The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

[thehumblegringo]

Thanks.

Mark Harris is the Academy player Neil Warnock has mentioned once or twice in public.

As for Welch, he was playing in a deep lying quarterback type role in the early weeks of the season, but I felt quite sorry for him then, because the full backs were forever bombing forward and we were often left with him and the two centrebacks trying to cope with three or four opposing attackers running at them on the counter attack.

In recent games though, Scott Young's boy has been playing as a defensive midfielder who keeps things pretty simple (much of the time he just passes to Welch when he gets the ball). This has enabled Welch to play a bit further upfield - he still doesn't tend to venture too far forward, but there has been an improvement in team and his personal performance since then.

When he was playing so deep, Welch used to try a lot of long, aerial balls that looked great when they came off, but there were many times when he was just giving the ball back to the opposition. Playing ten or fifteen yards further up the pitch, still gives him scope to play what I call "Hollywood" passes, but he mixes things up more now and I was particularly impressed on Saturday by how good he was at playing perfectly weighted passes of about twenty yards or so inside the wurzels' full backs for our wingers or full backs to run on to - Saturday was possibly as good a game as I seen him have for the Under 18s and, if Harris is probably the one in the Under 18 squad closest to making a first team debut, I'd say Welch is second closest.

That's a fair assessment Bob.

When i watched him last season i thought he looked way off and perhaps carried a bit of weight but he looks leaner and sharper this season.

His right foot is an absolute wand which has sometimes ironically been his downfall as he tended to look for the Hollywood pass far too often but as you observed he seems to be using the ball far better now he's been pushed further up the field.

[the other bob wilson]

That's a fair assessment Bob.

When i watched him last season i thought he looked way off and perhaps carried a bit of weight but he looks leaner and sharper this season.

His right foot is an absolute wand which has sometimes ironically been his downfall as he tended to look for the Hollywood pass far too often but as you observed he seems to be using the ball far better now he's been pushed further up the field.

I agree about him looking fitter this season Gringo - he certainly has no problem lasting the ninety minutes at Under 18 level.

I see the Development team are playing at Bristol City at 1 o clock today

http://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/article/2...h-3464012.aspx

No news on the team yet, but my guess is that we may see one or two first team squad members involved because they'll want players like Harris, Welch and, possibly, Rhys Abbruzzese for tomorrow night's Youth Cup game.

[the other bob wilson]

I agree about him looking fitter this season Gringo - he certainly has no problem lasting the ninety minutes at Under 18 level.

I see the Development team are playing at Bristol City at 1 o clock today

http://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/article/2...h-3464012.aspx

No news on the team yet, but my guess is that we may see one or two first team squad members involved because they'll want players like Harris, Welch and, possibly, Rhys Abbruzzese for tomorrow night's Youth Cup game.

Finished 3-3 - Semi Ajayi played, as did Jamie Bird and Lloyd Humphries, so their loan spell at Weston Super Mare must have ended. There were a couple of goals for Peter Skapetis who had played, and scored, as a trialist for us against QPR a few weeks back, with Tommy O'Sullivan (pen) getting the other one. We scored to go 3-2 ahead in the ninetieth minute, only for the wurzels to come back.

https://twitter.com/bcfctweets?ref_s...Ctwgr%5Eauthor

[Blue in the Face]

Who ever is in charge of City's DVP twitter account seems to have lost the will to tweet, so I can't see the team sheet. Seems we have two trialists at the club currently.

A few Welshies for Brizzle. Lemonhiegh-Evans is a Welsh winger/forward. Joe McNulty is dual qualified (England and Wales) and has played for our u17s. Their DVP captain Joe Morrell looked an excellent prospect for Brizzle a couple of years ago and played today. He's captained Wales at u19 level a fair few times. He has a slight frame for a centre mid so he needs to really excel to make it, but I'm still hoping he comes good for Wales' sake.

[jon1959]

Rollin Menayese has signed for Weston-super-Mare after his release.

http://www.westonsmareafc.co.uk/cent...rdiff-city-fc/

That's after two recent loans from the Academy? What's the connection between the clubs?

[Blue in the Face]

Rollin Menayese has signed for Weston-super-Mare after his release.

http://www.westonsmareafc.co.uk/cent...rdiff-city-fc/

That's after two recent loans from the Academy? What's the connection between the clubs?

I thought Rollin would get more time with us. Hopefully this will be a great move for him. He has good natural talent and there's no reason why he can't work his way up the leagues in the future. Good luck Rollin.

[Blue in the Face]

U23/DVP | MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL vs. COVENTRY CITY

http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/...y-3472448.aspx

We've got PDL action this Monday evening (7pm) as Cardiff City's U23 development side host Coventry City at Cardiff City Stadium in their final match before Christmas.