The curious case of Etien Velikonja

Cardiff days are numbered for Etien Velikonja – one of Malky Makay’s few transfer mistakes
By Benjamin James Tuesday 6 Aug 2013 5:26 pm
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Malky Mackay rarely gets a transfer wrong.

In his time at Cardiff City, he hasn’t signed many duff players.

Looking back to the season he first arrived, he signed an influx of frees and low-budget transfers and you would be cruel to say any of them were duff.

Rudy Gestede, though inconsistent, has had some big moments. Filip Kiss, who he signed on loan initially, didn’t play much as we secured the Championship but did play a key role the season before even getting a go at Wembley.

In our Championship-winning year, it would be cruel to say any player was particularly poor. Jordon Mutch maybe didn’t fulfill the early potential but grew as the season went on and played a key role as Cardiff secured the league.

But, there must be an exception that proves the rule, and Etien Velikonja is that man.

Have you seen this man? Cardiff City fans certainly haven’t (Picture: Getty Images)
It would be cruel for me to call him rubbish; in fact, I simply can’t have an opinion on him as he just hasn’t played.

The young Slovenian was signed in the summer of 2012 and came with a lot of promise.

Twenty goals in just over 40 games for Maribor the season before had helped them into the Champions League and led to Cardiff bidding around £2m for Etien.

It all looked great – when we spanked four past Newcastle in pre-season, he got in on the act with two.

A gem, we cried. Just where does Malky find them?

Malky doesn’t get many things wrong but, it would seem, Etien would be one of them
But, soon enough, it all unravelled – we just never saw him again.

He was relegated to the development squad, scoring goals week in, week out but hardly ever getting a look in for the first team.

Even when injuries robbed us of key players, he never got a place in the squad.

It took Malky until the final game of the season to give Etien a starting role – Hull away, a game with nothing riding on it for us.

The fans had been waiting patiently to get a glimpse of their mystery man and… well, he gave a performance that was nothing to write home about.

With pre-season well and truly in full flow, and Etien not even travelling on the Swiss training camp, his days look numbered.

Indeed, Reading are waiting in the wings to take him on loan. Malky doesn’t get many things wrong but, it would seem, Etien would be one of them.

Didn't someone post a few weeks ago saying that EV was recommended to VT,,,who sanctioned his move to us? Having said that, EV have been a massive disappointment, when all is said & done.

Didn't someone post a few weeks ago saying that EV was recommended to VT,,,who sanctioned his move to us? Having said that, EV have been a massive disappointment, when all is said & done.

Which was proven as rubbish as Malky himself said he had been tracking Etien for a few years..

Didn't someone post a few weeks ago saying that EV was recommended to VT,,,who sanctioned his move to us? Having said that, EV have been a massive disappointment, when all is said & done.

Which was proven as rubbish as Malky himself said he had been tracking Etien for a few years..

So Malky defiantly got that one wrong then? I suppose you can't win them all.

Didn't someone post a few days back,that his son posted velikonja was off to reading in twitter,just for a joke,an they were surprised how quickly it spread

Didn't someone post a few weeks ago saying that EV was recommended to VT,,,who sanctioned his move to us? Having said that, EV have been a massive disappointment, when all is said & done.

Which was proven as rubbish as Malky himself said he had been tracking Etien for a few years..

Yep true he also said he wanted him at watford but of course never had any money

Rudy Gestede, though inconsistent, has had some big moments.

Once he becomes consistent he'll get his big move to a massive team in the Champions League. You can only have so many 'big moments' before people start taking notice and want to acquire your skills.

Didn't someone post a few weeks ago saying that EV was recommended to VT,,,who sanctioned his move to us? Having said that, EV have been a massive disappointment, when all is said & done.

Which was proven as rubbish as Malky himself said he had been tracking Etien for a few years..

Yep true he also said he wanted him at watford but of course never had any money

So what was the disgraceful treatment that EV had in the early part of last season about then?

Wasn't good enough, obviously.

I'd hardly say it was disgraceful treatment. If he's not good enough, he won't get in the team. We would only be moaning about it if he wasn't good enough and Malky kept playing him..

He just doesn't seem to suit any system we played. Maybe with Heidar but that was it.

Still don't understand what Malky's plan is.

Wasn't good enough, obviously.

I'd hardly say it was disgraceful treatment. If he's not good enough, he won't get in the team. We would only be moaning about it if he wasn't good enough and Malky kept playing him..

I wasn't referring to that post, but to an earlier one;

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=109785

Scroll down, some one said something happened last season.

I still think something happened between EV and the Gaffer, ultimately like all the other players who questioned MM's ethos, were eventually shown the door.