' JOE LEDLEY '

Joe Ledley must act quickly to find new club and Cardiff City IS an option for the Wales star — Bluebirds fan column



By Scott Johnson


Tuesday 1st August 2017



On the one hand, it allows a footballer to take control of their future, the opportunity to examine the available options and negotiate a more lucrative salary.

It can also work the other way. By sacrificing long-term security, you run the risk of getting injured and facing a lengthy rehabilitation process without a club.

There is also the distinct possibility that the demand you expect does not materialise and you are left with only unappealing, sometimes inferior options.

To some extent, Joe Ledley has missed the boat. Had he been a free agent last summer, basking in the warm glow of the European Championships, he probably would have found suitable Premier League employment by now.

That was certainly the case for Hal Robson-Kanu. Largely unloved and unrated by Reading fans, he secured a move to West Brom off the back of ‘that goal’ against Belgium and recently agreed a new three-year deal with the club.

Ledley made only 13 starts for Crystal Palace last season, as they floundered under Alan Pardew, before their revival under Sam Allardyce.

In the previous season, he started 11 games and it’s fair to say that his stock has been higher.

Having struggled with his fitness in recent years, what Ledley needed more than anything this year was a good pre-season to set him up for the forthcoming campaign. He didn’t get it and he now faces an uphill battle just to catch up with everyone else.

Patched up for the European Championships, Ledley was running on fumes by the hour mark in most games and was withdrawn in four out of the five games he started.

For a central midfielder, he has been substituted frequently late in games, sitting out the final stages of half of his games for Palace in the last couple of years.

This particular statistic may or may not be warding off potential suitors, but Ledley certainly has a point to prove; that he can last the full 90 minutes on a regular basis and a poor pre-season won’t help.



The 30-year-old has reportedly turned down approaches from clubs in both Turkey and China, but has stated that he is open to offers from abroad.






But what most people in South Wales are wondering is: would he be open to an offer from his hometown club?


The reality is that if Cardiff City had designs on Ledley, a move probably would have happened by now.

Back in May, there was heightened speculation that a move was on the cards, but Neil Warnock was quick to pour cold water on the rumour. “I know Joe. I was at Palace with him, he’s a very good pro, but I’ve not heard from his people and I’ve not made any enquiries,” admitted Warnock.

Things change and football moves quickly. Since then, Cardiff have lost both Peter Whittingham and Emyr Huws, with Stuart O’Keefe surely set to follow. Loic Damour and Lee Tomlin have since arrived, but Cardiff still look rather thin in central midfield.

Imagine a midfield of Ledley and Aron Gunnarsson in support of Tomlin. It is certainly a combination to whet the appetite and capture the imagination of Cardiff supporters.




The Welshman remains a firm Cardiff fan favourite, despite leaving seven years ago for Celtic.

It was a controversial move at the time and caused plenty of resentment, as Ledley left as a free agent and by moving ‘abroad,’ cost the club a small fortune in compensation.

All that is water under the bridge now though. The local boy has done good and would be welcomed home with open arms.

Ledley’s move to Scotland is a prime example of a player using an expiring contract to his advantage, as he excelled up north and ended up eventually securing a move to the Premier League.

Maybe Ledley’s demands are too rich for Cardiff, but he may be forced to lower his standards as the weeks pass by.

Cardiff have shed several big earners this summer and more are likely to follow in the coming weeks. If they are still in the market for midfielders, the Bluebirds won’t get better for less and it would certainly add to the current feel-good factor at the club.




It would probably result in more bums on seats too.

Like his former Palace team mate and until recently, fellow free agent, Fraizer Campbell was also holding out for top flight offers, but had to instead settle for recently relegated Hull.

Ledley and Campbell might consider themselves worthy of a Premier League side, but employers may see things differently. It is up to Campbell to make the most of the opportunity to play more football at a lower level to prove the doubters wrong.

In some respects, Ledley need not be in any rush; the longer the current situation drags on, the more that the odds start to favour him again. Clubs will start to get desperate as the transfer window ebbs away and he can still secure a move after it closes.

It would be fascinating to see if Ledley would be tempted by an approach from Cardiff though. He may be keen to play at the highest level possible, but the chance to relocate to South Wales might be an offer too good to refuse.

If he could emulate Craig Bellamy’s achievement by leading Cardiff back to the Premier League, his local legacy would also be assured.

As far as I’m concerned, it’s time to bring Ledley home. There is a space in the team for him and, for nostalgic supporters like myself still mourning the departure of Whittingham, also a vacancy for a former favourite.

It could prove to be the final piece of the jigsaw too.

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I would go and get him

I would move on.
Sick of hearing about Ledley.

Obviously short of things to write about the City at the moment, so trying to create a story where there is not one.
Ledley has had his day at Cardiff City - we should look to the future. Warnock is building a squad of young, hungry professionals and Joe does not really fit in with that ethos. He did well for us in the past, and I'm sure we all thank him for that, but he is not our future.

Obviously short of things to write about the City at the moment, so trying to create a story where there is not one.
Ledley has had his day at Cardiff City - we should look to the future. Warnock is building a squad of young, hungry professionals and Joe does not really fit in with that ethos. He did well for us in the past, and I'm sure we all thank him for that, but he is not our future.

Mate, if he hadn't played for us previously nobody would want him.
He can't last a game and with no pre-season will be even worse this year.
Just a water carrier that's had his day.

I would move on.
Sick of hearing about Ledley.

I Agree

He needs to find a club and get fit otherwise he will lose his starting role with Wales and then his stock will really start to fall. Austria game is in a month !!

I can never get to grips with this guy's column. I'm sure he's a nice guy but it just seems like the musings of a single fan who sometimes goes against the masses just for his column.

How does he know Cardiff are an option for Ledley?

I would move on.
Sick of hearing about Ledley.

Paul, you are 100% correct

Ledley home? Not for me. The guy is a mercenary and (as I've said elsewhere) he would already be training with us if there was even a hint he was coming back, so that means we would (unsurprisingly) not be his first choice club and therefor it would make us 'convenient' and nothing more!

Scott Johnson states: "All that is water under the bridge now though. The local boy has done good and would be welcomed home with open arms"

Really? I don't know too many who think a Ledley return would be anything other than "a chance that it might work" and that could prove expensive!

We already have better (have let better go this summer) and it's really time to move on!

Joe Ledley is a bit like Wayne Rooney, in that they matured very young and as such their skills appear to be deserting them earlier than their peers. Joe Ledley left us to go to Celtic to line his own pockets, very different to our new Scottish right back who was desperate to see his old club get some compo. Joe is not a premier player anymore. I don't think Joe will be able to manage playing twice a week anymore, I think this would end like Jason Koumas' second spell at the club. Time for Cardiff to look to the future I believe.

I can never get to grips with this guy's column. I'm sure he's a nice guy but it just seems like the musings of a single fan who sometimes goes against the masses just for his column.

How does he know Cardiff are an option for Ledley?

I think you are completely right his column is a musing of a single fan. Mind you he is the last man standing from a number of fan contributors who used to write for the Echo a couple of years ago but one by one dropped out.

I have no issue with him and at the end of the day he is only giving an opinion which you either agree or disagree with.

I would move on.
Sick of hearing about Ledley.

Paul, you are 100% correct

Ledley home? Not for me. The guy is a mercenary and (as I've said elsewhere) he would already be training with us if there was even a hint he was coming back, so that means we would (unsurprisingly) not be his first choice club and therefor it would make us 'convenient' and nothing more!

Scott Johnson states: "All that is water under the bridge now though. The local boy has done good and would be welcomed home with open arms"

Really? I don't know too many who think a Ledley return would be anything other than "a chance that it might work" and that could prove expensive!

We already have better (have let better go this summer) and it's really time to move on!

A lot of sense there and I suppose you could sum it up with the question "is Ledley better than Joe Ralls?"

I don't really think so and Joe Ralls is already in place and his wages are nowhere near the minimum £15-20kpw Ledley would likely cost us.

He is not coming - said so himself

Super Joe

must be a reason why not found club yet ! not fit nice to see back at city thou but his wages are to high where tan as been cutting back

Obviously short of things to write about the City at the moment, so trying to create a story where there is not one.
Ledley has had his day at Cardiff City - we should look to the future. Warnock is building a squad of young, hungry professionals and Joe does not really fit in with that ethos. He did well for us in the past, and I'm sure we all thank him for that, but he is not our future.

Mate, if he hadn't played for us previously nobody would want him.
He can't last a game and with no pre-season will be even worse this year.
Just a water carrier that's had his day.

Totally agree, not what we need, I really don't understand all this Ledley loving average footballer

I feel that h can only go abroad.

His wages at Celtic and Palace may have made him unusable here.

He didn't shine at Palace and has now been bumped out-
Is he strong and fit enough for the championship????

He may end up a panic purchase one more likely abroad if he wants to keep earning wages arguably higher than
Maybe his level suggests.

Great guy

Not a dig. Price too high, can he do damage in championship?????

We need a quality squad sign now up

Its a big no from me.

Depends on how much Ledley wants to sign for us and if Warnock sees a clear role for him.

If he wants to sign he'll have to take a significant pay cut.

I dislike John Terry on many levels but you have to respect the fact he has dropped down to the Championship and while Villa are shedding out a great deal for his services he could have earned much much more abroad or in the Premier league, so in fact has taken a huge pay cut to remain in the English system. Ledley, could do the same if he really wanted to and if the club wanted him.