It's not like a new manager has come in who just doesn't rate him, well that's part of it, but Flitcroft wasn't playing him much this season either. He played a pivotal role for us last season. After looking hopeless out on the wing for Hill, Flitcroft put him in central midfield and he was a rock. He didn't have much skill for a player who has spent much of his time as either a winger or a forward, but he was big and strong, closed the opposition down quickly, put tackles in and protected the defence. I very much doubt we would have stayed up without him, I'm sure we wouldn't. Why has he gone so far off the boil?
Everyone just woke up to the fact that he's tripe. He will be back at Rochdale when his contract expires.
My personal opinion has always been that he doesn't have the quality to play regularly in centre midfield. I suspect Danny thinks the same. Although I agree he put some valuable performances in last year, they tended to be in backs against the wall, high tempo pressing games. I'm not he would suit the style Danny prefers. He's tending to favour players with technique in the middle such as Woods and Frimpong. I preferred Dawson to Etuhu last season and still do.
He had a handful of good games, where he was immense. But only a few, it seems like more. That bang on the head at Milton Keynes put an end to 5-6 weeks of good form. Wasn't he out for over a month? After that he was less consistent, but played a major part in survival I agree. Started this season with niggling injures and has been off the map since Wilson arrived. Danny did say something about loaning him out.
Beginning to look like Dagnall in that he had an extraordinary run of form before returning to the levels of performance that are perhaps more representative of his abilities. Can't see him having the technical ability for Danny.
From the things I have heard at the ground, he is another that believed the hype he got last season, turned back into a big time Charlie !! Shame.
