Dion Sanderson : Spks & explains how he felt at Cardiff AND
Tue Aug 18, 2020 6:52 pm
Dion Sanderson explains Wolves contract stance and responds to Cardiff City interest
Dion Sanderson interview - The Wolves youngster reflects on his successful spell at Cardiff City and looks ahead to the new season
By Alex Dicken
Birmingham Live
Tuesday 18th August 2020
Rewind to transfer deadline day on January 31 and Dion Sanderson still hasn’t secured the loan move that he desperately needs.
Regular watchers of Wolves’ under-23s before Christmas will agree that Sanderson was always a stand-out player, so much so that it was becoming glaringly obvious that he needed a bigger test.
James Collins, the newly-appointed coach of Wolves’ second string, agreed Sanderson needed to leave his boyhood club temporarily to further his career. Everyone at Wolves knew what needed to be done.
The call didn’t arrive until late on transfer deadline day - but when it did it was a much bigger opportunity than even Sanderson had imagined would come his way.
While his close pals Cameron John, Niall Ennis, Benny Ashley-Seal and Elliot Watt had to start senior life in Leagues One and Two, Sanderson was drafted in to aid Cardiff City’s assault on the Championship play-offs.
Dion Sanderson:
“It was a last minute loan,” Sanderson tells BirminghamLive. “I wasn’t aware of Cardiff’s interest at all. I was at Wolves until like eight o’clock and I had the news come through that Cardiff wanted to sign me on loan.
“It was a shock and I was surprised more than anything because I was struggling to get a team at the time.
“When it all happened it was crazy, I couldn’t believe it myself. Straight from the under-23s to being in the play-offs… it was crazy. It all happened so quickly.”
Sanderson was initially signed as cover by Cardiff boss Neil Harris but an injury to regular right-back Jazz Richards gave the youngster an early chance.
His introduction coincided with a stunning run of four wins (and clean sheets) from five matches which catapulted Cardiff into the play-off picture.
He eventually lost his place in the starting XI at the end of the campaign but Sanderson helped the Bluebirds climb from mid-table to a fifth-placed finish in a successful 10-game stint.
“It was important for my development. I’m still so young and at that time I was looking to play first team football anywhere really.
“I think when you get to that age and you’ve developed in the under-23s you want to be playing first team football.
“I was grateful that it happened and when I found out it was Cardiff and a Championship move, it was unreal. I was so happy.
“I learnt quite a lot and lots of different characteristics. (Cardiff captain) Sean Morrison, the way he carries himself on and off the pitch, it’s unreal. The way he talks to players, and gets ready for the game.
“I’ve learnt a lot from lots of players in different positions but it was good to be around that first team environment day in, day out and see what they do.
“You learn how they prepare, how they train, what they do in games and what they do after training.”
This wasn’t Sanderson’s first experience of first team football. Most fans will remember him bursting onto the scene at the Premier League Asia Trophy last year, playing his part as Wolves defeated Newcastle United and Manchester City to win the tournament.
His emergence in China prompted Nuno Espirito Santo to promote him to the first team while regular right wing-back Matt Doherty recovered from a knee injury
A full debut arrived against Aston Villa last October - but it’s the trip to the Far East which sticks in Sanderson’s mind.
“I get asked this every time and I can’t tell you the feeling when I went or when I came on,” said Sanderson, who was born and raised just a stone’s throw away from Molineux in Wednesfield.
“I can’t describe it, it was all crazy. Especially because it’s Wolves as well, it’s my boyhood club. I can’t put it into words. Still when I think about it now it’s mad. It was a dream come true.”
Wolves’ first team group are accustomed to Nuno inviting youngsters up to train with them regularly at Compton Park and several of the under-23s have commented on the inclusiveness they’ve experienced.
Sanderson is no different and recalls how captain Conor Coady and fellow defender Ryan Bennett - who looks set to leave Wolves this summer - were always on hand to offer him support and guidance.
“I felt that I could always go up and talk to them about anything. If I ever needed help they were always there, especially Conor as a captain. He’s a massive part of the club and a role model to all the players.”
Sanderson has enjoyed his breakthrough season but 2020/21 promises to be even bigger for the talented 20-year-old.
He has one year remaining on his contract with Wolves and wants another loan move to build on the nine starts he managed with Cardiff.
Dion Sanderson interview - The Wolves youngster reflects on his successful spell at Cardiff City and looks ahead to the new season
By Alex Dicken
Birmingham Live
Tuesday 18th August 2020
Rewind to transfer deadline day on January 31 and Dion Sanderson still hasn’t secured the loan move that he desperately needs.
Regular watchers of Wolves’ under-23s before Christmas will agree that Sanderson was always a stand-out player, so much so that it was becoming glaringly obvious that he needed a bigger test.
James Collins, the newly-appointed coach of Wolves’ second string, agreed Sanderson needed to leave his boyhood club temporarily to further his career. Everyone at Wolves knew what needed to be done.
The call didn’t arrive until late on transfer deadline day - but when it did it was a much bigger opportunity than even Sanderson had imagined would come his way.
While his close pals Cameron John, Niall Ennis, Benny Ashley-Seal and Elliot Watt had to start senior life in Leagues One and Two, Sanderson was drafted in to aid Cardiff City’s assault on the Championship play-offs.
Dion Sanderson:
“It was a last minute loan,” Sanderson tells BirminghamLive. “I wasn’t aware of Cardiff’s interest at all. I was at Wolves until like eight o’clock and I had the news come through that Cardiff wanted to sign me on loan.
“It was a shock and I was surprised more than anything because I was struggling to get a team at the time.
“When it all happened it was crazy, I couldn’t believe it myself. Straight from the under-23s to being in the play-offs… it was crazy. It all happened so quickly.”
Sanderson was initially signed as cover by Cardiff boss Neil Harris but an injury to regular right-back Jazz Richards gave the youngster an early chance.
His introduction coincided with a stunning run of four wins (and clean sheets) from five matches which catapulted Cardiff into the play-off picture.
He eventually lost his place in the starting XI at the end of the campaign but Sanderson helped the Bluebirds climb from mid-table to a fifth-placed finish in a successful 10-game stint.
“It was important for my development. I’m still so young and at that time I was looking to play first team football anywhere really.
“I think when you get to that age and you’ve developed in the under-23s you want to be playing first team football.
“I was grateful that it happened and when I found out it was Cardiff and a Championship move, it was unreal. I was so happy.
“I learnt quite a lot and lots of different characteristics. (Cardiff captain) Sean Morrison, the way he carries himself on and off the pitch, it’s unreal. The way he talks to players, and gets ready for the game.
“I’ve learnt a lot from lots of players in different positions but it was good to be around that first team environment day in, day out and see what they do.
“You learn how they prepare, how they train, what they do in games and what they do after training.”
This wasn’t Sanderson’s first experience of first team football. Most fans will remember him bursting onto the scene at the Premier League Asia Trophy last year, playing his part as Wolves defeated Newcastle United and Manchester City to win the tournament.
His emergence in China prompted Nuno Espirito Santo to promote him to the first team while regular right wing-back Matt Doherty recovered from a knee injury
A full debut arrived against Aston Villa last October - but it’s the trip to the Far East which sticks in Sanderson’s mind.
“I get asked this every time and I can’t tell you the feeling when I went or when I came on,” said Sanderson, who was born and raised just a stone’s throw away from Molineux in Wednesfield.
“I can’t describe it, it was all crazy. Especially because it’s Wolves as well, it’s my boyhood club. I can’t put it into words. Still when I think about it now it’s mad. It was a dream come true.”
Wolves’ first team group are accustomed to Nuno inviting youngsters up to train with them regularly at Compton Park and several of the under-23s have commented on the inclusiveness they’ve experienced.
Sanderson is no different and recalls how captain Conor Coady and fellow defender Ryan Bennett - who looks set to leave Wolves this summer - were always on hand to offer him support and guidance.
“I felt that I could always go up and talk to them about anything. If I ever needed help they were always there, especially Conor as a captain. He’s a massive part of the club and a role model to all the players.”
Sanderson has enjoyed his breakthrough season but 2020/21 promises to be even bigger for the talented 20-year-old.
He has one year remaining on his contract with Wolves and wants another loan move to build on the nine starts he managed with Cardiff.
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Re: Dion Sanderson : Spks & explains how he felt at Cardiff
Tue Aug 18, 2020 7:36 pm
If we had any money left and if not too much then buy.
Re: Dion Sanderson : Spks & explains how he felt at Cardiff
Wed Aug 19, 2020 10:18 am
I kind of felt it was a tactical error in the first play off leg to leave him on the bench. Especially after seeing mitrovic wouldnt be playing. I felt bacuna in the middle would of been an engine we could of used.
Re: Dion Sanderson : Spks & explains how he felt at Cardiff
Wed Aug 19, 2020 10:28 am
bluebird04 wrote:I kind of felt it was a tactical error in the first play off leg to leave him on the bench. Especially after seeing mitrovic wouldnt be playing. I felt bacuna in the middle would of been an engine we could of used.
That is possibly true, and I agree, Bacuna adds some pace to our midfield, and he has certainly improved in the last 6 months. But this is easy to say (over the team selection) with hindsight but no one knew Mitrovic wasn't playing until the teams were announced an hour before kick off.
Maybe a change at half time was possible, but we were well in the game then and no need to change anything.
Re: Dion Sanderson : Spks & explains how he felt at Cardiff
Wed Aug 19, 2020 12:16 pm
bluebird04 wrote:I kind of felt it was a tactical error in the first play off leg to leave him on the bench. Especially after seeing mitrovic wouldnt be playing. I felt bacuna in the middle would of been an engine we could of used.
Me too. I thought it was a tactical error by Harris as Bacuna was playing really well at the time our best midfielder. Obviously eas to be wise with hindsight but I am glad I am not the only one who thought so.
Hope we do sign Sanderson as Bacuna is a bit wasted at left back and we could do with him in midfield next season.
Re: Dion Sanderson : Spks & explains how he felt at Cardiff
Wed Aug 19, 2020 2:45 pm
Thought this might have been done and dusted by now unless the lads agent is touting him about 
Re: Dion Sanderson : Spks & explains how he felt at Cardiff
Wed Aug 19, 2020 8:10 pm
JulesK wrote:Thought this might have been done and dusted by now unless the lads agent is touting him about
Wolves season only finished last week. Might be a reason why it has taken longer to sort out. I'd imagine he'll be back here next season. If he is coming back, hopefully it gets sorted soon so we can move onto other targets.