" The Cardiff City Player From Unwanted to irreplaceable "

Stuart O’Keefe: Unwanted to irreplaceable
Tuesday March 8, 2016

By Jamie Kemble


Cardiff City, Stuart O'Keefe



Stuart O’Keefe: Unwanted to irreplaceable



When Stuart O’Keefe was thrown into the Bluebirds’ starting line-up against Wolves in the middle of January, very few expected him to shine in the way he did but almost two months on and he has become an almost irreplaceable part of Russell Slade’s promotion plans.

The fiery midfielder was signed from Crystal Palace at the end of January 2015 for a fee of around £750,000 but he soon disappeared to the development side, despite being relatively highly rated by former club, Premier League club Crystal Palace.


It took almost a whole year for O’Keefe to break into the starting XI on a permanent basis but now he has Cardiff supporters wondering: “where has he been?”.

As January approached, Cardiff City supporters were beginning to look at the transfer market, identifying dogged midfielders like Kevin Nolan as potential targets but they certainly didn’t think they had the right type of player kicking around in the development team.



Fifteen days after the opening day of the January transfer window, Stuart O’Keefe wowed supporters in a stunning midfield performance at Molineux as the Bluebirds took a solid 3-1 win home to South Wales.

Almost two months on and you would be hard pressed to find a single fan who sees O’Keefe as a dispensable part of the Cardiff City team. Solid performance after solid performance means the 25-year-old is now a crucial part of the Bluebirds’ midfield, providing the physical solidarity which seemed to be absent earlier on in the season.

Aron Gunnarsson has provided to physical edge for a number years but since their relegation from the Premier League there was always the feeling that Cardiff hadn’t recovered in that department since the departure of the aggressive Gary Medel.



O’Keefe has stepped in and hit the ground running despite having a torrid year in the club’s reserves. Some players lose their positive attitude after spending time outside the starting line-up but clearly, that doesn’t apply to Stuart O’Keefe who waited patiently for his opportunity before grabbing it with both hands.

It’s refreshing to watch a player has who worked tirelessly to earn a place in the team and to watch a player who still works tirelessly to keep his place in the team. Supporters like a player who gives his all for the club and O’Keefe is one of those players, the type of which has been sorely missed at Cardiff City Stadium in recent years.

The former Palace man netted his first Cardiff City goal at Ashton Gate last Saturday to seal three points for Russell Slade’s men.

O’Keefe may slip under the radar at times but there is no doubt that whatever Cardiff City achieve come May, he will have been a pivotal part of it. The addition of Lex Immers and Tom Lawrence to supplement the introduction of Stuart O’Keefe has completely reshaped the Bluebirds season and they now have a real fighting chance of reaching the top six.

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Majority of people never have him the time of day

Good honest hardworking pro....didn't cost anywhere near £750k though

Stuart O’Keefe: Unwanted to irreplaceable
Tuesday March 8, 2016

By Jamie Kemble


Cardiff City, Stuart O'Keefe



Stuart O’Keefe: Unwanted to irreplaceable



When Stuart O’Keefe was thrown into the Bluebirds’ starting line-up against Wolves in the middle of January, very few expected him to shine in the way he did but almost two months on and he has become an almost irreplaceable part of Russell Slade’s promotion plans.

The fiery midfielder was signed from Crystal Palace at the end of January 2015 for a fee of around £750,000 but he soon disappeared to the development side, despite being relatively highly rated by former club, Premier League club Crystal Palace.


It took almost a whole year for O’Keefe to break into the starting XI on a permanent basis but now he has Cardiff supporters wondering: “where has he been?”.

As January approached, Cardiff City supporters were beginning to look at the transfer market, identifying dogged midfielders like Kevin Nolan as potential targets but they certainly didn’t think they had the right type of player kicking around in the development team.



Fifteen days after the opening day of the January transfer window, Stuart O’Keefe wowed supporters in a stunning midfield performance at Molineux as the Bluebirds took a solid 3-1 win home to South Wales.

Almost two months on and you would be hard pressed to find a single fan who sees O’Keefe as a dispensable part of the Cardiff City team. Solid performance after solid performance means the 25-year-old is now a crucial part of the Bluebirds’ midfield, providing the physical solidarity which seemed to be absent earlier on in the season.

Aron Gunnarsson has provided to physical edge for a number years but since their relegation from the Premier League there was always the feeling that Cardiff hadn’t recovered in that department since the departure of the aggressive Gary Medel.



O’Keefe has stepped in and hit the ground running despite having a torrid year in the club’s reserves. Some players lose their positive attitude after spending time outside the starting line-up but clearly, that doesn’t apply to Stuart O’Keefe who waited patiently for his opportunity before grabbing it with both hands.

It’s refreshing to watch a player has who worked tirelessly to earn a place in the team and to watch a player who still works tirelessly to keep his place in the team. Supporters like a player who gives his all for the club and O’Keefe is one of those players, the type of which has been sorely missed at Cardiff City Stadium in recent years.

The former Palace man netted his first Cardiff City goal at Ashton Gate last Saturday to seal three points for Russell Slade’s men.

O’Keefe may slip under the radar at times but there is no doubt that whatever Cardiff City achieve come May, he will have been a pivotal part of it. The addition of Lex Immers and Tom Lawrence to supplement the introduction of Stuart O’Keefe has completely reshaped the Bluebirds season and they now have a real fighting chance of reaching the top six.

Always said he would come good ,energetic player

Stuart O’Keefe: Unwanted to irreplaceable
Tuesday March 8, 2016

By Jamie Kemble


Cardiff City, Stuart O'Keefe



Stuart O’Keefe: Unwanted to irreplaceable



When Stuart O’Keefe was thrown into the Bluebirds’ starting line-up against Wolves in the middle of January, very few expected him to shine in the way he did but almost two months on and he has become an almost irreplaceable part of Russell Slade’s promotion plans.

The fiery midfielder was signed from Crystal Palace at the end of January 2015 for a fee of around £750,000 but he soon disappeared to the development side, despite being relatively highly rated by former club, Premier League club Crystal Palace.


It took almost a whole year for O’Keefe to break into the starting XI on a permanent basis but now he has Cardiff supporters wondering: “where has he been?”.

As January approached, Cardiff City supporters were beginning to look at the transfer market, identifying dogged midfielders like Kevin Nolan as potential targets but they certainly didn’t think they had the right type of player kicking around in the development team.



Fifteen days after the opening day of the January transfer window, Stuart O’Keefe wowed supporters in a stunning midfield performance at Molineux as the Bluebirds took a solid 3-1 win home to South Wales.

Almost two months on and you would be hard pressed to find a single fan who sees O’Keefe as a dispensable part of the Cardiff City team. Solid performance after solid performance means the 25-year-old is now a crucial part of the Bluebirds’ midfield, providing the physical solidarity which seemed to be absent earlier on in the season.

Aron Gunnarsson has provided to physical edge for a number years but since their relegation from the Premier League there was always the feeling that Cardiff hadn’t recovered in that department since the departure of the aggressive Gary Medel.



O’Keefe has stepped in and hit the ground running despite having a torrid year in the club’s reserves. Some players lose their positive attitude after spending time outside the starting line-up but clearly, that doesn’t apply to Stuart O’Keefe who waited patiently for his opportunity before grabbing it with both hands.

It’s refreshing to watch a player has who worked tirelessly to earn a place in the team and to watch a player who still works tirelessly to keep his place in the team. Supporters like a player who gives his all for the club and O’Keefe is one of those players, the type of which has been sorely missed at Cardiff City Stadium in recent years.

The former Palace man netted his first Cardiff City goal at Ashton Gate last Saturday to seal three points for Russell Slade’s men.

O’Keefe may slip under the radar at times but there is no doubt that whatever Cardiff City achieve come May, he will have been a pivotal part of it. The addition of Lex Immers and Tom Lawrence to supplement the introduction of Stuart O’Keefe has completely reshaped the Bluebirds season and they now have a real fighting chance of reaching the top six.

Always said he would come good ,energetic player

I seem to remember Wes that he came here of the back of an injury and was nowhere near first team fitness when he arrived.That would explain why initialy he was not looked at.

In all honesty I never saw that one coming and I wouldn't be far wrong by saying nor did nearly everyone else.