There’s been a lot of talk over the last year or so about the performances of some of our bigger-name signings, and Emile Smith Rowe has beenat the forefront of them.
I don’t want this piece to come across as a pile on, but I’m sure he like Fulham fans will agree that since joining in 2024 for a fee that could rise to £34m it hasn’t quite gone to plan for ESR. Patience can only get everyone, so what does the future look like for the man who was briefly our record signing?
In his defence
Smith Rowe joined Fulham following a couple of years to forget at Arsenal. The now 26-year-old first emerged in the Premier League during the 2020-21 campaign, but really made a name for himself in 21-22. It coincided with Arsenal’s slow metamorphosis from a laughing stock into a Premier League-winning side.
During that season both him and Bukayo Saka were mentioned in the same breath, with ESR picking up 11 goals and two assists across the Premier League and Carabao Cup. But a few years of unfortunate injuries followed, and while Arsenal continued to improve, ESR began to stagnate. Limited game time both due to injury and the signing of Martin Odegaard meant that Smith Rowe failed to score in both 22-23 and 23-24, which meant he was out the door.
Emile joined Fulham under Marco Silva as one of many ‘Premier League outcasts’ with point to prove. It did start that way, with three goal involvements in Fulham’s first five that season. A darting run away at Everton resulted in an assist for Alex Iwobi, which perfectly illustrated how everyone wanted (and still wants) Smith Rowe to deliver. He ended the year with six goals and three assists - a very respectable return.
There’s evidently a player in there and even last season we saw some of the glimpses of it, with goals against Manchester United, Manchester City and Burnley. Smith Rowe also still time on his hands having just turned 26, so he’s hardly a write-off yet. I do like parts of what I see from him and there are litle flashes that show why at one point some Arsenal fans thought he was the answer to their problems, more so than Saka.
Stagnation
That being said, I mentioned stagnation in his days at Arsenal (albeit due to injury) and it does feel a bit like we’re starting to see this now at Fulham. ESR’s a player who’s often criticised for his workrate more than his goal output. West Ham on Tuesday night felt like a perfect summary of this. It was a decent opportunity for him to put himself into contention for the number 10 slot against a weakened Championship side, but like we’ve seen before with ESR he flattered to deceive.
When joining Fulham, he spoke about a desire to get back into that England team and I think we all thought that this signing had the making of being another Silva special; finding a diamond in the rough and carving out a good Premier League footballer. In many ways, I think we’ve done that. Smith Rowe is steady without being exciting and barring that one breakout year for Arsenal, his output numbers have been relatively consistent across his career. But steady isn’t enough.
I think Smith Rowe is a player who’s hampered by two things that ultimately will put pressure on him. Firstly, he was the first of a few big-money signings that Fulham have had over the last few years. Alongside, Berge, Andersen, Bobb, Kevin and Garcia. ESR cost a pretty penny and at a club like Fulham, you want results.
Secondly, the emergence of Josh King has restricted him (as we are seeing this season) to get a good number of regular minutes in the first team and as a result is stifling that progression. This isn’t me saying I want him to start over Josh King because King is showing to Smith Rowe a blueprint of how to be a successful number 10.
I don’t want this to come across as me deflecting responsibility away from Smith Rowe because ultimately the buck stops with him. Arbeloa clearly adores King for both his ability in the final third but also that workrate and desire to get the ball back when other teams are in transition – two things that Smith Rowe is failing to do for Fulham.
Where do we go from here?
I don’t think that Smith Rowe’s career at Fulham is over yet. I’ve highlighted in this article the good that he has provided for both Arsenal and Fulham in the past. But I do think that with King continuing to develop at pace, Smith Rowe’s stock will continue to drop.
I wonder if come January/next summer we look to cash in. We spent a hefty chunk of change on ESR and in a footballing world that is heavily dictated by the books, we could look to get back as much of that as we can while we can.
Especially when you consider some of the assets we also spent big on (Berge/Andersen) are starting to reach an age where you can’t get that type of outlay back. Smith Rowe still has time on his side and has shown enough to other Premier League clubs (particularly those that come up from the Championship) to take a gamble. Ultimately, we want the boy to succeed, and if it can’t be here, then maybe it has to be elsewhere.
I like ESR and want him to do well, at his best he is a delightful footballer to watch. I also think his naturally shy and languid demanour unfairly work against him.
I thought he actually employed an admirable pressing game for much of his time on the pitch last season, he looked relatively fit, sharp and hardworking. But it seemed to come at the expense of the rest of his game.
In flashes he has also shown some great Sessegnon type movement and eye for goal, some wonderful one touch football that not many others in the team can produce, and some decent link up play. The real frustration is that he doesn't seem to be able to put it all together into a 90 minute performance. For someone of his technical ability and price tag he should be raising the teams ceiling not coasting under it.
I'm not sure what the answer is, he's had plenty of time and opportunities now, and I had hoped that the new manager and style of play might spark something for him. It's still early days in this new era, so still chance for him to do something. But if it doesn't happen this season, then it's probabky never going to, so agree we would have to cut our losses and free up the squad space.
Fingers crossed good things will happen for him and us.
As he joined in 2024, half his transfer fee is probably written off so he is on the books for £15 to £20m. Given the competition and Arbeloa's tactics, i would sell in January. He has talent but isn't consistent, however much he has technically.