“ Where does it leave him now ? “

After the Bluebirds boss Neil Harris dropped Etheridge to the bench for the South Wales derby last weekend and omitted him from the travelling squad to Carlisle , where does that leave the Philippines international?


Thursday 17th January 2020

By Glenn Williams


It has been a frustrating season for Etheridge.

The club want Harris to reduce the wages/squad and bring in money.

Following transfer talk in the summer, when Aston Villa were the interested party, the goalkeeper sustained a hamstring injury in the opening game of the season up at Wigan Athletic and Alex Smithies stepped in to take the gloves.

Some felt Smithies was hard done by when he was dropped after the Bluebirds' 4-2 defeat at West Brom, with the keeper having made a number of world-class saves in the defeat.

But since Etheridge has been brought back into the side, he hasn't quite been up to the lofty standards we have all seen in recent seasons and Harris alluded to that after the derby clash with Swansea City.

And Smithies, who, remember, Cardiff splashed out £4m for ahead of the Premier League season, has once again been assured in the last two matches.

So Harris now has a big dilemma on his hands. Will Etheridge now be consigned to the bench now this West Ham ordeal appears to be over? Or will Smithies have to make way once again?

Harris simply believes that, first and foremost, Etheridge has to get his focus back on recapturing that scintillating form of which we all know he is capable.

"He's still our player, nothing has changed," Harris said after the FA Cup win over Carlisle.

"Speculation has been rife. All players are our players until bids are accepted and terms are done and people sign on the dotted line.

"It wasn't that I ever felt like Neil was close to going to West Ham, just a lot of speculation is not always easy for the boy.

"Alex, tonight, couldn't do anything with the goals, he got his hand to the first one, but another 90 minutes for him and he had a really solid display at the weekend to vindicate his selection."


Alex Smithies (L) has been entrusted with the gloves for the last two games (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)
Before the season, the signing of Joe Day looked a little curious.

The only explanation for the 29-year-old moving from Newport County was that Neil Warnock must have thought one of Smithies or Etheridge was close to leaving the Welsh capital.

However neither of those transfers materialised and it appears the same is going to happen this month, with no suitors believed to be lined up for either player battling to be City's No.1.

So the imbalance persists. Three senior goalkeepers all desperate for minutes on the pitch and Harris conceded that something might have to give this month if Day is to get some game-time.

"If we end up with Neil and Alex, two really good goalkeepers, then there may be an opportunity for Joe Day to go and play some football that he craves," the Bluebirds manager added.

"We will have to see. We will just have to take one day at a time.

"What I know is we've got three very good goalkeepers."

A lot of the talk so far this month has surrounded departures. Armand Traore and Brian Murphy have not had their contracts extended, Ciaron Brown has gone on loan to Livingston and Gary Madine left the club by mutual consent.

After the Bluebirds boss Neil Harris dropped Etheridge to the bench for the South Wales derby last weekend and omitted him from the travelling squad to Carlisle , where does that leave the Philippines international?


Thursday 17th January 2020

By Glenn Williams


It has been a frustrating season for Etheridge.

The club want Harris to reduce the wages/squad and bring in money.

Following transfer talk in the summer, when Aston Villa were the interested party, the goalkeeper sustained a hamstring injury in the opening game of the season up at Wigan Athletic and Alex Smithies stepped in to take the gloves.

Some felt Smithies was hard done by when he was dropped after the Bluebirds' 4-2 defeat at West Brom, with the keeper having made a number of world-class saves in the defeat.

But since Etheridge has been brought back into the side, he hasn't quite been up to the lofty standards we have all seen in recent seasons and Harris alluded to that after the derby clash with Swansea City.

And Smithies, who, remember, Cardiff splashed out £4m for ahead of the Premier League season, has once again been assured in the last two matches.

So Harris now has a big dilemma on his hands. Will Etheridge now be consigned to the bench now this West Ham ordeal appears to be over? Or will Smithies have to make way once again?

Harris simply believes that, first and foremost, Etheridge has to get his focus back on recapturing that scintillating form of which we all know he is capable.

"He's still our player, nothing has changed," Harris said after the FA Cup win over Carlisle.

"Speculation has been rife. All players are our players until bids are accepted and terms are done and people sign on the dotted line.

"It wasn't that I ever felt like Neil was close to going to West Ham, just a lot of speculation is not always easy for the boy.

"Alex, tonight, couldn't do anything with the goals, he got his hand to the first one, but another 90 minutes for him and he had a really solid display at the weekend to vindicate his selection."


Alex Smithies (L) has been entrusted with the gloves for the last two games (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)
Before the season, the signing of Joe Day looked a little curious.

The only explanation for the 29-year-old moving from Newport County was that Neil Warnock must have thought one of Smithies or Etheridge was close to leaving the Welsh capital.

However neither of those transfers materialised and it appears the same is going to happen this month, with no suitors believed to be lined up for either player battling to be City's No.1.

So the imbalance persists. Three senior goalkeepers all desperate for minutes on the pitch and Harris conceded that something might have to give this month if Day is to get some game-time.

"If we end up with Neil and Alex, two really good goalkeepers, then there may be an opportunity for Joe Day to go and play some football that he craves," the Bluebirds manager added.

"We will have to see. We will just have to take one day at a time.

"What I know is we've got three very good goalkeepers."

A lot of the talk so far this month has surrounded departures. Armand Traore and Brian Murphy have not had their contracts extended, Ciaron Brown has gone on loan to Livingston and Gary Madine left the club by mutual consent.

Not saying a word

Hopefully Smithies stays in goals. Against the jacks, the team were happy to go back to him even when under pressure. Smithies can kick with both feet as well which helps.

After the Bluebirds boss Neil Harris dropped Etheridge to the bench for the South Wales derby last weekend and omitted him from the travelling squad to Carlisle , where does that leave the Philippines international?


Thursday 17th January 2020

By Glenn Williams


It has been a frustrating season for Etheridge.

The club want Harris to reduce the wages/squad and bring in money.

Following transfer talk in the summer, when Aston Villa were the interested party, the goalkeeper sustained a hamstring injury in the opening game of the season up at Wigan Athletic and Alex Smithies stepped in to take the gloves.

Some felt Smithies was hard done by when he was dropped after the Bluebirds' 4-2 defeat at West Brom, with the keeper having made a number of world-class saves in the defeat.

But since Etheridge has been brought back into the side, he hasn't quite been up to the lofty standards we have all seen in recent seasons and Harris alluded to that after the derby clash with Swansea City.

And Smithies, who, remember, Cardiff splashed out £4m for ahead of the Premier League season, has once again been assured in the last two matches.

So Harris now has a big dilemma on his hands. Will Etheridge now be consigned to the bench now this West Ham ordeal appears to be over? Or will Smithies have to make way once again?

Harris simply believes that, first and foremost, Etheridge has to get his focus back on recapturing that scintillating form of which we all know he is capable.

"He's still our player, nothing has changed," Harris said after the FA Cup win over Carlisle.

"Speculation has been rife. All players are our players until bids are accepted and terms are done and people sign on the dotted line.

"It wasn't that I ever felt like Neil was close to going to West Ham, just a lot of speculation is not always easy for the boy.

"Alex, tonight, couldn't do anything with the goals, he got his hand to the first one, but another 90 minutes for him and he had a really solid display at the weekend to vindicate his selection."


Alex Smithies (L) has been entrusted with the gloves for the last two games (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)
Before the season, the signing of Joe Day looked a little curious.

The only explanation for the 29-year-old moving from Newport County was that Neil Warnock must have thought one of Smithies or Etheridge was close to leaving the Welsh capital.

However neither of those transfers materialised and it appears the same is going to happen this month, with no suitors believed to be lined up for either player battling to be City's No.1.

So the imbalance persists. Three senior goalkeepers all desperate for minutes on the pitch and Harris conceded that something might have to give this month if Day is to get some game-time.

"If we end up with Neil and Alex, two really good goalkeepers, then there may be an opportunity for Joe Day to go and play some football that he craves," the Bluebirds manager added.

"We will have to see. We will just have to take one day at a time.

"What I know is we've got three very good goalkeepers."

A lot of the talk so far this month has surrounded departures. Armand Traore and Brian Murphy have not had their contracts extended, Ciaron Brown has gone on loan to Livingston and Gary Madine left the club by mutual consent.

Not saying a word

On the bench!

Why do people quote the OP when being the first to reply?

Leaves him needing to improve..
His distribution is so poor.. he knows it, we know it.
That will then build back up his confidence, which seems to be shot.