Nathan Blake: This tremendous attacking trio could be the

This tremendous attacking trio could be the key to Cardiff City's striker shortcomings

By Nathan Blake


Thursday 20th February 2020



They have been picked the last few games and they are a dangerous prospect for any Championship defence


Josh Murphy and Lee Tomlin are key components in Cardiff City's attack
Albert Adomah on the right, Josh Murphy on the left and Lee Tomlin at No.10. Yes please, sign me up.

What I would give to be a striker playing in front of those three.

Pace, creativity, panache, those attacking players have it all and when they are on song, you'd better believe I'm going to make the most of it.

The key to Cardiff City having kickstarted this little run of results of late has been Callum Paterson, who has grabbed the No.9 shirt and run with it.

But now, with the Adomah-Tomlin-Murphy axis behind him, he needs to be thinking goals, goals, goals. I doubt he will get much better service than that, at this level, again.

He has done well recently, five goals in his last 11 games, but that has to continue. There is really no excuse now with the quality behind him and credit goes to Neil Harris for picking such a great blend of attacking ingenuity across that forward line.

Paterson will get goals from set-pieces, we know that and we have seen it time and again recently, now he needs to score those striker's goals.

Personally, I know for a fact that, in front of those three, I could get 25 goals per season with my eyes closed.

The Bluebirds are top of the charts when it comes to scoring goals from set-pieces, so Paterson has become a vital tool for Harris.

But if I am Danny Ward or Robert Glatzel, it wouldn't be sitting well with me that I am on the bench and Paterson is getting to play in front of that attacking trio.


Albert Adomah has settled in well at Cardiff (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)
Paterson has done a fantastic job, he will not let you down and he has been one of the reasons why we find ourselves right in the play-off mix with 13 games to go.

But, let's look at an example.

Put Robert Earnshaw in that No.9 spot and Cardiff City are probably top of table. I genuinely don't think that is an overstatement.

An out-and-out goalscorer, a mean machine at this level, with those speedsters and tricksters in behind, Earnshaw would be rubbing his hands at the thought.

Even if we are playing the way we are, still fairly direct and reliant on set-pieces, if you have a goalscoring striker, forget physicality and height, playing in front of such creativity and pace, that is a real recipe for success.

Look at how many strikers we have had in the last decade and not one of them has been as good as Michael Chopra, Jay Bothroyd or Earnshaw.

Before Tomlin was brought into the team, as a striker, I'm thinking: It is going to be tough to get 20 goals here.

Tomlin in the team, OK, maybe I've got a chance of getting 15 goals. Murphy playing well, too? Perhaps 20 goals. Murphy, Tomlin and Adomah? That should be 25 goals a season, if they all started from the off.

There is no doubting there is a nucleus of a great team there.

The four up top there need to take all the responsibility for the goals, though. You might get the odd strike from a defender at a set-piece or a central midfielder from open play, but most of Cardiff's goals need to come from those four up front.

That where this Cardiff City play-off push is going to be won or lost.

Those three are just gelling together at the right time and if Paterson can continue his hot streak, a surge for the top six is certainly not out of our grasp.

Those 3 been tremendous the last few games.. but I don't think even Chopra or Earnie would be getting 25 goals a season in this team - I don't think we play a style of football that facilitates that

For me its still under probation.

It the best we have had since the depature of Chopra and Bothroyd. How much only time will tell but it is something to work on.

For me its still under probation.

It the best we have had since the depature of Chopra and Bothroyd. How much only time will tell but it is something to work on.

its all about the team winning for me.. I loved Jay and Chops but for all the goals we didn't go up.

When will people accept that Patterson is a striker and has a good goal to game ratio for us?

If he hadn’t played RB at times in Scotland I do t think we would have anywhere near the amount of people moaning about him playing up front for us as we do. Massively underrated player.

When will people accept that Patterson is a striker and has a good goal to game ratio for us?

If he hadn’t played RB at times in Scotland I do t think we would have anywhere near the amount of people moaning about him playing up front for us as we do. Massively underrated player.

Anyone one who knows about football will tell you Patterson is not and never will be a proven striker, if we had a decent striker on our books Patterson would not get a look in

When will people accept that Patterson is a striker and has a good goal to game ratio for us?

If he hadn’t played RB at times in Scotland I do t think we would have anywhere near the amount of people moaning about him playing up front for us as we do. Massively underrated player.

Anyone one who knows about football will tell you Patterson is not and never will be a proven striker, if we had a decent striker on our books Patterson would not get a look in

I think that is harsh and not correct, surely if the player has the desire he can improve.
Just like Shearer who improved when he went from Southampton to Blackburn under Dalglish. Paterson needs to improve but at present he can score goals and works hard. This is the first time he has stated he wants to play as a centre forward and now it is up to the player and coaches to help him get better.

When will people accept that Patterson is a striker and has a good goal to game ratio for us?

If he hadn’t played RB at times in Scotland I do t think we would have anywhere near the amount of people moaning about him playing up front for us as we do. Massively underrated player.

Anyone one who knows about football will tell you Patterson is not and never will be a proven striker, if we had a decent striker on our books Patterson would not get a look in

I think that is harsh and not correct, surely if the player has the desire he can improve.
Just like Shearer who improved when he went from Southampton to Blackburn under Dalglish. Paterson needs to improve but at present he can score goals and works hard. This is the first time he has stated he wants to play as a centre forward and now it is up to the player and coaches to help him get better.

Each to their own opinions I guess but you never convince me that Patterson could score you 20 goals in a season

For me its still under probation.

It the best we have had since the depature of Chopra and Bothroyd. How much only time will tell but it is something to work on.

Agree .

For me its still under probation.

It the best we have had since the depature of Chopra and Bothroyd. How much only time will tell but it is something to work on.

its all about the team winning for me.. I loved Jay and Chops but for all the goals we didn't go up.

Good point mate. I’d love a ‘top scorer’ of quality but team position is more important.