This is the lede paragraph in a story published in The Nation: After months of bench role in the Fulham squad, Nigerian midfielder Dickson Etuhu has revealed that by January he will make his intention known whether to stay at Craven Cottage or seek greener pasture. The Link I'd hate to see Etuhu leave, but I don't blame him. It's hard to see him getting minutes with the starting 11 once Sidwell returns. The same is basically true for Simon Davies, too. Under what circumstance will these Fulham stalwarts get regular football?
A few weeks ago I'd have agreed with you DR. I think Dickson has done well enough in the last few games that he may get gametime ahead of Sidwell in the coming weeks. We'll have to wait and see. I wouldn't write off Davies yet, we'll have to wait and see once he's fit. He's a hard worker and has a good delivery. He could feature in the front-three midfield if we are moving to 4-2-3-1 rather than 4-4-2, or even - maybe - be an alternative to Murphy in the deeper 2. If it comes to it, we're not overburdened with right-backs right now, and he's played there before.
Capt, Etuhu said these things about four days ago. It's true that was before the Liverpool game, but it still doesn't change the fact that when Sidwell is healthy, he'll likely be first choice again. Etuhu is 29 ... he's only got a few years left for first-team football. The story is worse for Davies. For him to crack the starting 11, he'll have to get past Ruiz, Duff and possibly Dembele - all of whom have their eyes set on that right wing position (assuming Dempsey has the left side locked up) Don't get me wrong. I would love to keep Davies and Etuhu in the team, but both are near the ends of their careers and, if they want to play regularly in the starting 11, they'll probably have to move on to another team.
Davies played 70 minutes for the reserves yesterday - in Murphy's position. Watch this space ! The team beat West Brom 3-0; Frei, Kasami and Sa getting the goals. Quote of the week - from Sa at last night's Christmas bash - "It was a bit of a fluke really but a goal is a goal". Amen to that.
To be fair, you can't grumble about Davies not getting a game, he's been injured! We'll see where he fits in when he's fully fit. Etuhu will have given Big Mart something to think about given his performance in the Liverpool game. I don't think Sidwell's assured of his place, certainly if Etuhu puts in another big performance this weekend.
Etuhu came out with a similar statement earlier in the season, yet a few games in the first team and he's now delighted to be at the club he loves and wouldn't dare of leaving. Footballers are awfully fickle.
In the last 3 games dickson has been immense, brilliant against arsenal and the liverpool and 1 of the only players (along with frei) to emerge with credit from the twente game. I wouldn't be opposed to trying sidwell and etuhu in a 4-2-3-1 formation, showing murphy he's is not guaranteed a place, as this season he hasn't been great (giving the captaincy to hangeland when murphys not playing).
I think Jol is using both Etuhu and Sidwell alternative given the demands of the game. As we are playing in multiple competitions the players have to get used to the idea of rotation!
Madness ... I agree wholeheartedly, but I think someone needs to convince Etuhu of that. One of the things about Etuhu, I've noticed, is that he's great when he gets a long spell of playing time - like he's had recently. But if he's playing sporadically, it hurts his confidence and concentration. He needs time to settle into games. If you watch his first few touches at the beginning of game, they're rather indecisive. Later in the game, he's much better.
With Etuhu it seems playing games has given him more confidence. Although he still seems to shy away from shots on goal when the crowd wants him too. They should show him tapes of Papa Bouba Diop letting rip, some of them went into Row Z some flew into the net. Etuhu's Blackpool goal was an example he can do it. But I think playing with the 3 Amigos (Dempsey, Dembele and Ruiz) gives him more options to his passing then just the sideways pass to Murphy.
I think Super Brian's last point is the crucial one. The 4-2-3-1 suits Dickson better than the 4-4-2 in terms of options when in possession. At the start of the season he was giving the ball away too often, but it seems that hasn't been such a problem recently. Dropping him for Sidwell made sense when he was losing possession for us. If he has dealt with that problem in his game (and if Jol sees it that way), I expect he'll get a lot more game time. The competition between the two of them is a nice problem to have. At least, it will be once Sidwell is fit again. Etuhu came to us in part because he was fed up with not getting first team football. I don't think we can blame him for wanting to move on again if he thinks he's going to just sit on the bench, but it's fair enough to expect him to fight for his place first. And in fairness to him, isn't that just what he's doing?
As I said we need to have a squad that will allow us to play different formations. If Etuhu is suited only for the 4-2-3-1 then his options will be limited. Would like him to stay but if he thinks that grass is greener somewhere else good luck to him!
