Thanks for that link, it worked fine except that I had to listen to what came first to get to it - no problem in that though because I thought the whole thing was a good listen.

It was a fascinating discussion about the Academy system and Bellamy was able to provide a few figures which were pretty mind boggling (he has to be talking about Swansea with the budget for the Development team doesn't he?), but, in essence, has much really changed since the days when City used to have half a team and more full of local players in terms of recruitment of the best young talent? Back then the best teams in the country would have scouts everywhere (we were talking about Ramon Calliste earlier in the thread and he was recommended by someone who used to work for City, but has been with Manchester United for more than thirty years I believe) - yes, it's weighted even more in favour of the big guns now, but when has there been a time when Cardiff City were able to rely on being able to sign up the very best of the young talent coming through in this area? Yet there has always been a far bigger Welsh representation in the first team here than there has been in recent years and we've not done too badly overall relying heavily on locals who you might say were a little below the elite in terms of ability.

As for loans, by listing all of those players aren't you proving the line about us being unable to loan youngsters out because they are not good enough to be wrong?

Regarding Abbruzzese, I really, really hope that an alleged lack of inches did not play an important part in any decision to release him. I've been trying to find something which says how tall he is and could only find this

https://www.futhead.com/fifa-mobile/...ys-abbruzzese/

I don't know how reliable it is, but, I've seen him play enough times and five foot nine doesn't seem too far off to me. That's the same height as Ashley Cole. two inches taller than Philipp Lahm, three inches taller than Roberto Carlos (must admit I thought he was taller than that) and two inches bigger than Bixente Lizarazu - if we are saying that all of our full backs have to be taller than that lot as a matter of course, then I despair!