Undr the Cosh's guest this week is Danny Nardiello

Very complimentary of his time here and of Simon Davey. Not a fan of Steve Evans.

 

Just started listening to it on the way home, going through his time at Man Utd so far. Seems like a decent bloke.

 

Yeah, he's always come across as quite grounded and level headed. I thought he'd been in before but I must have listened to another podcast with him in, because I'd heard before that he's essentially a financial advisor for footballers now.

 

He was always an odd character Nards. The side Ritchie put together had some proper heart, all the lads was like brothers but nardiello never really included himself, he was abit of a loner.
He was a very morngy striker, he had more rows with Ritchie as he wanted more game time. Luckily AR knew just how to handle him, but it’s true Davey was the one who really bedded him into the starting 11 but that was mainly to do with the fact he’d fallen out with every other striker we had.

Regardless of all that though, he arguably kept us up by himself at the end of the 05/06 season I think it was? Out first season back in the championship. Immense finish to the season, 12 in 8 wasn’t it?
That prompted the downfall mind. I was working that day, he’d called Patrick to tell him to get the contracts drawn up and he’d be in the office by 2pm to sign. 2pm came, no sign of him. An hour later, his phone and agents phone was switched off. Bang on 5pm? He’d signed for QPR. We honestly couldn’t believe it. Never heard a thing from him again until the following January when he re-signed on loan.

 

He says on the podcast that he lived in Manchester when he played with us, so wasn't necessarily as close to the local lads. He regrets both leaving and the way he left. He was all set to sign for us for less money than was being offered elsewhere (he mentions Coventry being interested), but QPR swooped at the last minute and gazumped everyone in terms of wages.

 

I never really had a favourite player even as a kid although Craig Hignett was probably the one I enjoyed watching the most. But I loved Nardiello. When we got him in for that Blackpool game it was like chalk and cheese to what we'd had previously. He could finish with style and I was convinced with Boulding and Stallard we'd shoot up the table. It wasn't initially to be. But he showed enough glimpses of skill over the next seasons to firmly place him as one my favoured players. He was electric in our escape from relegation under Davey. The Palace home game especially stands out where he was unplayable. I was gutted when he left and especially with how it happened. It is quite nice that he acknowledges he should have stayed and he always comes across really well when interviewed.