It's looking likely that Hourihane is going to Derby

Their fans on twitter reckon he's the best midfielder in league 1 if he signs.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan of Conor's, and he'd definitely improve us (and any team in league 1), but I can't help but think that his best days are behind him. He's not going to rack up 30 odd goals and assists like he did for us in 15/16 is he?

A Sheffield United fan I work with said that he showed glimpses of sheer quality for them last season, but no sort of consistency that would make him want them to sign him permanently.

I might come across as a bit bitter and jealous (and there's probably some truth in that), but knowing that Connor was holding out for a Premier League side to come in for him last summer, if he had the chance to play in the Championship this season, I think he'd take it.

And let's not even get started on the money aspect.

 

I believe he'd be a positive addition to our team, to any Division 1 team, in fact. He wouldn't get the goals he did before, but his experience, leadership qualities and dead ball deliveries would definitely improve the team, in my opinion.

 

Rooney paying last month's wages before he left. You'd have to be a basket case to join such a club.

Come home Connor. Just type of player and character we're craving.

PS this isn't sentimental. It's football related. I'd want him even if he hadn't played for us.

 

But with a new owner, and 30k fans turning up to home games last season, they're going to have comfortably bigger budget than us.

 

A club on the verge of going out of business a matter of weeks ago now signing a player who will be on £15k+ a week wages.

Please run that by me.

 

I get that. As a player of Connors status though I'd dodge that one myself.

 

Agree with that

I personally believe he could comfortably be a good addition to 3/4 of the championship as well

 

Not sure they can pay anywhere near that can they. Isn't there a wage cap implemented by the EFL for clubs coming out of administration? No more than 10k per week, might be less than that

 

They've been rescued from oblivion and now have money to spend and will no doubt shrug off this period in their history when they're flirting with promotion to the Premier League again.

Big clubs regroup. Small clubs rinse and repeat. Biggest comparison is us and Swansea City. They lost to us in the League 1 play-off final and went onto to bypass us and get promoted to the Premier League. Winning the League Cup in that time too. Leicester won the League. Southampton have been to a League Cup Final.

I'm sure there are a few more examples too of how much of a steady club we are.

 

Surely the only reason he is going there is for money? There have been reports of Championship sides being interested (Luton, Hudds etc.) if those links are true then they would offer a higher level of football, plus the same sort of money.

If he is getting under 10k a week and choosing to drop to L1 it doesn't make any sense. And to a team with no manager and barely any players having just come out of admin. The only logical reason for him going there in my mind anyway is because they are paying him a higher wage than anyone else is willing to offer.

If he is signing for them in L1 for under 10k a week, we should be getting him as we can afford that with the money saved from Cauley.

 

Maybe they're offering him a longer contract then the others? That would be a factor also.

 

Don't know bud, just going off what I have read on the EFL statement

https://www.efl.com/news/2022/july/efl-statement-derby-county-exit-administration/

Doesn't give an actual figure but sure I read previously that it's a cap of 10k

They do have a manager, Liam Rosenior took over

 

Rosenior is only the interim manager though isn't he? Not been given the job on a permanent basis yet anyway.

 

Can we all please move on he is just a former player like all the rest but a myth has built up around him that genuinely cares because he did interviews telling us so. Conor will do what's right for him maybe we are not interested but to think he's cares anymore for us anymore than any of his ex clubs makes no sense.

 

Hourihane mcgoldrick...some of their youth who are staying mendez laing signed. They should piss it but people thought we would with lita...

 

He has said in several interviews we were the favourite club he has played for and would love to return one day. That is where it comes from, he wouldn't just say that for a laugh would he? He obviously has some love for us, is that enough for him to come back over a higher wage offer? No cos that is not how football works but he does hold the club in a high regard.

 

That would be true if we sold Woodrow to free up wages to spend elsewhere, but we sold him to get him off the wage bill altogether. I suspect that Kane and Benson will be on decent sized contracts that make it difficult to offer any more out to midfielders, particularly given we'll likely need to find a striker.

Duff might not particularly feel that a 31yo Hourihane fits into the style of play that he wants either.

 

That's true, I was just making the point as the main reason fans said he would never come back is because we couldn't afford the wages. If he is on under 10k a week at Derby (which I doubt is the case) then we could theoretically match that given the departures of Morris and Woodrow and probable departures of Styles, Helik etc.

Obviously Duff might not want him etc. which is a possibility but I am sure he would want someone of Conor's quality in the midfield as well as a signing that 99.9% of the fan base would be over the moon with and in turn would bring a huge buzz around the place like when Hammill came back.

I wouldn't have been bothered if he went to Luton or Hudds etc. in higher league as in my mind it would make perfect sense. But to see him drop to L1 and it not be with us is disappointing IMO especially if what the previous poster said is true and they have a wage cap of 10k per player.

He might be 31, but he will still be one of the best midfielders at this level next season I am sure, he still has that wand of a left peg that will be a huge asset for any team from set pieces alone.

 

It's some sort of consortium that bought them isn't it? Not sure there'll be as much money sloshing around as their fans think.

 

Patter. He probably had his best shag while he lived here too. Means nowt. They're all mercenaries.