Young Bluebirds show there’s no lack of talent

CARDIFF City’s development side were beaten 2-0 by Bristol City in the Welsh capital on Monday night.

MATT SOUTHCOMBE went to take a closer look at the talent coming through at the Bluebirds and, despite the scoreline, there was some encouragement. Here’s what we learned... Giving the kids a chance THAT might sound like a pretty daft statement given that we’re talking about a under-23s game, but hear me out.

Named in the Bluebirds’ team on Monday night were six under-18s players and, at times, it told.

Cardiff struggled early on to get a real foothold in the match and were visibly slightly smaller than their opponents.

There are going to be obvious differences between teenagers and those in their early-20s in terms of speed, strength and even stamina.

But Cameron Coxe, down the right, was willing and Laurence Wootton in the middle of the park never shied away from a challenge.

Was the result really that important? Possibly, but what’s beyond doubt is that nights like this provide youngsters with invaluable experience. Jamie Veale is one to keep an eye on THE midfielder, pictured above, was tipped as one to keep an eye on before the game and so it turned out. He was just that little bit better in everything he did, assured on the ball, an accurate distributor and not afraid to receive the ball under pressure.

The captain hit some wonderful diagonals throughout the game and became more effective as the game opened up in the final quarter.

He showed a touch of class too to delicately chip the ball in behind with precision to give Sion Spence a crossing chance in the first half. Rhys Abbruzzese has a touch of Fabio about him ANOTHER who became more effective when given the license to push on in the final quarter was left-back Rhys Abbruzzese.

A tenacious little full-back, he was solid when asked to defend but looked as though he enjoyed getting forward in the latter stages.

He showed some wonderful footwork in some tight spaces too, spinning out of the tackle skilfully in one instance and displaying some neat one-touch passing in another.

Some of his play was reminiscent of former Bluebirds favourite Fabio and if he can one day be as adored by the fans as the Brazilian was, he’ll have done alright. The talent is there to be nurtured BLUEBIRDS boss Neil Warnock has stated and displayed his desire to bring through some youngsters at Cardiff City.

Mark Harris and Ibrahim Meite both made their league debuts for the club at Wigan on the weekend, proving to these young guns that opportunities are there.

That, in itself, should be motivation enough and, given Cardiff City are safe in the division and have little to play for, Warnock may be more inclined to look more to his youngsters.

The likes of Veale and Abbruzzese – both of whom are on professional contracts – are potential Bluebirds stars in waiting and there’s no reason why they can’t realise that potential.

It’s a process that’ll take some time, they always do, and I’m not saying Warnock should chuck them in on Friday against Newcastle.

But to suggest that there is a lack of talent in the Bluebirds’ development side is misguided.