' Frederic Gounongbe's '
Mon Jul 18, 2016 10:42 am
Frederic Gounongbe's assured performance suggests Bluebirds striker curse could be over.
Monday 18th July 2016
BY HUW SILK
It's wise not to read too much into one pre-season friendly display, but the signs were encouraging from the Beninese marksman
Frederic Gounongbe is the Bluebirds' only new face so far this off-season - and it's probably fair to say there is some pressure on the man signed on a free from Belgium.
Cardiff City Stadium has become something of a scrapyard for strikers in recent years, with names including Adam Le Fondre, Federico Macheda, Sammy Ameobi, Nicky Maynard and Andreas Cornelius all failing to impress.
And with relatively little known about the 28-year-old ex-KVC Westerlo frontman there is a certain amount of trepidation about how Gounongbe will get on in South Wales.
But to get a goal under his belt in the first half of his first appearance in a City shirt - during the win at Shrewsbury on Saturday - is bound to go a long way to help him settle in.
It was an assured performance from the 6ft 3in hitman, who took his headed goal - from a Peter Whittingham corner - well, and the target man did a good job overall of holding the ball up and complementing the excellent Anthony Pilkington.
His size and physicality look likely to give him an edge, and he showed good pace when he needed to. On one occasion, shortly before boss Paul Trollope made 11 changes on the hour mark, he burst clear before selflessly squaring the ball to Lex Immers. The Dutchman, who played in a deeper role behind Pilkington and Gounongbe, had his shot deflected over the bar.
The comfortable 4-0 win for City was a pleasing start to Trollope's reign, although the new gaffer will be mindful of the fact that there will be many tougher challenges to come than that posed by the League One outfit.
But Trollope said he was pleased with the performance of his new man up front, saying: "He's still in a period of adjustment to different surroundings and a different league, but he was good. He showed glimpses of what he's about today and I think there's lots more to come from him."
Trollope, who adopted the 5-3-2 employed by Wales in his first match at the helm at City, added: "It's always nice for a striker, especially in pre-season, to get off the mark and when you are joining a new club that's heightened."
Getting that debut goal will be a huge boost for Beninese international Gounongbe himself, and he showed signs during the outing that he can come good for City.
Bigger tests will come, of course - but this was a decent start.
Frederic Gounongbe looked the part for Cardiff City at Shrewsbury
Monday 18th July 2016
BY HUW SILK
It's wise not to read too much into one pre-season friendly display, but the signs were encouraging from the Beninese marksman
Frederic Gounongbe is the Bluebirds' only new face so far this off-season - and it's probably fair to say there is some pressure on the man signed on a free from Belgium.
Cardiff City Stadium has become something of a scrapyard for strikers in recent years, with names including Adam Le Fondre, Federico Macheda, Sammy Ameobi, Nicky Maynard and Andreas Cornelius all failing to impress.
And with relatively little known about the 28-year-old ex-KVC Westerlo frontman there is a certain amount of trepidation about how Gounongbe will get on in South Wales.
But to get a goal under his belt in the first half of his first appearance in a City shirt - during the win at Shrewsbury on Saturday - is bound to go a long way to help him settle in.
It was an assured performance from the 6ft 3in hitman, who took his headed goal - from a Peter Whittingham corner - well, and the target man did a good job overall of holding the ball up and complementing the excellent Anthony Pilkington.
His size and physicality look likely to give him an edge, and he showed good pace when he needed to. On one occasion, shortly before boss Paul Trollope made 11 changes on the hour mark, he burst clear before selflessly squaring the ball to Lex Immers. The Dutchman, who played in a deeper role behind Pilkington and Gounongbe, had his shot deflected over the bar.
The comfortable 4-0 win for City was a pleasing start to Trollope's reign, although the new gaffer will be mindful of the fact that there will be many tougher challenges to come than that posed by the League One outfit.
But Trollope said he was pleased with the performance of his new man up front, saying: "He's still in a period of adjustment to different surroundings and a different league, but he was good. He showed glimpses of what he's about today and I think there's lots more to come from him."
Trollope, who adopted the 5-3-2 employed by Wales in his first match at the helm at City, added: "It's always nice for a striker, especially in pre-season, to get off the mark and when you are joining a new club that's heightened."
Getting that debut goal will be a huge boost for Beninese international Gounongbe himself, and he showed signs during the outing that he can come good for City.
Bigger tests will come, of course - but this was a decent start.
Frederic Gounongbe looked the part for Cardiff City at Shrewsbury
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Re: ' Frederic Gounongbe's '
Mon Jul 18, 2016 10:48 am
Can't wait to see more of him. 
Re: ' Frederic Gounongbe's '
Mon Jul 18, 2016 1:18 pm
"Wise not to read too much into a pre season friendly display"... And then reads too much into a pre season friendly display! Golden!
Re: ' Frederic Gounongbe's '
Mon Jul 18, 2016 3:36 pm
nubbsy wrote:"Wise not to read too much into a pre season friendly display"... And then reads too much into a pre season friendly display! Golden!
lol haha!
Re: ' Frederic Gounongbe's '
Mon Jul 18, 2016 3:42 pm
nubbsy wrote:"Wise not to read too much into a pre season friendly display"... And then reads too much into a pre season friendly display! Golden!
my thoughts exactly,lets not get carried away followed by the curse of the cardiff city striker is over? after one game? against a shit shrews team, yes we have performed well on the day but jesus some of our fans think we are gna win the league now
Re: ' Frederic Gounongbe's '
Mon Jul 18, 2016 4:13 pm
Reza wrote:nubbsy wrote:"Wise not to read too much into a pre season friendly display"... And then reads too much into a pre season friendly display! Golden!
my thoughts exactly,lets not get carried away followed by the curse of the cardiff city striker is over? after one game? against a shit shrews team, yes we have performed well on the day but jesus some of our fans think we are gna win the league now
Haha yeah, it's positive stuff but it's too early to get excited yet..
Re: ' Frederic Gounongbe's '
Mon Jul 18, 2016 5:58 pm
nubbsy wrote:Reza wrote:nubbsy wrote:"Wise not to read too much into a pre season friendly display"... And then reads too much into a pre season friendly display! Golden!
my thoughts exactly,lets not get carried away followed by the curse of the cardiff city striker is over? after one game? against a shit shrews team, yes we have performed well on the day but jesus some of our fans think we are gna win the league now
Haha yeah, it's positive stuff but it's too early to get excited yet..
Exactly,if he's banging them in and we are playing like that 12-14 games in then we can start to get carried away
Re: ' Frederic Gounongbe's '
Tue Jul 19, 2016 10:33 am
I think its wise not to read too much into a pre season friendly display but I think we may have put together the best Bluebirds squad in history, even the greatest team the world had ever seen! We are going to romp this league brushing Newcastle aside, then we are going to do a Leicester City and with virtually no strengthening win the Premier League! And all off of the back of the dismanteling of Shrewesbury Town FC 4.0 which will be regarded as one of the most crucial freindly games ever.
Re: ' Frederic Gounongbe's '
Tue Jul 19, 2016 10:34 am
lyndipops wrote:I think its wise not to read too much into a pre season friendly display but I think we may have put together the best Bluebirds squad in history, even the greatest team the world had ever seen! We are going to romp this league brushing Newcastle aside, then we are going to do a Leicester City and with virtually no strengthening win the Premier League! And all off of the back of the dismanteling of Shrewesbury Town FC 4.0 which will be regarded as one of the most crucial freindly games ever.
love the positivity we are going up as champions
Re: ' Frederic Gounongbe's '
Tue Jul 19, 2016 11:07 am
lyndipops wrote:I think its wise not to read too much into a pre season friendly display but I think we may have put together the best Bluebirds squad in history, even the greatest team the world had ever seen! We are going to romp this league brushing Newcastle aside, then we are going to do a Leicester City and with virtually no strengthening win the Premier League! And all off of the back of the dismanteling of Shrewesbury Town FC 4.0 which will be regarded as one of the most crucial freindly games ever.
We are going to do a Forest and win the Champions league back to back Trollope is the next Brian Clough.
