Playing for their futures... Cardiff aces who need to shine in next few weeks
Cardiff City have little to play for in their remaining seven games but which players continue to fight for their future at the club?
Neil Warnock has begun planning for next season and he’s made it clear that a number of players are playing for their future.
The season is very much over for the Bluebirds with no chance of relegation or promotion and a loss of focus was evident in a poor performance against Wolves on the weekend.
The 3-1 defeat was arguably one of Cardiff’s worst performances since Neil Warnock took the reigns and it did those playing for their spot no favours.
Contract doubts loom over the likes of Peter Whittingham and Kadeem Harris and it may be up to them whether they stay, but Warnock says negotiations are currently on hold as he awaits the final figures for his new budget.
And it’s not just those who are out of contract who need to worry about their future, with Warnock needing to trim the squad in order to add key components in the summer.
So who are the players with question marks hanging over their future at Cardiff City? The men out of contract... Bruno Ecuele-Manga The classy centre back has impressed during his time in South Wales but injury has played its part in the last season of his existing contract.
Manga received a bumper contract when he joined for a fee in excess of £5 million from French club Lorient in 2014, but the club simply can’t afford to renew the deal with the same wage.
The Bluebirds’ biggest earner made his return to the starting XI for the first time in months in a 3-1 defeat at the Molineux – it was a bad day all-round for the back five.
But his rusty return to action will have little impact on whether he stays to be part of Warnock’s proposed promotion push.
Speaking last week, Warnock said he had ‘never seen Bruno (Manga) so happy’ and that it was up to him whether he takes a reduced contract to stay put next season.
Cardiff could do far worse than keeping a player like Manga and if he does stay, he’ll certainly save the club a few million. Peter Whittingham He may have celebrated a decade at the club earlier in the year but the loyal servant’s future is far from certain.
Warnock says he wants to offer Whittingham a new deal but on the terms his wage is reduced and he accepts a possibility of a different kind of role in the team.
The 32-year-old is the second highest earner at the Cardiff City Stadium and with both Joe Ralls and Aron Gunnarsson currently keeping him out of the team, it has raised questions whether he will be happy with a spot on the bench.
Whittingham showed his class when he was brought off the bench in the defeat to Wolves on Saturday and if he stays, he may just have to settle for that sort of role next season.
The Bluebirds’ longest serving player would likely walk into many a Championship side even at 32 years of age and he may just do so if he isn’t tied up with a new deal soon. Kadeem Harris Another player who made his breakthrough at a young age but has failed to establish himself as a regular.
But since Warnock’s arrival, he has become one of the Bluebirds’ main men and with his contract expiring at the end of this season, it’s no surprise he’s in the form of his life.
Harris disappointed in the weekend’s defeat like so many, but he has shown what he is capable of during the last few months.
Warnock revealed last week that he has spoken to Harris’ father who acts as his agent and the two parties are quite a way apart currently.
Cardiff will offer the 23-year-old a contract but again, it will be up to him whether he accepts the deal and remains in South Wales. Junior Hoilett Hoilett has impressed since joining on a free transfer shortly after Neil Warnock’s arrival at the club and he’s keen to stay.
The Canadian international said earlier this year: “I 100% want to stay and I’m sure it will be sorted out”, it was music to the years of Cardiff City fans but a deal hasn’t been done yet.
His short-term contract expires in the summer and he’s another who may have to accept smaller wages than he’s used to if he wants to remain in South Wales.
Hoilett and Warnock are big fans of one another and unless something changes, you can expect him to be wearing a Cardiff City shirt next season. The men out of favour... Frederic Gounongbe Signed on a free from Belgian club Westerlo in the summer, there were high hopes for Frederic Gounongbe, but he has become another disappointing signing in the forward department.
He performed well during pre-season but ultimately never recovered from missing an open goal from yards out against Birmingham in a goalless draw on the opening day of the season. The 28-year-old is goalless in 12 appearances for the Bluebirds and he hasn’t featured since a 0-0 draw at home to Brighton in early December.
Gounongbe still has a year left on his contract but still being well clear of Warnock’s plans, he’s likely to be shifted out of the club this summer at any cost. Declan John Academy product Declan John has been in-and-out of contention since bursting onto the scene in the Premier League back in 2013.
After time out of the side following relegation to the Championship, John returned to the side with Paul Trollope’s ‘Welsh revolution’ earlier this term.
However, Cardiff’s rapid sink to the bottom of table under now Brighton assistant manager Trollope lead to his sacking, and John lost his spot.
He remains a regular substitute under Neil Warnock and he has been played in front of his boss in a number of Under-23 games in recent weeks. The 21-year-old still has a year left on his existing contract, but if Warnock doesn’t feel he will battle for a spot in next season’s improved squad, then he’s unlikely to be retained beyond the summer. The first teamers who could depart... Craig Noone The Liverpool-born winger was one of Cardiff’s best players in the Premier League but he’s failed to match his own standards since.
Noone has picked up form of late following a frustrating first half to the season, but he remains a regular substitute with Harris and Hoilett keeping him out of the team.
Inconsistency has been the main problem for Noone – he either delights or frustrates and there’s no in-between.
His habit of cutting inside has drawn criticism from the Bluebirds’ faithful, but there’s no denying he has the ability to play in a promotion-chasing team. Noone’s current deal runs until the summer of 2018 but if Warnock wants to raise money from transfer fees, he may be one of the first in line. Rickie Lambert A former England international, Lambert was the marquee signing of Paul Trollope’s reign but despite impressing early on, injury has plagued his time in South Wales.
Warnock will want to strengthen his front-line and allowing Lambert and indeed his wage to move on, could allow him more space to manoeuvrer in the market. Having said that, Lambert could be a strong asset on the bench with his size and experience, but his injury problems will impact the final decision.
The former Liverpool striker has a contract until next season and he’s another whose wages, Warnock may feel, could be better spent elsewhere. Anthony Pilkington He may be unlikely to depart this summer having only recently been given two-year extension on his contract... but there’s an outside chance.
Pilkington is another who struggles with injury and while his ability to play wide and up top has been useful for Cardiff, you wonder whether Neil Warnock may opt to sign a player who does just a little bit more.
The Blackburn-born Ireland international has scored eight goals in 29 appearances this season.
If we look at the two wingers currently in favour under Neil Warnock, Kadeem Harris and Junior Hoilett, it’s clear the type of wingers the veteran boss wants at the club.
Pilkington lacks that same pace.