Ollie Tanner Reveals he turned down the Jacks AND

Monday 4th December 2023



Ollie Tanner:

"There were a few Prem teams in for me, but it would have been the same as the Tottenham thing and I would have been with the under-23s," he said. "There were a few Championship clubs floating around, too. Swansea, they were in (for me). They tried to do a deal late, but it was Cardiff. I've not actually said that to anyone, that's just come back to me!”

"I'd been in to Cardiff, seen what it was like and I just thought Cardiff was a much bigger club. I'm not just saying this because I play for Cardiff, I just considered them a bigger club than Swansea.

"I spoke to a few people about it (the Swansea move), but I was set on Cardiff. The deal was done and I was ready to make that move."

Speaking about that now famous goal which set City on the road to victory, he added: "I had been dragged the week before at half time against Ipswich. I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was the 70th minute and he brought me on. It was a free-kick and I just thought we were going to lump it in. Then Rambo (Aaron Ramsey) hit one short, it went back to JC (Jamilu Collins) and he's just hit a massive diag(onal ball), I don't know what he was doing.

"I saw it come over and that happens every day in training, I bring it down and he shows me on the inside, I thought, 'Left footer on the inside? I'll take that!' I've come in, hit it through bodies, so I couldn't see it hit the back of the net and I just hear the crowd going mental.

"I run off and I'm thinking, 'How the f*** am I going to celebrate this?! I just jumped in the air and into the knee slide. I remember Perry behind me saying, 'What the f*** has just happened?!'"

The other scorer that night, of course, was Aaron Ramsey, from the penalty spot. It was quite surreal for Tanner, a lifelong Arsenal fan, to be playing alongside one of his childhood heroes.

The Wales captain has been injured for more than two thirds of the season so far, but Tanner has already seen enough to know he is operating on a different plane to everyone else.


"He is a f*****g joke, by the way," Tanner said of Ramsey. "The way he reads the game in a completely different way to other players. He is just always in space in a game. Just watch him. When he's back from injury, just watch him, he's always in space, always moving, you never see him standing next to someone.

"And if he is, he is doing it for a reason, because he is going to run into a different space or run off the back of someone. He's just so clever.

"He's played at Arsenal, Juventus, Champions League. He knows the game. He knows what's going on without looking. He is a player. A serious, serious player. When we got told we were signing him, I had to remind myself I was going to be f****g playing with him!

"He is a top, top guy as well. For the levels he's been at, he has no ego. He is the most chilled guy, does everything right in training. Not big-time. Probably the most professional I've seen."


"It's a lot better," Tanner said of Cardiff under Bulut. "It's more positive. he's got a winning mentality, he doesn't take s**t.”

"He's changed the dynamic of the club around. He has just put a positive spin on things. It's just a better vibe around the training ground and you can see it in the performances when we play.“

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Fair play to him, gave his word that he’d sign for us and didn’t go back on it. Even though other clubs came in for him late on, including that smaller club.

Also credit to him for not going to Spurs. He’s right, would have just played youth football.

Brilliant moment for us all when he scored that goal against Swansea. Will never forget that.


But he has been poor since then with this performances, let’s be honest.

I would say he should spend less time appearing on podcasts and focus on improving his football.

Fair play to him, gave his word that he’d sign for us and didn’t go back on it. Even though other clubs came in for him late on, including that smaller club.

Also credit to him for not going to Spurs. He’s right, would have just played youth football.

Brilliant moment for us all when he scored that goal against Swansea. Will never forget that.


But he has been poor since then with this performances, let’s be honest.

I would say he should spend less time appearing on podcasts and focus on improving his football.

Totally agree with everything you’ve just said Ned.

Reply FB:

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Reply FB:

Mark this. First time a Twitter reply has made me laugh.

Thing is Jack Duckworth is dead, so there would be no movement whatsoever!

The negativity around the kid, Jesus. We have a fickle fan base!
It’s Ollie’s first proper full time season. Last season he wasn’t fit enough as he wasn’t used to training every day, like a pro.

He started the season brilliantly. He’s going to have spells where he isn’t at his best. On top of that, he hasn’t been “poor since then” because he was still putting in good performances before Bowler come back, and he was still starting games.
Take nothing against Bowler, he’s come back from injury and been fantastic. However, you can’t expect Ollie to keep turning in these amazing performances, coming into a game so late on.

We have the most fickle fan base!!

The negativity around the kid, Jesus. We have a fickle fan base!
It’s Ollie’s first proper full time season. Last season he wasn’t fit enough as he wasn’t used to training every day, like a pro.

He started the season brilliantly. He’s going to have spells where he isn’t at his best. On top of that, he hasn’t been “poor since then” because he was still putting in good performances before Bowler come back, and he was still starting games.
Take nothing against Bowler, he’s come back from injury and been fantastic. However, you can’t expect Ollie to keep turning in these amazing performances, coming into a game so late on.

We have the most fickle fan base!!

It’s not fickle to criticise a player who isn’t playing well.

The negativity around the kid, Jesus. We have a fickle fan base!
It’s Ollie’s first proper full time season. Last season he wasn’t fit enough as he wasn’t used to training every day, like a pro.

He started the season brilliantly. He’s going to have spells where he isn’t at his best. On top of that, he hasn’t been “poor since then” because he was still putting in good performances before Bowler come back, and he was still starting games.
Take nothing against Bowler, he’s come back from injury and been fantastic. However, you can’t expect Ollie to keep turning in these amazing performances, coming into a game so late on.

We have the most fickle fan base!!

It’s not fickle to criticise a player who isn’t playing well.

Not playing well? He’s hardly had a look in since Josh come back into the side.
So, yes, it is fickle.

He’s pretty much in his first proper full season as a professional full time player.
Nobody thought he would do what he did at the start of the season. But, the kid has played well.
Get off his back!

I hope he doesn’t read these forums, because his opinions on some of our fans would soon change.

The negativity around the kid, Jesus. We have a fickle fan base!
It’s Ollie’s first proper full time season. Last season he wasn’t fit enough as he wasn’t used to training every day, like a pro.

He started the season brilliantly. He’s going to have spells where he isn’t at his best. On top of that, he hasn’t been “poor since then” because he was still putting in good performances before Bowler come back, and he was still starting games.
Take nothing against Bowler, he’s come back from injury and been fantastic. However, you can’t expect Ollie to keep turning in these amazing performances, coming into a game so late on.

We have the most fickle fan base!!

It’s not fickle to criticise a player who isn’t playing well.

Not playing well? He’s hardly had a look in since Josh come back into the side.
So, yes, it is fickle.

He’s pretty much in his first proper full season as a professional full time player.
Nobody thought he would do what he did at the start of the season. But, the kid has played well.
Get off his back!

I hope he doesn’t read these forums, because his opinions on some of our fans would soon change.

He has featured in every game apart from Leeds and Leicester.

He played 75 minutes against West Brom and did nothing. Didn’t help out his left back at all.

So I say it’s not fickle.

All for giving players a chance but also think it’s right to criticise them when they don’t play well.

I criticised Grant at the start of the season but since then he’s been a crucial part of our team. That showed when we didn’t have him against West Brom.

It’s no different to people rightly criticising Runarsson and Ugbo.

The negativity around the kid, Jesus. We have a fickle fan base!
It’s Ollie’s first proper full time season. Last season he wasn’t fit enough as he wasn’t used to training every day, like a pro.

He started the season brilliantly. He’s going to have spells where he isn’t at his best. On top of that, he hasn’t been “poor since then” because he was still putting in good performances before Bowler come back, and he was still starting games.
Take nothing against Bowler, he’s come back from injury and been fantastic. However, you can’t expect Ollie to keep turning in these amazing performances, coming into a game so late on.

We have the most fickle fan base!!

It’s not fickle to criticise a player who isn’t playing well.

Not playing well? He’s hardly had a look in since Josh come back into the side.
So, yes, it is fickle.

He’s pretty much in his first proper full season as a professional full time player.
Nobody thought he would do what he did at the start of the season. But, the kid has played well.
Get off his back!

I hope he doesn’t read these forums, because his opinions on some of our fans would soon change.

He has featured in every game apart from Leeds and Leicester.

He played 75 minutes against West Brom and did nothing. Didn’t help out his left back at all.

So I say it’s not fickle.

All for giving players a chance but also think it’s right to criticise them when they don’t play well.

I criticised Grant at the start of the season but since then he’s been a crucial part of our team. That showed when we didn’t have him against West Brom.

It’s no different to people rightly criticising Runarsson and Ugbo.

So, you’re using one game against West Brom? Bearing in mind, that he had not started since Josh came back from injury. What? You expect him to just jump straight back in, and turn it on?

Also, out of position on the right side. Secondly, nobody had a good game against West Brom, so wasn’t just him.

We are going to have to agree to disagree here. But, our fans turn on players so quickly, without giving them the proper support!

The negativity around the kid, Jesus. We have a fickle fan base!
It’s Ollie’s first proper full time season. Last season he wasn’t fit enough as he wasn’t used to training every day, like a pro.

He started the season brilliantly. He’s going to have spells where he isn’t at his best. On top of that, he hasn’t been “poor since then” because he was still putting in good performances before Bowler come back, and he was still starting games.
Take nothing against Bowler, he’s come back from injury and been fantastic. However, you can’t expect Ollie to keep turning in these amazing performances, coming into a game so late on.

We have the most fickle fan base!!

It’s not fickle to criticise a player who isn’t playing well.

Not playing well? He’s hardly had a look in since Josh come back into the side.
So, yes, it is fickle.

He’s pretty much in his first proper full season as a professional full time player.
Nobody thought he would do what he did at the start of the season. But, the kid has played well.
Get off his back!

I hope he doesn’t read these forums, because his opinions on some of our fans would soon change.

He has featured in every game apart from Leeds and Leicester.

He played 75 minutes against West Brom and did nothing. Didn’t help out his left back at all.

So I say it’s not fickle.

All for giving players a chance but also think it’s right to criticise them when they don’t play well.

I criticised Grant at the start of the season but since then he’s been a crucial part of our team. That showed when we didn’t have him against West Brom.

It’s no different to people rightly criticising Runarsson and Ugbo.

So, you’re using one game against West Brom? Bearing in mind, that he had not started since Josh came back from injury. What? You expect him to just jump straight back in, and turn it on?

Also, out of position on the right side. Secondly, nobody had a good game against West Brom, so wasn’t just him.

We are going to have to agree to disagree here. But, our fans turn on players so quickly, without giving them the proper support!

So you’re saying we should just not criticise any player, regardless of whether they’re not playing well.

Fair enough, but I don’t agree with that approach.

I used the West Brom game as an example. I could equally point out many other games.

Fact is he hasn’t been playing well and will rightly be criticised for that.

The negativity around the kid, Jesus. We have a fickle fan base!
It’s Ollie’s first proper full time season. Last season he wasn’t fit enough as he wasn’t used to training every day, like a pro.

He started the season brilliantly. He’s going to have spells where he isn’t at his best. On top of that, he hasn’t been “poor since then” because he was still putting in good performances before Bowler come back, and he was still starting games.
Take nothing against Bowler, he’s come back from injury and been fantastic. However, you can’t expect Ollie to keep turning in these amazing performances, coming into a game so late on.

We have the most fickle fan base!!

I agree.

The negativity around the kid, Jesus. We have a fickle fan base!
It’s Ollie’s first proper full time season. Last season he wasn’t fit enough as he wasn’t used to training every day, like a pro.

He started the season brilliantly. He’s going to have spells where he isn’t at his best. On top of that, he hasn’t been “poor since then” because he was still putting in good performances before Bowler come back, and he was still starting games.
Take nothing against Bowler, he’s come back from injury and been fantastic. However, you can’t expect Ollie to keep turning in these amazing performances, coming into a game so late on.

We have the most fickle fan base!!

It’s not fickle to criticise a player who isn’t playing well.

Not playing well I agree, but non league to championship in barely a season. It’s not his fault that he finds himself in the first team and he’s definitely improved.

The negativity around the kid, Jesus. We have a fickle fan base!
It’s Ollie’s first proper full time season. Last season he wasn’t fit enough as he wasn’t used to training every day, like a pro.

He started the season brilliantly. He’s going to have spells where he isn’t at his best. On top of that, he hasn’t been “poor since then” because he was still putting in good performances before Bowler come back, and he was still starting games.
Take nothing against Bowler, he’s come back from injury and been fantastic. However, you can’t expect Ollie to keep turning in these amazing performances, coming into a game so late on.

We have the most fickle fan base!!

It’s not fickle to criticise a player who isn’t playing well.

Not playing well I agree, but non league to championship in barely a season. It’s not his fault that he finds himself in the first team and he’s definitely improved.

I hope it is his fault he is in the first team; on merit...!

Equally, I agree with Ned that he has not reached the same levels since the Swansea game and constructive criticism is fine; but the talent is there and it will shine through via teaining with Rambo...

The negativity around the kid, Jesus. We have a fickle fan base!
It’s Ollie’s first proper full time season. Last season he wasn’t fit enough as he wasn’t used to training every day, like a pro.

He started the season brilliantly. He’s going to have spells where he isn’t at his best. On top of that, he hasn’t been “poor since then” because he was still putting in good performances before Bowler come back, and he was still starting games.
Take nothing against Bowler, he’s come back from injury and been fantastic. However, you can’t expect Ollie to keep turning in these amazing performances, coming into a game so late on.

We have the most fickle fan base!!

It’s not fickle to criticise a player who isn’t playing well.

Not playing well I agree, but non league to championship in barely a season. It’s not his fault that he finds himself in the first team and he’s definitely improved.

I hope it is his fault he is in the first team; on merit...!

Equally, I agree with Ned that he has not reached the same levels since the Swansea game and constructive criticism is fine; but the talent is there and it will shine through via teaining with Rambo...

I don’t disagree either Chris but I also think that Bowler hasn’t been great over the last few games either; neither seem to be receiving the ball where they get a chance of 1v1 which is what their games thrive on. I do agree that a Ramsey return will benefit many of the squad.

He needs to spend time watching & learning from Aaron Ramsey rather than acting & looking like Jack Grealish then. I can overlook the silly Grealish floppy haircut as long as he's not trying to behave like him.

He’s going to be a great player I’m sure.. needs a little work on the Tourette’s too.