Now widely regarded as the worst Cardiff City signing in the last decade, Nicky Maynard has been released and is a free agent. Apparently Nottingham Forest have given him a trial, but he's very much available and looking for Championship clubs. He's no longer a spring chicken, but I reckon he'd jump at the chance to return back to Ashton Gate. Reckon he's worth a punt, or has he burned his bridges at the club? In my mind, he'd be a great replacement for JET as a player that can produce individual brilliance. On a pay-as-you-play deal he could be the player that pushes us towards the middle of the table.
Maynard had one fantastic season for us - he ended up scoring as many (maybe more) than Andy Carroll did - who went to Liverpool for £30m. His goal against QPR was champions-league quality. However he burned his bridges for me over the debacle around grinding his contract down - for which Delboy is jointly to blame. Basically you either want to play for the club, or you're a sub (at best) as far as I'm concerned. We should have shipped him off to Leicester when we had the chance of £7m. There was also something about him accusing certain sections of our supporters of abusing his family - whether true or not, that will remain a sour point. He's also a sick-note. There was something similar rumoured about Leroy Lita a few years back. So, no thanks - we've moved on.
I am firmly against NM coming back to BCFC but sometimes you just have to bite your lip and accept what happens. remember the comments that he didn't want his kids to grow up with a Bristol twang to their voices and then immediately headed down to the east end of London followed by a trip across the bridge to nowhere. Nicky was a fool to himself and his family and changed radically from the young lad that arrived, with his mum, at Ashton Gate where the enjoyment began in the goal scoring department for our supporters. I reckon that his agent told him a bunch of porkies and pocketed some extra cash that essentially put paid to Nicky's hopes for Premiership stardom in quick fashion when his new club managers realised that he didn't have the potential advertised on the box. Move on somewhere else Nicky and although sometimes you get the best light from a burning bridge, it didn't cross the Severn. Don Henley credit.
I personally would not be welcoming him back. May do an adequate job for us? More than likely not. Move on people. He is yesterday's news.
Always had a terrible record with inuries, so why would anyone take a risk on him now. His agent won't let him accept a pay as you play deal anyway. For me its a thanks, but no thanks.
I don't think Cotterill will sign him. Personally I don't want him back here. He made his choice and has made lots of money by playing very little football. But that's what it's about these days for a lot of players
Hard to believe that this subject rears its ugly head every year. The club has moved on....we need to do likewise on this board!
