' Cardiff treated him shabbily '

Cardiff City defender John Brayford was treated shabbily, he'll be missed at the Bluebirds - Scott Johnson

Cardiff treated him shabbily and in turn got what they deserved. He will certainly be missed.

Friday 6 February 2015

by Scott Johnson

Brayford headed back to former club Sheffield United in January in a move which surprised many in the Welsh capital


Although it didn’t seem to make much sense in many respects, John Brayford’s return to Sheffield United always seemed inevitable.

Despite the amount of money required to capture him and a move necessitating the right back dropping down a level, it was always a matter of when rather than if.

We’ve become accustomed to transfers being driven by necessity, pragmatism or ambition, but it is a genuine shock these days when a move is motivated by desire. But Brayford was clearly delighted to seal his return and his parting shot was a real poke in the eye for Cardiff.

He said: “A few things went on in my first six months at Cardiff and then I came here and it made me think I’d rather have the memories than the money. I could have carried on picking up my money and playing at Cardiff but my pride always made me think that what went on in those first six months there would always stick with me.

"I don’t regret going there at all but it feels like it was fate for me to be here. I always saw myself coming back here.”

Signed on a four-year deal by Malky Mackay in July 2013, Brayford was regarded as the best right back in the Championship and Cardiff were able to acquire him at a knock-down price due to his expiring contract. Yet Matt Connolly started the season at right back and Kevin Theophile-Catherine’s subsequent arrival saw Brayford relegated to the periphery of the squad. Not exactly what he signed up for.

He played the whole of a League Cup win at Accrington Stanley but was hauled off at half time in the next round in a defeat at West Ham and that was that. In my view it was scandalous how Cardiff cast aside Andreas Cornelius after such a small amount of playing time, but Brayford had recorded half as many minutes and was seemingly out of the picture.

He needed a loan spell with the Blades to kick start his career again.



Down in League One, he linked up once more with Nigel Clough, who had previously managed him at Burton Albion and Derby. He also managed to almost single-handedly invigorate Sheffield United’s flagging season, prompting a charge from the foot of the table towards play-off contention and an FA Cup run that ended at the semi-final stage.

During this competition, he starred in a televised replay against Premier League Fulham, raiding up and down the right flank for 120 minutes and also setting up United’s late winner.

Working with a manager that had total faith in him, Brayford was repaying that trust in spades and Clough was gushing in his praise when he finally got his man last month.

“We are absolutely thrilled he is coming back permanently. John has been at the very top of our list for a long time and our patience has finally been rewarded. There aren’t very many loan players who galvanise a team and club like John did last season,” the Blades boss purred.

Their supporters have been completely obsessed by him ever since, too, hoping that he would arrive in the summer before ramping up their expectations once more when January approached.

Brayford has now become Mr Sheffield United, taking a pay cut to facilitate the move in order to return to a happy place and make a real difference. Who can blame him?

Cardiff could certainly do with a bit of that drive and passion at the moment. They lack leadership and players that have moved heaven and earth to join the club.

When you offer the sort of money Cardiff have in recent years, you tend to attract mercenaries, looking to use the club as a pay day and a stepping stone.


Craig Bellamy certainly fulfilled the more positive function above – on two separate occasions – but he was in the twilight rather than the prime of his career. Mention the name Jason Koumas to a Cardiff fan of a certain vintage and watch them swoon. The maverick genius needed Cardiff as much as they needed him and he exceeded all expectations, orchestrating from midfield.

Cardiff are crying out for a hero at present. Peter Whittingham is more of a sacred cow than a saviour, but he deserves to be cherished all the same.

Russell Slade has a squad short on character, leadership and game changers. They can ill afford to lose players like Brayford and Cardiff’s loss is certainly Sheffield United’s gain.

Time will tell whether or not Lee Peltier is an adequate replacement, but he made a decent first impression on Saturday. My suspicion is that it will take Cardiff two players to replace Brayford, who has been both consistent and fit enough to ensure that a deputy has not been required.

Brayford and The Blades were like star crossed lovers and the truth is that they deserve each other.

On the other hand, Cardiff treated him shabbily and in turn got what they deserved. He will certainly be missed.

No - MALKY treated him shabbily not Cardiff.

No - MALKY treated him shabbily not Cardiff.

Totally agree "first impressions everlasting" and all that stuff. His first impressions of MM and the Club must have been awful after he had been left out and ignored.

At least we saw a bit of him in action and he is now playing for a Manager and club who want him.

MM may have got us to the PL but there was so much cloak and daggers behind the scenes with him

Cardiff City defender John Brayford was treated shabbily, he'll be missed at the Bluebirds - Scott Johnson

Cardiff treated him shabbily and in turn got what they deserved. He will certainly be missed.

Friday 6 February 2015

by Scott Johnson

Brayford headed back to former club Sheffield United in January in a move which surprised many in the Welsh capital


Although it didn’t seem to make much sense in many respects, John Brayford’s return to Sheffield United always seemed inevitable.

Despite the amount of money required to capture him and a move necessitating the right back dropping down a level, it was always a matter of when rather than if.

We’ve become accustomed to transfers being driven by necessity, pragmatism or ambition, but it is a genuine shock these days when a move is motivated by desire. But Brayford was clearly delighted to seal his return and his parting shot was a real poke in the eye for Cardiff.

He said: “A few things went on in my first six months at Cardiff and then I came here and it made me think I’d rather have the memories than the money. I could have carried on picking up my money and playing at Cardiff but my pride always made me think that what went on in those first six months there would always stick with me.

"I don’t regret going there at all but it feels like it was fate for me to be here. I always saw myself coming back here.”

Signed on a four-year deal by Malky Mackay in July 2013, Brayford was regarded as the best right back in the Championship and Cardiff were able to acquire him at a knock-down price due to his expiring contract. Yet Matt Connolly started the season at right back and Kevin Theophile-Catherine’s subsequent arrival saw Brayford relegated to the periphery of the squad. Not exactly what he signed up for.

He played the whole of a League Cup win at Accrington Stanley but was hauled off at half time in the next round in a defeat at West Ham and that was that. In my view it was scandalous how Cardiff cast aside Andreas Cornelius after such a small amount of playing time, but Brayford had recorded half as many minutes and was seemingly out of the picture.

He needed a loan spell with the Blades to kick start his career again.



Down in League One, he linked up once more with Nigel Clough, who had previously managed him at Burton Albion and Derby. He also managed to almost single-handedly invigorate Sheffield United’s flagging season, prompting a charge from the foot of the table towards play-off contention and an FA Cup run that ended at the semi-final stage.

During this competition, he starred in a televised replay against Premier League Fulham, raiding up and down the right flank for 120 minutes and also setting up United’s late winner.

Working with a manager that had total faith in him, Brayford was repaying that trust in spades and Clough was gushing in his praise when he finally got his man last month.

“We are absolutely thrilled he is coming back permanently. John has been at the very top of our list for a long time and our patience has finally been rewarded. There aren’t very many loan players who galvanise a team and club like John did last season,” the Blades boss purred.

Their supporters have been completely obsessed by him ever since, too, hoping that he would arrive in the summer before ramping up their expectations once more when January approached.

Brayford has now become Mr Sheffield United, taking a pay cut to facilitate the move in order to return to a happy place and make a real difference. Who can blame him?

Cardiff could certainly do with a bit of that drive and passion at the moment. They lack leadership and players that have moved heaven and earth to join the club.

When you offer the sort of money Cardiff have in recent years, you tend to attract mercenaries, looking to use the club as a pay day and a stepping stone.


Craig Bellamy certainly fulfilled the more positive function above – on two separate occasions – but he was in the twilight rather than the prime of his career. Mention the name Jason Koumas to a Cardiff fan of a certain vintage and watch them swoon. The maverick genius needed Cardiff as much as they needed him and he exceeded all expectations, orchestrating from midfield.

Cardiff are crying out for a hero at present. Peter Whittingham is more of a sacred cow than a saviour, but he deserves to be cherished all the same.

Russell Slade has a squad short on character, leadership and game changers. They can ill afford to lose players like Brayford and Cardiff’s loss is certainly Sheffield United’s gain.

Time will tell whether or not Lee Peltier is an adequate replacement, but he made a decent first impression on Saturday. My suspicion is that it will take Cardiff two players to replace Brayford, who has been both consistent and fit enough to ensure that a deputy has not been required.

Brayford and The Blades were like star crossed lovers and the truth is that they deserve each other.

On the other hand, Cardiff treated him shabbily and in turn got what they deserved. He will certainly be missed.

Follow a few of the MW journalists on Twitter, but this guy really does write tripe.

How on earth someone can put a pen to paper and say a man who trebled his contract was treated shabbily is beyond me. After watching Brayford I genuinely feel he was one of the worst RB's we have had at the club in a long time. Shocking on the ball, just lumped it forward, majority of goals conceded came down our right and met him a few times and he was a bit of a ball bag. MM deemed him not good enough, can see why. Connolly, Fabio and Super KEV all better on the ball(and that's saying something)

He was consistently poor in my opinion, glad to see the back of him - 20k a week and treated poorly, where do i sign?

Cardiff City defender John Brayford was treated shabbily, he'll be missed at the Bluebirds - Scott Johnson

Cardiff treated him shabbily and in turn got what they deserved. He will certainly be missed.

Friday 6 February 2015

by Scott Johnson

Brayford headed back to former club Sheffield United in January in a move which surprised many in the Welsh capital


Although it didn’t seem to make much sense in many respects, John Brayford’s return to Sheffield United always seemed inevitable.

Despite the amount of money required to capture him and a move necessitating the right back dropping down a level, it was always a matter of when rather than if.

We’ve become accustomed to transfers being driven by necessity, pragmatism or ambition, but it is a genuine shock these days when a move is motivated by desire. But Brayford was clearly delighted to seal his return and his parting shot was a real poke in the eye for Cardiff.

He said: “A few things went on in my first six months at Cardiff and then I came here and it made me think I’d rather have the memories than the money. I could have carried on picking up my money and playing at Cardiff but my pride always made me think that what went on in those first six months there would always stick with me.

"I don’t regret going there at all but it feels like it was fate for me to be here. I always saw myself coming back here.”

Signed on a four-year deal by Malky Mackay in July 2013, Brayford was regarded as the best right back in the Championship and Cardiff were able to acquire him at a knock-down price due to his expiring contract. Yet Matt Connolly started the season at right back and Kevin Theophile-Catherine’s subsequent arrival saw Brayford relegated to the periphery of the squad. Not exactly what he signed up for.

He played the whole of a League Cup win at Accrington Stanley but was hauled off at half time in the next round in a defeat at West Ham and that was that. In my view it was scandalous how Cardiff cast aside Andreas Cornelius after such a small amount of playing time, but Brayford had recorded half as many minutes and was seemingly out of the picture.

He needed a loan spell with the Blades to kick start his career again.



Down in League One, he linked up once more with Nigel Clough, who had previously managed him at Burton Albion and Derby. He also managed to almost single-handedly invigorate Sheffield United’s flagging season, prompting a charge from the foot of the table towards play-off contention and an FA Cup run that ended at the semi-final stage.

During this competition, he starred in a televised replay against Premier League Fulham, raiding up and down the right flank for 120 minutes and also setting up United’s late winner.

Working with a manager that had total faith in him, Brayford was repaying that trust in spades and Clough was gushing in his praise when he finally got his man last month.

“We are absolutely thrilled he is coming back permanently. John has been at the very top of our list for a long time and our patience has finally been rewarded. There aren’t very many loan players who galvanise a team and club like John did last season,” the Blades boss purred.

Their supporters have been completely obsessed by him ever since, too, hoping that he would arrive in the summer before ramping up their expectations once more when January approached.

Brayford has now become Mr Sheffield United, taking a pay cut to facilitate the move in order to return to a happy place and make a real difference. Who can blame him?

Cardiff could certainly do with a bit of that drive and passion at the moment. They lack leadership and players that have moved heaven and earth to join the club.

When you offer the sort of money Cardiff have in recent years, you tend to attract mercenaries, looking to use the club as a pay day and a stepping stone.


Craig Bellamy certainly fulfilled the more positive function above – on two separate occasions – but he was in the twilight rather than the prime of his career. Mention the name Jason Koumas to a Cardiff fan of a certain vintage and watch them swoon. The maverick genius needed Cardiff as much as they needed him and he exceeded all expectations, orchestrating from midfield.

Cardiff are crying out for a hero at present. Peter Whittingham is more of a sacred cow than a saviour, but he deserves to be cherished all the same.

Russell Slade has a squad short on character, leadership and game changers. They can ill afford to lose players like Brayford and Cardiff’s loss is certainly Sheffield United’s gain.

Time will tell whether or not Lee Peltier is an adequate replacement, but he made a decent first impression on Saturday. My suspicion is that it will take Cardiff two players to replace Brayford, who has been both consistent and fit enough to ensure that a deputy has not been required.

Brayford and The Blades were like star crossed lovers and the truth is that they deserve each other.

On the other hand, Cardiff treated him shabbily and in turn got what they deserved. He will certainly be missed.

Follow a few of the MW journalists on Twitter, but this guy really does write tripe.

How on earth someone can put a pen to paper and say a man who trebled his contract was treated shabbily is beyond me. After watching Brayford I genuinely feel he was one of the worst RB's we have had at the club in a long time. Shocking on the ball, just lumped it forward, majority of goals conceded came down our right and met him a few times and he was a bit of a ball bag. MM deemed him not good enough, can see why. Connolly, Fabio and Super KEV all better on the ball(and that's saying something)

He was consistently poor in my opinion, glad to see the back of him - 20k a week and treated poorly, where do i sign?

I think after being treated so badly his heart was elsewhere?

He was never given the chance from the day he signed. Championship RB of the season before we signed him, so someone with football knowledge must have seen something before our club crushed it lol.

Never mind lots of keyboard warriors could run and manage our club, so what do I know

mate, cheers for the Keyboard warrior shout.

Don't think he's a good footballer, so must be a warrior.

Agree that he clearly has talent, Champ RB of the year, but to say he wasn't loved when you're picking up a wedge like that every week is very disrespectful, especially when you're not exactly pulling up trees.

I judge players on their personality as well as ability, which is why no one can hold a candle to Whitts, top pro on and off.

In my humble opinion, I thought Brayford was overated and shouldn't be missed

Average footballer tries to be a hipster.

Every tweet is cringe worthy.

A try hard is what he is.

And he is a nothing special. Nothing at all.

In my humble opinion, I thought Brayford was overated and shouldn't be missed

Cardiff City defender John Brayford was treated shabbily, he'll be missed at the Bluebirds - Scott Johnson

Cardiff treated him shabbily and in turn got what they deserved. He will certainly be missed.

Friday 6 February 2015

by Scott Johnson

Brayford headed back to former club Sheffield United in January in a move which surprised many in the Welsh capital


Although it didn’t seem to make much sense in many respects, John Brayford’s return to Sheffield United always seemed inevitable.

Despite the amount of money required to capture him and a move necessitating the right back dropping down a level, it was always a matter of when rather than if.

We’ve become accustomed to transfers being driven by necessity, pragmatism or ambition, but it is a genuine shock these days when a move is motivated by desire. But Brayford was clearly delighted to seal his return and his parting shot was a real poke in the eye for Cardiff.

He said: “A few things went on in my first six months at Cardiff and then I came here and it made me think I’d rather have the memories than the money. I could have carried on picking up my money and playing at Cardiff but my pride always made me think that what went on in those first six months there would always stick with me.

"I don’t regret going there at all but it feels like it was fate for me to be here. I always saw myself coming back here.”

Signed on a four-year deal by Malky Mackay in July 2013, Brayford was regarded as the best right back in the Championship and Cardiff were able to acquire him at a knock-down price due to his expiring contract. Yet Matt Connolly started the season at right back and Kevin Theophile-Catherine’s subsequent arrival saw Brayford relegated to the periphery of the squad. Not exactly what he signed up for.

He played the whole of a League Cup win at Accrington Stanley but was hauled off at half time in the next round in a defeat at West Ham and that was that. In my view it was scandalous how Cardiff cast aside Andreas Cornelius after such a small amount of playing time, but Brayford had recorded half as many minutes and was seemingly out of the picture.

He needed a loan spell with the Blades to kick start his career again.



Down in League One, he linked up once more with Nigel Clough, who had previously managed him at Burton Albion and Derby. He also managed to almost single-handedly invigorate Sheffield United’s flagging season, prompting a charge from the foot of the table towards play-off contention and an FA Cup run that ended at the semi-final stage.

During this competition, he starred in a televised replay against Premier League Fulham, raiding up and down the right flank for 120 minutes and also setting up United’s late winner.

Working with a manager that had total faith in him, Brayford was repaying that trust in spades and Clough was gushing in his praise when he finally got his man last month.

“We are absolutely thrilled he is coming back permanently. John has been at the very top of our list for a long time and our patience has finally been rewarded. There aren’t very many loan players who galvanise a team and club like John did last season,” the Blades boss purred.

Their supporters have been completely obsessed by him ever since, too, hoping that he would arrive in the summer before ramping up their expectations once more when January approached.

Brayford has now become Mr Sheffield United, taking a pay cut to facilitate the move in order to return to a happy place and make a real difference. Who can blame him?

Cardiff could certainly do with a bit of that drive and passion at the moment. They lack leadership and players that have moved heaven and earth to join the club.

When you offer the sort of money Cardiff have in recent years, you tend to attract mercenaries, looking to use the club as a pay day and a stepping stone.


Craig Bellamy certainly fulfilled the more positive function above – on two separate occasions – but he was in the twilight rather than the prime of his career. Mention the name Jason Koumas to a Cardiff fan of a certain vintage and watch them swoon. The maverick genius needed Cardiff as much as they needed him and he exceeded all expectations, orchestrating from midfield.

Cardiff are crying out for a hero at present. Peter Whittingham is more of a sacred cow than a saviour, but he deserves to be cherished all the same.

Russell Slade has a squad short on character, leadership and game changers. They can ill afford to lose players like Brayford and Cardiff’s loss is certainly Sheffield United’s gain.

Time will tell whether or not Lee Peltier is an adequate replacement, but he made a decent first impression on Saturday. My suspicion is that it will take Cardiff two players to replace Brayford, who has been both consistent and fit enough to ensure that a deputy has not been required.

Brayford and The Blades were like star crossed lovers and the truth is that they deserve each other.

On the other hand, Cardiff treated him shabbily and in turn got what they deserved. He will certainly be missed.

Follow a few of the MW journalists on Twitter, but this guy really does write tripe.

How on earth someone can put a pen to paper and say a man who trebled his contract was treated shabbily is beyond me. After watching Brayford I genuinely feel he was one of the worst RB's we have had at the club in a long time. Shocking on the ball, just lumped it forward, majority of goals conceded came down our right and met him a few times and he was a bit of a ball bag. MM deemed him not good enough, can see why. Connolly, Fabio and Super KEV all better on the ball(and that's saying something)

He was consistently poor in my opinion, glad to see the back of him - 20k a week and treated poorly, where do i sign?

Some unbelievable comments on here. If Brayford is that bad it doesn't say much for the rest of our squad.

MAlky, not Cardiff, cardiff paid him very well.

:lol: mate, cheers for the Keyboard warrior shout.

Don't think he's a good footballer, so must be a warrior.

Agree that he clearly has talent, Champ RB of the year, but to say he wasn't loved when you're picking up a wedge like that every week is very disrespectful, especially when you're not exactly pulling up trees.

I judge players on their personality as well as ability, which is why no one can hold a candle to Whitts, top pro on and off.

Lol keyboard warrior not aimed at you

Just think he was shit on soon as he got here and he didn't recover.

They are all on a big wedge and some forget that as for Whitts I agree with you. Some will only miss him when he is gone I for one will remember him as a true professional to the club and fans.

I liked Brayford, it was shocking the way he was treated irrespective if you rate him or not.

ill never unstand why Malky signed so many right backs then started with Connolly in the first game

:lol: mate, cheers for the Keyboard warrior shout.

Don't think he's a good footballer, so must be a warrior.

Agree that he clearly has talent, Champ RB of the year, but to say he wasn't loved when you're picking up a wedge like that every week is very disrespectful, especially when you're not exactly pulling up trees.

I judge players on their personality as well as ability, which is why no one can hold a candle to Whitts, top pro on and off.

Can't believe you think Fabio is a better full back than Brayford? Fabio is unable to defend surely critical in that position

:lol: mate, cheers for the Keyboard warrior shout.

Don't think he's a good footballer, so must be a warrior.

Agree that he clearly has talent, Champ RB of the year, but to say he wasn't loved when you're picking up a wedge like that every week is very disrespectful, especially when you're not exactly pulling up trees.

I judge players on their personality as well as ability, which is why no one can hold a candle to Whitts, top pro on and off.

Can't believe you think Fabio is a better full back than Brayford? Fabio is unable to defend surely critical in that position

why is Fabio so bad then when the first few games/weeks/months of this season most people were saying hes our best full back? hes barely played since so how can he become shit? Fickle opinions I think.