' Gary Medel '

Gary Medel

By Mark Carter

Tuesday 18th February 2020


This choice might also cause some controversy but I’m in no doubt that Gary Medel is probably the highest quality footballer to ever play for the club, despite what happened after December 2013.

We are talking genuine World Class. At the time, he was capable of playing in any top half team, in any Premier League, in any league across the globe and we somehow managed to sign him at Cardiff City.

He was always available for the out ball, always kept things ticking over, was always cool and calm on the ball, he oozed class and he was hungry in the tackle. But unfortunately, in my opinion he got massively overexposed by Solskjaer’s change in tactical approach in the second half of the season.

The little flames he was more than comfortable putting out in Malky’s defensive tactics suddenly became engulfing flames that he just could not handle any more and, like many of the players and the fans that year, he seemed to become increasingly lost and crushed. Following our relegation, he showcased his exceptional talent again though in a phenomenal World Cup with Chile and left Cardiff City to join Inter Milan.

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I still find it baffling that we managed to sign him TBH

I find that description of him a bit overstating. However Malky did get the best out of him where Oli, well he was an Oli player.

For me this was a pure example of where the board has no idea what they where doing. The squad Malky left us with was more of the liking of Pulis, Hughton and gang. It was not for the finesse of Oli who was use to being surrounded by quality. Oli got selected on his name not ability because the board would not know ablitily if it hit them in the face then.

I liked Medel, we paid good money for him and he started off well but as the season went on he seemed to gain weight and for me although he did a lot of running he didn't actually tackle that much, the hard tackling talk was a myth imo.

Yes he worked well better in Malkys tactics but we pretty much had everyone behind the ball most the time, what defensive midfielder wouldn't love that, few gaps. A top defensive midfielder shows their worth when there are bigger gaps and he's plugging them to allow others to attack.

I didn't think of him as world class, I don't agree he was the best player to have played for us either. I thought he was a good player though. We paid good money and got it back which seemed about right.

Anyone else remember his disciplinary record before he joined us At the time it made me think thats why no-one else wanted him otherwise he could have gone to most prem sides.

Anyone else remember his disciplinary record before he joined us At the time it made me think thats why no-one else wanted him otherwise he could have gone to most prem sides.

John Charles was world class not sure about Medal.

Great player up there with my favourites, Kav,earnie,koumas,Wayne O’Sullivan and him

Anyone else remember his disciplinary record before he joined us At the time it made me think thats why no-one else wanted him otherwise he could have gone to most prem sides.

And when he joined us he hardly got booked - more poodle than pitbull.

If he was indeed the "highest quality" footballer to have played for us then it was because of what he did before and after he was with us because he was average for us that season at best.

He did put in a few decent performances but nowhere near often enough to be considered a success in his one year with us.
It could be said that the players around him weren't on his level but that's no excuse - he just never took a game by the scruff of the neck and affected the outcome. Look at knobhead Grealish for example. The rest of the Villa team are crap but he still manages to influence games and stands out on a poor team in a way that Medel never did when he was here.

He also couldn't wait to get away at the end of the season but at least we got our money back for him.

Ramsey was way better in my opinion. Medel started well but didn't have such a huge impact later in the season when he looked a little slow. I also thought Bellamy was a better player. Medel was ace like but not the best in my opinon.

Anyone else remember his disciplinary record before he joined us At the time it made me think thats why no-one else wanted him otherwise he could have gone to most prem sides.

And when he joined us he hardly got booked - more poodle than pitbull.

If he was indeed the "highest quality" footballer to have played for us then it was because of what he did before and after he was with us because he was average for us that season at best.

He did put in a few decent performances but nowhere near often enough to be considered a success in his one year with us.
It could be said that the players around him weren't on his level but that's no excuse - he just never took a game by the scruff of the neck and affected the outcome. Look at knobhead Grealish for example. The rest of the Villa team are crap but he still manages to influence games and stands out on a poor team in a way that Medel never did when he was here.

He also couldn't wait to get away at the end of the season but at least we got our money back for him.

Well said!

One of the most over-rated players I have witnessed at the City.

We desperately wanted a cult hero, and prior to his arrival, Medel seemed to tick all the right boxes... what a let-down!

Anyone else remember his disciplinary record before he joined us At the time it made me think thats why no-one else wanted him otherwise he could have gone to most prem sides.

And when he joined us he hardly got booked - more poodle than pitbull.

If he was indeed the "highest quality" footballer to have played for us then it was because of what he did before and after he was with us because he was average for us that season at best.

He did put in a few decent performances but nowhere near often enough to be considered a success in his one year with us.
It could be said that the players around him weren't on his level but that's no excuse - he just never took a game by the scruff of the neck and affected the outcome. Look at knobhead Grealish for example. The rest of the Villa team are crap but he still manages to influence games and stands out on a poor team in a way that Medel never did when he was here.

He also couldn't wait to get away at the end of the season but at least we got our money back for him.

This is exactly how I remember it and also lets not forget we paid big big money for him. I think it was 12m? which doesnt seem much now but at the time if was big money.

Great signing on and off the pitch.trouble was he like the rest of the team faded with all the nonsense in the background.
Genuinely thought he was going to be part of a winning World Cup team the year after.

Great signing on and off the pitch.trouble was he like the rest of the team faded with all the nonsense in the background.
Genuinely thought he was going to be part of a winning World Cup team the year after.

That is bound to have had an effect, its a shame Malky couldn't have done the right thing and resigned instead of holding on for a pay out and then ending up with a embarrassing grovelling apology.

Sorry but no. 5 good (not fantastic) months! how can he be the best quality player?

Even in the past 20 years there have been much better players that played brilliantly for us for much longer!

Gabbidon, Roger Johnson, Leggy in defence.

Koumas, Kav, Ramsay, Ledley, Whittingham in the mid

Earnshaw, Chopra up front!

Medels reputation was far more impressive than what I saw that season.

Just my opinion tho

In the first half of the season when he was utilised correctly by Malky, Gary Medel was a class apart and several levels ahead of any other midfielder I have ever seen in a City shirt, with the exception of Aaron Ramsey. Fulham away that season, I think Medel had a 98% pass completion rate.

Unfortunately, we became a disorganised mess under Ole. Instead of Medel breaking up play in front of the back 4, he was getting dragged forwards, backwards, sideways, running from one side of the pitch to the other covering open gaps, he was getting pulled all over the place. He also tore his thigh in February and we probably rushed him back too quickly.

At his best though, Gary Medel was levels ahead of everyone else, both in ability and mentally. His decision making, ability to think one step ahead and his quality on the ball makes him the greatest footballer I've ever seen in a City shirt during my 30 years supporting our club.

he was very good, one of the best i seen down there since i,ve been watching since the 80's
theres a video floating around of the time he killed Arron lennons career, its on you tube

Ramsey was way better in my opinion. Medel started well but didn't have such a huge impact later in the season when he looked a little slow. I also thought Bellamy was a better player. Medel was ace like but not the best in my opinon.

Agree .

Anyone else remember his disciplinary record before he joined us At the time it made me think thats why no-one else wanted him otherwise he could have gone to most prem sides.

And when he joined us he hardly got booked - more poodle than pitbull.

If he was indeed the "highest quality" footballer to have played for us then it was because of what he did before and after he was with us because he was average for us that season at best.

He did put in a few decent performances but nowhere near often enough to be considered a success in his one year with us.
It could be said that the players around him weren't on his level but that's no excuse - he just never took a game by the scruff of the neck and affected the outcome. Look at knobhead Grealish for example. The rest of the Villa team are crap but he still manages to influence games and stands out on a poor team in a way that Medel never did when he was here.

He also couldn't wait to get away at the end of the season but at least we got our money back for him.

Totally agree! Was average at best, think his only booking was his handbags with Fellaini. Can’t understand why a lot of our fanbase rated him so highly? A retired Willie Boland would have done a better job than him.