One Hell Of A Midfield Crisis Hits Cardiff City

Cardiff City are hit by a huge midfield crisis, an area that has been weak for several seasons now looks virtually non-existent amid injury crisis in central midfield. This includes the retirement of Riccy Scimeca, ongoing treatment for Stephen McPhail and the longstanding hip problem to Joe Ledley that has seen him put off hip surgery and play through the pain.

As if that weren't bad enough, Gavin Rae has broken a bone in his hand and will miss several weeks leaving lower league misfit Sol Taiwo and teenager Aaron Wildig as the only options to partner the crocked Ledley.

Barring a miracle, Jones will not decide to alter formation and play three in the middle with McCormack on the left and Burke on the right supporting Bothroyd. This appeals to me and I can see Whitts, Ledley and Taiwo/Wildig being our best option.

So, Whittingham may push inside to partner Ledley allowing McCormack or Kelvin Etuhu to take up the left wing berth. This is worrying. Whittingham can be majestic at times, but barely features at others, the though of he and Ledley wouldn't scare the central midfield of an under XI side in terms of a physical contest and we are constantly over-run in that department as it is.

The otehr alternative would be to draft in, possibly, Adam Matthews or Anthony Gerrard into midfield. Both can pass, are committed and would like to get stuck in much more than Whitts - Alan Tate has fulfilled this role at Swansea to good effect...

Almost certainly, Dave Jones will select Taiwo since he rarely admits to a mistake and even picked him in the QPR game earlier this season. He has failed at this levelk so far, but does show some talent - an FA Cup tie against our close rivals maybe isn't the time for gambles, but what choicedo we have....?!?!

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