Heartbreaking for Ben, but is it a chance to get Connolly back in the middle? http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/cardiff-city-defender-ben-turner-8547140
Have to say that the lad is very injury prone, i think the writing was on the wall when we were enquiring about Huth, oh well Humpty Dumpty will probably look to the lower leagues for a temp now. It just gets worse. Be interesting to see who the Captain will be tomorrow, my guess is Gunnar.
You saw it here first, my post on Monday on the transfer thread, relating to the bid for Huth, "Alternatively, Slade has seen Morrison is not great and if Turner is out for a while we need a strong man and good organiser at the back. Short term deal maybe until Turner is fit again?" As soon as Ben went down last Saturday he was thumping the ground in frustration. He knew the extent of the damage straightaway. I'm sorry for him and the team and us fans. If he hadn't gone off he would have ensured we had players covering the 2 Reading guys who stood on the end of the wall for Norwood's free kick. Without him, no organisation and we fell apart. However, as he walked off I didn't think the injury was so bad we would lose him for so long. Slade now has Manga, Morrison and Connolly to chose from. I won't include Gabbidon as that would be stupid. We are now very light at the back and Slade needs to pull his finger out and get cover if only on loan.
Connolly, Manga, Morrison - I think we run with what we've got to look at an emergency loan if we get another major injury.
I also think any 2 from those 3 should be enough through the last third of the season except for possible injury, otherwise we'll have as many bums on seats as before. On the Gabbidon situation, I don't see the point of him being with us other than a possible CB coaching role. If that has been the case recently, he's proved pretty useless in the task given the results we've had. As far as Ben is concerned himself, he's a big lad carrying a fair weight. He's very good when facing strikers down, but if he tries to turn too quickly outside his comfort zone when they get past him, he could easily have a chronic tendency toward ankle ligament problems.
Connolly has been solid whenever he's been played in his proper position (not at fullback) and could step up to be the organiser at the back, though maybe not the captain, he has enough experience. I'd be tempted to play him and Manga. Where is super Kev when you need an interim CB?????
Don't get me wrong, I like Connolly and his game has suffered because he has been moved all across the back 4. However, he is not vocal and I don't see him as a defensive organiser. If that was a strength then he would have made a better job of the defensive wall last week. CB's are always at risk of yellow and red cards and to have only 3 front liners leaves us weak. Yes we could get an emergency loan if the need arose (for a month after the window end?) but it would be better to be proactive and bring someone in selectively now. Pity about Huth, he would have been good for us.
Just think if we're cutting budgets as harshly as we are then you've got to take a few squad 'risks'. 3 first choice cb's doesn't seem too risky to me. We're ****ing rubbish anyway
That means we perm any two from three at the back. Morrison is proving to be a liability so that leaves Connolly and Manga as the centre back pairing. That assumes Manga stays and is not the next one through the revolving door. If Manga is sold then Gabbidon fills his place and then we're in real trouble. The way we are going it wouldn't surprise me if we sell Manga and get Nugent and Oshilaja back from their loans.
My thoughts too HB. It looks like they were trying to get Huth in as cover so it must be assumed the spend was sanctioned. For me 3 cb's are not enough particularly at the business end of the season. I almost said competent cb's but had second thoughts.
Huth banned for 2 games anyway. That might slow Prem clubs' interest a little. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31064050
