" Big Mick confirms defender to leave & loan recalled "
Wed Jan 27, 2021 9:55 pm
Cardiff City defender Greg Cunningham joins Preston on loan as McCarthy recalls Ciaron Brown from Livingston after tip-off
The first bit of transfer activity under Mick McCarthy is set to be completed within the coming days
By Glen Williams
Greg Cunningham is to join his former club Preston on loan until the end of the season and might well have played his final match for Cardiff City.
It was thought that Cunningham might get a reprieve under McCarthy, who knows him from his days managing Republic of Ireland and even called him up to the squad in October 2019, however it appears his time at Cardiff City is now over.
Cunningham's contract is up at the end of the season and it is understood the Bluebirds have already held talks with first-choice left back Joe Bennett over a new deal.
The club also hold high hopes for exciting academy product Joel Bagan, and allowing Cunningham to leave would create a clearer pathway to the first team for the 19-year-old.
"Greg is going to Preston," Mick McCarthy said after the match.
"I've got Joel Bagan and I've got Joe Bennett, so I am a bit overloaded on left backs.
"I'm also bringing Ciaron Brown back from Livingston, because I'd like to see him, he has got a year's option and he is in the last year of his contract.
"I want to see him and what he has to offer, because he is a left-sided centre back come left back. My chief scout who I have had for years, one of my best mates, he watches the teams in Scotland, and the first thing he said to me was, 'Eh, you've got a lad up here and you ought to bring him back'.
"So, that's just what I'm doing."
Brown is currently on his third loan spell up at Livingston and has started to impress of late, scoring and assisting in a 2-2 draw with Celtic.
He has been a key cog in the wheel up at the Toni Macaroni Arena, having played 17 times in all competitions both at centre back and at left back.
Cardiff signed Cunningham, who turns 30 at the end of this month, from Preston for £4m ahead of their last season in the Premier League, but it never truly worked out for him in the Welsh capital.
He played second fiddle to Bennett in his debut season before heading out on loan to Blackburn Rovers last term.
Following an encouraging start at Ewood Park, the Irishman sustained a nasty ACL injury which sidelined him for the remainder of the season.
He has failed to hit the ground running this year, too, enduring more injury woe with a hamstring strain before missing a few matches of late due to ill health.
Cunningham has played just 14 matches for Cardiff City.
The first bit of transfer activity under Mick McCarthy is set to be completed within the coming days
By Glen Williams
Greg Cunningham is to join his former club Preston on loan until the end of the season and might well have played his final match for Cardiff City.
It was thought that Cunningham might get a reprieve under McCarthy, who knows him from his days managing Republic of Ireland and even called him up to the squad in October 2019, however it appears his time at Cardiff City is now over.
Cunningham's contract is up at the end of the season and it is understood the Bluebirds have already held talks with first-choice left back Joe Bennett over a new deal.
The club also hold high hopes for exciting academy product Joel Bagan, and allowing Cunningham to leave would create a clearer pathway to the first team for the 19-year-old.
"Greg is going to Preston," Mick McCarthy said after the match.
"I've got Joel Bagan and I've got Joe Bennett, so I am a bit overloaded on left backs.
"I'm also bringing Ciaron Brown back from Livingston, because I'd like to see him, he has got a year's option and he is in the last year of his contract.
"I want to see him and what he has to offer, because he is a left-sided centre back come left back. My chief scout who I have had for years, one of my best mates, he watches the teams in Scotland, and the first thing he said to me was, 'Eh, you've got a lad up here and you ought to bring him back'.
"So, that's just what I'm doing."
Brown is currently on his third loan spell up at Livingston and has started to impress of late, scoring and assisting in a 2-2 draw with Celtic.
He has been a key cog in the wheel up at the Toni Macaroni Arena, having played 17 times in all competitions both at centre back and at left back.
Cardiff signed Cunningham, who turns 30 at the end of this month, from Preston for £4m ahead of their last season in the Premier League, but it never truly worked out for him in the Welsh capital.
He played second fiddle to Bennett in his debut season before heading out on loan to Blackburn Rovers last term.
Following an encouraging start at Ewood Park, the Irishman sustained a nasty ACL injury which sidelined him for the remainder of the season.
He has failed to hit the ground running this year, too, enduring more injury woe with a hamstring strain before missing a few matches of late due to ill health.
Cunningham has played just 14 matches for Cardiff City.
Re: " Big Mick confirms defender to leave & loan recalled "
Wed Jan 27, 2021 9:59 pm
Do us a favour Mickey boy and shift the entire midfield and defense out.
Overpaid and over hyped.
Overpaid and over hyped.
Re: " Big Mick confirms defender to leave & loan recalled "
Thu Jan 28, 2021 8:12 am
I don't know which side of the fence to stand on regarding Cunningham.
On one side;
He's only played 14 games, as stated above so wont be missed in a match day squad cause he's not playing in the first place.
Spent a lot of time in the treatment room.
Signed for the Prem season so probably on a decent wage so it would be ideal to get this off the wage bill.
Finally a chance for youngster Bagan to come through, which is what we've all been asking for. Players making the step up from the academy.
On the other;
We've been short of defenders recently and I'm pretty sure he could cover CB in an emergency.
Preston fans and then Blackburn fans raved about him when playing for them.
Our defence has been a bit leaky so surely a mix up of personnel is needed. Cant hurt us (anymore than we're doing to ourselves already) to give him a few games to see how he does?
Surely we cant judge how good of a player he is after 14 games for us.
On one side;
He's only played 14 games, as stated above so wont be missed in a match day squad cause he's not playing in the first place.
Spent a lot of time in the treatment room.
Signed for the Prem season so probably on a decent wage so it would be ideal to get this off the wage bill.
Finally a chance for youngster Bagan to come through, which is what we've all been asking for. Players making the step up from the academy.
On the other;
We've been short of defenders recently and I'm pretty sure he could cover CB in an emergency.
Preston fans and then Blackburn fans raved about him when playing for them.
Our defence has been a bit leaky so surely a mix up of personnel is needed. Cant hurt us (anymore than we're doing to ourselves already) to give him a few games to see how he does?
Surely we cant judge how good of a player he is after 14 games for us.
Re: " Big Mick confirms defender to leave & loan recalled "
Thu Jan 28, 2021 8:24 am
Perhaps he knows something about him from international duties? Anyway good luck Greg, shame it didn't work out for you and best of luck keeping injury free.
Re: " Big Mick confirms defender to leave & loan recalled "
Thu Jan 28, 2021 8:50 am
Not disappointed with this. Baden will do fine as long as he has someone talking to him, and was impressed by Brown in the few pre-season games I've watched him in.
Wounder if we will start 5-3-2 now we have a CB to cover the bench.
Wounder if we will start 5-3-2 now we have a CB to cover the bench.
Re: " Big Mick confirms defender to leave & loan recalled "
Thu Jan 28, 2021 9:32 am
No matter who is pulling the purse strings at the city, this transfer sums up our mediocre record in transfers.
4 million, absolutely wasted. No return on our investment and just written off.
4 million, absolutely wasted. No return on our investment and just written off.
Re: " Big Mick confirms defender to leave & loan recalled "
Thu Jan 28, 2021 11:01 pm
