Following Conor Coady’s move to Wolves, we caught up with Thrice Champions, a Huddersfield Town fanzine, who gave us the low down on the midfielder.
Conor Coady moved to Huddersfield after failing to make the grade at Liverpool. How big an impact has he had at the John Smiths Stadium and how fondly remembered will he be with the Terriers faithful?
He was rightly chosen as the young player of the year at the end of season awards. However, Coady’s season was one of ups and downs and inconsistency.
In some ways Coady’s impact was huge, we needed an athletic tall midfielder with plenty of energy and he came and hit the ground running. Yet you always felt that there was more to come from him and he never really kicked on last season. The potential is there and that’s why so many are disappointed in his departure.
Most wolves fans will remember him scoring a terrific strike at Molineux last season. Are goals and being and attacking presence a big part of his games?
Coady’s natural game is as a box to box midfielder, yet he had to play as a sweeping midfielder due to our formation and the personnel that we have. I’d suggest there’s more to come from him goals wise and in his attacking play and he’s also very good in the air.
Coady looks quite strong and could be a presence in the centre of the park for us. He was likened to Steven Gerrard in the past, is he a box to box mid or if he more attack or defensive minded?
I’m unsure about the references to Gerrard in all honesty. Both are box to box midfielders and both can be versatile but that’s where the similarities end. Coady can be very inconsistent on the ball and isn’t as attack minded as many expected on his arrival at Town after his performances on loan at Sheff Utd.
Coady is though a natural leader, someone who will play anywhere he is needed to and can slot into defence pretty well if he is required.
Wolves signed him for £2.5m inc add ons. Is that a fair figure for him?
Honestly, who knows? Some of our fans wanted £4-5mil for him but I think they’re blinded by his potential value and how English players are overvalued. I’m not complaining though- to sign someone for 350k a year ago and sell him for a £2mil profit with future add ons is a terrific deal for the club.
Personally I think it’s over the odds but then when you think of future potential, current market values and resale value then I think it’s a good deal for both clubs.
In terms of Huddersfield Town, what positions do you think Chris Powell will look to strengthen with Coady’s transfer money?
Everywhere! Our squad is threadbare and we need 4/5 more quality additions if we are to finish around where we did last season. Some will disagree with that but the reality is our defence is poor, our strike force inconsistent and injury prone and our midfield lacks creativity Butterfield aside.
What is the main attribute he will bring to the Wolves midfield?
A level head. It was quite clear from early on he seems to be a natural leader, one who doesn’t need to beat his chest for the fans to see. Even after making errors he will plug on playing his game.
Coady has essentially been bought in to help push for promotion. Do you thing he can make the grade in the Premier League in the future?
The comparisons with Gerrard and the clamour from our fans for him to be in the England u21 squad are too far in my opinion. I think his level will be top end Championship, bottom end Premier League. It would be no surprise if he forged a good career playing in the Premier League because he has a lot of good attributes, he just has to ensure he doesn’t waste his potential. One thing I will say about moving to Wolves is that he’s joining a club that should be in and around the promotion race over the next two season, unlike a former striker of ours who left for Blackburn and hasn’t kicked on. He’s a shrewd boy is Conor.
Thrice Champions can be found on twitter on @HTAFCPodcast
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