Players Cardiff City must prioritise ahead of League One rebuilding season

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Cardiff must focus on retaining core talents like Rubin Colwill, Alex Robertson, Yousef Salech, and Cian Ashford—aged 20–23—as their academy stars are essential for youth-driven stability.  Key decisions include smart centre‑back additions to offset summer exits and revitalise defence.  Supplementing the spine with affordable loan or bargain forward options will be essential to boost League One promotion prospects.

Transcript

00:00Cardiff City certainly did not have a good campaign last season in the Championship.

00:06Of course, they were relegated to League One.

00:09But are there any players worth keeping at the Bluebirds in England's third tier?

00:14Of course, they do have some players who, despite the poor campaign,

00:18did have some standout moments last year.

00:20You look at the likes of Callum Robinson, of course, in that game against Swansea City.

00:24He also won Player of the Year at the Bluebirds.

00:27It's just gone, and you look at the likes of Anwar El Ghazi, Perry NG.

00:32Certainly, these players who have been at the club for a bit of time

00:36and have established themselves as some of the fan favourites,

00:38despite Cardiff overall not being in the best of shapes as a club

00:42and as an outfit on the pitch either.

00:45The only concern you have, perhaps, over those players is that most of them are into their 30s now.

00:49Now, that's not to say that they're too old and they can't do a job,

00:51but one deal they'll probably need replacing.

00:53But I think for now, at least, is it a case where certainly they're the type of player

00:58because of their experience, their age, their maturity, and indeed their ability

01:03that they should be kept around the club at the Cardiff City Stadium

01:07heading into their campaign in League One to come.

01:10So let's go now to our Wales sport correspondent, Charles Hague-Jones.

01:13Charles, are they the type of players who I've just mentioned, your Callum Robinsons,

01:17your Anwar El Ghazis, and your Perry NGs, who, across the pitch,

01:20can just provide that bit of stability going from one division to another

01:25that they might need with that experience, that composure,

01:28and indeed, as I mentioned before, that ability as well

01:31that they could also need to make sure that the campaign next year

01:33is a successful one in South Wales?

01:36Yeah, obviously, for Cardiff City, it's so important that they do keep some key players.

01:44It's so important that they, you know, whilst they do face that drop-down to League One,

01:49that they do keep a few key players on the books

01:52and make sure that they are really pushing for that League One bounce back

01:56to the Championship.

01:57The first time of asking, that's something that is overhanging them a little bit,

02:01but if they can go about it right and keep some key players,

02:04it would be massive for the club and the fans as well,

02:08the confidence, the backing of Brian Barry Murphy.

02:12You know, fresh youth, low-cost recruits and a lean, competitive squad.

02:17And then he needs to just retain a mix of experience and emerging talents,

02:21obviously, already a few outgoings, such as Aaron Ramsey, Joe Rawls.

02:24They are huge in the dressing room as well.

02:27Ramsey, obviously, ending with that interim spell as manager as well.

02:31But, you know, it's a real shame just to see him go the way he did.

02:36He said it was difficult.

02:38He said it was quite a tough spell at the very, very end there.

02:41And obviously, when he did join and when he was playing,

02:44he didn't find as many minutes as he probably would have liked

02:47as captain as well due to his injury record.

02:50But in terms of players, they must keep Calimo Dowden, you know,

02:54captain in the midfield.

02:55He speaks for himself.

02:56He's pivotal, links between defence and attack.

02:59You know, he's heavily linked with interest, but he is a must-stay for Calif City,

03:04I believe, if he's going to be this top player.

03:09Ronan Copacchio, only 18 years of age in defence.

03:14He's an academy-born, already gained senior Wales squad, you know,

03:18for the future cornerstone of the sport.

03:20I mean, Craig Benham is a massive fan of him as well.

03:23And, you know, the latest, last couple of international breaks for Wales,

03:29no Calif players were involved.

03:30So, Copacchio is a massive, massive asset that Calif City need to boast and have

03:35and look after as well.

03:37It's so important that they do that.

03:41I mean, Will Alves as well, midfielder on loan.

03:43He's versatile.

03:43He's energetic.

03:45Key in midfield transitions.

03:46Now, yes, Calif City were relegated, but there were still a fair few standout players

03:51who looked fantastic and do have that championship-level experience.

03:55It's now a task of Vincent Tan and Brian Barry Murphy and the fans as well

04:00to convince these players to stay and believe in the project.

04:04You know, you look at Birmingham City last season.

04:06They had players drop from the Bundesliga to come all the way to England

04:09and drop all the way to England's third tier because they believed in a project.

04:14They believed in something that was brewing at the club.

04:17And this is something that Cardiff must now get right.

04:19They must now make sure they are an attractive brand, an attractive club.

04:24Squad overhaul, it's a massive reset for Brian Barry Murphy and Cardiff City.

04:28But they must make sure they are trying to keep the core of the side,

04:32keep those experienced heads who are going to be, you know,

04:35very excited to steer Cardiff City back to the championship.

04:39And that's the goal from the off to make sure they return to the second tier.

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