Former Manchester City winger a Bradford City target (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Phil Parkinson gives his reasons for letting so many Bradford City players go
8:20am Tuesday 15th May 2012 in Bantams
By Ross Heppenstall, Bradford Bulls Reporter
Kelvin Etuhu is one of the players being targeted by City this summer
Phil Parkinson has admitted that Kelvin Etuhu is on his radar as he gears up for a major overhaul at Valley Parade this summer.
The City boss has already begun to ring the changes after releasing Lee Bullock, Marcel Seip and Rob Kozluk last week.
Former skipper Guy Branston and Steve Williams have been told to find another club and look set to follow Michael Flynn and Craig Fagan through the exit door.
The departures will free up space in Parkinson’s budget and the City boss is currently beavering away behind the scenes in a bid to bring in new players.
Although no deals are imminent, former Manchester City forward Etuhu, who spent last season at Portsmouth and is now a free agent, is one potential signing.
Nigerian-born Etuhu, 23, plays on the right flank and is the younger brother of Fulham midfielder Dickson Etuhu.
There’s nothing imminent and it’s going to take a while for things to sort themselves out throughout the summer
Phil Parkinson
Asked about the link with Etuhu, Parkinson said: “It was a call from someone I know down in Portsmouth who told me he may possibly be available.
“He’s one of several players we’re speaking to, along with their agents.
“But there’s nothing imminent and it’s going to take a while for things to sort themselves out throughout the summer.”
Parkinson, who is hoping that player of the year Luke Oliver, Simon Ramsden and David Syers will sign new deals, paid tribute to Bullock, Seip and Kozluk.
“We felt that it was time for Lee to move on but it was a close call because he’s such a good pro and he has done well for us at times this season,” said the Bantams boss.
“We wish him all the best and thank him for what he’s done.
“Marcel was slightly different because his contract ended.
“He had his shoulder injury and he’s got a base down in Plymouth, so he wanted to try and get something down that way.
“It was pretty straightforward that he was going to go at the end of the season.”
Parkinson did not rule out Kozluk, who was brought in as a stop-gap in January when Ramsden was injured, returning to City.
“Koz did well but I’ve got to try and look for a couple of younger full backs,” he said.
“If the budget is available in the summer to bring him back as cover, then we certainly wouldn’t rule that out.
“For the moment I’ve got to look elsewhere and he’s got to himself. But he’s a great lad and has made his contribution.”
Branston and Williams, meanwhile, are among six players still in contract who are no longer in Parkinson’s plans.
“When Guy came back in he did well and I thank him for that,” said Parkinson.
“But he understands that I’ve got to build my own team and put my own mark on this squad.
“If something comes up that suits him and us, then we’re happy for him to go.
“We thought we had a deal for Steve Williams to go to Inverness but that seems not to be happening at the moment.
“There will be one or two other clubs interested in him, though, so we’ll see what happens.”
Comments(23)
tyker2
says...
9:04am Tue 15 May 12
The system requires players who can pass, move and retain possession. will be able to find players who can actually do that?
nowt fresh
says...
10:38am Tue 15 May 12
.co.uk/news/article-
1369544/Ex-Mancheste
r-City-striker-Kelvi
n-Etuhu-jailed-drunk
en-street-attack.htm
l,
another Jake Speight
http://www.dailystar
.co.uk/news/view/146
006/Bradford-City-st
riker-Jake-Speight-b
eat-girlfriend-but-f
reed-after-appeal/
prince35
says...
10:40am Tue 15 May 12
Ethu has played at championship level so I would imagine clubs at that level and lge1 will be sniffing around for his signature.
Also ethu's wages will be fairly high.
Lets remember we are a lge2 club that finished in 18th , so im sure certain players wont even entertain the idea of coming to bradford.
Edinburgh -bantam
says...
10:58am Tue 15 May 12
This will be happening in regional newspapers the length and breadth of the UK.
tyker2
says...
11:28am Tue 15 May 12
nowt fresh wrote:not wishing to minimise either criminal activity:one was a drunken vicious attack on a woman (Speight) whilst the other appears to be a retaliation albeit retaliation in a very excessive manner.
http://www.dailymail
.co.uk/news/article-
1369544/Ex-Mancheste
r-City-striker-Kelvi
n-Etuhu-jailed-drunk
en-street-attack.htm
l,
another Jake Speight
http://www.dailystar
.co.uk/news/view/146
006/Bradford-City-st
riker-Jake-Speight-b
eat-girlfriend-but-f
reed-after-appeal/
Do we want such thugs playing for city: difficult to answer that one now considering our boxing match against Crawley. !Incidentallly Ppablo Mills has been released by Crawley-- watch this space!!
beardedclam
says...
11:36am Tue 15 May 12
tyker2 wrote:Make sure you use block capitals, it makes your point clearer to everyone else!
maybe a whole change in format wplaying 3-5-2 WITH THREE CENTRAL DEFENDERS (ALBEIT MOBILE ONES) and a couple of agile wing backs should be deployed. Look what sensible use Wigan made of that style and what they achived with it in the latter end of the season.
The system requires players who can pass, move and retain possession. will be able to find players who can actually do that?
northyorksbantam
says...
11:38am Tue 15 May 12
tyker2 wrote:Plenty of areas to live in Bradford where Kelvin would fit in with that sort of behaviour, so finding him a home shouldn't be a problem.
nowt fresh wrote: http://www.dailymail .co.uk/news/article- 1369544/Ex-Mancheste r-City-striker-Kelvi n-Etuhu-jailed-drunk en-street-attack.htm l, another Jake Speight http://www.dailystar .co.uk/news/view/146 006/Bradford-City-st riker-Jake-Speight-b eat-girlfriend-but-f reed-after-appeal/not wishing to minimise either criminal activity:one was a drunken vicious attack on a woman (Speight) whilst the other appears to be a retaliation albeit retaliation in a very excessive manner. Do we want such thugs playing for city: difficult to answer that one now considering our boxing match against Crawley. !Incidentallly Ppablo Mills has been released by Crawley-- watch this space!!
Waynus1971
says...
11:49am Tue 15 May 12
.
As for the above named winger, it appears someone is using City to get Etuhu a better deal. This was all over SkySports yesterday and caused PP to have to admit he was interested.
.
Chances of signing him? I would say as likely as Andrew Davies re-joining us....! When I first heard the reports on SKY, yesterday and that Parker was going to print his interview with PP about the player, I must admit to being a little hopeful. Now I know that we are only 'interested' and nothing more than that, I am less positive. The fact is, Pompey actually want to keep him, so I can't see him dropping into League 2.
nowt fresh
says...
11:57am Tue 15 May 12
tyker2 wrote:Kelvin Etuhu his wiki profile doesn't suggest to me that he is anything special be it that his career so far has been at a higher level than 4th division, but so was Craig Fagans and he was far from outstanding in this league, IMO if his commitment on the field was the same as in a bar I would say no we don't want him !...
nowt fresh wrote:not wishing to minimise either criminal activity:one was a drunken vicious attack on a woman (Speight) whilst the other appears to be a retaliation albeit retaliation in a very excessive manner.
http://www.dailymail
.co.uk/news/article-
1369544/Ex-Mancheste
r-City-striker-Kelvi
n-Etuhu-jailed-drunk
en-street-attack.htm
l,
another Jake Speight
http://www.dailystar
.co.uk/news/view/146
006/Bradford-City-st
riker-Jake-Speight-b
eat-girlfriend-but-f
reed-after-appeal/
Do we want such thugs playing for city: difficult to answer that one now considering our boxing match against Crawley. !Incidentallly Ppablo Mills has been released by Crawley-- watch this space!!
Oliver's shinpad
says...
11:59am Tue 15 May 12
Prisoner Cell Block A
says...
12:26pm Tue 15 May 12
Cityman23
says...
12:32pm Tue 15 May 12
tyker2 wrote:I for one think 'PP' and City should look elsewhere, based on this player's background.
nowt fresh wrote:not wishing to minimise either criminal activity:one was a drunken vicious attack on a woman (Speight) whilst the other appears to be a retaliation albeit retaliation in a very excessive manner.
http://www.dailymail
.co.uk/news/article-
1369544/Ex-Mancheste
r-City-striker-Kelvi
n-Etuhu-jailed-drunk
en-street-attack.htm
l,
another Jake Speight
http://www.dailystar
.co.uk/news/view/146
006/Bradford-City-st
riker-Jake-Speight-b
eat-girlfriend-but-f
reed-after-appeal/
Do we want such thugs playing for city: difficult to answer that one now considering our boxing match against Crawley. !Incidentallly Ppablo Mills has been released by Crawley-- watch this space!!
jackez20591
says...
1:32pm Tue 15 May 12
People complain when we chase after quality targets.
Donaldson was in League 2 and a very realistic target, it was nothing to do with boosting ticket sales. We lost out to a League 1 team.
DisplacedNortherner
says...
1:46pm Tue 15 May 12
Cityman23 wrote:Your comment would have ruled out Jamie Lawrence and Peter Beagrie playing for the club and their behaviour was exemplary. Its something to consider but ruling a player out because of it is probably not wise
tyker2 wrote:I for one think 'PP' and City should look elsewhere, based on this player's background.nowt fresh wrote: http://www.dailymail .co.uk/news/article- 1369544/Ex-Mancheste r-City-striker-Kelvi n-Etuhu-jailed-drunk en-street-attack.htm l, another Jake Speight http://www.dailystar .co.uk/news/view/146 006/Bradford-City-st riker-Jake-Speight-b eat-girlfriend-but-f reed-after-appeal/not wishing to minimise either criminal activity:one was a drunken vicious attack on a woman (Speight) whilst the other appears to be a retaliation albeit retaliation in a very excessive manner. Do we want such thugs playing for city: difficult to answer that one now considering our boxing match against Crawley. !Incidentallly Ppablo Mills has been released by Crawley-- watch this space!!
JamesRobertshaw
says...
2:51pm Tue 15 May 12
Oliver's shinpad wrote:we always go for him and never get him, waste of time.
I'd say file this under "Clayton Donaldson pre season ticket boosting rumour".
A great signing if we get Kelvin Etuhu. would not be in the least disappointed
halifaxbantam
says...
3:54pm Tue 15 May 12
claretstripe
says...
4:07pm Tue 15 May 12
Does any one if this is true? I hope not because he's been very poor.
tyker2
says...
4:20pm Tue 15 May 12
Dave2610
says...
5:31pm Tue 15 May 12
Prisoner Cell Block A
says...
7:10pm Tue 15 May 12
dannbradfc
says...
8:47am Wed 16 May 12
eebygum
says...
3:06pm Wed 16 May 12
tyker2 wrote:They said that about Micheal Boulding didn't they? Althought I do like Mcleod he always likes to get involved but there is the bad side of him where he tends to be over reactive in certain situations.
just seen a list of players out of contract now in league 2:izale Mcleod at Barnet. If he can score 20 odd with that team what could he do with us ; 19 would be good enough in a season!
dannbradfc says...
8:43am Tue 15 May 12
We do need to move early though so has to have the whole squad available pre-season. Theres plent yof out of contract players going but getting in early (although means summer wages) perhaps players also want to have things settled.
The smaller squad will make us more competitive with wages hopefully, so there's nowt wrong with setting our targets high initially.....