' Advice for Kenneth Zohore '

The expert advice to get Kenneth Zohore firing and how Cardiff City can be cuter in attack —
By Nathan Blake (Thursday 23rd August 2018)


Cardiff City got their first Premier League point at the weekend, which is a huge plus, just like their performance.

One of the issues that emerged from the game, for me, is that Neil Warnock's side need to find a way of scoring goals.

Here's my take on that game, the hugely important Huddersfield game coming up and some advice for Cardiff's forward players...


How Cardiff can be cuter in attack

I said after the defeat to Bournemouth that Cardiff need to be a lot cuter in attack.

And no doubt the performance against Newcastle was full of positives, especially the way Harry Arter and Victor Camarasa changed the midfield dynamic.

But Cardiff didn't score again — and they can still play a lot better in my opinion.

Still, it was good to see them start to learn lessons from what happened at Bournemouth.

One way the Bluebirds can be cuter is to recognise the ability of Josh Murphy, who was by far their most threatening attacking player against Newcastle — despite being virtually non-existent for the first 10 to 15 minutes.

What I like about Murphy is the fact that slow start didn't put him off, his head never dropped and he's always trying to beat his full-back with pace and direct running.

He's also very intelligent in his movement, making a diagonal run across the centre-backs, which Cardiff need to pick out whenever they can.

Warnock singled out Murphy for criticism after the Bournemouth game but I thought that was a bit harsh. He's Cardiff's biggest threat going forward and definitely knows how to play the left wing position — defensively and offensively.

If you talk about being cuter and more clever in the final third, Josh Murphy gives you that.


My advice to big Ken Zohore

People gave Kenneth Zohore some flak after the weekend but for me it's not just about Kenneth scoring goals, there's lots of different elements that need to be highlighted and addressed and if Cardiff are going to score more.

Zohore isn't a great header of the ball. He's noted for holding up the ball, backing in and turning defenders, using his pace and power.

But he's not too old to work hard and improve his heading, which was poor against Newcastle. He might have a sore and tender forehead for a few days after a big training session, but that will subside, and it's a crucial thing to work on.

A problem in the Premier League is that Zohore is playing against a higher calibre of defender. But as I say it's not just the Dane who needs to step up, it's a more complex issue and Cardiff need to get players in and around him.

If Cardiff's full backs can develop their forward games and start overlapping, they will give an extra level of support to Murphy and Junior Hoilett and supply Zohore with more chances.

I can't see Cardiff playing two in midfield and two up front. That's too high risk. So they need to lessen the load on big Ken.

They could play Bobby Reid as a No.10 with two experienced holding midfielders in behind. Or failing that Warnock could ask Arter or Camarasa to bomb forward and get closer to Kenneth, as they attempted against Newcastle.

Some fans are saying that Gary Madine should come into the equation.


My take on it?

I feel for Madine. He's better in the air than Zohore, but not as good on the deck and 95 per cent of the time you'd favour the guy who's better with the ball at his feet. It'd great if Cardiff could amalgamate the two players.

Madine could still end up being a hero for Cardiff. Who knows, he could nick a late goal at some stage and get his confidence up.

I've been in Gary's position. When I went to Bolton, Colin Todd told me 'we just need someone to put the ball in the net', but after two or three games I realised I wouldn't get the chances to score any goals.

If you're someone like Zohore, you have to learn to carve out chances for himself. He's done that in the Championship and he must find a way of doing it in the Premier League.

Opportunities are few and far between at this level and as a player you have to take on responsibility.

If I was Kenneth I'd be learning on the job, getting busy watching videos of Sergio Aguero, Romelu Lukaku, other top strikers.

Can Zohore learn from Lukaku? Of course he can.

But I maintain — as I've already said — that Murphy could be an option as a central striker. Or Reid as an option off the bench once defenders get tired.


The Huddersfield game

There's no doubt this weekend's game at Huddersfield is one Cardiff MUST target for points. Ideally three, but you'd take a draw as a worst case scenario.

Huddersfield, Southampton, Watford, Brighton, Fulham... you target them home and away if you're Neil Warnock.

It's certainly one Cardiff cannot afford to lose, given the tough run that's around the corner.

I don't view Huddersfield in the same way as Bournemouth. Eddie Howe's team are an established Premier League side, while David Wagner is still trying to get there with his team, despite staying up last season. It takes two or three years to become, in your own mind, an established top flight team.

The Terriers have scored one goal more than Cardiff this season but they've lost both games. I'd rather be in Cardiff's position and have one point but no goals.

Cardiff to win 2-1 for me.

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Nice to see Nathans criticism constructive,in the past I feel he has played to bandwagon criticism.

There could be some mileage in playing Murphy through the middle.

A guy I work with is a Norwich season ticket holder and his take on Murphy you have to play him through the middle, every game he played for Norwich on the wing he was getting heckled by the home fans.

When he played through the middle or up top he was there biggest threat.

There could be some mileage in playing Murphy through the middle.

A guy I work with is a Norwich season ticket holder and his take on Murphy you have to play him through the middle, every game he played for Norwich on the wing he was getting heckled by the home fans.

When he played through the middle or up top he was there biggest threat.

You could be right, what ive seen of him I like him out wide,could it be a different system Norwich play.

There could be some mileage in playing Murphy through the middle.

A guy I work with is a Norwich season ticket holder and his take on Murphy you have to play him through the middle, every game he played for Norwich on the wing he was getting heckled by the home fans.

When he played through the middle or up top he was there biggest threat.

It's funny because similar has been said about NML and I'm sure Hoilett could operate as a striker as well - we seem to have all the ingredients for a fluid front three with the option to refresh tiring legs on 60 minutrs as well

Maybe we should just go for it and try and play the old Newscastle way of however many you score we'll score more approach when playing against the teams around us whilst being more cautious against the bigger sides?

Just food for thought...

we need zohore firing on all cylinders and not giving the opposition too much respect, as he suits our style of play best. he isn't aggressive enough. championship defences cannot cope with him at his best, but he needs to step up his game at this level.

i think paterson has to play. paterson is best playing centrally IMO, and that means murphy needs to start in a wide position.