Steven Caulker will smash Cardiff City's transfer record

' Majestic Steven Caulker will one day smash Cardiff City's transfer record '

Wednesday 13th November 2013.

Paul Abbandonato reports on the emergence of Steven Caulker as a Premier League defender of the very highest quality.

Admission time. I’ve got to admit, I didn’t realise Steven Caulker was this good.

Next statement. I predict that one day he will smash the Cardiff City transfer record, probably trebling the fee the Bluebirds received from Arsenal for Aaron Ramsey five years ago.

There. An enormously bold comment to make, but it’s on the record. Such is the enormous impression Caulker has made on me during his brief time thus far as a City player.

Not that I’m wishing Caulker away from the Welsh capital, I should quickly emphasise. But football being what it is, I can see one of the Premier League big guns coming in for him. And it might be sooner than we anticipate, too, if he keeps on playing as splendidly as he has done.

The £8million fee Malky Mackay paid Tottenham for the towering centre-half during the summer may have raised a few eyebrows at the time, given Caulker couldn’t even make the Spurs team.

More fool Tottenham, I say, He is a better centre-half than Michael Dawson and, at 21 years of age, represents real value for money for the Bluebirds, in terms of the quality of performance he is putting in, the leadership skills he is displaying as captain and also what he will soon be worth in the transfer market.

Yes, at some point I can see one of the big clubs slapping in a £15m plus bid for Caulker. He will be worth double the fee Mackay paid out for him.

I make these points, of course, at a time when Caulker finds himself at the centre of an international tug-of-war. Scotland are desperate to prise him from England’s clutches (any Welsh ancestry you haven’t yet declared, by any chance, Steven, because we could do with a quality centre-half?).

Caulker's stats so far this season

Games Played:11Minutes Played:990Starts:11Interceptions:14Substitution On:0Substitution Off:0Duels Won:59.5%

The reality is, though, that Caulker knows he can be an England regular so will snub the Scottish advances. In fact, City’s next two matches - against Manchester United and Arsenal - will go some way to determining whether he actually makes Roy Hodgson’s squad for the World Cup in Rio.

Excel against out Robin Van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Mezut Ozil, Olivier Giroud and co, and Caulker will have to be right on the radar for Brazil.

Hodgson’s first choice combination at the moment is Chelsea’s Gary Cahill and Everton’s Phil Jagielka, backed up by the Manchester United duo of Phil Jones and Chris Smalling, whose versatility enables them to feature elsewhere in the side, too.

That quartet are more established, but none of them - I repeat, none of them - have been playing as well as Caulker has done thus far during the 2013-14 Premier League campaign.

Of course, given the conservative tactics adopted by the Bluebirds, Caulker has had more opportunity to shine than those others, simply because the way City play means they invite pressure and require defensive excellence.

But he has really stood up to be counted. Big, strong, fast, robust in the tackle, excellent in the air, Caulker and David Marshall have become the bedrock around which City’s Premier League campaign is being built.

Caulker is also comfortable bringing the ball out of defence, almost strolling at times, and even earning comparisons with Rio Ferdinand.


Cardiff manager Mackay embraces the goal hero at the final whistle Cardiff manager Mackay embraces the goal hero at the final whistle

I won’t go that far. Ferdinand is the best British defender to emerge over the past 20 years, but Caulker does appear to have an aura about him. In the modern game, centre-backs who can play are worth their weight in gold, because so many moves start with them. Possession of the ball is nine-tenths of the law at the highest level.

Watching Caulker in the derby victory over Swansea was like studying a footballing racehorse. He was up against the great Michu that afternoon, but barely broke sweat as he handled the threat from the Spanish striker and effortlessly began Bluebirds’ moves from the back in the second half.

I guess, when it comes to England, we can be snobbish and look at the fact that Cahill, Jagielka, Jones and Smalling each play for giant clubs. Caulker, on the other hand, has featured largely for Yeovil, Britsol City, Swansea and Cardiff thus far in his career to date.

But he already looks as if he is developing into a defender of genuine quality, with his 22nd birthday not even until next month. I watched Caulker play a lot next to Ashley Williams for Swansea when Brendan Rodgers’ side won promotion to the Premier a couple of seasons back.

He never stood out then, as he does today. Williams was very much the senior partner. But Caulker was only 19 years of age at the time and, in hindsight, must have been doing something very right to cope with some of the finest strikers on the planet.

He went back to Spurs, but failed to establish himself. Fair enough, they have opted to go with the more experienced Dawson, their skipper, and the splendid Jan Vertonghen.

But Tottenham’s loss is very much Cardiff City’s gain.

Will Caulker make the World Cup squad? At the moment he is next cab on the rank, but Cahill and Jagielka are hardly Bobby Moore. Let’s see where things stand by the end of the month, after Caulker has hopefully starred against Manchester United and Arsenal

One final thought. Caulker has played one match for England thus far, starting in their 4-2 thumping by Sweden in a friendly international exactly a year ago.

Caulker scored that day on his debut - goal threat from set pieces is another huge strength of his - and England were actually 2-1 up when Hodgson chose to substitute him with Stoke’s Ryan Shawcross.

With Caulker off, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the Swedish superstar striker he was marking, suddenly smashed three goals in the space of 13 minutes to take his personal tally for the game to four.

Ibrahimovic rightly took the plaudits from everyone at the end. But would his stunning exploits have happened had Hodgson left Caulker on the pitch?

Food for thougt, at the very least.

Good post, but (for me) it would take a mammoth bid in excess of £20m to prize Caulker away, if only because it would cost most of that to replace him with someone of a similar standard

The guy is class

class player, well do well to keep him

Have to agree with sven.would have to be 20+! He is a class act and still only 21.

20+ mil he will be one day

20+ mil he will be one day

I hope he is. Seems a great player. But...........

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... ansea.html

And it does beggar the question, why did Spurs let him go? I don't understand it!

20+ mil he will be one day

I hope he is. Seems a great player. But...........

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... ansea.html

And it does beggar the question, why did Spurs let him go? I don't understand it!

Wasn't that for swearing near a policeman or something stupid like that?

I'm sure he was just given a caution.

I couldn't believe Spurs kept Dawson ahead of him. He looked good when he played for Bristol City against us when he was 18, and after a couple of Premier League seasons I thought Spurs would put him into their first team. I said at the time he was a class signing. Nice one Malky!

8 million might seem overpriced but in the long term it could end up us selling him for double that.

20+ mil he will be one day

I hope he is. Seems a great player. But...........

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... ansea.html

And it does beggar the question, why did Spurs let him go? I don't understand it!

Wasn't that for swearing near a policeman or something stupid like that?

I'm sure he was just given a caution.

Right thats it! Can you stop it now please? I know what your trying to do and yes you've succeeded. Or have you? Yes you have! Because I can't get it out of my head that I am conversing with a lemon in sunglasses! You win! And I need help! Does anyone else feel the same? I bet you do!

Top 8 player in a shit team!!! Get a grip 20+ million? He couldn't get in the spurs side so what clubs could afford to spend that amount on him? The clubs above spurs and if he can't make it at spurs I don't think he will be at man city or Chelsea .

Top 8 player in a shit team!!! Get a grip 20+ million? He couldn't get in the spurs side so what clubs could afford to spend that amount on him? The clubs above spurs and if he can't make it at spurs I don't think he will be at man city or Chelsea .

Let's just wait and see then innit.

I had to stop reading when he mentioned Ferdinand as the best centre half in last 20 years!

Must of been smoking some crack whilst writing this cos Ferdinand is dog shit and always has been, drug cheat and doesn't deserve any of the accolades he gets from pundits and fellow pros united should have made an example of him when he got banned just like Chelsea did with mutu!

Yet utd fans still love a guy who was out for a year on full pay and demanded a pay rise the year he returned a disgraceful player whi has always been made to look better than he is cos of the quality playing around him

Hate the c**t

I had to stop reading when he mentioned Ferdinand as the best centre half in last 20 years!

Must of been smoking some crack whilst writing this cos Ferdinand is dog shit and always has been, drug cheat and doesn't deserve any of the accolades he gets from pundits and fellow pros united should have made an example of him when he got banned just like Chelsea did with mutu!

Yet utd fans still love a guy who was out for a year on full pay and demanded a pay rise the year he returned a disgraceful player whi has always been made to look better than he is cos of the quality playing around him

Hate the c**t

Sacking him for MISSING a drugs test?

Mutu FAILED a drugs test... Ferdinand MISSED a drugs test by accident. They may carry the same penalty (& rightly so) but they are VERY different things.

I had to stop reading when he mentioned Ferdinand as the best centre half in last 20 years!

Must of been smoking some crack whilst writing this cos Ferdinand is dog shit and always has been, drug cheat and doesn't deserve any of the accolades he gets from pundits and fellow pros united should have made an example of him when he got banned just like Chelsea did with mutu!

Yet utd fans still love a guy who was out for a year on full pay and demanded a pay rise the year he returned a disgraceful player whi has always been made to look better than he is cos of the quality playing around him

Hate the c**t

Sacking him for MISSING a drugs test?

Mutu FAILED a drugs test... Ferdinand MISSED a drugs test by accident. They may carry the same penalty (& rightly so) but they are VERY different things.

Anyone who beloved he accidentally missed a drugs test when they are reliably informed about them by numerous parties was probably smoking and consuming similar stuff to what rio was at that time!

You must be seriously deluded to believe his version that he missed it you don't miss drug tests in professional sport unless you have good reason to! Meaning you know your gonna fail it cos you been talkin to frank most of the night before!

Anyone who beloved he accidentally missed a drugs test when they are reliably informed about them by numerous parties was probably smoking and consuming similar stuff to what rio was at that time!

You must be seriously deluded to believe his version that he missed it you don't miss drug tests in professional sport unless you have good reason to! Meaning you know your gonna fail it cos you been talkin to frank most of the night before!

You must be seriously deluded to believe whispers and gossip as gospel... I guess if Caulker had an 8 month ban for missing a drugs test, you'd want him sacked and allowed to walk away for free to another club? Despite paying as much as we did for him?

As I said. Big difference between MISSING a Drugs test & FAILING one.

Anyone who beloved he accidentally missed a drugs test when they are reliably informed about them by numerous parties was probably smoking and consuming similar stuff to what rio was at that time!

You must be seriously deluded to believe his version that he missed it you don't miss drug tests in professional sport unless you have good reason to! Meaning you know your gonna fail it cos you been talkin to frank most of the night before!

You must be seriously deluded to believe whispers and gossip as gospel... I guess if Caulker had an 8 month ban for missing a drugs test, you'd want him sacked and allowed to walk away for free to another club? Despite paying as much as we did for him?

As I said. Big difference between MISSING a Drugs test & FAILING one.

Well you believe he just missed it barry! He knew about the test days before and still decided to leave the training ground it's well documented and not many people believe he would have passed that test of course it's hearsay but there's also no evidence to suggest he would have passed it or any good evidence as to why he missed it hence the reason he had a third of the mandatory ban for actually failing a test even tho he never failed one!

And to answer your question yes I would if YOU MISS A TEST when you 100% know you have one then you are hiding something and deserve your punishment and if that means being disgraced then so be it
You can dress up it was just missed not failed all you like but these sportsman know when they are tested way in advance he got caught out couldn't risk the test cos he knew he had traces in his system and dodged it picking up a few million quid salary for doing feck all in the process

That's my opinion chuckles

Look at lance Armstrong says it all really, you Can beat the system to a certain extent and that's what rio did git away with a 8 month ban when it should have been 2/3 years

There's no "dressing up" - it's a cold hard fact that he missed the scheduled test, rather than failed it.

You say about a lack of evidence to say he would have passed, there's also a lack of evidence to say he would have failed.

You're talking like you're one of his best mates

It shouldn't have been a 2 or 3 year ban... It's clear you don't like him, but to doubt his ability is rather draft. He's not the player that he was now, but he was a fine defender in his prime.

There's no "dressing up" - it's a cold hard fact that he missed the scheduled test, rather than failed it.

You say about a lack of evidence to say he would have passed, there's also a lack of evidence to say he would have failed.

You're talking like you're one of his best mates

It shouldn't have been a 2 or 3 year ban... It's clear you don't like him, but to doubt his ability is rather draft. He's not the player that he was now, but he was a fine defender in his prime.

correct chuckles there's only one or maybe two people that no the truth but it's fishy and that's plain to see

I've never rated him chuckles that's also just my opinion, far better defenders IMO

Never worth the £30m they paid for him , vidic is far better and he only cost £7m, I personally feel vidic has carried him last few years, I even think brown and o'shea carried him in their prime

I'd take a fit vidic over him 100 times out of 100

Depnds what his contract situation is like at the time. Wasnt similar said about Joe Ledley?

If he has a year or less on his contract at the time of selling, be lucky to recoup the £8m.

wasn't Roger Johnson the next best thing in my opinion too many young footballers have to much too early and most believe the hype that is lauded upon them and never really fulfill their potential

There's no "dressing up" - it's a cold hard fact that he missed the scheduled test, rather than failed it.

You say about a lack of evidence to say he would have passed, there's also a lack of evidence to say he would have failed.

You're talking like you're one of his best mates

It shouldn't have been a 2 or 3 year ban... It's clear you don't like him, but to doubt his ability is rather draft. He's not the player that he was now, but he was a fine defender in his prime.

correct chuckles there's only one or maybe two people that no the truth but it's fishy and that's plain to see

I've never rated him chuckles that's also just my opinion, far better defenders IMO

Never worth the £30m they paid for him , vidic is far better and he only cost £7m, I personally feel vidic has carried him last few years, I even think brown and o'shea carried him in their prime

I'd take a fit vidic over him 100 times out of 100

im sorry but you are on something, Rio is one of the finest english defenders the premier league has ever seen!

Yes Vidic is a great defender and cost less but thats because he was foriegn, abroad and unproven.

As for the drugs test not that it helps im sure he passed it a day or two later

There's no "dressing up" - it's a cold hard fact that he missed the scheduled test, rather than failed it.

You say about a lack of evidence to say he would have passed, there's also a lack of evidence to say he would have failed.

You're talking like you're one of his best mates

It shouldn't have been a 2 or 3 year ban... It's clear you don't like him, but to doubt his ability is rather draft. He's not the player that he was now, but he was a fine defender in his prime.

correct chuckles there's only one or maybe two people that no the truth but it's fishy and that's plain to see

I've never rated him chuckles that's also just my opinion, far better defenders IMO

Never worth the £30m they paid for him , vidic is far better and he only cost £7m, I personally feel vidic has carried him last few years, I even think brown and o'shea carried him in their prime

I'd take a fit vidic over him 100 times out of 100

im sorry but you are on something, Rio is one of the finest english defenders the premier league has ever seen!

Yes Vidic is a great defender and cost less but thats because he was foriegn, abroad and unproven.

As for the drugs test not that it helps im sure he passed it a day or two later

All about opinions and I'm afraid I don't agree with yours, I've probably seen him play 10 games where I think wow he's good, fact is united are a great team and in many games Ferdinand has little to do, but when he plays big games particularly Europe and top prem teams he goes missing, his positioning is awful, doesn't read the game well and his aerial ability is shocking for a player of 6ft

I look at other centre halfs that play in lesser teams who come under pressure more often like caulker and they are either far better players already or have the potential to far exceed his ability

I'd take numerous centre backs over Ferdinand

Distin, jagielka, vertonghen, lovren, Cahill I'd even take a retired carragher (now he could read the game and had to read it well cos his legs were going)