' CRAIG CONWAY UNLUCKY ? ? "

Personally I disagree, I believe Conway was not really in Malky's plans for the future and as soon as Malky got cover that was it for Conway. Just my strong opinion.
Premier League Player ? Hmm
But good luck to Craig, there will be plenty of Championship clubs wanting him

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=122674

' Craig Conway will go down as one of the unluckiest players in Cardiff City history '
by Steve Tucker
6th Sep 2013

The Scottish winger was not included in Malky Mackay's 25-man Premier League squad and now looks set to leave on loan


There have been some pretty unlucky Cardiff City players down the years – but Craig Conway might just be the most unfortunate of them all.

The 28-year-old wide-man was the biggest casualty as boss Malky Mackay named his 25-man Premier League squad earlier this week, and Conway’s future in the Welsh capital now looks bleak indeed.

When the loan window opens next week, he looks certain to be on his way out whether that be not until January, when the squad can be changed, or more likely for the entire season itself.

So, the man who went down in history as scoring the goal which won Cardiff the Championship title last term when he found the net at Burnley in April, now finds himself history at the club.

That was just three short months ago, remember.

Conway, having put City into the lead at Turf Moor that day with a sumptuous long range strike, celebrated gleefully at the final whistle, jigging with his team mates in front of the travelling support resplendent in clown-like red wig.

Heady days indeed, days when the future possibilities at the club seemed endless for Conway.

Now though, it appears it’s all about to end in tears with him not even getting an opportunity to show he can cut it in the top flight.




It seems harsh on a player who, during his two years with the Bluebirds, has always responded to a set-back, has always been prepared to fight for his place. This time the chance for the Scot to put up a battle is not even an option.

Conway seems to have lost out in a straight battle for inclusion with young striker Joe Mason.

It was a tough call one suspects for Mackay, and the manager will stand or fall by it.

Yet it is difficult to mount strong criticism of Mackay because the Bluebirds boss has proven from the start that he is not afraid to make difficult decisions, and that invariably those decisions prove to be shrewd ones.

His merciless pruning of fans’ favourite Robert Earnshaw has previously shown that. It was sad to see Earnshaw go perhaps, but as a football decision it is difficult to argue against in hindsight.

It would seem Conway has simply been the victim of the increased options at Mackay’s disposal out wide these days.

The signing of Peter Odemwingie on transfer deadline day for £2.5m from West Brom seems to have finally sealed Conway’s fate.


Odemwingie, tried and tested at Premier League level, is just as happy playing out wide as he is playing up-front through the middle.

When you consider too the likes of Craig Bellamy, Craig Noone, Peter Whittingham, Kim Bo-Kyung and Tommy Smith are all potential wingers then you start to see why Mackay’s mind was made up.

For sure, a strong argument could be made for the inclusion of Conway ahead of some on that list, particularly perhaps Smith.

Although again, the fact that Smith does actually have a substantial amount of Premier League experience would probably just have tipped the balance his way.

Last season Conway was quick to express his discontent at the amount of pitch-time he was seeing under Mackay.

In November, having started just one league game up to that point, Conway handed in a transfer request.

Not only was it turned down, Mackay started the Scot in Cardiff’s next Championship game at home to Sheffield Wednesday in early December.

Conway responded with a rasping late winning goal which ensured the Bluebirds beat their club record of nine consecutive home wins.

The succession of good showings which followed seemed to suggest the Scottish international had responded in excellent fashion to the situation, that he had risen to the challenge.

And in fact, Mackay confirmed as much after Conway had ensured the title belonged to Cardiff at Turf Moor.

“Craig had to bide his time earlier this season, but that’s what a squad is for,” said Mackay.

“His attitude has been spot on throughout.”

If Conway’s attitude to his exclusion had been so ‘spot on’ then one has to conclude that his omission from the Premier League squad has nothing to do with that transfer request or any off-field attitude problem.

The decision then has been taken purely for footballing reasons and again this would tie in perfectly with the way Mackay operates.

However, Conway would argue that the timing is poor given that he is currently enjoying something of a renaissance, particularly at international level.

If his only appearance this season at club level has been the Bluebirds’ Capital One Cup win at Accrington Stanley, then under Gordon Strachan he has been more prominent.

This summer he has come off the bench for his country against Croatia in a shock World Cup qualifying victory and at Wembley in a high-profile friendly against England which Strachan’s men were a little unfortunate to lose 3-2.

The desire to remain firmly in Strachan’s plans will undoubtedly be one of the factors motivating Conway to seek time on the pitch at club level elsewhere.

That will most likely have to be done at Championship level now, but the bottom line is that of all the victims of the Premier League cull at Cardiff City – Etien Velikonja, Filip Kiss and Simon Lapping probably being the other ones worthy of a mention – Conway undoubtedly has the most right to feel aggrieved.

There’s no doubt Mackay would have had to think long and hard before deciding to plunge into the footballing wilderness the man who was his first ever signing when he took over at the club.

There are plenty who would disagree with the Cardiff boss, their main argument being the very fact that Conway has proven his ability to rise to the occasion before, his willingness to put his head down and work for the Cardiff cause.

Many will find it saddening that this time he is not being given the opportunity to do just that in the Premier League.

In the end we may never know whether the Bluebirds history-maker could have thrived in the very division he battled so hard to ensure the club was promoted to.

Its Malkys decision and he thinks its the right one and hes not letting sentiment get in the way. Conway is very 1 dimensional where if Smith hits form he has a lot more guile and craft. Time will tell if hes right or not.

Conway used to be one of my favourite players but I lost a bit of time for him after the transfer request debacle. I felt if he was played on the right and was just told to get to the by-line and put crosses in as opposed to playing on the left and being to cut in all the time then he might have had a better time with us.

I wish him the best though because he's a hard worker and I think he could cope at Premier League level. Like a lot of people, I'm scratching my head as to how Tommy Smith has made the squad ahead of him. Smith hasn't been the same since his 3 month lay off.

not really a very good article if truth be told, he isnt unlucky, just not good enough in the eyes of the person who matters, Malky.

Conway used to be one of my favourite players but I lost a bit of time for him after the transfer request debacle. I felt if he was played on the right and was just told to get to the by-line and put crosses in as opposed to playing on the left and being to cut in all the time then he might have had a better time with us.

I wish him the best though because he's a hard worker and I think he could cope at Premier League level. Like a lot of people, I'm scratching my head as to how Tommy Smith has made the squad ahead of him. Smith hasn't been the same since his 3 month lay off.

I've no idea what debacle you're referring to about his transfer request, as I'd like to think that all footballers would want to play for their registered club and not be content to sit on the bench and pick up their very significant wages?

The way I see it, is that Malky wasn't picking him and he wanted to play football, so he put in a transfer request and Malky persuaded him that he was part of his plans and rewarded him by playing him consistently last season!

Malky appears to have decided that he's not good enough for his 25 man squad this season, so I suspect that Conway will leave!

That's football, shit happens!

Should have been in instead of both Mason and Smith in my opinion.
Good crosser of the ball and tracks back and defends when needed.
Mason should have bombed out on loan to the championship for a season playing regulary as here it will be a development game here and there which is no good for his progression.

and to put it in perspective, it's not like he's lost his job. Plenty of Championship teams will be eyeing him up for a loan.

I like Conway, I think he is a decent player and more exciting than Smith. That said I can see why Malky kept Smith - whichever one was left in the 25 would have been kicking their heels all season unless there was a mass of injuries out wide. Perhaps Malky also calculated that Smith would be calmer about the place doing that, living off scraps, cup games etc, than Conway who last season submitted a transfer request. It's about the squad too isn't it.

I do wish Craig success where he goes - he did score some good and very important goals for us. Can't decide if the Wednesday goal or the Portsmouth goal was the best - Wednesday cos of DJ, Portsmouth cos of the tension!

He also had a neat trick of wrapping his foot round a full backs knee and falling over, buying a free kick for Whitts

I love how this also puts to bed the Malky loves Scottish players tripe. Yes he loves them so much he picked Smith ahead of one.

I love how this also puts to bed the Malky loves Scottish players tripe. Yes he loves them so much he picked Smith ahead of one.

I'm still waiting for the Cowie haters to pipe up as well mate

I love how this also puts to bed the Malky loves Scottish players tripe. Yes he loves them so much he picked Smith ahead of one.

I'm still waiting for the Cowie haters to pipe up as well mate

This might sound weird but personally I think Cowie is better suited to the Premier League than he is to the Championship. I think he will be fine this season.

I love how this also puts to bed the Malky loves Scottish players tripe. Yes he loves them so much he picked Smith ahead of one.

I'm still waiting for the Cowie haters to pipe up as well mate

I thought Cowie done okay against Man City when he came on! Set up the third goal from corner and closed players down

Much better player than Smith. More direct as well which is what we need

im gutted for craig,

hes done well for us in the championship would love to see him go to hull city and get a game or palace he deserves a crack in the premier league.
I wish I could say he's good enough to improve our side but we now have players he has no edge over there for given his age and prem experience its a no brainer.

Wouldn't say unlucky. Though i'd of chosen him over smith. Not mason though, no.

I am gutted for Craig and shocked he's been left out, especially when players like Mason have been selected. Conway is our only winger who is decent at both defending and attacking. He's better than our 3 other wingers, Bellamy, Noone and Smith defensively and can be just as dangerous going forward in my opinion. I thought Conway was one of our most consistant performers last season and with Campbell, Maynard, Cornelius, Rudy and now Odemwingie selected for strikers, I find the decision to include Mason ahead of Conway bizarre to say the least.

I usually agree with Tucker but his article is contradictory.
Conway is just about Championship level. That is proven by his inclusion in the scotch team which is akin to the level of the Championship.
Hard grafter, yes. Football, average.
That is not good enough for PL level.
I trust our manager's decision.

My opinion Give me Conway over smith anyday, but again I trust Malky's take on it

Was on his way out when he handed in his transfer request, threw his toys out of the pram and Malky hasn't forgiven or forgotten.

I thought he could have been a very good squad player for us this season.Tremendous work ethic and a huge heart
wish him all the best for the future,conways definetly played a significant part in our recent success

"Unluckiest players in Cardiff City history"

Give me a break. It's nothing more than a case of a player not being good enough for the Prem. I hate over dramatic things like that. He was never going to play in the Prem, and should've been sold. Same for Cowie, Smith, Gestede, and Mason. Not good enough, all should've been sold or loaned, but instead we didn't recruit good enough back ups or first teamers. So many free transfers we could've gone for who could've been better options for depth and quality.

No one except Malky and Conway knows what happened or what was said.

Malky may have said to CC "You'll be a squad player" and CC said "No thanks, I am off then"

Bit gutted for Conway, for me he deserved to be in the 25.

Gutted for him. Just as long as Smith isn't no where near the bench and we will be safe to stay up.

I love how this also puts to bed the Malky loves Scottish players tripe. Yes he loves them so much he picked Smith ahead of one.

I'm still waiting for the Cowie haters to pipe up as well mate

And me Lee,

Cowie haters will be out soon, of that I have no doubt