' Javi Guerra ' The Unwanted Striker/Yet

As we struggle for goals, and look for a striker, Javi Guerra is the 3rd top goal scorer in La Liga, just behind Neymar and Suarez and equal with Ronaldo....


Remarkable 8 goals in 9 La Liga games



The unwanted Cardiff City striker who is the talk of La Liga after scoring a remarkable eight goals in nine matches


17 NOV 2015

BY JON DOEL


Javi Guerra was deemed not good enough for Cardiff City but lies third in the La Liga top scorers table alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and behind only Neymar and Luis Suarez


Javi Guerra celebrates scoring against Barcelona at the Nou Camp

As Cardiff City desperately hunt for a new frontman to solve their scoring woes, a diminutive Spanish striker with a poacher's instinct is setting La Liga alight with eight goals in just nine matches.

His name is Javi Guerra and you may remember he was actually a Bluebirds player until August 31 this year.

Yes, this is the same Javi Guerra who failed to start a single league match or a score a goal during his season-long stay in Cardiff. Now he is firing them in at the Nou Camp and sits just below Neymar and Luis Suarez in the the La Liga top scorers table.

All this while Cardiff have toiled in front of goal, failing to score in nine hours of football before finally netting two against Reading in their last match.

So where has this new-found form come from? Is it all a bit of a fluke? A look at Guerra's stats would suggest not.






After Russell Slade made it quite clear the Spaniard was not part of his plans last season, he was loaned out to Malaga in January where he proceeded to score five goals in 13 appearances (only seven of which were starts).

This included four in his final five matches of the season - the type of form that was still not enough to convince anyone he could do a job in the Championship.

Before that, during four seasons with Valladolid in Spain, he netted an impressive 72 goals in 134 starts. This was the very pedigree that attracted Vincent Tan in the first place.

Javi Guerra in action for Cardiff City
Related: Cardiff City target Premier League striker in next NINE days as club chiefs hold talks with two top-flight clubs

Guerra, of course, was supposed to be Cardiff's big Premier League signing, agreeing a deal with the Bluebirds well before their disastrous relegation back to the Championship. To his credit he honoured the move but the suggestion from within the Bluebirds was that he perhaps didn't have the appetite for the Championship fight when he actually arrived

Who can forget the sight of him being hauled off by Scott Young after just 37 minutes of a Capital One Cup humiliation against Bournemouth in September 2014?

© Huw Evans Picture AgencyJavi Guerra during training
Related: What became of Russell Slade's Cardiff City signings? The appearance stats that might surprise you

It led then-caretaker boss Young to launch a blistering, thinly-veiled attack on Guerra and one or two others, the former defender insisting 'core values' were lacking.

This lack of enthusiasm for Guerra's talents was continued under the Slade regime of which Young remained a key part, with the former Leyton Orient boss always somewhat defensive when questioned about the Spanish star's lack of opportunity.

"I watched him play in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Swansea City, in a development match at home and in the Capital One Cup against AFC Bournemouth. I haven’t seen him score.

"Surely when he is playing those games Javi must do something to say I must put him in," was one Slade response to questions from confused reporters.

Cardiff City boss Russell Slade
Related: What became of Russell Slade's Cardiff City signings? The appearance stats that might surprise you

Indeed, the sum total of the Spaniard's Cardiff career was a pitiful two League Cup starts and three Championship substitute appearances. None of those were under Slade and Guerra was actually never seen again following that fateful night against Bournemouth.

Thankfully for Guerra his current manager takes a slightly different view.

These are the thoughts of Rayo Vallecano boss Paco Jemez after the striker's brace against Granada at the weekend moved the Spaniard onto eight league goals for the season.

"I'm not surprised about the goals he's scored, although his streak is spectacular," Jemez said.

"He has instinct, talent and is a team player because he's the first to run and fight like a dog and make sacrifices. He's a big player for us and the rest is an added incentive."

still glad hes gone

Unbelievable he wasnt given a chance. Clearly a quality operator especially at this level!!

Most people could see from the limited time he was with us that he had something. Quite unbelievable that even when we were struggling he was never given any sort of chance and then Young publicly humiliated him. To think we spent £750,000 on Doyle and then let this guy go is criminal.

Jimbo, your wasting your time with some posters.

Guerra proven scorer in one of the top leagues in the World, we dont want him, give him away,
Remarkable 8 goals in 9 La Liga games

Le Fondre, proven Championship striker, we give him away.

Declan John, pace and ready to play.

These same posters, have a go at Slade for not having pace or no goals, but back him to get rid of these type of players

Jimbo, your wasting your time with some posters.

Guerra proven scorer in one of the top leagues in the World, we dont want him, give him away.
Remarkable 8 goals in 9 La Liga games

Le Fondre, proven Championship striker, we give him away.

Declan John, pace and ready to play.

These same posters, have a go at Slade for not having pace or no goals, but back him to get rid of these type of players

With Guerra it's not even something with the benefit of hindsight! He was a proven goal scorer! In his limited time on the pitch most saw he had something about him so it defies belief that we bombed him out without given him any sort of chance and then signed Doyle and Revel. If I was Vincent Tan I would be absolutely furious.

Jimbo, your wasting your time with some posters.

Guerra proven scorer in one of the top leagues in the World, we dont want him, give him away.
Remarkable 8 goals in 9 La Liga games

Le Fondre, proven Championship striker, we give him away.

Declan John, pace and ready to play.

These same posters, have a go at Slade for not having pace or no goals, but back him to get rid of these type of players

With Guerra it's not even something with the benefit of hindsight! He was a proven goal scorer! In his limited time on the pitch most saw he had something about him so it defies belief that we bombed him out without given him any sort of chance and then signed Doyle and Revel. If I was Vincent Tan I would be absolutely furious.

And He knocked on the door on 2 occasions and pleaded for a chance


Not one person can dispute the facts, 3rd top scorer in one of the best Leagues in the World

I bet tan feels sick about this one. And young for Halling him off after 15 mins.

Most people could see from the limited time he was with us that he had something. Quite unbelievable that even when we were struggling he was never given any sort of chance and then Young publicly humiliated him. To think we spent £750,000 on Doyle and then let this guy go is criminal.

seen him come on in a substitute appearance and little time i saw of him he was a different class.Gutted he went tbh

I bet tan feels sick about this one. And young for Halling him off after 15 mins.

i wish young went instead

Thank god he's gone, waste of money

Thank god he's gone, waste of money

You can blame that clown Scott Young for him never being given a chance. I bet Young got into Slade's ear as soon as he took over as manager and said "Please don't play Guerra cos I'll look a right cock for hauling him off against Bouremouth if he starts banging in goals". After all we know Messi would look rubbish when you compare Young's silky skills! Not!

You can blame that clown Scott Young for him never being given a chance. I bet Young got into Slade's ear as soon as he took over as manager and said "Please don't play Guerra cos I'll look a right cock for hauling him off against Bouremouth if he starts banging in goals". After all we know Messi would look rubbish when you compare Young's silky skills! Not!

nonsense.

Slade would have been told before even getting the job that guerra was a lazy git who didnt want to be here

Saw him play 20 minutes in a friendly at Cheltenham , his movement and vision was different class to any thing I have seen this season. Scored a great header and could have had a second but for a great save . Just how difficult can it be to see quality when its that obvious

Don't need to know much about football to see that he is a class above any of our other strikers. Whether he had the right attitude I don't know, but it seems he was'nt given much of a chance.

We should have hung on to him and given him a chance to show what he could do. A quick look back on posts on this forum will reveal plenty of comments on his class after his first few substitute appearances.

It went pearshaped when Scott Young took him off before half time in the Cup match against Bournemouth, whilst at the same time leaving on his mate Gabbidon who was playing like a donkey.

Truth is he was made a scapegoat when all 11 players were totally disgraceful. I know Guerra threw his toys out of the pram that night by storming off, but he didn't deserve such harsh treatment,or to be singled out.

A stand-in managers total lack of experience cost us a top quality striker. Young came from dealing with kids and tried to use the strong approach with a seasoned pro, clearly not what was needed.

We could certainly do with Guerra now!

People seem to forget that when he came to Cardiff he was also one of Spains top scorers, just a few behind Ronaldo at that stage too.

WTF is going on with this club at the moment - I am losing track of players we have bought, never played, given away, loaned out, never given a chance , the list goes on and on...

Slade is the manger - or is he?

Guerra is another example , outscoring more than Ronaldo and yet we wouldn't give him a starting chance.

And Frazier Campbell turns us down and is anyone surprised why players down want to come to our circus

I bet tan feels sick about this one. And young for Halling him off after 15 mins.

i wish young went instead

Same, I loved Young as a player but as a coach/assistant manager he's terrible ,(he got sacked from Port Talbot ffs) when he publically slagged off Guerra and Kimbo that was so unprofessional especially when you consider the whole team were shocking that night (including Gabbidon who was Youngs' partner in crime at the time)

He didn't want to be here he only came by the force of contract.

WTF is going on with this club at the moment - I am losing track of players we have bought, never played, given away, loaned out, never given a chance , the list goes on and on...

Slade is the manger - or is he?

Guerra is another example , outscoring more than Ronaldo and yet we wouldn't give him a starting chance.

And Frazier Campbell turns us down and is anyone surprised why players down want to come to our circus

Well said, spot on.

Poor recruitment, poor man management, poor budget handling = circus

brilliant fantastic so what? he doesnt play for us now or do people still think he plays for us?

brilliant fantastic so what? he doesnt play for us now or do people still think he plays for us?

maybe choose your words more wisely Allan? I think posters are annoyed that he actually didn't play for us (much), his goal scoring record clearly suggests he was way above anything this club has had before in regards to quality. All his stats are from a top ranked league in Europe

Jimbo, your wasting your time with some posters.

Guerra proven scorer in one of the top leagues in the World, we dont want him, give him away,
Remarkable 8 goals in 9 La Liga games

Le Fondre, proven Championship striker, we give him away.

Declan John, pace and ready to play.

These same posters, have a go at Slade for not having pace or no goals, but back him to get rid of these type of players

Agree Guerra definitely should have been given a chance and it was criminal he wasn't involved more...

But disagree about Le Fondre he was given every chance under Slade, was first choice until he was loaned out and massively under performed.

He's not exactly setting the world on fire at Wolves either at the minute and at Championship level his average is only around 12/13 goals a season which Mason could probably hit even if we don't sign anyone else. Jones prob won't be too far off that mark either come the end of the season.

Given the fact ALF clearly doesn't want to be here and has been vocal enough about it I say we're better off letting someone else pay his wages

Jimbo, your wasting your time with some posters.

Guerra proven scorer in one of the top leagues in the World, we dont want him, give him away,
Remarkable 8 goals in 9 La Liga games

Le Fondre, proven Championship striker, we give him away.

Declan John, pace and ready to play.

These same posters, have a go at Slade for not having pace or no goals, but back him to get rid of these type of players

Would the same Javi Guerra get the same amount of goals in a foreign country where he couldn't speak the language to communicate with his team mates? Adapting to the physical side of it along with the weather?
Having home comforts is going to make life a whole lot easier for him. This isn't a Slade thing

I bet tan feels sick about this one. And young for Halling him off after 15 mins.

Nubbsy some on here said he was tans signing ,and some on here said tan picks the team for slade ,so surely Guerra would have had more game time ,don't see why tan would be mad about him going as it was probably his wages

I bet tan feels sick about this one. And young for Halling him off after 15 mins.

i wish young went instead

Absolutely agree!

Young could/should have been a Cardiff City FC legend for his playing prowess, but that's all gone in my eyes!

I can only guess that he is still at the club on Tan's instructions rather than being Slade's choice!

I was just talking to other fans about Guerra and one said the word, " Embarrassment " Slade is to get rid of a player like Guerra and I fully agree.

Jimbo, your wasting your time with some posters.

Guerra proven scorer in one of the top leagues in the World, we dont want him, give him away,
Remarkable 8 goals in 9 La Liga games

Le Fondre, proven Championship striker, we give him away.

Declan John, pace and ready to play.

These same posters, have a go at Slade for not having pace or no goals, but back him to get rid of these type of players

Agree Guerra definitely should have been given a chance and it was criminal he wasn't involved more...

But disagree about Le Fondre he was given every chance under Slade, was first choice until he was loaned out and massively under performed.

He's not exactly setting the world on fire at Wolves either at the minute and at Championship level his average is only around 12/13 goals a season which Mason could probably hit even if we don't sign anyone else. Jones prob won't be too far off that mark either come the end of the season.

Given the fact ALF clearly doesn't want to be here and has been vocal enough about it I say we're better off letting someone else pay his wages

your wasting your time about ALF, but what you say is correct but the sun shines out of his arse like 99% of ex city players to some posters on here!

Jimbo, your wasting your time with some posters.

Guerra proven scorer in one of the top leagues in the World, we dont want him, give him away,
Remarkable 8 goals in 9 La Liga games

Le Fondre, proven Championship striker, we give him away.

Declan John, pace and ready to play.

These same posters, have a go at Slade for not having pace or no goals, but back him to get rid of these type of players

Would the same Javi Guerra get the same amount of goals in a foreign country where he couldn't speak the language to communicate with his team mates? Adapting to the physical side of it along with the weather?
Having home comforts is going to make life a whole lot easier for him. This isn't a Slade thing

no he wouldnt get same amount goals but to some on here think championship is so piss poor that mickey mouse can score 20 goals a season in it!