Time To End Parry Experiment ?

Cardiff City have lost their way recently and picked up just one point from nine on offer. That after a fanstastic unbeatedn run stretching back to a 4-1 win over Colchester United in December.


The run was well timed and saw Cardiff charge into the top half of the table, some key personnel changes also helped the form improvement with Whittingham recalled and Paul Parry pushed up-field as well as Darren Purse being relegated to the bench in favour of the Johnson/Loovens central defence partnership.


Parry impressed in the emergency striker position, he is the only option to offer real pace in the team and he revelled in the extra space he found, and the improved service from McPhail in midfield who found Parry’s runs effectively.


Parry scored against QPR, Sheffield United and an impressive brace against West Brom and now leads the club’s scoring charts with 7 (+ a cup goal against Chasetown).


However, Parry is finding space tough to come by now as other clubs close the gaps and restrict Cardiff in midfield. It is fair to say that Parry is not a striker, and has less opportunity to run and beat his man than when on the wing.


Cardiff desperately need another stiker, a natural finisher to convert the numerous chances we create. Parry is more a provider, though can be devastating cutting in from the right and shooting. With Peter Whittingham disappointing in recent games, I feel Parry should be switched to a wide role.


That leaves either a 4-5-1 system with Parry (advanced right) and Whittingham (left) supporting the lone striker, or, a previously untried Hasselbaink & Thompson partnership.


Parry’s versatility is a huge asset, and whilst adept as a support striker – it’s time to end the experiment and play natural strikers in attack. We are rather short on those and surely Jones and Co. have been working hard to identify loan targets to fill the void. The wages of Gunter, Byrne and MacLean have all been offloaded – we need our own Ched Evans or similar to change things around and add another dimension in attack.