Malky's ‘Most trusted lieutenant’
Fri Jan 25, 2013 12:33 am
Malky insists Helguson has key role in Cardiff City Premier push
WalesOnlineJan 25 2013Add a comment
He is regarded by Malky Mackay as one of his ‘most trusted lieutenants’ and the Cardiff City manager insists frontman Heidar Helguson still has a big part to play this season as the push for Premier League promotion gets serious.
With arrival of Fraiser Campbell on a £650,000 deal from Sunderland many might expect the veteran Icelander to become even more of a peripheral figure as the Bluebirds face their 18 remaining Championship outings.
After all the 35-year-old has found time on the pitch quite limited recently already.
He has not started a game since the Bluebirds beat Crystal Palace at home on Boxing Day and has had to be satisfied with some appearances from the bench as his side have tightened their grip at the top of the Championship.
But the old campaigner has still been a major presence for the Bluebirds this campaign having made 28 appearances.
He remains Cardiff’s top scorer with eight goals, seven in the league and one in the Bluebirds Capital One Cup defeat at Northampton.
It would be fair to say though that if marksman Nicky Maynard had not been ruled out for the season with his cruciate injury, Helguson might not have played such a big part.
So with Campbell now in and raring to go Helguson will now take more of a back seat.
Mackay for one does not think so.
“Heidar will have a huge part to play throughout the last 18 games of our season,” said Mackay.
“Heidar is one of my trusted lieutenants.
“I place a lot of faith in him. For me he has been incredible since he got here.
“Well, not incredible because he’s been exactly the sort of person I expected him to be. The type of person I dealt with in the past.
“He’s been consistently successful throughout his whole career. He’s a huge part of everything that is going on at this football club right now.”
Click here: Alan Whiteley leaves Cardiff City
Helguson has indeed been a warrior for Mackay this season and is indeed a good man to have around when it comes to trying to earn Premier League promotion.
Helguson has been there and done that already with QPR.
Mackay, who had Helguson on loan at Watford, when he was manager there, will try to utilise Helguson’s experience as the Bluebirds look to finally get promoted to the top-flight.
And Helguson comes with plenty of that experience even at international level.
Up until he retired from the international game in 2011 the frontman had earned 55 caps for his native Iceland and scored 12 goals.
In his playing career he also had spells at Bolton and Fulham.
He joined the Bluebirds from QPR last summer on a one year deal which will come to an end in the summer, but Mackay insists Helguson will be seeing plenty of football between now and then.
But with Campbell now in Helguson might well have to see some of that action as he has recently by coming off the bench.
Mackay said this season there has been plenty of players within his squad who he had taken in and out of the team, but that in no way lessened their value to the cardiff cause.
“There’s been plenty of players who have come in and out of the side this season. It’s horses for courses really with different people needed for different tactics in different games,” added Mackay.
“The reason Heidar has been out of the side recently has been a bit of everything really.
“It’s been a bit of tactics, he’s had a tight calf for a couple of weeks so we’ve had to be a bit cautious about playing him.
“He’s someone who is a fantastic personality. he’s a top professional and someone who still has a huge part to play. He is someone who is massively in my thoughts.”
With Campbell now with the Bluebirds many will be looking to him to fire the goals to see Cardiff over the finishing line when it comes to promotion.
But Mackay has said recently there will be no pressure on Campbell to score with the England international’s all-round quality the biggest factor as to why Mackay signed him.
It means Helguson might still get a look in and the veteran himself still hopes to play a big part in the Bluebirds’ season.
In a recent interview he observed: “I don’t think I have scored enough goals here if I’m honest.
“But I am enjoying my time at Cardiff and I hope I do get the chance trio score a few more.”
Cardiff supporters and manager Mackay will be hoping for the same thing that is for certain.
WalesOnlineJan 25 2013Add a comment
He is regarded by Malky Mackay as one of his ‘most trusted lieutenants’ and the Cardiff City manager insists frontman Heidar Helguson still has a big part to play this season as the push for Premier League promotion gets serious.
With arrival of Fraiser Campbell on a £650,000 deal from Sunderland many might expect the veteran Icelander to become even more of a peripheral figure as the Bluebirds face their 18 remaining Championship outings.
After all the 35-year-old has found time on the pitch quite limited recently already.
He has not started a game since the Bluebirds beat Crystal Palace at home on Boxing Day and has had to be satisfied with some appearances from the bench as his side have tightened their grip at the top of the Championship.
But the old campaigner has still been a major presence for the Bluebirds this campaign having made 28 appearances.
He remains Cardiff’s top scorer with eight goals, seven in the league and one in the Bluebirds Capital One Cup defeat at Northampton.
It would be fair to say though that if marksman Nicky Maynard had not been ruled out for the season with his cruciate injury, Helguson might not have played such a big part.
So with Campbell now in and raring to go Helguson will now take more of a back seat.
Mackay for one does not think so.
“Heidar will have a huge part to play throughout the last 18 games of our season,” said Mackay.
“Heidar is one of my trusted lieutenants.
“I place a lot of faith in him. For me he has been incredible since he got here.
“Well, not incredible because he’s been exactly the sort of person I expected him to be. The type of person I dealt with in the past.
“He’s been consistently successful throughout his whole career. He’s a huge part of everything that is going on at this football club right now.”
Click here: Alan Whiteley leaves Cardiff City
Helguson has indeed been a warrior for Mackay this season and is indeed a good man to have around when it comes to trying to earn Premier League promotion.
Helguson has been there and done that already with QPR.
Mackay, who had Helguson on loan at Watford, when he was manager there, will try to utilise Helguson’s experience as the Bluebirds look to finally get promoted to the top-flight.
And Helguson comes with plenty of that experience even at international level.
Up until he retired from the international game in 2011 the frontman had earned 55 caps for his native Iceland and scored 12 goals.
In his playing career he also had spells at Bolton and Fulham.
He joined the Bluebirds from QPR last summer on a one year deal which will come to an end in the summer, but Mackay insists Helguson will be seeing plenty of football between now and then.
But with Campbell now in Helguson might well have to see some of that action as he has recently by coming off the bench.
Mackay said this season there has been plenty of players within his squad who he had taken in and out of the team, but that in no way lessened their value to the cardiff cause.
“There’s been plenty of players who have come in and out of the side this season. It’s horses for courses really with different people needed for different tactics in different games,” added Mackay.
“The reason Heidar has been out of the side recently has been a bit of everything really.
“It’s been a bit of tactics, he’s had a tight calf for a couple of weeks so we’ve had to be a bit cautious about playing him.
“He’s someone who is a fantastic personality. he’s a top professional and someone who still has a huge part to play. He is someone who is massively in my thoughts.”
With Campbell now with the Bluebirds many will be looking to him to fire the goals to see Cardiff over the finishing line when it comes to promotion.
But Mackay has said recently there will be no pressure on Campbell to score with the England international’s all-round quality the biggest factor as to why Mackay signed him.
It means Helguson might still get a look in and the veteran himself still hopes to play a big part in the Bluebirds’ season.
In a recent interview he observed: “I don’t think I have scored enough goals here if I’m honest.
“But I am enjoying my time at Cardiff and I hope I do get the chance trio score a few more.”
Cardiff supporters and manager Mackay will be hoping for the same thing that is for certain.
Re: Malky's ‘Most trusted lieutenant’
Fri Jan 25, 2013 12:44 am
The intresting point of this article is the fact helgusson is on a 1 year deal !
Does he deserve an extension ?
Will he still hack it in the premier league if we go up ?
Does he want to carry on playing is another thought !
Personally i think hes done enough to get a nother year or pay as you play !
Does he deserve an extension ?
Will he still hack it in the premier league if we go up ?
Does he want to carry on playing is another thought !
Personally i think hes done enough to get a nother year or pay as you play !
Re: Malky's ‘Most trusted lieutenant’
Fri Jan 25, 2013 12:53 am
I love Heidar. It's his experience that has carried us through and scored vital goals at Ipswich.
He read the mistake well.. he took his header well.
Hull when he was knocked out well not fully.. he kept his eye on the ball and didn't even give a s**t about the aftermath.
Blackburn away he got 3 assists.. played a great pass to KIM.. great header to Mason and the 1-2 with Bellars.
Hes picked up 7/8 goals.. not many as some but hes 35 and doesn't do a lot of chasing down but he works hard and battles well.
Can't beat an old fashioned striker who puts 100% every game.
Such a ashame that some fans cream theirselfs over players like Maynard who are quick and never stop running etc.
Players of Heidars quality deserve praise and he dosen't get enough.
He read the mistake well.. he took his header well.
Hull when he was knocked out well not fully.. he kept his eye on the ball and didn't even give a s**t about the aftermath.
Blackburn away he got 3 assists.. played a great pass to KIM.. great header to Mason and the 1-2 with Bellars.
Hes picked up 7/8 goals.. not many as some but hes 35 and doesn't do a lot of chasing down but he works hard and battles well.
Can't beat an old fashioned striker who puts 100% every game.
Such a ashame that some fans cream theirselfs over players like Maynard who are quick and never stop running etc.
Players of Heidars quality deserve praise and he dosen't get enough.
Re: Malky's ‘Most trusted lieutenant’
Fri Jan 25, 2013 1:13 am
DandoCCFC wrote:I love Heidar. It's his experience that has carried us through and scored vital goals at Ipswich.
He read the mistake well.. he took his header well.
Hull when he was knocked out well not fully.. he kept his eye on the ball and didn't even give a s**t about the aftermath.
Blackburn away he got 3 assists.. played a great pass to KIM.. great header to Mason and the 1-2 with Bellars.
Hes picked up 7/8 goals.. not many as some but hes 35 and doesn't do a lot of chasing down but he works hard and battles well.
Can't beat an old fashioned striker who puts 100% every game.
Such a ashame that some fans cream theirselfs over players like Maynard who are quick and never stop running etc.
Players of Heidars quality deserve praise and he dosen't get enough.
This has to be your best post.
Re: Malky's ‘Most trusted lieutenant’
Fri Jan 25, 2013 1:19 am
Cheers 
He could of scored a few more he has had a few chances but he has played a great part so far and he has deserved a bit of a break to rest.
Shows the depth we have when we can bring other great players to step in.
He could of scored a few more he has had a few chances but he has played a great part so far and he has deserved a bit of a break to rest.
Shows the depth we have when we can bring other great players to step in.
Re: Malky's ‘Most trusted lieutenant’
Fri Jan 25, 2013 1:40 am
If this is Helguson's final season, (it may not be he might have a one year extension or go onto future endeavors) I'd like to see him come back in a capacity, a Striker coach or something? His experience rubs off on the players, the older players like Smith, Bellamy, Hudson and Heidar give the younger players something to look up to.
Re: Malky's ‘Most trusted lieutenant’
Fri Jan 25, 2013 8:00 am
He had been criticised by some fans this season but then all they do is judge success by his speed or number of goals. Completely ignorant to his work rate and how he allows others to play off him. For me he's been a quality signing 
Re: Malky's ‘Most trusted lieutenant’
Fri Jan 25, 2013 10:49 pm
Carpe Diem wrote:He had been criticised by some fans this season but then all they do is judge success by his speed or number of goals. Completely ignorant to his work rate and how he allows others to play off him. For me he's been a quality signing
He has been great and hes been up with a team so he knows what is expected.