Reply With QuoteJaphet Matondo going to Stoke
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He wasn't the biggest or the most athletic. Whilst his left footedness would have been in his favour, Mafico a year younger (also left footed) had clearly overtaken him. A good player though, who could still make it at a lower level somewhere.Originally Posted by the other bob wilson
His little brother, Mannie, is the better prospect. I hope that Dan being released doesn't deter Mannie from signing his scholarship with us.
Japhet Matondo going to Stoke
Rejected a contract with us apparently. Wonder why.
his brother played for Stoke, maybe he had good things to say about their setup
Regarding the Japhet Matondo transfer to Stoke it is interesting to see the anti Darren Purse frenzy on the other board as if it must be all his fault. My immediate reaction was that, if he is that good, he must have a problem visualising a pathway into the first team.
As under 21 manager, I would have thought Darren Purse would have little input into the situation regarding Matondo - he barely played for Purses team. I dont get to see as much of under 18 players as I once did, but, based on what I have seen, there are quite a few who I would have been more concerned about losing than him.
Quite right. The anti Purse clique on the other board cite him as “ Cardiff City Star “ . Not exactly.
Good post. Matondo wasn't 1st choice for the U18's last season (he did have some injury problems). He was a peripheral player.
He's a year younger than Ashford who plays the same position and is the same age as Nyakhuwa who was the pick of last years U18 and will probably the next academy graduate to make a 1st team debut. His best position, like Matondo, is also inverted left wing/inside left.
I think Matondo has chosen to leave because he could see his path to first team opportunities blocked/complicated by Ashford and Nyakhuwa.
Cole Fleming is also a right footed winger.
Ironically the only thing the other board appear to hate as much as Purse are our Academy players.
They also do this weird thing of adding a year or two to young players ages. Colwills increases with every post, I think they think he's in his 40's.
We will get a decent compensation payment from Stoke too.
Totally agree with this and TOBW views.
I watched a lot of the U21's and U18s last season.
My view on Matondo is exactly that - very good prospect but not the best one at u18's or even in that position. Nyakhuwa got better and better as the season progressed showing not only guile and pace but also strength. Fleming also, in many games, was picked ahead of Matondo.
We rated him enough to offer him a pro deal, so it is not as if the club discarded him - it was his choice and probably because he was some way behind in the pathway to the first team, but who knows.
Not sure how Purse gets the blame for that.
If it wasn't for the fact that we probably have the most humongous 1st team squad in the history of the club, I think that Nyakhuwa would already be training with the 1st team. He really could/should be at that level already. Physically he's already a man.
It might be a discussion for another thread, but something has to be done about it reducing the numbers inbthe 1st team squad Rinhomota Adams, are rumoured to be leaving. There was some report on social media yesterday that Robinson would be returning to Preston in a swap deal and we must presume that Romeo's absence is 'move' related. But other that centre forward there really are no gaps in the squad and over supply in some areas, defensive midfield the most obvious; Ralls, Siopis, Turnbull and Wintle all vying for probably one position. Although, I still have no idea what Turnbull's position is.
New u21 signing Luke Pearce straight out on loan, to Sligo Rovers.
https://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news...go-rovers-loan
The Ollie Denham route - but hopefully Pearce comes back!
Went to the Barry game (finished 3-5). I had to leave at 2-4 cos I wanted to get the earlier train and I was cold - intrepid reporter that I am. Nyakuhwa had a couple of good chances in the first half but it was all a bit flat and we conceded just before half time. Second half started with a bit more zip and deservedly equalised with a nicely worked goal from George then we understandably conceded from a set-piece (they were a bit bigger than us). Got a bit loose after that and we conceded again but immediately pulled one back with another decent goal this time from Perrett.
The goal shower subsided until we gave away something of a needless penalty. Then I left so there's a chance I missed the goal of the century. Trey George, I think, was our man of the match, but my eyesight isn't what it was. Slipshod at times and made things tough for ourselves but hopefully just getting back into things. That's two 3-5s from two pre-season games for the u21s; has Ossie Ardiles joined our coaching staff?
Thanks for that. It's going to be an interesting season at u-21 and u-18 level, some talented lads there. What did you make of Nyakuhwa?
Tried to stretch the defence, would drift out to the right, good touch, probably like everyone a bit rusty at the moment. I think he should've done better for his first chance, but showed good feet to get himself one on one with the keeper for his second but was closed down well. Very promising; my only concern is he'll be expected to be a Kieffer style number 9 and that kind of focal point but he's not that, at least not at the moment. What's your view?
I really liked the different combination of teams that played against Penybont last night, the right balance I thought.
Too often we play all youngsters or all 1st teamers, and when managers have mixed it up, the balance hasn't been quite right - I thought this against Kidderminster where the first half there were too many slow 1st teamers crowding the centre and 2nd half too many youngsters, playing out of position.
Last night, despite a much lower opposition, the balance was spot on for a pre-season.
Ronan Kpakio is 17 and looked excellent - i do wonder if his future is further up the field as his pace and skill was devastating in the final 3rd. What a prospect and it is no surprise to those of us who watched him at u18 and a few games at u21 last year to see him perform so well - I would say his speciality is bringing the ball into the centre / cutting inside with speed and skill.
The other youngsters did well - Ashford, Conte, Colwill, T.Davies, Gbadehan, Jefferies
Keiron Evans - I was surprised to see him offered a new deal but last night I could see perhaps why - his sharpness and awareness was excellent.
Also special mentions for Fagan-Walcott - what a great pre-season he is having and hasn't looked out of his depth at all and also Bagan as a centre-back, he looks so much better there than at left back.
My hope is that some of the average and slow first team players are moved on and space given for these youngsters in the 1st team squad. Of course I don't expect them to play or start every game but it would be great to see 3 or 4 in the match day squad and I reckon we will see a couple sent on loan - although I would like to see Kpakio remain with us and make his debut this season.
Agreed - I would love to see some of the excess first team trimmed (Rino, Adams, Wintle, Romeo etc) and replaced with one or two quality signings and then leave the other spaces for the youngsters. I really have mixed feelings about Joe Ralls - can't see him being a starter for us... would he be happy being on the bench for most of the season?
Turnbull - I said at the time we signed him we didn't need another rather slow and immobile midfield player as we were 'blessed' with so many already, and frankly he has done nothing to convince me he is an effective No. 10 or effective sitting back. I hope he proves me wrong but frankly at this point I feel he is surplus to requirements already.
Nyakuhwa's an interesting one. The first time I saw him he started on the wing then came inside in the second half, the next time he played up front all game, the third time he started up front then went to the wing late on. Seems like a natural winger but the move up front has worked well as far as I can make out.
From what I've seen he's got pace and skill, works hard and is a good team player. Seems to have a football brain on him too, takes up good positions and his decision making seems sound. Not that physical but makes himself a handful and tries to let the defenders know he's around. Not sure if he's a natural finisher and no idea yet if he'll make it here but I'd say there's plenty of promise.
I doubt we'd try and turn him into a Kieffer style number 9 but it's interesting that we've switched him at all. Bulut hasn't called him into the first team squad yet so obviously feels there's still work to be done but I wouldn't be surprised to see him in a cup-tie at some point if he starts the season well.
With Adams gone, Rinomhota at the exit door apparently, we need to add Wintle Romeo Robinson , Tanner and Turnball to the list
Non of them are good enough or have shown that they can make a difference, Rinomhota, Wintle Romeo, are league one players, Tanner probably league two, Turnball was a strange signing and Im still not sure why we signed him?
Robinson could be a good player for us, but theres little evidence based on last season that he has the appetite for it
All these guys are doing is blocking the way forward for the more exciting youngsters to break through as regular squad players
Conte, J Colwill and King as well as one or two others need the opportunity to shine
They wont do that playing in the U21s
My concern is part of our age old problem of the U21s not playing in the same way as our seniors. Nyakuhwa might be best utilised in a flexible attacking unit, but if Erol wants his wingers to constantly hug the touchline, Nyakuhwa would be marooned in the centre and struggle against Championship centre halves. Might be a moot point yet though.
But if Bulut wants pacy, touchline hugging wingers and a Kieffer style centre forward then why has Nyakuhwa been converted to a central striker (in the last year as far as I can make out)?
And why is he playing Isaak Davies up the middle in pre-season? There was a view in the loan thread that we'd need to switch to a Kortrijk type three at the back to get the best out of Isaak or else he'd get moved out wide but neither has happened, as yet.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it's going to be all change when the season starts but Bulut seems to have some interesting ideas when it comes to anything other than league match days. I know Penybont aren't great but having number 10s making runs beyond the centre forward rather than taking the ball off the back four felt like a revolution on Tuesday. We've got the players to make the flexible attacking unit you talk of and, hopefully, we won't just be showing that in pre-season, cup-ties and youth games this season.
Thanks for posting that, I dip in and out of this thread as its quite easy to catch up with a few weeks posts on a quiet morning.
I keep saying I'll watch more matches via YouTube but I always forget, glad others come on here and post like this, very handy.
Same dedicated few in this thread
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