Cardiff City have been linked with in-form AFC Wimbledon and Iraq striker Ali Al-Hamadi, but who exactly is he?
This season so far:
Al-Hamadi has enjoyed a good start to the season at his current club Wimbledon. The Iraq international has six goals and five assists in the league so far. As well as two goals for his country. A good start to the season saw Al-Hamadi named PFA League Two Player Of The Month for the month of September. Al-Hamadi has helped Wimbeldon to ninth in the League Two table, just four points off the play-offs.
What does Al-Hamadi offer?
Five assists so far this season shows us that Al-Hamadi is very effective in build-up play. The forward is currently averaging 1.7 key passes per game and 1.4 dribbles per game in League Two. Al-Hamadi is a grafter up front with an average of 2.7 balls recovered per game, the Wimbledon forward also wins on average 3.4 duels per game (to compare with Cardiff's Kion Etete who recovers 1.4 balls per game and wins on average 2.6 duels per game). Al-Hamadi averages 1.4 shots on target per game, showing that he is getting in the right places at the right time.
How could it work? Does he fit the bill?
The Bluebirds are typically a better and more functioning side with a target man and six foot two Ali Al-Hamadi definitely fits the bill. Al-Hamadi's impressive hold up play could be key in bringing the quality out of The Bluebirds wide men. It would also allow The Bluebirds to turn from defence to attack quicker.
Why might it not work?
As good as his record is so far this season, Al-Hamadi is a wasteful striker in front of goal, the young forward has missed 13 big chances this season in League Two. With an average of 3.3 shots per game, over half of his shots fail to hit the target. Averaging a goal every 208 minutes in the fourth tier, is that good enough for the Championship? Al-Hamadi loses the ball on average 3.9 per game, if brought in that would need to improve.
How much would he cost? Is he worth it?
Wimbledon reportedly rejected a £1M bid this summer, so if brought in I imagine The Bluebirds would be paying upwards of that. If that was the case, he would become one of The Bluebirds most expensive players in the squad, but would he warrant that? It's hard really to decide, for someone so young his record is decent, but he's far from a finished article. Should Cardiff be relying on him and Kion Etete? Two young strikers with not a lot of experience to their names.
Is he what Cardiff City and Erol Bulut need?
In the future? Maybe. Now? Not really. There's a lot of maybe's with Al-Hamadi as would be expected with a youngster, but, Cardiff need someone proven and experienced in the final third.
Conclusion - Should Cardiff City sign Ali Al-Hamadi?
It's a No from me. I just think for the price he would warrant, how much instant success would The Bluebirds see? Cardiff need a striker who's got a good track record over a number of seasons, and unfortunately Al-Hamadi doesn't fit the bill on that one.
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