Hourihane

We signed him as a player coach. The reason we signed him as that is because he's nearing to end of his playing career but can still offer something if we need, I.e injuries, suspension or incredibly bad form from others. He will hardly play because we apparently have the best midfield in the league

 

So it's a bit disingenuous to say things like "people wanted experience and we signed hourihane" when as you say he was signed as a coach who's only on pitch time will be in absolute emergencies

 

Not sure how you can judge Nwalkali yet when the lad has just about got upto speed fitness wise and awaiting a start

 

I'm not sure actually stating that Conor wouk be Head Coach in 2 years was that good an idea tbh. Does it undemine DC at all or is he off in 2 years anyway?

 

Connor is 33 not 73 how the eck has his legs gone?
For his guile alone he should be one of the first names on the team sheet.As for Roberts I think he's been excellent since he came back.Strong and dominant ,thats what we signed him for and for me he hasn't disappointed.

 

But he's in the squad.. experience and all that. I've heard he's good at telling jokes too.

 

But again that’s on the club failing its own objectives once again by signing someone who not had a preseason and now once again playing catch up whilst we give up points. I’m still concerned that Benson managed to get back from injury and fitter than him.

 

It’s a long season, it’s a squad game and if we hadn’t been so uncharacteristically poor in midfield yesterday, I doubt this thread would exist.

By the same token, Marc Roberts, a very similar signing played yesterday and we were still gash.

 

Guess that’s why I said it’s early days

 

He would have maybe brought some leadership out there, which was sadly lacking, particularly second half. But the game wasn’t lost in midfield. Not saying the midfielders played well, because nobody did.

But it was appalling defending that did the damage.

The loss of Pines was clearly a factor but the defending of set plays shouldn’t change. And there were at least three of our players stood where the long throw landed that led to Stevenage’s opening goal. Only Cosgrove made an effort to get there first and even that attempt was pretty feeble. Piergianni actually gets there first, pinball occurs and they pinch the lead.

The second goal is Earl allowing Piergianni to run off him at a corner kick. Roberts and Cosgrove seemingly marking empty space and can’t get to him either. 11 men in the box to defend it. Yet one of the six attacking players in the box has a free run and header.

The third - a big kick by their ‘keeper should be dealt with but O’Keeffe misjudges it (I’m being kind) and the winger gets in behind to play it across the six yard box for a forward to sidefoot home. That forward had also run off Earl who was napping again.

Basic defensive errors, that seem a consistent theme so far this season.

Don’t start me on the goalkeeper.

 

I agree with this.

 

I only hope our wage outlay on Hourihane reflects his actual role.

if we’ve signed him as a token bit part player but predominantly as a coach with no tangible experience, he should be on less than our coaches.

If he’s one of our better earners, that’s a serious mistake given how much game time it seems he’s going to be getting.

 

Definitely, but I'm guessing he is one of the top earners. He'd av gone Wrexham otherwise surely.

 

I agree although I remember after the val season. I questioned weather we missed solbauer that much when he left as val dropped him for Sibbick as his pace was gone, posters on here said just having his experience in the dressing room was a big part of us reaching the play offs. Surely this is the same for conor and people would be saying this had we had a better start?

 

Complete waste of of time signing him we could have signed somebody that can actually play with the wages we are paying him.

 

They do always say never go back. Everyone remembers the Conor of 2015-17 and I imagine that sold a few season tickets. Not enough to cover his wages though.

 

He did play alot for Derby last season in fairness but when I watched him looked past his best. Like you say abit of a fans pleaser and he obviously cares about the club so always good to have him around in some capacity, I think probably he wanted to play less and do the coaching role.

 

Which player are you talking about

 

Bit worrying legs have gone at 33 remember signing Danny Wilson as player coach at that age and he could still play a bit.

 

Ah sorry ill edit it I meant solabauer. I questioned if we missed him that much as he had been dropped by val for sibbick and many said having his experience around the lads was invaluable.