Conor Hourihane - thanks and farewell

[maidstonevillain]

Good luck Conor on your loan move to Swansea.
I'm surprised he's gone ahead of the Newcastle game because he loves playing against them. I'm also aurprised he's not gone to a lower PL team because he is PL.
That said I'll be hoping Swansea get promoted with Conor in the team.
Conor's been a huge player for Villa. A great influence on and off the pitch and in games always had Jack's back. Thanks for all the goals and assists! (My favourite was his free kick goal vs Barnsley in a 3-1 win for very personal reasons to me).  He is a model professional and it comes as no surprise to me that he has chosen to go to play football rather than sit on the bench. Conor (along with the likes of James Chester and Uncle Albert) made it enjoyable for me to return to VP after our relegation season. A truly class act and Swansea are lucky to have him.

Ditto

[brontebilly]

A great move for Hourihane. A huge part of the transforming of our team on the pitch across two divisions and the right time now to move on. A team at the top of the championship playing I suspect good football is just what he needs. It's been clear for some time that Smith didn't fancy him, respect to Hourihane for not just collecting his wages.

One of our best signings in the past 10 years, the long sought goal scoring midfielder (29 goals in 150 games) and assist king for us. Thought he played well for us against the likes of Fulham, West Ham and Sheff Utd this season but Smith is also right that we need more of an athlete in there.

[Duncan Shaw]

Would have kept hold of him with our congested fixture list. Can anyone definitely confirm he's out of contract in the summer? If so, I guess it means he has played his last game for us.

Deano said he wanted him to stay around but Conor keen to go out and play, which is a great attitude and the club are obviously rewarding him  Guessing Sanson is now nailed on.

[LukeJames]

Albion at home - vital, vital and brilliant goal.
Blues at home - sealed the game - brilliant goal.
Blackburn away - 1-0 down - 93rd minute - brilliant free kick.
Wembley - sweeping pass for Adomah to set up Elmo for the cross for the first goal.
Albion semi - as cool as you like penalty in the shootout.

Those are the vital ones off the top of my head - I am sure there are more.

Great pro, tries to make the best of what he has got and never shirked his responsibilities and will always be remembered fondly by a lot.  Assuming this is it for him.

Norwich at home last season, arguably as important as the Albion Semi.

All the best Conor!

[SoccerHQ]

I suspect given Swansea are top 2 they'll be option for them to buy him end of season for 4-5m.

Conor has his limitations but overall played his part in getting us up from championship mid table so a rare value for money signing we made in the 16-17 period.

[Dave]

I suspect given Swansea are top 2 they'll be option for them to buy him end of season for 4-5m.

Doesn't his contract expire in the summer?

[Footy-Vill]

I suspect given Swansea are top 2 they'll be option for them to buy him end of season for 4-5m.

Doesn't his contract expire in the summer?

In 2022.
His time is clearly up here
He hasn't played 90 minutes simce West Ham defeat end of November and this season so far for him individually has been one of disappointment and a realisation by all that he was best served with a move away because the stats and performances , however honest,  were not up to standard

As others have said decent and honourable player . And provided some great memories. Good wishes to his move. Model pro and well handled by all especially at this time of covid-19 as well as fact he clearly wants to play football and not just sit around.
A great example and testament as he's rarely used and trusted now so with Barkley and Traore being involved he was squeezed out. 
His lack of movement and limited ability on and off the ball for Dean saw him hardly involved on the pitch this season. 3 starts.  I think  WBA and Burnley were he had no opportunity summed it up for how he now was not part of the act even when squad is stretched.
Hes telling contributing act came at the start of the season vs a poor Fulham side with his goal and assist. That was the issue he only performed well and with any impact in prem vs the very weak sides.  Norwich especially was a fixture he did well in last season and also against a passive Newcastle team

I think sometime playing for Villa was too much for him
Hourihane though was and is very proud to be part of the club and he's shown great resilience and professionalism to forge out his chance at top level football.
He lacked the ability to impose his authority on a match was far too passive and was often anonymous. I think having lacked the confidence held him back here at villa but he was determined enough to be part of the promotion winning squad and a spirited effort last season in retaining league status.

Big salute to him but today's game at prem level hasn't the athletic ability.
Fair play he never was wanting in attitude and I like how respecting of his profession he is .
Class act

[LukeJames]

I suspect given Swansea are top 2 they'll be option for them to buy him end of season for 4-5m.

Doesn't his contract expire in the summer?

Quote from Smith talking about him getting game time and returning in the Summer so maybe it expires the following year.

"We'll look at the possibility but it's got to be right for Conor and the football club as well. It would be a loan to the end of the season to get him back playing and get him back to us."

[dave shelley]

I think a good measure of the esteem he's held in is that the majority of people on here refer to him as Conor and I don't think it's because they can't spell Hourihane.  All the best Conor, tear 'em up.

[Dave]

I suspect given Swansea are top 2 they'll be option for them to buy him end of season for 4-5m.

Doesn't his contract expire in the summer?

Quote from Smith talking about him getting game time and returning in the Summer so maybe it expires the following year.

Fair enough. You'd hope Smith knows the situation better than the internet does.

[SoccerHQ]

I suspect given Swansea are top 2 they'll be option for them to buy him end of season for 4-5m.

Doesn't his contract expire in the summer?

Seems it's unclear but there's no way we'd be loaning him out if he was out of contract so I suspect he's OOC in 18 months and so we can get a few million back if he does well at Swansea.

[LukeJames]

I suspect given Swansea are top 2 they'll be option for them to buy him end of season for 4-5m.

Doesn't his contract expire in the summer?

Seems it's unclear but there's no way we'd be loaning him out if he was out of contract so I suspect he's OOC in 18 months and so we can get a few million back if he does well at Swansea.

Also know as 'The Mings'.

[London Villan]

Made the very most of his talents. Thanks for the contribution and good luck.

[Clampy]

A shame to see him go but understandable, especially as he wanted game time elsewhere. A very decent singing for the money.

[nick harper]

One of the best dead ball specialists I’ve seen at VP and scored some memorable and vital goals for us. The goal v Albion at the Holte End will live long in the memory.

I can only think of Solano who was as good at those free kicks around the area.