He's going through a bad patch & living off his set pieces a bit at the minute. Definitely the worst player on the pitch in our last 2 home games but it's probably just fatigue, Cole seems to be having the same issue and as much as folk like pretending earning a lot of money makes you immune to fatigue it doesn't. Ideally the likes of Jennings, Treacy & Digby would all be fit & firing so that Hourihane would be able to have a rest but as we all know that's not the case
Agree about the fatigue thing but, to me, the one who is definitely suffering is young Berry. He could hardly move for the last 15 minutes on Saturday and, on one occasion last night, it took him about 10 minutes to get back from their box into our half. I rate him but he definitely needs a rest.
Berry ran himself into the ground last night - now Brad Abbott's back from injury there's an option there to rest him. Rest did Berry the world of good earlier on this season.
Agree entirely. Same goes with Cole but unfortunately neither Hemmings or Treacy look up to replacing him.
As yet. Treacy's on a long term recovery from injury - heard him interviewed at the tart of the season talking about the programme Nathan Winder had in place for him - a bit of work and patience this season could give us a right laiker next.
Agree with this. Very, very similar thread to the ones we saw on here regular throughout December, three years ago, the last time we had a talented, young creator and scorer. I predicted this would happen with Conor eventually, back when folk were proclaiming him the best laiker since Pele. Conor Hourihane is **** hot. He's got his deficiencies, of course he has. Having a bit of a sticky patch at the minute. Lots of reasons for that. I'll not be joining in with the bashing of him though. I certainly won't be suggesting he's yet to have a good game. Each to their own, mind.
I'm tempted to bump the archived threads from three years ago, but I've no need, we all remember em, but I saw these kinds of threads about Jacob at exactly the same time of year, after we'd not won a couple of games. Questioned his 'heart', suggested he was afraid to get stuck in in case it ruined his big move (how wrong they were on that..), highlighted his defensive weaknesses, said he looked mardy etc. Must be a coincidence.
History repeats itself ad infinitum. Hourihane follows in the steps of Brian Howard, Adam Hammill, Jacob Butterfield to name just a few recent ones. The same will happen with Sam Winnall at some point.
Yup. I also seem to remember the diatribes being thrown at Brian Howard and claims he wouldn't be missed as we already had a far better player in Diego Leon. Now what was it about Jacob? Ah, yes. He only played well for a couple of months and our victory over Leeds United the day he was injured proved he wouldn't be missed. I'm glad I don't know owt about football, but I do appreciate the education I receive from the more knowledgeable posters.
It's not been great the last couple of weeks, admittedly. I think we've been *****, and said as much. But the way folk go hell for leather over tactics, shape, certain players and of course, the manager, I just can't keep up with it. I'd have been in there with them though at one point. But I've changed over time, much more 'suck it and see' these days.
I think we've been poor the past three games and have said so. Players lose form, pick up injuries, receive suspensions. It happens to every club and usually results in a drop off in form & results, even the ones carrying huge squads and paying astronomically high salaries. As the cries for change at managerial level and sneering condescension at every player in the squad's abilities get louder and longer, it makes me more determined to stick to my guns. I'm fully behind the manager & players and believe we're moving in the right direction as a club in the long term. If others think differently, so be it. They have a right to say so, but no more or less than me. I'm fully aware this makes me a thick, fat, ugly, stubborn, old git.