" KEN CHOO SPEAKS ABOUT THE FUTURE "

KEN CHOO

Wednesday 13th April 2016

Ken highlighted his commitment to Development football and the greater obligation on the Football Club to nurture tomorrow’s talent for optimum results, adding finally: “In a nutshell, we may sometimes sacrifice short-term gains at times so as to build a future for the Football Club from within.

“If we don’t allow players to spend time away on loan – where they can learn from the temperament of senior professionals, experience a full stadium and manage professional expectations – then they can stagnate. If we focus on a core and don’t look outside of that for new and fresh talent, then we’re being naive.

“It’s important that our supporters know what our development strategy is. Results are always welcomed, but it's key that they come as part of an overarching strategy.”

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CONTINUED KEN CHOO

Cardiff City CEO, Ken Choo, has spoken in detail regarding the Club’s current development policy and the structures in place for nurturing and unearthing future talent.

Cardiff City’s Development/Under 21 squad underpins the first-team group, acting as an essential link between Academy football (U9-16) and senior level. Under the principals of EPPP (Elite Player Performance Plan) that have been in situ since the start of the 2012/13 season, the DVP/U21 group are able to play regularly at a competitive level, tailored to their stage of development.

The Bluebirds won the Professional Development League Two (South) in 2013/14, having come runners-up the previous year.

Monday’s 1-0 victory over Hull City saw them move up to second spot in this year’s table and marked their tenth game without defeat. With three games remaining, another end of season Play-Off spot looks to be well within grasp.



But as Ken discusses, the onus in 2016 and going forward is on finding first-team talent through a number of means that could, at some stage, curtail results. In his words, it’s about incurring ‘short term pain, for long term gain.’

“We have had a thorough revamp of our Development level structure during the last twelve months,” Ken notes. “Kevin Nicholson took over as U21 Manager back in February 2015, whilst Michael Johnson came to the Club as his assistant last summer. They are employing our strategy of keeping the development group fluid – sourcing good loan moves for some of our best prospects, working with our core to improve current levels, whilst bringing through some of our more advanced U18s into DVP/U21 football.

“We’re delighted with the way the young players are progressing and to see that coupled with their fine form as a core group is hugely encouraging. Monday’s win against Hull puts us firmly in the hunt again this season – but at this level of football, it’s about finding the right balance between on-field results and long-term development.

“Naturally, by sending our youngsters on loan we are cherry-picking from the Development group. This may affect on-field results at times, but we don’t see results as the most important aspect to Development football. Yes, you want to develop a winning culture at youth level which we’re doing, but that can’t be at the expense of player development.

Pointless us having a youth development policy...non of them ever get an opportunity to play in our the first team!!!!

Pointless us having a youth development policy...non of them ever get an opportunity to play in our the first team!!!!

The same at most other clubs, only I tiny fraction make it from youth to 1st team place ,most others get shifted to other clubs on loan or transferred ,even clubs with good academies it's the same

How about trying a few youngsters out in cup games!!!????

Ken Choo is 100% correct. Young players will learn more on loan as Ken said. I think DVP is a a waste of time

Pointless us having a youth development policy...non of them ever get an opportunity to play in our the first team!!!!

Why play them in the first team? Just for certain sections of our support to slam them and say they aren't good enough?
Let's just wait until they are good enough, we can do that by playing them in the league system. If they play well in league two, loan them to someone in league one. If they do well there, loan them to a championship club. Then bring them into our first team.
This system of loaning out to get first team competitive football is far better than any reserve/development football. Well done to the club for this, you can not judge how good a player is just by watching training or a half arsed reserve game.

The difference in pace of a league game and a development game is immense, there's just no way of getting a player up to speed without loaning them out to another competitive team in the football league.

Fantastic to hear these sort of comments coming out the club. If the club shows patience and faith in young players then the fans are willing to be much more patient themselves, and with the fantastic offers and PR the club are paying to the fans right now we could really grow our fanbase again.

Hopefully a couple will break into the team next season.

I get the feeling that, whoever our manager may be next year, they're going to be expected to blood a few of our youngsters.

I wonder how long the good PR will last. If we get promoted and fans come flogging back will they bump prices up and stop giving a shit?... That will be a true test to how much they actually give a f**k.

I get the feeling that, whoever our manager may be next year, they're going to be expected to blood a few of our youngsters.

Good post.

There were times in the mid 2000's when we were forced to blood youngsters because of financial difficulty-. We were -lucky because Sam H had revamped the academy and we saw a flutter of graduates such as Ledley, Gunter, Collins, Ramsey (all going to this summers Euros) as well as Jerome and Mathews and others.

As we are now a club living within our means I'm so glad that the club has decided to refocus on the academy again and hopefully we will see more young players coming through over the coming seasons.

Pointless us having a youth development policy...non of them ever get an opportunity to play in our the first team!!!!

Joe Ralls?