Expectations were high as Cardiff confirmed the signing of midfielder David Turnbull from Celtic on Deadline Day. Some have been pleased with the impact made in six months by Turnbull, however the jury is still out for some. Whatever your current feelings on Turnbull might be, the 24/25 season is a big one for the 24 year-old.
What does Turnbull bring?
Turnbull is a dynamic attacking midfielder, who when given time on the ball is capable of hurting defences. The midfielder also has a hell of a striker on him, whether that be open play or set pieces. In his time in Scotland, Turnbull often topped the league for Chances Created, proving if you get him in the right spaces Turnbull can cause problems.
Turnbull brings a threat at set pieces, this has been proven on many occasions with his pinpoint set pieces. Turnbull also bring intelligence to the side and is a progressive player for the side.
Turnbull Breakdown:
If we look at Turnbull's stats at Celtic, I feel it will give us a better understanding of the player we have on our hands.
Rodgers appeared to bring confidence to Turnbull, who netted seven goals in just nine starts under the Northern Irish. This graph proves the quality Turnbull holds on the ball and that the 24 year-old is a gifted footballer. It also shows the intelligence of Turnbull, and the attention to detail in his play. It does show that Cardiff need to have him constantly operating in the final third, as the defensive side of his game is near enough non-existent.
This perhaps shows off a side to Turnbull we don't realise. Turnbull is an extremely intense player in the opposition's half. Whether that be on the ball, trying to create chances or progress the team, or joining the striker in the press.
This once again proves Turnbull's intensity, and his desire to win the ball back high up the pitch. City are often criticised for a poor press, could Turnbull be a possible solution to that problem?
If we head back to Turnbull's debut season at Celtic, these stats are very impressive for a 21 year-old. I believe Turnbull is a confidence player, when Turnbull has belief in himself and is playing well, you will see him come out of his shadow and maximize his ability. If Cardiff can get him in the right areas he will prove a bigger game changer, especially if the club can recruit a clinical number nine.
This once again proves that in possession Turnbull is ridiculously gifted. Admittedly the Scottish Premiership is not on the same level as the Championship, but someone of Turnbull's intelligence will naturally find himself in these spaces, and will hopefully start to contribute the numbers he did at Celtic.
Adjusting to the Championship:
Turnbull failing to reach his Celtic numbers thus far likely comes down to the fact he is adjusting to the Championship. The intensity in the Championship is far superior to the Scottish Premiership. We've seen Turnbull's ability on a number of occasions, but as he continues to get comfortable to the league I believe we will begin to see it on a more consistent basis.
Turnbull has had six months to adjust his game, and you'd like to think we will start to see the reason we spent £2M on Turnbull in the coming months.
Ignored for Euros selection:
Turnbull made it clear after arriving in the Welsh Capital that one of the main reasons he made the move was to be back in contention for the Scotland squad, in time for the upcoming European Championship. However when Steve Clarke revealed his Scotland squad, Turnbull was nowhere to be seen.
Turnbull was named in Scotland Euro 2020 squad, but failed to feature in the tournament. Turnbull has since fallen down the pecking order and now hasn't featured for The Tartan Army since 2022. Despite once being the most exciting talents in Scotland, Turnbull will need to hit the ground running in the upcoming season if he wishes to be considered for the September international break.
Competition for places:
Turnbull finds himself in the most competitive role for The Bluebirds. City will begin pre season with Turnbull, Ramsey and Colwill all battling out for that number ten role. I don't think it's beyond the realm of possibilities that two of those three play together, however Turnbull finds himself in competition with the club's two most talented players.
Turnbull is a different player to Colwill and Ramsey, and compliments Colwill pretty well, as proven against Bristol City. Turnbull offers more assurance in possession and may be preferred in games where The Bluebirds will enjoy a large amount of possession.
Summary:
Personally I'm a huge fan of David Turnbull. He offers that something a little bit different that will be a game changer this season, I'm sure of it. Although, I don't think it can be stressed how important this season is for him, it's his time to show Celtic they made a mistake, and make his long awaited return to the Scotland setup.
Turnbull has time on his side, but expectations will naturally be there for City supporters as he came for a decent fee. As I've stressed, if Turnbull is used correctly he will be a huge asset this season. He's one to watch, for sure.
コメント