Matthew Craig

Why would he be an idiot? His main aim is to get his coaching badges and get into management. Makes perfect sense for him to get a basic wages & then bonuses depending on playing time etc. I'd still love to know whether or not the club should force Clarke to play him if he doesn't want to?

 

Because coaches have to maintain a low level of fitness (not low but you know what I mean) but as a registered player he has to maintain a much higher level of fitness. He'd be crazy to do that for the same wage as a normal coach as it's much more responsibility and a significantly higher workload.

Has anyone said that Clarke should play him against his wishes?

 

I agree. I thought he looked very classy in his early games, but his form deteriorated.

 

I agree with your assessments, other than to say that Nwakali had a fantastic game at Cambridge, when he was almost unanimously voted Man Of The Match on here. For some strange reason, he hasn't been given a proper chance to make the impact of which he most certainly looks more than capable. He could turn out to be an absolutely brilliant signing, if he's picked to start games.

 

Not sure I’ve seen big improvements in set plays tbh. Connell’s delivery as been poor all season and yet he still seems to take all free kicks. Marc Roberts is the main player for set plays with his long throws and aerial threat from corners, but he possessed this threat all through his career mate and not suddenly because Connor is back on the scene. Anyway hope we score from a few this afternoon, COYR!

 

He also said he'd still play some games, this bit has been practically non existent so far.

 

https://www.barnsleyfc.co.uk/news/2024/june/06/hourihane-returns/

 

Quotes from the club:

"Hourihane returns on a multi-year deal as a First Team Coach and Player before assuming full time First Team Coach responsibilities in two years’ time"

"We all know Conor has plenty to add on the field."



Quotes from Conor:

"I can’t wait to join Darrell’s coaching staff and to get back to playing on Oakwell too."

"I will still play a little bit next season for sure," but it will be a bit of a hybrid role where I can start making the transition on top of playing."

"I can bring a little bit of experience in the dressing room and on the pitch, helping lads."


Quotes from the manager:

"The fact that he is also still going to be a player I can call upon makes this deal even sweeter"




None of the above indicates an immediate switch to full time coaching and no playing. It quite literally says that switch will take place in 2 years time so how did we get from that to Clarke saying this a couple of months ago when fans complained they'd been misled? "I understand fans’ perspective but Conor’s heart and mind is on coaching."

It was deliberately misleading to sell season tickets and someone should be big enough to admit that, especially considering the manager is blaming hourihane for not wanting to play yet hourihane said when asked how often he'll play "well look I think that's down to the manager".

 

"Upon his return, Conor said, “To start the next phase of my career here, at a Club I have such a history with is special to me and my family. I can’t wait to join Darrell’s coaching staff and to get back to playing on Oakwell too."

I think it was fairly clear that his focus was upon coaching, and it's not as if we signed him as a key player in an area where there's not much depth.

 

Back to Doncaster Rovers for the second half of the season

 

When he signed Hourihane claimed he wanted to play. The club stated they wanted him to play. It's difficult to believe anyone can argue against that. You've collected together a string of quotes but there are plenty more. By late August/early September that had all changed, but the fact remains, at the time of signing, he was coming here as a player coach and there was no implied emphasis on either role, it was going to be a transition year from player to coach with Conor putting his efforts into both.

What I don't see any evidence for is the conclusion that this was all a big ruse to sell season tickets. I don't think that would be a very good tactic, I don't think it would sell many, if any, season tickets, and I haven't heard of anyone claiming the only reason they bought a season ticket is that we signed Hourihane. I thought he was a decent signing as a player, but I certainly wasn't expecting him to be the player who left us 7 years ago.

Isn't it more likely that Conor found he really liked coaching, so put more time and effort into that, and Clarke, having seen where Conor was at on the playing side at the age of 33, concluded that we had better options from the other midfield players in the squad and he was more influential as a coach rather than a player, and that no one told any lies at all, people simply reassessed the situation?

 

A very sensible, well-reasoned post, if I may say so.

 

Seen reports today saying mansfield and Bristol City want him on loan and Sheffield united interested in a permanent deal for him.


Didn't see the other thread on it.. apologies