Hudson: I want to see the Cardiff City fans smile

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For Mark Hudson, the arrival of Neil Wagner at Huddersfield Town was the start of a glorious Indian summer to what had already been a richly successful career.

The Terriers arrive in South Wales on Saturday flying high in the table, their early season momentum punctured a touch but optimism still very much the order of the day.

With pace, attacking flair and a string of clean sheets, their season took off in a distinctly different direction to the club where Hudson had so much success and is still revered among the fanbase.

While Hudson has been kept very busy by his German manager’s intense schedule, he admits to looking at the Bluebirds’ fortunes with a pang of sadness.

Hudson said: “I’ve got to worry about the club I’m at but still, I’ve got friends there who I want to see do well. It’s been difficult for the fans, they’re fantastic and always back the team, so I want to see them with smiles on their faces.”

Hudson’s career at Cardiff came to a disappointing end, with the centre-back hurt by accusations that he had deliberately scored an own goal.

Yet the following years seem to have healed those wounds and Hudson can’t hide his affection for the club he led into the Premier League.

Having played under the new boss Neil Warnock at Crystal Palace, the 34-year-old has backed the veteran to ‘bring the good times back’. Huddersfield are a team who like to keep the ball but Hudson says they are well aware that it could play into Warnock’s game plan. He expects plenty of teams to be caught out by the man who has secured so many promotions.

He said: “Every time I think about my time at Cardiff City I’ve got a smile on my face, it’s the same with my family, my kids are Welsh.

“I’ve played under Warnock, they’ll be up for it and at it. We certainly won’t underestimate them. It’s a good fit, obviously I know him, and I knew he would take it if it was offered, he’ll do well and bring the good times back. He’s so good with the press and players, he’s got that big character Cardiff need. He gets the best out of players and you can already see that he’s brought in players who suit him. Yeah, when I saw it I thought it was a very good match.”

As for Hudson himself, his attentions are turning to the future.

Some may have expected the gegenpressing style of Wagner to signal the end of his time at the heart of the defence but he has excelled yet again.

For Hudson, the chance to adapt and learn new lessons is invaluable as he looks to the next stage of his life in football.

He said: “I’m starting to come to the end of my playing career, I get on really well with the boss we’ve got and I’m learning from him and adding that to the other managers I’ve played for. When I do hang my boots up I’d love to go into management.”

Having led the Bluebirds (and many other clubs) with such distinction, many Cardiff fans might well fancy the idea of Hudson in the Cardiff City Stadium dug-out.

Hudson laughs it off and says ‘I’ve got to get my badges first!’.

Before any of that, however, is the small matter of Saturday’s big game.

So the big question is, has dusted off the ayatollah in preparation.

It seems he is more than ready, saying: “You don’t forget those ayatollahs.”

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That made me smile.
Good memories of seeing him lead, met him a couple of times too and true leader and gentleman he is.

He was a good friend to my very good mate when he was fighting a brain tumour and his shirt hangs in pride of place on my lad's wall.

I'll certainly be giving him an ovation on Saturday, before the game.

Then wishing he has a very ordinary 90 minutes

Captain. Leader. Legend.

Captain. Leader. Legend.

Ole is a tw*t

And THAT GOAL !! As well

Captain. Leader. Legend.

hudson from the halfway line great goal

He was our rock and a major mistake was made letting him go, I was and still am gutted.

And THAT GOAL !! As well

Here it is, Nukes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yt8Btf1FOxY

Captain. Leader. Legend.

Ole is a tw*t

Right, on both counts.

Do any of you know where the disgraceful rumours of a ' deliberate own goal' came from? I was at that game at Molineux, and Mark Hudson came over to us and, literally, held up his hands, and apologised for a genuine mistake.

It beggars belief that such a slur could be thrown at a good and honest man. Sickening!

A born leader and I have no doubt he'll make a fantastic manager. Be great to see him back at Cardiff.

Do any of you know where the disgraceful rumours of a ' deliberate own goal' came from? I was at that game at Molineux, and Mark Hudson came over to us and, literally, held up his hands, and apologised for a genuine mistake.

It beggars belief that such a slur could be thrown at a good and honest man. Sickening!

Completely agree - what an odd story. I was at that game, it was just an obvious (and rare) mistake and was gutted for him as it was his last game. I remember how much we missed him when he was injured and the immediate difference he made when he returned. Letting him go was unbelievable and I'd have him back in a heartbeat. And Marshall while we're at it.

Captain. Leader. Legend.

Letting him go and the manner in which it was done was madness. Exactly the type of captain that we need and have sorely missed since.

What a skipper he was

I will never forgive ole for letting him go and in the manner he did.

I always say this when Hudson and leaders are mentioned. He was always cajoling the players around him when we conceded a goal even if it was his own mistake. Never let the shoulders drop. A proper captain all for the team. We havent had one since

And his rant on the microphone about the jacks down the Bay during the promotion celebrations!
Class.

There's not many ex players I will applaud when they return to play against us but I'll stand up and give him a clap.

A player that had to work hard to prove his worth to the fans.I remember at one time he couldn't buy a compliment on here but in the end proved to be a legend.I imagine they'll be showing that goal for years and years to come.

City Legend. I will never ever forget THAT goal!

And let's not forget him singing 'you jack bastards,we coming for you'.

Never have I ever see a defender stand out in a season, from being a huge scapegoat in the first season at the CCS he came up leaps and bounds in terms of performances for us.

Shame he didn't get a fair crack in the Prem because I felt sometimes you need a player like him in the games against the lower teams that where with us down there.

The half way line goal was special along with the last minute winner v Huddersfield.. a genuine guy and done a lot of work off the field with Cardiff City.

A genuine guy who shows great respect.

Agree with all these posts, he was to Cardiff what John terry was to Chelsea and Ashley Williams is to the jacks. Gutted he went, not always about being the best player on the pitch. A team is made from different characters and players.

Legend and I hope he gets a very warm welcome tomorrow, IMO should still be playing for us, the Leader we have been lacking since he left.

should never have got rid of him. In a time we were crying for leaders we let him go - nuts!

Funny that even a hopeless case in Slade and a championship legend in Warnock both say "its a quite bunch" meaning leaderless and Ole did a botched hatchet job on him....Still make me angry.

Oh and we got Morrison

Funny that even a hopeless case in Slade and a championship legend in Warnock both say "its a quite bunch" meaning leaderless and Ole did a botched hatchet job on him....Still make me angry.

Oh and we got Morrison

#
quite = quiet

The Hudson family are all staying with the Gunnarsson family this weekend.

Legend, I was at the game and there was no way he meant to score the own goal on purpose. He was clearly gutted too and came over at the end to say sorry. The way he was treated by the club is disgusting and 1 of many mistakes OGS made.

Then there was THAT goal