Cardiff: McCormack can keep Bluebirds flying high
ROSS IS CUT-PRICE HERO
THE cut-price capture of striker Ross McCormack is the one piece of good news in a summer which saw Cardiff City bitterly regret the marksmen that got away.
Bluebirds boss Dave Jones paid £120,000 compensation for the out-of-contract Motherwell striker who is valued at £1million-plus and regarded as one of Scottish football’s most exciting young talents.
But Jones, who has cash to spend following the £5m sale of midfielder wonderkid Aaron Ramsey, has missed out on several other targets.
Rangers ace Kris Boyd wanted to stay at Ibrox and Chartlon’s Marcus Bent shook hands with Birmingham on the day he was due at Ninian Park for his medical.
Impressive
Also, Blackburn refused to sell Jason Roberts, Manchester City kept hold of Welsh rookie Ched Evans and FC Dallas opted to keep Kenny Cooper after accepting Cardiff’s £1.5m bid.
While Jones was struggling to sign new forwards, Robbie Fowler walked out of Ninian Park to take up Blackburn’s offer of a two-week trial.
Then there is the Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink affair, which could end up costing City £750,000. He was shown the door by Jones but claims he is entitled to a new one-year deal after playing 44 games last term.
Cardiff insist the 36-year-old striker, who was paid £15,000 a-week, verbally agreed to waive the option, which Hasselbaink denies. The ex-Chelsea player is now demanding a year’s salary with the dispute likely to end up in court.
Cardiff have looked impressive pre-season with wins over Vitoria Guimaraes and Celtic.
McCormack was quick to impress with two strikes in the 2-1 victory against Guimaraes in Faro and ex-Swindon man Miguel Comminges, a versatile Frenchman who can play in defence and midfield, also looks a steal after arriving on a free.
City are too strong defensively to be involved in a relegation scrap they are too light up front to be promotion contenders and a mid-table finish is on the cards.
That could change if Jones gets in a quality striker or two before the transfer deadline.
KEY MAN: Ross McCormack
SCORE PREDICTION: 9th
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