Malky Mackay " Why I dropped Craig Conway "

Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay reveals why he left Craig Conway out of Premier League squad
10th Sep 2013

Mackay says the decision not to include the Scottish winger in his 25-man Premier League squad was for the benefit of the player


Craig Conway did not make the cut despite helping the Bluebirds to promotion

Cardiff City boss Malky Mackay insists leaving Craig Conway out of his 25-man Premier League squad was not ‘a cold, hard decision,’ but actually done for the good of the player.

The Scottish wideman was the most highest profile casualty as Mackay last week announced the 25-strong squad charged with keeping the club in the top flight this term.

Conway wrote himself into Bluebirds’ history back in April when he scored the goal away at Burnley which secured the club’s first ever Championship title in a 1-1 draw.

But with the loan window now open, the 28-year-old, who joined from Dundee United in June 2011, looks set to depart Cardiff for the time being.

And Mackay said with Conway looking to force his way into Scottish manager Gordon Strachan’s plans, the winger featured in both his nation’s last two outings, it would be best for him to perhaps try to play more regularly elsewhere.

Didn't explain much lol

Pathetic excuse

f**k off Malky

Why didn't he just say its because he wanted to watch Smith in the shower more?

I think its a poor explanation by Malky and I am one of Malky's biggest fans.

My belief is Conway did not figure in Malky's future plans.

I think its a poor explanation by Malky and I am one of Malky's biggest fans.

My belief is Conway did not figure in Malky's future plans.

Actual wingers don't seem to feature in Malky's plans.

I think its a poor explanation by Malky and I am one of Malky's biggest fans.

My belief is Conway did not figure in Malky's future plans.

Actual wingers don't seem to feature in Malky's plans.

correct, malky just don't seem to like to play with a lot of width and pacey wingers, packs the middle use set pieces to our advantage and try and nick a goal in open play out of the few chances we will get

Didn't explain much lol

I think that sums it up. He dropped him, didn’t give him a glimmer of hope of a recall and has told him its best if he played regularly elsewhere - He’s gone

You've missed half the story there Annis!


“It was difficult to pick the squad and trim things down, but we did that as Premier League rules state we must,” said Mackay.

“It was unfortunate for Craig, but he has always said that he desperately wants to be playing football.

“When he came to me about the transfer request last season that was very much what our conversation was about.

“That is fine and I totally understand that, but obviously I could not give him any assurances about that at this club.

“With the signing of Peter Odemwingie, Craig’s chances were inevitably going to be limited.

“This was not a cold hard decision. Me and my staff sat down and chatted. We looked right across the squad and tried to come up with the correct balance and we believe we have done that.

“But also I believe it is for the best for Craig too. He is player who is really establishing himself with Scotland at international level under Gordon.

“To do that he will need to be playing games and that was going to prove difficult here.”

Last season Conway, who is in the last year of his contract in the Welsh capital, put in a transfer request which Mackay rejected.

The winger went on to battle his way back into first team contention, but this campaign he looks to be even further down the pecking order at the club.

Indeed Mackay said his decision to omit Conway was prompted by the player’s desire to be playing regularly.

The Cardiff manager said particularly since the arrival of Peter Odemwingie from West Brom on the last day of the transfer window he was unable to offer any assurances to Conway about how much pitch time he might see.

With the window now open the plan is for Conway to go out on loan. It looks likely the Scot will land at a Championship club with him unable now to return to his native Scotland or go abroad.

WalesOnline understands out of favour striker Etien Velikonja, Slovakian midfielder Filip Kiss and full-back Simon Lappin, who also all missed out on the 25-man squad, will all also be allowed to go.

There is also a possibility that one more player from perhaps within the squad itself will go out on loan too.

The first of the deals is likely to be finalised over the coming week.

Cardiff already have young centre-half Ben Nugent on loan at Brentford and midfielder Joe Ralls at Yeovil with both due to stay until January. No decision has yet been made on extended those deals.

Mackay himself will not be drawn yet on which players will be leaving on loan, but admits there have been enquiries.

“Over the last month or so we have had quite a few phone calls about the availability of some of our players on loan,” said Mackay.

“We have always said that until the transfer window had closed and we had our squad registered with the Premier League it was not something we would be focussing to closely on.

“Now we can have a look at it and if it is right for this club and for the player we will allow people out on loan.

“The most important thing in the end though is that any deal is for the good of Cardiff City Football club. That is my main concern above everything else.”

Mackay is now busy preparing his troops for their next top flight test, a trip to Hull who were promoted in second-place behind the Bluebirds from the Championship last season.

After two excellent displays in the Welsh capital on the bounce, as they overcame Manchester City and then earned a 0-0 draw against Everton, on Saturday Cardiff will now be looking to make an impact on the road.

Their only away day so far in the top flight, at West Ham’s Upton Park on the opening weekend, ended in a disappointing display and a 2-0 defeat for Mackay and his men.

You've missed half the story there Annis!


“It was difficult to pick the squad and trim things down, but we did that as Premier League rules state we must,” said Mackay.

“It was unfortunate for Craig, but he has always said that he desperately wants to be playing football.

“When he came to me about the transfer request last season that was very much what our conversation was about.

“That is fine and I totally understand that, but obviously I could not give him any assurances about that at this club.

“With the signing of Peter Odemwingie, Craig’s chances were inevitably going to be limited.

“This was not a cold hard decision. Me and my staff sat down and chatted. We looked right across the squad and tried to come up with the correct balance and we believe we have done that.

“But also I believe it is for the best for Craig too. He is player who is really establishing himself with Scotland at international level under Gordon.

“To do that he will need to be playing games and that was going to prove difficult here.”

Last season Conway, who is in the last year of his contract in the Welsh capital, put in a transfer request which Mackay rejected.

The winger went on to battle his way back into first team contention, but this campaign he looks to be even further down the pecking order at the club.

Indeed Mackay said his decision to omit Conway was prompted by the player’s desire to be playing regularly.

The Cardiff manager said particularly since the arrival of Peter Odemwingie from West Brom on the last day of the transfer window he was unable to offer any assurances to Conway about how much pitch time he might see.

With the window now open the plan is for Conway to go out on loan. It looks likely the Scot will land at a Championship club with him unable now to return to his native Scotland or go abroad.

WalesOnline understands out of favour striker Etien Velikonja, Slovakian midfielder Filip Kiss and full-back Simon Lappin, who also all missed out on the 25-man squad, will all also be allowed to go.

There is also a possibility that one more player from perhaps within the squad itself will go out on loan too.

The first of the deals is likely to be finalised over the coming week.

Cardiff already have young centre-half Ben Nugent on loan at Brentford and midfielder Joe Ralls at Yeovil with both due to stay until January. No decision has yet been made on extended those deals.

Mackay himself will not be drawn yet on which players will be leaving on loan, but admits there have been enquiries.

“Over the last month or so we have had quite a few phone calls about the availability of some of our players on loan,” said Mackay.

“We have always said that until the transfer window had closed and we had our squad registered with the Premier League it was not something we would be focussing to closely on.

“Now we can have a look at it and if it is right for this club and for the player we will allow people out on loan.

“The most important thing in the end though is that any deal is for the good of Cardiff City Football club. That is my main concern above everything else.”

Mackay is now busy preparing his troops for their next top flight test, a trip to Hull who were promoted in second-place behind the Bluebirds from the Championship last season.

After two excellent displays in the Welsh capital on the bounce, as they overcame Manchester City and then earned a 0-0 draw against Everton, on Saturday Cardiff will now be looking to make an impact on the road.

Their only away day so far in the top flight, at West Ham’s Upton Park on the opening weekend, ended in a disappointing display and a 2-0 defeat for Mackay and his men.

Perfect explanation and sums up what my thoughts were exactly regarding his omission which was what I believe plainly obvious he wants to play malky can't guarantee it so
On he moves

I think its a poor explanation by Malky and I am one of Malky's biggest fans.

My belief is Conway did not figure in Malky's future plans.

Actual wingers don't seem to feature in Malky's plans.

correct, malky just don't seem to like to play with a lot of width and pacey wingers, packs the middle use set pieces to our advantage and try and nick a goal in open play out of the few chances we will get

Weaker teams will always try to play more narrow than their opponents and Cardiff are likely to be weaker than at least half of our division. If you play with two out and out wingers, you are likely to get caught giving away a lot of space on the counter attack.

I'm sure Malky will want more pace on the flanks in the future though... When CCFC get better and stronger.

Surely we want players in the squad who want to play regularly? Malky has just said he has picked others in the squad ahead of Conway because these other players haven't expressed as much of a desire to play as Conway. Very odd, if I was Malky I would want a squad of 25 with all 25 wanting to play regularly and it worries me that some of our fringe/reserve players may not have Conway's attitude.

Give me conway over smith any time

Give me conway over smith any time

Agree

Hope this Odemwingie guy lives up to expectations.

Give me conway over smith any time

Agree

Me too

Conway is younger and needs / wants to be playing reguarly.
Smith will be happy to play fewer games at this stage of his career. Squad player with huge experience.

It aint rocket surgery!

Very strange decision in my mind picking Smith before Conway.

Last season when Smith first joined us I said he was the best signing of that summer. He showed maturity, composer and looked like he could play wing midfield or even up front.

He got injured, recovered and returned a different player for the worse. He went from an accomplished championship player to someone who would struggle to get into a league one side. I can only think that Malky believes Smith can regain his earlier form of which he feels is good enough for the premier.

Even allowing for that I still find it a bizarre decision to pick Smith over Conway. I can only think also that Conways transfer request and perhaps his other previous problem has had some detrimental effect on his chances.

Surely we want players in the squad who want to play regularly? Malky has just said he has picked others in the squad ahead of Conway because these other players haven't expressed as much of a desire to play as Conway. Very odd, if I was Malky I would want a squad of 25 with all 25 wanting to play regularly and it worries me that some of our fringe/reserve players may not have Conway's attitude.

Conway to reading you got it here first

Conway is younger and needs / wants to be playing reguarly.
Smith will be happy to play fewer games at this stage of his career. Squad player with huge experience.

It aint rocket surgery!

Huge experience Do me a favour you make him sound like Gary Neville ffs.

Surely we want players in the squad who want to play regularly? Malky has just said he has picked others in the squad ahead of Conway because these other players haven't expressed as much of a desire to play as Conway. Very odd, if I was Malky I would want a squad of 25 with all 25 wanting to play regularly and it worries me that some of our fringe/reserve players may not have Conway's attitude.

Thank you for your irrelevant response.

Surely we want players in the squad who want to play regularly? Malky has just said he has picked others in the squad ahead of Conway because these other players haven't expressed as much of a desire to play as Conway. Very odd, if I was Malky I would want a squad of 25 with all 25 wanting to play regularly and it worries me that some of our fringe/reserve players may not have Conway's attitude.

Thank you for your irrelevant response.

thank you for your nonsensical bleating, as per usual!

Surely we want players in the squad who want to play regularly? Malky has just said he has picked others in the squad ahead of Conway because these other players haven't expressed as much of a desire to play as Conway. Very odd, if I was Malky I would want a squad of 25 with all 25 wanting to play regularly and it worries me that some of our fringe/reserve players may not have Conway's attitude.

Thank you for your irrelevant response.

thank you for your nonsensical bleating, as per usual!

Nonsensical bleating? You're the one who has "rolled your eyes" at my post without giving any reason why you disagree with my opinion, as usual!

Surely we want players in the squad who want to play regularly? Malky has just said he has picked others in the squad ahead of Conway because these other players haven't expressed as much of a desire to play as Conway. Very odd, if I was Malky I would want a squad of 25 with all 25 wanting to play regularly and it worries me that some of our fringe/reserve players may not have Conway's attitude.

Thank you for your irrelevant response.

thank you for your nonsensical bleating, as per usual!

Nonsensical bleating? You're the one who has "rolled your eyes" at my post without giving any reason why you disagree with my opinion, as usual!

your talking nonsense Ross, i thought it was obvious why i disagree with you

Surely we want players in the squad who want to play regularly? Malky has just said he has picked others in the squad ahead of Conway because these other players haven't expressed as much of a desire to play as Conway. Very odd, if I was Malky I would want a squad of 25 with all 25 wanting to play regularly and it worries me that some of our fringe/reserve players may not have Conway's attitude.

Thank you for your irrelevant response.

thank you for your nonsensical bleating, as per usual!

Nonsensical bleating? You're the one who has "rolled your eyes" at my post without giving any reason why you disagree with my opinion, as usual!

your talking nonsense Ross, i thought it was obvious why i disagree with you

I have no clue why you've disagreed with me Paul because you haven't given a reason. I can't read your mind.

So does anyone know WHY he did drop him or can i not see the other quotes in the OP

Did Malky not say "there's no room for sentiment" in the close season?

Yet he picks His Friend for many years Tommy Smith over Craig Conway.
Conway is younger fitter stronger and an all round better player.

It's clear why Malky did what he has done.

And it's mistake, he may regret.

Did Malky not say "there's no room for sentiment" in the close season?

Yet he picks His Friend for many years Tommy Smith over Craig Conway.
Conway is younger fitter stronger and an all round better player.

It's clear why Malky did what he has done.

And it's mistake, he may regret.

why would he regret it? neither Smith nor conway will get into the first team.

hardly think he job or avoiding relegationwill hinge on it.

So does anyone know WHY he did drop him or can i not see the other quotes in the OP

I know Craig and he is the consumate professional and a great lad. Only Malky and Craig know why this has happened but wherever he goes I know he will do well.