'He's going to be excellent!' Mick McCarthy issues bold prediction for Cardiff City ace after poignant fan chant rang out at Blackpool
There were a number of impressive displays up at Bloomfield Road but one player certainly got the supporters going after one particular flashpoint
MONDAY 16th August 2021
Cardiff City manager Mick McCarthy has tipped Joel Bagan to blossom into a fine footballer in the years to come.
Following the departures of senior left backs Greg Cunningham and Joe Bennett this year, 19-year-old Bagan has started this campaign as the nailed-on starter in that position.
Given he is still very inexperienced, it is a sizeable burden of responsibility to bestow on the youngster's shoulders.
But, following a solid start in the season opener against Barnsley, the defender put in another fine display in the tremendous 2-0 victory up at Blackpool at the weekend and it has not gone unnoticed.
While some supporters may have harboured concerns that a young player has been thrust into a position of such responsibility, McCarthy never doubted him.
In fact, Bagan turned McCarthy's head during the very first training session in which the manager saw him.
MICK McCARTHY:
"He's going to be excellent, the lad has real talent , Joel," McCarthy said after the win up at Blackpool.
"He stood out like a sore thumb in the first training session I had with him, a talented footballer.
"I'm really delighted with his performance, especially because he had so long off at the end of last season with his dislocated shoulder.
"I am really pleased with Joel and he is going to be a good player for us."
With each passing game, Bagan's chest puffs out that little bit further as the confidence slowly begins to embolden him.
But, all told, he still appears to be an incredibly quiet young man who will only become more hardened and jaded as the years of Championship - or hopefully Premier League - football wash over him.
But McCarthy is not worried about all that. He is, after all, only 19 years of age.
What is important is that in terms of footballing ability, the ceiling appears to be extremely high for the young Bluebird.
MICK McCARTHY:
"He'll find his personality, he's 19 and has come through the academy," McCarthy added.
"He shouldn't be wondering where he is because of his ability.
"Sometimes, at 19 when there are all these older pros in the place, he's a quiet lad, very polite young man, a lovely guy.
"He's got a big future ahead of him, he could be one of Cardiff‘S future stars the coaches are saying."
One way to endear yourself to Cardiff City fans, of course, is to get them off their feet with a rabble-rousing challenge. Well, Bagan can consider that box ticked after Saturday.
With the game delicately poised at 1-0, Blackpool enjoyed their best period of the match, pinning Cardiff back in their own half.
At one stage, the Seasiders hit Cardiff on the break and Bagan, sprinting across to cover from left back, scythed down the motoring Blackpool player, Shayne Lavery, as he got into a dangerous area of the pitch.
It was an egregious tackle. The most professional of fouls. It sent the home supporters into a frenzy as they yelled at Andy Woolmer to brandish a red card. Fortunately for Cardiff, the referee only issued a yellow.
By contrast, the 2,000-plus strong Bluebirds supporters to the left of the press box leapt to their feet and applauded the challenge from the youngster before chanting, "He's one of our own, he's one of our own, Joel Bagan, he's one of our own!"
A real 'Welcome to the family' moment for the youngster.
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