McCarthy: Bart's the Best in the Championship Tuesday, 20th Dec 2016 06:00 Town boss Mick McCarthy says he rates keeper Bartosz Bialkowski as the best in the Championship, the 29-year-old having put in another impressive performance as the Blues beat Wigan 3-2 at the DW Stadium on Saturday.
Bialkowski had been the Blues’ standout performer throughout 2016, carrying off virtually all of the 2015/16 player of the year awards in May and continuing that form this season.
Having made a rare error which led to Cardiff’s goal in the recent 1-1 draw with the Bluebirds at Portman Road, the former Southampton and Notts County man was back to his best at the weekend.
“We all make mistakes,” McCarthy reflected when quizzed about Bialkowski’s consistent 2016 form following Saturday’s match.
“I’ll put him up there, get him on the selling list by rating him, shall I?” he joked.
“You know my thoughts on him, I think he’s the best one in the league. If there’s a better one I haven’t seen him.
“Lots of people require different things out of their goalkeepers. Some like it so they can have it at their feet and be almost like a sweeper and pass it out and be clipping balls here, there and everywhere.
“That wouldn’t suit him, but he catches it and keeps it out of his net, which is a particularly good quality for his goalkeeper. He’s different class, he really is, he’s a top-class goalie.”
Photo: TWTD
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yorksblue added 15:41 - Dec 20
Not a patch on Cooper, Wright or Davies, but doing a great job. | | |
Seasider added 16:34 - Dec 20
Well didn't think anyone could disagree with Mick on this one. Actually nobody did really;but questioned the motives behind it. Agree with London Blue and don't feel that there is anything subversive in this praise,and as some have noticed this is the first time I think Mick has bigged Bart up without mentioning Gerks,as he calls him. I have seen all the Ipswich goalkeepers in action going back as far as Roy Bailey,and do feel that Bart is as good as any of them,hence my down marking of some;which I normally don't like to do, I know its only my opinion,but feel that some of the goalkeepers mentioned had better defences in front of them.When you think of some of the central parings:Nelson and Baxter,Billy and a.n.other;Hunter and Beattie,Butcher and Osman,Tony Mowbray and Mark Venus-even McCauley&Damian Delaney,both still plying their trade regularly in the premiership after leaving Ipswich at least 5 years ago.Then we had fullbacks like England captain Mick Mills,our former Manager George Burley,Aaron Cresswell,Mauricio Taricco,Colin Harper,Gavin Johnson, Les Tibbot ,Matt Richards' Dan Harding, Sito Castro,Fabian Wilnis,Frank Yallop and David Wright.ALL BETTER THAN THE TWO WE HAVE AT THE MOMENT. I did like recently when Bart paid a surprise visit to a young lad who had put him on his Christmas list. Seems like a thoroughly nice family man,who will be my player of the season again,I am sure. | | |
Seasider added 16:46 - Dec 20
Whoops,forgot to mention Hermann | | |
Seasider added 16:51 - Dec 20
In fact most of the full backs we have had are better than the present pairing. | | |
Ferguson added 17:00 - Dec 20
I AGREE WITH MM BUT I HOPE THIS ISN'T EVANS LOOKING FOR A BID. ON CURRENT FORM IF WE LOSE BART WE WILL HAVE A VERY GOOD CHANCE OF LOSING OUR CHAMPIONSHIP STATUS. | | |
phillo added 17:28 - Dec 20
The penny finally drops eh Mick, most of us realised this last season ...... but thanks for catching up with us "fans you don't listen too" ..... now about the RB position. | | |
Surco72 added 19:01 - Dec 20
Seasider ... Parr and Foley were both better than the full backs we play regularly also | | |
Cakeman added 19:52 - Dec 20
Bart is in my opinion our best player by a country mile. Some of the saves he made at Wigan were exceptional to say the very least. If he was in the Premier league the pundits would have been waxing lyrical. His strength is really that he is very consistent. Not sure why our manager is mentioning this just now but as others have said us supporters have known for a long time how good he is. PS I also believe he is up with the very best of the keepers we have ever had. | | |
carsey added 20:01 - Dec 20
Bart is the only saleable player we currently have with a proven record in the 2nd division. My money is on his going elsewhere before the start of next season. | | |
carsey added 20:01 - Dec 20
Bart is the only saleable player we currently have with a proven record in the 2nd division. My money is on his going elsewhere before the start of next season. | | |
Cakeman added 20:10 - Dec 20
Great post Seasider, fully agree with your comments. | | |
heathen66 added 20:45 - Dec 20
I think you would have to include Paul Cooper, Richard Wright Craig Forrest and Marton Fulop !!! | | |
RRanger added 21:10 - Dec 20
I've been watching Town since 1970 and think Bart is as good as any of the goalkeepers I've seen except possibly Wright in the season prior to him moving to Arsenal. Cooper was a great penalty and shot stopper but he was playing behind possibly the best defence we've had for 50 years. When you are talking about Bart being sold, compared to other players goalkeepers do not seem to command the high transfer fees of outfield players so if ME is looking to make lots of dosh by selling players I'd be more worried about losing Webster.My feeling about him is that if we can just manage to hold onto him for at least one more season then I'd be amazed if we didn't get at least £10,million for him (and I think he's worth considerably more potentially). If Bart goes it'll be because he wants to. | | |
blueboy1981 added 22:07 - Dec 20
Shame it took you so long to realise it Michael - supporters have been telling you such - for so, so long. Bart has certainly saved 'the season' for us to date - without him, where we would be now is anyone's guess. Probably bottom three - and let's not forget it. Player of the Season, on all fronts already. | | |
blueboy1981 added 22:16 - Dec 20
We have had some very good keepers at this Club - but, in all fairness, on this seasons performances Bart is up there with them all. He has always had a questionable two, out of his back four, in front of him don't forget ... !!! .... something that not all our keepers have had to accomodate. | | |
Bert added 22:26 - Dec 20
I'd rather listen to the opinions of those who manage and coach our goalkeepers every day of the week than 'supporters' who make a judgement based on 90 minutes. Bart has no doubt emerged as our no1 keeper but a year ago it is likely that the unexpected death of Bart's Father caused him a few issues; something that a decent manager will factor in. MM has his faults and one of those is to say too much when he doesn't need to. | | |
dude added 01:24 - Dec 21
Surco what are you on about!? | | |
martin587 added 07:50 - Dec 21
Seasider,spot,on with your post once again,I too can go back to Bailey.yes we have had some very good keepers,including Sivell who had he not been a few feet taller possibly could have been in the England squad at the time as if I can recall the rest of the team were all Internationals. Going back to Bart he is by far on recent form the best keeper in the Championship and our biggest asset. | | |
Gazelle added 10:45 - Dec 21
He has more to do than most other keepers which helps. | | |
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