The exciting partnership Neil Harris just hinted at and why

The exciting partnership Neil Harris just hinted at and why Cardiff City now have the firepower for promotion challenge


Friday 23rd October 2020



Neil Harris believes Cardiff City's shrewd work in the transfer window means they now have the forward clout to challenge at the very top of the Championship.

The Bluebirds made a few excellent additions in the forward areas during the window, recruiting Kieffer Moore and bringing in Harry Wilson and Sheyi Ojo on loan from Liverpool.

Moore opened his account with a double against Nottingham Forest before the international break, while Ojo and Wilson slotted home their first City goals against Preston and Bournemouth respectively to earn four crucial points.

Lee Tomlin will miss this weekend through injury, but it is a great compliment to the City squad that his absence was not missed too harshly against the Cherries on Wednesday night, largely thanks to Wilson and the creativity he brings.

But those three new additions serve to complement an already formidable attacking stable, which includes Tomlin, Josh Murphy, Robert Glatzel, Junior Hoilett and Gavin Whyte, Harris now thinks he has the firepower to shoot up the table once they click into gear.

"Ultimately, if you want to be successful, you have to have those options," he said.

"Teams like Bournemouth showed the other night, with the teams they didn't have in their group (like Josh King and David Brooks), Norwich have got it in abundance, Watford have got in an unbelievable squad.

"No disrespect to the other teams in the division, but you go back to last season and teams like Leeds, the options they had, West Brom and Fulham.

"I now feel we've got that. You add two strikers to an attacking eight players I've got, only being able to play four of them at any one time.

"It's important to have that strength in depth."

It certainly seems now as though Harris has two strong options in each position and that forms a very sound foundation for a mammoth Championship campaign.

One player who certainly took his opportunity, amid a hectic fixture schedule, was Robert Glatzel, who turned out an excellent display against Bournemouth from the off in place of Moore.

It means the manager has a selection dilemma ahead of the visit of Neil Warnock's Middlesbrough, but he has not ruled the rather exciting prospect of playing the two strikers together.

"Kieffer has been excellent since he has come into the club," Harris said. "I thought Robert [Glatzel] was very good the other night, especially in the second half.

"We have options in the centre-forward area. Harry Wilson and Lee Tomlin as No.10s, which I class as centre forwards anyway, we have got real impetus to be very dangerous this season.

"Kieffer and Bobby (Glatzel) vying for a place… I wouldn’t be opposed to playing them both together in the right game.

"Whether that’s tomorrow we will have to see."

Whether that front two pair up against Middlesbrough remains to be seen, but what we do know is that the manager has the armoury to attack this division head on this term.

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Glatzel and Moore together?? They would just get in each other's way surely?

I suppose you are too young to remeber Toshack and Clark

Glatzel and Moore together?? They would just get in each other's way surely?

I don’t see why that would get in each other’s way? Strange comment.

Up until recent years virtually every team played with two out and out strikers although with the modern game it would leave our central midfield very exposed if he persists with two wide players.

Had to laugh mentioning Murphy and Whyte as a formidable attacking stable!

You would require two very mobile and quick central midfield and two quick wingers who did their tracking back. But style have changed

Glatzel and Moore together?? They would just get in each other's way surely?

Depends on how Harris plays them? But could work as one better than other with feet and one better eith head so may just compliment each other in right game.

I don’t see why they don’t try and turn Whyte into a RB/RWB. I don’t think he’s quite good enough for a modern day attacking winger at this level but could see him turning into a decent enough RB

I suppose you are too young to remeber Toshack and Clark

No mate. That was exactly when I started watching City. I'll say two things. Firstly, Glatzel and Moore are no Toshack and Clark. Secondly, the game has moved on. These days you don't always get one big target man, let alone two in the same team.

Glatzel and Moore together?? They would just get in each other's way surely?

Depends on how Harris plays them? But could work as one better than other with feet and one better eith head so may just compliment each other in right game.

Nah, not for me. Worth a gamble if we're trailing with ten minutes to go. Two strikers would mean us getting over run in midfield so I wouldn't start with both of them. Love to proved wrong though

It would be nice to start scoring a few goals, so far 5 goals in 6 league games, and nearly 12 months since we scored more than 3 in a league match. It's very early days but we need to be keeping in touch with the top 6 and to do that we have to start winning at home as well as away. Let's stick a few on Warnock tomorrow.

Glatzel and Moore together?? They would just get in each other's way surely?

I don’t see why that would get in each other’s way? Strange comment.

Up until recent years virtually every team played with two out and out strikers although with the modern game it would leave our central midfield very exposed if he persists with two wide players.

Had to laugh mentioning Murphy and Whyte as a formidable attacking stable!

Not a strange comment at all. They are both big men, not particularly quick, so would not be much use out wide and their natural instinct would be to play in the centre forward position. What's the point in that?? Two centre forwards playing the same role!! Why push one out wide when they are nowhere near as fast as our wingers? Definitely worth trying it if we are a goal down with ten minutes to go as there is nothing to lose by lumping the ball forward to the big men. But as I said elsewhere, I would gladly be proved wrong

Glatzel and Moore together?? They would just get in each other's way surely?

I don’t see why that would get in each other’s way? Strange comment.

Up until recent years virtually every team played with two out and out strikers although with the modern game it would leave our central midfield very exposed if he persists with two wide players.

Had to laugh mentioning Murphy and Whyte as a formidable attacking stable!

Not a strange comment at all. They are both big men, not particularly quick, so would not be much use out wide and their natural instinct would be to play in the centre forward position. What's the point in that?? Two centre forwards playing the same role!! Why push one out wide when they are nowhere near as fast as our wingers? Definitely worth trying it if we are a goal down with ten minutes to go as there is nothing to lose by lumping the ball forward to the big men. But as I said elsewhere, I would gladly be proved wrong

I can remember the same problem being discussed with Wyn and Ron Davies playing together for Wales back in the 70's

It would be nice to start scoring a few goals, so far 5 goals in 6 league games, and nearly 12 months since we scored more than 3 in a league match. It's very early days but we need to be keeping in touch with the top 6 and to do that we have to start winning at home as well as away. Let's stick a few on Warnock tomorrow.

I am a great believer in statistics and, reading this statement, we are at the bottom of the curve for scoring 4 goals

Im going to put a tenner on a 4-1 win today.

£3.50 on both 4-0 (@50/1) and 4-1 (@40/1) on bet365.com

Glatzel and Moore together?? They would just get in each other's way surely?

I don’t see why that would get in each other’s way? Strange comment.

Up until recent years virtually every team played with two out and out strikers although with the modern game it would leave our central midfield very exposed if he persists with two wide players.

Had to laugh mentioning Murphy and Whyte as a formidable attacking stable!

Not a strange comment at all. They are both big men, not particularly quick, so would not be much use out wide and their natural instinct would be to play in the centre forward position. What's the point in that?? Two centre forwards playing the same role!! Why push one out wide when they are nowhere near as fast as our wingers? Definitely worth trying it if we are a goal down with ten minutes to go as there is nothing to lose by lumping the ball forward to the big men. But as I said elsewhere, I would gladly be proved wrong

I can remember the same problem being discussed with Wyn and Ron Davies playing together for Wales back in the 70's

Seem to remember there was a couple occasions when Toshack and the two Davies played in the same side. The three best headers of the ball in the game but no one to cross it to them!