' WHY I TURNED DOWN CARDIFF CITY '
Wed Jul 24, 2013 8:00 am
TOM INCE: Why I turned down Cardiff... I'm in no hurry to get into the Premier League (and how refreshing is that to hear?)
PUBLISHED: 24th July 2013
Tom Ince the highly rated Blackpool and England U21 midfielder who has been attracting interest from Premier League clubs. In his debut Footballers' Football Column, Ince explains why he turned down a move to Premier League new boys Cardiff City and his ambition to break into Roy Hodgson's England squad. Before you ready his column, watch his video below in which he reveals which club he would love to sign for at some point in his career.
Tom Ince: I grew up supporting Arsenal. Dad won't be too happy
Another new season is fast approaching, and it looks increasingly like I’ll be starting it in the Championship, rather than the Barclays Premier League. No complaints from me on that score, despite some people feeling I may have taken a gamble by turning down the chance to sign for newly-promoted Cardiff City.
I certainly didn’t see it as a gamble when I returned home from South Wales the other Monday night and phoned my dad (Blackpool manager Paul Ince) to say I was staying. It just felt the right thing to do, after weighing up all the pros and cons.
The decision was nothing against Cardiff or their manager Malky Mackay, who is a top, top bloke. He phoned my dad to begin with and showed a lot of interest in taking me to Cardiff. I respect the way he went about it, and that’s why I went down there, to have a look at the club and speak to Malky face to face.
Back in tangerine: Tom Ince turned down a move to Cardiff and is staying at Blackpool - for now
For club and country: Ince has starred for Blackpool and England U21s last season
There was plenty to take on board. I have been playing for England under-21s, and if I am under consideration for the senior squad, might not a Premier League platform help make it happen? Especially in a World Cup season.
On the other hand, I’m still very young. At 21, I’m still learning the ropes and developing, and I’m also thoroughly enjoying my football at Blackpool. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of my team-mates, Ian Holloway, who brought me here, and our fans.
On top of that, all my family are in the north-west, not least the little baby girl whose recent arrival means I’ve now got a young family of my own to think of.
Malky has done magnificent things for Cardiff, and I wish them all the very best in the Premier League, but I had to conclude I would not be going there with them. Sometimes, you have to follow your instinct, and my gut feeling was that it just wasn’t right for me.
Who knows what might happen between now and the transfer window closing? I am ambitious about playing at the highest level I can, but I’m content in the knowledge time is on my side and I can afford to wait and see what develops. If the window passes without a move, I will have no problem knuckling down to another Championship campaign at Bloomfield Road.
Everyone says the close-season doesn’t seem to last very long, and this summer’ s was shorter than ever. With the early part spent on U21 duty, and the new season starting sooner than usual, there was precious little breathing space, though I did manage to get away for a week or so.
We’ve had a place in Portugal for the past five or six years, and it was nice to spend 10 days there, putting my feet up and clearing my mind of the disappointment of the under-21 tournament.
I was soon back, and pulling on a pair of boots again, and there is no question this season is going to be more challenging than ever. Just look at some of the teams we are up against.
You can be sure QPR and Reading will both spend big, and there are other massive clubs, like Leicester and Leeds, who will be just as eager to finish in one of the promotion places.
Missing out: Ince turned down the chance to sign for Malky Mackay at Cardiff
The important thing for us is to make sure we are ready to compete with them from day one to game 46. We’re not in the division just to make the numbers up, and I won’t be happy unless we are challenging at the top end of the table.
The memories are still fresh in my mind of our season in the Premier League, how unlucky we were to go back down on the last day and how close we came to going back up again at the first attempt. That drives you on. It makes you want more of the same.
We had a fantastic few years under Ian Holloway but were on a bit of a downward spiral when my dad got the job last season. He had to stabilise things, and he set about it by making us stronger defensively. Now the aim is to start building again and get us in a position where we can have a positive impact on the division.
THE DANONE NATIONS CUP WORLD FINAL
Tom Ince was writing on behalf of The Danone Nations Cup World Final, which will be taking place at Wembley Stadium on 7th September. Tickets are only £5 and can be purchased via http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk
It’s a big season for all of us, me included. It’s no good getting ahead of yourself and dreaming of a place in the World Cup finals, so I won’t be giving that too much thought.
But, equally, I used to play with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and there he is now, getting his chance in the senior England side and showing what a fantastic talent he is. I desperately want to do the same, but one step at a time.
For now, I’m happy to be pulling on a Blackpool shirt again and confident I can earn another opportunity, at some stage, to test myself in the Premier League.
PUBLISHED: 24th July 2013
Tom Ince the highly rated Blackpool and England U21 midfielder who has been attracting interest from Premier League clubs. In his debut Footballers' Football Column, Ince explains why he turned down a move to Premier League new boys Cardiff City and his ambition to break into Roy Hodgson's England squad. Before you ready his column, watch his video below in which he reveals which club he would love to sign for at some point in his career.
Tom Ince: I grew up supporting Arsenal. Dad won't be too happy
Another new season is fast approaching, and it looks increasingly like I’ll be starting it in the Championship, rather than the Barclays Premier League. No complaints from me on that score, despite some people feeling I may have taken a gamble by turning down the chance to sign for newly-promoted Cardiff City.
I certainly didn’t see it as a gamble when I returned home from South Wales the other Monday night and phoned my dad (Blackpool manager Paul Ince) to say I was staying. It just felt the right thing to do, after weighing up all the pros and cons.
The decision was nothing against Cardiff or their manager Malky Mackay, who is a top, top bloke. He phoned my dad to begin with and showed a lot of interest in taking me to Cardiff. I respect the way he went about it, and that’s why I went down there, to have a look at the club and speak to Malky face to face.
Back in tangerine: Tom Ince turned down a move to Cardiff and is staying at Blackpool - for now
For club and country: Ince has starred for Blackpool and England U21s last season
There was plenty to take on board. I have been playing for England under-21s, and if I am under consideration for the senior squad, might not a Premier League platform help make it happen? Especially in a World Cup season.
On the other hand, I’m still very young. At 21, I’m still learning the ropes and developing, and I’m also thoroughly enjoying my football at Blackpool. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of my team-mates, Ian Holloway, who brought me here, and our fans.
On top of that, all my family are in the north-west, not least the little baby girl whose recent arrival means I’ve now got a young family of my own to think of.
Malky has done magnificent things for Cardiff, and I wish them all the very best in the Premier League, but I had to conclude I would not be going there with them. Sometimes, you have to follow your instinct, and my gut feeling was that it just wasn’t right for me.
Who knows what might happen between now and the transfer window closing? I am ambitious about playing at the highest level I can, but I’m content in the knowledge time is on my side and I can afford to wait and see what develops. If the window passes without a move, I will have no problem knuckling down to another Championship campaign at Bloomfield Road.
Everyone says the close-season doesn’t seem to last very long, and this summer’ s was shorter than ever. With the early part spent on U21 duty, and the new season starting sooner than usual, there was precious little breathing space, though I did manage to get away for a week or so.
We’ve had a place in Portugal for the past five or six years, and it was nice to spend 10 days there, putting my feet up and clearing my mind of the disappointment of the under-21 tournament.
I was soon back, and pulling on a pair of boots again, and there is no question this season is going to be more challenging than ever. Just look at some of the teams we are up against.
You can be sure QPR and Reading will both spend big, and there are other massive clubs, like Leicester and Leeds, who will be just as eager to finish in one of the promotion places.
Missing out: Ince turned down the chance to sign for Malky Mackay at Cardiff
The important thing for us is to make sure we are ready to compete with them from day one to game 46. We’re not in the division just to make the numbers up, and I won’t be happy unless we are challenging at the top end of the table.
The memories are still fresh in my mind of our season in the Premier League, how unlucky we were to go back down on the last day and how close we came to going back up again at the first attempt. That drives you on. It makes you want more of the same.
We had a fantastic few years under Ian Holloway but were on a bit of a downward spiral when my dad got the job last season. He had to stabilise things, and he set about it by making us stronger defensively. Now the aim is to start building again and get us in a position where we can have a positive impact on the division.
THE DANONE NATIONS CUP WORLD FINAL
Tom Ince was writing on behalf of The Danone Nations Cup World Final, which will be taking place at Wembley Stadium on 7th September. Tickets are only £5 and can be purchased via http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk
It’s a big season for all of us, me included. It’s no good getting ahead of yourself and dreaming of a place in the World Cup finals, so I won’t be giving that too much thought.
But, equally, I used to play with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and there he is now, getting his chance in the senior England side and showing what a fantastic talent he is. I desperately want to do the same, but one step at a time.
For now, I’m happy to be pulling on a Blackpool shirt again and confident I can earn another opportunity, at some stage, to test myself in the Premier League.
Re: ' WHY I TURNED DOWN CARDIFF CITY '
Wed Jul 24, 2013 8:10 am
fair play to the guy i say. A shame it got dragged out so long though.
Re: ' WHY I TURNED DOWN CARDIFF CITY '
Wed Jul 24, 2013 8:13 am
What a load of shite 
"Happy with my Blackpool team -mates and the Club"
-"But who knows what can happen between now and the transfer window closing"
Plainly, the arrogant little c**t is hanging on for one of the bigger
six clubs to come in for him - "im under consideration for the senior squad"
Your playing Championship Football you silly little c**t.
Just like your old man - Billy big bollocks!!
Phew!! - ego avoided
"Happy with my Blackpool team -mates and the Club"
-"But who knows what can happen between now and the transfer window closing"
Plainly, the arrogant little c**t is hanging on for one of the biggersix clubs to come in for him - "im under consideration for the senior squad"
Your playing Championship Football you silly little c**t.
Just like your old man - Billy big bollocks!!
Phew!! - ego avoided
Re: ' WHY I TURNED DOWN CARDIFF CITY '
Wed Jul 24, 2013 8:30 am
I certainly didn’t see it as a gamble when I returned home from South Wales the other Monday night and phoned my dad (Blackpool manager Paul Ince) to say I was staying.
So why wait until the Friday to tell us?????
Re: ' WHY I TURNED DOWN CARDIFF CITY '
Wed Jul 24, 2013 8:35 am
A footballers career is a short one and i feel he's missed a great opportunity to show the world his skills by playing for Cardiff in the premier league.
I think he'll live to regret not coming to City.
I think he'll live to regret not coming to City.
Re: ' WHY I TURNED DOWN CARDIFF CITY '
Wed Jul 24, 2013 9:03 am
I'M SPARTACUS wrote:A footballers career is a short one and i feel he's missed a great opportunity to show the world his skills by playing for Cardiff in the premier league.
I think he'll live to regret not coming to City.
I'm inclined to agree with you-he could break a leg in training and be finished.Even with us if he turned out to be that good the big clubs would soon be calling and by the same token the big clubs are not exactly climbing over each other to sign him.