' HOW CITY LOST A TALENTED PLAYER '

Regan Poole a centre half who was part of Cardiff City's academy recently signed for Manchester United.

How is it that a youngster is released by City just over a year ago then signs for Man Utd ?

Why did City release him ?

I was told by a cousin of Regan that the reason City let him go was because of 'him being too small', and after being released by the Bluebirds academy, Regan had a growth spurt whilst at Newport and got a dream move to Man Utd.

The question being is a player judged on size or ability ?

There are examples throughout the history of football that size is not the deciding factor on whether you make it or not but ability is always key.

Poole is just another example of how Academy's and City's in particular have practised this way for a number of years that they look for athletic, big young lads and I believe that is the wrong strategy.

We should not have let him go, that is now clear. Our academy set up must improve, we are not bringing through enough Welsh players.

Southampton almost released Bale for being too small, when we were in school he was tiny now he's a beast!

Happens up and down the country at pretty much every club

Happens up and down the country at pretty much every club

Yes it all about opinions of the staff at time, also maybe he didn't have the physicality needed for champ but suited at lower level? look at Chelsea let player go not good enough for them man CTY just paid 52m for him? OK not youth player but principle same!

I think size will always be considered, for example how many small Goalkeepers and CB's do we see, it does happen but they have to make up for it in other areas.

We obviously missed something but just because he signed for United it doesn't mean he will make it, they have a huge pool of youth players many of which flutter down the leagues.

Happens up and down the country at pretty much every club

Yes it all about opinions of the staff at time, also maybe he didn't have the physicality needed for champ but suited at lower level? look at Chelsea let player go not good enough for them man CTY just paid 52m for him? OK not youth player but principle same!

he's not really worth £52m though lets be honest!

Messi
Maradona
Scholes
All small players yet would get in any team in the world any day. Imho. Clubs always looking for big strong players especially at cb yet Gary medel was immense in world cup at cb. I believe ability and understanding of the game is far more important than size.

Academies don't make me laugh, most of the goons who work in them are either stupid or could not play kick a tin...oh but they have loads of badges.Morons, Liverpool were after him as well.

Newport collared a cool £400k for him, well done

this topic has been done to death not just at cardiff city but in the Whole UK academy set ups

what ever anyone says size does matter and the majority of uk talent will slip through the net on this basis . It is entirely different abroad in places like spain and portugal where between the ages of 8 -15 years kids will be judged on skill and technique . If the likes of messi and javi were youngsters now in the UK they wouldn't get a look in

they would be one of the 99per cent of youngsters that don't make it as a professional . such a cut throat business anyway

Earnie almost released for same reason...

All clubs have left good players go from their academies Pogba from Man U for example it just happens.

Shit happens.

He clearly didn't show the quality whilst at City and a new environment in Newport with different coaches and a different setup got a different side out of him than we saw.

Get over it.