Conor Hourihane - thanks and farewell

[Mister E]

On Ashley Westwood winning Burnley's POTS:
"... I want to kick on and now do even better in a claret shirt."

Well done to the boy.

I mean it.

[Mister E]

https://www.sportsjoe.ie/football/conor-hourihane-man-always-knew-201736

Wow; amazing article.
Thanks for sharing.

[Sexual Ealing]

On Ashley Westwood winning Burnley's POTS:
"... I want to kick on and now do even better in a claret shirt."

Well done to the boy.

I mean it.

Agreed.

[AsTallAsLions]

Conor is in enigma to me, as I suspect he is to most of us.

His quality on certain occasions is undeniable. I take great comfort from the fact that he didn't choke on the big day this year and was one of our best players at Wembley. But the same fixture last year, he was at the other end of the scale - one of the guiltiest parties in an overall lacklustre (just being polite here) performance.

His overall season stats are always impressive - 8 goals 11 assists this season, 11 goals 2 assists last year. He's obviously worked on the delivery side of his game and it shows, but I can't help but feel the stats have flattered to deceive at times. In some games he looks way off the pace, incapable of tackling at all and certainly not the best passer on the pitch.

But at Wembley... my god, he looked like a different player? His pass completion rate was great, he covered a lot of ground, he was tenacious out of possession, he looked a proper midfielder. It looks to me as if he could be anything he wants to be. On the flip side, you never know which Conor you're going to get, which makes me wonder if it's a mentality issue.

[Sexual Ealing]

Conor is in enigma to me, as I suspect he is to most of us.

His quality on certain occasions is undeniable. I take great comfort from the fact that he didn't choke on the big day this year and was one of our best players at Wembley. But the same fixture last year, he was at the other end of the scale - one of the guiltiest parties in an overall lacklustre (just being polite here) performance.

His overall season stats are always impressive - 8 goals 11 assists this season, 11 goals 2 assists last year. He's obviously worked on the delivery side of his game and it shows, but I can't help but feel the stats have flattered to deceive at times. In some games he looks way off the pace, incapable of tackling at all and certainly not the best passer on the pitch.

But at Wembley... my god, he looked like a different player? His pass completion rate was great, he covered a lot of ground, he was tenacious out of possession, he looked a proper midfielder. It looks to me as if he could be anything he wants to be. On the flip side, you never know which Conor you're going to get, which makes me wonder if it's a mentality issue.

There was only one guilty man last year, and he was thereabouts (though not, again, there) this season too.

[tomd2103]

Conor is in enigma to me, as I suspect he is to most of us.

His quality on certain occasions is undeniable. I take great comfort from the fact that he didn't choke on the big day this year and was one of our best players at Wembley. But the same fixture last year, he was at the other end of the scale - one of the guiltiest parties in an overall lacklustre (just being polite here) performance.

His overall season stats are always impressive - 8 goals 11 assists this season, 11 goals 2 assists last year. He's obviously worked on the delivery side of his game and it shows, but I can't help but feel the stats have flattered to deceive at times. In some games he looks way off the pace, incapable of tackling at all and certainly not the best passer on the pitch.

But at Wembley... my god, he looked like a different player? His pass completion rate was great, he covered a lot of ground, he was tenacious out of possession, he looked a proper midfielder. It looks to me as if he could be anything he wants to be. On the flip side, you never know which Conor you're going to get, which makes me wonder if it's a mentality issue.

Thought he had a good game at Wembley and thought it was between him and McGinn for Man of the Match.  Not sure he will be good enough for the top flight, but worth keeping as a squad player for next season.

[ChicagoLion]

Credit where it’s due, he has played well during the run in and contributed in the play offs.
I can’t forget how poor he was for many g Ames this season and particularly during the time Jack was out.

[Sexual Ealing]

I really like Hourihane. He scores regular belters, was first on the scene when Grealish was assaulted, as well as communicating to those Leeds pricks - using the necessary level of force - a thing or two about sportsmanship.

[PaulWinch again]

I thought he played really well in a different role in the play-off final.

[ASHTONVILLA]

Has been very good all the way through our unbeaten run, and was one of our best players in all three playoff matches.

Like most of the team he looks better when Jack is playing, and like all our midfield he played better in front of a better defence. He certainly deserves a place in the squad next season, and it would not surprise me to see him cement a place in the team even after we recruit a few more players.

[Chris Smith]

Has been very good all the way through our unbeaten run, and was one of our best players in all three playoff matches.

Like most of the team he looks better when Jack is playing, and like all our midfield he played better in front of a better defence. He certainly deserves a place in the squad next season, and it would not surprise me to see him cement a place in the team even after we recruit a few more players.

That’s how I see it, when the team is unbalanced players have to worry about things other than their own job. Get it functioning as a unit and you can properly judge their individual qualities.

[ASHTONVILLA]

Has been very good all the way through our unbeaten run, and was one of our best players in all three playoff matches.

Like most of the team he looks better when Jack is playing, and like all our midfield he played better in front of a better defence. He certainly deserves a place in the squad next season, and it would not surprise me to see him cement a place in the team even after we recruit a few more players.

That’s how I see it, when the team is unbalanced players have to worry about things other than their own job. Get it functioning as a unit and you can properly judge their individual qualities.

Yeah, you only have to look at how many players that were terrible for Villa in our relegation season but have done well elsewhere to see how the overall team effects performance.

[Ad@m]

He's an upgrade on Westwood so if Westwood can become an established Premier League player, Hourihane will have no trouble.

[Steve67]

Lovely first time pass in to space for the first goal.  SJM's dummy was extravagant!

[KRS]

With the outgoing midfielders (which should be Jedinak, Whelan, Lansbury and BB) we’ll need to sign at least 2 more in the summer to compliment Jack and SJM, and Conor has shown enough in the last half of the season that he can at least contribute to the squad. We all know he has his faults at times but I expect him to hold his own in the Premier League (particularly against mid table opposition), and his improvement in attitude, tenacity and confidence is clear for all to see now, so fairplay to him for getting his head down and turning his season around. With continued good coaching and playing alongside better players, we will hopefully see more to come from Conor.