Bob Bank Hero

Loan # 2

2 Eddie Newton

Eddie Newton arrived at Cardiff City just before Rick Wright's revolution really sparked off.

At the time, taking an unknown midfielder from the top flight (First Division then!) was celebrated rather than scoffed at, as it would be today.
Combative Eddie was clearly playing well below his level in the fourth division and had that ability to run a game that few could boast in a weak bottom division.

But, more importantly, the Londoner possessed that quality demanded from all City fans, a passion for the shirt and the supporters it represents.

Eddie's signing, at the same time as Gary Bellamy and Gerry Harrison sparked a fruitless race towards the play offs in 1992, despite Wright’s media bandwagon making endless promotion promises.

Memorable Newton performances came against Mansfield, on a foggy Friday night, and his swansong against fellow promotion hopefuls Barnet on a sunny Easter Monday, when he was carried off the pitch by his Ninian disciples.

For weeks after Newton returned to West London, chants of "We want Eddie back" rang around the Ninian terraces.

But he never returned to Cardiff and ended up making a name for himself at Stamford Bridge, becoming a relative regular and scoring an FA Cup final goal at Wembley in Chelsea’s 1997 destruction of Middlesbrough.

He later went on to coach at Chelsea and is currently plying his trade at West Bromwich Albion, where fellow Wembley goalscorer Roberto Di Matteo is boss.
 
Loan Rating 10/10

Loan # 3

3 Wayne Routledge

Another pleasant surprise when the former England Under 21 winger signed for Cardiff on a few months loan.
 
A season or two earlier he was widely regarded as one of England’s greatest talents but after a few moves that went badly wrong he found himself rotting in Aston Villa reserves. 
 
In we came and soon enough Wayne was showing his talent. He ripped teams apart down the right wing and even managed to score a few him. 
 
He most probably saved us from an embarrassing league defeat at the Liberty against the jacks. With McPhail committing City suicide and getting sent off for the second time in a row against our old foes, we were looking under the cosh.
 
Luckily Wayne was all over the place and gave us a rare outlet to take the pressure off our creaking defence.
 
His stay ended prematurely when he shuffled off to QPR  on the sly, (apparently not even saying goodbye to the players at a training session down the Vale) despite previously stating in the press that he wanted to sign for Cardiff.
 
It was a blow but we’ve had worse and he really did help us out during that short stay at Ninian. A great player but won’t be missed by City fans.

 Loan Rating 7/10

Ledley To Sign New Deal?

The Western Mail are reporting Joe is finally ready to sign a new deal although reading through the quotes there's nothing to suggest they are any closer than before really.

The emphasis still seems to be on "iff the contract is right."

Ledley told the Western Mail: “My agent spoke to the chairman (Peter Ridsdale) a couple of days ago and it’s all agreed we will sit down and sort out a contract.

“Now I’m just waiting for the club to come back with the terms on offer, hopefully within a few days or over the next week.

“If the contract is right I will sign it. It has to be right for me and my future, but Cardiff City is in my heart and always will be.

“Every player wants to be in the Premier League and I am no different. It would suit me to do that with Cardiff City – right now that looks a real possibility. It’s brilliant off the pitch at this club and when you look at the training facilities and our new stadium it’s fantastic.

“We all believe Cardiff City are going up to the Premier League.

“I’m excited about the future here. There are only a few days left in the transfer window and if nothing happens I will remain a Cardiff City player. I’m happy with that.”

The Loan # 4

4 Michael Chopra
 

We never thought we'd see him back on loan once yet alone twice but old Chops put a smile on our faces last season as the monster made his way back over the hills. 
 
To be fair the loan never lived up to expectations, and with that old adage about never going back to your old club echoing around Ninian Park, the cynics were licking their lips when he didn't immediately bang in the goals. 
 
He did score a few and he always pulled his weight but he just didn’t look fit. Sunderland refused to extend the loan and that was that we all thought.
 
A few months later and Chops decides to pass a ball when it was easier to shoot while playing against his favourite team Newcastle and suddenly Sunderland wanted him out of the door.
 
In we came and hey presto, back he was at Ninian again. He deserves a lot of credit for having the bravery to step back down to the Championship.
 
It could’ve gone horribly wrong but for Chops it was a gamble worth taking ;)
 
We are reaping the benefits of signing him permanently and for that alone it must go down as a great loan signing.  Brillaint to have him back.
 
Loan Rating 8/10 
 

The Loan

There's nothing like a good loan signing to get the adrenaline pumping during a wet November when the injuries have kicked in.

Such is the nature of 'the loan' there's usually little warning of the new signing as contracts are hastily drawn up and some poor soul finds himself being driven down the M4 to Cardiff, not knowing what he has let himself in for.

Anyway -  Bob Bank Hero's all-time top five favourite loan signings will be published over the next five days.

What's your top five? Feel free to add your own in the comment section or e-mail them to editor@bobbankhero.com

Here's our number five

5 Eddie Johnson  

The chants of U-S-A are still ringing in my ears. Thankfully we won't be hearing them again anytime soon at the Cardiff City Stadium (although never say never)

It looked so promising when we secured a season-long loan for this USA international. Fulham had paid a lot of money for him, the YouTube videos were fabulous, and he was a striker who (allegedly) had  pace – something we were crying out for after the Hasselbaink/Fowler era. 

That was as good as it got really – he was a bit of a nightmare. He had an absolute shocker against Swansea in the Carling Cup, eventually getting hauled off by Jones. 

There didn’t actually seem to be any pace, he couldn’t pass the ball, never got into a position to shoot and worst of all he had that horrifying habit of getting the ball stuck between his feet and falling over. 

Oh – and we were apparently paying him £20,000+ a week in wages for the privilege. Ouch.To be fair to the guy he got better.

He stuck at it, worked on his fitness, and even managed to grab a few goals towards the end of the season (and one own goal).   He ended up becoming a cult hero at Cardiff with the chants of EDDIE! booming around the stadium. Sadly most of them were sarcastic and sung to the tune of TIMMY! from South Park (The Grange End did the same with Jimmy H too) 

Good entertainment and maybe better than he showed us but a shocking signing if truth be told.

Loan Rating 4/10  

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