Sabri Lamouchi: “ Joel Bagan “

Joel Bagan nearly 22 years old and is out of contract this coming June.

Bagan has made 34 appearances for the Bluebirds in the last 3 years, but has been unable to to get in to the match day team this season under Lamouchi and the previous 2 City managers.





SABRI LAMOUCHI:


Sabri Lamouchi believes Joel Bagan is not ready to impact Cardiff City's first team just yet but urged the club to sign him up to a multi-year deal.

Bagan who will be 22 years soon, is one of a number of players to have broken through from the academy into the first team in recent years, but his game time has been massively reduced this season. He has not featured in a single match-day squad under Lamouchi.

Left-back has been a problem position for Cardiff all season, too, with Jamilu Collins' injury, Niels Nkounkou's defensive frailties and Callum O'Dowda suffering his own injury issues, too.


But Bagan has scarcely been called upon. Indeed, he has played just eight minutes of Championship football, with three other outings coming in the two cup competitions.

Last season was thought to be his breakthrough year. The defender scored three goals in as many games as Steve Morison led City to safety at the back end of the 2021/22 campaign.


It just hasn't been the case this season, though, and, given his contract is up in June, many Bluebirds supporters wondered if they would see him again. Well, if Lamouchi has his way, then he will be a first-team regular at some point in the near future.



"Joel is a good player, he is young," said Lamouchi. "But I've never used him. He trains with us and he adds some quality. But it's so early for him. I like him.

"That's why we asked months ago, weeks ago, to sign a contract with him. Because we think it's early for him to play with the first team, but soon he will be part of the first XI.

"That's why the club should offer him a contract for two or three years."

The Bluebirds manager said after the international break that he had tried to use the fortnight to secure some of the younger players' futures.


However, while he could only offer his opinion on how to proceed, Lamouchi said it's now in the club's hands.

"This is not part of my job, to discuss it with the player or his agent. The club know what I'm thinking," he added.

"I asked them not about only him, even for one or two other young guys. The club, even if the present is not so positive, we are where we are, we have to think about the future and the younger talent from the academy."

So, as things stand, it is unlikely that Bagan will be starting at left-back any time soon. But, on a more positive note, it does look as though Callum O'Dowda and Joe Ralls, both of whom have played there in recent weeks, have more positive prognoses on their injuries.

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Lamouchi on Bagan:

‘Joel is a good player. He is young ( nearly 22 yrs old), but I've never used him. He trains with us and he adds some quality, but it's so early for him. I like him. That's why we asked months ago, weeks ago, to sign a contract with him. A contract for two or three years.’

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Clearly the owners waiting on our league status next season, shocking tbh when the manager says sign him up and he says its out of his hands.

Clearly the owners waiting on our league status next season, shocking tbh when the manager says sign him up and he says its out of his hands.

Why is it shocking? The cost of relegation would be huge so completely understand why they'd wait. Frankly, I don't see what the fuss is about Bagan either. If we are in league one then maybe give him a contract otherwise not he's good enough if we are in the Championship next year.

Clearly the owners waiting on our league status next season, shocking tbh when the manager says sign him up and he says its out of his hands.

Why is it shocking? The cost of relegation would be huge so completely understand why they'd wait. Frankly, I don't see what the fuss is about Bagan either. If we are in league one then maybe give him a contract otherwise not he's good enough if we are in the Championship next year.

Scroll up and you'll see someone who trains with him, every day... giving him "fuss".

Bagan should be working in Morrisons. Can't stay in position, runs like he's in quick sand.
Him and Nelson playing together last season was beyond a joke.

Clearly the owners waiting on our league status next season, shocking tbh when the manager says sign him up and he says its out of his hands.

Why is it shocking? The cost of relegation would be huge so completely understand why they'd wait. Frankly, I don't see what the fuss is about Bagan either. If we are in league one then maybe give him a contract otherwise not he's good enough if we are in the Championship next year.

Scroll up and you'll see someone who trains with him, every day... giving him "fuss".

Why is it shocking, because if the manager has deemed that he should get a contract themn maybe Tan should listen otherwise you and I might as well go and manage them. What is the point of trying to secure talent when the manager is ignored and all of a sudden you should be saying its shocking that Tan/Dalman have allowed us to get into this position.