' HOW DO YOU USE HIM? / FEARLESS & DIRECT '
Tue Nov 10, 2015 1:42 pm
' HOW DO YOU USE HIM? / FEARLESS & DIRECT '
By Steve Tucker
10th Nov 2015
Striker Idriss Saadi came off the bench on Saturday to make his debut for Cardiff City, he signed for back in August.
The route to the first team for the Frenchman of Algerian descent has been a tortuous one even by Bluebirds’ standards. Saadi was a hot at previous club Clermont, very hot, in 23 games he managed 12 goals before, in January, suffering cruciate injury to his knee.
He appears thankfully to have over come that.
But since joining Cardiff lack of match fitness had held the 23-year-old back, then, just as he looked to be ready a hamstring pull in a run-out in a development game halted the progress once more.
But now Saadi looks ready for first team action and the question is, just what have the Bluebirds got for the small fee they paid for the marksman?
' FEARLESS & DIRECT '
Well, first off, admittedly on scant first impressions, Saadi looks a lot like the kind of forward player the Bluebirds have been looking for.
If there has been one thing lacking in the forward department in the Welsh capital it is a bit of hustle and bustle and a bit of good old-fashioned directness too.
Saadi looks like the man who could well supply that.
He is not the quickest, but he has a bit of acceleration over six-yards and it seems, most importantly, he is not afraid to run at the opposition and take players on.
He also has a lot of strength about him too. He was quite obviously not nicknamed ‘Le Taureau’ (The Bull) in France for no reason.
His history would show also that he knows where the goal is, you don’t score that many in so few games, even in the French second-tier, if you have not got the instinct and ability to put the ball away.
He showed that barely more than a minute after coming off the bench on Saturday as he used his strength to turn the Reading defence and got off a shot on target that needed to be well saved by Ali Al Habsi in the visitor’s goal.
' HOW DO YOU USE HIM? '
But what will now need to be discovered is how to best use Saadi to get the most out of him within the Bluebirds team.
If the decision is made to give him a run of games who should he play along-side up-front or might he even play up-top alone. That is what he did pretty successfully against the Royals after Jones and Joe Mason were taken off.
But if Saadi is used as part of a two-pronged strike-force, and that is obviously the way Slade actually likes to set up his side, then who should he play with?
He came on for the tiring Jones against Reading, but Saadi and Jones you sense could actually develop rather a useful partnership between them.
Mason right now is not in the greatest form, clever and insightful in and around the box, he sometimes lacks a bit of power and aggression.
Could Saadi be the perfect partner for Kenwyne Jones?
Saadi seems to have that in spades right now and it is not fanciful to imagine him linking up with Jones who is quite obviously first choice striker for Cardiff when fit.
Jones has a presence all of his own in the final third and is, of course, strong and powerful in the air.
You get the impression Saadi could thrive off Jones’ little knock-downs and flick-ons, surging towards goal with devastating effect.
At least that is what Cardiff supporters will be hoping having been given their first sighting of their new striker.
One thing is for certain, Slade and his men cannot afford to go on another barren spell without a goal like the one they have just come out of.
If they are to keep pushing at the top end of the table they are going to need to keep finding the net regularly and Saadi could just be the player to help them do that.
By Steve Tucker
10th Nov 2015
Striker Idriss Saadi came off the bench on Saturday to make his debut for Cardiff City, he signed for back in August.
The route to the first team for the Frenchman of Algerian descent has been a tortuous one even by Bluebirds’ standards. Saadi was a hot at previous club Clermont, very hot, in 23 games he managed 12 goals before, in January, suffering cruciate injury to his knee.
He appears thankfully to have over come that.
But since joining Cardiff lack of match fitness had held the 23-year-old back, then, just as he looked to be ready a hamstring pull in a run-out in a development game halted the progress once more.
But now Saadi looks ready for first team action and the question is, just what have the Bluebirds got for the small fee they paid for the marksman?
' FEARLESS & DIRECT '
Well, first off, admittedly on scant first impressions, Saadi looks a lot like the kind of forward player the Bluebirds have been looking for.
If there has been one thing lacking in the forward department in the Welsh capital it is a bit of hustle and bustle and a bit of good old-fashioned directness too.
Saadi looks like the man who could well supply that.
He is not the quickest, but he has a bit of acceleration over six-yards and it seems, most importantly, he is not afraid to run at the opposition and take players on.
He also has a lot of strength about him too. He was quite obviously not nicknamed ‘Le Taureau’ (The Bull) in France for no reason.
His history would show also that he knows where the goal is, you don’t score that many in so few games, even in the French second-tier, if you have not got the instinct and ability to put the ball away.
He showed that barely more than a minute after coming off the bench on Saturday as he used his strength to turn the Reading defence and got off a shot on target that needed to be well saved by Ali Al Habsi in the visitor’s goal.
' HOW DO YOU USE HIM? '
But what will now need to be discovered is how to best use Saadi to get the most out of him within the Bluebirds team.
If the decision is made to give him a run of games who should he play along-side up-front or might he even play up-top alone. That is what he did pretty successfully against the Royals after Jones and Joe Mason were taken off.
But if Saadi is used as part of a two-pronged strike-force, and that is obviously the way Slade actually likes to set up his side, then who should he play with?
He came on for the tiring Jones against Reading, but Saadi and Jones you sense could actually develop rather a useful partnership between them.
Mason right now is not in the greatest form, clever and insightful in and around the box, he sometimes lacks a bit of power and aggression.
Could Saadi be the perfect partner for Kenwyne Jones?
Saadi seems to have that in spades right now and it is not fanciful to imagine him linking up with Jones who is quite obviously first choice striker for Cardiff when fit.
Jones has a presence all of his own in the final third and is, of course, strong and powerful in the air.
You get the impression Saadi could thrive off Jones’ little knock-downs and flick-ons, surging towards goal with devastating effect.
At least that is what Cardiff supporters will be hoping having been given their first sighting of their new striker.
One thing is for certain, Slade and his men cannot afford to go on another barren spell without a goal like the one they have just come out of.
If they are to keep pushing at the top end of the table they are going to need to keep finding the net regularly and Saadi could just be the player to help them do that.
Re: ' HOW DO YOU USE HIM? / FEARLESS & DIRECT '
Tue Nov 10, 2015 1:48 pm
Good read. 
Re: ' HOW DO YOU USE HIM? / FEARLESS & DIRECT '
Tue Nov 10, 2015 1:50 pm
without reading, I guess Slade might play 442? 
Re: ' HOW DO YOU USE HIM? / FEARLESS & DIRECT '
Tue Nov 10, 2015 1:52 pm
that's my prediction aswellThomasC wrote:without reading, I guess Slade might play 442?
Re: ' HOW DO YOU USE HIM? / FEARLESS & DIRECT '
Tue Nov 10, 2015 1:56 pm
tylorstown18891 wrote:that's my prediction aswellThomasC wrote:without reading, I guess Slade might play 442?
If Jones can be paired with the striker the fans have been praying for (pacey one) then we could see a few more attempts at goal in the next few months. Fingers crossed
Re: ' HOW DO YOU USE HIM? / FEARLESS & DIRECT '
Tue Nov 10, 2015 5:37 pm
He would be great alongside Jones. 
Re: ' HOW DO YOU USE HIM? / FEARLESS & DIRECT '
Tue Nov 10, 2015 6:37 pm
am feeling rydogs vibe for the guy! Direct and aggressive is definitely what we needRydogsccfc wrote:He would be great alongside Jones.
Re: ' HOW DO YOU USE HIM? / FEARLESS & DIRECT '
Tue Nov 10, 2015 6:40 pm
Stringfellow wrote:am feeling rydogs vibe for the guy! Direct and aggressive is definitely what we needRydogsccfc wrote:He would be great alongside Jones.
Good vibe.