‘ CARDIFF CITY’S GOALKEEPERS? ‘

CARDIFF CITY GOALKEEPERS:

By Glen Williams

Wednesday 11th December 2019


Neil Etheridge

He's Cardiff's first-choice, he needs to be retained. If the Bluebirds wish to make the top six in the second half of the season, they need Etheridge's expertise between the sticks.

Verdict: Keep, but work required on his kicking.





Alex Smithies

Came with a big reputation, and for big money, from QPR. But owing to Etheridge's excellence his chances have been limited. Cardiff need to recoup some of the £4m spent on him, and he requires regular football. Bluebirds also have to give a chance to highly-rated Wales under-21 keeper George Ratcliffe.

Verdict: Sell






Joe Day

Warnock brought him in believing he could be another Etheridge, someone plucked from the lower divisions to shine at a higher level, but it hasn't happened for the ex-Newport County man.

Verdict: Jury's out.






Brian Murphy

Having four senior goalkeepers is obviously far too many.

Verdict: His contract ends in December anyway.

I'd lose Etheridge
Day is not good enough
Murphy is a good 3rd choice and cheap

I’d keep Etheridge but heavy coaching on his kicking.
I’d get rid of Smithies and Murphy.
Joe Day hasn’t had a real chance as yet so I’d keep him and I’d promote Ratcliffe

Do people really think he is going to get coached into becoming a good kicker? He’s been a professional for years

It’s a weakness and will not suddenly become fixed through coaching in the same way a striker coach won’t get Bogle to become a lethal finisher

I think it is safe to say that either Etheridge or Smithies will be moved on in January. Given that Harris has gone with Etheridge so far we can probably assume that it will be Smithies. If we could get a decent transfer fee for them I would be happy to sell either one - although I do prefer Smithies in goals. Just hope if it Smithies, we get a decent fee for him and not just loan him out.

All depends who you can get a fee for.

Personally I'd like to keep Smithies and sell Etheridge.

Do people really think he is going to get coached into becoming a good kicker? He’s been a professional for years

It’s a weakness and will not suddenly become fixed through coaching in the same way a striker coach won’t get Bogle to become a lethal finisher

you are correct but its certain kicks not all....he isn't comfortable kicking from back passes, like you I don't see it a coaching thing ,the answer is more a case of the back 4 or some of them spreading for a short ball.. NW liked it long every time and seen nothing so far to suggest our new manager will change that.

Personally I thought Smithies was fab during Etheridges absence. On the other hand Etheridge has been poor since returning. Smithies definitely needs retaining as Etheridge is by no means guaranteed first choice.

I’d like Smithies to stay but rumour is he’s off to Birmingham.
Thought he was real good when Etheridge was out .

Another long standing Etheridge vs Smithies debate!

Etheridge for me as he’s a much better shot stopper but wouldn’t be too gutted if he was outed for a bigger fee and Smithies stayed.

Keep Etheridge all day long. By far the better shot stopper and that is by far the main thing you want in a goalkeeper I don’t care if he can’t ping passes about as long as he stops the ball going into the net.

Why the f**k did we sign Joe Day again well out of his depth.


It’s a funny old place this start of the summer Etheridge was going to be snapped up by a prem team for no less then 10 million. One bad hamstring later he’s not our best keeper and he needs to learn how to pass

Day on the bench tonight vs Brentford away, no Smithies

Keep Etheridge all day long. By far the better shot stopper and that is by far the main thing you want in a goalkeeper I don’t care if he can’t ping passes about as long as he stops the ball going into the net.

Why the f**k did we sign Joe Day again well out of his depth.


It’s a funny old place this start of the summer Etheridge was going to be snapped up by a prem team for no less then 10 million. One bad hamstring later he’s not our best keeper and he needs to learn how to pass

Spot on. Have to assume club thought Etheridge was going to attract a bid to take Day. Like our strikers, we only played one and had a lot of options.

I think we’ll let either Etheridge or Smithies go dependant on which we get the best price for? Murphy like Troare should have never been signed, they’re just Warnock’s mates so they’ll go! Every player has their price so if someone offers the right money anyone could go in January so that Harris can bring in his own players? He said he eventually wants a squad of 18 Senior players and 7 Academy players who can back them up? At the moment we have 30 Senior professionals and people say Malky wasted Tan’s money?

I think we’ll let either Etheridge or Smithies go dependant on which we get the best price for? Murphy like Troare should have never been signed, they’re just Warnock’s mates so they’ll go! Every player has their price so if someone offers the right money anyone could go in January so that Harris can bring in his own players? He said he eventually wants a squad of 18 Senior players and 7 Academy players who can back them up? At the moment we have 30 Senior professionals and people say Malky wasted Tan’s money?

Warnocks mates. ffs grow up.
Murphy was signed on a short term contract after Etheridge got injured , Day came on as sub and didn't exactly have a wonderful debut.
Traore who had been training with us for weeks ,again was signed on a very short , appearance based contract as Mozza had just joined jazz, Connolly,and bamba on the injured list which left us short for cover at the back..
18 senior pros....
Malky used 33 players in all competitions in his first year....Warnock 29 in our promotion season and Harris himself 29 at Millwall last season..

I can see positives in keeping Etheridge or Smithies as no 1, but don’t think we can financially justify keeping both, especially as other areas of the squad need strengthening.

Day as back up, Murphy is on his way soon anyway, with a youngster available to replace him from within our youth set up.

I think we’ll let either Etheridge or Smithies go dependant on which we get the best price for? Murphy like Troare should have never been signed, they’re just Warnock’s mates so they’ll go! Every player has their price so if someone offers the right money anyone could go in January so that Harris can bring in his own players? He said he eventually wants a squad of 18 Senior players and 7 Academy players who can back them up? At the moment we have 30 Senior professionals and people say Malky wasted Tan’s money?

Warnocks mates. ffs grow up.
Murphy was signed on a short term contract after Etheridge got injured , Day came on as sub and didn't exactly have a wonderful debut.
Traore who had been training with us for weeks ,again was signed on a very short , appearance based contract as Mozza had just joined jazz, Connolly,and bamba on the injured list which left us short for cover at the back..
18 senior pros....
Malky used 33 players in all competitions in his first year....Warnock 29 in our promotion season and Harris himself 29 at Millwall last season..

They are Warnocks mates. Lots of managers will revert to those they know not just Warnock. None us would be surprised if Harris brings in someone from Millwall. With Sir Neil it has seemed he brought them in though for their personality without them making our first team any stronger.

And I agree that Malkay is unreasonably pilloried for his spend when it's been repeated and added to without achieving anywhere near the same outcome