WEST HAM URGED TO SIGN CARDIFF CITY PLAYER TO STOP ROT

West Ham signing this outstanding 29-year-old shot-stopper would turn around their season
By Rohan Sengupta

Why West Ham should plot a January swoop for Neil Etheridge


Back in May, the Wales Online had claimed that West Ham were interested in signing Cardiff City goalkeeper Neil Etheridge. However, a move didn’t materialise as former Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock was reluctant to sell him in the summer.

Neil Etheridge, 29, was one of the rare bright sparks in an otherwise disappointing last campaign for the Bluebirds that ended in relegation from the Premier League. For his consistent performances between the sticks, he picked up the club’s Player of the Year award.

However, the Philippines international has played just six games in the Championship this season, managing one clean sheet in the process. With the Bluebirds 14th in the table having won just once in their last five league games, West Ham must look to test the Championship club’s resolve for Etheridge in January.


West Ham have faded after a promising start to the season which sees them go into the weekend placed 16th after 12 games. They have just 13 points from 12 games and haven’t won in their last five outings.

One of the reasons for the Hammers’ wretched run of form is down to some really big gaffes in the defence, especially in the goalkeeping department.

With Adrian having left London Stadium as a free agent, eventually heading to Liverpool, West Ham needed to find a new understudy for last season’s Hammer of the Year, Lukasz Fabianski. They eventually settled on Roberto and David Martin, who both joined the club on a free transfer.


Since Fabianski injured his hip last month, Manuel Pellegrini has gone with Roberto in goal. And the Spaniard has not covered himself in glory, making a whole lot of mistakes, including his shocking positioning for Newcastle United’s second and a dreadful attempt at a punch for Burnley’s third against West Ham before the international break.

It remains to be seen whether or not Pellegrini takes Roberto out of the firing line and starts third-choice David Martin against Tottenham at the weekend but the matter of fact is West Ham should look to reinforce their goalkeeping department in the New Year. To put things into perspective, Neil Etheridge could be an ideal fit at the London Stadium.


Etheridge was really good between the sticks last season in the Premier League, racking up 10 clean sheets, which is a massive achievement considering he played for a Cardiff side that suffered relegation.

In the ongoing Championship campaign, the 29-year-old has averaged 2.7% saves. He barely has put a foot wrong and has not committed a single error which has led to a goal this season. [Courtesy: SofaScored.com]


Verdict

A brilliant shot-stopper with a reliable pair of hands and the ability to play out comfortably from the back, Etheridge would be a solid signing for West Ham. He excelled in the top-flight last season and can be relied upon in goal.

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Quote (the article): "and the ability to play out comfortably from the back"

Great shot stopper but a tad suspect picking out on occasions; and a move the The 'Ammers could see him back in The Championship soon enough

Keep hold, I say; but I know others will disagree

Personally thought he should have gone in the summer, I would think his value has dropped now but if we could get 5m for him still then I would let him go. Especially if Harris has to sell to buy which I would hope he does.

Personally thought he should have gone in the summer, I would think his value has dropped now but if we could get 5m for him still then I would let him go. Especially if Harris has to sell to buy which I would hope he does.

Who would you bring in to replace him.

If City get an offer over £6M then I see him leaving

If we can get a decent price then sell and use towards the Sala fee... smithies is the better keeper all round

If we can get a decent price then sell and use towards the Sala fee... smithies is the better keeper all round

Is that why PL clubs wanted Etheridge in the summer after his great season there.
Not a chance that Smithies is better.

No problem for me. Get as much as we can as we are well stocked in goal

Etheridge has not looked the same since his injury.

Smithies did well when he came in and for me his distribution is by far much better than Etheridge.

How the reporter can say he has the ability to play out comfortably from the back has cleared not watched him

If we can get a decent price then sell and use towards the Sala fee... smithies is the better keeper all round

Is that why PL clubs wanted Etheridge in the summer after his great season there.
Not a chance that Smithies is better.

Etheridge has spent his career playing second fiddle in the lower leagues. Smithies has been a solid number 1 in the championship for most of his. Etheridge is a better shot stopper but Smithies is a better all round keeper.

We should sell IMO. Not the same keeper since we got relegated. Marshall didn’t look the same when Cardiff got relegated either, could be a similar case.

Personally think he's a £10m player

Personally think he's a £10m player

At that price,sell him.I didn't think he should have replaced Smithies, as soon as he was over injury either.if we want to adopt a style of passing out from the back,I'd rather trust Smithies boot all day long,as I said 10m and sell,even 8m I'd say,as another poster alluded to,use it to pay sala fee,or let Harris reinvest the money,on players HE wants.

Personally think he's a £10m player

At that price,sell him.I didn't think he should have replaced Smithies, as soon as he was over injury either.if we want to adopt a style of passing out from the back,I'd rather trust Smithies boot all day long,as I said 10m and sell,even 8m I'd say,as another poster alluded to,use it to pay sala fee,or let Harris reinvest the money,on players HE wants.

thought the opposite and was gutted at WBA when I seen the team....hat trick of not great goals from 20 yards later the correct decision was then made….

Personally thought he should have gone in the summer, I would think his value has dropped now but if we could get 5m for him still then I would let him go. Especially if Harris has to sell to buy which I would hope he does.

Who would you bring in to replace him.

No need to replace him we have 3 other keepers in squad and it’s one position you can take out an emergency loan if you have injuries?

Personally thought he should have gone in the summer, I would think his value has dropped now but if we could get 5m for him still then I would let him go. Especially if Harris has to sell to buy which I would hope he does.

Who would you bring in to replace him.

Smithies.

Use the money on debt or a position we need.

Play out from the back it says I think that's the weakest part of his game.
Since the Injury he hasn't looked his best for us

Personally thought he should have gone in the summer, I would think his value has dropped now but if we could get 5m for him still then I would let him go. Especially if Harris has to sell to buy which I would hope he does.

Who would you bring in to replace him.

Smithies.

Use the money on debt or a position we need.

we need a goalkeeper.. selling your best players is a sure way to go backwards..

All depends who is the manager come January is at WHU .

All depends who is the manager come January is at WHU .

Or Cardiff City FC!

All depends who is the manager come January is at WHU .

Or Cardiff City FC!

don't even joke about it...we need this fella to work out..

Personally thought he should have gone in the summer, I would think his value has dropped now but if we could get 5m for him still then I would let him go. Especially if Harris has to sell to buy which I would hope he does.

Who would you bring in to replace him.

Smithies.

Use the money on debt or a position we need.

we need a goalkeeper.. selling your best players is a sure way to go backwards..

Etheidge isn't even our best keeper nevermind our best player

Im more than happy with Smithies and Day on the bench if it meant we could bring in other players in positions. I think that would take us forward Sadly we missed the boat on getting a good fee for him last summer but we might still get a few mill.

Personally thought he should have gone in the summer, I would think his value has dropped now but if we could get 5m for him still then I would let him go. Especially if Harris has to sell to buy which I would hope he does.

Who would you bring in to replace him.

Smithies.

Use the money on debt or a position we need.

we need a goalkeeper.. selling your best players is a sure way to go backwards..

Etheidge isn't even our best keeper nevermind our best player

Im more than happy with Smithies and Day on the bench if it meant we could bring in other players in positions. I think that would take us forward Sadly we missed the boat on getting a good fee for him last summer but we might still get a few mill.

I agree. I much prefer Smithies in goals anyway so would be happy to sell Etheridge if it meant we could strengthen elsewhere. I said this at the start of the season as well. You can probably knock at least 2-3mill off what we would have got for him in the summer now.

Personally thought he should have gone in the summer, I would think his value has dropped now but if we could get 5m for him still then I would let him go. Especially if Harris has to sell to buy which I would hope he does.

Who would you bring in to replace him.

Smithies.

Use the money on debt or a position we need.

we need a goalkeeper.. selling your best players is a sure way to go backwards..

Etheidge isn't even our best keeper nevermind our best player

Im more than happy with Smithies and Day on the bench if it meant we could bring in other players in positions. I think that would take us forward Sadly we missed the boat on getting a good fee for him last summer but we might still get a few mill.

I was talking player {s } in general. oh sell so and so if we can spend money on 2 players who have, like all transfers a 50/50 chance at best of working out...and in this case one would 100% have to be a keeper replacement. Smithies really isnt even close.. obviously, if he were the thread would be about him..

Personally thought he should have gone in the summer, I would think his value has dropped now but if we could get 5m for him still then I would let him go. Especially if Harris has to sell to buy which I would hope he does.

Who would you bring in to replace him.

Smithies.

Use the money on debt or a position we need.

we need a goalkeeper.. selling your best players is a sure way to go backwards..

Etheidge isn't even our best keeper nevermind our best player

Im more than happy with Smithies and Day on the bench if it meant we could bring in other players in positions. I think that would take us forward Sadly we missed the boat on getting a good fee for him last summer but we might still get a few mill.

I was talking player {s } in general. oh sell so and so if we can spend money on 2 players who have, like all transfers a 50/50 chance at best of working out...and in this case one would 100% have to be a keeper replacement. Smithies really isnt even close.. obviously, if he were the thread would be about him..

So how do you propose we strengthen the squad and generally progress as a club then? That is how a club becomes more sustainable and advances. You sell players and use the money to strengthen the squad. We do not need Etheridge, Smithies and Day. Etheridge was brought in for nothing and could potentially by sold for a decent amount of money. Smithies has over 350 appearances in the championship, Etheridge has around half that in club appearances. Smithies is more than capable so it would make sense to sell Etheridge if it meant bringing in a player we more urgently need.

Sell him if the money can be used to buy a midfielder and a striker