'It's not good for anybody!' Cardiff City boss Mick McCarthy

'It's not good for anybody!' Cardiff City boss Mick McCarthy explains what's up with Kieffer Moore


Cardiff City boss Mick McCarthy explains what's up with Kieffer Moore





Friday 24th September 2021


Cardiff City manager Mick McCarthy believes Kieffer Moore's Covid-hit start to the season has had a big impact on the player and team's start to the campaign.

Moore has emerged as arguably the most important player in the Bluebirds' squad following a debut campaign which yielded 20 goals for the Wales international.

It was a huge boon for Cardiff that they managed to keep hold of him, despite a paltry bid being tabled by Wolves to take him at the 11th hour on transfer deadline, however he has struggled to get up and running so far this term.

Towards the back end of last season, McCarthy spoke about how he feared Moore might experience a bit of burnout after the comeback from going away with the Euros.

But it has not just been a summer of international football and travel which has affected the striker.

He contracted Covid at the start of the season before having to miss Wales' last camp after being deemed a close contact to goalkeeper Adam Davies, who had also tested positive.

It meant yet another period of isolation for Cardiff's talisman and more missed hours on the grass at City's training ground.







MICK McCARTHY:

"I do think that Kieffer has been affected by Covid," McCarthy said at his pre-Blackburn Rovers press conference on Friday morning.

"It’s strange, when he played the two years non stop he was fine. And then as soon as he went away with Wales and he got Covid, then he was a close contact and he couldn’t train again, I do think that’s affected him.

"We have not really been as efficient as we could be."

When asked more specifically about the effects of a possible burnout, McCarthy added: "I’ve had it. You can go to the Euros and there’s such a euphoria about it and then you come back and you are knackered!

"It’s a bit of a comedown then. You’ve had your season, scored 20 goals, been to the Euros, you do need a bit of a break.

"But the break you don’t need is getting Covid and then being a close contact of Covid. If it was just a break from football and he could continue his training and be healthy, that’s different.

"Being at home, isolating, it’s not good for anybody."

Moore has only one goal to his name in 10 outings in all competitions for the Bluebirds this season, however many supporters believe that is also down to a lack of quality service the forwards have been receiving.

His only goal, up at Blackpool, came after a stunning, pinpoint cross from Cardiff's most creative player in Ryan Giles and McCarthy believes his absence due to Covid, which has coincided with the Bluebirds' downturn in results in recent weeks, has been sorely felt.

"Having lost Joe Ralls and Gilo (Ryan Giles), they both were playing well, and I’m not suggesting anyone who came in did anything different, but we were on a bit of a roll," McCarthy said.

Giles has been training this week, however the Bluebirds boss dampened expectations when it came to his chances of starting up at Ewood Park this weekend.

McCarthy added: "He has only had two or three days back, so I can’t say he’s functioning fully and up to full speed.

"But he’ll be in the squad tomorrow and hopefully then he’ll be back playing Tuesday and maybe Saturday as well."

That will also be music to the ears of Moore's strike partner, James Collins.

Collins was prolific for the Bluebirds in pre-season against lower league clubs, but is yet to open his account in his 13 competitive appearances for the Bluebirds.

Having missed more than a couple of big opportunities so far this term, McCarthy hopes that the Republic of Ireland international, who is a proven goalscorer in English football, just needs that one goal to get him motoring.

"Any time there has ever been a goalscorer who can’t get a goal for whatever reason, he just needs something," McCarthy said.

"It’s the old adage, whether it’s off the back of his head or the backside, a deflection, if he gets his goal then it’ll make him feel better about himself and he’ll go on and score goals for us."

With Cardiff desperately bidding to get their season back on track, McCarthy and Co will hope both Moore and Collins kick into action against Rovers this Saturday afternoon.

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Seems to me that if someone can cross the ball he can score!

Why is Mick blaming Keiffer having covid when with Giles missing he's had virtually nothing to work with?

He is not scoring because the service to him has been piss poor.

Seems to me that if someone can cross the ball he can score!

Why is Mick blaming Keiffer having covid when with Giles missing he's had virtually nothing to work with?

He spent most of match chasing shadows and the ball out wide... just dint get micks excuse because everyone can see what problem is so unless he addresses this problem Moore is going to struggle and have burn out earlier than last season..

My Opinion the formation and style of play do not suit Keiffer, He needs to play with wingers firing balls into the box

BUT MICK WE HAVE A “BIG SQUAD & STRENGTH IN DEPTH WITH ALL POSITIONS COVERED”

Remember one player does not make a team and imagine if we had had a proper bid for Moore or he got injured?

He is not scoring because the service to him has been piss poor.

Same for Collins too

He is not scoring because the service to him has been piss poor.

Same for Collins too

Collins problem is hes only getting odd chance to score that means if doesnt he gets abused by fans.... all strikers get several chances before score... manè other night had countless chances but only scored in 90th min same for kane even moore misses chances before he scores? Getting odd chances to score as been the theme of city's strikers past 6/7yrs hence they all fail even though they've got proven record at their previous club

He is not scoring because the service to him has been piss poor.

Same for Collins too

No Collins has had plenty of chances to score he just hasn't taken any of them. A better striker than Collins would have at least two maybe three goals by now. Hell even Flint has four. I thought he was a good signing but he has been woeful so far and poor service is only a small part of the reason.

He is not scoring because the service to him has been piss poor.

Same for Collins too

No Collins has had plenty of chances to score he just hasn't taken any of them. A better striker than Collins would have at least two maybe three goals by now. Hell even Flint has four. I thought he was a good signing but he has been woeful so far and poor service is only a small part of the reason.

How many minutes has Collins had to score all those goals? He hasn't had plenty of chances hes had odd one and strikers even kane dont score every chance they get so what chance as Collins got with spasmodic chances .......or as we see even moore is struggling? As for flint mmmmm wonder which team as got most goals from headers? And you wonder why flint as got 4 goals considering we play to score from headers not surprising is it?

He is not scoring because the service to him has been piss poor.

Same for Collins too

No Collins has had plenty of chances to score he just hasn't taken any of them. A better striker than Collins would have at least two maybe three goals by now. Hell even Flint has four. I thought he was a good signing but he has been woeful so far and poor service is only a small part of the reason.

Spot on, Collins has missed sitters time and time again.

He is not scoring because the service to him has been piss poor.

Same for Collins too

No Collins has had plenty of chances to score he just hasn't taken any of them. A better striker than Collins would have at least two maybe three goals by now. Hell even Flint has four. I thought he was a good signing but he has been woeful so far and poor service is only a small part of the reason.

Spot on, Collins has missed sitters time and time again.

And moore doesn't miss sitters? Guess people dont notice because
its him but for Collins it's a different story......

What's not good for anybody is the shit football. What's not good for Moore is the 0 service he gets. There's literally nothing wrong with Moore's performances, he can't do it all on his own can he?

Mick . With reference to Moore, may I be bold to suggest you ask his teammates to accurately cross or pass the ball to him .

Mick . With reference to Moore, may I be bold to suggest you ask his teammates to accurately cross or pass the ball to him .

I think your asking a bit much there mate. Aimless hoofing is the only feature on the menu.

It does make you wonder what they do in training.. apart from the aimless hoofing, what are we?

It does make you wonder what they do in training.. apart from the aimless hoofing, what are we?

I always think that as well. I think Flint , Morrison and Nelson just take it in turns kicking it as far as possible and the rest of the team chase it. Either that or mick tells them to forget everything they do in training before each game.

Made me laugh - that Liverpool doc when(Keegan??) said ' we hadnt seen much of Shankly all week after we beat Spurs, and about 10 mins before kick off, he pokes his head in the dressing room and says 'same as last week lads'' ....

Trouble is, Mick cant say that..

Don't blame Covid MM the problem is your formation and emphasis on defending and not attacking.
All us City fans want is to see attacking football. That is why all football fans pay their money.
Tan if you are watching the games you must be able to se that MM is not the man for City.
MM change or go.

Don't blame Covid MM the problem is your formation and emphasis on defending and not attacking.
All us City fans want is to see attacking football. That is why all football fans pay their money.
Tan if you are watching the games you must be able to se that MM is not the man for City.
MM change or go.

We want winning football not attacking football.

Don't blame Covid MM the problem is your formation and emphasis on defending and not attacking.
All us City fans want is to see attacking football. That is why all football fans pay their money.
Tan if you are watching the games you must be able to se that MM is not the man for City.
MM change or go.

We want winning football not attacking football.

Mick isn't delivering either of them.

Don't blame Covid MM the problem is your formation and emphasis on defending and not attacking.
All us City fans want is to see attacking football. That is why all football fans pay their money.
Tan if you are watching the games you must be able to se that MM is not the man for City.
MM change or go.

We want winning football not attacking football.

Mick isn't delivering either of them.

This is true.

Moore is sick of the ball flying over his head from all angles.. Play it to his feet where he can hold the ball up.. And he would be useful.. Giggs used him well.. Where he linked up play.. Mick only knows boot and hope

Don't blame Covid MM the problem is your formation and emphasis on defending and not attacking.
All us City fans want is to see attacking football. That is why all football fans pay their money.
Tan if you are watching the games you must be able to se that MM is not the man for City.
MM change or go.

We want winning football not attacking football.

Mick isn't delivering either of them.

This is true.

Should have watched brentford liverpool all out attack brilliant game 3-3