NATHAN BLAKE: ZOHORE NOT THE ANSWER / NIASSE YES

Oumar Niasse v Kenneth Zohore and the Cardiff City striker who deserves to star in relegation run-in

Former Bluebirds striker Blakey assesses the debate on who Neil Warnock should start up front against Burnley and beyond

By Nathan Blake

Saturday 6th April 2019

I have heard some criticism for Oumar Niasse and some calls for Kenneth Zohore to return as Cardiff City's main striker.

There have even been comparisons with Gary Madine, which is unfair, as Niasse does a lot more for the team.

I guess it's down to the fact that just as Madine never scored a goal for the club, so too is Niasse waiting for his first. That miss against Manchester City gave fuel to the Niasse critics.

Cardiff obviously need goals from their main striker. They probably have to win four of their remaining six games, or three of them as a minimum, and the only way to do that is by finding the net.

But here's my main counter-argument to those on Niasse's back, clearly unhappy that he's not yet got the net bulging: could it be that when he gets himself into a goal-scoring position he's just so shattered from the work he's doing elsewhere?



That's why his finishing has been so poor for Cardiff.

He runs the channels, he works so hard, he's expending so much energy that it's affecting that vital concentration you need to put the ball into the net. We saw that with his miss against Pep Guradiola's side.

Time and again we see Niasse cut in past a couple of defenders from the left, or run past someone from halfway. Once he gets to the penalty box, he's shattered and invariably lacks the composure a clinical striker needs.

Maybe his energy needs to be spent in and around the opposition penalty box more, but that's easier said than done given the way Cardiff play. They don't dominate matches enough to create chances on a regular basis, so Niasse does need to go looking for the ball at times.

But I don't buy the calls that come from some fans for him to be dropped. Why? Because I'm not convinced there is a better alternative.

In an ideal world, you'd have Oumar Niasse plus 12 goals: the work rate, the energy and the end product. We aren't in an ideal world, though, we're locked in a Premier League relegation dogfight.


Cardiff City's Kenneth Zohore celebrates scoring his side's second goal of the game at Southampton (Image: PA)
In Callum Paterson earlier in the season, Cardiff had a platform, someone who could hold the ball up, but a player who didn't possess the pace to dart into the channels and behind the defence.

Niasse and Kenneth Zohore are each capable of doing that, although Zohore doesn't cover as much ground — especially defensively.

I would question those calling for Kenneth to return, as we've not seen that rampaging form from a couple of seasons ago for a while.




So is Zohore the answer? I would say no.


In fact, in hindsight Cardiff should have cashed in when they received offers in the region of £20million for Zohore. That could have been reinvested elsewhere.

May sound harsh, but it's the way I see it.

In the past 18 months, none of Cardiff's strikers have been prolific, Zohore included. The hardest part of the game is scoring goals and most of us foresaw this area of the team as the main problem Cardiff would need to solve in the Premier League.



But it's been a struggle. Defensively, you can't really fault the Bluebirds — they've recorded more clean sheets than Manchester United and Arsenal — so that's a heck of a platform for the rest of the side.

The problem has been at the other end and I don't just direct this at the striking department. Junior Hoilett, we've needed more goals from you. Josh Murphy the same. Nathaniel Mendez-Laing the same.

Victor Camarasa is Cardiff's top scorer, but there are more players who could have contributed more goals this season: Bobby Reid, Harry Arter, Sean Morrison and others.

I thought if Niasse scored six goals between January and the end of the season, Cardiff would have a chance of staying up.

He hasn't. But it's hard to overly criticise him because he tries so hard — and Cardiff's fans love a trier — albeit he's not a finisher which is causing some unrest among the supporters.

For me, it's a wider issue that still needs to be addressed, in that Cardiff don't create enough chances and on too many occasions their counter-attack is not quick enough, not incisive enough.

Niasse hasn't been prolific and partly that's because he's not a natural finisher. But, as I say, often he's picking the ball up deep, beating a couple of players and then finding himself mentally and physically exhausted by the time he is about to shoot.






How many genuine sitters has he missed? From a few yards out or something like that? It's not been like that.

Cardiff have so little of the ball, they need their striker to do the donkey work. You can't have a half-hearted striker, which Zohore is in my opinion. You can't have a Paterson-type either. You need pace in behind.

So for me, Niasse has to remain for the relegation run-in.

Yes, Kenneth should come off the bench now and again — but he's hardly matched up to that 'I'm back' statement he shouted after scoring the winner at Southampton.



Okay, he's not played much since then, but we haven't witnessed him kick on and tear things up like I really expected, and desperately wanted.


Could we play Zohore and Niasse together?
Yes, Niasse, with his work rate, can play in the slot behind the striker. Cardiff used this tactic briefly at Southampton and it looked effective.

But the truth is Zohore has only scored once this season. Neil Warnock will feel he has done everything to get the best from his striker, so at what stage does the manager admit that he's exhausted that option?

For me, if Cardiff play two up front, it should be Bobby Reid and Niasse. Reid offers that energy in behind, the ability to link the play and finish when he gets the opportunity.

A manager needs to trust and rely on his players. That explains why Warnock plays Niasse every game and not Zohore.

You know what you're going to get from Oumar Niasse — and Cardiff have hardly scored a hatful of goals in recent years anyway.

The Bluebirds have to persist with him.

It seems the team play better as a unit with Niasse in it and he does seems to 'add' something, albeit not individual goals; the basic requirement for a 'striker'

I honestly believe that many, maybe including the manager, have lost a little faith in Kenneth Zohore this season and at this extreme pressure point of the Premier League season, we need players who will at least give their whole whilst on the pitch

Zohore, for me, currently doesn't offer that for more than a few minutes at a time when given the opportunity

Would still like to see him (Zohore) prove us all wrong though

Spot on sven that's exactly I see it.

It seems the team play better as a unit with Niasse in it and he does seems to 'add' something, albeit not individual goals; the basic requirement for a 'striker'

I honestly believe that many, maybe including the manager, have lost a little faith in Kenneth Zohore this season and at this extreme pressure point of the Premier League season, we need players who will at least give their whole whilst on the pitch

Zohore, for me, currently doesn't offer that for more than a few minutes at a time when given the opportunity

Would still like to see him (Zohore) prove us all wrong though

I have not lost faith in Zohore, Sven. I never had any in the first place. I have been hoping for a long time he will prove me wrong, but he has'nt managed to yet. I agree with Blake, we should have cashed in when we had the chance.

Pretty much as I see it and he’s right about cashing in on the past offer.

Another question is whats point bringing ken on with 10mins or less to go as is usual?. Chelsea point in question niasse was pretty inafective and really didn't contribute at all to game! but ken was not used instead NW put on a winger for a winger! Just think NW substitutions are one reason why i feel we will be relegated.....

niasse, while being probably the best option up front at the moment, is a willing runner, but quite average in front of goal. that said, it's tough playing for a team that see's little of the ball, and creates very few chances.

as blake correctly says, when he finally does get a chance, he's been chasing so many lost causes that he's tired by that time.

zohore could have stepped up and solved the problem, but hasnt / couldnt.

It's a shame City couldn't have Niasees pace and willingness and Zohores strength and control all in one player

It's a shame City couldn't have Niasees pace and willingness and Zohores strength and control all in one player

Then we’d never to be able to afford such a player!

It seems the team play better as a unit with Niasse in it and he does seems to 'add' something, albeit not individual goals; the basic requirement for a 'striker'

I honestly believe that many, maybe including the manager, have lost a little faith in Kenneth Zohore this season and at this extreme pressure point of the Premier League season, we need players who will at least give their whole whilst on the pitch

Zohore, for me, currently doesn't offer that for more than a few minutes at a time when given the opportunity

Would still like to see him (Zohore) prove us all wrong though

A good post by Blake in my opinion Chris and why I’ve supported Niasse as the best option up front for us by far.
Some on here just see - no goals = crap player. Laughable.

It's a shame City couldn't have Niasees pace and willingness and Zohores strength and control all in one player

Then we’d never to be able to afford such a player!

Nothing to lose,especially after today's results, play both

It's a shame City couldn't have Niasees pace and willingness and Zohores strength and control all in one player

Then we’d never to be able to afford such a player!

Nothing to lose,especially after today's results, play both

Certainly worth a shout.

It's a shame City couldn't have Niasees pace and willingness and Zohores strength and control all in one player

Then we’d never to be able to afford such a player!

Nothing to lose,especially after today's results, play both

Certainly worth a shout.

Why not we have no options left,but to go for gold,draws are not good enough now,unless they are against Liverpool or man utd

I’d rather a striker did f—- all and scored