Darren Purse: Hudson the man to lead City to Prem
Thu Dec 06, 2012 6:28 am
Former Bluebirds captain Darren Purse believes Mark Hudson is the man to lead Cardiff City into the Premier League.
Purse spoke of his admiration for his fellow defender with City top of the Championship heading into tomorrow’s game at Blackburn Rovers.
“Hudson is a top-quality player who knows exactly what Championship football is all about,” said Purse, who made 123 Cardiff appearances in four years after joining from West Bromwich Albion in 2005.
“He knows the game, he helps those around him. He is the ideal player to be captain and I really hope he can lead Cardiff to the magical promotion they want so much.
“I’d love it if City could go up and I really hope this is the season they make it.
“Cardiff is the capital of Wales and many people felt the Bluebirds would be the first to make the step up to Premier League football.
“But Swansea are up there and doing well – and it would be fantastic if there were two Welsh clubs at the top level.”
Hudson is the ever-present constant at the heart of the City back four, having played alongside Ben Turner, Matt Connolly and young Ben Nugent.
His performances have been consistently high and Plymouth veteran Purse – who was at the Cardiff City Stadium on Sunday to see Craig Conway fire the winner against Sheffield Wednesday – admits he has been astounded by the Bluebirds’ home form.
City have now recorded 10 successive league home wins, a club record, and Purse said: “That is an unbelievable run. I can’t ever remember that happening at Championship level before because it is so difficult to predict results at that level.
“What an achievement, though, that’s why they are top of the league.
“It would be even better if Cardiff can earn a few more points away, but when you are in the sort of home form which produces 10 wins from 10 matches anything picked up away is a bonus.
“Cardiff’s squad is as strong as any club in the Championship.
“Conway has hardly started all season, but he was in the team against Wednesday and won the match. That’s great management by Malky Mackay knowing when to pitch a player in.
“There are plenty of teams intent on challenging for the automatic promotion places, but Cardiff are right up there.
“It’s Blackburn next and they have had a difficult start to the season, but they have quality players and will be dangerous.
“They paid eight million to sign Jordan Rhodes and that underlines their ambition and where they want to be playing.”
Purse, now 35, joined Cardiff ahead of Dave Jones’ first season in charge at Ninian Park.
The Bluebirds finished mid-table in the first three seasons he was with the club and then missed out on the play-offs by one goal after they finished level on points with Preston in the 2008-09 season.
But Purse does not see City missing out again, even if he felt another of his former clubs, Sheffield Wednesday, had frustrated them on Sunday.
“It was probably one of Cardiff’s worst home performances of the season,” he said. “Wednesday played 4-5-1 and put 10 players behind the ball.
“It took a lot of patience and effort to break them down, but it shows the quality Cardiff have that they came through a difficult test with three points.
“They have players who have been in the situation of pushing for promotion with the club before and they will help the younger ones through.
“City also have Bellers (Craig Bellamy), who can turn a match with a bit of magic and the more he plays the better. Other players look up to Bellers and he is such an important figure for the team.
“This is the best promotion opportunity Cardiff have had that I can remember.
“I can see it happening this season, but a lot more teams will come to Cardiff City Stadium and sit back with 10 men behind the ball.
“That’s what Wednesday did and they held on for a long time.
“And that’s why Bluebirds fans have to stick with their team, even when things are not going quite as well as they would hope.
“Expectations are high and fans can get frustrated when the score stays 0-0 for some time, but it’s important they stick with it.
“The supporters have a major role to play, they must keep backing their players.
“It was highly significant for me that, because City were playing on Sunday, they lost top spot to Crystal Palace but it didn’t throw them at all.
“They showed great character in getting on the with the job of trying to earn the three points.
“They were tight at the back, kept another clean sheet, and the reward came with Conway’s winner.”
Read more: Wales Online http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... z2EFbGUbXY
Purse spoke of his admiration for his fellow defender with City top of the Championship heading into tomorrow’s game at Blackburn Rovers.
“Hudson is a top-quality player who knows exactly what Championship football is all about,” said Purse, who made 123 Cardiff appearances in four years after joining from West Bromwich Albion in 2005.
“He knows the game, he helps those around him. He is the ideal player to be captain and I really hope he can lead Cardiff to the magical promotion they want so much.
“I’d love it if City could go up and I really hope this is the season they make it.
“Cardiff is the capital of Wales and many people felt the Bluebirds would be the first to make the step up to Premier League football.
“But Swansea are up there and doing well – and it would be fantastic if there were two Welsh clubs at the top level.”
Hudson is the ever-present constant at the heart of the City back four, having played alongside Ben Turner, Matt Connolly and young Ben Nugent.
His performances have been consistently high and Plymouth veteran Purse – who was at the Cardiff City Stadium on Sunday to see Craig Conway fire the winner against Sheffield Wednesday – admits he has been astounded by the Bluebirds’ home form.
City have now recorded 10 successive league home wins, a club record, and Purse said: “That is an unbelievable run. I can’t ever remember that happening at Championship level before because it is so difficult to predict results at that level.
“What an achievement, though, that’s why they are top of the league.
“It would be even better if Cardiff can earn a few more points away, but when you are in the sort of home form which produces 10 wins from 10 matches anything picked up away is a bonus.
“Cardiff’s squad is as strong as any club in the Championship.
“Conway has hardly started all season, but he was in the team against Wednesday and won the match. That’s great management by Malky Mackay knowing when to pitch a player in.
“There are plenty of teams intent on challenging for the automatic promotion places, but Cardiff are right up there.
“It’s Blackburn next and they have had a difficult start to the season, but they have quality players and will be dangerous.
“They paid eight million to sign Jordan Rhodes and that underlines their ambition and where they want to be playing.”
Purse, now 35, joined Cardiff ahead of Dave Jones’ first season in charge at Ninian Park.
The Bluebirds finished mid-table in the first three seasons he was with the club and then missed out on the play-offs by one goal after they finished level on points with Preston in the 2008-09 season.
But Purse does not see City missing out again, even if he felt another of his former clubs, Sheffield Wednesday, had frustrated them on Sunday.
“It was probably one of Cardiff’s worst home performances of the season,” he said. “Wednesday played 4-5-1 and put 10 players behind the ball.
“It took a lot of patience and effort to break them down, but it shows the quality Cardiff have that they came through a difficult test with three points.
“They have players who have been in the situation of pushing for promotion with the club before and they will help the younger ones through.
“City also have Bellers (Craig Bellamy), who can turn a match with a bit of magic and the more he plays the better. Other players look up to Bellers and he is such an important figure for the team.
“This is the best promotion opportunity Cardiff have had that I can remember.
“I can see it happening this season, but a lot more teams will come to Cardiff City Stadium and sit back with 10 men behind the ball.
“That’s what Wednesday did and they held on for a long time.
“And that’s why Bluebirds fans have to stick with their team, even when things are not going quite as well as they would hope.
“Expectations are high and fans can get frustrated when the score stays 0-0 for some time, but it’s important they stick with it.
“The supporters have a major role to play, they must keep backing their players.
“It was highly significant for me that, because City were playing on Sunday, they lost top spot to Crystal Palace but it didn’t throw them at all.
“They showed great character in getting on the with the job of trying to earn the three points.
“They were tight at the back, kept another clean sheet, and the reward came with Conway’s winner.”
Read more: Wales Online http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... z2EFbGUbXY
Re: Darren Purse: Hudson the man to lead City to Prem
Thu Dec 06, 2012 4:53 pm
A man who knows what he is talking about unlike Blake
Re: Darren Purse: Hudson the man to lead City to Prem
Thu Dec 06, 2012 5:17 pm
2blue2handle wrote:A man who knows what he is talking about unlike Blake
2 seasons ago the majority would have agreed with Blake.
Today the majority agree with Purse.
How things can turn around eh?
PS: I am one of the above. Didnt rate him, now I do.
Re: Darren Purse: Hudson the man to lead City to Prem
Thu Dec 06, 2012 5:49 pm
glas wrote:2blue2handle wrote:A man who knows what he is talking about unlike Blake
2 seasons ago the majority would have agreed with Blake.
Today the majority agree with Purse.
How things can turn around eh?
PS: I am one of the above. Didnt rate him, now I do.
Other than his first season where he was awful I think he has been a very good player for us.
I think its more to do with the timing of Blakes comments that annoyed people, it made him look more than a little silly.
Re: Darren Purse: Hudson the man to lead City to Prem
Thu Dec 06, 2012 7:08 pm
2blue2handle wrote:A man who knows what he is talking about unlike Blake
Was thinking just the same.
Purse is a true leader, having met him briefly he seems a real decent and strong character. Also you can tell he appreciates where he came from.
I always take notice of what he says, he talks sense.
I wonder if perhaps one day he'll become a manager.
Re: Darren Purse: Hudson the man to lead City to Prem
Thu Dec 06, 2012 7:26 pm
Lawnmower wrote:2blue2handle wrote:A man who knows what he is talking about unlike Blake
Was thinking just the same.
Purse is a true leader, having met him briefly he seems a real decent and strong character. Also you can tell he appreciates where he came from.
I always take notice of what he says, he talks sense.
I wonder if perhaps one day he'll become a manager.
The Guy is a gentleman and earns every bit of respect he gets, a total professional.
At the end of season awards he would be one of the very last to go.....and I dont mean just from the players, he would stay to the end, sign stuff, pose for photos or just chat to anyone that would listen to him
Re: Darren Purse: Hudson the man to lead City to Prem
Thu Dec 06, 2012 9:56 pm
Good read that. Just hope we can do it, home form continue, pick up points away and we should be there
Cheers Pursey
Cheers Pursey