' The Cardiff City Boards Plan '

Lets hope the latest plan by the Cardiff City board finally succeeds as about seven previous plans in over eleven years have all failed .


' The Cardiff City Boards Plan '

Tuesday 10th November 2020

The plan


Ken Choo:

"Cardiff City can't just keep buying, buying, buying and spending big on wages the whole time. The balancing act needs to be right, because Vincent Tan is still keen to see us mount a proper promotion challenge this season, but we have to develop our own players as well. And with the system we have in place, we will."

"Vincent Tan would like a squad of around 18 seasoned professionals, backed up by the youth, verve, energy and fearless approach provided by seven home-grown youngsters."


It wasn't so long ago that the likes of James Collins, Danny Gabbidon,Chris Gunter, Joe Ledley and Aaron Ramsey were sprouting through the system, but that golden period died off far too long ago.


Supporters on social media have raised concerns in recent weeks over Cardiff City under-23s' poor start to the season.

Steve Morison's side have lost four and won only one of their first five games of their Professional Development League fixtures, prompting many to question what is happening at that level.

But while results are always important, it is understood that they are certainly not the priority this year.

A decision once again was made at the start of this calendar year that Cardiff were going to plough all their efforts into the younger age groups, where they believe the real talent lies.

We heard back in February that the Bluebirds had already told a clutch of academy stars that they would not be offered new deals in the summer, with the likes of Cameron Coxe and Sion Spence among the bigger names to be axed.

That is because the club believed that many of the players aged 20 or over needed to be moved on, with the exception of Mark Harris and Tom Sang, because there is a group two or three years below who really look as though they have what it takes to make the step up.

While we have often heard Neil Harris speak about clearing the pathway into the first team, the first step must be to clear the way at under-23s level and that is exactly what has happened.

Morison is fielding under-23s teams with an average age of a tad over 18 years of age this season, affording the likes of Isaak Davies (19), Kieron Evans (18) and Tavio d'Almeida (19), all of whom have been heavily involved in first-team training and are thought of highly, regular game time, with the latter often donning the armband.

Recruitment heading into the season has been important, too, and a few players such as Roland Idowu (18), Chanka Zimba (18) and Oliver Denham (18) have all looked really bright since joining the club and are prospects to be excited about.

Below that, too, in the under-18s, there are a few players the club are quietly confident about.

Caleb Hughes was offered a professional contract on his 17th birthday a few weeks ago and he looks a real talent, Cian Ashford is just 16 and is one of the rising stars of that under-18s side, while we have all heard about Ntazana Mayembe's promise and he is still just 17.


Harris has chopped down the size of his first-team squad massively and as such there is finally light at the end of the tunnel for these youngsters.

They have witnessed Joel Bagan, the huge talent who last week signed a contract extension until 2023, progress into the first team this season, deputising at left back against Bournemouth and Derby County, and now have tangible goals to aim for.

That has been the ultimate goal over the last 12 months and we are just starting to see this plan take action, although there is still a long way to go before it becomes a far more fruitful production line.



Cardiff's academy has lacked that identity in recent years, often playing a completely different brand of football to the first team, meaning the transition was rockier than it needed to be.

Hughes, who will oversee the progress of all sides from under-nines all the way through to the under-23s, will ensure one philosophy is carried out from top to bottom and that is the right place to start.

It wasn't so long ago that the likes of James Collins, Danny Gabbidon,Chris Gunter, Joe Ledley and Aaron Ramsey were sprouting through the system, but that golden period died off far too long ago.

New recruit David Hughes ex Shrewsbury Town and Cardiff City player, who has coached at Barry Town, Port Talbot, Shrewsbury, Watford and Southampton will over see all the Academies and the U23's team.

Academy head James McCarthy and U23's manager Steve Morison and all the coaches below that have a remit to ramp up the number of players graduating into senior football.


Swansea City's academy is already reaping the rewards down the road, with Joe Rodon having netted the club a potential £15m in his transfer to Tottenham in the recent window. That must be the case again in the Welsh capital, too.

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The plan


Ken Choo:

"Cardiff City can't just keep buying, buying, buying and spending big on wages the whole time. The balancing act needs to be right, because Vincent Tan is still keen to see us mount a proper promotion challenge this season, but we have to develop our own players as well. And with the system we have in place, we will."

"Vincent Tan would like a squad of around 18 seasoned professionals, backed up by the youth, verve, energy and fearless approach provided by seven home-grown youngsters."


It wasn't so long ago that the likes of James Collins, Danny Gabbidon,Chris Gunter, Joe Ledley and Aaron Ramsey were sprouting through the system, but that golden period died off far too long ago.

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New recruit David Hughes ex Shrewsbury Town and Cardiff City player, who has coached at Barry Town, Port Talbot, Shrewsbury, Watford and Southampton will over see all the Academies and the U23's team.

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While on my way to the FA Cup final in 2008 I spoke to an older chap who was in the know regarding the Academy. He assured me that there were another 6 Aaron Ramseys about to break on the seen.

I recall not long ago Bellamy claiming the talent was there when he was overlooking the place.

So from 2008 to lets go with the Bellamy era what have we seen come through? It's a big zero from me.

While on my way to the FA Cup final in 2008 I spoke to an older chap who was in the know regarding the Academy. He assured me that there were another 6 Aaron Ramseys about to break on the seen.

I recall not long ago Bellamy claiming the talent was there when he was overlooking the place.

So from 2008 to lets go with the Bellamy era what have we seen come through? It's a big zero from me.

Ian,

I chatted with Craig Bellamy over here for a couple of hours, he was told to clear virtually everyone out and start a total new plan, I think he would of done a great job.

Gutted they never backed him over that kids bullying claim which was no more than being old school.

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The board talk a good game, and we all want the youngsters to be high quality and push through to the first team.

Am I talking nonsense to say if your old enough your good enough? If the youngsters are that good we need them now. I just think to say they will be very good in a few years is like saying they are not good enough yet??

I see the likes of Watford, Swansea and many other putting teenagers into their teams and reaping immediate rewards in terms of success and also a high profit on eventual sales.

All I'm saying is, if they are that good blood them now. I'm guessing that a lot of players who haven't made a first team by the time they are 20 or 21 end up being decent players but not exceptional??

Ken Choo...

It wasn't so long ago we has the likes of...but that was too long ago.

Genius.

what the club are going to do makes a lot of sense.Lets hope that they follow up what they have said and not get sidetracked along the way. I have watched the u23 in the past before the virus and i have to say with respect nobody stood out only Bagan so I do follow the reasoning .Vincent Tan is no mug and no doubt and has been advised of the rewards of development of talent.Only the club can make this work and I hope Vincent Tan uses his authority to ensure its successful.

While on my way to the FA Cup final in 2008 I spoke to an older chap who was in the know regarding the Academy. He assured me that there were another 6 Aaron Ramseys about to break on the seen.

I recall not long ago Bellamy claiming the talent was there when he was overlooking the place.

So from 2008 to lets go with the Bellamy era what have we seen come through? It's a big zero from me.

our academy sides play games against other clubs on a regular basis mate..
if there were half a dozen Ramseys there they would be spotted and wafted away..
and the national sides under 18s would be full of our players..

The board talk a good game, and we all want the youngsters to be high quality and push through to the first team.

Am I talking nonsense to say if your old enough your good enough? If the youngsters are that good we need them now. I just think to say they will be very good in a few years is like saying they are not good enough yet??

I see the likes of Watford, Swansea and many other putting teenagers into their teams and reaping immediate rewards in terms of success and also a high profit on eventual sales.

All I'm saying is, if they are that good blood them now. I'm guessing that a lot of players who haven't made a first team by the time they are 20 or 21 end up being decent players but not exceptional??

Jonny,

I have said time and time again, they do talk a good one, like MP’S, Dalman especially.
But in the end people / fans can see for themselves that for 11yrs virtually nothing.

We are talking about years again to be able to have 18 first team squad players backed up by quality youngsters good enough to compete in the Championship.


I personally would love nothing more than see a few local players in our first team and the team successful.
For me that makes it even more special watching Cardiff City, but I still can’t see it happening for a long long time.

what the club are going to do makes a lot of sense.Lets hope that they follow up what they have said and not get sidetracked along the way. I have watched the u23 in the past before the virus and i have to say with respect nobody stood out only Bagan so I do follow the reasoning .Vincent Tan is no mug and no doubt and has been advised of the rewards of development of talent.Only the club can make this work and I hope Vincent Tan uses his authority to ensure its successful.

Well Tan is no mug in business, but at our club after 11yrs, we are no better on and off the pitch than before he came.
As to the future youngsters coming through and wanting a team full of Welsh youngsters, why not say that 11yrs ago and unbelievable to say he wants it now, the players mentioned are all before Tans time that have made it.

what the club are going to do makes a lot of sense.Lets hope that they follow up what they have said and not get sidetracked along the way. I have watched the u23 in the past before the virus and i have to say with respect nobody stood out only Bagan so I do follow the reasoning .Vincent Tan is no mug and no doubt and has been advised of the rewards of development of talent.Only the club can make this work and I hope Vincent Tan uses his authority to ensure its successful.

Well Tan is no mug in business, but at our club after 11yrs, we are no better on and off the pitch than before he came.
As to the future youngsters coming through and wanting a team full of Welsh youngsters, why not say that 11yrs ago and unbelievable to say he wants it now, the players mentioned are all before Tans time that have made it.

It's difficult to disagree with this, as the state of the City team/squad at point of Tan's entry was stronger and better positioned than it is now; albeit softened by two Premier League visits in between

Off the field may be a little more of an argument, as 'debt' is relevant to the pockets of the holder and we were certainly closer to folding back then than we have ever been under the current owner

Is it a cardiff city academy problem that no local youngsters have come through the academy recently or is it the fact that no local youngsters have really been good enough for a whilst ?

They are not being picked up by other clubs either and there are loads scouting the area . North Wales youngsters seems to be having a few that make it when they've been quiet for a whilst .

Maybe the area is having a bit of dry period, its not as if loads of kids from South Wales are getting starts in the premier league or championship for other teams. In fact I'm struggling to think of any that can be classed as missed opportunities other than the Swansea defender.

The club should be applauded for taking this route with academy players moving into the first team it will make us financially viable for future, they have built a great academy structure now they just need the right guys to run it and bring youngsters through.

Saying the club is in the see position on and off the pitch since Tan arrived is doing him a disservice and is normally due to a personal dislike of the man rather than a balanced overall view . This club is in a much better position , the academy is well established and consistently moving forward in every area.

what the club are going to do makes a lot of sense.Lets hope that they follow up what they have said and not get sidetracked along the way. I have watched the u23 in the past before the virus and i have to say with respect nobody stood out only Bagan so I do follow the reasoning .Vincent Tan is no mug and no doubt and has been advised of the rewards of development of talent.Only the club can make this work and I hope Vincent Tan uses his authority to ensure its successful.

Well Tan is no mug in business, but at our club after 11yrs, we are no better on and off the pitch than before he came.
As to the future youngsters coming through and wanting a team full of Welsh youngsters, why not say that 11yrs ago and unbelievable to say he wants it now, the players mentioned are all before Tans time that have made it.

It's difficult to disagree with this, as the state of the City team/squad at point of Tan's entry was stronger and better positioned than it is now; albeit softened by two Premier League visits in between

Off the field may be a little more of an argument, as 'debt' is relevant to the pockets of the holder and we were certainly closer to folding back then than we have ever been under the current owner

I agree on both accounts, yes if we get in financial trouble then he has the money to pull us out.

Having home grown players grows the connection between the fans and players.

But our lack of home grown talent goes back way further than Tan. Ramsey was the last proper one and he left pretty soon after appearing which was always gonna happen with his talent.

Pity really. Under the current management we wouldn’t be forced to accept pittance for our stars like we did for Earnie, Gunter and Ramsey.

what the club are going to do makes a lot of sense.Lets hope that they follow up what they have said and not get sidetracked along the way. I have watched the u23 in the past before the virus and i have to say with respect nobody stood out only Bagan so I do follow the reasoning .Vincent Tan is no mug and no doubt and has been advised of the rewards of development of talent.Only the club can make this work and I hope Vincent Tan uses his authority to ensure its successful.

Well Tan is no mug in business, but at our club after 11yrs, we are no better on and off the pitch than before he came.
As to the future youngsters coming through and wanting a team full of Welsh youngsters, why not say that 11yrs ago and unbelievable to say he wants it now, the players mentioned are all before Tans time that have made it.

It's difficult to disagree with this, as the state of the City team/squad at point of Tan's entry was stronger and better positioned than it is now; albeit softened by two Premier League visits in between

Off the field may be a little more of an argument, as 'debt' is relevant to the pockets of the holder and we were certainly closer to folding back then than we have ever been under the current owner

I agree on both accounts, yes if we get in financial trouble then he has the money to pull us out.

Thanks Annis

But maybe I missed out the point that in all reality we should not be in the position we are now, had we had some kind of 'plan' that included our once first class Academy from the outset of Mr Tan's arrival?

Like you, I think we missed a trick when the club (IMHO) 'bottled' what would have been the right decision to keep Craig Bellamy once it was clear he had done nothing wrong other than (maybe) give a 'modern' youngster an ear-bashing, something far too lacking in society in general. I still harbour hopes that he will one day return to our club in some capacity; preferably as Head Coach, as I believe he has the drive, personality and ambition to make it work

I also look with incredulity at the cheek of the current Board (of whom you know I'm not totally anti) when they refer to past Academy 'successes' who almost exclusively came through the Academy that Sam built...with little since!

I guess they (and Mehmet is a class act on this front) will spin it as they will; but we the supporters do actually have the best interests of the club at heart and we are not so daft as not to know when we are being fed cow crap!

Is it a cardiff city academy problem that no local youngsters have come through the academy recently or is it the fact that no local youngsters have really been good enough for a whilst ?

They are not being picked up by other clubs either and there are loads scouting the area . North Wales youngsters seems to be having a few that make it when they've been quiet for a whilst .

Maybe the area is having a bit of dry period, its not as if loads of kids from South Wales are getting starts in the premier league or championship for other teams. In fact I'm struggling to think of any that can be classed as missed opportunities other than the Swansea defender.

The club should be applauded for taking this route with academy players moving into the first team it will make us financially viable for future, they have built a great academy structure now they just need the right guys to run it and bring youngsters through.

Saying the club is in the see position on and off the pitch since Tan arrived is doing him a disservice and is normally due to a personal dislike of the man rather than a balanced overall view . This club is in a much better position , the academy is well established and consistently moving forward in every area.

the talent hasnt been there...if it had they would be elsewhere earning bucks...
who is a good player and who to watch out for really isnt a secret.... if we had talent the people involved in football at this level { academy } at all clubs are at the very least as knowledgeable about who other clubs have of interest as we fans are about clubs threats and good players in the championship.. and other clubs are not backward in showing appreciation of players especially if they have heard that a boy might be unhappy... be fantastic if whats being suggested were to happen but only 18 experienced pros ? lets try producing one first team regular first before talking about half a dozen or more..... and playing a very young team at under 23s ? i agree with pushing some of the better ones on . , and that results are secondary to development... but being uncompetitive which has been the case teaches them nothing..

what the club are going to do makes a lot of sense.Lets hope that they follow up what they have said and not get sidetracked along the way. I have watched the u23 in the past before the virus and i have to say with respect nobody stood out only Bagan so I do follow the reasoning .Vincent Tan is no mug and no doubt and has been advised of the rewards of development of talent.Only the club can make this work and I hope Vincent Tan uses his authority to ensure its successful.

Well Tan is no mug in business, but at our club after 11yrs, we are no better on and off the pitch than before he came.
As to the future youngsters coming through and wanting a team full of Welsh youngsters, why not say that 11yrs ago and unbelievable to say he wants it now, the players mentioned are all before Tans time that have made it.

It's difficult to disagree with this, as the state of the City team/squad at point of Tan's entry was stronger and better positioned than it is now; albeit softened by two Premier League visits in between

Off the field may be a little more of an argument, as 'debt' is relevant to the pockets of the holder and we were certainly closer to folding back then than we have ever been under the current owner

I agree on both accounts, yes if we get in financial trouble then he has the money to pull us out.

Thanks Annis

But maybe I missed out the point that in all reality we should not be in the position we are now, had we had some kind of 'plan' that included our once first class Academy from the outset of Mr Tan's arrival?

Like you, I think we missed a trick when the club (IMHO) 'bottled' what would have been the right decision to keep Craig Bellamy once it was clear he had done nothing wrong other than (maybe) give a 'modern' youngster an ear-bashing, something far too lacking in society in general. I still harbour hopes that he will one day return to our club in some capacity; preferably as Head Coach, as I believe he has the drive, personality and ambition to make it work

I also look with incredulity at the cheek of the current Board (of whom you know I'm not totally anti) when they refer to past Academy 'successes' who almost exclusively came through the Academy that Sam built...with little since!

I guess they (and Mehmet is a class act on this front) will spin it as they will; but we the supporters do actually have the best interests of the club at heart and we are not so daft as not to know when we are being fed cow crap!

Correct Chris,

From day one this current board have put nothing properly in place for the future of the club and have made miserable attempts of what they have big you can say tried.

As to Bells, I still would love to see him back at our club . Passion, enthusiasm, knows the game and takes no shit.

I just can’t believe all the players mentioned and the Welsh thing all Sams ideas and players, you just could not make it up

Reply FB:


Neil Courtney:

Tan has been at the club a decade , if we don’t start producing our own in the next year or so ..... under him , we never will !?

Home grown talent is something every fan wants !

Same thing they say every time we're not pushing for promotion or in the prem. Then it all goes out of the window for short term success and we find ourselves with bloated squad of aging players.

Reply FB:


Neil Courtney:

Tan has been at the club a decade , if we don’t start producing our own in the next year or so ..... under him , we never will !?

Home grown talent is something every fan wants !

No. Success is what every fan wants. No club achieves success with a majority of their home grown players.

Manchester City spend a fortune on their academy and they suck up every talented youngster from anywhere in the UK ( or the world, in fact) before local clubs can develop them. But to achieve success they buy in the best players. Only 1 Manchester City Academy player has ever made more than 50 Premier League starts for the team (Micah Richards). Presumably Foden will be the next, although he is still only used to start in games that matter little or when there are injuries.

Although its nice when you develop your own local players, it is not essential to the success of any club .

For me this feels like a reset they have been forced into.

Tan joined us when we were destined for the Premier. We had a fantastic squad that look like it could quite easily get established in the Premier. Well history shows we dipped our toes in there twice but never established ourselves. We have basically been living off Parachute payments and that luxury is about to be taken away from us. So its time for change.

The lack of attention with the Academy over the last decade is going to bit us now the Board has decided to focus on it. I believe the Board have been forced into this due to the fact we have screwed up this season already. We needed a return to the Premier so the club could carry on its business model. That does not look like its going to happen now.

For me the bottom line here is that over the last decade we have buggered it up.

Same thing they say every time we're not pushing for promotion or in the prem. Then it all goes out of the window for short term success and we find ourselves with bloated squad of aging players.

Jack, we dont agree on many things, but your so spot on, thats whats been happening for the last 13yrs at our club .

If we wants to produce top Academy players you have to have an Academy 1 like the Jacks had! It apparently costs about £4m per year to run which is a pittance compared to the millions we have wasted on journeymen players with no resale value. Other Academy’ cannot then approach your players so we won’t lose players like we have in the past! think it’s the only way to go unless you know any multi billionaires that has millions to invest! Tan is only worth about £660m now so is rapidly running out of money to throw away!

According to all that our two best academy players are Tom Sang and Mark Harris. Tom Sang is struggling to get into league twos Cheltenham's side. He only seems to get 90 minutes in EFL trophy matches. Harris was sent back to us by National League side Wrexham after an underwhelming spell there. If these are the best of the youth set up God help us. Every really promising name they mention seem to end up at Hereford Weston Super Mare or Barry a few years down the line.

Whilst I welcome the plan it has to be said that neither this ownership or the previous couple have got his right.

The previous few owners from Sam up until Tan seemed to find and develop the talent OK but had to sell them so quick to pay off other debts that we never saw either the benefit of them on the pitch (Ramsey and Gunter both sold after much less than a season's worth of games) or off the pitch due to the "quick sale" prices we had to accept.

As a previous poster has said. If we could only find the right talent under this regime we'd probably be in a much better position to either hang on to them longer or sell at a decent market price.

Same thing they say every time we're not pushing for promotion or in the prem. Then it all goes out of the window for short term success and we find ourselves with bloated squad of aging players.

Jack, we dont agree on many things, but your so spot on, thats whats been happening for the last 13yrs at our club .

And it's so obvious aswell Annis, it's pretty tiring to read to be honest. I actually roll my eyes every time I hear the club mention the next grand plan for the academy!

Whilst I welcome the plan it has to be said that neither this ownership or the previous couple have got his right.

The previous few owners from Sam up until Tan seemed to find and develop the talent OK but had to sell them so quick to pay off other debts that we never saw either the benefit of them on the pitch (Ramsey and Gunter both sold after much less than a season's worth of games) or off the pitch due to the "quick sale" prices we had to accept.

As a previous poster has said. If we could only find the right talent under this regime we'd probably be in a much better position to either hang on to them longer or sell at a decent market price.

Where has Tan developed our talent ? and then sold them?

And Sam did develop our talent and invested heavily in our Accademy massively and produced class players, how you can even think of deny that?



Our Academy only took off once Sam was involved and for over 7yrs it ran well, then Riddler sold them all.