Gerrard goes back to Hull a Cardiff player

Gerrard on holiday last season

How much are the Hull City fans looking forward to seeing their 'Player of the Season' from last season, not a lot now he is back in a Cardiff City shirt.

The player in question defender Anthony Gerrard spent the whole of last season on loan with the Humberside club after he losing the faith of then manager Dave Jones.

During his time on loan surprisingly featuring in both games against the Bluebirds when Cardiff who had Hull midfielder Seyi Olofinjana on loan come to a deal to play in the games. Gerrard played 44 games, scoring 5 goals.

He returned to Cardiff to an uncertain future, Hull would have like to sign him, but with the aftermath of the play-off failure the club was waiting on the much-fabled Dave Jones report of the next step. It came to pass Jones was sacked and in came a new boy giving everyone a fresh start to prove themselves which Gerrard did.

While Gerrard will be one of the lynch pin of the Cardiff City defence while tomorrow former loan player Seyi Olofinjana, will be out recovering from knee surgery and out for some time. I hope the Hull fans give Gerrard a good reception tomorrow.

Offer for Whittingham

Cardiff City are to be tested on their willingness to keep Midfielder Peter Whittingham has Portsmouth are rumoured to be linked with a £1.5million bid to take him to the Cardiff Championship rivals.

Being coach and then boss at Watford City new man in the dugout Malky Mackay knows all about the ability of Whittingham and will have an idea if he fits into his style of play. The bid will more or likely to be turned down Mackay is looking to build a team not break one up and Cardiff don't need to sell he has two-years left on his present contract.

With ex-boss, Dave Jones a goner it will be time for the players left to empress the new boss and his new backroom staff when they have signed up. Two players who will be keen to show their metal for the new season will be Anthony Gerrard and Solomon Taiwo both loaned out by Jones for a season.

Gerrard was at Hull City and ended up voted players of the season by Hull fans after an impressive loan period. Chances were that Jones would have given Gerrard a chance this season his form at Hull surely deserved that. Taiwo went back to the club Cardiff paid £250,000 (with add-ons) for him Dagenham & Redbridge where he made a low-key return. Not many Cardiff fans would have expected Taiwo not to be released by Dave Jones if he was still with the club.

Gerrard back for good?

Player of the season Anthony Gerrard is looking to battle his way back into the Cardiff City into contention for next season with the Bluebirds. Voted player of the season at Hull City where he spent the whole of last season on loan putting in the kind of performance sometimes missing in the heart of the Cardiff back four. Hull would like to sign him on a permanent deal for next season

This season at times the back four have been sublimed other times they looked like a bunch of third rate amateurs. The stats show Cardiff had the seventh best defensive record with 28% of the 46 league games played clean sheets in the Championship last season. Why Cardiff boss Dave Jones drop Gerrard like a hot stone has never been made clear.

If the rumours are right and the budget will be tight next season the club would be unlikely Gerrard or many of the under contract players leave this summer. While the club is in limb business in and out is at a standstill.

Call-up for Gerrard?

Cardiff City's defender Anthony Gerrard, unwanted by Cardiff City boss Dave Jones and loan out to Hull City looks to have played himself into a Republic of Ireland international call-up. He represented Ireland at under-18 level and recently declared he saw his international future with Ireland. The Irish manager Giovanni Trapattoni, watched the defender and is believed to be about to call him into the squad for the Carling Nations Cup games against Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Gerrard has been named as the club's Player of the Season by the Hull fans. Gerrard has enjoyed a brilliant campaign for the Tigers since joining on a season-long loan from Cardiff. The Hull manager Nigel Pearson has already stressed he would like to see the 25-year-old remain at the KC Stadium next season where it is believed he has a season left on his contract.

What will City boss Dave Jones want to do keep him or sell? Will his form at Hull mean Jones could would to keep the defender, he never said he will never play for Cardiff again. His first season here was ever present at centre-back, but in pre-season something had changed and at the start of the season found himself on the bench. He got to starts in the League Cup and then loan out to Hull. His first game for Hull saw him back at the Cardiff City Stadium after both clubs agree to allow their players to play. Cardiff City had taken Hull midfielder Seyi Olofinjana on loan for the season.