' Neil Warnock was right to be furious '
Sun Apr 02, 2017 6:02 pm
Neil Warnock was right to be furious with Iceland for making Aron Gunnarsson play in friendly before Wolves defeat
By Chris Wathan
Sunday 2nd March 2017
Neil Warnock certainly didn't hold back when it came to voicing his anger at Iceland for making Aron Gunnarsson play the full 90 minutes in a "meaningless friendly" just days before Cardiff City's clash with Wolves at Molineux.
The Iceman starred for his national side who beat Kosovo 2-1 in a World Cup qualifier on March 24 before playing the full game in his country's 1-0 friendly win against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium during the international break.
It meant that Gunnarsson did not return to Cardiff's Vale Resort training base until Friday, just hours before Warnock's men travelled to the West Midlands ahead of their eventual 3-1 defeat to Paul Lambert's side.
So is Warnock right to say that Iceland's decision to play Gunnarsson in a game that ultimately counted for nothing was "a disgrace"?
Well it was certainly a strong view point, something that you come to expect from the Yorkshireman.
But he does has every reason to be frustrated with his midfielder's international employers, especially when you consider Warnock gave Gunnarsson time off in January for the benefit of the Euro 2016 quarter-finalists.
Following the conclusion of the game at Molineux, Gunnarsson has played 2,963 minutes of Championship football for the Bluebirds so far this season, the third highest total in the Cardiff squad.
Only captain Sean Morrison and Joe Ralls have played more minutes in the league for Cardiff that Gunnarsson this season, although neither have played international football.
Gunnarsson has played the full 90 minutes for Iceland on five occasions this season, four of which have been in World Cup qualifiers against Ukraine, Finland, Croatia and Kosovo, and the other was the - as Warnock described it - the "meaningless friendly" against Ireland in Dublin on Tuesday.
So while several members of the Cardiff squad were enjoying a five-day break over the international period, Gunnarsson was right in the thick of the action, playing twice in the space four days and then featuring yet against for his club four days later.
Ultimately, it may well have been Gunnarsson's own choice to play against Kosovo. Playing for your country is the greatest honour for many players in the game like it should be.
But perhaps sometimes international managers do need to have some brains as Warnock suggested, especially when there was nothing riding on Iceland's encounter with Martin O'Neill's side.
By Chris Wathan
Sunday 2nd March 2017
Neil Warnock certainly didn't hold back when it came to voicing his anger at Iceland for making Aron Gunnarsson play the full 90 minutes in a "meaningless friendly" just days before Cardiff City's clash with Wolves at Molineux.
The Iceman starred for his national side who beat Kosovo 2-1 in a World Cup qualifier on March 24 before playing the full game in his country's 1-0 friendly win against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium during the international break.
It meant that Gunnarsson did not return to Cardiff's Vale Resort training base until Friday, just hours before Warnock's men travelled to the West Midlands ahead of their eventual 3-1 defeat to Paul Lambert's side.
So is Warnock right to say that Iceland's decision to play Gunnarsson in a game that ultimately counted for nothing was "a disgrace"?
Well it was certainly a strong view point, something that you come to expect from the Yorkshireman.
But he does has every reason to be frustrated with his midfielder's international employers, especially when you consider Warnock gave Gunnarsson time off in January for the benefit of the Euro 2016 quarter-finalists.
Following the conclusion of the game at Molineux, Gunnarsson has played 2,963 minutes of Championship football for the Bluebirds so far this season, the third highest total in the Cardiff squad.
Only captain Sean Morrison and Joe Ralls have played more minutes in the league for Cardiff that Gunnarsson this season, although neither have played international football.
Gunnarsson has played the full 90 minutes for Iceland on five occasions this season, four of which have been in World Cup qualifiers against Ukraine, Finland, Croatia and Kosovo, and the other was the - as Warnock described it - the "meaningless friendly" against Ireland in Dublin on Tuesday.
So while several members of the Cardiff squad were enjoying a five-day break over the international period, Gunnarsson was right in the thick of the action, playing twice in the space four days and then featuring yet against for his club four days later.
Ultimately, it may well have been Gunnarsson's own choice to play against Kosovo. Playing for your country is the greatest honour for many players in the game like it should be.
But perhaps sometimes international managers do need to have some brains as Warnock suggested, especially when there was nothing riding on Iceland's encounter with Martin O'Neill's side.
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Re: ' Neil Warnock was right to be furious '
Mon Apr 03, 2017 5:10 am
Crazy to have international friendlies at this point of the season, especially AFTER a qualifier.
Absolutely crazy for a player to be playing 3 games in a week including international travelling when one of them is a friendly.
Nuts.
Absolutely crazy for a player to be playing 3 games in a week including international travelling when one of them is a friendly.
Nuts.
Re: ' Neil Warnock was right to be furious '
Mon Apr 03, 2017 9:55 am
I didn't see the game so I can tell comment on how he played against Wolves but I understand he missed a sitter. However, when you consider Warnock's comments and the fact he must surely have been tired after his International duties what a tribute to the man that on this very forum he was voted Man of the Match. Remarkable indeed and a true City hero 