Conor Hourihane

[SkStu]

what.

yeah, its called a typhoon over there. Sheesh.

[tricky_colour]

Or a Toon Army if it hits land.

[OwlsFan]

I think Villa is probably the bigger club though than SWFC.

No doubt about that. More titles, cups, European trophies and bigger crowds. However, SWFC are on the up while Villa are trying to arrest a decline. Conor will still go where the money is as most people do in life so I expect him to sign for Villa who have signed another midfielder in Henri Lansbury. These damn parachute payments - wish they were around in 2000.

[DeLorean]

Lansbury cost £2.75m and his contract is also up in the summer. The fee for Hourihane is being reported at around £1m. Seems a bit desperate that Barnsley would let him go for that but maybe they're factoring in what Hourihane wants himself.

[TrapAPony]

Lansbury cost £2.75m and his contract is also up in the summer. The fee for Hourihane is being reported at around £1m. Seems a bit desperate that Barnsley would let him go for that but maybe they're factoring in what Hourihane wants himself.
Lansbury is a former England U21 international. That alone will automatically make him cost a bit more than Hourihane in the English transfer market. Villa will doing super business to get both for under £4 million.

[DeLorean]

Derby were bidding for Lansbury as well which might have pushed the price up a bit.

[OwlsFan]

Lansbury is a former England U21 international. That alone will automatically make him cost a bit more than Hourihane in the English transfer market. Villa will doing super business to get both for under £4 million.

Both contracts are/were expiring in a few months so not that great business. What will cost them is the salaries the players are looking for. Conor is apparently going to be paid £1.5 million pa - rumour is he's on £400k pa at Barnsley at the moment. It's the salaries most of the other clubs who have been out of the Premiership (not mentioning any names) for a while can't compete with.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Jesus, can you imagine the confusion if Hourihane and Hoolahan were to play to China at the same time.

Rodney Marsh got sacked from Sky Sports for less than that.

Funny though.

[tetsujin1979]

Marsh was sacked for making a joke about thousands killed after a tsunami. SkStu's joke is small beer compared to that

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Well when you put it like that..

[DeLorean]

Scores to put Barnsley 3-1 up against in form Leeds. Was instrumental in their equaliser just before half time with a clever free kick. Was booked in the first half too.

[Closed Account]

Top bin
Take a look at @SkyBet's Tweet: https://twitter.com/SkyBet/status/822880149003714560?s=09

[DeLorean]

He was interviewed afterwards and said obviously being linked with a big club like Villa and being wanted by a manager like Steve Bruce does turn your head a bit. Then there was the usual we'll see what happens stuff and his manager echoed that as well. It looks pretty certain to happen you would think.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

MOTM again.

https://twitter.com/bfc_official/status/822903974730809344

Crazy that he hasn't being linked with any Premier League clubs.

[Stuttgart88]

He was interviewed afterwards and said obviously being linked with a big club like Villa and being wanted by a manager like Steve Bruce does turn your head a bit. Then there was the usual we'll see what happens stuff and his manager echoed that as well. It looks pretty certain to happen you would think.I think he handled that interview very well actually.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

He seems like a very grounded fella. I think he has not only the ability but the mentality to play in the Premier League. It seems like nothing phases him.

It's not just the goals and assists; it's the ground he covers, the tackles he wins, his passing and set piece ability.

He could be the pivot for us to build our play around when Hoolahan retires.

And from what I've seen of him there shouldn't be any doubts over his physicality.

[tricky_colour]

MOTM again.

https://twitter.com/bfc_official/status/822903974730809344

Crazy that he hasn't being linked with any Premier League clubs.

Agreed I have been thinking that for a long time.

[tricky_colour]

MOTM again.

https://twitter.com/bfc_official/status/822903974730809344

Crazy that he hasn't being linked with any Premier League clubs.


This is interesting, who they could be looking at a number of players but his free kick and motm match award
have hopefully not gone unnoticed. Conor has more goals 6 v 5 than the striker mentoioned but he has had
more starts 25 v 14 (9), buthe has considerably more minutes but then he has his assists and motm awards too.

http://www.insidefutbol.com/2017/01/21/army-of-scouts-from-premier-league-elite-clubs-talent-spot-at-barnsley-vs-leeds-united/322860/

Army of Scouts from Premier League Elite Clubs Talent Spot at Barnsley vs Leeds United


Scouts were less concerned with the scoreline though and more focused on the talent on display, of which there was much. Talent spotters from Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur were all in attendance, according to Sky Sports 1.
Barnsley have developed a reputation in recent years for bringing through talents and the club's right-back James Bree has been linked with a move to a Premier League club. Young striker Tom Bradshaw, 24, was on display and scored; Barnsley signed Bradshaw from Walsall last year. And midfielder Conor Hourihane, the subject



http://gpstrackinginfo.com/uncategorized/army-of-scouts-from-premier-league-elite-clubs-talent-spot-at-barnsley-vs-leeds-united/2478


(http://gpstrackinginfo.com/uncategorized/army-of-scouts-from-premier-league-elite-clubs-talent-spot-at-barnsley-vs-leeds-united/2478)

[DeLorean]

It was actually Josh Scowen who won the official motm award. Hourihane did top the Sky Sports goal of the day poll though!

[tricky_colour]

It was actually Josh Scowen who won the official motm award. Hourihane did top the Sky Sports goal of the day poll though!

Yes will different people have different options, I was going by whoscored opinion, Scowen was the 4th best Barnsley player there!

Anyhow seems a Villa move is likely

http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2017/01/22/do-major-developments-as-barnsleys-conor-hourihane-comments-on-a/page/1/



The Sun (https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/2673732/sunderland-want-arsenal-legend-patrick-vieira-to-take-over-from-david-moyes-if-scot-is-fired-or-quits/) report that Villa are prepared to offer £3 million, plus £30,000 a week in wages, for Hourihane and the midfielder has admitted publicly for the first time that he may be interested in pulling on the famous claret and blue.
"Aston Villa is a fantastic club,” the former Sunderland youngster said after Saturday’s victory in quotes reported by the Birmingham Mail (http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-transfer-news-conor-12489770).
"When a manager like Steve Bruce comes looking for you, it does turn your head a little bit. But we'll see what happens next week."

[Lenny82]

It would be sweet if he went to Villa and took Grealish's place!

[tricky_colour]

Yes but in the other hand Villa are 5 points behind Barnsley, Barnslay are 4 points off a play off place Villa are 9.

Barnsley are in pretty good form, Villa not so much.

[Olé Olé]

That Villa move worries me. Can't help but feel he's better off staying where he is, seeing out his contract and a PL club will surely make a move in the summer. Not sure why one hasn't come in yet. He's 26 next season so if Villa don't go up it might be 27 before he ever plays at PL level. And that's a maybe.

The risk signing for Villa represents is offset by the security of a long contract and big wage packet. That might be too good to turn down for anyone. 30k must be exponentially greater than his Plymouth contract and probably his Barnsley contract (he's only had one, right?).

[Olé Olé]

Thing about those free kicks too. They might make awesome vines but he's scoring them consistently and they'll find the back of the net no matter what level he's playing at.

It helps that his all-round play is brilliant too but goals win games and assists help win games too.

Although the PL scouts might be seeing the same things that have led MON to ignore what a lot of us are deeming as brilliant form for the last 18 months.

[DeLorean]

I don't think it's fair to say that O'Neill has ignored him. He included him in at least one provisional squad to let him know he's on the radar and he went to see him play when, by Hourihane's own admission, he didn't have his best game.

I think it's reasonable that a player should have to perform well at a decent level for more than five minutes before getting included in our final squads and becoming a genuine option for us. The cut off in terms of what a decent level constitutes seems to be anything above League One which also seems fairly reasonable I think, with Callum O'Dowda being the only exception that I can think of and that might have been seen as a special case for a variety of reasons.

Hourihane should have definitely done enough at this stage though to merit some game time against Iceland I would hope.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Thing about those free kicks too. They might make awesome vines but he's scoring them consistently and they'll find the back of the net no matter what level he's playing at.

It helps that his all-round play is brilliant too but goals win games and assists help win games too.

Although the PL scouts might be seeing the same things that have led MON to ignore what a lot of us are deeming as brilliant form for the last 18 months.

It might be a good thing MON has ignored him judging by how much O'Dowda has struggled at Bristol City.

[DeLorean]

So... O'Neill not ignoring O'Dowda has caused him to struggle at Bristol City?

[Closed Account]

The latest scare is a local London news story circulating that Hourihane has been approached by Crystal Palace. This was enough to also see the Irishman’s name feature in Sky Sport’s transfer rumour reports & Football Whispers.

[tetsujin1979]

Claims on twitter a £3,5m deal is done with Villa and will be announced tomorrow

[Closed Account]

Claims on twitter a £3,5m deal is done with Villa and will be announced tomorrow

Done deal

https://twitter.com/AVFCOfficial/status/824584059930152960
https://pbs.twimg.com/tweet_video_thumb/C3GCwWrWYAE032c.jpg

[DeLorean]

From Sky Sports Transfer Centre (http://www.skysports.com/transfer-centre)

BREAKING NEWS

Aston Villa have confirmed the signing of Conor Hourihane from Barnsley.

The 25-year-old has put pen to paper on a three-and-a-half-year deal and joins for for an undisclosed fee.

Hourihane, who was out of contract in the summer, told the Villa website: "I’m really pleased to be here.

"Aston Villa is a massive club and I’m looking forward to a new chapter in my career and developing further as a player under Steve Bruce.

“I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone connected to Barnsley Football Club; from the owner, to the head coach, the backroom staff, and of course to the supporters who have been amazing to me throughout my time at Oakwell."


A RELUCTANT DECISION'

This is what Barnsley have said about Hourihane's departure in a statement.

"Conor made it clear to the board that he saw the move as an opportunity to further his career and he wanted to pursue the move.

"Under these circumstances, and considering that Conor’s contract was coming to an end in the summer where he could transfer for free, the club respected that decision and reluctantly allowed him to move on for a significant fee and sell-on."

[Fixer82]

We're there no premiership clubs interested?

[Olé Olé]

Maybe there was but none willing to match Villa's fee and wages. Villa have 11th highest wage bill in Europe it was confirmed recently.

They've also signed Henri Lansbury and Birki Bjarnason (played midfield for Iceland at Euros) so they've really poured money into centre midfielders during this window.

[OwlsFan]

Maybe there was but none willing to match Villa's fee and wages. Villa have 11th highest wage bill in Europe it was confirmed recently.


Seriously ? They won't be long going in to penury if that's the case if they don't get promoted. Ahead of them probably the Spanish giants, Bayern M, Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs, Liverpool, Man City, Man Utd and one other (Juve perhaps or Newcastle even).

[CraftyToePoke]

Maybe there was but none willing to match Villa's fee and wages. Villa have 11th highest wage bill in Europe it was confirmed recently

That's nuts, any chance of a link to see who is above, and indeed, below them ? If they had the 11th biggest in England alone, you'd still be concerned, never mind the continent.

[DeLorean]

20th according to this (http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/barcelona-have-highest-wage-bill-man-utd-top-spending-charts)

[Olé Olé]

Apologies for the mistake and thanks for clearing up Del.

20th still outlandish.

[DannyInvincible]

A tribute to Hourihane released by Barnsley today:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVLMgl1TaDM

It features some fantastic goals.

[tricky_colour]

Maybe there was but none willing to match Villa's fee and wages. Villa have 11th highest wage bill in Europe it was confirmed recently.

They've also signed Henri Lansbury and Birki Bjarnason (played midfield for Iceland at Euros) so they've really poured money into centre midfielders during this window.

In other words Villa is a very badly managed club, or were.

9 points off the play off, not inconceiveable they get promoted but unlikey, the bookies have them at 14-1
but I would not take that price, the 66-1 on Barnsley looks far more inviting, note I am not disucssion better
here just the realative chances of Barnsley and Villa of getting promoted, I think swapping those odds around but
be a more accurate refelction of their chances.

Villa are more likely to be in League 1 than the Premiership next season.

[DeLorean]

I had it in my head that Randy Lerner & co. used get abuse from the Villa support for penny pinching and not investing enough in the squad. I know the club has been sold more recently but I presume the wage bill would be more of a legacy issue.

[seanfhear]

Good luck to Connor Hourihane at Villa . Villa are a big club and I hope they get back in the big time soon......

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

£3m is a lot of money for a Championship club to spend on a player out of contract in 6 months time.

He'll be under pressure, but good pressure all the same.

[tricky_colour]

Well Barnslay won again today, granted against bottom of the table no hopers Rotherham but it takes them to one point
off the play offs, the 66-1 previously on offer is not reduced to 40-1 but I they are third in the current form table
over the last 10 games so that looks quite generous to me.

[DeLorean]

Has made his Aston Villa debut but they trail 1-0 at Brentford.

Edit... Make that 2-0

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

0 points from a possible 9 since Hourihane moved.

Barnsley still in the promotion shake-up.

Being played out of position.

Bruce under pressure.

Any slight tinges of regret from Hourihane, I wonder?

1 goal in 8 for Hogan BTW.

[OwlsFan]

0 points from a possible 9 since Hourihane moved.

Barnsley still in the promotion shake-up.

Being played out of position.

Bruce under pressure.

Any slight tinges of regret from Hourihane, I wonder?

From €7k a week to €28k a week....not even a scintilla I suspect especially since Villa will finish above Barnsley.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Yeah. I agree. I'm not one to comment on something like this. I have done things I regret because the money was so good - not implying Conor regrets it.

[SkStu]

Yeah. I agree. I'm not one to comment on something like this. I have done things I regret because the money was so good - not implying Conor regrets it.

You'll have to explain those videos to your kids and grandkids TOWK. ;)

[DeLorean]

From €7k a week to €28k a week....not even a scintilla I suspect especially since Villa will finish above Barnsley.

Might need to re-evaluate that one! 13 points between them after last night. Bruce will be doing well to last the season at this rate.

[OwlsFan]

Might need to re-evaluate that one! 13 points between them after last night. Bruce will be doing well to last the season at this rate.

When I saw that result last night I thought someone would point out the error of my ways. I expected it to be TOWK but gentleman that he is..

Long way to go yet. I still think Barnsley are flattering to deceive and Villa aren't as bad as they appear. We shall see.