Dave Jones? men have gone 376 minutes without a scoring a goal ? the last one coming from super Jason Koumas in the 6-1 demolition of Crewe Alexandra. To be fair, Cardiff have created enough chances to win certain games since then, but the overall quality upfront just isn?t there.
If it wasn?t for Cameron Jerome, our strike force would be dire. Alan Lee has only scored one goal for Cardiff so far this season ? exactly the same amount that Neil Alexander has scored for Norwich. It seems unfair to pick on Lee, but he cannot afford to waste chance after chance, especially if he?s fighting for a place in the starting line up.
Michael Ricketts? partnership with Jerome seems to work a lot better. Ricketts is deadlier than Lee in front of goal, but his work rate isn?t as good. Although at the moment, Ricketts is sidelined with a mystery virus (not bird flu). Perhaps this mystery virus was affecting his work rate on the pitch? After all, he did play a few games whilst being ill.
Other attacking options have included Andrea Ferretti and Paul Parry. I think Alex Ferguson was on his third bottle of whisky when he recommended Ferretti to Dave Jones. The lad has shown potential playing for the reserves, but he clearly isn?t ready for the hustle and bustle of the Championship. He?s just a young, Italian teenager who doesn?t understand English football. Then there?s Parry, sometimes thrown on as a striker even though it?s not his best position.
So, all-in-all, the lack of goals is causing Dave Jones some frustration. Thankfully against Coventry, Jerome didn?t pick up his fifth yellow card of the season. With Ricketts still in doubt for the crucial midweek game against Sheffield Wednesday, it would?ve meant a strike force with no more than one goal between them.
