Cardiff City's priority in January could now be defence!

Cardiff City's priorities in the January sales could well turn to bolstering defence - the final word

The lack of a threat on the counter is still glaring, magnified by Barnsley’s supreme performance in that department, but goals have not really been a problem for Neil Warnock

By Phil Smith


Sunday 18th December 2016


They scored three, they should have had six.

Three moments when you were just waiting for the net to bulge.

Junior Hoilett through one-on-one, then left with what was as good as an open goal in the opening moments of the second half.

Rickie Lambert, firing just wide from the kind of predatory pounce he has made his trademark over a decade at the top level.

That doesn’t even take into account the near misses and the great saves.

Neil Warnock’s assertion that Barnsley keeper Adam Davies was Man of the Match was probably harsh on the very gifted Conor Hourihane, but it was not one without merit.

There was the save from Peter Whittingham, a sweet half-volley rifling into the top corner. A firm save from a towering Bruno Manga, and a superb stop from Kenneth Zohore’s inventive header.

Cardiff City throw away a priceless opportunity but at least they are making home games something to savour - view from the press box

All in all, it was 22 shots on goal, 10 on target.

For context, that’s twice as many as Cardiff managed in the tepid defeats to Leeds United and Reading at home earlier this season.

Against QPR and Derby County, they managed only nine.

It was a performance that gave pause for thought, making you wonder whether slowly but surely Cardiff’s January priorities may be starting to shift.

It has seemed for most of this season that it would be a window in which the Bluebirds should look to add firepower at the top end of the pitch.

That remains true, of course.

The missed chances on Saturday highlight the continuing absence of a clinical finisher, and while Junior Hoilett has been a diamond of a signing, the other wingers have looked short of confidence and are certainly short of consistency.

Both Craig Noone and Kadeem Harris have impressed in flashes but are yet to put together a string of authoritative showings over 90 minutes.

Question marks persist over Zohore, who cannot be judged on 135 minutes alone.


Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock could cancel January striker search if Kenneth Zohore continues surprise form
Still, Cardiff at least have seemed to realised that the way to use the Dane is not to launch balls into the air, but to move it quickly into his chest and his feet. He has shown himself to be quicker and smarter on the turn and with the ball at feet than many supposed.

Yet things are improving in attack.

The lack of a threat on the counter is still glaring, magnified by Barnsley’s supreme performance in that department, but goals have not really been a problem for Neil Warnock.

They have fired a blank only twice, one the disappointing defeat to Wigan, the other a very creditable stalemate with Brighton.

They have created chances and scored at St James’ and Villa Park, taken Nottingham Forest apart at the City Ground, put three past Huddersfield and Barnsley.

Perhaps the biggest problems are in defence, with Cardiff still the third worst in the league. Warnock’s defensive options look strong on paper, yet it is not translating into results.

All hoped the clean sheet against Brighton would be a turning point, but it has not proven to be the case. Matt Connolly and Lee Peltier have looked uncomfortable in the last two games, both not quite in their strongest positions and exposed by the talented Helder Costa and Ivan Cavaleiro of Wolves.

It was they who were left to try and hold back the tide as Barnsley swept forward yesterday, but they comprehensively lost the foot race.

Warnock vows to make changes as his Cardiff City team give lesson in how not to defend
Lee Peltier was switched to left-back at Ipswich because while Joe Bennett had impressed, too many gaps were being left, too many runners not being tracked into the Cardiff box.

Despite some impressive individual performances across Neil Warnock’s tenure, it seems the combinations are just not quite right.

Inevitably there will be question marks over Ben Amos, who made a second bad error in the space of a week when he was caught in no mans land for Barnsley’s third. Suggestions that he was responsible for the first and fourth are surely harsh in the extreme. On both occasions, the goalkeeper has the right to ask his defence for more.

Yet you wonder whether a more rounded keeper will find its way onto the shopping list.

Amos is an interesting player. Most keepers at this level are strong shot stoppers, but struggle to command their box from crosses and set plays.

Amos has appeared to be the other way round and it will be fascinating to see what the back five is at Griffin Park on Boxing Day.

January remains as important as ever for Cardiff, a crucial opportunity to correct an imbalanced squad.

Quite where the money will be spent, however, is becoming more unpredictable by the game!

I say we need a new goalie,defender if Manga is sold and def a new striker.

Amos and Morrison our weakness in defence.

Our No1 priority has to be a keeper, then a captain who leads by example, but we already have that player and it's Gunnarsonn.

We also need a fox in the box type striker and a CB.

Kenneth Zohore: Cardiff City striker could change January plans - Warnock

Kenneth Zohore has two Cardiff City goals to his name, but has not scored in seven appearances this season
Cardiff City boss Neil Warnock says the form of striker Kenneth Zohore could change his January spending plans.

Speaking after Cardiff's dramatic 4-3 defeat against Barnsley, Warnock stated that he is 'ready to make changes.'

Warnock says he will sell to raise funds to improve his squad, but admits Zohore could change his January plans.

"If Ken can keep carrying on playing like this I will be delighted to have him on-board and we can spend the money elsewhere," he told BBC Wales Sport.

"He is what I have been looking for all along and he's just come out the woodwork.

"He's been a massive plus for us because I'm looking to spend decent money on a striker in January, and I can't buy anybody better than him at the minute.

"We are looking for someone like him, someone who can go beyond, can be strong, can flick it on here and there, has got an eye for goal.

"I wish some of our chances against Barnsley had fallen to him. He has come out the blue really."

Warnock had not selected Zohore before last week when he came on at half time in the win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, with his previous appearance for the Bluebirds coming on 1 October when Paul Trollope was still in charge.

Zohore v Barnsley
Neil Warnock said he was delighted with Kenneth Zohore's performance against Barnsley, the first time Warnock has started the striker
Warnock explained: "If we hadn't have been so bad in the first half the other night [against Wolves] we probably wouldn't know about Kenneth. So I'm lucky aren't I?

"I can see light at the end of the tunnel in two or three positions now."

Warnock says Zohore has not been in his plans until impressing against Wolves, because he has been lazy in training.

"He'll get better when he gets fitter. He knows now that he can do that every week, and that's what you need from a striker," he said.

"I am so pleased with him. He's been a little bit lazy at times since I have been at the club.

"But he's showing what he can do and he will get fitter now. He's a big plus for us. But there are a few minuses I have to deal with as well in the next nine days."

I've just watched the Barnsley goals again and our defence is shocking. Watching them back, I think that Amos could have done better on the third by coming out quicker (which was the correct call) but in the others he is left exposed by defence. I thought he could have done better with the first but watching it back, he made the correct call in narrowing the angle but it was a fantastically pitched header from a quality long pass. That said, Marshall would have dealt with them more effectively but its not entirely the GK's weakness here as he was left exposed which shouldn't happen. What concerns me is that if we pick up an injury or two in defence, what cover do we have if Manga is off in January?

We've been here before. Good defence but no goals. Then start scoring but leaking goals. NW will sort it but I really didn't see us conceding 4 goals against a side that have been punching above their weight and especially after the Wolves second half performance.

I say we need a new goalie,defender if Manga is sold and def a new striker.

Amos and Morrison our weakness in defence.

Your spot on, some posters bit far fetched. This team is decent, we aren't far off. Selling Marshall was suicidal, he wouldn't have gone had Warnock been in charge. The lightbulb moment to employ a decent manager came a bit late, but it's done and we must move on. Simon Moore would have been decent but again that's done.

We need a striker as lamberts legs have gone, I did question him after first few games I seen him and he was way off pace coming on Saturday. Zohore is a surprise but not our main man, I personally think we need a good winger.

I personally think we should strengthen the midfield both centrally and out wide. Gunnarson, Whitts, Ralls and Pilks ALL lack pace.
In an attacking sense all rarely/if ever get beyond the forwards. IMO we need someone who can do that. Space would then be freed up and I believe, more goals scored.
Defensively (with the exception of Gunnar)they offer little and don't break up opposition attacks quickly enough, allowing them to build. Oh for a 'Kav like' player to stamp their authority on the midfield area AND someone who can run confidently with the ball at their feet.
This I believe would improve our 'goals for' column and reduce our goals deficit. Just my opinion like.