Don’t think he’s going to play to be honest. It’s looking like his signing was a bit of a gimmick given he’s effectively just an additional coach. I think it’s a decision he’s made himself but it’s a shame because if he’d maintained his fitness he should still have a lot to offer at this level.
I know I will get shot down with the games played for Derby but his legs have gone his whole game was built on energy. Once the penny dropped in 2016 that he needed to graft to make it at a higher level the Hourihane that played prem football was born. Them days have gone he knows it himself bright lads on to a new phase if Clarke last another couple of seasons he's 100% our new head coach.
I don’t think he’d have put that Connell free kick from near the corner where Luca did ! In fact they should be in today working on set pieces because they were awful yesterday, from the 1st corner, we nearly cost ourselves from that free kick and a bizarre throw in near the dug outs. on another note not that it’s of much relevance given how awful we were, that referee was abysmal a homer from the off.
He’s well before par because I doubt he’s worked much on his fitness. His heart isn’t in playing anymore. As another poster has said, he’s likely to be our next head coach.
He’s one of 4 midfielders we’ve got who’s best position is as the deepest lying midfielder & the other 3 are much younger, fitter & in Connell & Craig’s case better (at this stage in their careers). So unless we get an injury crisis or it’s a run out in a Bristol Motors game I can’t see him featuring much.
Gimmick is the best way to describe the signing of Hourihane so far. I also think Roberts is on the decline, we will probably have this season out of him that's it. Add the input of Gent and Nwakali so far and the transfer window seems poor considering the players we lost. The left wing back position is the most baffling, a critical position that needed filling and we have resorted to playing a central defender there. DKD seems like the only bit of real quality we've added, but he's an attacking midfielder. An out an out striker would have been preferable, someone that can come in and instantly improve the starting eleven.
If DC keeps playing at Tinkerman that could be sooner rather than later. I get that a degree of experimentation is the norm early doors.
He was signed to shift more early bird tickets, & to mask what had gone on a couple of months prior, sacking the manager on the eve of the play offs, then failing in them anyway, & the whole Thalhammer fiasco. people fell for it.
His signing looks like a move by the owners to draw some favour with fans. He played 40+ games in getting a club promoted from this league a few months ago and now we are to believe his legs have gone and he cannot even come off the bench for half an hour? I'm not buying it.
This gets said after ever draw or defeat lol. Is it going to continue? Every 2 minutes we hear how barnsley have the best midfield, with back up additions especially, then piss and moan about someone who we specifically signed as a player/coach. I dont get it ? There was no gimmick, we know he came to be that. For what it's worth i do think he'll have game time. Its a long old season.
It’s early days but Gent & Nwalkali have been the biggest disappointments so far for me of the transfers, I didn’t expect too much from Conor or Roberts as both wouldn’t be here if capable still.
Not one of the worst windows ive seen. We kept connell and Phillips our main problem Is we lost near on 30 goals a season in Cole and macatee now we've got Cosgrove and tap watter who I can't see getting 20 combined. A few seasons ago people were wanting experience players we've got Roberts and Conor.