Players, More through necessity than design

Losers

Cardiff City Academy players


By Glen Williams


More through necessity than design, but last season saw Cardiff usher through an unprecedented number of academy players. It was refreshing to see, but there was certainly an over-reliance on them and many have now gone to the lower leagues.

This season it looks like fewer and fewer academy players will be afforded the opportunity to break into the side, at least as we look into the near future. Morison has plugged all the holes which were filled by academy starlets at times last season, but perhaps that is a positive thing - it means the under-21s players will have to be exceptional to force their way into the reckoning.

Given the level of recruitment in each position, you do wonder how much game time previous academy graduates such as Ollie Denham, Isaak Davies, Rubin Colwill and Joel Bagan, who we will come on to, will see in the coming months.

‘ Joel Bagan ‘

As touched on above, it's been a tricky window for Joel Bagan. Last season, he was given the No.3 shirt and was told he was the first-choice left-back, but after some inconsistent performances, he was ousted by Ryan Giles and then, later, Alfie Doughty.

His purple patch back in February and March saw him score three goals in three games and it looked as though he was on an upwards curve, but after the South Wales derby defeat by Swansea City, his form suffered an end-of-season dip.

Jamilu Collins' signing from SC Paderborn appeared to be manna from heaven, a player who quickly became a fans' favourite in that left-back position before a nightmare ACL rupture against West Brom. Bagan was handed his chance in the next game against Bristol City, but suffered a head knock inside the first 10 minutes and was forced off, which was rotten luck.

Losers

Cardiff City Academy players


By Glen Williams


More through necessity than design, but last season saw Cardiff usher through an unprecedented number of academy players. It was refreshing to see, but there was certainly an over-reliance on them and many have now gone to the lower leagues.

This season it looks like fewer and fewer academy players will be afforded the opportunity to break into the side, at least as we look into the near future. Morison has plugged all the holes which were filled by academy starlets at times last season, but perhaps that is a positive thing - it means the under-21s players will have to be exceptional to force their way into the reckoning.

Given the level of recruitment in each position, you do wonder how much game time previous academy graduates such as Ollie Denham, Isaak Davies, Rubin Colwill and Joel Bagan, who we will come on to, will see in the coming months.

I think we will see a fair bit of Colwill and Davies (when fit). Bagan we will see every so often when Nkounkou needs a rest but Denham we might not see much as Ng, Simpson and Kipre are ahead of him and those three could easily rotate. It only takes a injury or red card for a chance though.

Still don't understand why Crole hasn't been given a chance to step up, seemed to be the strongest of the lot in pre season.