Conor Hourihane - thanks and farewell

[Richard]

If hes fit I'd have Barkley McGinn Hourihane on Thursday with AEG instead of Traore and AEM instead of Cash - not the right game for Ramsey yet.

[brontebilly]

Agree with most that’s been said. But think I’d still rather have Hourihane in the side on Thursday instead of Nakamba.  a midfield three of mcginn, Ramsey and hourihane (or nakamba), leaves me feeling a little nervous against them bunch of bruisers.

Their midfield general is Ashley Westwood...

Burnley will be going direct to Wood, a lot. McNeill is tidy enough on the left and will cause Elmo/Guilbert problems

But if we can get the ball to Grealish quickly high up the pitch then I can't see Matt Lowton lasting 90mins

[eamonn]

Can you imagine if Keane actually did read one of the Brönte's works? I guarantee he'd be less anger-issued.

[in exile]

I can see Conor requesting a move in January.

[ChicagoLion]

I can see Conor requesting a move in January.

I doubt if anyone in the Championship can afford his wages.

[Risso]

I can see Conor requesting a move in January.

I doubt if anyone in the Championship can afford his wages.

His contract runs out next summer anyway though, so he might take a bit of a cut to get ahead of the game.  The newly relegated clubs like Norwich and Watford would be able to meet his wages I reckon, I doubt they're vast in the grand scheme of things.

[eamonn]

He only signed an extension summer last year but I can't see any mention of the contract length from news reports at the time. It would be odd if we'd only given him 2 years.

[Dave]

He only signed an extension summer last year but I can't see any mention of the contract length from news reports at the time. It would be odd if we'd only given him 2 years.

Any places stating the length suggest it was two years, so would run out next summer. Doesn't seem to be any reports that contradict that.

[Drummond]

He could be useful in the early Champions League rounds though.

[Mister E]

... Burnley will be going direct to Wood, a lot...

Yes, which means our midfielders need to be alert for the second ball and be prepared to out-muscle theirs for it. McNeil and Thornhill look quite useful, and Dyche will definitely play Rodriguez alongside Wood, if available.

No easy games in the Premier League; blah, blah - cliched but true.

[mike]

Picking up on some of the midfielder threads that often mention Conor. I think he may find game time limited with us and maybe he'll slip away from the squad. He was a big part of getting us promoted, he got some important goals last season and he's always been a model professional. I remember one game, might have been Ipswich, where there was a free kick over on the right and Tammy in the box and I knew what would happen next. I hope if his time at the Villa is coming to an end we can remember him like Alan Hutton, Albert and others who were helped us get where we are now.

[eamonn]

Of course, without Conor we may have not have got promoted and he scored crucial goals in wins last season. He's  a great chap.

[dave.woodhall]

I can't help but think that Conor's got one more Alan Huttonesque last fling in him to secure his place in folklore.

[Toronto Villa]

It's a long season. I'm sure we will see Conor again. Maybe a special FA Cup cracker

[Drummond]

I can't help but think that Conor's got one more Alan Huttonesque last fling in him to secure his place in folklore.

I'd love to see him come on and score an injury time winner on Friday.