Malky backs Hudson to be a rock in the Premier League

Malky Mackay has tipped Mark Hudson to be the Bluebirds’ ‘Captain Fantastic’ in the Premier League next season.

The 31-year-old defender was in imperious form last term as his side stormed to promotion and took the Championship title in the process.

Hudson was at the heart of a Bluebirds defence that proved the meanest in the second flight.

It led to Hudson being crowned Cardiff Player of the Season by deeply impressed supporters.

But that has not always been the case. Following his arrival from Charlton in July 2009, the centre-half has in many ways divided opinion.

As much as he was admired under former boss Dave Jones, there were also complaints Hudson was limited and one dimensional.

But under Mackay the defender seems to have had a new lease of life. In the Scot’s first season in charge in the Welsh capital Hudson enjoyed a great campaign and then, last term, he crowned that to emerge as one of the best defenders in the Championship.

There may now be questions as to whether Hudson can make the step up and handle the demands of the top flight, but his manager is not one to harbour such doubts.

“Mark has been an integral part of my team here for the last two years,” said Mackay.

“He’s a great leader for us and is someone who is going to be a big part of everything that is going to be happening for us in the Premier league.

“I think when you sign good professionals as we have done over the last two years then there are aspects of them that just comes naturally. People like Mark have the desire to do the very best they can in any given situation.”

Mackay and his captain share a similar path when it comes to the desire to operate in the top flight of the English game.

A no-nonsense centre-half himself as a player, Mackay helped get Norwich in the top flight and then West Ham in successive years, both times via the play-offs.

But both times too Mackay found himself unable to make the breakthrough in the Premier League and took the step back down to the Championship.

But it proved third time lucky as he then helped Watford up and this time saw top-flight action before moving into coaching and them finally management with the Hornets.

Mackay eventually made 14 Premier League appearances in his playing career, currently seven more than his captain has managed so far.

Hudson’s seven appearances in the top flight came for Crystal Palace back in the 2004-05 season

The previous campaign Hudson had arrived at Selhurst Park on loan from his first club Fulham, where he had failed to make the Premier League breakthrough, and helped the Eagles to promotion via the play-offs.

But then, rather like Mackay, once actually in the promised land, under then-Palace manager Iain Dowie, Hudson found himself marginalised and ended up making just those handful of appearances.

After the south Londoners were relegated Hudson did see more pitch time, but eventually moved on to Charlton and then to Cardiff for a £1m.

So Hudson now finds himself with plenty to prove next season as he finally gets another shot at the top flight. But once more he will face competition for his place despite his heroics of last season and the fact he will retain the skipper’s armband.

Ben Turner is highly-rated whilst Mackay is certain to bring in more centre-half cover as well.

Top of the hit-list so far seems to be Leon Barnett, who came in on loan at the end of last season to cover for Hudson, who missed the final matches of the historic campaign with injury.

But the defender will be fit for the start of next season having put in extra training at the end of the last campaign whilst many of his teammates were off on their holidays.

He has seen the highs and lows during his time in Cardiff, but Hudson is determined to ensure that the Bluebirds are now capable of mixing it with the big boys.

But, as usual, Hudson is not getting carried away and, like his manager, is calling for the Bluebirds to go about next season in the quiet, methodical way they did the last.

“It is exciting times. It’s my fourth year here, so to get there and see what it means to the club is great. It is something we are really looking forward to next year,” said Hudson.

“We’ve got into the best league in the world and we are in there to compete now.

“I’m looking forward to it, to getting back with all the lads, but it will be nice to get a bit of a break too.

“I don’t know anyone really knows what is going to happen, but when we come back in for pre-season it really is going to be like a whirlwind. But we do need to make sure we keep our feet firmly on the ground as the playing staff.

“All we can do is focus on the job ahead really.”

He was immense in the championship but I think he will lack pace for the top division

I love Hudson and he was easily player of the year well had competition with Marshall but that was the only player who pushed him.

I don't think he will cut it in the Prem and be good.

Theres barely a defender out there that dont get done for pace. Hudson will need to concentrate on positioning and reading
the game in conjuncion with the rest of his defensive unit. Both him and Turner can do a job in the Premiership i reckon but I
do have concerns about the pair of them together.

I fully expect Hudson to do well in the top flight..he is a leader and better player than some give credit...got a few Charlton mates up here and they all rate him

Id like some one beside him with a bit of pace. Dont rate turner that much.

Why are people so obsessed with centre-halves having pace?

PACE, PACE, PACE!

Why are people so obsessed with centre-halves having pace?

PACE, PACE, PACE!

It's kind of a major attribute in the game of kick ball....

he,ll do fine.he has other attributes that ccfc need.like leadership.if RVP or the like rip him up so what?your major games arnt going be the man utds of the world but the clubs in direct conflict with you in the bottom half of the table.it,s against those sides he really needs to shine.if you take a point of man utd etc it,s a bonus tbf to hudson he has always improved when needed to so for that reason alone i don,t think he,ll let you or himself down.scores the odd important goal too

Why are people so obsessed with centre-halves having pace?

PACE, PACE, PACE!

It's kind of a major attribute in the game of kick ball....

king kenny cunnigham never had any.neither did sir tony adams.reading of the game is the most important thing for a c/b imo.

with our current defence
teams as good as liverpool and better will be having 25 attempts or more at goal just like the cup final,

I dont know about being a rock he'l give hundred per cent though we will soon find out

Why are people so obsessed with centre-halves having pace?

PACE, PACE, PACE!

It's kind of a major attribute in the game of kick ball....

Not really..

Why are people so obsessed with centre-halves having pace?

PACE, PACE, PACE!

It's kind of a major attribute in the game of kick ball....

king kenny cunnigham never had any.neither did sir tony adams.reading of the game is the most important thing for a c/b imo.

Spot on sir

JAMIE CARRAGHER GOT NO PACE BUT HE WAS IMMENSE IN EPL DIVISION FOR LIVERPOOL.

PEOPLE OBSESSED WITH PACE ARE JUST FIFA PACE ABUSERS WHO THINK ITS THE ONLY way to win GAME OF FOOTBALL.

peace

JAMIE CARRAGHER GOT NO PACE BUT HE WAS IMMENSE IN EPL DIVISION FOR LIVERPOOL.

PEOPLE OBSESSED WITH PACE ARE JUST FIFA PACE ABUSERS WHO THINK ITS THE ONLY way to win GAME OF FOOTBALL.

peace

Spot on. You need the hold head with experience. But I just don't see Hudson doing well.

JAMIE CARRAGHER GOT NO PACE BUT HE WAS IMMENSE IN EPL DIVISION FOR LIVERPOOL.

PEOPLE OBSESSED WITH PACE ARE JUST FIFA PACE ABUSERS WHO THINK ITS THE ONLY way to win GAME OF FOOTBALL.

peace

good example .sammi hypiya didnt do too bad for an old un either did he?i actually thought in the carling cup final season from what i saw ben turner would cut it in the prem and hudson would be a maybe.revised that now .iv reversed it.hudson was immense last season.hudson knew he had detractors and raised his game.c b would know a good captain when he see,s one too.hasn,t c b got big respect for hudson?pace is good but sometimes fast c/b,s tend to try and use it to race players and end up getting in wrong starting positions thinking they can out race a forward.rio used to do it when he was a bit nippier.the one the sticks out for me as fast and class was sir desmond walker

JAMIE CARRAGHER GOT NO PACE BUT HE WAS IMMENSE IN EPL DIVISION FOR LIVERPOOL.

PEOPLE OBSESSED WITH PACE ARE JUST FIFA PACE ABUSERS WHO THINK ITS THE ONLY way to win GAME OF FOOTBALL.

peace

good example .sammi hypiya didnt do too bad for an old un either did he?i actually thought in the carling cup final season from what i saw ben turner would cut it in the prem and hudson would be a maybe.revised that now .iv reversed it.hudson was immense last season.hudson knew he had detractors and raised his game.c b would know a good captain when he see,s one too.hasn,t c b got big respect for hudson?pace is good but sometimes fast c/b,s tend to try and use it to race players and end up getting in wrong starting positions thinking they can out race a forward.rio used to do it when he was a bit nippier.the one the sticks out for me as fast and class was sir desmond walker

One cb who has pace and does fantastic is the Belgium defender for Spurs Van Vertonghen, he is a rock.