' Under Appreciated & Underrated '
Sun Jun 26, 2016 7:30 pm
And yet tomorrow night Aron Gunnarsson will lead Iceland out against England in the Euros
ARON GUNNARSSON
Icelandic midfield hard man Aron Gunnarsson is a classic under-appreciated central midfielder. He does the dirty work in the middle of the park which often goes unnoticed: tackling, intercepting, simple passes, etc.
The long serving 27-year-old signed from Coventry in 2011 and has made just shy of 200 appearances for the Bluebirds.
His long throw is devastating and he is now well accustomed to life in the Championship, having played in the second flight since 2008 (with the exception of Cardiff’s one Premier League season).
ARON GUNNARSSON
Icelandic midfield hard man Aron Gunnarsson is a classic under-appreciated central midfielder. He does the dirty work in the middle of the park which often goes unnoticed: tackling, intercepting, simple passes, etc.
The long serving 27-year-old signed from Coventry in 2011 and has made just shy of 200 appearances for the Bluebirds.
His long throw is devastating and he is now well accustomed to life in the Championship, having played in the second flight since 2008 (with the exception of Cardiff’s one Premier League season).
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Re: ' Under Appreciated & Underrated '
Sun Jun 26, 2016 7:41 pm
Why Cardiff City stalwart Aron Gunnarsson is striking fear into the hearts of England
Sunday 26th June 2016
Media Wales
Three Lions boss will need a plan to counter the Icelander's 'secret' weapon
The English are running scared at the Euros and it is all down to one man - Cardiff City's Viking warrior, Aron Gunnarsson .
Roy Hodgson's side, already beaten into second place in their group by Wales, take on Iceland tomorrow night in the last 16 looking to overcome the minnows, make the quarter-finals and save their manager's job in the process.
Iceland are the smallest nation ever to qualify for the Euros and stunned many by making progress to set up the knockout clash with England.
Lars Lagerback's side is guided by the silky skills of Swansea City's Premier League star Gylfi Sigurdsson but, apparently, the likes of Wayne Rooney, Joe Hart and Harry Kane, have far more pressing concerns ahead of the match - that phenomenal long-throw of Gunnarsson.
The 27-year-old, who also captains his country, has been using his remarkable missiles to good effect so far in France with Gunnarsson's antics from the touch-line already setting up a goal for teammate Jon Dadi Bodvarsson against Austria in the group stages.
Hodgson now admits his men will have to be very wary in the face of the Bluebirds midfielder's not so secret weapon.
"You'd have to be a bit blind not to realise that Gunnarsson is a weapon for them," said the England manager.
"He doesn't only throw the ball into the box, but he takes the throw-ins by his own corner flag and tries to throw it to the half-way line. So these are things we will be aware of and will prepare for.
England manager Roy Hodgson
"If we don't do our homework properly and get our positional play correct and the challenges, (Gunnarsson's throw-ins) will be a big chance for them to score again. I'd like to think we prepare for everything, really, when it comes to opponents."
The irony for Cardiff fans though is that for his club, Gunnarsson's massive throws have become somewhat a thing of the past.
The sight of Gunnarsson winding up to launch one in had been quite a regular sight after the fantastically-bearded Icelander first signed for the Bluebirds from Coventry in July 2011.
But, after dislocating his shoulder playing for his country in June 2013, Gunnarsson has rarely been asked to utilise his gift whilst playing for the Bluebirds.
Matters were not helped by the fact that Gunnarsson struggled to nail down a regular spot in then-Cardiff manager Russell Slade's team last season as Joe Ralls and Stuart O'Keefe rose to prominence.
On the international stage though, Lagerback has had few concerns about employing it and will be hoping it will lead to England's downfall tomorrow.
Hodgson, it seems, is already fearful of that amazing long-throw that fans in the Welsh capital have long been familiar with.
Sunday 26th June 2016
Media Wales
Three Lions boss will need a plan to counter the Icelander's 'secret' weapon
The English are running scared at the Euros and it is all down to one man - Cardiff City's Viking warrior, Aron Gunnarsson .
Roy Hodgson's side, already beaten into second place in their group by Wales, take on Iceland tomorrow night in the last 16 looking to overcome the minnows, make the quarter-finals and save their manager's job in the process.
Iceland are the smallest nation ever to qualify for the Euros and stunned many by making progress to set up the knockout clash with England.
Lars Lagerback's side is guided by the silky skills of Swansea City's Premier League star Gylfi Sigurdsson but, apparently, the likes of Wayne Rooney, Joe Hart and Harry Kane, have far more pressing concerns ahead of the match - that phenomenal long-throw of Gunnarsson.
The 27-year-old, who also captains his country, has been using his remarkable missiles to good effect so far in France with Gunnarsson's antics from the touch-line already setting up a goal for teammate Jon Dadi Bodvarsson against Austria in the group stages.
Hodgson now admits his men will have to be very wary in the face of the Bluebirds midfielder's not so secret weapon.
"You'd have to be a bit blind not to realise that Gunnarsson is a weapon for them," said the England manager.
"He doesn't only throw the ball into the box, but he takes the throw-ins by his own corner flag and tries to throw it to the half-way line. So these are things we will be aware of and will prepare for.
England manager Roy Hodgson
"If we don't do our homework properly and get our positional play correct and the challenges, (Gunnarsson's throw-ins) will be a big chance for them to score again. I'd like to think we prepare for everything, really, when it comes to opponents."
The irony for Cardiff fans though is that for his club, Gunnarsson's massive throws have become somewhat a thing of the past.
The sight of Gunnarsson winding up to launch one in had been quite a regular sight after the fantastically-bearded Icelander first signed for the Bluebirds from Coventry in July 2011.
But, after dislocating his shoulder playing for his country in June 2013, Gunnarsson has rarely been asked to utilise his gift whilst playing for the Bluebirds.
Matters were not helped by the fact that Gunnarsson struggled to nail down a regular spot in then-Cardiff manager Russell Slade's team last season as Joe Ralls and Stuart O'Keefe rose to prominence.
On the international stage though, Lagerback has had few concerns about employing it and will be hoping it will lead to England's downfall tomorrow.
Hodgson, it seems, is already fearful of that amazing long-throw that fans in the Welsh capital have long been familiar with.
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Re: ' Under Appreciated & Underrated '
Sun Jun 26, 2016 8:11 pm
He's been one of my favourite players annis over the last few years from the day he signed I have always rated him plays even better when he play for iceland hope they win tomorrow
Re: ' Under Appreciated & Underrated '
Mon Jun 27, 2016 9:04 am
Oh for Gunners to score the winner tonight 
Re: ' Under Appreciated & Underrated '
Mon Jun 27, 2016 2:21 pm
hes the ledley of that team and as u say under appreciated at cardiff
Re: ' Under Appreciated & Underrated '
Mon Jun 27, 2016 3:20 pm
I thought he did well for us during our stint in the Prem and was useful at that level. I hope the new manager finds a 1st team spot for him next season. Did Slade ever explain why he didn't play him regularly? No
Re: ' Under Appreciated & Underrated '
Mon Jun 27, 2016 3:29 pm
I think hes been the scapegoat for the Gunnar/ Whitts partnership failure.
Re: ' Under Appreciated & Underrated '
Mon Jun 27, 2016 4:33 pm
Really hope he does well tonight and Iceland win....then Rooney might refuse to exchange shirts with him!
Re: ' Under Appreciated & Underrated '
Mon Jun 27, 2016 8:34 pm
Having a stormer