Plenty of debate on Call Rob Phillips on the radio yesterday evening. All callers with a city bias pleaded for Whittingham, and inferred also Gunnarrson to be dropped. Phillips would not have it, saying most of City's goals have come from his set pieces this season.
But it is plain that he does not create much from open play, and is IMO the main culprit for standing off opposing midfielders shooting at will from 20+ yards (look at Derby's equaliser for one example and many more since), and is just too slow.
So there is the conundrum.
There is a place for slowing and ageing midfielders even in the best of teams (Giggs, Scholes etc etc) but without people around to him to compensate for his lack of pace, he is a passenger.
And as for his ability to score from set pieces. Well I appreciate his pen miss was a rarity but I reckon he hasn't notched in a league game a direct free kick since Sep 2012 v Wolves. I know we don't get many due to the lack of possession near the opposition box, but when he has a chance, his efforts have ben for too long now lame.