Macheda 80% shot accuracy

Earlier this week, Cardiff announced the signing of Manchester United free agent Federico Macheda. The former Italy under-21 international will team up with the Welsh outfit when his current contract with the Red Devils expires at the end of the month.

Macheda made the switch from Lazio to London shortly after his 16th birthday, as United took advantage of the Serie A rules regarding professional contracts (only individuals 18 or older can turn professional in the Italian leagues).

In 2009, as a reward for scoring eight goals in as many outings for United’s reserve side, Macheda was granted his debut first-team appearance against Aston Villa, after then reserve team coach now Cardiff manager, Solskjaer, convinced Sir Alex Ferguson

Many will recall his remarkable last-gasp winner in the third minute of stoppage time, where he fashioned two yards of space in the box with a divine flick, before curling expertly into the corner of Brad Friedel’s goal.



Macheda followed this up in his second Premier League appearance for United, scoring within a minute of coming on against Sunderland.

Such a ferocious start to his United career portended a bright future in the top flight of English football, but that didn’t materialise for Macheda as he struggled for starts and consequently found himself trapped in a three-year loan cycle, turning out for such clubs as Sampdoria, Queens Park Rangers and VfB Stuttgart.

It wasn’t until the last of these six loan stints, at Championship club Birmingham City, that the Rome-born striker began to find his feet, notching 10 goals in 10 starts and 8 substitute outings, ending the campaign as the Blues’ top goalscorer.

Now signed to Cardiff on the back of that spell, Macheda is hellbent on returning to the top tier. Speaking on the club’s official site, Cardiff’s latest acquisition was optimistic about their chances of promotion next season.

“Knowing Ole, he wants to get back into the Premier League as soon as possible and the recent signings show that.

“I’m here for the same reason. I feel that this is a great team and if we can have a good season and work hard then we can go straight back up.”

Whether Macheda has found his level in the Championship or is finally fulfilling his potential remains to be seen, but that’s not to detract from his impressive figures in the last six months.

Cardiff scored the second least number of goals in the Premier League last season (second only to Norwich City), with only three players (Fraizer Campbell, Jordan Mutch and Steven Caulker) netting on four or more occasions.

It’s obviously a real area of concern for Solskjaer, but Macheda can help rectify this deficiency by perpetuating his recent prowess in front of goal.

Macheda will face competition for starts from 32-year-old Javi Guerra, who signed from Real Valladolid earlier in the week. The Spaniard’s track record demands respect (69 goals in 146 games) yet no one can predict how foreign imports will adapt to the unique milieu of the Premier League.



Macheda can point towards his shot accuracy as another reason for selection. Of all the Championship players to attempt more than 20 shots last season, Macheda’s was by far the highest at 80% (20 shots on target, five off target), with Bolton’s Andre Moritz trailing him by a full 10%.



To regain entry into the Premier League, Cardiff City will need a forward that’s composed under pressure and doesn’t spurn many chances. With a 40% shot conversion rate, as compared to Championship top scorer Ross McCormack’s 27.5%, Macheda is developing into just that.

Now free of the Manchester United association, it’s time for “Kiko” to settle down at Cardiff and put in the hard graft. On a free transfer, Macheda looks like a steal and could prove to be one of the bargains of the season.


http://www.squawka.com/news/will-federi ... ity/116589?

Good stats for a struggling Brum side & checked out what they had to say...

Extraordinary commitment and desire for the club, despite "only" being a loan... What a shame Zaha wasn't like that.


I've every hope he will be a big success and a great free transfer.

Good stats for a struggling Brum side & checked out what they had to say...

Extraordinary commitment and desire for the club, despite "only" being a loan... What a shame Zaha wasn't like that.


I've every hope he will be a big success and a great free transfer.

Spot on Zaha is not half the man Macheda is. Zaha will go down in history as the most gutless lazy mutha fuka ever, he let everyone down the prick.

Good stat but the only stat that matters is the amount of goals he scores. He's only really done it at 1 club which is Brum, hopefully he will be able to keep up this form for us and like Fabio only needs a bit of confidence in him.

Spot on Zaha is not half the man Macheda is. Zaha will go down in history as the most gutless lazy mutha fuka ever, he let everyone down the prick.

What about JET?

I think Macheda is gonna be on fire for us, i really do

Spot on Zaha is not half the man Macheda is. Zaha will go down in history as the most gutless lazy mutha fuka ever, he let everyone down the prick.

What about JET?

I know we could probably all name a few more, but Zaha fukt me off, we needed him to produce at the most important time and he was garbage, didn't giv a shut about us.

Give the boy time Guerra will knock em in for us next year, but Macheda can be a very good signing with time. Finally this club is thinking ahead

Just need some tidy service now, hopefully ole pushes whitts forward in his more natural midfield position and he plays killer balls like he can...

I think he will prove to be an excellent signing

It's always the underwhelming signing that turn out to be the gems. I'm hoping.

Just need some tidy service now, hopefully ole pushes whitts forward in his more natural midfield position and he plays killer balls like he can...

Whitts could be the key next season, if used correctly.

Macheda got 10 in 18 for a poor Brum side, was their top scorer and his goals no doubt kept them up.

I think Macheda this season will be one of the top three goal scorers in this division and I think he'll get between 20 - 25 goals
The Spanish striker i'll go for 15 - 20 and Le Fondre 15 -20 as well. I think Frazier will be gone.

Sort out the defence and keeper, if he goes and I think we'll finish top 2.

Macheda got 10 in 18 for a poor Brum side, was their top scorer and his goals no doubt kept them up.

I think Macheda this season will be one of the top three goal scorers in this division and I think he'll get between 20 - 25 goals
The Spanish striker i'll go for 15 - 20 and Le Fondre 15 -20 as well. I think Frazier will be gone.

Sort out the defence and keeper, if he goes and I think we'll finish top 2.

I like your positive mindset!

Macheda got 10 in 18 for a poor Brum side, was their top scorer and his goals no doubt kept them up.

I think Macheda this season will be one of the top three goal scorers in this division and I think he'll get between 20 - 25 goals
The Spanish striker i'll go for 15 - 20 and Le Fondre 15 -20 as well. I think Frazier will be gone.

Sort out the defence and keeper, if he goes and I think we'll finish top 2.

I like your positive mindset!

I agree

I think Macheda is gonna be on fire for us, i really do

Don't be daft Dave

Good stats for a struggling Brum side & checked out what they had to say...

Extraordinary commitment and desire for the club, despite "only" being a loan... What a shame Zaha wasn't like that.


I've every hope he will be a big success and a great free transfer.

I agree Zaha had the chance to show the prem what he could do with us but he couldn't give a flying f**k, he's happy sitting a the bench robbing a pay check off whatever club he's with useless big headed thinking hes better than he actually is waste of f*cking space that prick is, he's just a check thief

Spot on Zaha is not half the man Macheda is. Zaha will go down in history as the most gutless lazy mutha fuka ever, he let everyone down the prick.

What about JET?

What about Jay Lloyd Samuel or Bywater?

Spot on Zaha is not half the man Macheda is. Zaha will go down in history as the most gutless lazy mutha fuka ever, he let everyone down the prick.

What about JET?

What about Jay Lloyd Samuel or Bywater?

What about them? Whilst they were shit, I don't recall them being particularly gutless and/or lazy.

Spot on Zaha is not half the man Macheda is. Zaha will go down in history as the most gutless lazy mutha fuka ever, he let everyone down the prick.

What about JET?

What about Jay Lloyd Samuel or Bywater?

What about them? Whilst they were shit, I don't recall them being particularly gutless and/or lazy.

You are having a giraffe JLS, made no attempt to close any opposition player down during his time here, I accept Bywater was just shit mind!

I think he will prove to be an excellent signing

I sure hope so! Can't believe Macheda is only 22 yrs old - seems like he's been out there for a long time. Should be a good chance that he'll truly blossom if he gets some stability from joining a club that believes in him and will give him steady playing time. He has shown his potential long ago, now lets hope he'll settle well and develop.