'Slade considers giving a first start to Kenneth Zohore'

against Bolton

22 APR 2016


BY STEVE TUCKER


The Danish striker landed his first goal for the Bluebirds' at Griffin Park and could come into contention for the starting XI tomorrow

Cardiff City boss Russell Slade could be set to unleash young striker Kenneth Zohore in the Bluebirds’ crunch Championship clash with Bolton this weekend.

The 21-year-old frontman came off the bench once more at Brentford to grab his first goal for the club and cause real consternation in the Bees’ defence. Although he could not prevent Cardiff crashing to a 2-1 defeat that now leaves them six points of sixth-placed Sheffield Wednesday with just three games left.

Zohore left Danish outfit OB Odense to join Belgian club KV Kortrijk, a club also owned by Bluebirds’ owner Vincent Tan, and immediately arrived on loan in the Welsh capital in January.

After a clutch of promising appearances off the bench, Zohore grabbed that first at Griffin Park, and, with injury concerns in Slade’s mind, the youngster could now earn his first start against the rock-bottom Trotters.



“He’s made me think for sure,” said Slade.

“That’s the impact we wanted from him at Brentford. It was his best impact yet. He’s been in useful positions and not finished before. But we are pleased he managed to get a goal. It will give him confidence. You have to think about starting him, I’ve got injury concerns with one or two other.”

Despite the Bluebirds struggling to find the net, recognised strikers, Zohore and Idriss Saadi, have found themselves bench-bound as Cardiff try to grab a top-six finish.

Despite considering moving Zohore into his starting XI this weekend, Slade said he was also wary of dispensing with the players who have served him well throughout the campaign.

“Antony Pilkington is our leading goal-scorer,” added Slade.

“So the flip side would be, why on earth are we are we not starting with players who’ve scored for us this season? Lex Immers has come in as a number ten and scored five in 12. Pilkington has scored eight. It’s important you have your players on the pitch who are capable of scoring goals. Craig Noone has six.

“If you are not careful, if you leave your best players out and start taking a look at Zohore and Saadi, who have one goal between them, there could be a problem. It’s important to have players at this stage on the pitch who have served you well in terms of getting goals.

“Zohore is only 21 and still getting used to it, but he is improving and that was reflected in his cameo at Brentford He’s still got a lot to learn, but he’s getting closer and it remains to be seen if he starts against Bolton. He’s going the right way though.”

He won't start him.

It'll be the same team that started on Tuesday night that starts tomorrow.

I'd chuck him and Saadi upfront from the start see how they do. PLay off hopes are pretty much gone now so why not.

I fear it will be more of the same team, tactics and substitutions

I'd chuck him and Saadi upfront from the start see how they do. PLay off hopes are pretty much gone now so why not.

I try not to have a go at Slade for no reason, I supported his decision not to play strikers in the play-off running that haven't (till Tues) found the net in English football before. From the interview it is apparent to me that loyalty to his players takes precedence over form. He clearly has admitted he was unsure of his new strikers bought for him by the club could do the business at this moment in time. However, when Pilk's goals dried up, his detractors will say he did nothing to remedy the lack of goals, wasn't bold enough to drop or change the position of a player and/or trust his new recruits.

1away goal all season

Last goal in open play 11 games ago (Brighton)

3 assists all season

Has it really worked or was in Lex getting up to speed.

I'd chuck him and Saadi upfront from the start see how they do. PLay off hopes are pretty much gone now so why not.

Slade considers this 4 games too late - f*cking idiot. You are right mate, fook all to lose now

I'd chuck him and Saadi upfront from the start see how they do. PLay off hopes are pretty much gone now so why not.

Slade considers this 4 games too late - f*cking idiot. You are right mate, fook all to lose now

He's been 3/4 games behind every decision this year. But mostly the best decisions have been made for him through Injuries or suspension

I think Slade should have a change of career to a magician with all his smoke screens and deflecting the balme from his inadequate tactics.

Can I remind you this current side and your tactics have picked up 2 points in the last 4 games. A good manager would have made a change after the Fulham game. An average Manager would have made a change at halftime againts QPR, when we didn't even have a shot on goal. Yet Slade is still umming and ahhing on what to do with another loss on the board!!!

You will never know unless you're brave enough to try.

Finally how are Saadi & Zohore ever going to get any confidence when all they get is scraps at the end of a game in a desperate situation.....and then he criticises their efforts on these scraps. Its easy to say they're not good enough when thy dont get a chance, that's just an opinion!!!

I doubt O'keefe would have even had his chance unless Slade's hand was forced due to injury!!! Sorry for the rant but his press conferences are shockingly bad!!

Thomas and so Slade should

I think Slade should have a change of career to a magician with all his smoke screens and deflecting the balme from his inadequate tactics.

Can I remind you this current side and your tactics have picked up 2 points in the last 4 games. A good manager would have made a change after the Fulham game. An average Manager would have made a change at halftime againts QPR, when we didn't even have a shot on goal. Yet Slade is still umming and ahhing on what to do with another loss on the board!!!

You will never know unless you're brave enough to try.

Finally how are Saadi & Zohore ever going to get any confidence when all they get is scraps at the end of a game in a desperate situation.....and then he criticises their efforts on these scraps. Its easy to say they're not good enough when thy dont get a chance, that's just an opinion!!!

I doubt O'keefe would have even had his chance unless Slade's hand was forced due to injury!!! Sorry for the rant but his press conferences are shockingly bad!!

Hard to argue against the points made, it's his job to set up the team to win matches, it's the fine details that get clubs promoted at times. Slade makes too many personnel and tactical errors imo. Slade has also proved in my eyes that he's not shy in criticising certain players in the media if it deflects attention away from his decision making

Thomas and so Slade should

Yes Annis, I thought it would be enough having Pilks & Immers till the end of the season, but the goals/opportunities have dried up now. Slade is the one who should see this first and try to freshen up the attack

Thomas and so Slade should

Yes Annis, I thought it would be enough having Pilks & Immers till the end of the season, but the goals have dried up now. Slade is the one who should see this first and try to freshen up the attack

Thomas, Slade, brings all these players in,so its about time he played them

Thomas and so Slade should

Yes Annis, I thought it would be enough having Pilks & Immers till the end of the season, but the goals have dried up now. Slade is the one who should see this first and try to freshen up the attack

Thomas, Slade, brings all these players in,so its about time he played them

A lot of posters feel for whatever justifications Slade had, he still didn't try to rectify anything. The 0-0 against QPR, then going with the same attacking line-up doesn't look good on him imo. I think Slade drops too many points over the course of the season to get promoted.

The only thing that could get him over the line is a big player investment, and it looks like that he won't be getting it

How can Slade judge Zohore and Saadi when they haven't been given a chance?

Slade bangin on about pilkington hes scored 8 goals in 31 appearances, and saadi and zohore have not had 1 start between both of them.

That is the biggest load of shit ive ever heard slade say, what an absoloute tool of a bloke is he for real!

8 GOALS IN 31 APPEARANCES AND HES WORRIED ABOUT DROPPING PILKINGTON WHAT THE ACTUAL f**k!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Slade bangin on about pilkington hes scored 8 goals in 31 appearances, and saadi and zohore have not had 1 start between both of them.

That is the biggest load of shit ive ever heard slade say, what an absoloute tool of a bloke is he for real!

8 GOALS IN 31 APPEARANCES AND HES WORRIED ABOUT DROPPING PILKINGTON WHAT THE ACTUAL f**k!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Slade is with these comments.

Why is Slade saying he has to drop pilkington to play Zohore anyway. Surely you look at the current team and the standard of their last performance, you look at the current squad and you pick the best 11 for the current league situation and the team you are playing. Just my opinion but if you're going into a must win game and the team struggled to score against QPR in their last match then surley you try something new.

If pilkington is playing well you don't have to drop him you could play Zohore up there in a 3 with pilks and Immers just behind etc. You could drop Whits or Noone and play him in midfield, that is his natural position after all.... Whatever, he had options.

I don't deny it must have been difficult for Slade with the embargo, big squad and lack of support from us fans etc. I'm not even saying we would have made the playoffs if he had of made changes but everyone needs to look behind the smoke screen and realise we have a talented group of players of around 18 and in my opinion Slade hasn't utilised this group to its full potential.