NEIL HARRIS DECIDING ON WHO TO KEEP & LET GO

Cardiff City boss Neil Harris has been keeping busy during lockdown running the rule over prospective transfer targets.


NEIL HARRIS:


"It becomes about recruitment - thinking about the squad, thinking about out-of-contract players," he told the BBC.


"What are the financial implications going to be on football and our club in particular?

"Are we going to be able to bring anybody in? There is a lot of talk about recruitment at the moment."

As ever, incomings will be dependant on outgoings, with Cardiff chief Mehmet Dalman admitting that finances across the division are going to be tight as a result of football's current paralysis.

With that in mind we've assessed the state of the Bluebirds squad and asked the question: who stays and who goes?


BBC


Wednesday 6th May 2020



GOALKEEPERS

One of Harris' three first-team keepers will have to leave this summer. Alex Smithies is the current number one, usurping Neil Etheridge at the start of the last campaign, and he hasn't looked back since.

Etheridge was linked with West Ham and Aston Villa over the past two windows, and he is the most sellable out of the three stoppers, with Joe Day coming back from his Wimbledon loan stint.

Verdict: Keep Smithies, keep Day as back-up, sell Etheridge

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DEFENCE

Dion Sanderson

The Wolves right-back has done well since his loan switch from Molineux and his experience at Cardiff City Stadium will stand him in good stead going forward. Would be mutually beneficial if his deal could be extended next term, with minutes more likely in South Wales than in the Midlands. Worth a phone call to explore, but it could be tricky with competition expected.

Verdict: Keep (if they can)






Joe Bennett

Mr Dependable at left-back, Bennett is a player who needs to be retained by Harris next term. Has been a tremendous servant over the past five years.

Verdict: Keep




Sean Morrison

The skipper leads by example on the pitch and provides experience too. Lacks pace but leadership skills unquestionable.

Verdict: Keep





Aden Flint

Brought in for big money last summer, Flint hasn't quite lived up to the billing. If they could recoup some of the fee that they paid Middlesbrough for him, and with the Bluebirds having numbers at centre-back, he could potentially be moved on. Has done pretty well under Harris, in fairness.

Verdict: Jury out

Curtis Nelson

One of the breakthrough players of the Harris era. Has done well since his summer switch from Oxford United and looks to be a mainstay next term. Strong and quick and is well suited to the rough and tumble of the division.

Verdict: Keep




Greg Cunningham

Something of an unknown quantity to Harris, with injury keeping him sidelined while he was on loan at Blackburn. He'll have a point to prove.

Verdict: Keep - but will have to impress when he returns to fitness







Jazz Richards

Out of contract at Cardiff City Stadium at the end of the season and is likely to be released.

Verdict: Set to leave







Sol Bamba

The fans' favourite played a watching brief for most of the season after his recovery from serious injury took longer than planned. Has a year left on his deal, with a coaching role lined up afterwards.

Verdict: Keep







Brad Smith

On loan from Bournemouth and more than likely to return there.

Verdict: Back with the Cherries





Ciaron Brown

Set to return to the Welsh capital after spending a spell north of the border with Livingston. Harris has talked up Brown for next season, so expect him to stick around.

Verdict: Keep

MIDFIELD and WINGERS


Will Vaulks has been in superb form for Cardiff City (Image: Huw Evans Agency)


Will Vaulks

One of Harris' crucial players. Industrious, a goal threat and with a potent long throw, he is developing into a firm favourite in South Wales.

Verdict: Keep







Leandro Bacuna

A utility man who does the dirty work, his early-season form divided opinion but has since been a key cog in the Bluebirds' engine room.

Verdict: Keep





Joe Ralls

A player who Harris was desperate to get back playing, with Ralls on the sidelines when the new manager arrived. Labelled him a "superstar" - now must live up to that billing.

Verdict: Keep






Josh Murphy

Was subject of interest from Celtic in January, and with options available on the flanks, Harris could be tempted to cash in should the Scottish giants come calling again. Most certainly one of the Bluebirds' more sellable assets.

Verdict: Sell


Albert Adomah of Cardiff City (Image: © Huw Evans Picture Agency)


Albert Adomah

Has done very well since arriving from Nottingham Forest on loan. Likely to be on a sizeable financial package, and at 32, is he one for the future? Probably done enough to explore a deal, though.

Verdict: Keep, if a decent deal could be struck

Marlon Pack

Provides leadership in a team that perhaps lacks it on occasions. Not the quickest but does boss the centre of the park, and has a decent passing range.

Verdict: Keep

Lee Tomlin

Harris should continue to build his team around the mercurial number 10. An absolute must-keep player.

Verdict: Have to keep

Nathaniel Mendez-Laing

Campaign was cruelly ended by injury - although he could be back to play a part should games return this season. Bad luck has blighted him but on his day his powerful running can terrorise full-backs.

Verdict: Keep

Gavin Whyte

In need of minutes for his own development and perhaps needs to toughen up to the physicality of the Championship. Has plenty of time on his side, though. A loan deal elsewhere could work.

Verdict: Keep, perhaps loan him out

Junior Hoilett

Has enough class to be given another year at least. One gets the impression that he could finish his career across the pond, but retaining his services for next term is preferential.

Verdict : Keep

STRIKERS




Robert Glatzel

The Bluebirds splashed out so much money on Glatzel that they will likely give him another season to prove his worth. His goal return of five for a £5million fee has not been good enough thus far.

Verdict: Keep - but needs to prove himself





Isaac Vassell

Rotten luck has plagued his time in South Wales, suffering two serious injury knee injuries. Has another year to go on current deal. Can Harris rely on him?

Verdict: Sell



Danny Ward

Out of contract at the end of the season. An excellent finisher but one would expect he will be released, especially with little noise coming out of the club over an extension.

Verdict: He's off


Omar Bogle

On loan with Den Haag and also out of contract. He'll be released.

Verdict: Also off






Callum Paterson

Another utility man, his workmanlike displays are what Bluebirds fans really appreciate. Still scoring goals, too - he's picked up seven so far this term.

Verdict: Keep

Simple really who should leave hmmm....Connolly,Flint,Whyte And Glatzel.

Simple really who should leave hmmm....Connolly,Flint,Whyte And Glatzel.

If we assume nobody is coming in, we’d have to keep Glatzel. Agree with others though.

Omar on his way , tweeting

Unappreciated, undervalued and misjudged but the best of me is going to be someone’s treasure once again. I have the reigns on my life! #Maverick

If I'm being honest I would sell or release all of the strikers at the club and start again. They are all useless. Ward is the best or the lot but is too Injury prone.

We need a clear out and start again

Lose :

Etheridge
Richard's
Connolly
Flint
Bacuna
Glatzel
Bogle
Whyte
Ward
Vassell ( keep on pay as you play )

Omar on his way , tweeting

Unappreciated, undervalued and misjudged but the best of me is going to be someone’s treasure once again. I have the reigns on my life! #Maverick

He showed pretty much Zero in the multiple chances he has had here.
The best of him is not good enough for the championship.
The chances have been there as we have not had a proper striker for years and successive managers have chosen a utility player to start ahead of him. That says it all really about his ability. I dont think it's been misjudged at all and his value to this club is pretty much nothing .

Josh and Glatzel will be going nowhere. Cardiff City will be the peak of their footballing careers and their agents know it. We are paying top dollar and under the current worlds view of football finance nobody is going to offer them even the same terms.

I guess there will be some pretty tasty free agents around in the closed season so why would clubs splash out on transfer fees.

All those whose contact expires will be gone but Sol remains the big conundrum will he retire into a coaching role this season ? otherwise we have 5 centre half's

I can see a lot of "mutual agreements" made during the closed season. For instance are we willing to accept a peppercorn fee for someone like Flint to go to Bristol just to get him off the pay roll without having to pay up his contract. I am imagining we accept something like £100k and Bristol offer you terms you are happy with and we part with no compensation. The agents are going to have to work for their clients rather than themselves for once.

I think huge squads will be a thing of the past. The U23's will have to make up the numbers

The financial impact of COVID-19 is going to be the biggest denominator. All of our out of contract players and probably all the loan players will be released or sent back to their parent clubs.

As much as we might want rid of players e.g. Flint/Murphy in all likelihood clubs in the UK and Europe will not be in a position to be able to offer a decent transfer fee or match their current wages unless the players are willing to accept some obscure deal from a foreign club in the far east e.g. China or we are prepared to give free transfers to Flint/Murphy just to get them off the pay roll.

The prudent thing to do is rid ourselves of what we can and use younger players from the academy to supplement the squad until we can ride out the financial hit of COVID-19.

Josh and Glatzel will be going nowhere. Cardiff City will be the peak of their footballing careers and their agents know it. We are paying top dollar and under the current worlds view of football finance nobody is going to offer them even the same terms.

I guess there will be some pretty tasty free agents around in the closed season so why would clubs splash out on transfer fees.

All those whose contact expires will be gone but Sol remains the big conundrum will he retire into a coaching role this season ? otherwise we have 5 centre half's

I can see a lot of "mutual agreements" made during the closed season. For instance are we willing to accept a peppercorn fee for someone like Flint to go to Bristol just to get him off the pay roll without having to pay up his contract. I am imagining we accept something like £100k and Bristol offer you terms you are happy with and we part with no compensation. The agents are going to have to work for their clients rather than themselves for once.

I think huge squads will be a thing of the past. The U23's will have to make up the numbers

Flint might go back to Bristol City but they won't pay a penny for him and in all likelihood he will have to accept a substantial pay cut as BCFC have the same financial hit as every other club. Personally I would be happy if he went on a free just to get him off the pay roll with Sol covering the gap whilst he works towards taking over as manager one day.

Fully agree that the U23's are needed to fill the gaps created by the released players.

Omar on his way , tweeting

Unappreciated, undervalued and misjudged but the best of me is going to be someone’s treasure once again. I have the reigns on my life! #Maverick

Good grief Unless he willing to turn out for Cardiff Met then he isn't going to be anyone's treasure Even then I wouldn't be surprised if he turned out to be a dud.

Having not played it for over a decade, I started playing the newest version of Football Manager due to lockdown boredom.

According to that, we have the oldest average aged squad in the Championship, yet try and play a game based on tempo. I’d say players like the energetic and much younger Gavin Whyte (who isn’t on a massive wage) need to stay and Ademoah at 32 be allowed to return to Forrest.

Why do people want Whyte gone? Am I the only one who sees potential in him?

Why do people want Whyte gone? Am I the only one who sees potential in him?

Hes a headless chicken

Hits the ball past his defender beats them for pace then either loses it runs it out of touch or puts a awful cross in.

Hes not a championship player and will be second possibly third choice when we return. Mendez laing and Adomah are ahead of him for me.

The one thing I will say for him is he runs his socks off and tries hard but that is ot enough at this level