BBC NEWS: “Fantastic talent” – Former Norwich City striker tipped for Cardiff City success.
This post is part of Football League World’s ‘Terrace Talk’ series, which features personal comments from FLW Fan Pundits on breaking news, teams, players, managers, possible signings, and more.
Cardiff City has had a terrible start to the 24/25 Championship season, with only five points from their first nine league games.
That early record prompted the Welsh club to remove Erol Bulut last month, following only 14 months in command at Cardiff City Stadium.
With a lot of seasoned talents and high-profile names joining the club, more was expected of this City team, but a number of players failed to live up to their potential, leaving the former Premier League side near the foot of the table heading into the international break.
With a lot of young talents waiting in the wings, any new boss may be tempted to offer academy players an opportunity when instated. We chatted with Football League World’s resident Bluebird, Jack Price, on who we should watch out for from the next cohort of stars.
Michael Reindorf is projected for the top after making his Cardiff City debut.
City has struggled in front of goal this season, scoring only four goals in their first nine league matches, highlighting their struggles in the final third.
Callum Robinson has two goals, while Perry Ng and Ollie Tanner have also scored, leaving the rest of the team goalless after two months of the season.
“I find it strange” – Pundit supports Ryan Lowe as next Cardiff City manager.
The former Preston North End manager has been out of job since the beginning of the season, but he may be the perfect fit for the Bluebirds.
With that in mind, Price is looking for a young striker who is eager to make the most of his opportunities in the coming weeks and contribute to his team’s success in the final third.
When asked which young player may be the next to break into the first squad, Price said: “There are a handful I could select from here, since we have made significant progress in our academy system in recent years.
“It has been a major goal of the board to bring in more young, local players that we can profit from, and they have created a new training facility, so all of that is creating some good potential for us.
“That said, the top of the group for me has to be Michael Reindorf; he hasn’t really risen through our ranks – so to speak – since we signed him from Norwich in the summer, but he appears to be an excellent prospect.
| Championship table – as of 14/10/24 | ||||
| Position | Team | P | GD | Pts |
| 19th | Preston North End | 9 | -5 | 9 |
| 20th | Coventry City | 9 | -3 | 8 |
| 21st | Luton Town | 9 | -7 | 8 |
| 22nd | QPR | 9 | -7 | 7 |
| 23rd | Portsmouth | 9 | -11 | 5 |
| 24th | Cardiff City | 9 | -14 | 5 |
Michael Reindorf’s performances at Bristol Rovers and Southampton demonstrate his potential to assist Cardiff City in its forward problem.
Reindorf, who joined Cardiff from Norwich City in the summer, has already played in a few League Cup matches, demonstrating his potential.
In August, the 19-year-old had a 30-minute cameo against Bristol Rovers before making his debut start for the Bluebirds in a 5-3 loss to Southampton.
It may still be early days, but Price is certain that the teenager can be a valuable addition to the first squad if given the opportunity, with his early performances demonstrating his skill and readiness to be released.
He went on to say, “We saw all of that in abundance when we played Bristol Rovers in the League Cup on his debut, and he was a real handful.”
“There was one point when he did a flick, which was similar to Lee Tomlin’s legendary assist against Leeds in 2019, where he flipped a ball over the top and it went through to Andy Rinomhota, who almost scored.
“He provided real quality; he is very gifted but also willing to put in the effort, which is unusual for a young attacking player, especially one with such skill and flair as Reindorf.”
“So he would be the one I would choose, because I honestly believe he should be playing for our first team right now, and it is upsetting that he isn’t.
“He has offered more in the two League Cup games that he has played than Wilfried Kanga has through his eight games, so Reindorf definitely deserves to be playing.”
Cian Ashford and Joel Colwill are both touted for the top from Cardiff City Academy.
Reindorf isn’t the only rising star in the Welsh capital, with Price also identifying Cian Ashford as a player with the potential to break into the professional game.
The 20-year-old has made five appearances last season and has came in as a substitute in two games this season. He is likely to gain more trust as he develops.
Price went on to say, “I believe he has a bright future if we give him opportunities in the first squad, and I believe Cian Ashford does as well.
“He made his breakthrough at the conclusion of last season with a goal against Southampton, and I believe he might have a successful future.
“A special mention as well to Joel Colwill, who is ripping it up for Cheltenham Town in League Two, and I do think he will have a real good season next year when we do have him back.”
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