‘ Sol Bamba ‘
Tue Mar 03, 2020 5:13 pm
Sol Bamba
By Glen Williams
Tuesday 3rd March 2020
The Bluebirds fan favourite once again turned out for the under-23s, as he has done many times this season, and is a big influence on those youngsters coming through.
This week represents a year since he sustained that horrible ACL tear against Watford in the Premier League and, in that time, he has played just eight games of senior football – just 98 minutes of which has come in the league.
Following City's 6-1 drubbing at the hands of QPR on New Year's Day, the towering Ivorian, who turned 35 in January, has played just one minute of Championship football.
He has not been in the first-team squad for a month now and one gets the feeling he has slipped right down that pecking order.
Given Sean Morrison and Curtis Nelson are seemingly Harris' first choice now, with Aden Flint as back-up on the bench, Bamba finds himself in limbo and has himself admitted that he is desperate to play .
But perhaps this is is indicative of Bamba's status in the squad now.
Against Watford's under-23s, he showed glimpses of his old self, setting up one of Isaak Davies' goals with a powerful header in the Hornets' box and he stopped a number of dangerous crosses being whipped in from the left.
He made a few crucial interventions, but one wonders whether the week-in, week-out rigmarole of the Championship is just a bridge too far for him now.
There is no doubt that, should there be an injury crisis, he could be elevated straight into that first team and give a top performance, as he did against Sheffield Wednesday at the end of last year.
But perhaps, down in the under-23s, we are seeing where his future truly lies.
Yes, he has penned a contract extension which will run until the end of the 2022 season, but a player-coach role under Morison and assistant Tom Ramasut would be hugely beneficial to the Bluebirds.
It would be yet another positive link between the first team and the academy, which has been missing in recent years, and would ensure a wealth of Championship and international experience is not lost.
He is a tremendous ambassador for the club, but we are perhaps seeing a slight shift in his role.
Emergency back-up, certainly, but with a big part to play in bringing through the next wave of talent.
By Glen Williams
Tuesday 3rd March 2020
The Bluebirds fan favourite once again turned out for the under-23s, as he has done many times this season, and is a big influence on those youngsters coming through.
This week represents a year since he sustained that horrible ACL tear against Watford in the Premier League and, in that time, he has played just eight games of senior football – just 98 minutes of which has come in the league.
Following City's 6-1 drubbing at the hands of QPR on New Year's Day, the towering Ivorian, who turned 35 in January, has played just one minute of Championship football.
He has not been in the first-team squad for a month now and one gets the feeling he has slipped right down that pecking order.
Given Sean Morrison and Curtis Nelson are seemingly Harris' first choice now, with Aden Flint as back-up on the bench, Bamba finds himself in limbo and has himself admitted that he is desperate to play .
But perhaps this is is indicative of Bamba's status in the squad now.
Against Watford's under-23s, he showed glimpses of his old self, setting up one of Isaak Davies' goals with a powerful header in the Hornets' box and he stopped a number of dangerous crosses being whipped in from the left.
He made a few crucial interventions, but one wonders whether the week-in, week-out rigmarole of the Championship is just a bridge too far for him now.
There is no doubt that, should there be an injury crisis, he could be elevated straight into that first team and give a top performance, as he did against Sheffield Wednesday at the end of last year.
But perhaps, down in the under-23s, we are seeing where his future truly lies.
Yes, he has penned a contract extension which will run until the end of the 2022 season, but a player-coach role under Morison and assistant Tom Ramasut would be hugely beneficial to the Bluebirds.
It would be yet another positive link between the first team and the academy, which has been missing in recent years, and would ensure a wealth of Championship and international experience is not lost.
He is a tremendous ambassador for the club, but we are perhaps seeing a slight shift in his role.
Emergency back-up, certainly, but with a big part to play in bringing through the next wave of talent.
Re: ‘ Sol Bamba ‘
Wed Mar 04, 2020 7:51 am
This article makes sense, hopefully it will happen and Sol will naturally go into coaching. Over the remainder of his playing contract, he’s a reliable option if required and a mentor to less experienced players. I’m sure it was the Wolves game (not Watford) he got the bad injury, but I may be wrong as even though I was there, my memory is terrible. 