Yet again Cardiff City are staring at another squad overhaul

Yet again Cardiff City are staring at another squad overhaul in the summer transfer window no matter what division they are in.


A lot will depend though if they can lift the Transfer Embargo which is suppose to last for another 2 windows, apparently if City pay the 2nd & 3rd instalments to FC Nantes, it could be lifted.

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City recently paid the first one after nearly 4 years and had to pay an extra £2mill in fines, interest ect, they are now 3 years behind in the 2nd instalment and 2 years behind in the 3rd instalment.


viewtopic.php?f=2&t=204226


The Bluebirds need yet another big change-up in the squad make-up in the summer window despite signing 17 players less than a year ago, mainly free transfers and free agents.


All on loan players ,Jaden Philogene, Sory Kaba and Cedric Kipre will return to their parent clubs.






SPORT

Wednesday 12th April 2023



Will Sabri Lamouchi be Cardiff City manager next season?


Heading into this summer's transfer window, however, many fans envisaged the type of surgery this squad needs ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Many decisions are dependent on which division the club finds itself in come May 8, of course, but regardless of the relegation outcome, there are major areas of concern which need addressing.

There are too many players now who are likely to seek regular football in order to kickstart their careers. It would be an easier call for some if they dropped down to League One, with the likes of Mark Harris, Joel Bagan and Tom Sang likely to be afforded more chances at that level. They are also more likely to succeed.

It might even allow the likes of Eli King and Oliver Denham to step up, with the club having to operate on an even more reduced budget than they currently have. Are the other under-21s banging on the door right now? Not really. Perhaps the others closest to getting that first-team call-up — the likes of Joel Colwill, Xavier Benjamin, Cameron Antwi and James Crole — could do with a loan away whatever happens at the end of the campaign. And meaningful loans at that, with lots of game-time guaranteed. Vontae Campbell needs a loan in the summer, too.


Gavin Whyte's race appears to be run at Cardiff City. He has admirers within the club's fan base and he has rarely let the club down, but who could blame him if he wanted a move away to a club where he is truly valued and feels a key member of the squad? Even if he would be a useful asset in the third tier.

A drop to League One would invariably see some players could leave. To compound the departures of Jaden Philogene, Sory Kaba and Cedric Kipre back to their parent clubs, the likes of Callum Robinson, Callum O'Dowda and Mark McGuinness would likely attract Championship interest if the club does indeed succumb to the drop.

Just taking those six players above — there would likely be more — out of Cardiff's squad leaves major holes which would require a serious rebuild. The second in as many seasons.



If Sabri Lamouchi did consolidate the club's Championship status, well, this season's performances alone has doubtless told him what the squad needs next season. If indeed the manager does stay - because his contract is up in June, too.

Sabri Lamouchi:

“If you aren’t consistent in the Championship, you deserve to be where you are and you will be there for a lot of reasons. It is not time to discuss this," Lamouchi said after Monday's defeat by Sunderland.

'i came here seeing a big squad full of quality, that was one of the reasons i took the job."

So, what if the Bluebirds are in the Championship next season? How does that look? Let's presume, perhaps boldly, that those loan players mentioned above head back to their clubs but the others stay.

Ryan Allsop remains in goal, although his form has slid in recent months, with Cardiff not accentuating his strengths as much as they were earlier in the season.

Mahlon Romeo has had a good season and is a decent right-back at this level, while Perry Ng and McGuinness are solid centre-back options. Having Jamilu Collins back at left-back again will be a huge boost and certainly adds a lot to this hypothetical side for next term.

Central midfield has been a bit of an issue. There are a number of options in there, but is there enough creativity? Are they all a bit samey? Romaine Sawyers, Ryan Wintle, Joe Ralls, Andy Rinomhota and, fingers crossed he comes back strong from his hellish year, Ebou Adams. Is there enough guile or ingenuity to unlock opposition defences? That's played a big role in Cardiff being installed as the Championship's worst attacking side this year. If one or two need to go to bring in a couple of others to redress the balance, so be it.

On the left-hand side, Callum O'Dowda is a nailed-on starter. On the right? Well, that's a position that needs filling. Up front, Robinson is a good operator at this level and would start in a large majority of Championship teams. Alongside him? Well, that's something that needs looking at.

Kion Etete and Isaak Davies' goal records are not good enough yet, there is hope internally that will improve with time. But they aren't yet ready to be nailed-on starters if this club has designs on avoiding a relegation fight again next season. Connor Wickham has a decent record earlier in his career at this level, but he has hardly caught fire since arriving in February and also has a big question mark over his injury record.

So, too, does Rubin Colwill. Quite where he fits in, what his best position is and whether he will be injury-free next year are all still questions we don't have answers to. Cardiff hope next year those questions will be answered, because his ceiling is so high and the club are desperate for him to realise that massive potential.

Realistically, whether it be via the loan market, the free agent market, or paying fees, should the club be successful in overturning their partial EFL transfer embargo, the club needs a sizeable injection of quality and talent. It needs a plan and stability. A long-term manager with the right vision and the correct players to carry out such a vision, with backing from above.

Looking ahead to next season, and taking into account injuries which will inevitably befall players, Cardiff need at least one centre back, right back, left-back and creative central midfielder. They also need at least two wing options and at least two strikers. After bringing in 17 players last summer, needing another seven, at least, next season, albeit with more outgoings, is serious going.

But if Cardiff are to pick themselves out of the doldrums, they need to get quality in, like the signing of Robinson, which was a real statement of intent and he has shown what that extra bit of investment brings you.

Romeo, O'Dowda and Sawyers are all proven Championship players, too, and it's no coincidence they have been some of Cardiff's better players in this campaign. Kaba has a proven record, albeit abroad, but arguably in comparable leagues. Collins has played in the Africa Cup of Nations and in the Bundesliga. Those are the sorts of players who make a difference.



Surely Vincent Tan will see the correlation between an underfunded squad, a managerial merry-go-round and a yearly slide down the Championship ladder? There is only one way this ends and it is not with another promotion to the Premier League, which we are to believe is the owner's aim. That is not going to happen unless the pattern and strategy changes, starting with yet another big recruitment drive this summer.

Actually, it doesn't. Of course it doesn't. It starts with staying in the Championship. It starts with securing the club's future for another year and appointing a manager, whether it be Lamouchi or someone else, for the long term.

One eye has to be on the future at all times, though, even if the enormity of these final six games of this current season is unquantifiable. Cardiff cannot be caught on the hop again. The rebuild in League One would be far more painful and complicated than a rebuild in the Championship.

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ANOTHER YEAR LEFT ON THEIR CONTRACTS:


All of the 16 Cardiff players out of contract in 2024 -


Ryan Allsop, Jak Alnwick, Rohan Luthra, Perry Ng, Jamilu Collins, Jack Simpson, Mark McGuinness, Ollie Denham, Ollie Tanner, Ryan Wintle, Joe Ralls, Sheyi Ojo, Rubin Colwill, Romaine Sawyers, Max Watters, Chanka Zimba

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TWO YEARS LEFT ON THEIR CONTRACTS:


Eight players have a contract beyond next summer, until 2025 - Mahlon Romeo, Vontae Campbell, Ebou Adams, Andy Rinomhota, Callum O’Dowda, Isaak Davies, Kion Etete, Callum Robinson

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Sabri Lamouchi only has a contract till the of this season:


PLUS:

All on loan players ,Jaden Philogene, Sory Kaba and Cedric Kipre will return to their parent clubs.

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Annis - I cannot understand this. I thought there was a ban for 3 windows but we have served one. Am I mistaken ? Also why is the ban in place if FIFA have lifted it. Surely they come before the EFL. How can a club survive under these bans? Other clubs have gone much much worse.
Also why don’t we just pay the money so that the embargos are lifted? Once done - Tan can then get lawyers on it. At this rate in a years time we will gave only kids who are not good enough and free transfers and loans that nobody wants. Can you really see Colwill, Davies etc mixing it with seasoned pros in L1 if we are relegated?

Reduced budget, now there is a surprise.

Annis - I cannot understand this. I thought there was a ban for 3 windows but we have served one. Am I mistaken ? Also why is the ban in place if FIFA have lifted it. Surely they come before the EFL. How can a club survive under these bans? Other clubs have gone much much worse.
Also why don’t we just pay the money so that the embargos are lifted? Once done - Tan can then get lawyers on it. At this rate in a years time we will gave only kids who are not good enough and free transfers and loans that nobody wants. Can you really see Colwill, Davies etc mixing it with seasoned pros in L1 if we are relegated?

Brezza it is either 2 or 3 more bans, but the Hierarchy knew this when they were given their final 30 days notice last November and chose to let the 30 days go and then paid late yet again, so we have brought this on our selves.

Also all the interest and penalties are adding up and lawyers fees.

Tan never just pays he likes to fight every court case, in Asia he wins 99% of them, in Europe he loses 99% of them, madness.


I see Colwill and Davies finally shining next season.

I still think we can stay up, but we are making it very hard for ourselves.

We only have ourselves to blame.

In my eyes it all looks pretty miserable as things currently appear.
Six games left, four of these away. One point above the relegation zone.
We have a manager who appears very capable, but he could very well leave come the end of the season, especially if we are either relegated or do nothing to lift the transfer embargo.

I can only say I have faith in the future with Mark McGuinness, Jamilu Collins, Callum O'Dowda and Callum Robinson going forward.
It wouldn't worry me if we off-loaded any of the others as they are too inconsistent.
Also, very few goal scorers in the squad!

This does not paint a good picture when it comes to making a decision on the purchase of a season ticket for next season for all but the die-hard fans.

Reduced budget, now there is a surprise.

Yes it is going to be Ian, yet again.

If their PR machine Glen Williams says different, then I for one know he is talking Shite.

Reduced budget, now there is a surprise.

Yes it is going to be Ian, yet again.

If their PR machine Glen Williams says different, then I for one know he is talking Shite.

Tan comes to the CCS after a 4 year absence and claims that he wants 10 years in the Premier but is going to give us a reduced budget. The guy is not all there upstairs.

Reduced budget, now there is a surprise.

Yes it is going to be Ian, yet again.

If their PR machine Glen Williams says different, then I for one know he is talking Shite.

Tan comes to the CCS after a 4 year absence and claims that he wants 10 years in the Premier but is going to give us a reduced budget. The guy is not all there upstairs.

Ian,

If anyone believed what he said, they need their heads testing.

Annis - I cannot understand this. I thought there was a ban for 3 windows but we have served one. Am I mistaken ? Also why is the ban in place if FIFA have lifted it. Surely they come before the EFL. How can a club survive under these bans? Other clubs have gone much much worse.
Also why don’t we just pay the money so that the embargos are lifted? Once done - Tan can then get lawyers on it. At this rate in a years time we will gave only kids who are not good enough and free transfers and loans that nobody wants. Can you really see Colwill, Davies etc mixing it with seasoned pros in L1 if we are relegated?

Brezza it is either 2 or 3 more bans, but the Hierarchy knew this when they were given their final 30 days notice last November and chose to let the 30 days go and then paid late yet again, so we have brought this on our selves.

Also all the interest and penalties are adding up and lawyers fees.

Tan never just pays he likes to fight every court case, in Asia he wins 99% of them, in Europe he loses 99% of them, madness.


I see Colwill and Davies finally shining next season.

I still think we can stay up, but we are making it very hard for ourselves.

We only have ourselves to blame.

Surprised you see Colwill coming good next season, seems like a sicknote in the making to me. Davies I'm not sure about yet.

ANOTHER YEAR LEFT ON THEIR CONTRACTS:


All of the 16 Cardiff players out of contract in 2024 -


Ryan Allsop, Jak Alnwick, Rohan Luthra, Perry Ng, Jamilu Collins, Jack Simpson, Mark McGuinness, Ollie Denham, Ollie Tanner, Ryan Wintle, Joe Ralls, Sheyi Ojo, Rubin Colwill, Romaine Sawyers, Max Watters, Chanka Zimba

Wouldnt keep any of them tbh

Annis - I cannot understand this. I thought there was a ban for 3 windows but we have served one. Am I mistaken ? Also why is the ban in place if FIFA have lifted it. Surely they come before the EFL. How can a club survive under these bans? Other clubs have gone much much worse.
Also why don’t we just pay the money so that the embargos are lifted? Once done - Tan can then get lawyers on it. At this rate in a years time we will gave only kids who are not good enough and free transfers and loans that nobody wants. Can you really see Colwill, Davies etc mixing it with seasoned pros in L1 if we are relegated?

Brezza it is either 2 or 3 more bans, but the Hierarchy knew this when they were given their final 30 days notice last November and chose to let the 30 days go and then paid late yet again, so we have brought this on our selves.

Also all the interest and penalties are adding up and lawyers fees.

Tan never just pays he likes to fight every court case, in Asia he wins 99% of them, in Europe he loses 99% of them, madness.


I see Colwill and Davies finally shining next season.

I still think we can stay up, but we are making it very hard for ourselves.

We only have ourselves to blame.

Surprised you see Colwill coming good next season, seems like a sicknote in the making to me. Davies I'm not sure about yet.

Colwil has had growing problems and pains in back and legs badly now for 8mths.

The one thing that really worries me (apart from relegation) is that there are very good players we would want to keep and give new cotracts to, but unless we get the embargo lifted we cannot offer them new contracts until after their cotracts end, and by then other clubs will have snapped them up

Our best 11 we could put out against sunderland could just cut it we had robinson o dowda missing only otherwise it was full strength and we looked tired physically mentally though that was bamba's job if he and lamochi cannot get them going which it looks like they can't then we are doomed