Conor Hourihane - thanks and farewell

[footyskillz]

Too many occasions where games pass him by - lots of games where you don't even realise he's on the field.

Agreed. Again from seeing the recordings of matches this is the case. Last night only had one half to be showing his lack of impact. Useful and seemed to get complacent once made starting line up for a while. His performances aren't meriting a start at this moment.

[Ad@m]

He's been getting some stick lately and while it's clear he's not in the best of form he's still popping up with goals.

Been a while since we had a proper goal scoring centre midfielder. Long may it continue.

[Toronto Villa]

He's been getting some stick lately and while it's clear he's not in the best of form he's still popping up with goals.

Been a while since we had a proper goal scoring centre midfielder. Long may it continue.

In my opinion there’s two types of player in one. The version who is asked to defend, sit deep, play with in a much conservative manner is the one who looks highly ineffective. The other version who is allowed license to attack and roam into threatening positions scores goals and generally gets into decent positions higher up the pitch. Bruce is trying to make him to both of those versions. It’s not going to work. If he’s supported by a strong DM as a solid squad player he’ll be generally very effective when called upon.

[pauliewalnuts]

He is one of my favourite players.

He absolute runs his heart out and has a deadly shot on him.

It seems like about 200 years since we had a midfielder who could score goals on a regular basis, too.

[Ad@m]

Me too - he's a class act.

Like TV says, when he's asked to sit deep you lose what he's good at. I hope we give him the chance to show if he can make it in the Prem...

[KevinGage]

He's an odd player, in that when you look at his goalscoring and assists record last season for Barnsley, you'd assume we were getting an attacking midfielder.

But even at Barnsley, he apparently liked to sit deep and would look quiet for long periods.

He's not a midfielder in the tradition of a Cowans or Barry, where it would usually be a case of if they played well, Villa played well. True, that pair possessed a rare enough quality. But I thought we might be getting a Championship version of that; someone to dictate the pace and tempo of the game.

Someone made the comparison with Westwood earlier, and I see that.  From his time with us last season, that's how he looked to me - a Westwood-type with a better final ball and shot.

[SoccerHQ]

Obviously you have to deduct those goals in August as it was so long ago eh PWS....

[SamTheMouse]

He's way better than Westwood. Takes up much more productive attacking positions and doesn't get a nosebleed if he goes near the opposition box.

[SoccerHQ]

He's more similar in style to Delph. Not of that quality but takes up deep positions but can also get forward.

[Goldie.7]

If he carries on this 2018 goal scoring form he should finish around 13-15 goals, which would be a great return.

[PeterWithesShin]

Obviously you have to deduct those goals in August as it was so long ago eh PWS....

I said that since then scoring 4 in the last 6 months was disappointing from him as he should be better than that. Hardly the most controversial post ever.

[brontebilly]

Excellent last 20 minutes anyway and a superb goal. Far more comfortable in the opposition box that our one. Bit passive to be playing in a midfield two at a higher level I reckon but let's worry about that at a later date.

9 goals is fair going and hopefully 4 or 5 more to come.

[Matt Collins]

HE reminds me of Hitz more than anyone else

Great left peg. Not really good enough at the most competitive levels.  But could be vital this season

[LeeB]

HE reminds me of Hitz more than anyone else

Great left peg. Not really good enough at the most competitive levels.  But could be vital this season

A kind of cross between Hitz and Sidwell for me. Hitz was a bit classier, but not as mobile or dangerous inside the box.

[Risso]

HE reminds me of Hitz more than anyone else

Great left peg. Not really good enough at the most competitive levels.  But could be vital this season

A kind of cross between Hitz and Sidwell for me. Hitz was a bit classier, but not as mobile or dangerous inside the box.

Hitz couldn’t tackle to save his life either. Hourihane can at least get stuck in occasionally.