-Credit:Cardiff City FC
Amid the misery and drudgery of another season fighting at the bottom of the Championship table, Cardiff City fans can at least take some solace in watching their under-21s enjoy an impressive campaign.
Last night was just the most recent evidence that Matthew Bloxham, who has taken over from Darren Purse following his promotion to the first-team staff, has this side running like a well-oiled machine and City fans will pray this is a sign of brighter things to come.
The young Bluebirds currently sit second in the Professional Development League 2 table, level on points with Brentford having played one fewer game, and at the top of the Premier League Cup table. The only real disappointment came when they were knocked out in the semi-finals of the Nathaniel MG Cup on penalties against Aberystwyth last month.
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Last night’s Premier League Cup win over Watford’s under-21s saw City leapfrog the Hornets, Ipswich Town and Everton to the top spot after five games. Goals from Morgan Wigley, Isaac Jefferies and Mannie Barton ensured a 3-1 win for Bloxham’s side in the Welsh capital.
Cardiff can be criticised for a number of well-documented issues, particularly regarding the first team, but the investment they have ploughed into their youth system in recent years is admirable. Bluebirds supporters will hope rewards are reaped at senior level in the years to come.
The plush new academy site in Llanrumney truly is an impressive structure and the club will hope it helps to draw in the best talent from a sizeable catchment area. And, crucially, they want to use it as a lure to keep them at the club, given the likes of Charlie Crew (Leeds United), Gabriele Biancheri (Man United), Timeo Whisker (Man City), Lewys Benjamin (Wolves) and Japhet Matondo (Stoke City) have all been poached in recent years.
The club hope that while they are to some extent powerless when a category one club swoops for their young talent – with players often wanting to force the move – the crop beneath that are good enough to step up and become first-team players. Sign up to our daily Cardiff City newsletter here.
Cardiff have big decisions looming, though. Do they keep the under-21s train motoring and go gung-ho for the league and cup? Or do they recognise who the players are who have a real shot at the first team and move them out on loan to gain valuable experience?
The general feeling within the club is that it’s all about personal development at that level, rather than team accolades. The likelihood is that this very capable and exciting group will be thinned out in the new year, with some very likely to head out on loan. It will in turn provide more opportunities for the under-18s to step up and present new challenges for them.
It can be easy – and it is understandable – for Cardiff fans to feel anger and frustration over what has happened to the first team over a number of years. The slow decline is painful and can feel like death by a thousand cuts. The trajectory of the academy is currently tracking in the opposite direction, one of the few real positives, but that must be sustained, of course.
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Michael Reindorf has been the hot-shot young signing, picked up on a free in the summer. He has 10 goals in all competitions (not including friendlies) and has been rewarded with first-team call-ups. Defenders Ronan Kpakio, Luey Giles, both of whom impressed in pre-season, and Dylan Lawlor have also been real standouts at the back and could be some of the young talents pencilled in for loan exits next month.
Others like Mannie Barton, who only turned 17 three months ago, Cody Twose (18), Trey George (18), Dakarai Mafico (18) and Tanatswa Nyakuhwa (19) are all also on the radar of first-team staff. And that is by no means an exhaustive list.
What happens with these young talents when the window opens is very much a point of discussion in the corridors of power at Cardiff City. But the very good work being done below first-team level should at least bring some festive cheer to City supporters.