"Against Bristol City" - Cardiff City urged to take patient approach to Aaron Ramsey's future | OneFootball

FLW's Cardiff City fan pundit has weighed on the future of Aaron Ramsey, who is out of contract in the summer

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Cardiff City should “wait and see” before making a decision over Aaron Ramsey’s future at the club following his return from injury, according to FLW's Bluebirds fan pundit.

Ramsey, who has suffered an injury-strewn homecoming at the Cardiff City Stadium, is out of contract this summer.

However, it is suggested that Cardiff hold the option of extending Ramsey’s contract for another season – but whether they should do so is a hot topic of debate for Bluebirds fans.

Aaron Ramsey’s third spell at Cardiff City has been “disappointing for all parties”

Veteran Ramsey came through Cardiff’s academy as a youngster, before sealing a move to Premier League giants Arsenal – where he starred for many years.

Injuries whilst at Arsenal saw Ramsey loaned back to Cardiff in 2011, before the Wales captain’s career took him abroad to Juventus, Rangers, and Nice.

Following his stint in France with Nice, the midfielder returned to Cardiff on a permanent basis in the summer of 2023.

However, injuries have reduced Ramsey to just 18 Championship appearances across the last year-and-a-half with the Bluebirds.

Ramsey’s trouble with injuries in the past was very much a known quantity when Cardiff signed their academy graduate.

With Ramsey off the pitch, Cardiff fans had started to question whether the 34-year-old should stay in the Welsh captain beyond his current deal – but his substitute performance against Bristol City at the weekend has led FLW’s Cardiff fan pundit Jack Price to reconsider his view.

Jack shared: “It’s a very difficult one with Aaron Ramsey.

“I mean the obvious caveat is his injury record, and let’s not make any mistake about that – it is a massive cause for concern.

“It is one we knew about when we signed him, of course, he has been plagued a bit throughout his career.

“Took a calculated risk, and at the start it looked like it was paying dividends.

“He started like a house on fire, but barring the first month or so of his time with us we haven’t seen those levels.

“He's barely played, and that’s really disappointing for all parties.

“I think earlier in the season I was probably in the camp of this move hasn’t worked out – through no fault of his own of course, but it would be best to move on.

“But Ramsey’s return on Saturday was a big, big positive. He came on when Cardiff were beginning to seize the upper hand against Bristol City.

“He gave us increased tempo and control in that midfield.

“He showed his class most notably with that ball through to Cian Ashford, which not many players at this level would be able to make.

“Ashford then set up Yousef Salech for the equaliser, a point against a massive rival – you can’t fault it.

“It is difficult because there are pros and cons.

“We have the option to extend Ramsey’s contract by a further year, whether he wants to take that or whether he wants to hang up his boots now – he's definitely not getting any younger – that remains to be seen.

“Obviously coaching is a long-term avenue for Ramsey, it’s very well documented that is what he wants to go into.”

Different approach to Aaron Ramsey’s playtime could get best out of midfielder

Rather than part ways with Ramsey come the summer, FLW’s Bluebirds fan pundit Jack suggests Cardiff should instead reconsider how they use Ramsey.

“It’s tricky,” Jack continued.

“I mean, this is a player of outstanding, world-class, top, top bracket pedigree.

"Proven quality, experience.

"And you can’t underestimate how invaluable that is in a dressing room, particularly in a squad that is getting younger – we're lowering the age of the squad, looking to recruit more younger players, both domestically and overseas.

“So its a massive factor. And he also still has real quality – it doesn’t leave you.

“And he proved that against Bristol City. A lot of Cardiff fans still say that a fully-fit Ramsey is an absolute game-changer at this level, and it hard to disagree.

“But how long can he stay fit for? That is the real question.

“So with that in mind, I think we need to give it until the end of the season before making a decision.

“Because you can’t lean too much on sentiment. He will very, very likely be on big wages.

“He’s 34, and his fitness is still a massive problem. If we can manage him better, because Erol Bulut ran him into the ground.

“And if we can rotate him more, and play him a bit deeper where he can get on the ball and dictate, break-up those lines, instead of being there too much onus on him running about.

“I still think we could get another good year out of him.”