Rickie Lambert has brought much-needed goals to the Cardiff City line-up but how do Cardiff go about shaping their play around him?
Cardiff City’s deadline day signing Rickie Lambert has impressed since his arrival in South Wales, showing he still has the ability to compete, despite his age.
The Bluebirds were desperate for goals, having struggled to find the net in the opening stages of the season. Lambert has already scored four and his classy finish at Aston Villa in the 3-1 defeat on the weekend showed what he can still add to a Championship team.
However, it’s not all rosy and while Lambert can still provide the classy touch needed in front of goal, he lacks the freshness and pace of a younger striker and that is causing Cardiff problems.
Lambert holds the ball up superbly, it’s something he’s done throughout his long career and something which worked to good effect against Aston villa on Saturday.
Jon Gorenc Stankovic of Huddersfield Town in action with Rickie Lambert of Cardiff City
That was until, to the frustration of his team-mates, he was substituted for out-of-favour striker Frederic Gounongbe.
It was a strange move from Warnock with Lambert seemingly enjoying a good performance but it was an understandable one to remove the experienced striker from the fold.
Lambert’s lack of pace often slows down the Bluebirds’ game and when you’re relying on counter attacks against big teams, a slow-moving striker can completely remove a team’s attacking threat.
Frederic Gounongbe of Cardiff City appeals to the assistant referee for a handball
The former Southampton forward has scored in each of his last two but against Huddersfield on the weekend before last, he was far too lethargic, despite having time off during the international break.
Neil Warnock has made it clear he wants to sign another striker in January and there’s no doubt it will be pivotal to Cardiff’s season.
Cardiff have an abundance of tall, hold-up players who lack pace and they need someone who will run at players, someone who will show pace and get into the channels before his opposite number.
Arsenal’s Chuba Akpom (L) in action scoring their third goal
The Bluebirds have been linked with a loan move for Chuba Akpom but is he the right option?
If you look at the teams who have been promoted from the Championship in recent years, many of them possess a similar type of striker.
Callum Wilson of Bournemouth and Andre Gray of Burnley, both are hard to come-by and their rarity means they cost a significant amount, but that’s the sort of striker Cardiff need.
Bournemouth’s Callum Wilson fired them to promotion in 2015
Thankfully it’s Neil Warnock at the helm and he is known for his shrewdness in the transfer market – If he can secure a striker who has pace and goals in abundance, Cardiff’s issues in front of goal could and should become a thing of the past.
Until then, Cardiff must find a way to make the most of Rickie Lambert, while making up for his pace by wrapping quick wingers around him or putting a pacey attacker behind him in a free role.
The Bluebirds are becoming far too predictable with the current forward play and Neil Warnock must find a way to inject pace, and make it work.
Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock
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