Conor Hourihane - thanks and farewell

[Abbeyfealeavfc]

Congrats Conor on your 150th appearance for Villa.
Unlucky with the free kicks.
For every negative aimed at Conor the same and more could be aimed at McGinn. John was invisible and lumbered through the whole 90+ mins.
I'd prefer to focus on the real reasons we lost. Shoddy defending (and with that shoddy defensive coaching), shoddy concentration and shoddy finishing within the penalty area.
Oh and fcuking var, how could I forget that!

[Risso]

I agree, McGinn was much worse than Hourihane last night, he's been playing like a plank for a good few games now.

[Abbeyfealeavfc]

At times last night there was some lovely inter-play between Targett, Conor and Jack, which is just not replicated on the right when McGinn is there. Cash played well and seemed to be doing John's job as well as his own.
Also Luiz played very well when he didn't have McGinn alongside him last night. Posters will see what they want to see where individual players are concerned, but the bigger picture indicates that McGinn is really struggling.

[in exile]

Congrats Conor on your 150th appearance for Villa.
Unlucky with the free kicks.
For every negative aimed at Conor the same and more could be aimed at McGinn. John was invisible and lumbered through the whole 90+ mins.

I agree with this 100%.
He seems to be un-droppable.

[eamonn]

John struggles retaining the ball in tight situations unless he can bum roll his way out of it.

[Hookeysmith]

I wrote in the match thread that Conor moves as slowly as my Nan, his presence of mind and around him is shocking. Yes he has a decent shot / delivery on him but he has no athletism at all and without it we play a lot of the game, especially without the ball, with virtually 10 men

We need much better im afraid

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I agree, McGinn was much worse than Hourihane last night, he's been playing like a plank for a good few games now.

I think being out of the game for so long has had a real impact on SJM. He's lost his pace and no doubt a bit of confidence. The shot he tried last night was pitiful and left me embarrassed for him. It's all about fine lines but right now he's only 75% of the player we know he can be. There were moments in the second half where he powered forward through the middle and looked like his old self but overall he's still not there but it will come.

Conor was only making his second start of the season and I thought he did well all things considered. Games against teams like West Ham are ideal for him, it's against the more technical teams where he struggles. I still love him.

[brontebilly]

I agree, McGinn was much worse than Hourihane last night, he's been playing like a plank for a good few games now.

I think being out of the game for so long has had a real impact on SJM. He's lost his pace and no doubt a bit of confidence. The shot he tried last night was pitiful and left me embarrassed for him. It's all about fine lines but right now he's only 75% of the player we know he can be. There were moments in the second half where he powered forward through the middle and looked like his old self but overall he's still not there but it will come.

Conor was only making his second start of the season and I thought he did well all things considered. Games against teams like West Ham are ideal for him, it's against the more technical teams where he struggles. I still love him.

McGinn's form has been very patchy this season. Fulham, Liverpool, Arsenal and Leicester he was excellent. Sheff Utd, Leeds, Southampton, Brighton he was dire. Average/poor last night and had to be swapped with Hourihane early on as was having no effect on the game. That continued really in a more advanced position.

Like Mings I think he needs proper competition for his place. Hourihane for all his positive attributes isn't that really and Nakamba certainly isn't.

[brontebilly]

Beginning of the end for Hourihane under Smith today. Been clear for sometime that Smith doesn't fancy him but not to get a minute today was damning. And that after what I thought was a solid performance at West Ham where we dominated the midfield.

He has been harshly treated this season by Smith in truth. McGinn was hopeless again today and we were outplayed in midfield generally. I'd expect Hourihane to try and move on in January. He isn't the type like Lansbury to just pick up a handy wage.

[ChicagoLion]

He is simply not good enough for this  level.
Smith knows this but might need him to fill in.

[Clampy]

Beginning of the end for Hourihane under Smith today. Been clear for sometime that Smith doesn't fancy him but not to get a minute today was damning. And that after what I thought was a solid performance at West Ham where we dominated the midfield.

He has been harshly treated this season by Smith in truth. McGinn was hopeless again today and we were outplayed in midfield generally. I'd expect Hourihane to try and move on in January. He isn't the type like Lansbury to just pick up a handy wage.

He hasnt been treated harshly at all. We had two attack minded midfielders out today so he put Ramsey in. The midfield  have all been pretty solid overall so far and it would have been unfair to drop any of them. He's not owed a spot, he needs to earn it. Nakamba has hardly had a look in either, probably for the same reasons.

[Sexual Ealing]

He'll sign for Burnley and be their best player.

[manic-road]

Beginning of the end for Hourihane under Smith today. Been clear for sometime that Smith doesn't fancy him but not to get a minute today was damning. And that after what I thought was a solid performance at West Ham where we dominated the midfield.

He has been harshly treated this season by Smith in truth. McGinn was hopeless again today and we were outplayed in midfield generally. I'd expect Hourihane to try and move on in January. He isn't the type like Lansbury to just pick up a handy wage.

McGinn hopeless today? nah maybe he couldn't get stuck in as much as usual because of yet another soft booking early on from Dean but not hopeless.

[olaftab]

Conor could be in the team next Sunday as Luiz is out.

[Lastfootstamper]

Conor could be in the team next Sunday as Luiz is out.

Thursday.