Whittingham Stars In Cardiff City Pre-Season

Cardiff City have fended off interest in key midfielder Peter Whittingham this summer, and the former Aston Villa man has impressed - looking sure to be a crucial performer during the coming season.

Whitts has always been relaxed and classy, but his style is not always ideally suited to the Championship. He is creative and technically excellent but can become sidelined and bypassed in games where we lose the midfield battle.

Last season, Whittingham largely operated in a new position, more central than his favoured left wing berth. It means a lot of adapting, but the Nuneaton-born midfielder performed his role very well and contributed to the team.

Malky Mackay stated that Whittingham remained a key player, and it would seem that he also intends to utilise Whittingham in a more central role. With Craig Conway and Andy Taylor able to play on the left, Whitts will add the creative spark alongside the more defensive-minded Gunnarsson, Kiss and Cowie.

Whittingham has looked very good in pre-season so far, creative and calm in possession. Acting as playmaker in a new-look squad with unfamiliar strikers cannot be easy, but all the signs are that Peter Whittingham will again be an integral part of Cardiff City's style and gameplan.

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