Bluebirds In The Skies, But Is Answer At Home?

Neil Warnock. Pic: Getty Images.

Bluebirds In The Skies, But Is Answer At Home?

Neil Warnock and his coaching staff have been flying around Europe on scouting missions in search of a striker to lead the Bluebirds attack.

But he still believes that Cardiff City forward Kenneth Zohore could prove to the the answer.

Warnock has been to Nantes, France plus at least one other match, while Kevin Blackwell, while Ronnie Jepson and James Rowberry were at another game in Europe.

The Bluebirds boss says his search area stretches to Russia and beyond at the moment.

Warnock revealed that when he watched one game in Europe he asked himself ‘Are they any better than Ken Zohore?’

“Ken is training and he’s got to get his finger out now,” said Warnock.”When you think about the players we are looking at, Ken has it all in his locker now.”

The big Dane has only had one training session after injury and he won’t start against Southampton at Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday, but he has a few weeks to make a point.

Given that Zohore is unlikely to be involved against the Saints, he will have five or six matches to make his mark before Warnock potentially shells out millions on a new centre-forward.

Cardiff play Watford away, Manchester United at home, Crystal Palace away and Leicester away before New Year. They then take on Spurs at home before travelling to Gillingham in the FA Cup.

Kenneth Zohore. Not quite fit yet, but has all the assets to be a success. Pic: Getty Images.

If Zohore hasn’t made an impact at that stage it could be that his stay in South Wales will be coming to an end.

Warnock is now focused on City’s home clash with Southampton and knows a Bluebirds win could prove massive in their bid for survival.

Austrian manager Ralph Hasenhüttl takes charge of his first Saints match and Warnock says: “He’s done really well wherever he has been. 

“They’ll have a spring in their step and will want to impress. But we’ve got lads who want to prove things as well.

Brother in arms. Callum Paterson and Neil Warnock

“Every game against teams outside the top six you have to look at picking up points. They are all tough games, but you have to earn what you can out of them.

“Home form is going to be vital. We’re at home, we’ve got that backing and the fans have been amazing again. We just need to make sure our own house is in order.

“The boys are giving everything. When the fans are down, the players give them a lift, and when the players are down, the fans give them a lift. It’s a great situation to be in.”

Warnock and his coaching staff have spent hours in training working on cutting out errors – particularly at set pieces – and the manager says: “That has surprised, but it’s no good just talking about it. 

“We’re all learning, even the likes of Neil Etheridge, who had a good game at West Ham. He is learning about his positioning and what he can do better. The thing about the Premier League is every corner and free kick is a quality one. We have to cope with that.”

Big centre-back Sol Bamba says he is on a mission to ensure City improve at the back, saying: “We were so strong last season. I’ve been guilty a couple of times, but we’re working on it.

“It’s a big game against Southampton, but whatever happens there will be a lot of games to come. Playing at home, we want to win. It’s always good to play in front of our fans and against the teams in and around us, we need to be picking up wins.

Sol Bamba was called a "colossus" by his manager Neil Warnock
Sol Bamba. Pic: Getty Images.

“We want to it a fortress and difficult for the opposition. We fancy ourselves at home to take maximum points.”

City could make it three home wins in a row if they can beat a struggling Saints team – and that would be a massive plus for Warnock and his staff.

If they could then bring out the best in Zohore and sign two or three other players in January there may yet be a chance for Warnock’s warriors to survive in the top tier.

The Bluebirds gaffer, though, knows the task his team face str Cardiff City Stadium.

“They probably have the best squad in the bottom half of our division,” says Warnock, who knows victory for his team would be immense.

But he still believes that Cardiff City forward Kenneth Zohore could prove to the the answer.

Warnock has been to Nantes, France plus at least one other match, while Kevin Blackwell, while Ronnie Jepson and James Rowberry were at another game in Europe.

The Bluebirds boss says his search area stretches to Russia and beyond at the moment.

Warnock revealed that when he watched one game in Europe he asked himself ‘Are they any better than Ken Zohore?’

“Ken is training and he’s got to get his finger out now,” said Warnock.”When you think about the players we are looking at, Ken has it all in his locker now.”

The big Dane has only had one training session after injury and he won’t start against Southampton at Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday, but he has a few weeks to make a point.

Given that Zohore is unlikely to be involved against the Saints, he will have five or six matches to make his mark before Warnock potentially shells out millions on a new centre-forward.

Cardiff play Watford away, Manchester United at home, Crystal Palace away and Leicester away before New Year. They then take on Spurs at home before travelling to Gillingham in the FA Cup.

If Zohore hasn’t made an impact at that stage it could be that his stay in South Wales will be coming to an end.

Warnock is now focused on City’s home clash with Southampton and knows a Bluebirds win could prove massive in their bid for survival.

Austrian manager Ralph Hasenhüttl takes charge of his first Saints match and Warnock says: “He’s done really well wherever he has been. 

“They’ll have a spring in their step and will want to impress. But we’ve got lads who want to prove things as well.

“Every game against teams outside the top six you have to look at picking up points. They are all tough games, but you have to earn what you can out of them.

“Home form is going to be vital. We’re at home, we’ve got that backing and the fans have been amazing again. We just need to make sure our own house is in order.

Ralph Hasenhuttl celebrates after victory in Bundesliga match between 1. FC Koeln and RB Leipzig (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Bongarts/Getty Images)

“The boys are giving everything. When the fans are down, the players give them a lift, and when the players are down, the fans give them a lift. It’s a great situation to be in.”

Warnock and his coaching staff have spent hours in training working on cutting out errors – particularly at set pieces – and the manager says: “That has surprised, but it’s no good just talking about it. 

“We’re all learning, even the likes of Neil who had a good game at West Ham. He is learning about his positioning and what he can do better. The thing about the Premier League is every corner and free kick is a quality one. We have to cope with that.”

Big centre-back Sol Bamba says he is on a mission to ensure City improve at the back, saying: “We were so strong last season. I’ve been guilty a couple of times, but we’re working on it.

“It’s a big game against Southampton, but whatever happens there will be a lot of games to come. Playing at home, we want to win. It’s always good to play in front of our fans and against the teams in and around us, we need to be picking up wins.

“We want to it a fortress and difficult for the opposition. We fancy ourselves at home to take maximum points.”

City could make it three home wins in a row if they can beat a struggling Saints team – and that would be a massive plus for Warnock and his staff.

If they could then bring out the best in Zohore and sign two or three other players in January there may yet be a chance for Warnock’s warriors to survive in the top tier.

The Bluebirds gaffer, though, knows the task his team face str Cardiff City Stadium.

“They probably have the best squad in the bottom half of our division,” says Warnock, who knows victory for his team would be immense.

Cardiff City, possible: Etheridge, Peltier, Morrison, Manga, Bennett, Bamba, Gunnarsson, Arter, Camarasa, Decordova-Reid, Paterson. Bench: Smithies, Mendez-Laing, Madine, Murphy, Harris, Hoilett, Ralls.

Premier League

Team P GD Pts
1 Man City 15 38 41
2 Liverpool 15 24 39
3 Tottenham 15 12 33
4 Chelsea 15 18 31
5 Arsenal 15 14 31
6 Everton 15 4 23
7 Bournemouth 15 3 23
8 Man Utd 15 -1 23
9 Leicester 15 3 22
10 Brighton 15 -2 21
11 Watford 15 -3 20
12 Wolves 15 -3 19
13 West Ham 15 -3 18
14 Newcastle 15 -8 13
15 Crystal Palace 15 -9 12
16 Cardiff 15 -16 11
17 Huddersfield 15 -16 10
18 Southampton 15 -16 9
19 Burnley 15 -18 9
20 Fulham 15 -21 9

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