' City boss calls for youth setup improvement '

Cardiff City boss Russell Slade calls for improvement of club's youth set-up as young stars fail to make step up

28 July 2015

By Steve Tucker

The Cardiff boss says the Academy system at the club can improve as he looks to bring through more youngsters


Cardiff City boss Russell Slade calls for improvement of club's youth set-up as young stars fail to make step up


Cardiff City manager Russell Slade has questioned the number of quality players currently being brought through the Bluebirds' youth and development ranks.

As he prepares his players for the upcoming Championship season and tries to add to his squad in the transfer market, the Bluebirds boss has bemoaned the fact the amount of talent rising up through the Cardiff Academy system and development squad into the first team has dried up in recent years.



The Bluebirds have a long pedigree of bringing through players from a young age who have gone on to become firm fans' favourites. The likes of striker Robert Earnshaw and midfielder Joe Ledley began as youngsters, and in more recent years Aaron Ramsey and Chris Gunter have both gone on to enjoy excellent careers.


Joe Ledley came through the Cardiff ranks

A clutch of home-grown players, such as Ben Nugent and Deji Oshilaja, have recently flirted with the first team but failed to establish themselves as regulars.


Full-back Declan John, who was loaned to Barnsley last season, is probably the closest Cardiff have to a player who has risen through the ranks to push for a first team starting spot.

As owner Vincent Tan calls for cost-cutting around the club, Slade said he would love to see more home-grown talent come through and admitted the system at the club could be improved.



Cardiff City defender Ben Nugent


"I think we can do better on that front, we can do a bit better than we have been doing certainly," he revealed.

"But we are working on it. We are trying to make it competitive and at the same time productive, that is the important thing.

"You want little projects and players coming through your under-21s or otherwise there is no point in having it really. It's got to be producing.




"It's always nice to have one or two coming through. I don't think they can beat it because if they have been at the club for five, six, seven years, which some of them could possibly be then you cannot beat that. It's in their blood then, it becomes a massive thing then for them to put on the shirt."

And Slade believes that as well as the impact such players might have on the Cardiff squad, supporters too enjoyed seeing such players fulfil their potential.

Slade added: "I also think it's great for the fans to because they can relate to these kind of guys. They think of him as one of their own and it's real important to have someone home-grown come through. It's a massive thing really."

Agree. The more the better. But want went wrong?

Did the PL mean we had to go for established players with experience?
Did the changes in management in a short period of time at the Academy damage it? (Robinson. Ardley, Bate, Fortune etc).
Dave Jones was not interested in it, Malky did use some but then had to ensure promotion so probably went for experience, OGS just spent money on big name players.

didnt Jones bring through Ramsey, Matthews and consistently played Ledley ?

Yes!

At last, we got downed on here for saying this needed to be done and moaning about it, fair play to Slade on this one

Now City do something about it

A manager has to be brave to give youngsters a run in the team,Slade wasn't when he had a chance last season once we were safe?

This is one thing I agree on with slade, I'll give him a chance now he has a pre season behind him I hope he proves me wrong as he is saying all the right things lately but actions speak louder than words

At last, we got downed on here for saying this needed to be done and moaning about it, fair play to Slade on this one

Now City do something about it

I call it passing the buck.

At last, we got downed on here for saying this needed to be done and moaning about it, fair play to Slade on this one

Now City do something about it

I call it passing the buck.

I kind of agree with both statements here. If the club is to have an element of sustainability, youngsters need to be brought through, but it sounds as if Slade is blaming a lot of shortcomings on this. A bit rich really.

Youth opus one of the keys though.

At last, we got downed on here for saying this needed to be done and moaning about it, fair play to Slade on this one

Now City do something about it

This is one thing I agree on with slade, I'll give him a chance now he has a pre season behind him I hope he proves me wrong as he is saying all the right things lately but actions speak louder than words

To be fair to Slade he has given Ralls more playing time. Okay, the lad has earnt it but Slade also obviously believes he is a very capable player. If Slade can keep the club lingering in this division whilst the youth setup improves then it only looks good going forward.

At last, we got downed on here for saying this needed to be done and moaning about it, fair play to Slade on this one

Now City do something about it

Agree. IMHO we need to return to where the academy was under Sam!