The six-month old Neil Harris claim which rang true at Stoke
Thu Dec 10, 2020 12:41 pm
The six-month old Neil Harris claim which rang true at Stoke and has given Cardiff City a big Swansea City headache
The Bluebirds came from behind at the Bet365 Stadium and head into the derby in an excellent run of form; but the manager has one or two big questions he must answer first
By Glen Williams
Thursday 10th December 2020
Robert Glatzel goals this season have been like London buses – wait ages for one and then two come along in no time at all.
But if we had listened to Neil Harris six months ago, it was never really in doubt.
The German has had a middling start to this campaign, but, like the Bluebirds as a whole, he is hitting form just at the right time as we head into derby weekend.
Just a week ago, many City fans felt for Glatzel. He had been pushed out of the side by the mightily impressive Kieffer Moore, while academy product Mark Harris had leapfrogged him into the starting lineup and had done so with aplomb, having scored his first senior goal for his boyhood club against Luton Town on his full debut.
Before the midweek clash against Huddersfield Town last week, Glatzel had failed to register a goal in his 11 City appearances, albeit mostly from the bench, this term.
There was no doubting there was a monkey on his back. He had enjoyed patches of form last season, but many thought that, having adjusted to the Championship last term, he would kick on and provide a top striking partnership with Moore this season.
It hasn't quite worked out like that just yet.
Maybe now, though, with Cardiff playing so well and on the front foot, we might see him flourish.
The 26-year-old took his goal against Huddersfield in stunning fashion last week, turning his defender in the box before rifling the ball into the roof of the net to seal the win.
After that game, Glatzel spoke with great candour about how his Bluebirds career had not panned out quite as he had envisaged, but bullishly claimed he was determined to fight and would not give up.
"It has already been such a great experience for me," he said last week. "I just hope that I can give back more on the field, because I'm not 100 percent happy with how everything has worked out until now, but it still can come.
"I'm not giving up."
It shows a great strength of character to come out swinging like that, especially when Moore is in white-hot form and dovetailing so nicely with young Mark Harris.
But he backed up his strike last week with an equally impressive — if not more so — goal against Stoke City on Tuesday night.
Joe Ralls floated the ball into the back post and Glatzel cushioned the ball beautifully before slotting past Josef Bursik to set the Bluebirds on their way to a brilliant comeback win up in the Potteries.
The two goals Glatzel has scored in the space of the last week are typical strikers' goals; brilliant control and marskman-like, instinctive finishes.
Back in June, when the forward was in a particularly rich vein of form, manager Neil Harris claimed Glatzel was the best natural finisher he had ever worked with.
"He has the mentality to be a success at Cardiff City and a Championship striker," Harris said after Glatzel scored in the win over Preston last season.
"His finishing is as good as anyone I have worked with as a player or a coach. He is that good of a finisher."
But a problem has now arisen ahead of the hugely-anticipated South Wales derby with Swansea City this weekend.
The Bluebirds head into Saturday's encounter on the back of four successive, impressive wins in which they have scored 10 goals and conceded just one.
Manager Harris has selected the same starting XI for all four games, which have taken place over such a short space of time, and that team has yielded 12 points in as many days.
Importantly, Glatzel is yet to start in any of those games. Instead, Mark Harris has partnered Moore and done so very well, stretching defences, creating space for others and tiring defenders, with Glatzel often coming on late and proving a nuisance.
It is another stick-or-twist headache for the City manager. He might be forced into one or two changes, especially if Harry Wilson's 'bizarre' arm injury forces him out of the clash, but by and large the Bluebirds have put in stellar team performances with the same players over the last two weeks and he will unlikely want to change that. Continuity has really bore fruit for Cardiff.
But Glatzel is now banging on the door and it must only be a matter of time before he cannot be ignored any longer.
A big positive for the Bluebirds, and Neil Harris, though, is that having three in-form strikers heading into the biggest game of the season is a great asset.
All three are brimming with confidence and have found the back of the net within this stretch of good results, which, having failed to score in either derby match last term, is exactly what Cardiff City need against their arch rivals this weekend.
The Bluebirds came from behind at the Bet365 Stadium and head into the derby in an excellent run of form; but the manager has one or two big questions he must answer first
By Glen Williams
Thursday 10th December 2020
Robert Glatzel goals this season have been like London buses – wait ages for one and then two come along in no time at all.
But if we had listened to Neil Harris six months ago, it was never really in doubt.
The German has had a middling start to this campaign, but, like the Bluebirds as a whole, he is hitting form just at the right time as we head into derby weekend.
Just a week ago, many City fans felt for Glatzel. He had been pushed out of the side by the mightily impressive Kieffer Moore, while academy product Mark Harris had leapfrogged him into the starting lineup and had done so with aplomb, having scored his first senior goal for his boyhood club against Luton Town on his full debut.
Before the midweek clash against Huddersfield Town last week, Glatzel had failed to register a goal in his 11 City appearances, albeit mostly from the bench, this term.
There was no doubting there was a monkey on his back. He had enjoyed patches of form last season, but many thought that, having adjusted to the Championship last term, he would kick on and provide a top striking partnership with Moore this season.
It hasn't quite worked out like that just yet.
Maybe now, though, with Cardiff playing so well and on the front foot, we might see him flourish.
The 26-year-old took his goal against Huddersfield in stunning fashion last week, turning his defender in the box before rifling the ball into the roof of the net to seal the win.
After that game, Glatzel spoke with great candour about how his Bluebirds career had not panned out quite as he had envisaged, but bullishly claimed he was determined to fight and would not give up.
"It has already been such a great experience for me," he said last week. "I just hope that I can give back more on the field, because I'm not 100 percent happy with how everything has worked out until now, but it still can come.
"I'm not giving up."
It shows a great strength of character to come out swinging like that, especially when Moore is in white-hot form and dovetailing so nicely with young Mark Harris.
But he backed up his strike last week with an equally impressive — if not more so — goal against Stoke City on Tuesday night.
Joe Ralls floated the ball into the back post and Glatzel cushioned the ball beautifully before slotting past Josef Bursik to set the Bluebirds on their way to a brilliant comeback win up in the Potteries.
The two goals Glatzel has scored in the space of the last week are typical strikers' goals; brilliant control and marskman-like, instinctive finishes.
Back in June, when the forward was in a particularly rich vein of form, manager Neil Harris claimed Glatzel was the best natural finisher he had ever worked with.
"He has the mentality to be a success at Cardiff City and a Championship striker," Harris said after Glatzel scored in the win over Preston last season.
"His finishing is as good as anyone I have worked with as a player or a coach. He is that good of a finisher."
But a problem has now arisen ahead of the hugely-anticipated South Wales derby with Swansea City this weekend.
The Bluebirds head into Saturday's encounter on the back of four successive, impressive wins in which they have scored 10 goals and conceded just one.
Manager Harris has selected the same starting XI for all four games, which have taken place over such a short space of time, and that team has yielded 12 points in as many days.
Importantly, Glatzel is yet to start in any of those games. Instead, Mark Harris has partnered Moore and done so very well, stretching defences, creating space for others and tiring defenders, with Glatzel often coming on late and proving a nuisance.
It is another stick-or-twist headache for the City manager. He might be forced into one or two changes, especially if Harry Wilson's 'bizarre' arm injury forces him out of the clash, but by and large the Bluebirds have put in stellar team performances with the same players over the last two weeks and he will unlikely want to change that. Continuity has really bore fruit for Cardiff.
But Glatzel is now banging on the door and it must only be a matter of time before he cannot be ignored any longer.
A big positive for the Bluebirds, and Neil Harris, though, is that having three in-form strikers heading into the biggest game of the season is a great asset.
All three are brimming with confidence and have found the back of the net within this stretch of good results, which, having failed to score in either derby match last term, is exactly what Cardiff City need against their arch rivals this weekend.
Re: The six-month old Neil Harris claim which rang true at S
Thu Dec 10, 2020 1:09 pm
The manner of the way we play does not suit Robert G outside the box.
The rough and tumble of the championship has probably been a baptism of fire for him and i don't think he enjoys the half a yard quicker tempo our second tier is compared to the German second tier.
He is undoubtedly a good finisher though.
In the old school days of 442 the second striker was generally smaller very quick off the mark and a good finisher, where as the larger guy took and dished out the physical stuff. I do not think RG is quick enough for that role, where as Harris looks like he travels over the ground pretty quickly.
Like Tomlin who watches the games travel past him for the first 30 min when starting, he is best to come on with tiring defenders, where he may get that extra space you don't get as a starter.
Its not broke at the moment.
The rough and tumble of the championship has probably been a baptism of fire for him and i don't think he enjoys the half a yard quicker tempo our second tier is compared to the German second tier.
He is undoubtedly a good finisher though.
In the old school days of 442 the second striker was generally smaller very quick off the mark and a good finisher, where as the larger guy took and dished out the physical stuff. I do not think RG is quick enough for that role, where as Harris looks like he travels over the ground pretty quickly.
Like Tomlin who watches the games travel past him for the first 30 min when starting, he is best to come on with tiring defenders, where he may get that extra space you don't get as a starter.
Its not broke at the moment.
Re: The six-month old Neil Harris claim which rang true at S
Thu Dec 10, 2020 6:48 pm
llan bluebird wrote:The manner of the way we play does not suit Robert G outside the box.
The rough and tumble of the championship has probably been a baptism of fire for him and i don't think he enjoys the half a yard quicker tempo our second tier is compared to the German second tier.
He is undoubtedly a good finisher though.
In the old school days of 442 the second striker was generally smaller very quick off the mark and a good finisher, where as the larger guy took and dished out the physical stuff. I do not think RG is quick enough for that role, where as Harris looks like he travels over the ground pretty quickly.
Like Tomlin who watches the games travel past him for the first 30 min when starting, he is best to come on with tiring defenders, where he may get that extra space you don't get as a starter.
Its not broke at the moment.
An excellent assessment of RG there! He has shown what he is capable of,and Harris says he is the best finisher he has worked with,so its in him,but he has come from Germany, where as you say,the game is played at a different pace,he will definitely play a part this year though,and has shown in interview,he is not giving in,and busting a gut to show us whst he is about.
Re: The six-month old Neil Harris claim which rang true at S
Thu Dec 10, 2020 7:28 pm
llan bluebird wrote:The manner of the way we play does not suit Robert G outside the box.
The rough and tumble of the championship has probably been a baptism of fire for him and i don't think he enjoys the half a yard quicker tempo our second tier is compared to the German second tier.
He is undoubtedly a good finisher though.
In the old school days of 442 the second striker was generally smaller very quick off the mark and a good finisher, where as the larger guy took and dished out the physical stuff. I do not think RG is quick enough for that role, where as Harris looks like he travels over the ground pretty quickly.
Like Tomlin who watches the games travel past him for the first 30 min when starting, he is best to come on with tiring defenders, where he may get that extra space you don't get as a starter.
Its not broke at the moment.
tbh mate ive thought he has been terrible.... BUT... Tuesday at Stoke i sat mouth open as he did one correct good thing after another.... this after aiming 2 cushions at my TV when Harris brought him on.....
Re: The six-month old Neil Harris claim which rang true at S
Thu Dec 10, 2020 7:57 pm
skidemin wrote:llan bluebird wrote:The manner of the way we play does not suit Robert G outside the box.
The rough and tumble of the championship has probably been a baptism of fire for him and i don't think he enjoys the half a yard quicker tempo our second tier is compared to the German second tier.
He is undoubtedly a good finisher though.
In the old school days of 442 the second striker was generally smaller very quick off the mark and a good finisher, where as the larger guy took and dished out the physical stuff. I do not think RG is quick enough for that role, where as Harris looks like he travels over the ground pretty quickly.
Like Tomlin who watches the games travel past him for the first 30 min when starting, he is best to come on with tiring defenders, where he may get that extra space you don't get as a starter.
Its not broke at the moment.
tbh mate ive thought he has been terrible.... BUT... Tuesday at Stoke i sat mouth open as he did one correct good thing after another.... this after aiming 2 cushions at my TV when Harris brought him on.....
Hope the tv survived your wrath lol.he seems to be a marmite player,some like him,some not.
He will do ok,as long as they dont use him,as a target man,as thats not tje way he plays,he likes the ball to feet more.
Re: The six-month old Neil Harris claim which rang true at S
Thu Dec 10, 2020 8:09 pm
bluesince62 wrote:skidemin wrote:llan bluebird wrote:The manner of the way we play does not suit Robert G outside the box.
The rough and tumble of the championship has probably been a baptism of fire for him and i don't think he enjoys the half a yard quicker tempo our second tier is compared to the German second tier.
He is undoubtedly a good finisher though.
In the old school days of 442 the second striker was generally smaller very quick off the mark and a good finisher, where as the larger guy took and dished out the physical stuff. I do not think RG is quick enough for that role, where as Harris looks like he travels over the ground pretty quickly.
Like Tomlin who watches the games travel past him for the first 30 min when starting, he is best to come on with tiring defenders, where he may get that extra space you don't get as a starter.
Its not broke at the moment.
tbh mate ive thought he has been terrible.... BUT... Tuesday at Stoke i sat mouth open as he did one correct good thing after another.... this after aiming 2 cushions at my TV when Harris brought him on.....
Hope the tv survived your wrath lol.he seems to be a marmite player,some like him,some not.
He will do ok,as long as they dont use him,as a target man,as thats not tje way he plays,he likes the ball to feet more.
if he plays well ill say he has... possibly he has looked at Mark Harris and figured he could be that 2nd striker, i dont know ? but felt his all round game was better Tuesday and not so much heading for the areas KM was... ...the TV is fine ..they were soft cushions...
Re: The six-month old Neil Harris claim which rang true at S
Thu Dec 10, 2020 11:59 pm
skidemin wrote:bluesince62 wrote:skidemin wrote:llan bluebird wrote:The manner of the way we play does not suit Robert G outside the box.
The rough and tumble of the championship has probably been a baptism of fire for him and i don't think he enjoys the half a yard quicker tempo our second tier is compared to the German second tier.
He is undoubtedly a good finisher though.
In the old school days of 442 the second striker was generally smaller very quick off the mark and a good finisher, where as the larger guy took and dished out the physical stuff. I do not think RG is quick enough for that role, where as Harris looks like he travels over the ground pretty quickly.
Like Tomlin who watches the games travel past him for the first 30 min when starting, he is best to come on with tiring defenders, where he may get that extra space you don't get as a starter.
Its not broke at the moment.
tbh mate ive thought he has been terrible.... BUT... Tuesday at Stoke i sat mouth open as he did one correct good thing after another.... this after aiming 2 cushions at my TV when Harris brought him on.....
Hope the tv survived your wrath lol.he seems to be a marmite player,some like him,some not.
He will do ok,as long as they dont use him,as a target man,as thats not tje way he plays,he likes the ball to feet more.
if he plays well ill say he has... possibly he has looked at Mark Harris and figured he could be that 2nd striker, i dont know ? but felt his all round game was better Tuesday and not so much heading for the areas KM was... ...the TV is fine ..they were soft cushions...
Fair enough,it's just some seem to want him to fail,so they can say they said so
And had to ask about the tv,as I know through experience, how flimsy these new screens can be (wi fit accident
) if we play to his strengths,ie on the deck more,he will be fine imho,it's good to have 3 strikers fighting for a place in the team 
