Marshall
McNaughton, Manga, Hudson, Kennedy
Ramsey, Gunnarsson, Whitts
Chops, Bothroyd, Bellamy
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Although I've not thought about it too deeply as yet, there would be a few shoe-ins such as Marshall, Ramsey, Bothroyd, Chops, Whitts & Bellamy. I'd probably put Scimeca in there too. My side, when I compile it will not include players whose best was well behind them when they joined us, such as Hasselbaink and Fowler. Needless to say, none of the class of 2022 come anywhere near this team.
Probably more difficult than you think to come up with the best composite team but have a go anyhow.
Marshall
McNaughton, Manga, Hudson, Kennedy
Ramsey, Gunnarsson, Whitts
Chops, Bothroyd, Bellamy
For me it’s;
Marshall
Mcnaughton
Morrison
Hudson
Fabio
Bellamy
McPhail
Whittingham
Koumas from 05/06
Bothroyd
Chopra
Marshall
Hudson
Manga
Cala
Koumas
Gunners
Carmarasa
Whitts
Bellamy
Chopra
Bothroyd
Two sides:
Heaton
Drameh Manga Loovens Bennett
Whittingham Gunnarsson McPhail Bellamy
Bothroyd Chopra
Alexander
McNaughton Hudson Morrison Kennedy
Burke Scimeca Ledley Noone
Zohore McCormack
Marshall
Manga
Morrison
Hudson
Bennett
Ramsey
McPhail
Whittingham
Koumas
Bothroyd
McCormack
That midfield really brings home how starved we’ve been of quality in that area of the pitch in recent seasons and that defence tends to highlight how few defenders we’ve had who were both effective at that part of the game and comfortable in possession - Gabbidon was pre Dave Jones.
An interesting, and much tougher, assignment would be to pick a post Dave Jones team.
I have read through the replies. Great question. Tough to answer and impossible to fit all the midfielders in.
My one problem area is Left Back.I think we have long struggled in that position and I will never forgive Kennedy’s woeful erformance against Ipswich at NP.
Marshall
McNaughton
Hudson
Gabbidon
Fabio
Whitts
McPhail
Koumas
Bellers
Bothroyd
Chopra
Subs.
Heaton
Johnson
Loovens
McCormack
Gunnars
Camarasa
Burke
No Ramsay.
Marshall Manga Morrison Johnson Bennett Bellamy Ramsey Whitts Koumas Chopra Bothroyd.
Not sure if it’s how they played when at Cardiff or before and after eg Schmichel and Zaha.
Schmichel
McNaughton
Purse
Hudson
Kennedy
Whittingham
Medel
Ramsey
Bellamy
Chopra
Bothroyd
Subs
Marshall
Manga
Gunnasson
McFail
Zaha
Kouma
McCormack
Manager
Dave Jones
Yet I remember back in the day how most City fans considered our midfield to be too lightweight and easily dominated, particularly by a midfield 3.
My post Jones team:
Marshall
Drameh Manga Morrison Bennett
Noone Gunnarsson Whittingham Bellamy
Zohore I Davies
Subs: Etheridge, Bamba, Turner, Ralls, Hoilett, Mendez-Laing, Mason, Paterson.
Midfield creativity disappeared when Whitts was eased out of the squad. Up front was the biggest problem - lots of strikers, but very few good ones. We've had a decade of being able to turn 20 goal a season forwards into donkeys who couldn't hit a barn door from point blank range.
I can remember that being said for Slade's teams with Gunnar and Whittingham in centre midfield, but not teams with Steve McPhail in the line up (maybe a look through past blog pieces of mine from the McPhail/Ledley era would prove me wrong though).
Regarding your post Jones team, I might be inclined to put Theophile-Catharine, or maybe Peltier, at right back because, although Drameh may well develop into a better player than both of them, I don't think he's quite there yet - agree with the keeper and the other three defenders though.
In central midfielder, we hit the problem I mentioned earlier of Gunnar and Whitts being overwhelmed, so I might be inclined to stick Ralls in (Ramsey played for us in the post Jones era as well mind and there's Jordon Mutch who I think was one of our few successes in 13/14) and have a three with Bellamy as one of the forwards.
Although I'm a big Isaak Davies fan, I couldn't believe it when I saw his name in your team, but a bit more thought had me feeling there weren't many better options than him, although I'd have Frazier Campbell in there I think.
My team
Marshall
Peltier
Morrison
Manga
Bennett
Whittingham
Gunnarsson
Mutch
Zohore
Campbell
Bellamy
Malky had Whittingham tracking back and tackling, something he only really ever did for him. I recall a story he gave where he kept showing Whitts a video of him running back and making a tackle. Everyone had to work hard in Malky's team regardless of how talended they were. Of all his qualities, Whitts wasn't particularly defensive minded and when Slade was manager, I think Whitts had more free reign, leaving Gunnarsson more exposed.
I forgot about Mutch.
I must confess to including Davies as a bit of shock value. We have a youngster who has scored, provided assists and got fans excited, and is also one of our own. Time will tell if he does make the grade at this level or higher, but I can't remember the last time I got this excited about a Cardiff player. It would probably have been Earnshaw, even if we did have Bellamy for a few seasons and also brought back Rambo. He's what the club has missed over the last decade or more.
Completely agree with your sentiments in your last paragraph. One other thing I meant to mention is that I gave no thought to including players like Medel, Caulker, Zaha or Lambert because I always think selection should be based on what someone did playing for us in these sort of teams.
The weakest position is full back (wing back there are slightly more choices).
Some fantastic servants to the club, but much less quality and fewer options than in other areas of the pitch.