' Sell Luxury Bruno Manga? '

Cardiff City should sell expensive luxury Bruno Manga and use money to land Tony Watt full time


FRIDAY 18 DEC 2015


BY SCOTT JOHNSON


Bluebirds season ticket holder Scott Johnson argues Manga is club's best player, but believes Cardiff have enough quality centre-backs and should cash in


Bruno Ecuele Manga celebrates after scoring a goal for Cardiff CityBruno Ecuele Manga celebrates after scoring a goal for Cardiff City

When people look back at this particular period of Cardiff City’s history in terms of transfers and the cash shelled out, chances are that Andreas Cornelius’ name will crop up.

Certainly, he could be the poster man for those who think the club have wasted a lot of money on players over the last few years.



A record signing at the time, he appeared every so often before the club decided to cut their losses on him a few months after.

It was a signing that arguably led to Malky Mackay and Iain Moody losing their jobs and may have cost Cardiff any chance they had of maintaining their Premier League status too.

But, despite that, I would argue that Bruno Ecuele Manga may have been the most indulgent signing made in the past few years.



Cornelius may have been a misguided signing and proved to be an epic flop, but he was highly regarded and, in theory at least, appeared to fit the bill. Manga, on the other hand, appears to have been bought simply because the club fancied him.

A very good player, reminiscent of Kolo Toure in his prime, Manga may have claim to being Cardiff’s best player, yet he can’t get in the side at present.

When Cardiff signed him, they already had Matthew Connolly, Ben Turner, club captain Mark Hudson and Juan Cala – a quartet of centre backs to rival that of any opponent in the division.

They had recently brought in Sean Morrison for around £2.5m from Reading and also had Danny Gabbidon lined up, the former Bluebird coming back to sign on the same day as Manga.

But the club have too any centre-backs,Cardiff paid Lorient roughly double the cost of Morrison to secure Manga, making him their seventh senior centre back.

Cardiff did well to recoup most of what they spent on big signings when they were relegated, but then spent a whole lot more to provide Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with a huge squad, brimming with talent.

Unfortunately, Solskjaer was dismissed just over two weeks after the transfer window had closed.

Russell Slade has been firefighting since and although Manga was a roaring success last season, winning the Player of the Year accolade, Cardiff never troubled the play-off spots.

Manga has yet to start for Cardiff in the league this season, his campaign interrupted by a groin injury sustained on international duty with Gabon. But prior to that Manga was warming the bench before picking up a knock and remains a substitute even though he has regained fitness.

Slade has his favourites and Manga is just not one of them at present.

Matthew Connolly – far too underrated – and Sean Morrison have performed admirably in Manga’s place and you can understand why Slade has been reluctant to break up the partnership.

But while it’s great to have players of Manga’s calibre in reserve, it’s also a little bit ridiculous really, especially in the second tier.

Morrison was in many respects a fairly indulgent signing too, seemingly brought in to be the new Hudson when most were perfectly happy the original.

Many would like to see Manga replace him in the side and would argue that recent collapses against Burnley and Sheffield Wednesday would have been less likely with him in situ, yet that neglects consideration of the deficiencies to be found elsewhere in the side.

Should Cardiff City cash in and sell star defender Bruno Manga?
YES
NO


Then there is the Ben Turner factor to consider. Sidelined with a bad ankle injury for the opening months of the current campaign, he has played in Coventry’s last four games. His loan deal there ends in a few weeks, but may yet be extended, and his contract at Cardiff expires in the summer.

Theoretically, Turner is currently fourth choice and Kenwyne Jones appears to be the priority as far as contract talks go with the Trinidad striker’s current deal also entering its final few months.

But Turner, who turns 28 next month, has been a massive player for Cardiff during his four-and-a-half years at the club and if he has fully recovered from his injury, it would seem foolish of the club to let him walk away as a free agent next summer.

This situation works each way though; for Turner to extend his deal, he will likely seek assurances about his role in the squad. His prospects do not look too rosy at present, but the situation is intrinsically linked to that of Manga.



You cannot consider the situation of one without factoring in the other.

With Connolly and Morrison seemingly first choice, Manga and Turner are on the periphery and it is unlikely that either will be over the moon about that.

You would expect each to welcome transfer speculation when the winter transfer window opens next month and the club may have to consider cashing in on one or the other.

If they don’t want Turner to walk away on a free transfer or let Manga’s value depreciate, they will have to make a choice at some point.

The sensible, albeit less attractive of the two options, would be to give Turner a new contract and cash in on Manga. With only 18 months left on his current deal, it is unlikely that Manga would agree to an extension under the current circumstances and the club cannot enable him to run down his contract.

It wouldn’t sit well; Manga remains very popular and you’d doubt cashing in would help season ticket sales, but a selling the centre-back could generate funds to reinforce other areas of the squad that require more urgent attention.

We should not only keep him but he should be integral part of squad , we are leaking too many goals.

Any injuries and we don't have the class back up we need.

Another of Slade wont play him until one of his defenders are injured

We should not only keep him but he should be integral part of squad , we are leaking too many goals.

Any injuries and we don't have the class back up we need.

Another of Slade wont play him until one of his defenders are injured

Who is this muppet Johnson!

I would rather sell Morrison Connolly and Turner before Manga.

Sell Manga and another great reason to tell supporters not to bother going

Keep Manga at all costs. Sell Turner to Cov, he seems to be enjoying himself up there.

I honestly wish we hadn't sold Mark Hudson. Superb defender and the captain that we really need. And he loved playing for Cardiff.

I honestly wish we hadn't sold Mark Hudson. Superb defender and the captain that we really need. And he loved playing for Cardiff.

The way he was treated was a disgrace!!!!

The amount of goals we're leaking I'd say keep Manga and put him back in the team.

Manga should be playing instead of Morrison imo

Clueless article

I honestly wish we hadn't sold Mark Hudson. Superb defender and the captain that we really need. And he loved playing for Cardiff.

The way he was treated was a disgrace!!!!

Ole was at fault for all that.

I honestly wish we hadn't sold Mark Hudson. Superb defender and the captain that we really need. And he loved playing for Cardiff.

The way he was treated was a disgrace!!!!

It was disgusting considering how well he did for us both on and off the field.

Clueless article

It is awful. Its that bad I just scanned the rest of Wales Off-Line's archive of pieces by Scott Johnson. What a load of guff.- do they actually pay him for this? No wonder its the last place people look online for decent football content.

Another load of garbage from Scott Johnson.

I honestly wish we hadn't sold Mark Hudson. Superb defender and the captain that we really need. And he loved playing for Cardiff.

The way he was treated was a disgrace!!!!

It was disgusting considering how well he did for us both on and off the field.

A player of his standing and good charachter deserved to be treated with a lot more respect.

Perhaps Ole didnt like the way he was top man amongst the lads.

He was a proper leader of men. whos leadership qualities have not been replaced 18 months later.

cant stand scott johnson

Total rubbish. Why sell our best players? I would pick him alongside Connolly.

cant stand scott johnson

No idea who he is

Yet another example of this guy Johnson being a total half wit. Why - as we are trying to gain promotion - would we sell our best defender??? If we are trying to offload any of our current centre halves, then surely it should be our worst one, Sean Mirrison. Manga should be playing every single game for us, not sitting on the bench. I am amazed how Bruno is on the sidelines at the moment, with Morrison getting picked week in and week out. Only at Cardiff City would that happen. If this was any other club in the Championship and they had to choose their best centre half pairing out of Manga, Connolly and Morrison. I guarantee, every last one of them would choose the partnership of Manga and Connolly. Without a shadow of a doubt!!! The only reason why Morrison is in the side at the moment, is because he pops up with a few goals now and then. Having said that, Morrison is at fault for the large majority of goals that we concede, due to his lack of pace, his poor positioning and his numerous other poor attributes. We must start tonight and for the rest of the season with Manga and Connolly as our centre halves. Then if one of them gets injured, we should recall Ben Turner and play him ahead of Morrison. In fact, next season I wouldn't even have Morrison as my 2nd choice back up centre half, behind Ben Turner. I would much rather give Adedeji Oshilaja or Semi Ajayi a chance ahead of Morrison. The both of them are strong, good in the air, pacey, hungry, highly rated and more importantly younger than Morrison. I especially like Oshilaja and I do feel that when he returns to the club at the end of the season, we should give him a new contract and finally give him a chance in the first team. I feel that when his loan at Gillingham ends, that he will have learned as much as he is going too being out on loan and it would be pointless him going out on loan to another team next season. I feel that he will be good enough and experienced enough to deal with the Championship, in my opinion. He's been a good servant to this club and he has been here for years now, so surely next year is his chance to shine. It's now or never. Good luck son.

Bloooooobirds.

Since he is not playing I assume he is as good as gone

On now

I honestly wish we hadn't sold Mark Hudson. Superb defender and the captain that we really need. And he loved playing for Cardiff.

The way he was treated was a disgrace!!!!

Agreed

In terms of the opening post it's one of the best pieces he's wrote

He's spot on in the fact that we do have four very good centre backs at this level and they are all good enough to be first choice in most sides in this division, add to that they probably all know they are good enough and one of them is bound to become frustrated that will lead to them either a she says running down their contracts where by we Recoeve nothing for them or we cash in on one of them now, whilst I agree manga is arguably the best of the 4 I also feel he represents the best sale able asset and as I'm happy with the other 3 at our disposal I would reluctantly let him go providing we can recoup the fee paid for him which was said to be around £3.5m at the time and providing slade gets £2m of that to reinvest in the squad I feel it would represent the best move for all parties, I would then look to give turner a new contract he is very good at this level and would be on far less a week than manga IMO

We then keep 3 excellent centre backs at this level and we also have the young ajeyi as cover should it be needed and peltier can also do a job at that back should it become that necessary

No get rid of Jones not Manga.

Since when did this Johnson guy become THE best manager in the world,really does talk some crap. Manga is so composed on the ball no matter what pressure he is under. Pity we can't clone another 9 outfield players out of him.

He shit me up a few times last night but dealt with the situation extremely well, shame to see Morrison go off as I think Manga and Morrison will compliment each other well, I wasn't keen on Morrison but feel he has improved this season. We have 4 excellent centre backs at this level

I had my mate over last night who is the fairest of fair weather fans and he couldn't believe the composure of Manga compared to the rest of the defenders. Selling your best players is the way to be promoted