" Neil Etheridge "

Neil Etheridge: 'Emotional rollercoaster' career made me


Tuesday 8th May 2018


Neil Etheridge says he believes Cardiff's promotion will make him the best known player in the Philippines


Neil Etheridge says his difficult and challenging career prior to joining Cardiff City helped to make him the goalkeeper and person he now is.

The Philippines international joined promotion-winning Cardiff on a free transfer after leaving Walsall.

However, the 28-year-old started 45 of 46 Championship games this season and played more minutes than any other playing at the club in the league.

"It's been an emotional rollercoaster," said Etheridge.

"Four years ago when I left Fulham I was out of a club for five months, I was paying for myself to train at Charlton Athletic.

"It's a hard industry to be in and a hard one to stay in but that's in the past now, it will never leave me, and it's made me who I am today."

'Sold my house, sold my car'

Etheridge, who has won 59 caps for the Philippines, played in all of Cardiff's league games this season except for a 2-1 defeat to Queens Park Rangers on New Years Day with Brian Murphy starting that day.

At the final whilst against Reading, the Cardiff goalkeeper joined in jubilant celebrations as yet another clean sheet ensured Cardiff won promotion back to the Premier League.

However it has been a long-time coming for Etheridge, who revealed he almost moved back to his native country earlier in his career after struggling to find work.

"I sold my house and sold my car and I was a week away from moving back to the Philippines," said Etheridge.

"I got offered a contract at Oldham in the December to sit on the bench, at that time I was living on my mate's sofa, then Charlton took me in the January transfer window.

"When you're an academy player I was sitting on the bench in the Europa League and Premier League and you don't think it's ever going to finish.

"I have massive respect for the manager here [Neil Warnock] for taking me on board and hopefully I have paid him and the supporters back."

'A result-based industry'




Etheridge praised manager Warnock, who was winning his record eighth promotion, on his philosophy and attitude.

The Sheffield-born manager divides opinion across the football world, but Etheridge praised his ability to get results.

"He [Neil Warnock] has brought in players who believe in the philosophy that he wants to install and its a winning way," said Etheridge.

"I think he would admit himself we don't always play the prettiest but we come out with results, and this is a result-based industry, which is why we have gone up to the Premier League."

The Philippine goalkeeper also praised the rest of the Cardiff squad, adding that he was confident months ago the would win promotion.

"In front of me the defence has been fantastic all season," he said. "The celebrations from the fans and ourselves after the game showed it's been a long season but we achieved what we wanted to do.

"When we come back for pre-season we will look forward to the Premier League but throughout this season we have taken things game by game and we will be doing exactly the same next season.

"We hit a sticky patch at the end of the year but in the new year when we beat Sunderland I could tell that this was a team that could get past the finish line."

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Most improved player of the season for me..... has just grown after looking a bit nervous at the start.
Everybody needs targets so I would say a bit of extra work on his distribution in particular his kicking to be done

I genuinely thought he was a disaster at the start of the season. His kicking, and all round distribution, was dire. He couldn’t successfully come out for the ball on crosses or corners, and he would hesitate to come out off his line far too often. You could even see the players lacking some belief in him, early on.

But what a turnaround. He’s worked on all those areas of his game, and if he keeps at it over the summer, he’s certainly in with a shout next year.

Etheridge is a great shot stopper, which will suit him well in the Premiership. That said, if a more seasoned PL goalkeeper becomes available, I can’t lie and say I wouldn’t be interested in bringing them in, if only to create competition for that spot.

I’d absolutely keep Etheridge onboard though, maybe even offer him a new contract depending on his current ones length. He could offer us a lot over the coming years.

If you need to stay up in the Premier league you need to add the best possible Striker and Keeper that you can afford, the two most important and point producing positions on the pitch, I would say !!!

He's good but we really need better than him and Zohore.

If you need to stay up in the Premier league you need to add the best possible Striker and Keeper that you can afford, the two most important and point producing positions on the pitch, I would say !!!

He's good but we really need better than him and Zohore.

Very true.

Possibly the most underrated player we have, his kicking has improved, his shot stopping and speed off his line is amazing, he has been the best keeper by a mile in the championship and for me better than Marshall. He has kept us in numerous games, and saved us many points. I’d give him his chance cos he is getting better and better.

A lot does get said about our defence and the clean sheets, Etheridge is very much a key component of that.

Just my opinion of course

If you need to stay up in the Premier league you need to add the best possible Striker and Keeper that you can afford, the two most important and point producing positions on the pitch, I would say !!!

He's good but we really need better than him and Zohore.

Neil Etheridge is a better goalkeeper than Zohore is a striker.

Etheridge will be fine in the Premier League - Zohore?...

He saved us on quite a few occasions this season and deserves his crack at The Premier League

Possibly the most underrated player we have, his kicking has improved, his shot stopping and speed off his line is amazing, he has been the best keeper by a mile in the championship and for me better than Marshall. He has kept us in numerous games, and saved us many points. I’d give him his chance cos he is getting better and better.

A lot does get said about our defence and the clean sheets, Etheridge is very much a key component of that.

Just my opinion of course

Andy Dibble ( our goalkeeping coach) must also take a lot of credit for the improvement from Etheridge over the season. I think we will need a Premier League experience goalkeeper on the books though in case of injury, as I’m not sure about Camp or Murphy. Like all keepers, Etheridge needs some meaningful competition for his place in the team. I also believe we will lose him for 3 weeks or so when he goes with the Phillipines to the Asian Championship tournament.

A big well done to Neil stopped some certain goals through the season and not afraid on times to have a go at the defence.. shows passion.

He saved us on quite a few occasions this season and deserves his crack at The Premier League

My personal choice for Player of the Season. Very underrated and saved us much more than the 2 points we scraped over Fulham to gain promotion.

I have no doubts about him being our No. 1 next year

I Backed him all season - Great Signing - Well done to ALL who got him to our club .

Great season Neil. Will be fine in the Premier.

Neil has improved greatly as the season went on and definitely deserves his chance in the Premier League.
We do need a good back up for when he's away on international duties next season.

Neil has improved greatly as the season went on and definitely deserves his chance in the Premier League.
We do need a good back up for when he's away on international duties next season.

Good point the only goalkeeping issue is the back up to Etheridge. I don't know how well Camp did at Sunderland might the answer I don't know?

Neil has improved greatly as the season went on and definitely deserves his chance in the Premier League.
We do need a good back up for when he's away on international duties next season.

Good point the only goalkeeping issue is the back up to Etheridge. I don't know how well Camp did at Sunderland might the answer I don't know?

Sunderland fans saying he was terrible.