Welsh icon Iwan Roberts’ old Conor Coady prediction resurfaces after the 32-year-old makes a Charlton switch on the back of a sub-par Wrexham spell.
As evidenced by Conor Coady’s latest transfer update, Wrexham’s sell-off period is advancing in full swing. Though the 32-year-old’s loan deal adds to the series of temporary exits enabled, Coady’s departure is different for a number of reasons.
That’s because Coady’s case lies in the grey zone between emotional goodbyes of James McClean, Andy Cannon and development loans for Max Purvis & Tom Kelly. Being meant to be the new defensive standard, Coady’s Wrexham spell fell off much too soon.
Given his frailties of reduced pace and diminishing athleticism exposed, Coady just made 6 appearances for the Reds. While this sub-par display caught the Wrexham faithful off-guard, it turns out his transfer was dogged by scepticism from the start.
As per an old Wales Online report, Iwan Roberts had given his honest Conor Coady assessment after his Wrexham debut. Following his subpar show, the Welsh icon criticised the Reds’ plan to make a £2m move for him.
Back then, Iwan Roberts said: “If you ask any Leicester fan if they will lose sleep over losing Conor Coady, and they’ve got £2million for him, they will say that no, they won’t.”
Further, Roberts added: “I do a Monday night programme at the King Power looking back at the weekend’s fixtures. I think in that first season, he was on that show more than he was playing for Leicester.”
Conor Coady’s signing was a misstep
Though the Leicester fans’ comment wasn’t seen coming, Coady’s programme visits outweighing his playing time was a red flag itself. Not only did Wrexham turn a deaf ear to those bells of impending danger, but they also overexpected of Coady on the back of a miserable track record.
That’s because ever since his Everton loan, Coady’s form has only gone downhill. Notably, he was dropped midway through the 2022/23 campaign with Everton. While Sean Dyche’s preference for other CBs played a part, Coady’s drop in form was crucial too.
Come the next season, and Coady’s game time hit a new low. Despite having a Premier League pedigree, the veteran CB was Leicester’s 4th choice behind the likes of Jannik Vestergaard, Wout Faes and Callum Doyle in the 2023/24 Championship campaign.
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In this aspect, it makes sense for Coady’s higher presence on Monday night shows than his game time for the Foxes. With just 12 appearances made, lying behind a 19-year-old Doyle in the pecking order summed up his form.
While the 2024/25 season was a better one on playing terms for Coady, it wasn’t on the best of terms. Only when Leicester’s new signing, Caleb Okoli, turned out to be a flop was Coady included back in the XI.
Forming a part of one of the most leaky defences in PL that season, Conor Coady saw relegation before joining Wrexham last summer.
All in all, while Coady’s experience stated otherwise, his track record hinted at what was to come at Wrexham’s disposal. Eventually, Iwan Roberts’ prediction proved true with Coady’s failed signing.
What’s the road ahead for Wrexham and Coady?
With Coady’s pace lost and his feet not running the same anymore, it’d be a surprise if he becomes a regular for Charlton. However, a ray of hope exists for Coady, given the well-known defensive problems of the Addicks.
In all aspects, Charlton’s backline vulnerabilities have been exposed in recent games. Losing 0-4 to Millwall and 1-2 to Derby before, Nathan Jones’ side lies close to the relegation zone.
Even more than these results, the defenders’ individual blunders detail their issues. In both their recent defeats, Charlton conceded own goals. With Kanye Ramsay putting the ball clumsily in his own net against Millwall and Gillesphey at error against Derby, Charlton’s blunders have been much too frequent.
While this ought to remind Wrexham fans of Conor Coady’s erroneous performance against QPR, the bottom line is that a CB role may be up for grabs at Charlton.
Factor in this with the coincidence that Charlton faces Coady’s former side, Leicester, in the next game. Having completed a move well before the matchday, Coady can fancy his chances to make it to the playing XI against the Foxes.
Even apart from sporting contribution, Coady’s presence can be vital for revealing the ins and outs of Leicester to boss Nathan Jones.
Unequivocally, this matchday will have a crucial say in Conor Coady’s Wrexham future. Should he deliver a decent performance, the Reds can give a second thought to keeping him after his loan. Otherwise, he could be kept sidelined even past this season.
READ MORE WREXHAM NEWS HERE:
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