' SO WHAT WILL NEIL WARNOCK DO NOW? '

' SO WHAT WILL NEIL WARNOCK DO NOW? '

Without striker Rickie Lambert?


WHO WOULD YOU PLAY? ?

http://www.annisabraham.co.uk/2016/10/2 ... long-time/

Who will Cardiff City choose to replace Rickie Lambert? These are the options Neil Warnock has

Monday 24th October 2016

BY PHIL SMITH

Anthony Pilkington impressed in the second half against Nottingham Forest but Chamakh is waiting in the wings



A horror injury to Rickie Lambert was arguably the only sour note of an otherwise jubilant trip to the City Ground at the weekend.

Lambert, never one to spend time on the ground unless in serious pain, was stretchered off and taken to hospital amid gruesome scenes following a gash to his leg.

There are hopes that a prolonged lay-off will be avoided but clearly, the Bluebirds will have to prepare for his possible absence in the coming games.

In truth, they will have been working on a number of alternatives regardless. Lambert has shown his quality since his arrival but at 34 and battling a niggle or two, Cardiff were always aware that in the three game a week grind of the Championship, back-up plans were needed.

So what are the alternatives? We took a closer look at the key questions...




Is the shape likely to change?
Warnock has broadly used a 4-1-4-1 system since arriving in South Wales.

Of course, when Cardiff are off the ball they commit much greater numbers to defence and when on the counter, the likes of Junior Hoilett and Craig Noone are encouraged to push on much higher up the pitch.

Warnock has said that ideally he would like to add another player in the attacking area, to play off Rickie Lambert and offer him more support in the central areas.

In all likelihood that would mean losing one of the three central midfielders who have excelled thus far. The boss has unsurprisingly been reluctant to do so against the calibre of opponent they have faced so far. With games against Newcastle United, Huddersfield Town and Aston Villa on the horizon, it's unlikely to change.


You do wonder, however, whether a home tie against fellow strugglers Wigan Athletic might have been a perfect chance to go with two through the middle.

Warnock said he thinks it will be side's toughest game yet, a nod to the fact the onus will be on his team to open up their opponents.

If he was to go with two in the middle, you'd expect it to be Pilkington and Marouane Chamakh. That seems unlikely, however.






How did Anthony Pilkington get on and is he the frontrunner?

Pilkington is likely to be in pole position to lead the line after a very impressive cameo against Nottingham Forest.

With the Bluebirds having to defend for most of the opening period, Pilkington, back in the side as a wide player, was pushed back by Armand Traore's enterprising attacking from left-back.

Warnock may have had tongue firmly in cheek when he said he was quite happy to move Pilkington infield as a result , but he did show his qualities in the central area.

Anthony Pilkington missed a great chance for Cardiff City but otherwise impressed

Whereas Lambert has been squeezed by some teams with high defensive lines this season, often pushed back where he can't make as much of an impact, Pilkington impressively broke from the shoulders of the Forest centre-backs.

Time and time again he raced clear in the second half, ruthless exploiting Forest's comically bad attempts to hold a high line.

With back to goal, Lambert has few at this level who can match his ability. Clearly, his natural finishing has the edge over Pilkington, too.

But Pilkington's added mobility can help Cardiff, particularly on the counter, and he's clearly the frontrunner to get the nod.







What about Chamakh? How did he get on during his debut?
Chamakh is arguably the like for like replacement, and indeed was signed as cover for Lambert.

Strong in the air, comfortable with his back to goal and a big threat from set-pieces, he could come in and allow Cardiff to stick to their game plan that has worked so well during the last three games.

Chamakh of course still has just over half an hour of competitive action under his belt this season against Sheffield Wednesday.







Could this be the time for Chamakh to show his worth?

It was an encouraging debut, with the former Palace man putting his weight around up front and showing a willingness to get stuck in.

That he made no real impression in the final third surely owed more to the nature of the game, with a leggy Cardiff penned back by an Owls side increasing in confidence.

The Bluebirds midfield were occupied by the quite brilliant Fernando Forestieri and so could not really get in support to help Chamakh show off his best qualities.

The Wigan game would be a good chance to open up Cardiff's game a little.

It's easy to see how Pilkington and Chamakh could work as a partnership, with Warnock seeing the latter as someone who could drop into the Number Ten role if necessary.

The two could rotate very easily, with Pilkington playing off the shoulder of the defence at times but dropping into midfield when Cardiff want to go direct to Chamakh.

From the start, however, Craig Noone's bright display from the bench at the weekend means it is likely to be the tried and increasingly trusted that wins out, with Pilkington going it alone up front.

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Another good article by the excellent Phil Smith and I think he's spot on that Noone will start with Pilkington pushing up. ChMack is likely to be in the bench.

There's also the option of starting with Immers up with Pilkington or Harris instead of Noone .

Or Richardson filling in where Pilkington was, which IMHO could be worth a shot as he looked sharp coming on.

From what I've heared of Chamakh in training he's not committed
Ide rather see immers get the confident boost.

Hopefully we will have enough without Lambert to see off Wigan (in our one game in the next 4 where we would be favourites). There's an international break after the Newcastle game where even if we had Lambert, we will have to be at our best defending to secure a result.

The reality is the absolute folly of our so called transfer committee deeming that Zahore & Gounangbe would be sufficient to succeed at this level.

Pilkington showed how awful he is as a striker on Saturday.

Chamack is hopelessly unfit.

Just hope that Warnock can conjure something up.

Give Zohore or Fred a chance maybe.

Give Zohore or Fred a chance maybe.

Actually that's not a bad shout.There were plenty besides those two who struggled under Trollope's system,maybe they'll come good as well.

Give Zohore or Fred a chance maybe.

Actually that's not a bad shout.There were plenty besides those two who struggled under Trollope's system,maybe they'll come good as well.

Please tell me this is a joke? Plenty will do better under Warnock but zahore just isn't a footballer, that's why on his arrival neither have not even made the bench. They will never play for city again.

Pilks is not a bad shout, granted he missed a few and not natural but Lambert wouldn't have created those chances in first place. He's a nuisance. richardson and hoilett on wings? Immers maybe? Good problems.

Give Zohore or Fred a chance maybe.

That suggestion is a joke

Fred & Zohore were cheap buys when Tan thought they’d be able to do the business in arguably one of the toughest leagues in the world.

I doubt they will even see time of day on Warnocks watch simply because they are not good enough standard for Championship football.

Pilks better start doing a bit of target practice with his Banjo!

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Only strikers we really have, it's called be realistic.

It's got to be Pilkington up front with a rejuvenated Noone down the right to continue where he left off at Forest.

Oh Kenneth Zohore..