Barnsley One To Watch: Campbell-Ryce

Cardiff City play Barnsley tonight and could really do with the three points against a side who find it difficult to score and have struggled with consistency this season.


Currently leading the Tykes scorecharts is Jamal campbell-Ryce. Bluebirds fans will remember the diminutive winger from the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley last year even if they have not seen him play since.


Cambell-Ryce is a tricky little player, with a low centre of gravity and a natural flair. He is the sort of player who can make things happen but he rarely produces his top form and lacks consistency in his game. Bluebirds at the FA Cup semi-final will remember Campbell-Ryce produceing a number of step-overs and flicks, all performed as he ran away from Kevin McNaughton (until the Scot went off injured). All Campbell-Ryce’s trickery was performed cutting in and with no danger, he wasted a number of chances for his side by holding onto the ball and holding up his side.


Nevertheless, Campbell-Ryce is a tricky prospect and could play on either flank to test the Bluebirds. Neither Mark Kennedy or Miguel Comminges is a natural full-back and pace (Kennedy) and positioning (Comminges) are real worries for City against someone who could exploit these weaknesses.


The likes of Whittingham and Parry are not ideally suited to track back and help defend but they both need to with our full-backs. Whilst Campbell-Ryce looks nothing like a top flight player at the moment, his glimpses of quality show enough to worry us and Barnsley remain capable of an upset tonight.