In the latest updates from Cardiff City Stadium, we bring you the most recent happenings in the world of Cardiff City.
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Robinson Expresses Frustration Over the Past Eight Months Callum Robinson has candidly acknowledged that the past eight months have been vexing for him due to a series of injury setbacks, limiting his playing time for both his club and national team.
The forward missed a substantial portion of the latter part of the previous season under Sabri Lamouchi, despite an impressive start in a Cardiff City jersey. Unfortunately, he has struggled to regain his form this season. A back injury sustained during the pre-season tour in Portugal continues to hamper his performance.
Despite numerous injuries to players in his positions, such as Callum O’Dowda, Josh Bowler, Aaron Ramsey, and Kion Etete, new manager Erol Bulut has yet to start Robinson in a league match. Robinson seems to be in good physical condition now, and he even scored a goal for Ireland in their comfortable 4-0 victory over Gibraltar last night, with a superb header from 10 yards out.
However, in an interview with RTE after the match, Robinson expressed, “Personally, I’m really pleased to be back in the squad after a frustrating seven or eight months filled with injuries. There was a lengthy VAR review for my goal, but I was thrilled it was awarded. I’m fortunate that I can play on the wing or in an advanced attacking role; it’s the role I’ve played throughout my career. If the manager [Stephen Kenny] chooses wingers, it increases my chances of getting more playing time.”
It remains uncertain where Robinson will be positioned in Cardiff’s lineup. This season, he has only made seven Championship appearances, primarily in an attacking midfield role, even though his most productive seasons in front of the goal have been when he played on the wing or as a forward.
In contrast to his club manager, his international coach, Stephen Kenny, is under pressure due to a string of disappointing results in recent months. Robinson has voiced his support for Kenny, stating, “He [Kenny] has been very supportive of me and the team.
While some results haven’t met expectations, players must also shoulder some responsibility. He brought me back into the squad despite my limited club football due to fitness issues. He has confidence in me, and I’ve repaid him by scoring a goal.”
Young Academy Player Proudly Follows Family Tradition Cardiff’s Josh Beecher expressed his immense pride in making his debut for the Bluebirds, following in the footsteps of his great-grandfather, Billy Baker.
Beecher made his debut in the Carabao Cup against Blackburn Rovers last month, as manager Erol Bulut provided several young players with an opportunity to step up, recognizing their efforts in the age-group setup.
Beecher’s debut comes 85 years after his great-grandfather, who was a wing half and made over 300 appearances for the Bluebirds over a 17-year period, interrupted by World War Two. He even earned a Wales cap during his career.
“I’ve been thoroughly enjoying this season so far,” said Beecher, who is 17 years old. “As an academy scholar, I’ve been playing with the U21 side above my age group every week, training daily with them.
Making my debut for the First Team is probably the best thing that could have happened to me. I’m learning a great deal from playing with the U21 side, so it’s fantastic.
“My family supports the club, and my great-grandfather used to play for Cardiff City. His name was William George [Billy] Baker, and he played for the club in the 1930s and ’40s.
This makes my association with the club and my debut even more special for my family and me. It’s been a lifelong dream for me, and playing in that match was an incredible experience.
Stepping onto the pitch for the first time brings a whirlwind of emotions, but it ranks among the top achievements of my life.”
Before the first-team’s trip to Blackburn, Beecher had a conversation with Darren Purse, who informed him that he would be traveling with the team and might be on the bench. Beecher believes his strong performance in training contributed to earning his spot on the bench.
Playing with the U21s in an older age group has presented challenges, but it has also made him a better player. The faster pace of the games suits his playing style, and he’s aware that he’s improving daily due to the challenging environment.
New Coach Unveils ‘Elite Training Group’ Cardiff City’s new coach, Darren Davies, has shed light on the philosophy behind the club’s newly established ‘elite training group.’ This initiative, set to occur on Thursdays, aims to bridge the gap between the first-team players and academy talents.
Davies has previously worked with the likes of Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou and former Cardiff and Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler during his tenure in Australia. He has now returned to Wales and assumed the role of individual development coach for the Bluebirds.
One of his main responsibilities is to oversee the creation of this new training group in collaboration with first-team coach Tom Ramasut.
Detailing its structure and benefits, Davies stated, “Tom Ramasut has played a crucial role in maintaining the connection, and he’s been working closely with me to establish the (elite) training group, which has received positive support from the rest of the first-team coaching staff.
We’re eager to launch the training group in the upcoming weeks, and this project excites us all.
“It represents an added layer of refinement within our academy, aimed at investing in these young individuals and giving them the best possible chances for a future in the game.
The first-team staff has endorsed the Thursday training group, providing an opportunity for the players to get on the manager’s radar and become familiar with the first-team environment. We have some highly talented players in our academy, and we hope this new training group will be beneficial for both players and staff.”
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