The VFTN Verdict: Alex Smithies

With Alex Smithies through the door as Neil Warnock’s latest summer recruit, the team at View From The Ninian give their verdict on our new ‘stopper.

Ben James (@BenjaminJames27)

While I don’t think we need to replace Neil Etheridge, I do think he needs some proper competition and we need a competent back up for when Etheridge has to go off to the Asia Cup – which takes place over January.

Smithies is a good buy at £4m and clearly comes highly rated. He swept up the awards at QPR last season, winning a hat-trick of player of the year awards. We need a competent goalie who can push Etheridge to improve and then step-up when Etheridge is away – without breaking the bank. £4m is a snip for a keeper who was predicted to be future England number 1 – and someone who QPR seem disappointed to lose. He’s also still only 28 – meaning he may well improve and increase in value in the future. Shrewd move.

Scott Johnson (@roathboy)

Should Alex Smithies sign, I think it would be another shrewd capture. Warnock is on record as a fan and worked with him briefly at QPR, so will know exactly what he is getting. I’m relieved that Cardiff are pushing the boat out, relatively speaking, for a goalkeeper because they will need quality cover. No one knows how Neil Etheridge will fare in the Premier League and he will miss a chunk of the season on international duty. Like Greg Cunningham, it would not surprise me if Smithies were to start the season as first choice either, as harsh as that may seem. Cardiff have not had this sort of strength in depth since David Marshall and Tom Heaton went head to head.

Paul Gronow (@bluebirdblogger)

One thing’s for certain, when Warnock said Cardiff City would be doing it “the Burnley way” in reference to their approach to transfer business and staying in the Premier League, he wasn’t lying.

Alex Smithies makes complete sense when you look at the cold, hard facts.  Cardiff City have, in all likelihood, the smallest transfer budget of all of the Premier League teams and an owner who is still smarting from the mistakes of their previous failed season in the top flight.  Four million pounds for a goalkeeper regularly regarded as one of the Championship’s finest is excellent value and judging by the outpouring of anger and sadness by QPR supporters on social media, this seems a steal.

Much like Josh Murphy, Warnock appears to have earmarked Smithies for quite some time and I for one am looking forward to seeing him give Neil Etheridge some top-level competition.

Scott Salter (@Scottsltr)

I like this signing, a lot. Smithies is a solid, dependable ‘keeper who can challenge Etheridge as number one. I think Etheridge deserves to start the season as number one, he earned that right last season, but I’m comfortable knowing that Smithies can come in if needed.

The reaction from the QPR fans tells you all you need to know.

Ben Isaacs (@tweetsfromben)

One of the most sensible transfers you can possibly imagine. Finally someone who can really push Etheridge (who deserves to start the season as first choice in my opinion) and cover him while he’s at the Asian Cup. The QPR fans are absolutely gutted and Warnock is a long-time fan – ringing endorsements if ever I heard them.

It’s hard to be mad at City’s transfer policy this summer. Even if the season doesn’t go according to plan, it doesn’t look like we’ll have the problems last time we dropped out of the top flight.

Nathan Walker (NathanWalkerr)

It’s fairly easy to see how successful a transfer is likely to be. Just find the tweet from the seller club’s local media stating a deal is close and look at the reactions. In this case, QPR fans seem to be highly miffed that Cardiff have snatched their prize asset for a mere £4m.

A Warnock bargain wouldn’t come as a surprise to fans of QPR or Cardiff City and this is the latest in a long line. I would’ve been happy with Neil Etheridge starting at Bournemouth but it’s a selection headache I’m glad to have.

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