What boss really thinks about his forward options
FROM seemingly stuck with no centre forward options to appearing spoiled for choice, Cardiff City need to find the right formula up front.
Particularly in their next two games against high-flying Chelsea and Manchester City, it’s a balancing act for Neil Warnock.
The veteran boss has not been fooled into thinking the striking situation has been resolved – despite scoring two goals and displaying far more attacking verve against Arsenal – and has spoken at length about his options.
With Danny Ward the only Cardiff striker to have netted this season, Bobby Reid looking good in a slightly deeper role but both Kenneth Zohore and Gary Madine struggling, it’s worth analysing Warnock’s comments in his preChelsea press conference in more detail...
So what do Warnock’s comments tell us about... ... who will start up front against Chelsea? Warnock:
“The best strike force is Danny Ward and Bobby Reid at the moment.
“They’ve been improving not just in the games but in training as well and they’re relishing the prospect. They’ve both stepped up when I’ve asked them.”
No nuance there. But can Cardiff afford to play the version of 4-4-2 they fielded against Arsenal? Would that leave the midfield exposed against Jorginho and company?
... why Warnock thinks two strikers could work at Stamford Bridge? Warnock:
“It depends how you look at it. If you look at the stats, Bobby (Reid) covers every blade of grass, 12k or whatever it is that he’s running. So he’s quite capable of doing that.
“And he’s such an enthusiastic boy, we love him in training and I think him and Danny are a great partnership.
“Danny has got goals in his locker as well. At the moment, it’s a no-brainer and whether we can get away with that, I’ll know more in the next few weeks because we can’t play any better teams really.” Warnock is clearly of the view that Reid operates more as a link between attack and midfield, doing the legwork for Ward to poach goals higher up.
Yet this method is a departure from the normally rigid 4-3-3 that Cardiff played in the Championship – and a blow for Kenneth Zohore who seemed the most comfortable fit to spearhead that system.
It’s clear Warnock has been developing a more creative, more attacking tactical gameplan for the Premier League, which is admirable.
... why do Cardiff have to be more attacking? Warnock:
“I made my decision (on the formation for Arsenal) the week before. We’d played three games then and not scored a goal.
“We’d had a few chances, I know, but not as many as I would have liked, and I felt overnight we had to change quickly so that we’ve got an opportunity to build in the coming games, which we did against Arsenal.
“It’s now a bigger challenge to see if we can play against the top teams with a not too dissimilar system. You’ve still got to tweak one or two things against the top teams because you’re not going to see the ball for long periods.”
It’s obvious, despite Warnock’s positive outlook following the three blanks at the start of the season, that he has virtually ripped apart his Premier League blueprint and came up with a new approach.
His comments over the past fortnight have suggested he understands the need for more expansive, possession-based football in the top flight. That’s the only way Cardiff can survive and the Yorkshireman knows it.
... who is Warnock’s Number One striker? And where does Zohore now stand? Warnock:
“With Danny, it’s been like having a new player because he just didn’t play last season. He had a hell of an injury and his world was turned upside down to miss that length of time.
“But everything has changed for him. Family-wise as well, he’s got a new family.
“And the opportunity to play in the Premier. I said to him: ‘who would have thought 18 months ago when we were changing in not the nicest of dressing rooms at Rotherham that we’d be scoring against Arsenal and managing against Arsenal.
“He’s here on merit and I think Danny can get better, as well as Bobby now we’re playing him in the right position.”
This, strangely, says more about Zohore than it does Ward. Warnock will always back his players and often stay quiet about those who aren’t in the good books right now.
Zohore fluffed his lines when presented with starting opportunities against Newcastle and Huddersfield and is most certainly down the pecking order as things stand.
With no mention of either the Dane or Madine, the two must now be patient and impress Warnock in training to force their way into his plans.
... Victor Camarasa’s role in the new system? Warnock:
“We looked at Victor against Barcelona playing in that role and if you can play that against Barcelona you can play against anyone!
“So my language barrier wasn’t too bad talking to Victor about what I wanted him to do.
“He’s such a lovely lad and he listens. I thought that enabled us to have a slightly more attacking threat.
“We saw him the week before the season started, playing for Real Betis against Bournemouth and we didn’t think we’d have any chance of loaning the lad. It just came up. And he was so keen to come. His partner had been in Cardiff and loved Cardiff, they’ve even brought their dogs over!”
These comments put to bed any doubts over Camarasa’s role and his importance to Warnock, who is clearly impressed with what he’s got. Camarasa has played the slightly different right-sided central midfield position he was given against Arsenal before – and it showed.
He will be a crucial role in Warnock’s new approach, which will be severely tested at Stamford Bridge this weekend.