David Hooson, Cardiff City columnist.
It is essential to the success of Cardiff CityÔÇÖs season that they complete the signing of a reliable striker in the January transfer window.
With the exception of anomalous results against Manchester City and Fulham, goals have been hard to come by for the Welsh club recently, having scored only four times in their other nine league games.  Only Sunderland and Crystal Palace, the two teams currently propping up the Premier League table, have scored fewer goals than Cardiff so far this season.
Additionally, every team except Crystal Palace has a player who has scored more often than CityÔÇÖs top scorers, of whom there are four.┬á The congestion at the top this list is proof of the lack of outstanding performers in the Cardiff attack.┬á The presence of defender Steven Caulker and midfielder Jordon Mutch in this group of four further demonstrates CardiffÔÇÖs weakness up front.
With just five weeks until the transfer window reopens, manager Malky Mackay can waste no time in scouting potential targets to fill this gap.┬á With several big-money transfers under his belt, Mackay has proven that he is not afraid to splash the cash when necessary.┬á Furthermore, his two club record signings, captain Caulker and Chilean Gary Medel, have proven to be worth their price tags of ┬ú9 million and ┬ú11 million, respectively. The managerÔÇÖs ability to pay a similar amount for a top-quality striker may rest on his still tenuous relationship with controversial Cardiff City chairman Vincent Tan.
In what is shaping up to be a highly competitive season both at the top and the bottom of the table, a balanced goal difference could turn out to be a crucial factor in CardiffÔÇÖs final position this season. CityÔÇÖs excellent on-field organisation indicates that this objective is within their capabilities, meaning that with a true finisher to complete the line-up, they have every chance of assuring their presence in the top-flight for next season.
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