Cardiff City Shoot For Third Place

Cardiff City have struggled for strikers and goals at times this season. MacLean, Thompson and Feeney have all tried to establish themselves in the first team and failed while Robbie Fowler has barely featured after taking an age to gain match fitness, before a hip injury ruled him out.


One of the criticisms often aimed at the team is the tendancy to 'walk the ball in' i.e. trying to be too neat and score from close range rather than taking the shot when presented. Many of the supporters would prefer the likes of Thompson, Ledley, McPhail and Rae to shoot more often whenever the ball breaks within 20 yards rather than trying to tee up a team-mate and seeing the shot blocked.



However, the stats reveal a different story with the Bluebirds outshooting many in the division. In total, Cardiff have make 286 shots on target over the course of the season. Only Charlton Athletic (288), Ipswich Town (306) and West Brom 364) have accrued more shots on target than the Bluebirds.



Of course, these stats do not tell the whole story. I'm sure every keeper in the division would rather face a McPhail chip from 25 yards (perhaps not Rachubka of Blackpool!) than Hasselbaink from 16.


Nevertheless, the stats do point to a lack of a finisher, a natural goalscorer within the ranks to provide a clinical goalscoring difference to the team. That has been the main problem all season, remains so now and simply must be put right over the summer.