Source: FOOTYMAD
Gunnarsson is a valuable player for us says Boothroyd
Iceman getting better all the time Coventry City manager Aidy Boothroyd has heaped praise on his Icelandic international midfielder Aron Gunnarsson. Gunnarsson is currently with his national side on international duty for the Euro 2012 qualifiers. The 21 year old, who has authorised his agent to enter into contract extension negotiations with the club on his behalf, can play at right back as well as his preferred central midfield role. After having a very impressive first season with Coventry City, Gunnarsson lost much of his form in the second season, but he has started his third year with The Sky Blues in really impressive style and is currently the club's joint top goal scorer. Until this season Gunnarsson had only scored twice for Coventry, but in nine games this season he has found the net three times and along with his trade mark long throws and defensive capabilities, he has impressed his manager. Boothroyd said, “Aron only got one all last year, so he’s found a new lease of life and is playing really well and I’m delighted for him. He’s got a lot of things in his game that can be improved but his attitude, his willingness to do the work required, is excellent." “He found it difficult in his second season and that often happens with young players who burst on the scene. You live in the shadow of what you’ve done before and he set very high standard, the ‘difficult second album’ is all about being able to recreate it again, but he’s pushing on. He’s proved he can play in that central role and he’s proved he can play in a wide role." “As a team and a club, that makes him a very valuable player for us. His long throw frightens people to death because set plays are very important and I’m a big believer that restarts can be the foundation of a successful season. You only have to look at the goals on any Premier League or Championship round up to see that a good 50 to 60 percent come from making sure that you get your set plays right. It’s something we work on very hard." “If you can get a good balance with those it gives you more time to work on what you do when you have got the ball and when you haven’t. Speaking about player's attitudes to being left out or on the bench, Boothroyd has long insisted he has no time for what he calls moody players “There’s nothing worse than moody players and I’ve made it clear that I don’t expect players to sulk if they’re not in the team," he said. “You’ve always got to be ready to go on and play because subs can change games and win games. “Sammy Clingan has been out of the team as has Richard Wood and they’ve come back very successfully and it will happen with other players because there are times when you have to mix it up a little bit and change thing around. “I’ve been very fair with everybody and whether I’m lucky or whether the penny’s dropped, there’s a real determination to get into the team and prove that they should have been there from the start.
