I'm thinking about doing a series of articles looking back at recently departed players in a neutral-as-can-be-expected way, entitled "A Straw From The Nest". The idea of a fan writing about his team's ex-players is generic enough that I don't feel that I'm stealing it, but I admit that BSaD was my inspiration, and therefore I'll happily plug it and BHaPPY in every entry. Looking at the list of summer departures I went for Cowie as my pilot, as he's easy to write about and Cardiff are fresh in the mind. I'll decide whether to do this for all the major departures from now on based on feedback. So without further ado: A Straw From The Nest: DON COWIE please log in to view this image Most fondly remembered for: Putting in the cross for THAT goal. Least fondly remembered for: Emigrating without giving us a leaving present He was: All about the money. Before I get on to football, I feel the need to justify my summary. Justifying it becomes a bit difficult when I disclose the fact that I once switched part time jobs as a student. I wasn't gunning for a promotion, the hours were no better or worse, and if truth be told I wasn't living on the beerline. Nope, I went to an equivalent position at a rival retail store for the sake of little more than 70p an hour. I don't consider myself to be any less of a person for it: I remained the same bloke down the pub or at a match, do no more or less for charity, and wouldn't haved started treating my kids any differently if I had any. I'm absolutely certain that the same is true for Cowie, who comes across as a committed family man and a nice bloke to be around. At the end of the day we both moved on for the money, and we both continue to see that as being more or less okay. But even in my case, it goes with the territory that the people that previously paid my wages are entitled to say less than complimentary things about my decision (incidentally if you're reading this Col, in my defence I didn't hint to the From The Rookery End boys that I was looking for more money). And the overwhelming consensus among the 10,000 that used to pay Don's wages is that the motivation for his departure was solely financial, and that moving to a club in the same division can often backfire. It's far from the first time Cowie has left a club in controversial circumstances either. Lest we forget Cali Thistle's eagerness to keep him, before reluctantly taking a consolation payment rather than let him leave on a free in four months. Or his willingness to join Cali Thistle from arch-rivals Ross County in the first place. Alas, in those cases he could at least justifiably say that the motivation was a higher standard of football. Sorry to still be labouring the point, but the most upsetting thing about the Cardiff saga is that I, and others, wouldn't have complained if he had chosen to disappoint a club for valid football reasons for a third time, had we got some sort of fee for our troubles. Just look at the affection we still hold for the Danny Grahams and Tommy Smiths and you know that this isn't empty rhetoric. We really do wish talented players that we like and who leave us on good terms all the best at a higher level. Cowie was at one point at least two of those things. Though he may have moved for money, he sure as hell tried to earn his keep for as long as he was here. Work rate? Up there with Graham's. Versatility? I've had disagreements about this, but in my opinion he looked at home anywhere in midfield. Crossing? Let's put it this way, the last player to have as many assists in one season was probably Ben Foster. And I prefer Cowie's way of doing it. Looking back to the early days of managers I refuse to name unnecessarily, Cowie did not look at all out of place alongside Smith and McAnuff or Cleverley and Lansbury, and in the latter combination was every bit the unsung hero. Fast forward to 2010/11, and while Mutch and Buckley justifiably took plaudits for sensational spells, Cowie was the attack-minded midfielder that produced the goods over a full season. Goals speak volumes though, and by Don's own admission he didn't find the net often enough during his time at the Vic. In his first full season he netted as many goals in 40 Championship starts as Smith did in 4. Under the management of his compatriot none of his goals made the difference between winning and not. He wasn't one of the six different scorers at Millwall, and heck, he bagged fewer goals in his first full season than the aforementioned compatriot did in 2005/06. Despite the one on-pitch negative, I most certainly am not here for a hatchet job. Don, you were the difference between Watford winning and not on many occasions, few more so than on Doyley Day. Football's a profession, and on the pitch you are undeniably a model professional. I personally am grateful for what you did for us, no matter why you stopped. Regrettably, sport and media are heartless and ruthless by nature, and as a professional footballer you are an intrinsic part of both. When the dust settles, the previous generation will best know Don Cowie as the Kiwi yacht-racing Olympic medalist. The current generation of sports fans (at least in this country) will as things stand best know Don Cowie for the way in which his Watford career ended. And those Hornets not old enough to remember THAT goal of the season will probably come to know him best for the cross that led to the line "he's been here ten years, and never found the net". ============================================ Sorry it took so long to get to the actual football, but I think he was a special case.
Firstly, i think this is a great idea NNW, and i for one hope you keep going with it. Secondly, there's nothing i can disagree with here. Don Cowie definitely was an unsung hero at Watford, for a lot of the time that he was with us. He did nothing but improve with every match and was fundamental in keeping some shape and uniformity, and seemed hugely important to the team. When it was having a bad day, Don Cowie was stable, reliable, and professional, and got on with his job in a quiet, unassuming and effective way. How he left us leaves a very bitter taste, but yes, the same job for more money is definitely a reason to move, it was just the manner in which it happened. Well done, NNW, and yes, thanks for your time at Watford DC, but you can't blame us for being just a little bit bitter about how you left. PS: A few weeks before his departure, i happened to be in the club shop when Doyley and Cowie were doing a meet and greet. Doyley was, as ever, all smiles with lots to say. Don Cowie sat there like a bored teenager waiting for the school bell to go off. He was disinterested and non-communicative, and seemed to not really care much for what he was doing at that moment. Even then, i couldn't help thinking that his mind was elsewhere...maybe he already knew he was going...
Interesting last point H , well done the Bsad boys ,well spotted NNW ! I agee with H and hope you make this a regular feature!
The thing I really liked about him...and from yesterday he hasn't lost it..was that he very rarely gave the ball away, even when under real pressure. It's a talent a few of our current players could do with acquiring.
I just wanted to clear this with the mods. I plan to do around one of these a month, if that (because even if I bother with loans and fringe players we shouldn't be losing more than 12 players a year). So I was thinking about doing one thread per player, and starting an archive thread once I've done quite a few. That sounds like quite a few posts, but Ak does 50 match threads a year without any board overcrowding issues, and we shouldn't have more than a couple of "live" threads at any given time.
hi, i got to this thread via your sordell article, great work by the way mate i read it and although you provide great insight to cowie, it seems the recurring theme of your thread is that he moved purely for money and nothing else. this is insulting to cardiff city for a number of reasons. fast forwards to april and he's come within a penalty kick of winning the league cup at wembley, and is playing every week in a team going for promotion, and was expected to be at the start of the season, watford werent, so your idea that going to a team in the same division is not a step up is simply wrong. the fact that he joined malky here, with the new stadium and training facilities may have something to do with it, and i'm not going to say money didnt play a part in his thinking, but there were plenty of other factors in his decision. i know watford are only 4 points behind us at the moment, but in the past 3-4 years we have consistently finished in the top 6 or 8, whereas correct me if i'm wrong, you've finished in the bottom 6-8. as for the player himself, i like him. works hard, honest, doesnt go past a player but plays every game and keeps things simple, he's played wide right for us mostly this season but is versatile and has played in the middle and left. miller, andrew taylor, other players who were on better money elsewhere but decided to play for us this season. you wont hear anyone saying, good on them for moving for footballing reasons and not to line their pockets, but there we go.
"Playing every week in a team going for promotion"? - who would that be then? and you are wrong, we have not finished in the bottom 6-8 for years....unless you mean the Premshite? Andrew Taylor would not have have been on more money and I doubt Miller would have been either.. Only thing I can recognise from your description is "works hard" At least try and get some of your facts correct no-stars..
Firstly I'll correct a factual inaccuracy: the last time we finished in the bottom 8 was in 2005. I'd also point out that our training facilities are pretty respectable, outside of the clubs that regularly compete in Europe. I respect your opinion that there were other factors Swamp, but for me the only footballing step up in this division is to go to a club which can realistically expect automatic promotion. Watford and Blackpool (among others) have shown that just about every club starts the season in contention for the playoffs, while numerous "bigger" clubs than Watford have shown that just about anyone can go down. With West Ham, Birmingham and Leicester in the mix I don't think you could have expected to go up automatically. It was a reasonable ambition, but if you felt you were clear-cut automatic promotion material, you wouldn't have let Dave Jones go. I would argue that if Cowie had stayed at Watford, we might well have been above you in the table right now. I don't normally go for those sorts of "what ifs", but it's relevant when Cowie's decision to move is the central topic of discussion.
Was my fave player. An all-round decent midfielder who could play anywhere across a midfield 4. Our highest assisting player last season, Very consistent too. Underrated player IMO, cant believe he only cost us 50 grand! What an excellent signing by Rodgers! Shame he didn't sign that contract offer but I dont hold it against him. Hardly ever got to play in his preferable CM position but still did well.
thanks for the replies lads i did state 'correct me if i'm wrong, with regards to the league positioning thing, i didnt state it as a matter of fact matey i agree that many teams harbour promotion hopes at this stage of the season, but how many teams expect promotion at this stage of the season? i'd say 3 maximum. is cowie good enough to make the next step up, which would be either playing for a big club like west ham or PL? i'd say no, therefore his best option football wise would be to come to a club like us, who have come close to promotion but havnt quite been good enough in recent seasons. last season we were 4th, watford 14th for example, the year before that, us 4th, watford 16th, and the year before that us 7th, watford 13th. so how you come to the conclusion that a player moving between the respective clubs for money alone is a bit misguided dont you think? '"It's not all about money for Andrew Taylor," said Mowbray in June. "I think he wants to be in the right place and be at the right club and there are some issues we are trying to work through. ' http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/14026435 he also said he could have got more money at bristol but came here for footballing reasons, look for the article if you wish.
I'd disagree with that. The only thing standing between Cowie and a place in a Premier League squad is goals. Those stats show that Cardiff have won more and lost fewer games than Watford in those three seasons. Fair play to you. But unless you go up or down, the league table is irrelevant as far an individual player's progression is concerned. Take Aidy Mariappa. Absolute certainty to be sold to a Premier League team this summer unless we go up, and he turned down a move to Wigan in January because he wants to be in the Premier League next season. Why are the big boys paying attention to him? Because they have seen over three or four years that he is one of the strongest and most reliable players in an inconsistent team (a couple of abberations involving Scott Loach aside). Had he spent that time at a consistent top 8 club alongside two or three other consistent defensive performers, I question whether he would be the focus of attention. The same can be said for Marvin Sordell and Danny Graham.
Andrew Taylor came to Cardiff because of Mackay, but do you really think he was being paid more warming the bench at Boro? Mackay would have known how much he was being paid as he was on loan at Watford....I did not say he went to Cardiff for more money, but in doing so he has increased his salary.
To be fair Andrew Taylor did admit that he had to take a big pay cut to join us on loan (Boro refused to pay any of his wages). He did so because he was desperate for first team football as that ginger plonker never played him. I personally dont think he would have joined even if Malky had stayed as other championship clubs who could offer him a higher wage would have come in for him with him being out of contract.
but thats the thing..you've admitted he doesnt get enough goals...thats why he isnt regarded as someone who can make the step up. all i said is that in my opinion he's not good enough to play at that level, dont get me wrong he's one of my favourite cardiff players, but his best option in the summer would be to join a team he believed to be capable of getting to the PL and proving himself rather than going from mid table championship to the PL. whether you finish 15th or 5th does have a bearing on individual players progression by the way, i dont know why you have said that tbh? as for mariappa, i dont agree with that. i remember a pundit on soccer saturady, paul merson, saying that its easy to look good in an average team, the test of quality is performing for a top team week in week out, like people like scholes and giggs have done. take people like gareth barry and scott parker, both stood out in in my opinion, pretty average PL sides, but now they have both got moves to bigger clubs and are little more than water carriers for the real talented players like modric, silva etc. there is much less pressure on you when you arent expected to perform every week, but at the clubs expected to be in the top 2 you cant have off games, thats the difference IMO
Unfortunately you have quoted Paul Merson... but it's a hard one to say one way or another. Yes it can be easy to stand out in an 'average' team, and look good, but that doesn't mean you can't make the step up. Just by association alone, playing with better playeres, you can easily up your game. When in a struggling team, you may have to up your game, trying to predict and cover for errors made by others. When you have confidence in the other 3 defenders and the keeper, you can relax so much more and concentrate on your own game! As for Cowie, I think most were disappointed he left as he was a big part of our creativity. I just think we were all rather shocked at how he went... he seemed to have come out of the blue! He still wasn't a finished article, and his goal tally could be so much better... I guess we just thought he could have improved by staying with us! I don;t think we often begrudge a player moving on, but more the fact that it was on a free, and at a time where everything appeared to be going a bit t*ts-up for us!
