Matthew Connolly emerges as Cardiff player of year contender
Mon Mar 25, 2013 12:32 am
Matthew Connolly emerges as Cardiff City player of year contender
By Scott Johnson
When all is said and done, it seems likely that Mark Hudson and David Marshall will receive the plaudits for the current campaign and rightfully so. But as the season progresses, I believe Matthew Connolly is beginning to emerge as a credible contender for Cardiff City player of the year consideration.
I admit, when he first arrived, I was not initially impressed. Tall, thin and pale, he looked like he had crawled from his sickbed to make his debut at Bristol City, less than 48 hours after signing for the club. His subsequent performance was underwhelming, as Cardiff were thumped 4-2.
Seemingly lightweight and positionally suspect, an outlay of £500,000 looked misguided. Fortunately, he has since more than justified the expenditure and has proven to be one of Malky's most astute signings.
Slimly built, like former favourite Roger Johnson, Connolly is primarily a centre back but with so few options in defence, has featured at right back for the majority of the season. His fine form has been publicly praised by Mackay, who conceded: "His versatility has really been an asset for us."
"We have needed that and his attitude has been spot-on since he came here. The best thing really has been that he has been very consistent for us. Whether he has played at centre half or full back, there has been no drop in standards and that's what we needed from him."
His versatility extends to the players he has played alongside. Connolly has surely played with every possible combination of centre back, full back and winger at the club.
On Saturday, he featured in a makeshift back four containing a novice centre back and a player brought in at short notice, assisting in a clean sheet and hard-fought away win. He also scored the decisive second goal, his fifth of the season, matching the total managed in his entire career, prior to joining the club.
Having featured in a Championship winning side in each of his previous two seasons, with QPR and Reading, Connolly exudes a calm authority. It is a quality that will be appreciated in the coming weeks, amongst fans and players scarred by previous failures.
With both Ben Turner and Mark Hudson currently absent, Connolly and Andrew Taylor will be required to call upon their leadership and experience in the next nine games, as pressure and expectation cranks up.
Should promotion be achieved, defensive reinforcement will be a priority and Connolly may find that his first-team opportunities are limited in the top flight. Therefore, he is one of several players with extra motivation, above and beyond securing Premier League status; convincing his manager that he does not need to be upgraded.
If he maintains his current high standards, his stock is sure to rise even further and he will also deserve to be considered one of Cardiff's very best performers, when individual honours are awarded.
By Scott Johnson
When all is said and done, it seems likely that Mark Hudson and David Marshall will receive the plaudits for the current campaign and rightfully so. But as the season progresses, I believe Matthew Connolly is beginning to emerge as a credible contender for Cardiff City player of the year consideration.
I admit, when he first arrived, I was not initially impressed. Tall, thin and pale, he looked like he had crawled from his sickbed to make his debut at Bristol City, less than 48 hours after signing for the club. His subsequent performance was underwhelming, as Cardiff were thumped 4-2.
Seemingly lightweight and positionally suspect, an outlay of £500,000 looked misguided. Fortunately, he has since more than justified the expenditure and has proven to be one of Malky's most astute signings.
Slimly built, like former favourite Roger Johnson, Connolly is primarily a centre back but with so few options in defence, has featured at right back for the majority of the season. His fine form has been publicly praised by Mackay, who conceded: "His versatility has really been an asset for us."
"We have needed that and his attitude has been spot-on since he came here. The best thing really has been that he has been very consistent for us. Whether he has played at centre half or full back, there has been no drop in standards and that's what we needed from him."
His versatility extends to the players he has played alongside. Connolly has surely played with every possible combination of centre back, full back and winger at the club.
On Saturday, he featured in a makeshift back four containing a novice centre back and a player brought in at short notice, assisting in a clean sheet and hard-fought away win. He also scored the decisive second goal, his fifth of the season, matching the total managed in his entire career, prior to joining the club.
Having featured in a Championship winning side in each of his previous two seasons, with QPR and Reading, Connolly exudes a calm authority. It is a quality that will be appreciated in the coming weeks, amongst fans and players scarred by previous failures.
With both Ben Turner and Mark Hudson currently absent, Connolly and Andrew Taylor will be required to call upon their leadership and experience in the next nine games, as pressure and expectation cranks up.
Should promotion be achieved, defensive reinforcement will be a priority and Connolly may find that his first-team opportunities are limited in the top flight. Therefore, he is one of several players with extra motivation, above and beyond securing Premier League status; convincing his manager that he does not need to be upgraded.
If he maintains his current high standards, his stock is sure to rise even further and he will also deserve to be considered one of Cardiff's very best performers, when individual honours are awarded.
Re: Matthew Connolly emerges as Cardiff player of year conte
Mon Mar 25, 2013 12:37 am
No, his distribution has been as bad, if not worse that Kev's a lot of the time. Not a RB.
Good piece of business nonetheless
Good piece of business nonetheless
Re: Matthew Connolly emerges as Cardiff player of year conte
Mon Mar 25, 2013 12:39 am
Player of the year my arse!!
Yes he's been an alright signing, he's scored some important goals too.
But he is one of the weaker members of the team in my opinion, I know most weeks he plays out of position but the few games i've seen him at CB have been very poor.
He comes nowhere near Gunnar, Hudson or Marshall
Yes he's been an alright signing, he's scored some important goals too.
But he is one of the weaker members of the team in my opinion, I know most weeks he plays out of position but the few games i've seen him at CB have been very poor.
He comes nowhere near Gunnar, Hudson or Marshall
Re: Matthew Connolly emerges as Cardiff player of year conte
Mon Mar 25, 2013 12:43 am
Got to take into account he ent a fullback but he has done a great job.
He would be in my top 5 players this season.
I was actually happy with this signing to be honest.
Scored 5 goals and he hasn't scored as many as that with other clubs I don't think.
Scored 4 headers and a tap in.
3 of his headers which were from all Whittingham corners and he was at the back post.
He would be in my top 5 players this season.
I was actually happy with this signing to be honest.
Scored 5 goals and he hasn't scored as many as that with other clubs I don't think.
Scored 4 headers and a tap in.
3 of his headers which were from all Whittingham corners and he was at the back post.
Re: Matthew Connolly emerges as Cardiff player of year conte
Mon Mar 25, 2013 1:09 am
I reckon it's between Hudson & Marsh but Taylor & Connolly should be up there
Re: Matthew Connolly emerges as Cardiff player of year conte
Mon Mar 25, 2013 7:59 am
Connolly was one of the best buys by Malky, a mate of mine is involved with coaching down the CCS and with the FAW and he said from the start that Connolly was the fella the coaches were most impressed with after his arrival.
Re: Matthew Connolly emerges as Cardiff player of year conte
Mon Mar 25, 2013 8:52 am
CantonJack wrote:No, his distribution has been as bad, if not worse that Kev's a lot of the time. Not a RB.
Good piece of business nonetheless
As bad if not worse than Kevs? Have you been drinking?
Re: Matthew Connolly emerges as Cardiff player of year conte
Mon Mar 25, 2013 10:28 am
CantonJack wrote:No, his distribution has been as bad, if not worse that Kev's a lot of the time. Not a RB.
Good piece of business nonetheless
No where near as bad as kev's
Re: Matthew Connolly emerges as Cardiff player of year conte
Mon Mar 25, 2013 12:20 pm
At the start of the season i could see no way in for Turner. The Hudson/Connolly pairing looked (and still is IMO) the best. Not a full back, but safer than Kev in Malky's system.
I think we are over panicking with the step up to the Premier league, forget the top 6 that's fantasy stuff but the remaining 11 are no better than us now. Connolly deservers his chance to prove he is good enough. Remember Titus Bramble has made a career in the premier league, I would prefer Connolly.
I think we are over panicking with the step up to the Premier league, forget the top 6 that's fantasy stuff but the remaining 11 are no better than us now. Connolly deservers his chance to prove he is good enough. Remember Titus Bramble has made a career in the premier league, I would prefer Connolly.
Re: Matthew Connolly emerges as Cardiff player of year conte
Mon Mar 25, 2013 7:34 pm
He has been a good team player for us so far this season, I like him a lot, comes up with the odd crucial goal as well.
Re: Matthew Connolly emerges as Cardiff player of year conte
Mon Mar 25, 2013 7:58 pm
He's in my top 5. But not player of the season IMO. David Marshall for me.
