Marshall the main man behind Cardiff City charge

Nathan Blake: Marshall the main man behind Cardiff City charge
Feb 4 2013



THERE’S a new Marshall in town laying down the law for Cardiff City – and his name is David.

It’s about time I lavished some praise on the Bluebirds’ goalkeeper who has been in absolutely superb form this season but has often gone under the radar.

During City’s excellent win at Leeds on Saturday it might have been new boy Fraizer Campbell who put the ball in the net for the winner, but two fantastic saves by the Cardiff shot-stopper at the other end were just as valuable in ensuring Malky Mackay’s men took home the points.

I do think people sometimes tend to overlook what a good goalkeeper brings to a side and what they eventually achieve.


Just think back to earlier in the season when Cardiff were winning all those games at home.

On numerous occasions Marshall would pull off a save to keep the scoreline at 0-0 and then the Bluebirds would go up the other end and score a late winner.

Naturally, supporters would go home buzzing, talking about the goal, but some might forget that if it hadn’t been for Marshall’s earlier save the outcome might have been very different.

I always get the same with my goal for Cardiff against Manchester City in the FA Cup back in 1994.

People come up to me and talk about the shot and that’s great, but in time it seems a lot of people have forgotten that Mark Grew saved a penalty from Keith Curle later in the match.

‘Grewy’ really had as much say in the win as I did because if he hadn’t we might well have ended up losing on the day.

So let’s spend a little time appreciating the guy we’ve got between the sticks right now.

Mackay said recently that Marshall was the best in the Championship and I totally agree with that, there’s not even a doubt about it in my mind.

Who is the main competition for that accolade? Kasper Schmeichel at Leicester City?

Call me biased, and maybe I am a bit, but I don’t even think Schmeichel is on the same level as Marshall.

Marshall has a greater presence in the goal, he’s got a better temperament and is stronger in the air than the Leicester man.

And Marshall is definitely the better shot-stopper, he’s proven that time and time again this season.

A lot of credit to the growth and development of Marshall, of course, must go to Mackay.

When he arrived at the club it was quite difficult to chose between Marshall and Tom Heaton.

Heaton was a good goalkeeper, too, and even I might have struggled to suggest which of the two was the superior player.

A manager with two players to chose from like that might find themselves caught a bit between a rock and a hard place.

The problem is if you set them both in competition against each other you might not get the best out of either goalkeeper.

You find the player is looking over his shoulder all the time. They are thinking ‘one mistake here and I’m going to be replaced.’

And it can affect the way you play. Sometimes there is nothing better for a goalkeeper to hear from his manager that he is his No.1.

So even if he makes a mistake he knows that he is going to get a run of games to get his form going and cut the mistakes out.

That is what Mackay did on his arrival at Cardiff when it came to the goalkeeping situation.

Marshall was told the shirt was his and since then he has grown in confidence, he has basically flourished and currently he is in the form of his life.

Mackay must be applauded for his man-management in that respect and you can not underestimate the impact Marshall has had on City this season.

He has been excellent all campaign and, personally, I’ve lost count of the number of times he has pulled off a vital save at 0-0 or keep Bluebirds’ noses in front at 1-0 or 2-1.

A lot is written about strikers and, yes, putting the ball in the net is one of the most exciting – and difficult – parts of the game.

I say that from personal experience, but just as important for any side is the bloke who consistently keeps the ball out of your own net.

If Cardiff do go on and gain promotion, and things are looking really good now with 17 games left, it will be a fine effort from Mackay, his staff and all his players.

But some special credit might just be reserved for David Marshall.

Spot on, when you consider how many games have been won by the odd goal, coupled with the amount of great saves and goal line clearances he's made really makes you think about just how vital he has been for us this season.

A definite contender for player of the year

I would have picked Heaton over Marshall everygame last season but its nice to be proved wrong, at the end of the day thats why Malky is in charge and not our fans

marshall has been great for us this season,but got to disagree with blake i think he has been noticed by the fans.and even could win player of the season

Defo up there for player of the season. With all our attacking players it's superb that Hudson and Marshall are contenders for player of the year. Mind you Marshall makes one clanger in next match and he will be slated and need to be replaced, such is life as a keeper

Marshall has been excellent this season. I too, couldn't separate Heaton and Marshall last year, I thought Heaton's distribution of the ball was better, and Marshall was the better shot stopper. Malky, one again has made the right as Marshell has got better and better. I can't even begin to count the amount of points he has saved us. Player of the season for me.

I was another one who said that Heaton was the better all round goalie and when he left us, I still believe that this was the case!

However, this season he has upped his game immeasurably and comes off his line more convincingly, commands his box more convincingly and what a shot stopper he's turned out to be!

He's been totally outstanding this season, with only the game at Charlton blotting his copybook!

I remember going to Norwich a few years back when Cardiff actually dominated the home team but still lost and the reason then was the magnificent David Marshall...he took a bit of time here to convince the Cardiff fans but now its plain to see...it is also worth remembering that as a teenager Marshall kept Barcelona out for Celtic in a famous victory for the hoops.

Him and Hudson will be challenging for POTY no doubt.

He's made some amazing stops so far this season, long may he continue.

A very good keeper who imo is capable of making the step up

Nathan Blake: Marshall the main man behind Cardiff City charge
Feb 4 2013



THERE’S a new Marshall in town laying down the law for Cardiff City – and his name is David.

It’s about time I lavished some praise on the Bluebirds’ goalkeeper who has been in absolutely superb form this season but has often gone under the radar.

During City’s excellent win at Leeds on Saturday it might have been new boy Fraizer Campbell who put the ball in the net for the winner, but two fantastic saves by the Cardiff shot-stopper at the other end were just as valuable in ensuring Malky Mackay’s men took home the points.

I do think people sometimes tend to overlook what a good goalkeeper brings to a side and what they eventually achieve.


Just think back to earlier in the season when Cardiff were winning all those games at home.

On numerous occasions Marshall would pull off a save to keep the scoreline at 0-0 and then the Bluebirds would go up the other end and score a late winner.

Naturally, supporters would go home buzzing, talking about the goal, but some might forget that if it hadn’t been for Marshall’s earlier save the outcome might have been very different.

I always get the same with my goal for Cardiff against Manchester City in the FA Cup back in 1994.

People come up to me and talk about the shot and that’s great, but in time it seems a lot of people have forgotten that Mark Grew saved a penalty from Keith Curle later in the match.

‘Grewy’ really had as much say in the win as I did because if he hadn’t we might well have ended up losing on the day.

So let’s spend a little time appreciating the guy we’ve got between the sticks right now.

Mackay said recently that Marshall was the best in the Championship and I totally agree with that, there’s not even a doubt about it in my mind.

Who is the main competition for that accolade? Kasper Schmeichel at Leicester City?

Call me biased, and maybe I am a bit, but I don’t even think Schmeichel is on the same level as Marshall.

Marshall has a greater presence in the goal, he’s got a better temperament and is stronger in the air than the Leicester man.

And Marshall is definitely the better shot-stopper, he’s proven that time and time again this season.

A lot of credit to the growth and development of Marshall, of course, must go to Mackay.

When he arrived at the club it was quite difficult to chose between Marshall and Tom Heaton.

Heaton was a good goalkeeper, too, and even I might have struggled to suggest which of the two was the superior player.

A manager with two players to chose from like that might find themselves caught a bit between a rock and a hard place.

The problem is if you set them both in competition against each other you might not get the best out of either goalkeeper.

You find the player is looking over his shoulder all the time. They are thinking ‘one mistake here and I’m going to be replaced.’

And it can affect the way you play. Sometimes there is nothing better for a goalkeeper to hear from his manager that he is his No.1.

So even if he makes a mistake he knows that he is going to get a run of games to get his form going and cut the mistakes out.

That is what Mackay did on his arrival at Cardiff when it came to the goalkeeping situation.

Marshall was told the shirt was his and since then he has grown in confidence, he has basically flourished and currently he is in the form of his life.

Mackay must be applauded for his man-management in that respect and you can not underestimate the impact Marshall has had on City this season.

He has been excellent all campaign and, personally, I’ve lost count of the number of times he has pulled off a vital save at 0-0 or keep Bluebirds’ noses in front at 1-0 or 2-1.

A lot is written about strikers and, yes, putting the ball in the net is one of the most exciting – and difficult – parts of the game.

I say that from personal experience, but just as important for any side is the bloke who consistently keeps the ball out of your own net.

If Cardiff do go on and gain promotion, and things are looking really good now with 17 games left, it will be a fine effort from Mackay, his staff and all his players.

But some special credit might just be reserved for David Marshall.

The guy has been outstanding, everyony around me in 114 says the same, keeping clean sheets helps us nick those 1nil wins, his 2 saves against weeds eventually won the game with a little help from FC