Salech - Better or worse without him

It will be interesting to get people's views on this.

When Salech was injured against Stockport last season we were forced to play without a target man but our goals didn't dry up. For memory we were scoring for fun in most games and developed a real cutting edge up front.

I know Kellyman, who played as sort of a false nine during Salech's abence is no longer here but would we be better served by a player of that ilk should one become available ?

I'm not being critical of Salech because he's a very good player but does having a traditional centre forward diminish our fluency in the final third ?

It's a very good question.

It's my view that if Salech didn't get injured last season we wouldn't have got automatic promotion. His injury forced BBM into another option which turned out to be our saviour. Even though Kellyman did a great job for us as the false 9 it's not his natural position and he eventually dried up towards the end of the season.

Yes Salech is a traditional 9 but he's a traditional 9 with poor movement and bearly challenges for the ball in the penalty box especially in the air so it's difficult to know if a decent championship traditional 9 would suit our play going off Salech.

But one thing is certain we definitely need another striker.

He gets pulled up so much by referees, not every ref is wrong
He needs to learn to be clever like Moore, gosh he and everyone must be so frustrated every match is the same
I think he needs a striker coach to teach him how to be clever and crafty
Think there's a great player there but learn the craft

I rate Salech highly, but there are games we might be better utilising a different style of player to suit the opposition tactics

The issue we currently (appear to) have, is that we don’t have an Omari Kellyman to do that job. However, with nearly two weeks of the transfer window to go, I am hopeful that BBM will bring in a player or two, who can offer an alternative when it is required in a game

The stats would say from last season that we are better with him After his injury City only won 10 of 19 games before the injury and including the Stockport game we won 18 of the 27 league matches So 66% win rate against 52% win rate However we did score more goals per game in the games he was missing We also conceded more goals a game when he missing He does a decent pressing up front that went missing when he was out of the team.
We need more options than just Salech He still was our top scorer even thou he missed 18/19 games That was not an issue in Div 1 but will be a major problem in Championship

He looks a shadow of his former self does Salech. I'm a bit worried that this injury has knocked the stuffing completely out of him and we may not get the old Salech back.

When he first came here he was like a bull, loved the rough and tumble, loved the contact with defenders and battled to get on the end of every ball (or at least took a defender out whilst trying so a team mate could get the shot off). All this has disappeared from his game. I love the guy, but I'm not sure what he bought to Monday's performance.

He's not fitting into our style at the moment so we need a new option upfront for the starting 11 I think. Hopefully then Salech can slowly regain his form from the bench.

He wasn't in the game on Monday, no doubt about that. If that trend continues then it'll be a little worrying, but I think we'll have more of an idea on Saturday. Derby will attack as the home team so should be more space for players like Salech.

There is definitely something different. Mike referred to this on another thread, he was nowhere near the ball when Hyam headed that cross onto the bar. The Salech of 18 months ago would have thrown himself at that.

Until we make a signing though, who would play there instead? It's been said Moylan can play as a striker. Robinson or Davies too but I don't see BBM starting them much.

Ashford as the striker with Moylan at 10 r collwill at 8 , Robertson at 6 ??

A target man who does not get given the ball much and runs in the box for crosses repeatedly only to see it being passed from one full back then to the center halfs then to the other full back and winger with sideways passes across in the same direction over and over will not thrive in truth. The ball needs to be put in the box with crosses. He also he needs somebody running off him if he wins the ball which we don't have anyone to run beyond him currently. So what is he supposed to do. It always goes bKc to where it comes fron when he does win it . That's how I see it.

He looks a shadow of his former self does Salech. I'm a bit worried that this injury has knocked the stuffing completely out of him and we may not get the old Salech back.

When he first came here he was like a bull, loved the rough and tumble, loved the contact with defenders and battled to get on the end of every ball (or at least took a defender out whilst trying so a team mate could get the shot off). All this has disappeared from his game. I love the guy, but I'm not sure what he bought to Monday's performance.

He's not fitting into our style at the moment so we need a new option upfront for the starting 11 I think. Hopefully then Salech can slowly regain his form from the bench.

I said all along when he came back at the end of the season he normally crashed into challenges but has only gone in 50% or not at all he needs a shrink to get past his fear.

To be fair our wing play and crossing has been poor for years . If I was a striker for Cardiff and the crosses coming in are that poor I would be doing my nut in private with the wingers

My concern is, if he's marked out of the game, what do we do then? Monday we repeat tried to find him when it was clear from minute 20 that they were solid at the back.

Rubin wonder goals wont bail us out every week.

I dont see it as a Salech issue as he'll get weeks where he'll run riot; I think he's top half of this league standard... but two very good CB's at the same level will handle him.... what then?

To be fair our wing play and crossing has been poor for years . If I was a striker for Cardiff and the crosses coming in are that poor I would be doing my nut in private with the wingers

It will be a lot worse if we choose issac davies as our other main striker he would be lucky to touch the back with his hands in the air.

He could make a cup of tea and still have time to get into penalty area before the ball!
People keep quoting stats about ball in reality times but in reality they are 99.9% useless for him..... when he gets correct ball he's very effective but it's to few to matter.... Tanner is the worst culprit he just doesn't know how to cross for a centre forward.. hes do slow defenders invariably block the cross... when does beat defender the ball in middle is pointless excercise as its hardly ever to a city player .... Saturday was typical of last seasons problem its not changed

He could make a cup of tea and still have time to get into penalty area before the ball!
People keep quoting stats about ball in reality times but in reality they are 99.9% useless for him..... when he gets correct ball he's very effective but it's to few to matter.... Tanner is the worst culprit he just doesn't know how to cross for a centre forward.. hes do slow defenders invariably block the cross... when does beat defender the ball in middle is pointless excercise as its hardly ever to a city player .... Saturday was typical of last seasons problem its not changed

Tanners stats speak for themselves, you've had over a year of watching BBM ball we won't be pumping balls into the box. The goal is to get in behind and look for a cut back. Failing that recycle the ball back to the middle. That's exactly what our wingers do, but the criticism is always the same anyway

Tomorrow will be interesting.

I expect Derby to attack us as the home team so when we have our chances then it will be interesting to see the involvement of Salech.

It will be a much better judgement than on Monday, when Wrexham parked the bus in the second half.

He could make a cup of tea and still have time to get into penalty area before the ball!
People keep quoting stats about ball in reality times but in reality they are 99.9% useless for him..... when he gets correct ball he's very effective but it's to few to matter.... Tanner is the worst culprit he just doesn't know how to cross for a centre forward.. hes do slow defenders invariably block the cross... when does beat defender the ball in middle is pointless excercise as its hardly ever to a city player .... Saturday was typical of last seasons problem its not changed

Tanners stats speak for themselves, you've had over a year of watching BBM ball we won't be pumping balls into the box. The goal is to get in behind and look for a cut back. Failing that recycle the ball back to the middle. That's exactly what our wingers do, but the criticism is always the same anyway

Begs question then why play him? He's 6,2 fairly good on ground when hes in possession (not many times) people complain he does nothing but an anyone honestly say why hes on the team or why do players refuse to cross it when they have simple opportunity to do so? We either want a centre forward "9" or we don't? Because at moment like last season its a waste of time being on pitch through no fault if his.

He wasn't in the game on Monday, no doubt about that. If that trend continues then it'll be a little worrying, but I think we'll have more of an idea on Saturday.

Hmmmm

3 goals in 3 games and winning everything today.

Better

He wasn't in the game on Monday, no doubt about that. If that trend continues then it'll be a little worrying, but I think we'll have more of an idea on Saturday.

Hmmmm

He must have heard me Ned

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Etete would have scored that. Rubin's quality is insane at times. What vision !!

3 goals in 3 games and winning everything today.

He most definitely didn't win everything but a better performance than Monday. Took his goal well but needs to improve on the physical side and challenge defenders in the air. Was definitely fouled in the first half.

Hopefully will improve each game.

Etete would have scored that. Rubin's quality is insane at times. What vision !!

It's a shame he had to come off I think we'd have found a way to pinch it if he'd stayed on

Etete would have scored that. Rubin's quality is insane at times. What vision !!

Etete wouldn't have been in the position in the first place.

Etete would have scored that. Rubin's quality is insane at times. What vision !!

This new position suits him. I saw he loads of times for the U21's and this is exactly the position he played, had time on the ball and able to run at midfielders and defenders from deep.

Hopefully he continue to thrive in this position.

3 goals in 3 games and winning everything today.

He most definitely didn't win everything but a better performance than Monday. Took his goal well but needs to improve on the physical side and challenge defenders in the air. Was definitely fouled in the first half.

Hopefully will improve each game.

As they say give him the ball he'll score just don't do it enough...

Not looking to be contentious, but is he improving?

Time is massively on his side; he is only 24, Keiffer Moore was still trundling around the national league at that age, but he appears to have stopped running the inside channels and looks flat flooted and not on his toes when the ball is played into him.

I think he'd benefit from some competition, someone with better movement. We are never crossing it from the byline.

3 goals in 3 games and winning everything today.

He most definitely didn't win everything but a better performance than Monday. Took his goal well but needs to improve on the physical side and challenge defenders in the air. Was definitely fouled in the first half.

Hopefully will improve each game.

As they say give him the ball he'll score just don't do it enough...

Al, he is always marked when he gets the ball; his movement isn't great.

3 goals in 3 games and winning everything today.

He most definitely didn't win everything but a better performance than Monday. Took his goal well but needs to improve on the physical side and challenge defenders in the air. Was definitely fouled in the first half.

Hopefully will improve each game.

I posted it at half time. Maybe a bit premature, but do keep calling him out as it seems to mean he scores.