Apart from shooting from long range (which is ineffective now everyone knows to close him down) his only strengths are taking free kicks and corners. Well I was just thinking Crowley is just as good if not better at free kicks and we have plenty of guys that can put in a decent delivery from corners. This may sound harsh but he can't tackle for toffee, he never really drives the team forward, he can't make play in most formations and he has so many games where he is the worst player on the pitch. I reckon we'd be better off selling now before all the other clubs realise he's not all he's cracked up to be.
Of course we need him. He's proven at this level which is more than you can say about practically every other member of our squad. The kid from Arsenal sounds good but I won't be expecting much from him. I remember Ross Barkley struggling at Championship level on loan when he was very young - it's much different to youth team football. Hourihane has his weaknesses but if played every week he'll get assists and goals.
Yeah, get rid of him. A 17-year-old loanee is a much better option than our best player who is under contract to us. Boo, Hourihane. Bloody rubbish.
Get shut for a decent price. Idle as sin Overrated ***** since crimbo and about effective as Frimpong. Hth
Could say same for ben pearson after yesterday. Hourihane is quality had a off day yesturday but first half pinged a ball over to scowern on right was inch perfect will get even more assists this season and goals.
Of course we do! LJ needs to play a system which accommodates our most dangerous player and not try to shoe horn him into a different system.
I agree if we get a decent price for him. He has ability but when the going gets tough he fades into insignificance. That's ok if he produces the goods which he ain't YET. When I say YET I mean on a consistent basis. Cannot afford to carry players of his nature unless he comes up with the goods more regular.
Of course we need him. I don't think he should have played yesterday but we're all rich with hindsight It's all about finding the right balance to the midfield, which may take a bit of time, but on my brief viewing of this midfield I would go for: Scowen/Pearson/Digby playing deep Hourihane/Rothwell in front of them Williams/Crowley behind the striker But I've no idea if that would work. Once we do get the balance right we'll be very strong in midfield
He wont be here long. Wrong kind of player for LJ, doesnt run about like a headless chicken or throw himself into tackles like a demented fool. He is a player that when he is fit , can tear teams apart, he is our player, but it seems we should get rid and pin our season on a bunch of loan players from the kids teams in the Premiership ! He should not have played yesterday, he had hardly any preseason games and we had an adequate player to cover for him (Rothwell), I think LJ played him hoping he had a blinder then we could sell him in the next week or so. Amazingly I have hardly seen a mention of how poor Pearson was, he was like that before he went back to Man utd , yet he cant be criticised !
[QUOTE . Once we do get the balance right we'll be very strong in midfield[ /QUOTE] Oh yes if we can't get the balance right with our glut of midfielders we may as well pack up now
I'm no big fan of his believe me, but we've got him and he did prove to be an attacking force In the first half of last season - the facts speak for themselves. I'm not sure who we've got who is anymore dangerous, maybe Ryan Williams but that's not a certainty.
Sorry Mark I agree about Pearson and he was poor but Hourihane was no better. Admittedly he should not have played due to fitness issues but we cannot carry someone of his nature unless he comes up with the goods on a consistent basis. At the moment he ain't good enough or consistent enough for my liking.
As I posted yesterday I believe the ability is in there but we need to see much more of it more regular