WAS SPEAKING TO DECLAN DALLEY CHRISTMAS DAY

That is the boy who we let go twice and then Manchester United signed him.

So as we were talking the conversation led to what happend and he said, first of all they let him go when he was 15, but then offered him to come back which he took up.

The second time Cardiff said they would give him an extra six weeks because they hadn't made a decision on him but pretty much messed him about.

Manchester United then came in, he had to be accepted by 3 out of a 5 man panel which included Brian Mcclair, ALL 5 SAID YES TO HIM.

When Cardiff got wind of this they offered him a 2 YEAR PRO CONTRACT. By then though it was too little to late and he had decided to go to Manchester.

I also asked if it ever came to it when Manchester United offered him the chance to go out on loan and Cardiff came into him would that suit him.

He said he WOULD NEVER JOIN CARDIFF AGAIN, after the way they treated him.

Getting pretty sick of losing out on our young talent to be honest.

That is the boy who we let go twice and then Manchester United signed him.

So as we were talking the conversation led to what happend and he said, first of all they let him go when he was 15, but then offered him to come back which he took up.

The second time Cardiff said they would give him an extra six weeks because they hadn't made a decision on him but pretty much messed him about.

Manchester United then came in, he had to be accepted by 3 out of a 5 man panel which included Brian Mcclair, ALL 5 SAID YES TO HIM.

When Cardiff got wind of this they offered him a 2 YEAR PRO CONTRACT. By then though it was too little to late and he had decided to go to Manchester.

I also asked if it ever came to it when Manchester United offered him the chance to go out on loan and Cardiff came into him would that suit him.

He said he WOULD NEVER JOIN CARDIFF AGAIN, after the way they treated him.

Getting pretty sick of losing out on our young talent to be honest.

You sure he wasn't on X-factor

When did this happen?

Was it during Malky's time at the club?

When did this happen?

Was it during Malky's time at the club?

No Jones was in charge which says it all no time for kids.

Are we talking about before Malky and his team moved in? I honestly can't see that happening again under this regeme local talent is a must for any club and MM is not afraid to give youth a chance in the first team.

When we play in the FA Cup in a few week's time I'm sure there will be some youth players in the squad.

I'm still reserving judgment on this Declan Dalley thing until the lad actually proves himself. I'm getting the impression he seems to think a lot of himself but that's just from what others have said. If he becomes a decent player then it was a bad call by Cardiff but if he doesn't then we made the right decision.

Just because a player is snapped up by Manchester United or one of the other big clubs, it doesn't mean they are good enough to make the grade. Hundreds of players fail to make it every year at the big clubs and you see a lot of these top club youth players plying their trade in League Two and below.

I only need to remind you about the notorious Ramon Calliste who was touted as the best young talent this country had seen in a decade and has failed repeatedly to make the grade at a number of levels. He is now playing in the Middlesex County Football League for West London Saracens.

^^^^^

Two things about that point. One Declan is not full of himself, he has said up there how tough it is, who the class talents are and he knows he has a very very small chance of making it. Seems a very level headed guy to be perfectly honest.

Number two, WE OFFERED HIM A TWO YEAR PROFESSIONAL CONTRACT. But only AFTER Manchester United came in for him, so we wanted him but left it to little to late. Now he may not make it, Ben Nugent may not make it, but atleast we have him.

Gareth Bale may not of made it, but look he did.

Craig Bellamy may not have made it but look he did.

Ryan Giggs may not have made it but look he did.

All Cardiff boys, not one played for Cardiff City in their early years.

You can't leave it to hindsight, if we have the resources to keep these players then we should, no doubt about it.

My son played with him at the academy To be honest iwas not surprised he was released He was usually 3rd choice center back at his age level and there were just better players than him at city They are a number of kids in hisage group who united were after and they stayed with city .

Now all kids develop at different times and he still may have time to shine and good luck to him

That is the boy who we let go twice and then Manchester United signed him.

So as we were talking the conversation led to what happend and he said, first of all they let him go when he was 15, but then offered him to come back which he took up.

The second time Cardiff said they would give him an extra six weeks because they hadn't made a decision on him but pretty much messed him about.

Manchester United then came in, he had to be accepted by 3 out of a 5 man panel which included Brian Mcclair, ALL 5 SAID YES TO HIM.

When Cardiff got wind of this they offered him a 2 YEAR PRO CONTRACT. By then though it was too little to late and he had decided to go to Manchester.

I also asked if it ever came to it when Manchester United offered him the chance to go out on loan and Cardiff came into him would that suit him.

He said he WOULD NEVER JOIN CARDIFF AGAIN, after the way they treated him.

Getting pretty sick of losing out on our young talent to be honest.

Looking forward to seeing him play for Man Utd

Ramon Calliste never actually had a contract at Cardiff at any age. He trained a handful of times with his age group at treforest, I'm pretty sure he didn't even play a game for city at any age group.

I never saw anything in him at any age for him to make it at any pro level never mind at city.

I'm pretty sure he just had a decent agent who touted him around looking for the most money.

That is the boy who we let go twice and then Manchester United signed him.

So as we were talking the conversation led to what happend and he said, first of all they let him go when he was 15, but then offered him to come back which he took up.

The second time Cardiff said they would give him an extra six weeks because they hadn't made a decision on him but pretty much messed him about.

Yes he was messed about in a very big way indeed. The lad played centre half for Wales oozed quality and desire, it was a no brainer to offer him a pro contract. Ardley thought different.

Manchester United then came in, he had to be accepted by 3 out of a 5 man panel which included Brian Mcclair, ALL 5 SAID YES TO HIM.

The day he was released we were contacted by 7 different clubs 4 being Premiership level on the first day of his release. 2nd day we had another 6 offers.

Manchester United came in on the first day. -- the offer was to go and trial firstly in a game against Crewe. The other Clubs ALL said they were prepared to wait in the hope Man Utd said no.

Declan had a great game v Crewe and then was invited to play against higher quality, such as Chelsea which was the next game. Declan played fantastically and was man of the match and Man Utd kept a clean sheet.

Finally Brian Mclair wanted to test him in a blood and guts game . The games was against Leeds Utd. Again Declan was man of the match.

The match was watched by the gaffer himself Sir Alex and Rio Ferdinand. At one stage during the game Ferd turned to Sir Alex and said pointing at Dalley " thats me at that age gaffer" to which Sir Alex replied " I Know"

As soon as the final whistle blew - Dalley was pulled from the pitch by Ferguson himself, straight to the office and offered a contract.

When Cardiff got wind of this they offered him a 2 YEAR PRO CONTRACT. By then though it was too little to late and he had decided to go to Manchester.

What happened here was that when Cardiff City heard about it, our Staff were banned firstly from watching any more Cardiff City Academy games. Gethin Jenkins to save face tried to claim that we had poached the player and not the fact they released him. The then quickly made an offer for the player to return, this was obviously declined too. HTV , BBC etc all got hold of the story and Gethin Jenkins looked a prize plumb. ( which he was). Declan quite rightly wanted to go to Manchester United who rated him, where as Cardiff City had released him and then tried to cover it up. This then led to battle between us and Gethin Jenkins who there after being made to look a prize plumb took vendetta against us, which included a 5 year ban from the ground. As we know Jenkins was shortly sacked. The Malaysians were involved in all this at the time although they tried to bury their heads in the sand and again it was clear they were clueless but also not people of their word either.

The actions of TG, Gethin Jenkins were nothing short of disgraceful -THEY HAD RELEASED THE PLAYER, they though then attempted to make out he had been poached.

At one stage what really left egg on their faces was when we presented the facts that we actually had warned a Club Director of another premiership club trying to poach a player --- the text read s follows,

just had a call from ******** ******** they want to move **** *********** out , get him on a decent contract quick and lock the lad down .

Of course when this was presented to TG and Jenkins --- they were flumoxed

Their actions afterwards were nothing short of disgraceful.Eventually Jenkins was sacked.


I also asked if it ever came to it when Manchester United offered him the chance to go out on loan and Cardiff came into him would that suit him.

He said he WOULD NEVER JOIN CARDIFF AGAIN, after the way they treated him. Who can blame him

Getting pretty sick of losing out on our young talent to be honest.

It's football it happens but this one was a right cock up and when they cocked up they tried to lay the blame

When did this happen?

Was it during Malky's time at the club?

No Jones was in charge which says it all no time for kids.

In truth it was nothing to do with Jones

My son played with him at the academy To be honest iwas not surprised he was released He was usually 3rd choice center back at his age level and there were just better players than him at city They are a number of kids in hisage group who united were after and they stayed with city .

Now all kids develop at different times and he still may have time to shine and good luck to him

Josh Yowerth wished to go to Man Utd, Man Utd didn't want him despite what his father rambled on about. There were no others.

You must have a better eye than Sir Alex Milky Bar

^^^^^

Two things about that point. One Declan is not full of himself, he has said up there how tough it is, who the class talents are and he knows he has a very very small chance of making it. Seems a very level headed guy to be perfectly honest.

He is a smashing kid and a full credit to his family, he's the type of son anybody would be proud of

Today's soceity unfortunatly see's less and less of the ilk of Declan Dalley.

Number two, WE OFFERED HIM A TWO YEAR PROFESSIONAL CONTRACT. But only AFTER Manchester United came in for him, so we wanted him but left it to little to late. Now he may not make it, Ben Nugent may not make it, but atleast we have him.

Dalley will make a decent living in football

Gareth Bale may not of made it, but look he did.

Craig Bellamy may not have made it but look he did.

Ryan Giggs may not have made it but look he did.

All Cardiff boys, not one played for Cardiff City in their early years.

In fairness alot has changed since then mate

You can't leave it to hindsight, if we have the resources to keep these players then we should, no doubt about it.

Bringing in the Coopers of this world will assist and getting rid of clowns like Mark Neville.

I'm still reserving judgment on this Declan Dalley thing until the lad actually proves himself. I'm getting the impression he seems to think a lot of himself but that's just from what others have said. If he becomes a decent player then it was a bad call by Cardiff but if he doesn't then we made the right decision.

Wrong Steve totally wrong

Just because a player is snapped up by Manchester United or one of the other big clubs, it doesn't mean they are good enough to make the grade. Hundreds of players fail to make it every year at the big clubs and you see a lot of these top club youth players plying their trade in League Two and below.

Manchester United just don't throw out contracts. Cardiff released they had dropped a ricket and then offeed him one after Manchester United did !! that says it all !!!

I only need to remind you about the notorious Ramon Calliste who was touted as the best young talent this country had seen in a decade and has failed repeatedly to make the grade at a number of levels. He is now playing in the Middlesex County Football League for West London Saracens.

My son played with him at the academy To be honest iwas not surprised he was released He was usually 3rd choice center back at his age level and there were just better players than him at city They are a number of kids in hisage group who united were after and they stayed with city .

Now all kids develop at different times and he still may have time to shine and good luck to him

Josh Yowerth wished to go to Man Utd, Man Utd didn't want him despite what his father rambled on about. There were no others.

You must have a better eye than Sir Alex Milky Bar

time will tell how Declan does but I can assure you that Theo Wharton and Gethin Hill were both chased by Man UTD and signed for Cardiff All I can say it did not surprise me when he was released as I believed we had better players in his position in not just his year but above and below his age group . I hope Declan does well at Man UtD as his late father was a massive Man UTD fan

The proof will be if he ever makes it I guess

My son played with him at the academy To be honest iwas not surprised he was released He was usually 3rd choice center back at his age level and there were just better players than him at city They are a number of kids in hisage group who united were after and they stayed with city .

Now all kids develop at different times and he still may have time to shine and good luck to him

Josh Yowerth wished to go to Man Utd, Man Utd didn't want him despite what his father rambled on about. There were no others.

You must have a better eye than Sir Alex Milky Bar

time will tell how Declan does but I can assure you that Theo Wharton and Gethin Hill were both chased by Man UTD and signed for Cardiff All I can say it did not surprise me when he was released as I believed we had better players in his position in not just his year but above and below his age group . I hope Declan does well at Man UtD as his late father was a massive Man UTD fan

No quite correct. Tony Hopkins the Man Utd scout discovered them first at 14,15 ---- ( Where were the Cardiff Scouts) they went up to Monmouth centre when Man Utd invested into it. Different stage of events to as you state to " being chased by man utd" --- although agree good lads and very good players. love them both. Yes his Father was a great man utd fan and Declan is a full credit to his Mother Alison too.

My son played with him at the academy To be honest iwas not surprised he was released He was usually 3rd choice center back at his age level and there were just better players than him at city They are a number of kids in hisage group who united were after and they stayed with city .

Now all kids develop at different times and he still may have time to shine and good luck to him

Josh Yowerth wished to go to Man Utd, Man Utd didn't want him despite what his father rambled on about. There were no others.

You must have a better eye than Sir Alex Milky Bar

time will tell how Declan does but I can assure you that Theo Wharton and Gethin Hill were both chased by Man UTD and signed for Cardiff All I can say it did not surprise me when he was released as I believed we had better players in his position in not just his year but above and below his age group . I hope Declan does well at Man UtD as his late father was a massive Man UTD fan

No quite correct. Tony Hopkins the Man Utd scout discovered them first at 14,15 ---- ( Where were the Cardiff Scouts) they went up to Monmouth centre when Man Utd invested into it. Different stage of events to as you state to " being chased by man utd" --- although agree good lads and very good players. love them both. Yes his Father was a great man utd fan and Declan is a full credit to his Mother Alison too.

So what was your lads name Milky Bar ? you didnt say.

Did you see Wes Burns got a pro at Bristol City--- another smashing lad.

Yes saw Wes got a contract and agree with you a cracking lad To be honest that whole age group were a great bunch of lads My son is Jack Waters

Yes saw Wes got a contract and agree with you a cracking lad To be honest that whole age group were a great bunch of lads My son is Jack Waters

Yes great age group fair play, whats your lad doing now ?

Yes saw Wes got a contract and agree with you a cracking lad To be honest that whole age group were a great bunch of lads My son is Jack Waters

Yes great age group fair play, whats your lad doing now ?[/quote

He had two years off due to his injury and started to play welsh league football but in one season broke his leg and then broker his shoulder in two places playing football after that so out injured until March . He has has Southampton looking at him prior to the injury but to be honest he wants to go to university rather than play football

Yes saw Wes got a contract and agree with you a cracking lad To be honest that whole age group were a great bunch of lads My son is Jack Waters

Yes great age group fair play, whats your lad doing now ?[/quote

He had two years off due to his injury and started to play welsh league football but in one season broke his leg and then broker his shoulder in two places playing football after that so out injured until March . He has has Southampton looking at him prior to the injury but to be honest he wants to go to university rather than play football

Good luck to him mate --- its a tough business that football !! ruthless too...... hes already achieved more than most and no doubt made his old man very proud!

Yes saw Wes got a contract and agree with you a cracking lad To be honest that whole age group were a great bunch of lads My son is Jack Waters

Yes great age group fair play, whats your lad doing now ?[/quote

He had two years off due to his injury and started to play welsh league football but in one season broke his leg and then broker his shoulder in two places playing football after that so out injured until March . He has has Southampton looking at him prior to the injury but to be honest he wants to go to university rather than play football

Good luck to him mate --- its a tough business that football !! ruthless too...... hes already achieved more than most and no doubt made his old man very proud!

Thanks mate Yes made me proud indeed and the nice thing is he still supports all the boys he played with in the academy and hopes they all succeed He will play at a decent level in the future I am sure but not at the top level but as long as he plays with a smile on his face that's all that matters

Yes saw Wes got a contract and agree with you a cracking lad To be honest that whole age group were a great bunch of lads My son is Jack Waters

Yes great age group fair play, whats your lad doing now ?[/quote

He had two years off due to his injury and started to play welsh league football but in one season broke his leg and then broker his shoulder in two places playing football after that so out injured until March . He has has Southampton looking at him prior to the injury but to be honest he wants to go to university rather than play football

Good luck to him mate --- its a tough business that football !! ruthless too...... hes already achieved more than most and no doubt made his old man very proud!

Thanks mate Yes made me proud indeed and the nice thing is he still supports all the boys he played with in the academy and hopes they all succeed He will play at a decent level in the future I am sure but not at the top level but as long as he plays with a smile on his face that's all that matters

Exactly mate. A smile is worth a million dollars !

^^^^^

Two things about that point. One Declan is not full of himself, he has said up there how tough it is, who the class talents are and he knows he has a very very small chance of making it. Seems a very level headed guy to be perfectly honest.

He is a smashing kid and a full credit to his family, he's the type of son anybody would be proud of

Today's soceity unfortunatly see's less and less of the ilk of Declan Dalley.

Number two, WE OFFERED HIM A TWO YEAR PROFESSIONAL CONTRACT. But only AFTER Manchester United came in for him, so we wanted him but left it to little to late. Now he may not make it, Ben Nugent may not make it, but atleast we have him.

Dalley will make a decent living in football

Gareth Bale may not of made it, but look he did.

Craig Bellamy may not have made it but look he did.

Ryan Giggs may not have made it but look he did.

All Cardiff boys, not one played for Cardiff City in their early years.

In fairness alot has changed since then mate

You can't leave it to hindsight, if we have the resources to keep these players then we should, no doubt about it.

Bringing in the Coopers of this world will assist and getting rid of clowns like Mark Neville.[/quot]
forgot about him

Hello there Daya, you seem to know lots about it, are you a sort of agent for Declan ?

Shows how level headed Declan is though because I said during conversation.

'Gareth Bale at Southampton had a 5 man panel to see if they wanted to accept him. 3 said yes, 2 said no'

Declan then said 'Yea that's what happend to me''

He didn't tell us how many said yes until we asked him and he also only told me Brian Mcclair said yes when I asked him is there was anyone we may know on the panel.

He also did not tell me about the 3 games he played in which he had man of the match, so obviously doesn't brag about his talents either.

He did say though he's had quite a lot of injury problems with his knee and that training is easyish fitness wise but he has been sick 5 times when training to recover from an injury, he said they really really push you.

What me and a few friends did find funny though is when he said ..

'Yea we were playing out in Brazil the other day' (as if it was the most natural thing in the world)

He also says Fergie REGULARLY goes to watch the play and is actually a nice guy, jokingly calling one of the players a pussy for something and just generally having a laugh with them rather than being a really scary bloke.

On a side note I said .....

'I've heard Paul Scholes is class, how good do you reckon he is ?'

He said with no hesitation 'If your on his team in training, you win'

A shame but those days are over, one of the best things about Malky is how important he sees youth as... can you imagine Joe Ralls, Ben Nugent, even Joe Mason getting near the team under Jones? I doubt we would've even signed a player like Mason.

I totally agree.

I really like the way the gaffer is bring in young players, given them the odd game here or there, allowing them to develop and to see if they have what it takes, at the end of the days a lot of these are 6 or 7 years before they hit their prime, and even if they only become good 'squad' players rather than first team players it is only going to benefit our team !

Hello there Daya, you seem to know lots about it, are you a sort of agent for Declan ?

Shows how level headed Declan is though because I said during conversation.

'Gareth Bale at Southampton had a 5 man panel to see if they wanted to accept him. 3 said yes, 2 said no'

Declan then said 'Yea that's what happend to me''

He didn't tell us how many said yes until we asked him and he also only told me Brian Mcclair said yes when I asked him is there was anyone we may know on the panel.

He also did not tell me about the 3 games he played in which he had man of the match, so obviously doesn't brag about his talents either.

He did say though he's had quite a lot of injury problems with his knee and that training is easyish fitness wise but he has been sick 5 times when training to recover from an injury, he said they really really push you.

What me and a few friends did find funny though is when he said ..

'Yea we were playing out in Brazil the other day' (as if it was the most natural thing in the world)

He also says Fergie REGULARLY goes to watch the play and is actually a nice guy, jokingly calling one of the players a pussy for something and just generally having a laugh with them rather than being a really scary bloke.

On a side note I said .....

'I've heard Paul Scholes is class, how good do you reckon he is ?'

He said with no hesitation 'If your on his team in training, you win'

Christ - where did you hear this breaking news about Paul Scholes being useful???