In Support of Etete

[Cleve van Leef]

He seems to be a scapegoat from numerous fans. Problem is that no matter what he does he’s going to get flak. He is the loan striker (so it seems on paper) and gets no support, is totally isolated and therefore looks as if he’s a deadweight. He is no world beater but maybe, if he had someone to play alongside him he could be more effective. The past few years have been a desert for City strikers, Moore excepted. Unless the Club appoint a Manager who can actually bring out the best of what we have, onwards and downwards.

[JumpersforGoalposts]

I thought he was shocking today, when he wasn't on his arse because he was being out battled by a defender he was moaning at the ref. The only plus was he managed two shots on target, unfortunately both tame efforts straight at the 'keeper.
He just about edged out the ref for worst performance on the pitch today.

[Bothroyd's Diving Coach]

I thought he was shocking today, when he wasn't on his arse because he was being out battled by a defender he was moaning at the ref. The only plus was he managed two shots on target, unfortunately both tame efforts straight at the 'keeper.
He just about edged out the ref for worst performance on the pitch today.

I think this reaffirms what the OP is saying. I think considering his size, he's so easily pushed aside it's a joke. I also think on occasion his touch can be poor. On the other hand, I think to say he was 'moaning' today is grossly unfair. Despite being easily outmuscled, his shirt was basically ripped off on half a dozen occasions and got 0 protection from the ref. I also think it's fair to say our wingers are some of the worst in the league at either beating a man/getting crosses in or supporting Etete in a more inverted winger type role, so I also feel for him there.

At the end of the day I think the blame should be shared out by both Etete for being weaker than Isak Davies in a physical battle, Bulut for the way we set up and also our surrounding players. Either play someone alongside him, or drop him because he clearly isn't good/strong enough to be playing isolated on his own.

[the other bob wilson]

I see Mark Harris scored his thirteenth goal of the season today - a consequence of playing in a lower division or more proof that, unless you’re Kieffer Moore, Cardiff City is a graveyard for strikers?

[Pedro de la Rosa]

I see Mark Harris scored his thirteenth goal of the season today - a consequence of playing in a lower division or more proof that, unless you’re Kieffer Moore, Cardiff City is a graveyard for strikers?

A consequence of playing with our midfield. Etete is way off the pace though, he’s not good enough like so many of our squad.

[Tuerto]

A consequence of playing with our midfield. Etete is way off the pace though, he’s not good enough like so many of our squad.

[Eric the Half a Bee]

A consequence of playing with our midfield. Etete is way off the pace though, he’s not good enough like so many of our squad.

Now we can all see this, which begs the question of why Bulut did so little about it in the January transfer window. In his defence, I know that getting good attacking options in during the January window isn't easy and we weren't in the market to spend much money, but I don't feel he's really addressed the biggest problem.

If we could cause teams more problems with our attack, our defensive game wouldn't be relied on so heavily.

[the other bob wilson]

A consequence of playing with our midfield. Etete is way off the pace though, he’s not good enough like so many of our squad.

So, a striker’s graveyard then.

[Tuerto]

I see Mark Harris scored his thirteenth goal of the season today - a consequence of playing in a lower division or more proof that, unless you’re Kieffer Moore, Cardiff City is a graveyard for strikers?

I'd say that you're correct with both of the questions raised.

[Eric the Half a Bee]

I'd say that you're correct with both of the questions raised.

There are also two other questions that lead from this - is Harris's scoring exploits this season helped by having experience in the Championship and would we have been better keeping him on our books and sending him on loan this season?

[Tuerto]

There are also two other questions that lead from this - is Harris's scoring exploits this season helped by having experience in the Championship and would we have been better keeping him on our books and sending him on loan this season?

If Harris played a full season in the championship, then i reckon that he'd score 7 or 8 goals. I think that it was the right thing for him to move on.

[Eric the Half a Bee]

If Harris played a full season in the championship, then i reckon that he'd score 7 or 8 goals. I think that it was the right thing for him to move on.

So better than any of our current strikers, then!

[the other bob wilson]

There are also two other questions that lead from this - is Harris's scoring exploits this season helped by having experience in the Championship and would we have been better keeping him on our books and sending him on loan this season?

Not 100 per cent sure about this, but wasn’t it Harris’ decision to leave?

[Eric the Half a Bee]

Not 100 per cent sure about this, but wasn’t it Harris’ decision to leave?

He didn't agree to a new contract, so possibly. Think that was pre-Bulut as well.

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

The last decent goalscorer we had at this club has joined Ipswich

[NYCBlue]

The last decent goalscorer we had at this club has joined Ipswich

You think a genius businessman like Tan would have been able to land him. Especially with the help of his illustrious transfer committee.

[LA Bluebird]

I don’t think Harris would be doing any worse than Etete. Despite one being about half a foot taller than the other they seem to have similar games… in the side because they are perceived to be good at closing down, the odd decent finish and completely ineffective physically against Championship defenders.

The difference being that Etete comes from Spurs and is tall, so he gets considered a tantalizing prospect whereas Harris was written off. Neither are Championship standard but can do a job a league below.

[Rock_Flock_of_Five]

He seems to be a scapegoat from numerous fans. Problem is that no matter what he does he’s going to get flak. He is the loan striker (so it seems on paper) and gets no support, is totally isolated and therefore looks as if he’s a deadweight. He is no world beater but maybe, if he had someone to play alongside him he could be more effective. The past few years have been a desert for City strikers, Moore excepted. Unless the Club appoint a Manager who can actually bring out the best of what we have, onwards and downwards.

"He is the loan striker..."

Ah good, I thought we'd bought him?
Let's send him back then, waste of space!

[Cleve van Leef]

"He is the loan striker..."

Ah good, I thought we'd bought him?
Let's send him back then, waste of space!

My apologies for misspelling “loan”. It’s an age problem.

[LA Bluebird]

He isn't good with his back to goal, he can't hold the ball up, he is easily swept aside by defenders, he doesn't make runs for through balls, his body language is that of a couldn't-care-less dope, and, he is generally poor in the air. Did I miss something?

Having said all that, I have a feeling if he went somewhere else and put on 25lbs, he would turn into a monster.

If he put on 25lbs he’d be Troy Deeney. Expecting a 23 year old footballer to have that kind of good weight gain has to be extremely unlikely if not impossible. If he was 17 maybe you’d say different.

[Eric the Half a Bee]

If he put on 25lbs he’d be Troy Deeney. Expecting a 23 year old footballer to have that kind of good weight gain has to be extremely unlikely if not impossible.

Give me a summer with him. I'll sort that out and more.

[superfeathers]

Etete is awful, and Imo would be in any system at this level

[NYCBlue]

Etete is awful, and Imo would be in any system at this level

This.

[WJ99mobile]

Etete is awful, and Imo would be in any system at this level

And yet he still looked better than Ugbo

I think his energy pace and determination he will make it but agree in the short term he is just not good enough.

I only listened on the radio but Jason Perry said he was being held and manhandled. If you’re going to play like that you either need to bully back or play smarter.

[llan bluebird]

And yet he still looked better than Ugbo

I think his energy pace and determination he will make it but agree in the short term he is just not good enough.

I only listened on the radio but Jason Perry said he was being held and manhandled. If you’re going to play like that you either need to bully back or play smarter.

I thought the ref looked at Cardiff v Preston and thought that is a power football game, let the big boys play and he did. Our centre halfs against their front line was a pure muscle contest and not a murmur from any of the protagonists.

If Etete is not a target man then what is he? Ugbo is a finisher, not particularly quick or strong, although not weak or slow but ice cold in front of the goal. Colwill, Turnbull or Rambo will need runners to pass to and i think our best wide forward is in Belgium