euros)? Must be a high wage earner as well. Surely RS can get much of the outlay back if he can sell him on in the window? Can always recall Ben Nugent or Oshilaja.
At this stage it is interesting to compare City's performance playing Bruno Manga before he was replaced by Ben Turner in November. Manga P 10 W 4 D 2 L 4 GF 12 GA 13 PTS 14 Turner P 10 W3 D 3 L4 GF 13 GA 15 PTS 12 We had a slightly better record with Bruno in defence than with Turner. On that basis with 19 games to go we could get 4 more points! That said I much prefer to see Ben playing. I like his work rate and believe he would make a good captain
We weren't great before he went off but at least there was some organisation at the back. I don't know who should have had the captain's armband but from what i see Gunnar's organisation and leadership skills are not great. I have 2 key points where Ben would have sorted something out for the first one at least. Norwood's freekick - from 60 yards away I could see they had put 2 players on the right end of our wall. Surely any sensible team would have put 2 of our players behind them? They were covering Moore's vision around the D and as Norwood ran up they split giving him a free shot and Moore no chance. I would have put our guys behind those 2 but no one on the park had the common sense to do it. Second point. We conceded a terrific goal v. Watford because they had a corner or throw in on our right, had 3 players around the ball and we belatedly sent 2 of ours across - too late to make a challenge. The ball went across the park and their no. 7 scored with a screamer. What happened Saturday for their second, corner on our right, 3 of their players around it. How many of ours? None!!! Too late 2 went across but the ball was cut back unchallenged to Obita (I think) who put in a great cross for Robson-Kanu to finish. By the way who should have been marking him? Connolly was closet when he scored but surely someone should have been tight to him as he ran in? All basic schoolboy errors. I only played at parks level but stuff like that is so basic and simple that even I would know what to do. To respond to BT's point, Morrison does some good stuff but also makes a number of errors and can be a disaster waiting to happen. Manga in for Morrison then assuming Ben's injury (same ankle as his injury at Yeovil) doesn't keep him out for Saturday.
I'd honestly consider starting Manga in midfield -- we could do a lot worse. Play him in front of a back 4 as a sort of reverse sweeper. He has pace and can tackle - he also has vision and can pick a pass out of defence instead of lumping it.
Thought the same myself Sparks. Just sit in front of the back 4, win the ball and pass simply. Should be a no brainer.
Hang on a minute - that might involve Slade changing his tactics. Ah well, back to the drawing board......
