Singing The Blues

[TRF_Cymro]

Friday night brought to a close another disappointing season for Dai Young and his Cardiff Blues side. The Scarlets thumped the Blues 38-23 in a game that showed a glaring problem with the strength and depth in the Blues squad.

http://captaintrolley.wordpress.com/2011/05/08/singing-the-blues/

My blog, discuss and criticise as you wish.

 

[Draggs]

Not sure if it is directly responsible and perhaps just a coincidence, but their drab performances have really started since Nicky Robinson left. Norton-Knightmare and Parks were both unable to get the backline moving. I'd take Sweeney over them every time. Cardiff's best performance since 2009 was no doubt the Amlin final, and unless I have forgotten some details, Sweeney had a very good match. Cardiff seriously need to work on their pack. They often get blown apart in the scrums, even with Gethin Jenkins. Their second rows, excluding Bradley Davies, are rather lightweight (specifically ***o and Jones; Paterson is not a SR). Pretorius has had a pretty good season, and arguably first choice over Molitika. Warburton has rightly overtaken Martyn Williams, who is no doubt a great servant to Welsh rugby. Rush didn't perform as many hoped, so a new 8 is a must. (Delve...)

Dale McIntosh has done well with Ponty and could be considered to take over from Dai Young. I think the Dragon have already shown what can happen with a new coaching staff, and Cardiff must not rule out a change in theirs.

Good blog, looking forward to reading more!

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Not sure if it is directly responsible and perhaps just a coincidence, but their drab performances have really started since Nicky Robinson left. Norton-Knightmare and Parks were both unable to get the backline moving. I'd take Sweeney over them every time. Cardiff's best performance since 2009 was no doubt the Amlin final, and unless I have forgotten some details, Sweeney had a very good match. Cardiff seriously need to work on their pack. They often get blown apart in the scrums, even with Gethin Jenkins. Their second rows, excluding Bradley Davies, are rather lightweight (specifically ***o and Jones; Paterson is not a SR). Pretorius has had a pretty good season, and arguably first choice over Molitika. Warburton has rightly overtaken Martyn Williams, who is no doubt a great servant to Welsh rugby. Rush didn't perform as many hoped, so a new 8 is a must. (Delve...)

Dale McIntosh has done well with Ponty and could be considered to take over from Dai Young. I think the Dragon have already shown what can happen with a new coaching staff, and Cardiff must not rule out a change in theirs.

Good blog, looking forward to reading more!

Deffo a coincidence that the leaving of Robinson has caused problems, think I did eluded to it in the blog. I still believe Paterson will be a second row for the Blues but next season we shall see.

Regarding a new 8, I seriously don't think the Blues can go out and get Delve or another 8. Money is dry, or apparently is. Coaching wise going to be interesting also, I think Young is a good coach, possibly taken the Blues as far as he can but one must also look at the likes of Baber in the backroom staff who has really made the Blues backline a negative one.

Going to be an interesting off season for the Blues.

 

[Draggs]

Money is the problem it seems. However much Park's contract was, it is way too much. Robinson has really had hard luck, being ignored by multiple Wales coaching teams and then being let go by the Blues. I'd like to see what he could do with Laulala and Roberts, who started off very well, but most teams have figured out.

While Dai Young may be a good coach (if I may bring the Dragons in again), he has run his course like Paul Turner, who I considered to be a capable coach.

***o's performance has declined this season, and I think they could go looking for a new captain as he might not be first choice. (Bradley, Sam or Jamie would be my choices)

I am looking forward for Pretorius to become Welsh qualified, as he will provide good competition for Dan Lydiate.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Money is the problem it seems. However much Park's contract was, it is way too much. Robinson has really had hard luck, being ignored by multiple Wales coaching teams and then being let go by the Blues. I'd like to see what he could do with Laulala and Roberts, who started off very well, but most teams have figured out.

While Dai Young may be a good coach (if I may bring the Dragons in again), he has run his course like Paul Turner, who I considered to be a capable coach.

***o's performance has declined this season, and I think they could go looking for a new captain as he might not be first choice. (Bradley, Sam or Jamie would be my choices)

I am looking forward for Pretorius to become Welsh qualified, as he will provide good competition for Dan Lydiate.

Parks may well be off come end of the season, apparently only signed a one year deal or that's the impression that's been given on various Blues fan forums.

Pretorious looks a good player and as you said will add to extra competition in the back row for Wales.

Then there are stories that ***o will be off come end of the season so could well be a new captain next season at the Blues.

 

[Draggs]

I think that it has come to the point where contract or not, Parks cannot start. They have plenty of talent outside him, but he seems hung up on kicking for goal (and doing a poor job of that) or missing dropgoals.
Steven Shingler would have been a good signing. Young player with plenty of potential and Welsh.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Rumours are that Mathew Morgan has been in talks with the Blues and Dragons ... so there's a possibility that he may be with us next season.

 

[TrueSlawter]

For Morgan its best to goto the Blues imo.. Dragons have Tovey developing well and with Parks (if he stays) morgan can consistantly get gametime.. well at least he should get alot more gametime.

 

[Draggs]

For Morgan its best to goto the Blues imo.. Dragons have Tovey developing well and with Parks (if he stays) morgan can consistantly get gametime.. well at least he should get alot more gametime.

Definitely.
As much as I would like to see Matthew join us, we have a good outside half in Tovey, and he would have a better chance at Cardiff. He is still at least a season away from Magner's level, but a prospect now doubt.

 

[dullonien]

Bloody hell, everyone and their dog has a blog nowerdays . Good read though.

I mentioned much of the same things on the Scarlets v Blues thread. As I see it, there are four main problems with the Blues at the moment. 1. Ageing squad (especially the leaders in the squad). 2. Lack of depth, almost across the board. 3. Parks. 4. No teamwork from the forwards driving the ball.

1. Although the emergence of Warburton, Bradley and Roberts etc. have helped, there's no denying that the formerly influential players at the Blues are egeing. Felise, ***o, Martyn, Molitika, Rush and Blair have all been hugely important players for the region. All are now well into their 30's and appear in serial decline (or injured in Blair's case). Apart from Warbs, there's been no youngsters ready to step-up (I see Bradley as Deiniol's replacement, not ***o's). And tbh, there are very few youngsters in the region that look like they'll step-up next season, only 3-4 (Andrews, Down, Lloyd Williams, Fish) if all goes well! Where's the young 8, 10 etc.

2. There is a severe lack of depth across the squad as you pointed out Cymro. They've been playing all season with only 1 recognised 8 in their squad!!!! And with no-one to push him, Rush' form seems to have slipped somewhat. Compare that to when Powell was there (and actually playing well), he kept Rush out of the team after getting an opportunity when Rush was injured, and Rush worked hard and was in phenomenal form not long after. Competition for places is important, yet in most posititions there is none, and it shows! What about luring Jamie Robinson back to the Blues? I know he's no spring chicken (how old would he be now, 29-31?), but he offers something none of the other centres in the Blues squad have, genuine pace as a genuine 13. Cardiff also means the world to Jamie, and I think he'd jump at the opportunity to return. Isn't he playing in PD1 at the moment? Hewitt has been good this season, but he's in a similar mould to Roberts.

3. Well what's there to say about the outside-half problem at the Blues? Norton-Knightmare was rubbish, and Parks is no better. The Blues need someone who can get the backline moving, and that isn't Parks. Sweeney is better, but he's still not really the quality the Blues should be aiming for in their starting 10, good reserve player, nothing more. They should have done everything in their powers to lure Nicky Robinson back to the Blues. He and his brother epitomised everything the Blues (and Cardiff before) should be. I can't see why there's such a shortage of money, we're not talking about Dan Carter here, offload Parks and find the money for someone half decent ffs!

4. I can't understand why the Blues, Ospreys and Wales can't see that going into contact in single file is not working. Why don't they go as small groups or 2 or 3, as Munster do. Even the Scarlets have reasilsed this!

I can't see next season being much better if they don't recruit any players into the squad atall over summer. They will be demolished up front by the stronger teams, and Parks will stifle the good attacking threat they have out side. Dai Young needs to go imo. I don't think he's a bad coach, just that he's gotten a little stale. He needs to go proove somewhere else that he's a decent coach, and some new ideas an ipetus needs to be brought into the Blues. Will be tough for any coach though if the playing staff remains the same!

 

[superrprop]

Blues have a good team but seem to have Wales' problem where they have really good players but don't perform to the standard they're capable of.

 

[Draggs]

I think Jamie Robinson has signed an extension with Agen, while Nicky is going to Wasps.

 

[psychic duck]

After that performance in Marseille last year I thought also that the Blues would have a good season

Ceri Sweeney is a man in the last two years that has been able to get the center’s going for the Blues but Young and his coaching staff think otherwise

Sweeney is not the fly half a team that wants to be among the best needs

Young has also failed to utilise Jaime Roberts as well as he should

Wales haven't used him well either

The Blues have wasted money on the likes of Dan Parks, Sam Norton-Knight and Mike Phillips

Mike Phillips got in the Magners League dream team in his season at the Blues

This season I think Rush and Molitika have shown their age a bit, they both are quality players, but have both lost a bit of speed and the Blues have lacked their go forward ball that they've had from previous seasons

The Cardiff Blues really need a loosehead prop to cover during the RWC as Jenkins and Yapp will be there, and that just leaves Hobbs. And Jenkins has been quite injury prone lately, which supports your statement that Gill should of been held onto

Also they need a dynamic back row, Powell?

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Sweeney is not the fly half a team that wants to be among the best needs

He's not a bad fly half, Blues have played better with him than Parks or Norton-Knight in the last two seasons. He has got the backline moving, he also attacks the gain line, something Parks and Norton-Knight failed to do.

Wales haven't used him well either

He's been to predictable for Wales, also by not using him well ... it means not shoving him on the wing when the Blues need him in the middle.

Mike Phillips got in the Magners League dream team in his season at the Blues

Maybe so, but Blues spent mass amount of wages on him only for him to move on and leave a pretty bad taste in Blues fans mouths.

 

[Peat]

"yet since then the Blues have been flaunting with upper mid table mediocrity."

Flirting surely?

Can't really comment on the Blues' problems now, although I reckon the only people without regrets over the Rush saga are Ulster. Certainly the age profile is all wrong, I can see that much easily.

What is going on money wise in Wales? It seems to be drying up rapidly. It also seems to me that a lot of the big name Welsh players have been underperforming chronically all season. That's more an Ospreys issue than a Cardiff issue, but its noticeable countrywide to the point where I'm wondering if there's something behind the scenes at Gatland's camp affecting them.


Something you haven't touched on much is where Cardiff go from here. It seems to me that in many respects Cardiff need to start again really.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

"yet since then the Blues have been flaunting with upper mid table mediocrity."

Flirting surely?

Can't really comment on the Blues' problems now, although I reckon the only people without regrets over the Rush saga are Ulster. Certainly the age profile is all wrong, I can see that much easily.

What is going on money wise in Wales? It seems to be drying up rapidly. It also seems to me that a lot of the big name Welsh players have been underperforming chronically all season. That's more an Ospreys issue than a Cardiff issue, but its noticeable countrywide to the point where I'm wondering if there's something behind the scenes at Gatland's camp affecting them.


Something you haven't touched on much is where Cardiff go from here. It seems to me that in many respects Cardiff need to start again really.

I do touch on it throughout the piece. Maybe not well but its touched upon.

If Young stays he needs to address Parks. He needs to sit him down and talk to him about how he wants the Blues to play and whether Parks can or cannot play in this system. If he can't then rid of him ASAP. With no money its hard to bring players in. Blues as I have said have wasted money in the past and its coming back to haunt them. The only option is to blood academy players / regional players much in the same fashion the Dragons and Scarlets have done. Cardiff are now in a period of transition, the problem is that the experienced players are at the wrong side of 30 and the youngsters are probably too young. But there we are, got to start somewhere.

 

[dullonien]

I think the Blues are paying somewhat for the lack of success in the past when they had a good team but failed to deliver. The need to bring some silverware their direction has probably meant that building for the future was put on hold somewhat, as they tried to get the best out of their ageing squad. They have an EDF and Amlin trophy, but it's not all that much to shout about.

They should have begun a transition period a few years ago, when their star players were still playing well. Now they're loosing those stars to age and retirement, yet they have no-one to step in. I'd like to know the reasons. Lack of young players coming through the academy, or reluctance from Young to give them a shot? If there's a lack of youngsters coming through the system, then questions should be asked why. Are the systems in place good enough? The other regions academy systems are working well, with a constant stream of youngsters ready to make the step-up. Maybe the Blues are suffering from their insistance of remaining a mainly Cardiff based team, reducing the number and quality of the clubs affiliated with them?

Poor recruitment has obviously been part of the problem, but I fear there may be deeper ruited problems emerging. I hope not, because Wales needs a strong Blues region if our international hopes are to be realised.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

I think the Blues are paying somewhat for the lack of success in the past when they had a good team but failed to deliver. The need to bring some silverware their direction has probably meant that building for the future was put on hold somewhat, as they tried to get the best out of their ageing squad. They have an EDF and Amlin trophy, but it's not all that much to shout about.

They should have begun a transition period a few years ago, when their star players were still playing well. Now they're loosing those stars to age and retirement, yet they have no-one to step in. I'd like to know the reasons. Lack of young players coming through the academy, or reluctance from Young to give them a shot? If there's a lack of youngsters coming through the system, then questions should be asked why. Are the systems in place good enough? The other regions academy systems are working well, with a constant stream of youngsters ready to make the step-up. Maybe the Blues are suffering from their insistance of remaining a mainly Cardiff based team, reducing the number and quality of the clubs affiliated with them?

Poor recruitment has obviously been part of the problem, but I fear there may be deeper ruited problems emerging. I hope not, because Wales needs a strong Blues region if our international hopes are to be realised.

I dunno Dull about the Blues got nothing in the Academy, there are good players there.

Lewis Smout = Prop
Kristian Dacey = Hooker
James Down + Cory Hill + Macauley Cook = Second Row
Thomas Young = Backrow
Owen Shepeard = Backrow / Number 8
Joe Griffin = Fly Half
Harry Robinson + Alex Cuthbert = Wingers
Dan Fish = Fullback

Some of those boys have featured but not enough. If you go into the regions then Ponty has a few handy players. I don't buy the argument that there are no youth players there, but what I can't understand is how these guys are not being played by Young.

 

[dullonien]

There are some, yes, but do those numbers stack up against the other regions? And as you say, they're not really getting any gametime, although Fish and now Robinson are getting a few chances. From what I've seen, both Down and Cook look like excellent prospects in the second-row, why are they not getting opportunities ahead of never-has-beens like Deiniol Jones? Probably a little early for Cook, but Downs has been on the scene a couple of years, and I've barely seen him in a Blues shirt outside of the LV=Cup. He's bloody impressed me every time I've seen him play aswell. When even the Ospreys are prepared to chuck in players like Tipuric ahead of Hollah, and even offer him the captaincy (and the O's aren't the best at playing youngsters), surely the Blues should have been giving these boys propper chances at Magners level already.

The Scarlets have been prepared to hand chances to almost every youngster with potential, and that is slowly producing a quality and reletively deep squad. They were forced to do so, for much the same reasons as the Blues will be now, an ageing squad and little money. But the Blues should have seen this as a precident, what did Young and the rest in charge at the Blues think would happen when all the 30+ y/o's inevitibly passed their best? I suppose the credit crunch wasn't expected, and that seems to have hit the Blues hard, with their benefactors reeling in it's wake. As you said, over-spending in the past (with little results) has meant that they're unwilling to do the same again.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

There are some, yes, but do those numbers stack up against the other regions? And as you say, they're not really getting any gametime, although Fish and now Robinson are getting a few chances. From what I've seen, both Down and Cook look like excellent prospects in the second-row, why are they not getting opportunities ahead of never-has-beens like Deiniol Jones? Probably a little early for Cook, but Downs has been on the scene a couple of years, and I've barely seen him in a Blues shirt outside of the LV=Cup. He's bloody impressed me every time I've seen him play aswell. When even the Ospreys are prepared to chuck in players like Tipuric ahead of Hollah, and even offer him the captaincy (and the O's aren't the best at playing youngsters), surely the Blues should have been giving these boys propper chances at Magners level already.

The Scarlets have been prepared to hand chances to almost every youngster with potential, and that is slowly producing a quality and reletively deep squad. They were forced to do so, for much the same reasons as the Blues will be now, an ageing squad and little money. But the Blues should have seen this as a precident, what did Young and the rest in charge at the Blues think would happen when all the 30+ y/o's inevitibly passed their best? I suppose the credit crunch wasn't expected, and that seems to have hit the Blues hard, with their benefactors reeling in it's wake. As you said, over-spending in the past (with little results) has meant that they're unwilling to do the same again.

Pretty much, Peter Thomas was once loaded, back in the days threw cash at the likes of Neil Jenkins, Martyn Williams and Rob Howley and really money has been thrown out and nothing has come in return. Add to that I don't think Thomas has the purse he one had.

James Down is a mystery, disappointing that he has not featured more this season. Only 4 times ... all in 2010, twice in the LV and twice in the Magners. Dai has let the ball drop with not utilising the youngsters.