Bluebirds Kids - Use Them or Lose Them

One of many issues clouding Cardiff City fans brains at the moment is the lack of faith in the clubs Academy boys. What’s the point in having an Academy to groom youngsters into graduates if the pathway to the first team is blocked? It doesn't benefit the club as its paying for something it’s not using and it certainly doesn't benefit the youngsters who invest so much into a life in football. 

Particularly given the club’s latest stance being one of austerity, you would think the Manager would be looking it the direction of the Academy as not only a cost cutting measure but a ray of hope for the future. 

If the talent wasn’t there then questions would need to be asked of the coaches, their methods and the scouting but it looks like the talent may well already be there staring at Russell Slade’s round smiley face.

With the likes of the imaginative Tommy O’Sullivan becoming a big part of a promising Wales under 21 side yet being farmed out on loan to Port Vale without getting near a City squad, it does make you wonder.

Full back Jazzi Barnum-Bobb got a chance in the league cup under Solskjaer earlier in the season and impressed but hasn’t got near the fridges since.

Also on the books is Adedeji Oshilaja, a centre back with a big reputation who’s impressed in League Two for AFC Wimbledon on loan, a level that manager Neal Ardley has claimed he’s already too good for.

Then there’s Rhys Healey, a lethal striker who scored for the ‘Development’ team for fun and made his senior debut against Chelsea last season but was sent out to Colchester on loan.

Let’s not forget little Declan John who racked up a number of appearances in the Premier League last season and despite being a ‘work in progress’ is already a full Wales international. Instead of continuing to groom Declan, he’s out on loan at Barnsley and a replacement (Scott Malone) has been brought in for £150,00. 

With the club counting the pennies, does this make sense? No. 

And what message is this sending Declan John? Not a positive one. 

With no shortage of quality and plenty of contenders potentially capable of stepping up, there appears to be either a lack of confidence or a lack of idea of a pathway for developing kids any further. Thus rendering the whole system completely pointless.

With nothing left to play for and having loaned out senior players for ‘business reasons’, why has this not resulted in the graduation of the academy’s finest getting a chance?

The Bluebirds need to utilise the Academy for all it's worth and give it a purpose going forward and If not then just use that cash to buy new players who can be used. 

#SladeOut