The Western Mail wrote
CARDIFF City manager Lennie Lawrence predicted a glittering international future for centre-back Daniel Gabbidon after last night's pre-season victory at Somerset Park.
Gabbidon, who won his first international cap against the Czech Republic earlier this year, produced another superb display and Lawrence enthused, "I think he will be Wales's centre-back one day. He's got pace, jumps well, can pass with both feet and he has a great attitude - he's got all the ingredients.
"If he's got all the qualities then a centre-back can be a very valuable player as Rio Ferdinand's transfer from Leeds to Manchester United has shown. I don't want to put any label on Danny that will pile pressure on him but I've worked with a lot of players during my career and he's got great potential."
On Thursday Neil Alexander was centre of attention.
Echo report on Neil Alexander
NEIL Alexander is out to quash the myth that goalkeepers have to be 6ft 4in tall.
And that means staying Cardiff City's number one, plus helping them to earn promotion into Division One and beyond.
Alexander has battled into Bertie Vogts' Scotland squad and has no qualms about where he is heading: "I have two aims - to be Cardiff City's regular goalkeeper and Scotland's number one."
At just a shade over 6ft tall, Alexander is far from the biggest keeper around, but he insists size doesn't matter.
"There are a lot more keepers coming through who are not incredibly tall," said Alexander. "Agility is crucial because the game is so fast these days.
"Look at players like Fabian Barthez, who is around the same build as me. We are all quashing the myth that you have to be 6ft 4ins tall and just as wide to succeed in goal.
"I have faith in my ability and if I am good enough to reach my goals I am certainly tall enough."
Alexander's decision-making, quick reflexes and technical ability impressed Cardiff City scouts, while he is learning to use any part of his body to block the ball in a crisis and not trying to be too correct.
Edinburgh-born Alexander took a gamble when he opted for a move from Livingston, the club he helped earn promotion to the Scottish Premier League, to South Wales a year ago. It could have gone wrong, but Alexander was keen to achieve an ambition to play down south.
"It was a risk, I suppose, but personally things have gone better than I could possibly have hoped for," said Alexander after he had produced a series of quality saves during City's 3-1 win at Ayr United this week.
"It would have been great to go up last season, but it wasn't to be and we'll be even better as a squad this season.
"All the young players, including myself, have another year's experience and a few quality players have been added to the squad."
There is no doubt Alexander will start the new season as the Bluebirds' first choice - he has earned it according to manager Lennie Lawrence - but City are scouring Britain for the right keeper to put him under pressure.
It could be Wales B international Martyn Margetson, who is on trial with Cardiff City, or Grimsby Town's transfer-listed Danny Coyne.
The problem with Coyne, who could yet be available on a free, is that both he and Alexander are pushing to break into international squads. If they were both at Cardiff the player who was out of the side for any length of time would surely see the chances of playing for his country diminish.
Alexander is in the Scotland squad --he went on their Far East tour before the World Cup - while Coyne is in the Wales squad. Rab Douglas and Neil Sullivan are ahead of Dundee United's young keeper Paul Gallacher and Alexander in Scotland, while Coyne is aiming to put pressure on Wales' current top two Paul Jones and Mark Crossley.
"If Martyn (Margetson) or Danny (Coyne) come in I will be delighted," said Alexander. "The competition will be great and that can only push me to improve all the time.
"Our aim is to get Cardiff City out of Division Two and if I can help along the way then that can only help my Scotland ambitions.
"I played for the under-21 team 10 times and I loved it. Now I want more and that means earning selection for the senior squad again.
"It's a big step up from under 21 level and players can get lost between the two, but it's only taken me a couple of years to get in and I am determined-to make the most of any chances which come my way.
"One day, in the future, I can be Scotland's number one."
Helping him along the way is George Wood, who knows all about being Scotland's number one. The former Arsenal, Everton and Cardiff City keeper was Scotland's finest and he is now the Bluebirds' goalkeeping coach.
" George is brilliant at what he does," said Alexander. "He was a big factor in my decision to sign for Cardiff City. He helps me analyse my game and he helps me in so many ways."
Ironically, Cardiff City were watching Alexander's Livingston teammate Ian McCaldon and contemplated makinga bid when they realised Alexander was soon to be out of contract.
They swooped for the young keeper, paid up a compensation package of £135,000, and brought Alexander to South Wales.
Wolves, Everton, Southampton, Rangers and Celtic had watched him, but Cardiff came up with a firm offer.
This week Alexander is at home in Scotland, visiting grounds he has played at many times before.
"It's good to be back playing in Scotland," said Alexander with a grin as he left the visitors dressing room at Somerset Park, Ayr. "I know a lot of the players up here and it's great to see them."
The Western Mail on Thursday focussed on new signing Chris Barker
Western Mail story
NEW Cardiff City signing Chris Barker has revealed that he turned down the chance to sign for First Division high-flyers Wolves and Preston to play for the Bluebirds.
The former Barnsley defender dropped into the Second Division last season when the Yorkshire club suffered their second relegation in three years.
The 22-year-old, sold by Barnsley to bring in some much-needed cash at Oakwell, could have remained a Division One player since Wolves, Preston and local club Sheffield Wednesday all showed an interest in buying the strapping 6ft 1in left-back.
But, just as he did with ex-Bradford midfielder Gareth Whalley, who signed for Cardiff only days before Barker, club owner Sam Hammam convinced the Sheffield-born player to spurn the attention of First Division clubs and move to South Wales.
"I knew that Wolves, Preston and Sheffield Wednesday were interested in me, but Cardiff was the club that put most pressure on me to sign," said Barker, who began his career in the Unibond League with Alfreton.
"Sam Hammam was the first to make a formal offer for me and I was happy to sign for him. It would have been nice to stay in the First Division, but Cardiff really wanted me.
"I'm not sure if those First Division clubs had the money to buy me. That just shows how strong Cardiff are right now."
He added, "I think the squad here is as good as most in the First. Last Saturday at Merthyr the manager, (Lennie Lawrence), played two different teams in each half. I played in the second-half team and that team could easily have coped in Division One."
Barker's is a real rags-to-riches story. Only four years ago he was playing in front of 30 people on a bumpy pitch for Alfreton while working as a £4.50 an-hour lifeguard in local swimming pools.
Now he is diving into a four-figure weekly salary with one of the wealth-iest and most ambitious clubs in the Football League.
"Barnsley lost a lot of money because of relegation last season. They had to sell a couple of players and I was one of those players," he said.
"Cardiff have a good manager and a good owner - that's why I signed for them. It can become a very big club. Hundreds of thousands of people live in and around Cardiff and we've got to get them to come and watch us."
Hammam agreed a potential £600,000 fee for Barker. He has paid Barnsley an initial £500,000 and he will pay them another £100,000 if City, as expected, win promotion.
"The fee has got nothing to do with me but it does put a little bit of pressure on me," said the defender.
"At the same time, it's a nice feeling to think I'm worth half a million pounds. I just hope I can repay Cardiff."
Barker, who can also operate as a centre-back in a 3-5-2 wing-back formation, played his first full 90 minutes for City on Tuesday in the 3-1 win at Ayr in the opening friendly of City's three-match tour of Scotland.
Tonight City play Scottish Second Division side Berwick Rangers at Shielfield Park.
"I think I'm doing OK. I'm getting to know the lads. The first few weeks are always hard and what made it even harder for me was the fact I didn't know any of the Cardiff play-ers from before," he explained.
"We've got a massive squad here. I knew about that when I signed because Sam said he wanted three players for every position. But we'll need this squad if we get to the First Division."
Barker joined Barnsley from Alfreton in 1998, initially on a week-to-week trial. He first signed for eight months, then for another year. Before he joined Barnsley he worked for two years as a lifeguard in Sheffield.
"No, I didn't give any girls the kiss of life!" he laughed. "The worst thing I ever had to deal with was a nosebleed. That's the closest I got to saving anyone.
"I'm quite glad I wasn't called on to save someone's life because I don't know how I would have reacted in a terrible situation.
"I really enjoyed working as a lifeguard, but it doesn't compare to being a professional footballer. Every young boy wants to be a footballer, you can see that just by going around all the parks on a Sunday.
"I know I'm very lucky to be doing what I'm doing. The fact I came into football quite late and that I started at a club like Alfreton has made me appreciate what I've got at the moment."
The Echo on Friday looked at Martyn Margetson who is hoping for a City contract.
Echo story
WALES B international Martyn Margetson is hoping to find out early next week whether he will be staying with Cardiff City.
Margetson, 30, kept a clean sheet on his Bluebirds debut at Berwick Rangers and then said: "I'd love to stay at Ninian Park."
The Neath-born goalkeeper had little to do during a 1-0 win against Berwick Rangers, making one decent save and patrolling his penalty area efficiently.
Former Manchester City, Bristol Rovers, Southend United and Huddersfield Town goalkeeper Margetson is spending a week with Cardiff City in the hope of earning a long-term contract.
He was a first team regular with Huddersfield last night, playing twice in Second Division matches against Cardiff, and was offered a new contract by the Yorkshire club before it was withdrawn while he was on holiday.
"I'm keen to earn a contract with Cardiff City," said Margetson. "A clean sheet in my first match helps and it was a good match to start in.
"I had one real save to make. It wasn't easy because the ball moved in the air, but I kept it out.
"I've had an excellent week. It's been brilliant."
Cardiff City are keen to sign a goalkeeper to challenge first choice Neil Alexander and manager Lennie Lawrence is currently looking at Margetson and Grimsby Town's Welsh international Danny Coyne.
"Neil and I have got on really well," said Margetson. "I've also enjoyed working with goalkeeping coach George Wood."
Thanks to both the Western Mail and South Wales Echo for the news stories.