Wednesday, June 04, 2008

WHY CAN'T WE KEEP OUR KIDS? My reaction to the Ramsey Sale

Cardiff City accepting bids to sell their 'jewel in the crown' Aaron Ramsey has understandably met with some dismay and anger amongst the Bluebirds faithful with some animosity towards Ridsdale and Jones who seem to have been openly encouraging the sale in the media as has happened with several high profile departures.

The sale of any fan favourite always produces this style of reaction, the angst only increasing as we're selling star kids before we've really had much chance to appreciate them although, if Manchester United buy him (as seems increasingly likely), then there is a likelihood we'll see him back for Ninian Park's bow on-loan for the season.

On a personal level, I was more annoyed about past sales than this one simply as, even if we did court his sale, Rambo's high profile existence in our FA Cup run brought him to the nation's attention anyway and City are powerless when the big four come knocking and just about any Premiership side for that matter.

If Man United want any Championship player, no club can stand in their way. You tell me the last time that didn't happen?
What does frustrate though is that we have an Academy supposedly in existence to produce Cardiff City stars of the future when, in reality, it seems to be the football equivalent of a dog breeder. I'm really not comfortable with this.

I'd love Joe Ledley to stay but if/when he ever leaves this club, we've seem him give a few years sterling service to City. A great Academy product who served the club brilliantly. That should be the standard-bearer but it's very much the exception.

Losing Cameron Jerome after 1 season and Chris Gunter plus Ramsey after 20 games and all of them while still teenagers does feel like we, as fans, are being robbed.

Of course, there's also the small matter of these players disappearing for mega-money without feeling it's ever been sufficiently re-invested in the football side which is why we've been treading mid-table water for 5 years back in the Championship amongst other reasons.

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