Cardiff City broke their transfer record to bring fans favourite Michael Chopra back from Sunderland in a £3.5m move. The deal was finalised 2 weeks ago but had been agreed for 6 months after a second loan spell last season for the former Newcastle united man.
It`s fair to say that Chopra struggled towards the last end of the season. Rumours regarding his personal life continued to circulate and even he admitted that such problems had previously affected his form. A heel injury was also causing him great discomfort and hindering his running – as such, Chops was nowhere near his best and lacked the menacing runs and potent goalscoring threat we know he can offer.
What is unusual and, perhaps unfair is that Chopra appears a shoe-in to start the season in attack with Jay Bothroyd. That is truly an impressive front-pairing and one that should reap rewards for the Bluebirds. However, when you consider the impact Ross McCormack made last season – it seems extremely harsh that he is not in the starting line-up. Surely the decision between Chopra and McCormack (both 20-goal a season strikers) should not yet be made and form, fitness and training should be a major part of the decision? That`s not the case reading media reports, including the SW Echo who stated last week that Chops will start.
It seems McCormack may be a victim of his own versatility. He more than Chopra can adapt to a new position and as such spent some time in an unfamiliar wide left role last term. There is no doubting he was far less effective and we missed his goalscoring threat. McCormack is a striker, and a good one, he deserves a chance of playing there if his form is good enough – 23 goals last season suggest it can be. Rosco was a major force in all the good things we did last season.
We are blessed to even have this problem, and it`s a good problem to have. McCormack could yet leave, and will feel more compelled to if he feels, as some do, that he is destined to play second fiddle to Chopra and be forced out of position – this is the Championship`s third top striker last season!
Vital Cardiff City currently have a POLL open where you can vote on who should start against Scunthorpe United in a few short weeks. It makes sense to have your best players playing, but can you crowbar them in?!?
Click here to sign up for Vital CARDIFF CITY.
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Good Article. I would have thought that these kinds of selection headaches are exactly what you try to solve during pre-season and training. Good luck to yourselves next season and as long as the strikers keep the goals flowing, you do have a good chance of going up next season.
Both have a big part to play this season, and neitehr will be happy sitting on the bench so will need to rotate. I agree Chopra should not have played at the end of the season, was obviously not fit and we suffered.