CAN BOSS KEEP ON IGNORING WARD’S CLAIMS?
IT is no secret that Cardiff City have struggled in front of goal this season. The Bluebirds went on a run of seven games unbeaten in recent weeks, largely courtesy of a greatly improved defence and players from all over the pitch chipping in with goals.
All told, there has been no consistent goal threat for the Bluebirds this season. But the one man who really looks to be in the mood is Danny Ward.
The striker was sidelined for six games at the start of the season with an Achilles injury, which meant Neil Warnock was forced to turn to Omar Bogle, who has come from nowhere this season, and Isaac Vassell, who himself has struggled with a couple of injury issues, as the back-up striker.
And let’s not detract from what Robert Glatzel has done since moving to the Welsh capital; he looks to be a very solid acquisition.
But even he has conceded it has been a big adjustment having to get to grips with the gritty physicality of the Championship.
Glatzel has scored twice in his last four outings and is beginning to look like a striker who has the potential to do some damage in this league. Make no mistake, he has a big part to play in this promotion-chasing campaign.
When Glatzel has been fit, Warnock has understandably placed all his trust in him.
But Ward is now banging down the door for an opportunity and putting forward an extremely cogent argument to the manager. So, could it now be time for Warnock to mix it up a little bit?
The 28-year-old has certainly been doing all he can on the training ground.
“He’s been doing that in training,” Warnock said of Ward after his brace at West Brom.
“He was unlucky not to get that chip-in at the near post as well, when he reacted the quickest.
“He has been on fire in training and that’s what you’ve got to keep doing to get in the team. He’s got a good chance.”
Ward’s double at West Brom added to his last-gasp winner against Hull City the week before.
The forward looks sharp and is champing at the bit to displace the big German and lead the Bluebirds’ forward line, making this selection decision extremely vexed.
Ward’s statistics this season make for good reading. He is the club’s top scorer and has played just 69 minutes and scored three goals, averaging a goal every 23 minutes.
That’s a very small sample size, of course, but nevertheless proves what sort of form he is in. And that form will only breed confidence.
He has taken all three goals tremendously well, too. A brave strike past an onrushing goalkeeper up at Hull preceded a deadly finish for his first at The Hawthorns and a welltaken header from a corner.
Ward looks clinical at the moment. And while Glatzel might be just finding his feet a little, Ward is applying the pressure in a big way.
One big stumbling block, however, is how they each play.
Glatzel slots in perfectly with Warnock’s brand of football and has been pivotal in Cardiff ’s recent success. He has held the ball up well, challenged towering centre-backs from the set piece and has shown he is adept with his back to goal.
Ward is largely the opposite. The Bluebirds would have to readjust their style of play and adopt a quicker, passing-based game if they are to get the best out of him.
His three goals have come when City have been chasing the game and therefore forced into keeping the ball, playing it quickly with Ward running in behind the last man.
Should Warnock opt for Ward, and if he does it would more than likely