Cardiff City have revealed their long-term strategy for their first team squad as their difficult period on the pitch continues since their disappointing relegation from the Premier League under then-boss Neil Warnock.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Bluebirds have a current squad made up of several academy graduates and ageing professionals, some of whose contracts are soon to expire
Some Cardiff fans have been doubting the capabilities and efforts of some of the more experienced players and would prefer to give the youngsters more of a chance.
Building a younger squad would be a considerable gamble during a relegation battle. However, current manager Steve Morison, who is in charge of City’s relegation battle, has revealed that the club is looking at a new strategy that could please the doubting fans.
Morison has stated that the new goal of Cardiff City moving forward is to have a core group of academy players and to bring down the average age of the squad.
While this strategy would make financial sense, a young squad would need a spine of experienced players to make up for the lack of experience and improve the youngsters as well as assist them in high-pressure situations.
Morison also wants a couple of academy graduates to be first-team regulars, with the others playing more rotational roles as squad players.
The strategy has the potential for success, although I wonder what the dressing room atmosphere would be like with half of the squad being on high wages and half on lower salaries. Morison will have thought about this and would undoubtedly introduce performance-related bonuses and pay rises for regular first-team starters.
“Over the coming six months, year, two years. They don’t need to rush. We will bring them through at the right time,” Morison said.
“The best case is Phil Foden at Man City. People were calling for him to be playing and starting every single week, but would he be the player now?
He didn’t go on loan, stayed around in training with those players and got better.
“Now, bear in mind, we are trying to do that with five or six players, not just one.
“It’s all about just doing things at the right rate. But our end goal is always exactly the same. Can we have a core group that end up having Cardiff careers like Joe Ralls?
If Cardiff survive the relegation fight, then I am sure there will be some interesting times ahead for supporters especially if The Bluebirds lose their reputation for playing unattractive football.