OMAR BOGLE: NEIL WARNOCK UNEARTHS ANOTHER GEM

The stunning turnaround of Cardiff City goal ace Omar Bogle who silences his critics after red mist of Bristol City defeat
By Paul Abbandonato


Many questioned whether Bogle would play again after red card, but he is proving an able stand-in for Kenneth Zohore

The last time I wrote about Omar Bogle was exactly one month ago. The words 'moment of madness' were used, followed by a suggestion he might struggle to feature for Cardiff City again in the near future.

I wasn't the only one, mind. Neil Warnock was even stronger in his assessment of Bogle, whose horror red-card lunge at Marlon Pack ended any hopes of victory against Bristol City.

“I’ve no good words to say about Bogle. He’s cost us the game... and if he doesn’t get back into the team after his ban it serves him right," said the Cardiff manager.

Wow, no holding back there, then.

That was November 4. Fast forward four weeks and suddenly Omar Bogle is Bluebirds' flavour of the month. And rightly so, too.

Such are the dramatic downs and ups of football.

The reason we felt Bogle was going to be taught a harsh lesson for his Ashton Gate misdemeanour was because Kenneth Zohore was due back. He is Cardiff's kingpin, their £20m-rated centre-forward, and Bogle would spend the rest of 2017-18 as a bit-part figure from the sidelines.

As always, however, football is not as black and white as that. Zohore continues to struggle for fitness, hasn't played since October 13 and doesn't look likely to feature any time soon himself.

So the question perhaps isn't whether Bogle will get any game time again, more can Cardiff find anyone remotely capable of filling the scoring boots of their number one man?

No Zohore, no Premier League dream, we kind of assumed, which is why it was so important the Bluebirds hierarchy resisted massive offers for their striker back in August.

Yet, whisper this kind of quietly, but Warnock might just have unearthed another goalscoring gem in Bogle to go with the one he tapped into with Zohore last season.

In other words, Cardiff have two centre-forward aces on their books, not just the one.

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Perhaps, up to this point, we have been a little guilty of under-estimating the qualities of Bogle.

Let's be honest, he arrived at much the same time as Liam Feeney and Danny Ward. They were not exactly names to set the pulses racing in the Bluebirds' so-called bold bid for promotion.

Anyway, it didn't overly matter. There was only room for one striker in Warnock's team and it was far more important Cardiff kept hold of Zohore than it was signing back-up front men.

Yet on the evidence of what we are seeing thus far, as one of those back-ups Bogle has something hugely significant to offer to the Cardiff cause.

He seems smaller in stature to Zohore and isn't quite as physical, but they each stand at 6ft 3in. Defenders won't be messing with either man.

Like Zohore, Bogle is quick, makes good runs, can dribble past defenders with his pace - and most importantly scores goals.

He is two-footed and embodies the Warnock mantra of defending from the front with his work-rate and willingness to close down defenders who aren't so comfortable on the ball at Championship level.

There was a moment near the end against Norwich when Bogle chased down the goalkeeper, then the right back as the ball was played out to him. Cardiff City fans love that sort of commitment and made their views known with a warm round of applause. If Bogle's legs were tiring, he was suddenly handed fresh impetus.

I'm not suggesting Bogle is as good as the man he is currently replacing. There is only one Kenneth Zohore.

However, thus far, when handed his opportunity, his impact has been phenomenal - red card notwithstanding, of course.

Bogle scored on his league debut in a 3-1 win over Ipswich, netted again a few days on versus Bristol City before that 'moment of madness'. Three-match suspension over, he helped turn the game and scored once more as Cardiff came from behind to beat Norwich the other night.

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So that's three goals in three matches. This is becoming more than a coincidence.

Actually, study 24-year-old Bogle's brief career and you'll see he does have a habit of scoring in spurts.

There were separate runs of nine goals in nine games, then 12 in 14, for Grimsby and Wigan last season

His general goal to game ratio, in fact, is excellent. 62 goals in 111 Solihull matches, 32 in 68 for Grimsby. He even netted in his one appearance for England C versus Estonia.

The question was whether he could do it at the sharp end of the Championship. Well Bogle certainly is at the moment, helping Warnock's second-placed Bluebirds open up a six point lead on Bristol City in third, and an 11 point gap down to Ipswich in seventh.

That is some place to be in when your number one striker hasn't even started to get going yet.

Zohore's time will come. At the moment, with him sidelined, Warnock will turn to a rehabilitated Bogle as his centre-forward as Cardiff seek to continue the feelgood factor with winnable fixtures against Reading, Hull, Bolton, Fulham and Preston looming before the turn of the new year.

As with Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Warnock might just have discovered a real gem here. It's nigh on impossible to fill Zohore's boots, but when afforded his opportunity Bogle has made a pretty good go of it.

The thought of those two fit and firing from January onwards is a mouthwatering one. No Championship defender will rest easy against Cardiff City.

It's only been a month, but Bristol City already seems an eternity away for Omar Bogle.

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I know £20m is mentioned a lot where Zohore is concerned, and if someone actually offers that I would take it like a shot.
Bogle is a different matter altogether. I have only said good things about him, and I believe he has massive potential. Like others have said, he is a bit raw and has plenty to learn, but Warnock can turn him into one very big asset. I think he will get more goals than Zohore if he is given the chance.

I thought the way he scored the goal was prem class.No margin for error whatsoever and taken with aplomb.

he has taken his goals well, but at the moment he couldn't head a bus queue.
My TV jumps higher !

I would say he was already a gem for Grimsby Town and Wigan Athletic before he joined us

I thought the way he scored the goal was prem class.No margin for error whatsoever and taken with aplomb.

It was breathtaking - running at pace, beating the defender to the ball, and he just flicks it sideways into the net with a back heel by the looks of it. That is the sort of stunning quality football that makes watching the City just that extra bit special - as good as Whitts.

Not really concerned about the heading as long as he keeps on scoring goals like he is....Zohore's not known for his heading ability either.

Not forgetting that we also have another capable striker in Danny Ward. I think we are well blessed up front and coupled with a strong defence, surely great times ahead for the Bluebirds?

I would say he was already a gem for Grimsby Town and Wigan Athletic before he joined us

Agreed. I'm glad it's starting to work out for him here now

I've always said, I wanted a strike force like the Wigan promtion winning team, Jason Roberts and Nathan Ellington, were strong and fast and real handful, Zohore and Bogle could be our equivalent, add Hoilet and Mendez, and that would be an unbeliviable attacking strike force and supply line !!!!

I thought the way he scored the goal was prem class.No margin for error whatsoever and taken with aplomb.

See so many of them ones and very similar chances missed. Not easy when the ball and player is coming in at pace to direct it, add to that he had to adjust his body position it was a great take.