Why it was right that Whittingham went

On Tuesday the 13th June 2017, a dark cloud descended on the city of Cardiff as a club icon and modern-day legend Peter Whittingham announced he was to leave the club and sign for Blackburn Rovers on a two year deal.

                                               Doesn't look right does it?


This brought to an end a 10 and a half year association with the Welsh capital that had seen cup finals (two), playoff's (numerous), a title-winning season followed by disappointing relegation and mid-table mediocrity which ironically is exactly where Cardiff City were when Peter Whittingham joined.


Peter Whittingham had become the anchor in stormy seas for Bluebirds everywhere as scandal after scandal threatened to sink the club into oblivion.  No matter what happened off the pitch, Whitts was fantastic on it and this is why so many fans came to see him as the embodiment of Cardiff's good times.


The sad fact of life is, the good times don't last forever and this is why, the time was right for Whittingham to leave.  There are two main reasons why the decision to let him leave was the right one...

                                     Peter deserves all of the plaudits he ever earned


Financial


Peter Whittingham (possibly along with Manga) was one of the last remaining big-time earners from the Premier League and Ole era where silly money was spent on silly players generally achieving poor results.


If we assume that Whitts was earning £20,000 per week (which is not that unrealistic), this would mean that if given the 2 year contract he was seeking at the same money, Cardiff City FC would have paid £2.8 million over the two year deal. 


If he was paid just half his original wage, then I'm sure you don't need an abacus to work out that the club would have spent £1.4 million on wages alone plus any incentives for goals/assists etc. I am not convinced this would be a wise investment on someone entering the twilight of his career that probably doesn't fit the manager's system, more on that next.


Warnock's method


Neil Warnock has made it clear since he arrived at Cardiff City FC that he requires blood, sweat and sometimes stitches from every single one of his players and Whittingham is just not that type of player.


For a manager looking for a Land Rover, Peter Whittingham is a Rolls-Royce, don't misunderstand me here, I ADORED his languid style at times and he was Mr Reliable when it came to set pieces and penalties BUT my God he could be frustrating.


I have lost count over the years of the amount of times I have seen players just glide past him in centre midfield, he would hover around the opposition and on the rare occasion he did put a foot in, he invariably ended up giving away a free kick for fouling the opposition.


Ultimately, Warnock wants dynamic, enthusiastic hard workers who will run until they collapse and I am not sure he was ever going to be that type of player.


In summary


There is a huge chunk of my heart that will forever be Peter Whittingham, but, for too long bluebirds have been looking back on the "good ole days" when the time has firmly come for them to look forward.


The past has gone, just like all of the great players we will look back with fondness and tell our grandchildren of their greatness but the time has come to say, thanks for the memories Peter and all the best.

                                                     Here's to you Mr Whittingham