" JOE RALLS "

My View Joe Ralls proved he is def a quality Championship player last season


15/07/09 / by Jamie Kemble

A Make or Break Season for Joe Ralls



Cardiff City midfielder Joe Ralls is heading into his fifth season at the club and although it may be hard to believe, he is only 21 years of age. Joe may still be young but that doesn’t mean he can play without pressure as he becomes one of the main names Russell Slade’s squad.

To some extent, it has taken Joe Ralls a while to make his breakthrough and at times the supporters could have been forgiven for feeling the midfielder’s time was limited at the club. Some had their doubts but to Joe’s credit he ploughed on and improved season after season through limited first-team appearances and a heap of development team outings.

Ralls was signed from Farnborough in 2010 when the Bluebirds paid a ‘small compensation’ for his services. The Aldershot-born youngster went on to make his first team début in August of 2011 against Oxford United in the cup and started his first game just a fortnight later against Huddersfield Town.

Joe was to score his first goal for The Bluebirds against Hull City at the KC Stadium and most will remember that it was a volley of some calibre. Ralls did not feature so much during the rest of Malky Mackay’s time at the club but he did gain valuable experience during what turned out to be a season-long loan spell at Yeovil Town, making thirty-seven appearances.

During the season just gone, Ralls made an impressive thirty-one appearances for the Bluebirds scoring two goals, one against Norwich City and the other away to Nottingham Forest. Some will see the 2014/15 season as a breakthrough season for the former England Under-19 international but the season coming could be one of even more significance.

At times during the last term, Ralls was used as a utility to fill in at full-back or out wide but following some real solid performances we can expect him to start a good number of games in his native central midfield position. Having said that, it is imperative that Joe makes the most of his chances because he is not without competition.

The centre of the park is full of competition from the seasoned Peter Whittingham to players who are desperate to make their mark like Tom Adayemi, Stuart O’Keefe and Kagisho Dikgacoi. Bluebirds boss Russell Slade, however, did seem to take somewhat of a liking to the young midfielder during last season so he is likely to get a good chance to nail down his place in the Bluebirds line-up.

With the chance to impress even further, it could be a make or break season for Joe as a pressure will be on to show the potential that Cardiff saw in him as a youngster. The Bluebirds faithful have voiced their approval of Joe’s solid performances last season across forums and social media so with the fans on-side, this season provides the chance to kick on.

Being twenty-one years of age, Joe has a real chance to become a top Championship midfielder and perhaps even more than that but for that to happen I believe he has to make this season count before his opportunity passes by.

I thought he finished the season okay, but my god was he a liability at the start. At one point, I genuinely didn't think he belonged anywhere near the first team.

I don't agree with the school of thought here that he deserves to be a regular starter for us now, because I personally feel we have better quality at the club already, and could attract better quality too. That said, if ever he's going to prove me wrong, now is the time to do it.

Make no mistake, I'd love him to become a star for us, but right now I think people are really exaggerating his importance to us currently.

I thought he finished the season okay, but my god was he a liability at the start. At one point, I genuinely didn't think he belonged anywhere near the first team.

I don't agree with the school of thought here that he deserves to be a regular starter for us now, because I personally feel we have better quality at the club already, and could attract better quality too. That said, if ever he's going to prove me wrong, now is the time to do it.

Make no mistake, I'd love him to become a star for us, but right now I think people are really exaggerating his importance to us currently.

Agreed. The jury is still out for me and the thing that worries me is his obvious lack of pace. Unlike Whitts the other aspects of his game don't quite compensate for that weakness .......... yet.

Like many on here I'd love to see him make it and he was certainly much improved at the end of last season in the way he was starting to affect games. However, even if we don't make anymore signings before the season starts I don't see him in the first XI ahead of Whitts, Gunnarsson, Ameobi, Adeyemi, Kennedy, Noone or Dikgacoi and even O'Keefe will give him a run for his money.

I hope I'm wrong. One thing is for sure, by the end of this coming season Ralls will have either proved himself for us or will be shown the door, time will tell.

U two must be watching a different player,ralls has been one of our most consistent players last yr and made it impossible to drop come the end of the season,he's our only midfielder who looks like he's working his socks off,personally I think he'll play a much bigger part this season,and looking at the training videos it looks like he's been given the number 8 shirt this season

I can see Joe being a future captain ..

He is going to shine next season.

I can see Joe being a future captain ..

Agree.

U two must be watching a different player,ralls has been one of our most consistent players last yr and made it impossible to drop come the end of the season,he's our only midfielder who looks like he's working his socks off,personally I think he'll play a much bigger part this season,and looking at the training videos it looks like he's been given the number 8 shirt this season

I agree on the end of season performances but prior to that no.

In terms of working his socks off, so were Gunnarsson, O'Keefe and a number of others. However "working your socks off" doesn't make you quality, if we are happy being a lower to middle Championship team that's fine but if we have any ambition of being in or around the play-offs then it's quality we require.

I honestly hope Ralls comes into his own this season but up to now I haven't see sufficient quality over a sustained period of time to convince me.

One thing in his favour is that Slade certainly seems to rate him and has given him more game time than any previous manager.

U two must be watching a different player,ralls has been one of our most consistent players last yr and made it impossible to drop come the end of the season,he's our only midfielder who looks like he's working his socks off,personally I think he'll play a much bigger part this season,and looking at the training videos it looks like he's been given the number 8 shirt this season

U two must be watching a different player,ralls has been one of our most consistent players last yr and made it impossible to drop come the end of the season,he's our only midfielder who looks like he's working his socks off,personally I think he'll play a much bigger part this season,and looking at the training videos it looks like he's been given the number 8 shirt this season

Totally agree. How can Ralls and liability be used in the same sentence? Excellent player and will only get better given the chance.

I think he's class and can only get better and better. What a midfield we'd have if we built the midfield around him eith Gunnarsson and Adeyemi assisting, Dikgakoi DM and now Ameobi or Kennedy on the wing. Mouthwatering!

I think he's class and can only get better and better. What a midfield we'd have if we built the midfield around him eith Gunnarsson and Adeyemi assisting, Dikgakoi DM and now Ameobi or Kennedy on the wing. Mouthwatering!

What no Whittingham?? I'm astonished!!!!

I think he's class and can only get better and better. What a midfield we'd have if we built the midfield around him eith Gunnarsson and Adeyemi assisting, Dikgakoi DM and now Ameobi or Kennedy on the wing. Mouthwatering!

What no Whittingham?? I'm astonished!!!!

Lol! I think you'd have put your house on it with me

Lot of time for Joe... One of the only genuine 442 central midfielders we have, so we play him on the left or as a full back obviously.

Doesn't have the same touch or vision as Whitts, but his physicality and energy more than make up for it. This needs to be his break through season.

How the hell Slade will play Dikachoi is beyond me, even Whitts has more mobility, so to say he is ahead of Ralls in Slades rigid 442 is a mystery.

Huge Whitts fan (we need footballers at a football club) but this is his replacement. For me Whitts is over played and his performance drops hugely during the second half of the season because of this. A rotation based on opposition between Whitts Gunnar and Ralls would be my choice, although I wouldn't entertain 442, its 2015 !!!!

He is certainly not a left back, id like to see him given more of a chance in the middle.

Lot of time for Joe... One of the only genuine 442 central midfielders we have, so we play him on the left or as a full back obviously.

Doesn't have the same touch or vision as Whitts, but his physicality and energy more than make up for it. This needs to be his break through season.

How the hell Slade will play Dikachoi is beyond me, even Whitts has more mobility, so to say he is ahead of Ralls in Slades rigid 442 is a mystery.

Huge Whitts fan (we need footballers at a football club) but this is his replacement. For me Whitts is over played and his performance drops hugely during the second half of the season because of this. A rotation based on opposition between Whitts Gunnar and Ralls would be my choice, although I wouldn't entertain 442, its 2015 !!!!

I think the key to all of this is whether Slade continue to persist with 4-4-2 in every game. If he does then I think we will struggle whoever the personnel are from our current squad as I simply don't think we've got the type of players to do that successfully in either midfield or upfront.

I can't even remember the last team that got promoted from the Championship playing a permanent 4-4-2. Jones managed to finish 3rd with that system but he had a front 2 of Chops and Bothroyd who were playing well above Championship level at the time and way better than any pairing we could put up there at the moment.

If we play 5 in midfield then there is a better chance of Ralls getting, and succeeding in, one of the 3 central roles in my opinion.

Lot of time for Joe... One of the only genuine 442 central midfielders we have, so we play him on the left or as a full back obviously.

Doesn't have the same touch or vision as Whitts, but his physicality and energy more than make up for it. This needs to be his break through season.

How the hell Slade will play Dikachoi is beyond me, even Whitts has more mobility, so to say he is ahead of Ralls in Slades rigid 442 is a mystery.

Huge Whitts fan (we need footballers at a football club) but this is his replacement. For me Whitts is over played and his performance drops hugely during the second half of the season because of this. A rotation based on opposition between Whitts Gunnar and Ralls would be my choice, although I wouldn't entertain 442, its 2015 !!!!

I think the key to all of this is whether Slade continue to persist with 4-4-2 in every game. If he does then I think we will struggle whoever the personnel are from our current squad as I simply don't think we've got the type of players to do that successfully in either midfield or upfront.

I can't even remember the last team that got promoted from the Championship playing a permanent 4-4-2. Jones managed to finish 3rd with that system but he had a front 2 of Chops and Bothroyd who were playing well above Championship level at the time and way better than any pairing we could put up there at the moment.

If we play 5 in midfield then there is a better chance of Ralls getting, and succeeding in, one of the 3 central roles in my opinion.

Bournemouth played 442.

Lot of time for Joe... One of the only genuine 442 central midfielders we have, so we play him on the left or as a full back obviously.

Doesn't have the same touch or vision as Whitts, but his physicality and energy more than make up for it. This needs to be his break through season.

How the hell Slade will play Dikachoi is beyond me, even Whitts has more mobility, so to say he is ahead of Ralls in Slades rigid 442 is a mystery.

Huge Whitts fan (we need footballers at a football club) but this is his replacement. For me Whitts is over played and his performance drops hugely during the second half of the season because of this. A rotation based on opposition between Whitts Gunnar and Ralls would be my choice, although I wouldn't entertain 442, its 2015 !!!!

I think the key to all of this is whether Slade continue to persist with 4-4-2 in every game. If he does then I think we will struggle whoever the personnel are from our current squad as I simply don't think we've got the type of players to do that successfully in either midfield or upfront.

I can't even remember the last team that got promoted from the Championship playing a permanent 4-4-2. Jones managed to finish 3rd with that system but he had a front 2 of Chops and Bothroyd who were playing well above Championship level at the time and way better than any pairing we could put up there at the moment.

If we play 5 in midfield then there is a better chance of Ralls getting, and succeeding in, one of the 3 central roles in my opinion.

Bournemouth played 442.

Not in every game they didn't. It was often 4-3-3, particularly at home.

I'm not saying 4-4-2 shouldn't be played, just not in every game no matter what the circumstances of the game or personnel available.

He is certainly not a left back, id like to see him given more of a chance in the middle.

Totally agree. He adapted well at left back but when he was given those games in the centre and the left of midfield towards the very end of last season, he was very impressive. I can see big things for this lad. Very underrated in my opinion

Lot of time for Joe... One of the only genuine 442 central midfielders we have, so we play him on the left or as a full back obviously.

Doesn't have the same touch or vision as Whitts, but his physicality and energy more than make up for it. This needs to be his break through season.

How the hell Slade will play Dikachoi is beyond me, even Whitts has more mobility, so to say he is ahead of Ralls in Slades rigid 442 is a mystery.

Huge Whitts fan (we need footballers at a football club) but this is his replacement. For me Whitts is over played and his performance drops hugely during the second half of the season because of this. A rotation based on opposition between Whitts Gunnar and Ralls would be my choice, although I wouldn't entertain 442, its 2015 !!!!

I think the key to all of this is whether Slade continue to persist with 4-4-2 in every game. If he does then I think we will struggle whoever the personnel are from our current squad as I simply don't think we've got the type of players to do that successfully in either midfield or upfront.

I can't even remember the last team that got promoted from the Championship playing a permanent 4-4-2. Jones managed to finish 3rd with that system but he had a front 2 of Chops and Bothroyd who were playing well above Championship level at the time and way better than any pairing we could put up there at the moment.

If we play 5 in midfield then there is a better chance of Ralls getting, and succeeding in, one of the 3 central roles in my opinion.

Bournemouth played 442.

Not in every game they didn't. It was often 4-3-3, particularly at home.

I'm not saying 4-4-2 shouldn't be played, just not in every game no matter what the circumstances of the game or personnel available.

I see.

Personally I have liked him when I have seen him and seemed to grow as the season went on.

For what its worth and this may be controversial ... but if Slade could be convinced to play a different formation, one that suits the players we already have ... I am not really sure we need to get anyone else in.
If he can motivate them and address the issues we had with being over run in midfield then I think there is plenty of quality in the side.

He has enough good defenders to play 3 - 5 - 2, he has enough good midfielders to play a more defensive minded 4 5 1 or a more attacking 4 5 1 .

I think whits, if played with an extra body in the middle would be fine. We have dikachoi coming back who has pedigree, adiyemi who if he is fit, looked like a good player whenever I saw him. If he was indeed injured then that would explain the lack of game time. Ralls, gunner all would do will in midfield with more bodies.
Fabio, with more protection in the middle, would be less exposed and still would be able to offer a quality attacking outlet.
With the forwards and attack minded players we have at our disposal, we should be able to slot them in to a few different styles and adapt to what is needed.
All it takes for me is for slade to move away from 442 and think a little more outside the box.

Oh and if we are unable to shift guerra then why the hell done we try playing him?!?! The reason ole didnt play him is because he was injured so its unfair to say ogs didnt fancy him.