' Idriss Saadi and Kenneth Zohore ? ? ? '

Why are Cardiff City so reluctant to play Idriss Saadi and Kenneth Zohore?


Sunday 27th March 2016


BY SCOTT JOHNSON


If Russell Slade has a mantra, it is likely to be something along the lines of ‘stick with what works.’

Who can blame him. If it’s not broke, why fix it? It’s the sort of stance that acts as a source of strength when things are going well or a stick to beat you with when things are not going as planned.

Conservative by nature, Slade is not the sort to throw caution to the wind. If Cardiff are leading, he is more likely to protect the lead than look to kill off his opponent. When it works, it looks eminently sensible, but when it hands the initiative to the opposition, it’s counter-productive and self-defeatist.

In terms of team selection, some of Slade’s greatest successes this season have resulted from tricky situations and necessity. Stuart O’Keefe couldn’t get anywhere near the side, but circumstances saw him brought in from the cold and he has remained in the side ever since .

Anthony Pilkington was utilised up front because Cardiff culled their entire strike force during the January transfer window. The fact that he has taken to it like a duck to water, or at least emerged as the new Paul Parry, is an unexpected bonus.

Huw Evans Picture Agency LtdAnthony Pilkington of Cardiff City and Christophe Berra of Ipswich
The generous interpretation of these occurrences is that Slade has managed his squad well, while the alternative reading would be that he has such a talented squad, in some respects he could not fail.

That he is fortunate to have such a wealth of talented options and if anything, he should rotate more.

The likes of Matthew Kennedy, Declan John and Tommy O’Sullivan are rich in promise, but have been shipped out on loan and cannot get anywhere near the match day squad.

Circumstances necessitated that Cardiff stationed Pilkington, a winger by trade, and Lex Immers, an attacking midfielder, up front and it worked out well. As a result, they have remained in situ and subsequently exceeded expectations. In the meantime, Cardiff now have a full compliment of striking options, but they can’t get a look in.

For the recent home game against Preston, Cardiff had three strikers on the bench; Idriss Saadi, Kenneth Zohore and Federico Macheda, four if you count Sammy Ameobi who dabbles in the role, and none on the pitch.



Two Pilkington penalties settled the contest, so the lack of strikers was not an issue, but that has not always been the case.

Against Leeds in the following game with the same pairing, Cardiff created plenty of chances and their failure to convert any of them resulted in a harsh 2-0 defeat. They looked noticeably more threatening when Zohore, who hit the post, emerged from the bench. Against Ipswich, Pilkington looked every inch the converted winger as he was caught offside time and again.


Macheda has since left for Nottingham Forest , but he reluctance to use either Zohore and Saadi is rather odd. Well it’s not odd within the ‘stick with what works’ narrative, but it is in every other sense.

With their hands tied due to a transfer embargo, Cardiff went to a lot of trouble to sign Danish Under-21 international Zohore on loan. KV Kortrijk, owned by Vincent Tan, acquired him from OB Odense, where he had scored seven goals this season and loaned him to Cardiff.

With Slade favouring an attacking focal point, Zohore looked a ready-made replacement for the outgoing Kenwyne Jones, but that has not happened.

Saadi was injured when Cardiff signed him in the summer and his return to fitness has been eagerly anticipated.



But now he is finally fit, he remains on the sidelines. Having netted 18 goals for Clermont in the French second tier during the last couple of years, the 24-year-old appeared an exciting prospect.

During a brief cameo in a 2-0 victory over Reading in November, Saadi looked a powerful, aggressive presence, before a hamstring injury saw him return to the physio’s table.


Zohore and Saadi have the hallmarks of an exciting pairing, although both will have to acclimatise to a new country and division. With the games remaining now in single digits, opportunities are becoming increasingly scarce.

Saadi in particular looks like the type of striker that Cardiff have been crying out for in recent years and he strikes you as the kind of player that will become a mainstay in the side if given the opportunity.

Whether he becomes the new O’Keefe in that regard, or the latest in a long line of wasted talent remains to be seen.



Zohore, who missed the trip to Reading at the weekend with a knock, has the spectre of fellow Danish striker Andreas Cornelius hanging over him, Cardiff’s record signing at the time and a transfer that completely overshadowed their Premier League season. That may be unfair, but his loan spell is only until the end of the season and if he is not given the opportunity to prove otherwise, he is destined to be tarred with the same brush.


Saadi, who is contracted for another couple of years, is looking to succeed where many others before him have failed. He will not be seeking to emulate the likes of Peter Odemwingie, Adam Le Fondre and Eoin Doyle, who all departed within six months of joining, or Etien Velikonja, Javi Guerra and Jo Inge Berget, who hardly featured at all.

We are not privy to how players perform in training, so maybe neither player deserves to replace Immers or Pilkington at present. Cardiff also have a lot to lose, having done so well to get themselves back in the picture for a top six finish. Yet you can’t help but feel that the presence of specialist strikers up front might give Cardiff an added boost in the coming weeks.


Against the very best sides in the division, that extra bit of physicality or killer instinct could make all the difference. With Derby, Burnley, Sheffield Wednesday and Birmingham still to play, Cardiff’s fate is very much in their own hands and a more proactive approach in terms of selection could make all the difference.

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Zohore is injured ffs and Saadi can't be up to much if he still haven't had a appearance from his injury.but all in all what a waste of a read

Zohore is injured ffs and Saadi can't be up to much if he still haven't had a appearance from his injury.but all in all what a waste of a read

To be fair to the writer Scott Johnson, Slade has signed about 16 players and no more than 4 regularly play? ?
Plus Johore has not always been injured.
And Idriss Saadi arrived injured,massive gamble that?

Zohore is injured ffs and Saadi can't be up to much if he still haven't had a appearance from his injury.but all in all what a waste of a read

To be fair to the writer Scott Johnson, Slade has signed about 16 players and no more than 4 regularly play? ?
Plus Johore has not always been injured.
And Idriss Saadi arrived injured,massive gamble that?

agree with that but we can't take pilks position as he has done real well for us this season.zohore has looked impressive before he got injured which is a shame thought he would've come good any idea how long he's out for?

Zohore is injured ffs and Saadi can't be up to much if he still haven't had a appearance from his injury.but all in all what a waste of a read

To be fair to the writer Scott Johnson, Slade has signed about 16 players and no more than 4 regularly play? ?
Plus Johore has not always been injured.
And Idriss Saadi arrived injured,massive gamble that?

agree with that but we can't take pilks position as he has done real well for us this season.zohore has looked impressive before he got injured which is a shame thought he would've come good any idea how long he's out for?

I agree Pilks deserves to continue, but it does look like we've wasted another 2 more signings?

Zahore isn't a game changer and saadi I'm glad they haven't chanced him with his injury history.

Everyone pretty much new the majority of players slade was brining in were back up and not crucial players.

Since jones has gone and a few others offloaded the play had changed dramaticly.

Sometimes teams unwittingly spring surprises on the opposition due to circumstances rather than by design. All clubs are well scouted these days and clubs spend the week preparing to play against what they believe is coming.

However, as we found when KJ left the opposition can be caught out when an unforeseen changes are made and I believe that's what has happened with first Pilkington (Wolves) and then Lex (Huddersfield/Brighton) moved up front.

The scouting reports will now be up to date and you can bet most teams will now play the offside trap against us due to AP's inability to time his runs properly.

If I was in charge I would seriously consider another surprise by starting with Saadi who could use his pace to spring the offside trap. If he doesn't start then definitely it should be a classic plan B from 60 minute onwards

Zohore is injured ffs and Saadi can't be up to much if he still haven't had a appearance from his injury.but all in all what a waste of a read

To be fair to the writer Scott Johnson, Slade has signed about 16 players and no more than 4 regularly play? ?
Plus Johore has not always been injured.
And Idriss Saadi arrived injured,massive gamble that?

agree with that but we can't take pilks position as he has done real well for us this season.zohore has looked impressive before he got injured which is a shame thought he would've come good any idea how long he's out for?

I agree Pilks deserves to continue, but it does look like we've wasted another 2 more signings?

to be fair to slade on the signings he was under ffp so I'll give him that

Zohore is injured ffs and Saadi can't be up to much if he still haven't had a appearance from his injury.but all in all what a waste of a read

To be fair to the writer Scott Johnson, Slade has signed about 16 players and no more than 4 regularly play? ?
Plus Johore has not always been injured.
And Idriss Saadi arrived injured,massive gamble that?

agree with that but we can't take pilks position as he has done real well for us this season.zohore has looked impressive before he got injured which is a shame thought he would've come good any idea how long he's out for?

I agree Pilks deserves to continue, but it does look like we've wasted another 2 more signings?

Zohore is a loan, yes he's a Lump but to big simple as that and he should have buried his chance against Leeds. Saadi I have hope for but he was a Tan signing and I don't expect Slade to drop Pilks or immers but you would have thought he would have been used off the bench. Maybe he is keeping him for the run in

Zohore is injured ffs and Saadi can't be up to much if he still haven't had a appearance from his injury.but all in all what a waste of a read

To be fair to the writer Scott Johnson, Slade has signed about 16 players and no more than 4 regularly play? ?
Plus Johore has not always been injured.
And Idriss Saadi arrived injured,massive gamble that?

agree with that but we can't take pilks position as he has done real well for us this season.zohore has looked impressive before he got injured which is a shame thought he would've come good any idea how long he's out for?

I agree Pilks deserves to continue, but it does look like we've wasted another 2 more signings?

Zohore is a loan, yes he's a Lump but to big simple as that and he should have buried his chance against Leeds. Saadi I have hope for but he was a Tan signing and I don't expect Slade to drop Pilks or immers but you would have thought he would have been used off the bench. Maybe he is keeping him for the run in

Slade dropped Immers after he scored against Huddersfield and wouldn't have picked him again unless his hand had been forced.

Is Immers a Tan signing as well? Or do we think Slade's knowledge stretches as far as the Dutch League?

One of Slade's shortcomings is that he has his favourites who seem to get selected irrespective of form and he only looks to change the team when his hand is forced by injury or suspension. Players like Immers and O'Keefe and Manga to a lesser extent have grasped the opportunities that I don't think Slade would have given them were it not for injuries and suspensions.

If Pilkington is injured Slade will be forced to play one of Zohore (if fit) or Saadi as he cannot play anything other than 4-4-2.

That means that Zohore or Saadi will get the chance that so far they have not been given by simply being allowed the odd 10 minute appearance as a substitute.

They could turn out to be decent players or donkeys we just have not seen enough of them to make that call yet.

If Pilks is injured get Saadi on please!!!