Priority players for Cardiff City as League One campaign gets underway

National World - LocalTV

Cardiff City begin a bold League One rebuild under newly appointed head coach Brian Barry‑Murphy, who signed a three‑year deal in June 2025.  With veteran exits and financial downsizing, the club is betting on academy talent and smart transfers to launch an immediate promotion push.

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 early, 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 as captain as well

02:48due 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.

04:43We'll be ready.

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