Joel Bagan D Zulte Waragem (loan from Cardiff) b.2001

Was watching Bagan today in the Nottingham Forest v Cardiff game, first time I have properly watched him play.

Thought he played well, wasn't really involved in any of the goals scored or the one Cardiff conceded, but he got up and down the left side of the pitch well and seems to have good crossing ability. Was also unlucky not to score with a looping header that came back off the bar.

Only turned 20 last week and didn't look out of place at Championship level today, so definitely some promise there.

It was an absolutely awful game. He did fine. Nothing to get wildly excited about but he was solid in defence and got forward well. Thought he might have gotten played in by Colwill for the second goal, great run from him there.

I watched Cardiff at Peterborough a few weeks ago & Bagan was playing near where I was sitting, he looked about twelve to me. He does get up and down well, yes, and he had two covering runs back which were well tracked in that match, one he took off the strikers head for a corner and one he nodded back to his keeper very calmly, both back post ones where he had covered a lot of yards to be in the right place when it came in.

Cardiff were very direct, but he took two short throw ins where he showed & got it back then passed it and one free kick where he was nudged, put his hand on the ball, knocked it ten yards and got it back. It was noticeable because most other throws / frees his side got, they stopped, set and launched into a channel. It contrasted with how they set up but Mick does seem to rate him also.

Is he fast?

I didn't find him noticeably quick, but he's far from slow either.

Scored in stoppage time for Cardiff on Saturday. Rated 8/10 on Wales Online.

If he is a Lett back and he is able to perform I would give him a trial at international football. Manning is a midfielder who can play as a Lett back

The 'excellent' Cardiff City youngster who is continuing to rise to the challenge under Steve Morison:

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/...r-who-23081799

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Originally Posted by Bielsa´s irish

If he is a Lett back and he is able to perform I would give him a trial at international football. Manning is a midfielder who can play as a Lett back

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I also see Manning as a central midfielder really; he's a good footballer with a nice left foot who's actually played in the number 10 role in the past. Maybe he should be given a chance in midfield in one of the upcoming friendlies. We're already well-sorted at centre-back.

Yeah. Got this kid and Liam Scales too for the left back depth . Manning is too good a footballer to play there At international level

Bagan scored again tonight for Cardiff, at home to Coventry. "The contest looked to be heading for a stalemate until Bagan cut inside and finished brilliantly on 72 minutes". (BBC Wales Sport).

great goal

https://www.cardiffcityforum.co.uk/v...065d34752c4fb2

Looks like many of the Cardiff fans didn't think he was good enough but are happy to be proven wrong with the recent performances. He didn't stand out to me when playing for the 21s. I thought he appeared a little limited- unwilling to lift his head and progress the ball, preferring to play back inside to our centre halves who were a bit more comfortable on the ball. This was particularly the case against Sweden. In hindsight, the limitations could have been the result of nerves. Goals like this will do wonders for the confidence.

Several favourable comments about Joel on the Cardiff forum. It seems he's really stepped up. Really good to see

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Originally Posted by Olé Olé

https://www.cardiffcityforum.co.uk/v...065d34752c4fb2

Looks like many of the Cardiff fans didn't think he was good enough but are happy to be proven wrong with the recent performances. He didn't stand out to me when playing for the 21s. I thought he appeared a little limited- unwilling to lift his head and progress the ball, preferring to play back inside to our centre halves who were a bit more comfortable on the ball. This was particularly the case against Sweden. In hindsight, the limitations could have been the result of nerves. Goals like this will do wonders for the confidence.

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Several favourable comments about Joel on the Cardiff forum. It seems he's really stepped up. Great to see.

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Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

great goal

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Call him up Ken.

Yes. We need specialists there as right back left back. Manning is a formidable footballer with a great ability he is a midfielder in my opinion.

I watched the goal. Only for that goal he must be call out. Best irish goal of the season so far for me. Manning scored another beauty goal too. Maybe you know more but this goal is the best so far. Can he play on the right too?

Yes he can play right, mid, striker and GK if needed. Whereever you fancy really. Dara O'Shea will show him the ropes.

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Originally Posted by Exgrad

Yes he can play right, mid, striker and GK if needed. Whereever you fancy really. Dara O'Shea will show him the ropes.

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Hooker.

Didn't Mark McGuinness play the other night too at CB?

Another goal making it 3 in 3. Surely should be looked at for the squad given it’s a position we have a dearth of talent in.

Appreciate he didn’t look great for the U21’s on his first showing, however was part of a flat back four if I remember rightly. Evidently a modern wing back.

Obvious the U21’s should be playing with three at the back with the amount of centre half’s coming through and strength of our wing backs - travesty that they are not made to adopt the same system, so that they are tailor made for the jump up, as is the case with so many PL academies.

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Originally Posted by MancIrishWolf

Obvious the U21’s should be playing with three at the back with the amount of centre half’s coming through and strength of our wing backs - travesty that they are not made to adopt the same system, so that they are tailor made for the jump up, as is the case with so many PL academies.

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The counter arguments to that are

A) the senior team were playing 4-3-3 when the 21s campaign started. We’ve only switched formation relatively recently and to expect the 21s to drastically alter their shape mid campaign is difficult

B) it’s the system that they’ve played for ireland at 17s, 19s and now 21s

C) with Collins and Omobamidele both moved up while still 21s - the centre-halves left available are pretty weak. McGuinness is the best of them, then you’ve got O’Brien, McEntee and Boyce who have generally made up the squad and Cashin who hasn’t been called up yet but looks to have reached the level. It’s not exactly a great group and you’d probably like to be finding one of four rather than two of four. Meanwhile our wingers, which we have an abundance of, will suffer most: Wright, Ebosele, Ferry, O’Neill, Kerrigan, Moran, Moynan, Gilbert. I know you could play Ebosele at right wing back, move O’Connor into the centre, then you’re basically losing Tyriek Wright and gaining a striker. It’s doable but it could still end up with us playing a weaker 11.

I can see the arguments for it, obviously, but I don’t think it’s automatic that they should have switched straight away

Named on the bench this evening. Good to see him back from injury. Had been out since the end of August after a nasty bang to the head.

Moves to the Belgian second tier for the season.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/...-joel-27507108

Good that he's getting out and playing games this season.