The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

[the other bob wilson]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

Another City v Birmingham match at 1 o clock today when the sides meet at Under 23 level at Leckwith - entry is free, but the game can be watched on the club website if you cannot make it.

https://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/u23-match-preview-cardiff-city-vs-birmingham-city

[the other bob wilson]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

Blog piece on yesterday's 1-0 defeat for the Development team in which I ask could Birmingham's change of identity work at Cardiff?

http://mauveandyellowarmy.net/

[thehumblegringo]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

Blog piece on yesterday's 1-0 defeat for the Development team in which I ask could Birmingham's change of identity work at Cardiff?

http://mauveandyellowarmy.net/

Here is a little montage of the kid Jude Bellingham's journey through the academy to the first team. He made his first team debut at 16 years 38 days.

https://youtu.be/bdv87H8EZgY

[the other bob wilson]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

A return for this thread to report a good 1-1 draw for the Under 23s with a young City side that only included Ciaron Brown with any competitive first team experience at league leaders Watford - they were pegged back by a late equaliser after leading for a long time with an early Aaron Bolger goal.

[Louth]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

A return for this thread to report a good 1-1 draw for the Under 23s with a young City side that only included Ciaron Brown with any competitive first team experience at league leaders Watford - they were pegged back by a late equaliser after leading for a long time with an early Aaron Bolger goal.

How is Aaron Bolger progressing? Is he a Joe Ralls type of player?

[the other bob wilson]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

How is Aaron Bolger progressing? Is he a Joe Ralls type of player?

He's been injured quite a bit this season, so he hasn't played too many matches for the Under 23s. I think he is quite Joe Ralls like in that it looks like he can do a bit of everything - he's probably best as a holding type midfielder, but he has been used in more advanced positions at times.

[Louth]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

He's been injured quite a bit this season, so he hasn't played too many matches for the Under 23s. I think he is quite Joe Ralls like in that it looks like he can do a bit of everything - he's probably best as a holding type midfielder, but he has been used in more advanced positions at times.

I've noticed he's captained the team also.
Quite a number of Irish fans are tracking his progress.

[the other bob wilson]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

Good to hear Neil Harris say that he watched the first half of Saturday's Academy game,.

[Loramski]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

Good to hear Neil Harris say that he watched the first half of Saturday's Academy game,.

That is encouraging, yes. Shame he couldn't stay for the second half, that might have given him some food for thought.

[Loramski]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

A hard fought 2-1 win for our Academy boys today over Ipswich in the FA Youth Cup. If anyone thinks games at that level lack intensity then today would've been an eye-opener, it went to extra time and our players were dropping with cramp on a regular basis. Me and my lad were wondering if some time-wasting was involved, especially when our 64th minute sub suddenly went down with it, but I'm sure it was all genuine. Our keeper got it too but he had come out for a lot of crosses so I didn't suspect anything untoward there.

Isaak Davies was the stand-out for us, a threat all game, so combative too. He was involved in both our goals, a nice finish for the first and a great bit of play up the right to set up the winner for James Crole. Bournemouth away in the next round.

[the other bob wilson]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

Not surprising given what happened at Elland Road today that City's 2-1 Youth Cup win after extra time over Ipswich at Cardiff City Stadium this afternoon has been overlooked on here it seems, but I feel I must mention it because I'd almost forgotten what it felt like to watch a Cardiff side beat someone in a cup match!

Well done to the Under 18s and they now face a trip to Bournemouth in Round 4.

[Loramski]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

Not surprising given what happened at Elland Road today that City's 2-1 Youth Cup win after extra time over Ipswich at Cardiff City Stadium this afternoon has been overlooked on here it seems, but I feel I must mention it because I'd almost forgotten what it felt like to watch a Cardiff side beat someone in a cup match!

Well done to the Under 18s and they now face a trip to Bournemouth in Round 4.

Have you got me on ignore?

[the other bob wilson]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

Have you got me on ignore?

I think the four minutes between posting times may have had something to do with it! I was thinking exactly the same thing about all of the players going down with cramp - I tend to agree with you, but it certainly helped break the game up a lot at a time when City were defending a lead.

[Loramski]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

I think the four minutes between posting times may have had something to do with it! I was thinking exactly the same thing about all of the players going down with cramp - I tend to agree with you, but it certainly helped break the game up a lot at a time when City were defending a lead.

I was being a bit sarcastic, I'm pretty sure the sub and goalie were ok and Kieron Evans seemed to be playing better after his cramp started. It was a little over the top and, obviously, it would've annoyed me if they'd been doing it to us but overall I like to see game management at that level. I know coaches want to get youngsters into good habits but just playing exactly the same way regardless of the scoreline isn't quite sport to me.

[Loramski]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

A hard fought 2-1 win for our Academy boys today over Ipswich in the FA Youth Cup.

Isaak Davies was the stand-out for us, a threat all game, so combative too. He was involved in both our goals, a nice finish for the first and a great bit of play up the right to set up the winner for James Crole.

The highlights of the cup win are on Club TV if anyone's interested.

https://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/video/player/0_csy9m1wa

No point in going over the top about Isaak Davies at this stage but there are a couple of things worth noting. I saw him playing out on the wing last season and he looked completely lost, I think Saturday was the third time I've seen him there this season and he's been effective each time, on either wing. Sometimes he just uses his pace to go up the touchline but he likes to cut in too, even on the half way line. This can look slightly odd as he's running into the traffic of retreating defenders but he's obviously hoping to either link up with the centre forward or switch play to the other flank then burst forward for the return ball or cross.

The other thing about him, which I hadn't noticed before, is that he seems very comfortable on either foot. The two early shots in Saturday's game see him working himself onto his left but the burst into the box near the end of normal time finishes with an excellent cross to Crole with his right.

I guess it's this unpredictability about his play that leads to the winner. He gets in a classic winger's position but he deals with it better than most natural wingers would in that situation (I could name four off the top of my head). He moves forwards with some step overs and the full back obviously hasn't got a clue where Davies is going, or even where he should be showing him to go. Davies flicks it to the by-line and gets the half a yard he needs to pull back a perfect cross (with his right) for Crole to convert. A terrific bit of play.

Mayembe's magic was missed on Saturday but Davies stepped up to provide the match winning moments in a very encouraging performance from him.

Some reaction from coach and players here.

https://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/fa-youth-cup-r3-reaction-cardiff-city-2-1-ipswich-town-aet