' Cardiff star Mats Daehli was the best player at the club '
Tue Dec 23, 2014 1:53 pm
Tuesday 23rd December 2014
OPINION BY PAUL ABBANDONATO
Cardiff City star Mats Daehli was the best player at the club... his departure is such a shame for Bluebirds fans
Sports editor Paul Abbandonato on the sad exit of young Norwegian star Mats Moeller Daehli from Cardiff City
To many Cardiff City fans, Mats Moller Daehli is the most naturally gifted footballer the Bluebirds have had on their books since the emergence of a young Aaron Ramsey.
You can question lots of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s many signings, but grabbing Daehli from the clutches of Manchester United was a brilliant acquisition for the Bluebirds.
Solskjaer immediately made a comparison with Manchester City’s Premier League title-winning pair of David Silva and Samir Nasri.
“Like those two, Mats runs between the lines, is creative, has vision, takes players on,” purred Solskjaer.
Sadly, he has been seen too infrequently this season and will wear the Cardiff City shirt no more.
Daehli never fitted in with Russell Slade’s 4-4-2, nor did the style of football adopted suit him. Thus his new year move into back into Europe, with Bundesliga outfit Freiberg, was the most inevitable transfer of 2015.
Personally, I’d have liked Cardiff to deem Daehli the best player at the club - which he is - and build the team around him in the type of 4-2-3-1 formation so many fans covet.
Under that system, the Norwegian teenager could have floated in the hole around Kenwyne Jones and also offered desperately needed midfield back up to the over-stretched Aaron Gunnarsson and Peter Whittingham.
It was not to be, though. Since Slade came in, Daehli has had 21 minutes as a substitute in a 2-1 win over Reading and a further 20 minutes in a similar triumph against Nottingham Forest.
My guess is that the moment his mentor Solskjaer left the club, Daehli may have had one eye upon pastures new himself.
News of his impending £2m departure led to the inevitable reaction from fans on social networking.
“An absolute disgrace.”
“Laughable.”
“An exceptional talent wasted.”
“Cardiff City’s worst mistake.”
“Watch him become a world star elsewhere.”
“That’s it, I’m not going any more.”
Those were typical of the comments posted by the pro-Daehli brigade.
Others counter Daehli is too lightweight, over-rated and that his stock has suddenly risen beyond proportions through his absence from a stuttering Cardiff XI.
Judge as you see fit.
Personally, I think Daehli is a fantastic footballer, who rarely gives the ball away and had the Cardiff fans hopeful whenever in possession.
If I have a criticism of him, it’s that he sometimes flattered to deceive and didn’t deliver often enough where it really mattered in the final third of the pitch.
But some of that was down to the fact that he was often stuck on the wing, rather than in the middle, while it should also be remembered he is still only 19 years of age.
Even if you are Gareth Bale, you’re not the finished article as a teenager.
OPINION BY PAUL ABBANDONATO
Cardiff City star Mats Daehli was the best player at the club... his departure is such a shame for Bluebirds fans
Sports editor Paul Abbandonato on the sad exit of young Norwegian star Mats Moeller Daehli from Cardiff City
To many Cardiff City fans, Mats Moller Daehli is the most naturally gifted footballer the Bluebirds have had on their books since the emergence of a young Aaron Ramsey.
You can question lots of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s many signings, but grabbing Daehli from the clutches of Manchester United was a brilliant acquisition for the Bluebirds.
Solskjaer immediately made a comparison with Manchester City’s Premier League title-winning pair of David Silva and Samir Nasri.
“Like those two, Mats runs between the lines, is creative, has vision, takes players on,” purred Solskjaer.
Sadly, he has been seen too infrequently this season and will wear the Cardiff City shirt no more.
Daehli never fitted in with Russell Slade’s 4-4-2, nor did the style of football adopted suit him. Thus his new year move into back into Europe, with Bundesliga outfit Freiberg, was the most inevitable transfer of 2015.
Personally, I’d have liked Cardiff to deem Daehli the best player at the club - which he is - and build the team around him in the type of 4-2-3-1 formation so many fans covet.
Under that system, the Norwegian teenager could have floated in the hole around Kenwyne Jones and also offered desperately needed midfield back up to the over-stretched Aaron Gunnarsson and Peter Whittingham.
It was not to be, though. Since Slade came in, Daehli has had 21 minutes as a substitute in a 2-1 win over Reading and a further 20 minutes in a similar triumph against Nottingham Forest.
My guess is that the moment his mentor Solskjaer left the club, Daehli may have had one eye upon pastures new himself.
News of his impending £2m departure led to the inevitable reaction from fans on social networking.
“An absolute disgrace.”
“Laughable.”
“An exceptional talent wasted.”
“Cardiff City’s worst mistake.”
“Watch him become a world star elsewhere.”
“That’s it, I’m not going any more.”
Those were typical of the comments posted by the pro-Daehli brigade.
Others counter Daehli is too lightweight, over-rated and that his stock has suddenly risen beyond proportions through his absence from a stuttering Cardiff XI.
Judge as you see fit.
Personally, I think Daehli is a fantastic footballer, who rarely gives the ball away and had the Cardiff fans hopeful whenever in possession.
If I have a criticism of him, it’s that he sometimes flattered to deceive and didn’t deliver often enough where it really mattered in the final third of the pitch.
But some of that was down to the fact that he was often stuck on the wing, rather than in the middle, while it should also be remembered he is still only 19 years of age.
Even if you are Gareth Bale, you’re not the finished article as a teenager.
Re: ' Cardiff star Mats Daehli was the best player at the cl
Tue Dec 23, 2014 2:02 pm
Player with most potential, possibly; most skilful, maybe; "best" never in a million years 
I'm sure Marshall, Manga, Whitts would have something to say when being told that an unproven yougster who started around 10 games for us was the "Best" player at the club
Not to mention Fabio who's already got a Champions League winners medal on his wall 
Daehli may well prove the club wrong in due course but nobody with any knowledge of football could claim he has proved himself as the "best" player at the club
I'm sure Marshall, Manga, Whitts would have something to say when being told that an unproven yougster who started around 10 games for us was the "Best" player at the club
Not to mention Fabio who's already got a Champions League winners medal on his wall Daehli may well prove the club wrong in due course but nobody with any knowledge of football could claim he has proved himself as the "best" player at the club
Re: ' Cardiff star Mats Daehli was the best player at the cl
Tue Dec 23, 2014 2:49 pm
Tan said he is learning on the job.
Yes.
So many stupid decisions one after the other without learning.
Calas and daelhi would start for every single championship club and some premier league ones.
Such a shame. We won't get another like him for a longggg timeeee.
Yes.
So many stupid decisions one after the other without learning.
Calas and daelhi would start for every single championship club and some premier league ones.
Such a shame. We won't get another like him for a longggg timeeee.
Re: ' Cardiff star Mats Daehli was the best player at the cl
Tue Dec 23, 2014 2:50 pm
piledriver64 wrote:Player with most potential, possibly; most skilful, maybe; "best" never in a million years
I'm sure Marshall, Manga, Whitts would have something to say when being told that an unproven yougster who started around 10 games for us was the "Best" player at the club
Daehli may well prove the club wrong in due course but nobody with any knowledge of football could claim he has proved himself as the "best" player at the club
Whittingham.
?.
Re: ' Cardiff star Mats Daehli was the best player at the cl
Tue Dec 23, 2014 3:03 pm
Depressed Blue wrote:piledriver64 wrote:Player with most potential, possibly; most skilful, maybe; "best" never in a million years
I'm sure Marshall, Manga, Whitts would have something to say when being told that an unproven yougster who started around 10 games for us was the "Best" player at the club
Daehli may well prove the club wrong in due course but nobody with any knowledge of football could claim he has proved himself as the "best" player at the club
Whittingham.
?.
Based on his contribution and actual contibution over a sustained period of time.
He scored 20+ goals as a midfield player in one season in the Championship in a poorer squad than we have now, Daehli is nowhere near in terms of delivery and achievement.
Re: ' Cardiff star Mats Daehli was the best player at the cl
Tue Dec 23, 2014 3:05 pm
Tuesday 23rd December 2014
OPINION BY PAUL ABBANDONATO
Cardiff City star Mats Daehli was the best player at the club... his departure is such a shame for Bluebirds fans
Sports editor Paul Abbandonato on the sad exit of young Norwegian star Mats Moeller Daehli from Cardiff City
What a load of codswallop. That's all I can say he must have been watching a different player to me, or he had those special glasses to watch games. He was a promising player and that's IT.
OPINION BY PAUL ABBANDONATO
Cardiff City star Mats Daehli was the best player at the club... his departure is such a shame for Bluebirds fans
Sports editor Paul Abbandonato on the sad exit of young Norwegian star Mats Moeller Daehli from Cardiff City
What a load of codswallop. That's all I can say he must have been watching a different player to me, or he had those special glasses to watch games. He was a promising player and that's IT.
Re: ' Cardiff star Mats Daehli was the best player at the cl
Tue Dec 23, 2014 5:09 pm
Must be a quiet news day at the egg-chasers' gazette.
Re: ' Cardiff star Mats Daehli was the best player at the cl
Tue Dec 23, 2014 10:23 pm
Whittingham is the best player at our club by a country mile.
Re: ' Cardiff star Mats Daehli was the best player at the cl
Wed Dec 24, 2014 10:12 am
Depressed Blue wrote:piledriver64 wrote:Player with most potential, possibly; most skilful, maybe; "best" never in a million years
I'm sure Marshall, Manga, Whitts would have something to say when being told that an unproven yougster who started around 10 games for us was the "Best" player at the club
Daehli may well prove the club wrong in due course but nobody with any knowledge of football could claim he has proved himself as the "best" player at the club
Whittingham.
?.
Whittingham???
Re: ' Cardiff star Mats Daehli was the best player at the cl
Wed Dec 24, 2014 10:13 am
DandoCCFC wrote:Whittingham is the best player at our club by a country mile.
Not in the same league as Daehli.
Re: ' Cardiff star Mats Daehli was the best player at the cl
Wed Dec 24, 2014 10:21 am
City Slicker wrote:DandoCCFC wrote:Whittingham is the best player at our club by a country mile.
Not in the same league as Daehli.
not now hes moved
Re: ' Cardiff star Mats Daehli was the best player at the cl
Wed Dec 24, 2014 12:50 pm
piledriver64 wrote:Player with most potential, possibly; most skilful, maybe; "best" never in a million years
I'm sure Marshall, Manga, Whitts would have something to say when being told that an unproven yougster who started around 10 games for us was the "Best" player at the club
Daehli may well prove the club wrong in due course but nobody with any knowledge of football could claim he has proved himself as the "best" player at the club
Agreed, another silly article from an inept sports writer
Re: ' Cardiff star Mats Daehli was the best player at the cl
Wed Dec 24, 2014 5:01 pm
Certainly not the best player at the club in terms of current ability but if you look at him like he is, a 19 year old akin to a DVP player, then he was the best potential talent we have had for many years. if City can't retain players like this then the future is bleak.
Re: ' Cardiff star Mats Daehli was the best player at the cl
Thu Dec 25, 2014 12:25 am
Stats can be used to manipulate anything the person using them wants for making a point? but it doesn't prove a thing!
Re: ' Cardiff star Mats Daehli was the best player at the cl
Wed Jan 07, 2015 9:59 am
City Slicker wrote:DandoCCFC wrote:Whittingham is the best player at our club by a country mile.
Not in the same league as Daehli.
I could see Daelhi getting 70 goals here too.
