'Very top' - The gushing Cardiff City verdict on Birmingham
Fri Sep 11, 2020 12:28 pm
'Very top' - The gushing Cardiff City verdict on Birmingham City's 'first class' transfer
Birmingham City have made a massive move in the transfer market by bringing Neil Etheridge to the club
Birmingham live
Friday 11th September 2020
Neil Etheridge has signed for Birmingham City to the delight of many Blues fans and chagrin of many of Cardiff’s.
The goalkeeper has agreed a four-year deal that will see him become Blues’ first choice goalkeeper and a key part of Aitor Karanka’s plans.
He joins after helping Cardiff win promotion to the Premier League and as their best player once they got there.
However, he spent last season on the bench - and the prospect of another campaign behind Alex Smithies.
How will he be remembered at Cardiff?
GW: He will be remembered as a top, top goalkeeper by Cardiff City fans.
He was crucial to the club’s promotion to the Premier League and voted the club’s Player of the Year while in the top flight.
A wonderful shot stopper and a leader, too, which cannot be underestimated during the course of a season.
He will be missed by Cardiff City, but the timing was right for everyone for him to move on.
What did the Cardiff fans think of him?
GW: He was a firm fan favourite and he loved the club, too, as you can see from his heartfelt Instagram post.
He was one of Neil Warnock’s best signings at the club, brought in on a free and won over the fans in a heartbeat.
The club and its fans wish him nothing but the best moving forward.
Where would you rank him in terms of Championship goalkeepers?
GW: Right at the very top. I genuinely believe last season that the Bluebirds had two of the league’s top five goalkeepers in the division and I do not say that lightly.
A genuinely excellent goalkeeper, whose only crime was that Warnock also signed Alex Smithies, who narrowly missed out on winning Player of the Season last year. He, too, is brilliant.
The only downside to Etheridge’s game is that his distribution sometimes lets him down. With the ball at his feet, improvement can be made, but with the gloves, a really classy goalkeeper.
What will he bring to Birmingham City?
GW: He will bring a commanding presence in the box – you will hear him before you will see him!
Etheridge can pull saves out of nowhere and has the ability to be a match-winner.
It really is a first-class signing by Birmingham City, that much I can say with the utmost confidence.
Birmingham City have made a massive move in the transfer market by bringing Neil Etheridge to the club
Birmingham live
Friday 11th September 2020
Neil Etheridge has signed for Birmingham City to the delight of many Blues fans and chagrin of many of Cardiff’s.
The goalkeeper has agreed a four-year deal that will see him become Blues’ first choice goalkeeper and a key part of Aitor Karanka’s plans.
He joins after helping Cardiff win promotion to the Premier League and as their best player once they got there.
However, he spent last season on the bench - and the prospect of another campaign behind Alex Smithies.
How will he be remembered at Cardiff?
GW: He will be remembered as a top, top goalkeeper by Cardiff City fans.
He was crucial to the club’s promotion to the Premier League and voted the club’s Player of the Year while in the top flight.
A wonderful shot stopper and a leader, too, which cannot be underestimated during the course of a season.
He will be missed by Cardiff City, but the timing was right for everyone for him to move on.
What did the Cardiff fans think of him?
GW: He was a firm fan favourite and he loved the club, too, as you can see from his heartfelt Instagram post.
He was one of Neil Warnock’s best signings at the club, brought in on a free and won over the fans in a heartbeat.
The club and its fans wish him nothing but the best moving forward.
Where would you rank him in terms of Championship goalkeepers?
GW: Right at the very top. I genuinely believe last season that the Bluebirds had two of the league’s top five goalkeepers in the division and I do not say that lightly.
A genuinely excellent goalkeeper, whose only crime was that Warnock also signed Alex Smithies, who narrowly missed out on winning Player of the Season last year. He, too, is brilliant.
The only downside to Etheridge’s game is that his distribution sometimes lets him down. With the ball at his feet, improvement can be made, but with the gloves, a really classy goalkeeper.
What will he bring to Birmingham City?
GW: He will bring a commanding presence in the box – you will hear him before you will see him!
Etheridge can pull saves out of nowhere and has the ability to be a match-winner.
It really is a first-class signing by Birmingham City, that much I can say with the utmost confidence.
Re: 'Very top' - The gushing Cardiff City verdict on Birming
Fri Sep 11, 2020 11:49 pm
And yet a report I read (Birmingham media story) goes with the banner headline of "a huge mistake",saying cardiff fans were saying this?? I guess as it's Birmingham press they are trying to big up the signing,when all they have to do,is wait a couple of games,and they will see they have a quality keeper on there books,long contract signed too I believe ? 
