‘ ROSS McCORMACK /CARDIFF CITY JANUARY? ‘

By Annis Abraham

Ross McCormack could be available on loan this coming January.

Aston Villa’s Manager Steve Bruce does not see McCormack as part of his plans and since Bruce took over as manager of Villa, McCormack has virtually been ignored.

If Cardiff City’s manager Neil Warnock does go after McCormack, it would suit Steve Bruce as City are not challenging for promotion so won’t be a threat to Villa and Villa could have an emergency call on McCormack.

Cardiff City supporters have been endlessly complaining about their lack of intensity and service up top for the past year, ever since Cardiff made the decision to let arguably their two best strikers leave in January – Joe Mason and Kenwyne Jones.

The cry-out for a striker seemed to be totally ignored under Russell Slade, who opted to use Lex Immers and Anthony Pilkington up front, who in all fairness did show potential to be great strikers for the club in the latter half of last season.

With the January transfer window opening soon, Neil Warnock will surely be weighing up his transfer options and he most certainly will be targeting strikers as he has already stated this.

Two strikers, who are also former Cardiff City strikers, that should be at the top of Warnock’s agenda are Ross McCormack and Rudy Gestede.

With the rapid form of the Championship’s most expensive player Jonathan Kodjia at Villa Park, who has netted seven goals since making the £15 million switch from Bristol City, it seems like it will take a lot to shove him out of the first-team. Also Steve Bruce’s tactics do not favour McCormack or Gestede, who likes to operate a 4-3-3 system, with Kodjia as his danger man and opting for wingers to provide the service for the Ivory Coast international.

Since McCormack’s anticipated move to Villa Park in the summer, the Scotsman has managed just two goals in 14 appearances in all competitions that has put his career at Villa Park up in the air.

The Aston Villa supporters have been fairly unimpressed with McCormack’s contribution so far and a loan move would probably suit both parties.

With Villa paying a hefty sum for the striker, they are unlikely to want to get rid. Cardiff taking McCormack on loan from January for the remainder of the season would ensure that he plays regularly and with his Championship record at Cardiff City, Leeds United and Fulham, he certainly could re-ignite his goal scoring touch once again.

Alternatively, should a deal fail to materialise for McCormack, a similar loan deal could be appetising for Villa’s other overlooked striker Rudy Gestede, who is also a former Cardiff City striker. The striker has played the same number of games as McCormack, but scored two more. Gestede got on the score-sheet against the Bluebirds with a decisive penalty a few weeks back to finish off the game.
After watching the Brighton game last weekend, there was nothing up front, and although they earned a decent point against a side flying at the moment, a decent striker could have sneaked them the three points. The Bluebirds need a spark again, and they certainly should not settle for a relegation battle that may happen, if they do not bring in either Gestede or McCormack.
So come on City lets show some ambition and get the New Year started with a Bang for Cardiff City Fans :bluebird: :ayatollah: