' City's best strike-partnership? '

Tuesday 24th March 2015

By Steve Tucker

' What is Cardiff City's best strike-partnership? The stats that shed light on Bluebirds conundrum... '

The striking department has really become a moveable feast for the Bluebirds, with supporters arriving at games with little clue who will be up front

If, when Russell Slade took charge at Cardiff City, he stressed the importance of developing partnerships in his side, then the Bluebirds boss has not really practised what he once preached.

His centre-halves might be settled to some extent and, in midfield, the pairing of Peter Whittingham and Aron Gunnarsson proves controversial, even now.

But it is up front where Slade has failed in the broadest terms to find a partnership, or even a lone striker option, that he is happy with and who he believes will bang in the goals.

The striking department has really become a moveable feast under Slade, with supporters arriving at games with little clue as to the option he will go for.

' Seven different forward pairings '

In the 28 Championship matches he has been officially in charge, the manager has used seven different forward partnerships and, on just three occasions, gone with a lone striker, with Alex Revell charged with the responsibilty twice and Kenwyne Jones once.

There have, of course, been injuries and, to some degree suspensions, affecting Slade’s choices, but looking at the situation one cannot draw any other conclusion than he has struggled to find his best pairing up front.

In his first official game at the helm, a 2-1 home win over Nottingham Forest on October 18, Slade plumped straight away for an Adam Le Fondre and Federico Macheda partnership, surprising many by leaving top scorer Jones kicking his heels on the bench.

Slade stuck with Le Fondre and Macheda for his first seven games in charge, but as results began to dry up he took action, consigning Macheda to the bench and bringing Jones in to partner Le Fondre. It worked in the first game they were paired at least, Jones getting the assist for Le Fondre to score as they won 1-0 at Watford on November 29 to earn Slade’s first victory on the road.

' Cardiff City strike partnerships 2014/15 '

Le Fondre and Jones were to be the preferred option over Christmas and New Year for Slade. Indeed, Le Fondre was Slade’s most-used striker, even though he managed just three goals in 24 appearances. So, his move to Bolton on loan in January, in search of more pitch time according to Slade himself, looked all the more unfathomable as a result.

Up front, after his January transfer window shopping, Slade seemed keen to ring the changes.

When League One top scorer Eoin Doyle arrived from Chesterfield in early February, he was straight away plunged into a partnership with Jones, beginning away to Sheffield Wednesday on February 7. The match ended in a 1-1 draw with Jones getting the Cardiff goal. The pairing was used extensively by Slade throughout that busy month, but it never produced another goal.

' The two 'big men' '

Other January arrival, Alex Revell, was not tried together with Macheda until March 3 and it resulted in a good 3-1 away win at Rotherham, with Macheda scoring. The only other time these two have started together was away at Brentford on March 14, when both strikers scored in a valiant 2-1 victory.

Perhaps more surprisingly, Jones and Macheda have only started one game together under Slade and that was at home to Charlton on March 7 when Macheda scored, but the Bluebirds lost 2-1.

Perhaps the partnership many believed most unlikely, the two ‘big men’ – Revell and Jones together – did not come together until the 1-1 home draw with Bournemouth in the Welsh capital early in March. It was a game in which a goal from centre-half Bruno Manga earned a good draw for Slade’s men.

Revell and Jones started Cardiff’s last outing, a long-cherished home win over Birmingham last weekend, although they were not supposed to start together, of course.

Jones was plucked from the bench after Macheda, pencilled in to partner Revell, injured himself in the warm-up.

The day, however, was dominated by Doyle coming off the bench to grab his first goal. Indeed, only one other striker has come off the bench and scored this season for Cardiff under Slade and that was Jones. The Trinidad & Tobago international has actually done it three times, at home to Leeds and Brentford and away at Middlesbrough.

If all the talk is of partnerships, then that is because the Cardiff manager has rarely strayed away from two up top.

' Confusing business '
Not until that Boro game at the Riverside on January 20 did Slade go with a lone striker – and he turned to Revell, who had just signed from Rotherham.

Slade kept Revell on his own up front for the next league match at home to Derby, a clash the Bluebirds lost 2-0. The only other time Slade has gone with one striker was in the 0-0 draw on February 10 at Brighton. This time Jones got the nod, although he was supported by the forward-thinking Conor McAleny, who had not long arrived from Everton on loan.

A confusing business then from Slade when it comes to the use of his striking options, and it is a situation he will surely need to remedy and bring some clarity to next term if his side are to have any sort of consistency, let alone any measure of success.

THE BLUEBIRDS HIT-MEN
KENWYNE JONES
Strengths: Strong, clever and good in the air, Jones is every centre-half’s nightmare, a battering ram with an often-deadly eye for goal.

Weaknesses: His work-rate is perceived to be very low and he is not the quickest, although that has never really been a part of his game.

ALEX REVELL
Strengths: Hard working, with a positive mental attitude. Fair in the air and he showed he has a deft touch too with a glorious goal at Brentford.

Weaknesses: Not the best first touch and his goal-to-game ratio is not up there with the top strikers.

FEDERICO MACHEDA
Strengths: Has plenty of skill and awareness in and around the box. His goals at Cardiff so far show a real poacher’s instinct.

Weaknesses: Has tended to go missing at times in Cardiff games and, when not scoring, his all-round contribution to the side has not impressed on occasion.

Toshack and Clarke - those were the days!

Toshack and Clarke - those were the days!

took the words right out of my mouth.

Toshack and Clarke - those were the days!

Wow, that was really weird because I just had a quick look at the Subject Heading and thought "Toshack and Clarke". Then I scanned down and saw your post. Great minds etc etc............

I've been saying it for couple of weeks now i think Doyle and Macheda need to be tried out

Chopra and Bothroyd.

Thorne and earnie.

Alston and Evans !

Toshack and Clarke - those were the days!

My immediate thoughts as well.

I do wonder how they would cope today. Personally I think Toshack would knock the spots off Bothroyd and clarke woul dteach Chopra a few lessons as well.

Alston and Evans !

They were good!

Gavin Gordan and Leo

Stant and Dale

Withey & Turner

or Foley & Meacock

I still think McCormack and Bothroyd worked better than Chopra and Bothroyd. Controversial comment I know!

During my time supporting the club, I think it's a close one between Dale and Stant and Earnshaw and Thorne.

I'd play Jones and Doyle for the rest of the season

Gilligan and Bartlett.

Revell and Doyle for me with Kenwyne being used as an impact sub when necessary. I don't trust Kenwyne starting a game because we never know which Kenwyne will turn up, but usually it's the lazy, disinterested one who doesn't bother moving!

Jeff Hemmerman and who ever he effin played with. Can't remember

Chris Pike and Carl Dale with Stantona on the Bench.

Atm Doyle & Macheda with KJ on the bench.

Dai Thomas and kurt nogan?