THE CARDIFF CITY PLAYER MANY WANTED GONE INCL MANAGERS
Mon Apr 03, 2017 7:53 pm
My comments
THE CARDIFF CITY PLAYER MANY WANTED GONE INCL MANAGERS
Russell Slade/Paul Trollope and even the Committee tried to move Aron Gunnarsson on and some City fans were ready to let him go.
Even after he led his Country to success in the Euros, there were still calls for him to go.
NOW NEIL WARNOCKS ROCK AND THE BACK BONE FOR CARDIFF CITY & WARNOCK HAS DESCRIBED HIM AS ONE OF THE BEST PLAYERS IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP.
No way can we afford to let him go this Summer
The one man who simply must be crowned Cardiff City's Player Of The Season & Fans favourite
By Chris Wathan
Monday 3rd April 2017
Tickets are on sale for the end of season awards and Sky Bet have announced their Team of the Season, with eight games and the play-offs left to play. As hasty as their announcement may have been, it got me thinking about who will be crowned Cardiff’s Player of the Year this season.
The general consensus among supporters seems to be Aron Gunnarsson and he would certainly be a worthy winner. Having drifted in and out of favour under Russell Slade, Gunnarsson recaptured his warrior spirit captaining Iceland at last summer’s European Championships and has maintained that fine form for Cardiff.
Helder Costa of Wolves and Aron Gunnarsson of Cardiff City compete
Helder Costa of Wolves and Aron Gunnarsson of Cardiff City compete (Photo: Huw Evans Picture Agency)
Gunnarsson has recorded the third highest amount of time on the pitch, after Sean Morrison and Joe Ralls, also chipping in a couple of goals. His performances may have been a bit better earlier in the season, but his form has remained pretty much consistent throughout the campaign too.
Yet for me, it has to be Sol Bamba.
Aron Gunnarsson and Sol Bamba are contenders for the Cardiff City captaincy
The head may say Gunnarsson, but the heart favours the Ivorian. It feels like this is his team and that was the case pretty much from day one.
I admit that when Neil Warnock signed Bamba, I didn’t really understand the logic. Cardiff already had Morrison, Bruno Ecuele Manga and Matthew Connolly, all elite Championship-level centre backs. Leeds fans were also rather uncomplimentary about him, although that may have been coloured by his sudden departure at the very end of the transfer window.
Then he arrived and I understood almost instantly.
Despite being stationed alongside Cardiff captain Morrison, he took immediate ownership of the side, marshaling the back four and those in front of him. Sometimes you don’t fully realise what a team lacks until it finally materialises and Bamba filled a leadership void that had existed since Mark Hudson’s departure.
Bamba is a larger-than-life man mountain and also covers a great deal of ground. Having benefited from a full pre-season at Leeds, he was ready to go and made his debut in the Severnside derby. He bagged the winner and has not looked back since.
Sol Bamba of Cardiff City flies in to score City's second goal
However, despite the many pros in his favour, there are also a couple of key cons.
Firstly, that he didn’t arrive until the start of October. Having slumped towards the foot of the table under Paul Trollope — despite Gunnarsson’s best efforts — the arrival of Warnock and Bamba prompted Cardiff’s gradual ascent up the league.
Warnock has rightfully taken the plaudits for that rise, but Bamba is his on-field lieutenant and we’ll never know if that rise would have happened without the presence of Bamba to steady the ship.
Had both been in situ from the start of the season, who knows how much further up the table Cardiff would be positioned now?
There is also the whole Ipswich episode , when Bamba let himself and his team mates down by getting sent off for totally overreacting when a challenge on him went unpunished. He confronted several officials and Warnock as the red mist descended when he was escorted from the pitch... and a lengthy ban ensued.
Neil Warnock on his confrontation with Sol Bamba
He publicly apologised and his actions appeared out of character when measured against the composed performances before and after the incident. After all, Bamba had not picked up a booking all season until this past weekend.
In recent weeks, Bamba has been pretty much faultless and he has become so influential, it’s hard to imagine Cardiff without him now. Warnock awarded Bamba an 11 out of 10 for a recent performance and his effusive praise has been entirely justified.
Gunnarsson may scoop the honours at the end of the season, but Bamba has managed to shape the side in his image and has become Cardiff’s most influential player in the process.
He certainly has my vote.
Neil Warnock congratulates Sol Bamba (Photo: Huw Evans Picture Agency)
A busy summer of Cardiff contract talks await
Gunnarsson and Bamba appear to be front runners for recognition at Cardiff’s end of year awards, but another aspect that draws them together is that they are both heading towards the final year of their current contracts.
THE CARDIFF CITY PLAYER MANY WANTED GONE INCL MANAGERS
Russell Slade/Paul Trollope and even the Committee tried to move Aron Gunnarsson on and some City fans were ready to let him go.
Even after he led his Country to success in the Euros, there were still calls for him to go.
NOW NEIL WARNOCKS ROCK AND THE BACK BONE FOR CARDIFF CITY & WARNOCK HAS DESCRIBED HIM AS ONE OF THE BEST PLAYERS IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP.
No way can we afford to let him go this Summer
The one man who simply must be crowned Cardiff City's Player Of The Season & Fans favourite
By Chris Wathan
Monday 3rd April 2017
Tickets are on sale for the end of season awards and Sky Bet have announced their Team of the Season, with eight games and the play-offs left to play. As hasty as their announcement may have been, it got me thinking about who will be crowned Cardiff’s Player of the Year this season.
The general consensus among supporters seems to be Aron Gunnarsson and he would certainly be a worthy winner. Having drifted in and out of favour under Russell Slade, Gunnarsson recaptured his warrior spirit captaining Iceland at last summer’s European Championships and has maintained that fine form for Cardiff.
Helder Costa of Wolves and Aron Gunnarsson of Cardiff City compete
Helder Costa of Wolves and Aron Gunnarsson of Cardiff City compete (Photo: Huw Evans Picture Agency)
Gunnarsson has recorded the third highest amount of time on the pitch, after Sean Morrison and Joe Ralls, also chipping in a couple of goals. His performances may have been a bit better earlier in the season, but his form has remained pretty much consistent throughout the campaign too.
Yet for me, it has to be Sol Bamba.
Aron Gunnarsson and Sol Bamba are contenders for the Cardiff City captaincy
The head may say Gunnarsson, but the heart favours the Ivorian. It feels like this is his team and that was the case pretty much from day one.
I admit that when Neil Warnock signed Bamba, I didn’t really understand the logic. Cardiff already had Morrison, Bruno Ecuele Manga and Matthew Connolly, all elite Championship-level centre backs. Leeds fans were also rather uncomplimentary about him, although that may have been coloured by his sudden departure at the very end of the transfer window.
Then he arrived and I understood almost instantly.
Despite being stationed alongside Cardiff captain Morrison, he took immediate ownership of the side, marshaling the back four and those in front of him. Sometimes you don’t fully realise what a team lacks until it finally materialises and Bamba filled a leadership void that had existed since Mark Hudson’s departure.
Bamba is a larger-than-life man mountain and also covers a great deal of ground. Having benefited from a full pre-season at Leeds, he was ready to go and made his debut in the Severnside derby. He bagged the winner and has not looked back since.
Sol Bamba of Cardiff City flies in to score City's second goal
However, despite the many pros in his favour, there are also a couple of key cons.
Firstly, that he didn’t arrive until the start of October. Having slumped towards the foot of the table under Paul Trollope — despite Gunnarsson’s best efforts — the arrival of Warnock and Bamba prompted Cardiff’s gradual ascent up the league.
Warnock has rightfully taken the plaudits for that rise, but Bamba is his on-field lieutenant and we’ll never know if that rise would have happened without the presence of Bamba to steady the ship.
Had both been in situ from the start of the season, who knows how much further up the table Cardiff would be positioned now?
There is also the whole Ipswich episode , when Bamba let himself and his team mates down by getting sent off for totally overreacting when a challenge on him went unpunished. He confronted several officials and Warnock as the red mist descended when he was escorted from the pitch... and a lengthy ban ensued.
Neil Warnock on his confrontation with Sol Bamba
He publicly apologised and his actions appeared out of character when measured against the composed performances before and after the incident. After all, Bamba had not picked up a booking all season until this past weekend.
In recent weeks, Bamba has been pretty much faultless and he has become so influential, it’s hard to imagine Cardiff without him now. Warnock awarded Bamba an 11 out of 10 for a recent performance and his effusive praise has been entirely justified.
Gunnarsson may scoop the honours at the end of the season, but Bamba has managed to shape the side in his image and has become Cardiff’s most influential player in the process.
He certainly has my vote.
Neil Warnock congratulates Sol Bamba (Photo: Huw Evans Picture Agency)
A busy summer of Cardiff contract talks await
Gunnarsson and Bamba appear to be front runners for recognition at Cardiff’s end of year awards, but another aspect that draws them together is that they are both heading towards the final year of their current contracts.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Re: THE CARDIFF CITY PLAYER MANY WANTED GONE INCL MANAGERS
Mon Apr 03, 2017 8:52 pm
Had both been in situ from the start of the season, who knows how much further up the table Cardiff would be positioned now?
Most likely challenging for a play off spot.
Most likely challenging for a play off spot.
Re: THE CARDIFF CITY PLAYER MANY WANTED GONE INCL MANAGERS
Mon Apr 03, 2017 9:00 pm
Bakedalasker wrote:Had both been in situ from the start of the season, who knows how much further up the table Cardiff would be positioned now?
Most likely challenging for a play off spot.
Ian, I was told they were told to move him on and bring more money in, but City wanted £2mill no less at the time.
Thankfully Gunners is still here
Re: THE CARDIFF CITY PLAYER MANY WANTED GONE INCL MANAGERS
Mon Apr 03, 2017 10:30 pm
Our two best players with Zohore getting closer week by week. Gunnarsson edges it for me though. It just shows we haven't had a decent manager down here for ages until Warnock came along. Bamba or Gunnarsson for captaincy next season.
Re: THE CARDIFF CITY PLAYER MANY WANTED GONE INCL MANAGERS
Tue Apr 04, 2017 12:31 pm
I've always loved Gunnarsson. He's my favourite City player of all time after Kevin McNaughton (with Earnshaw is a close third and Cohen Griffith in 4th!). I thought it was obscene that he wasn't used by Slade or Trollope. I think he's been a key reason for our rejuvenation under Warnock. I'm glad he's back involved. 
Re: THE CARDIFF CITY PLAYER MANY WANTED GONE INCL MANAGERS
Tue Apr 04, 2017 12:52 pm
I understand the clubs logic in wanting to sell him last season, he wasn't always first choice and after the Euros his value would have been at a premium.
Gunnar needed a manager to give him a role more than just a starting place as although a good player he has his limitations and at times under other managers who looked lost in some games.
Gunnar needed a manager to give him a role more than just a starting place as although a good player he has his limitations and at times under other managers who looked lost in some games.