..........are we expecting anyone? https://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/2017/august/201718-squad-numbers-confirmed/
No number for Fred. TAAAXIII. Squad still looks a bit bloated. 29 players. Thought Colin wanted 22-23.
I reckon 21, 22, 23, 24 could all be gone in August - either sold or out on loan. O'Keefe apparently wanted by Portsmouth on loan but we want to sell.
Undecided on a couple payers invluding o'keefe but we need shot of a few for a couple reasons. With a smaller squad players are more likely to be in the match day squad. I feel that keeps them hungry and pushing. Secondly it creates more opportunity for a development player to get on the bench. We've enough flexibility at the back and midfield not to need to carry a full set of subs. Allows the young guns to experience a match day and get the odd five minutes when we're four up with five to play. All good for their development. Finally it reduces the wage bill so come January when we're top six and need a quality player to push us over the line we've got the headroom to dip into Tan's piggy bank.
Should include No. 26 in that list. I guess no one wants him though. Might it have been different if he had scored from 2 inches against Brum at the start of last season? We saw what a goal or two did to Zohore's confidence. I thought Pompey were being or have been taken over by some rich Yank. I can't imagine us wanting more than, say, £250k for O'Keefe. Don't know what we paid for him. Strangely though, with the form he showed later on in 2015/16 I still think he could be a part of our squad, if only as cover for Ralls and Gunnar who will get injured/suspended at times in the season. I believe he has done something to pee off Colin either in attitude or training or fallen out with a more valued, senior player and that is why he wants him out. He's had a strange career. In 11 seasons he has only played more than 20 games in a season once - for us in 2015/16. Russell Slade praised him highly "Stuart has got a fantastic attitude, he's a real, real good professional, even when he wasn't in the side he was pushing. [...] some players when they're not in the side get disillusioned and want to move on, but not O'Keefe." Kiss of death?
If Colin wants to get down to 22-23 the 5 mentioned plus 1 or 2 more ? 13 Pilks 16 Connolly I think it would be a bit harsh on Connolly if he was moved on.
Warnock on O'Keefe at the press conference: - There’s two or three clubs after Stuart, but I have to be a little bit careful at the moment. Last week when Aron Gunnarsson went down and we had no Loic (Damour) to bring on and with Halford playing right back it was a little bit thin, it triggered my thoughts. I’m not really in a rush, O’Keefe might play in the cup. There’s nothing sufficient with the others, people are dipping their toes in the water and after a few bad results there will probably be more concrete offers. Two or three have offered a deal but nothing to warrant him going.