Conor Hourihane

[Eirambler]

To be fair to him the eight contributions (5 assists, 3 goals) makes him the best performing Irish player in that respect in the Premier League this season. Impressive considering where Villa are in the table. For me he's still a starter for Ireland because, unless Brady finds form again, we need him in the team for his set piece delivery.

[Olé Olé]

I wish he could get a foothold in games and contribute more. He was actually good in the home Georgia match, his set piece goal aside. I do think that he suffers a little at Villa for being left footed and Grealish being on his left. He is effectively bypassed a lot there.

[swinfordfc]

He actually sitting in midfield with Luiz .. two of them protecting the back four allowing Grealish, McGinn and Trezeguet to support the striker (Sammatta or Davis) when they can - Villa are hanging in there but they played a poor brand of football!

[youngirish]

Scored the second and assisted the third against Fulham. 25 minutes still to go so maybe he can grab another.

[DeLorean]

Hourihane's goal here
1310655269203050498

[mark12345]

I wish he could get a foothold in games and contribute more. He was actually good in the home Georgia match, his set piece goal aside. I do think that he suffers a little at Villa for being left footed and Grealish being on his left. He is effectively bypassed a lot there.

I feel the same way. He flashes in games but he's nothing more than a passenger for Ireland for long periods.

[Stuttgart88]

That's the problem with him. He is stylish and elegant, but sometimes just utterly ineffective in real play. If all we saw was the best of him he'd be a superstar.

[youngirish]

That's the problem with him. He is stylish and elegant, but sometimes just utterly ineffective in real play. If all we saw was the best of him he'd be a superstar.

He offers something none of our other central midfielders offer at the moment though, a goal threat. I agree though he's one of those players that can go missing for large parts of the game, particularly when his team is not having the lion's share of possession.

[Stuttgart88]

Yes, which is why he's a hard guy to leave out.

[irishfan86]

Barring injury, I assume it will be McCarthy, Hendrick and Hourihane as the midfield three. Hopefully one or both of Hendrick/Hourihane bring their "one in every three or four" good games out for this one to get us past Slovakia.

[Razors left peg]

The issue with Hourihane and Hendrick both being in the same midfield is that they can both look really good at times but disappear too. It would be one or the other for me I dont think you can play both at same time.

A midfield of Arter, McCarthy and Hourihane would probably be my preference going into these games

[irishfan86]

I generally have not been an Arter fan but I think he showed in his last appearance that he can impose himself on a game in a way that Hourihane/Hendrick often don't. Hourihane and Hendrick technically better but don't always get stuck in/engaged.

[Razors left peg]

I generally have not been an Arter fan but I think he showed in his last appearance that he can impose himself on a game in a way that Hourihane/Hendrick often don't. Hourihane and Hendrick technically better but don't always get stuck in/engaged.

Yeah Id agree with that. I wouldn't be McCarthys biggest fan either but you would feel that McCarthy and Arter would be pretty solid and all Hourihane to be a bit more creative

[Bielsa´s irish]

doherty mccarthy arter for me

[Bielsa´s irish]

hendrick and hourihane as reserves

[Razors left peg]

doherty mccarthy arter for me

Ok I'll bite..... Doherty is not and has never been a center midfielder but you want him to play there in a knockout game? Should we play Duffy upfront too since he is good in the air?

[Charlie Darwin]

Ok I'll bite..... Doherty is not and has never been a center midfielder but you want him to play there in a knockout game? Should we play Duffy upfront too since he is good in the air?
Doherty played centre mid for the 21s (long time ago I know). Not sure you could stick him in there for a big game like this but he does have the capability to move there I think (same with Coleman).

[Razors left peg]

Doherty played centre mid for the 21s (long time ago I know). Not sure you could stick him in there for a big game like this but he does have the capability to move there I think (same with Coleman).
We tried that sort of logic with Cyrus Christie under O'Neill, it didn't work.

[jbyrne]

We tried that sort of logic with Cyrus Christie under O'Neill, it didn't work.

wasn't as bad as people said and was just used as another stick to hit MON with. At least MON recognised that we needed a bit of pace in our ctre mid and tried something out.

[Razors left peg]

wasn't as bad as people said and was just used as another stick to hit MON with. At least MON recognised that we needed a bit of pace in our ctre mid and tried something out.

Come on now, it was ridiculous.

Doherty at least is a good footballer, Christie was awful in midfield. He pretty awful anywhere on pitch to be fair.

Just because Lahm was able to play both positions doesn't mean other fullbacks can

[jbyrne]

Come on now, it was ridiculous.

your view, not mine.
i could name 10 ctre mid performances that were far worse during the MON tenure.

[Razors left peg]

your view, not mine.
i could name 10 ctre mid performances that were far worse during the MON tenure.

Thats really not a debate that's worth anyone's time. There was a lot of crap midfield performances under last few managers but Christie in midfield wasnt a highlight

[DeLorean]

Kind of agree with jbryne that Christie wasn't that bad considering, or indeed that bad anywhere else, but it was a kind of pointless experiment. For a reserve full back Christie did fine for us, better than fine on occasion. He seems to suffer from the same broad brush stroke analysis that Paul Green did, regardless of how well he did at times and given he was usually only emergency cover anyway.

[Eirambler]

Ross Barkley is probably going to take Hourihane's place in the Villa team this season. Disappointing for him but realistically he's probably the weak link in midfield in terms of his contribution in general play. If we had a more consistent midfielder available and someone else to cover set pieces we'd probably drop him too. Will still probably get plenty of game time off the bench and as an injury replacement.

[Trequartista20]

Maybe he will take Hourihane's place. But I think your rather dismissive appraisal overlooks the fact that they're quite different players who play different roles, and the fact that Hourihane scored a goal and assisted one in Villa's previous game. Not to mention the prominent part Hourihane played in Villa avoiding the drop last term.

[Eirambler]

Fair enough. I just don't see any of Luiz, McGinn or Grealish being dropped to accommodate Barkley. Which seems to leave Hourihane as the one who loses out when all are fit and available.

[elatedscum]

Christie had some good performances, thinking the game against Germany, if I remember correct. I think he was involved in an important goal or two (maybe an OG where he shot) and hit the woodwork once or twice from full back.

But he was out of his depth playing centre midfield. I remember watching it in Lansdowne and he was trying to press and restrict the opposition from having time on the ball but he had no sense positionally and no experience in making the decision between which of two players to close down. The angles were often not right either giving an easy out-pass for the player. While in possession, there were a few bad giveaways of the ball.

Not his fault at all, he worked hard and he tried but, like he said, he hadn’t trained or played there since he was 14.

[Olé Olé]

I don't always subscribe to this conclusion of "club signs player, Irish player in jeopardy" which I think we are very prone to doing as Irish supporters.

Villa played 4-3-3 their last game out. Jack Grealish played as part of the front three. Last season did he not tend to play on the left of the middle three? Interesting timing for him to move there on the back of a) Gareth Southgate stating he doesn't fit into his team b) him getting his England debut and c) him signing a long term deal.

If this signing is being made to accommodate Grealish moving further forward then Hourihane is in the exact same position as last year i.e. himself, Luiz, McGinn and one more challenging for three spots. However, it is now slightly easier for him given that Grealish isn't there as nailed on for one of the berths.

I do think that Hourihane has goodwill in the bank and it is clear that he contributes enough to warrant racking up at least 20 league starts.

All in all, Barkley is a different type of player (more similar to McGinn?) and might reduce Hourihane's appearances but there are mitigating circumstances. I think he'll be fine. He's come good with an assist and/or a goal most of the times he has needed to.

[elatedscum]

Also a decent chance that Barkley doesn’t work out, track record isn’t amazing, either with injuries or off field stuff. Villa made the same attempt last year with Danny Drinkwater. Obviously, he isn’t as much of a train wreck but I wouldn’t think he’s a sure thing...

[Razors left peg]

Also a decent chance that Barkley doesn’t work out, track record isn’t amazing, either with injuries or off field stuff. Villa made the same attempt last year with Danny Drinkwater. Obviously, he isn’t as much of a train wreck but I wouldn’t think he’s a sure thing...

Id agree with this, Barkley has been over rated his entire career. He was talked about as the next Rooney as a young player and hes never lived up to expectations. Almost feels a bit like Jesse Lingard at this stage, people think of him as a young player. Hes nearly 27 and is very average

[Charlie Darwin]

We tried that sort of logic with Cyrus Christie under O'Neill, it didn't work.
Yeah but Christie doesn't have the skillset for it and I think O'Neill did it in part to show that it doesn't work. I remember there was a discussion here years back about Stephen Hunt playing centre mid and I didn't think he had the skills either, but Doherty and Coleman I think do.

It's not about right back = automatically a centre mid, it's the skills they actually show on the field that demonstrate they can adapt. And Doherty in particular I think is a guy who sees the game as a big picture.

[elatedscum]

I’m not entirely convinced it would work. I’d be willing to see it tried. Not sure if he’d have the positional sense to play in the middle. Think he also works better with the game in front of him, being able to see the picture and time his runs.

He’s a good dribbler and runner in a 1v1, useful attributes for a full back. He has more fullback pace than winger pace (high top speed, but acceleration isn’t phenomenal). And he’s a good crosser of the ball.

Strength, aerial ability and decent tackling could all translate to the midfield with work, and there was genuine intelligence in his choice of passing and runs for Wolves, intricate one-twos, varying an underlap and an overlap, stuff you rarely see from a fullback. Those are the things that make me believe he has a chance. But if I had to put money on it, I’d think he’d struggle there and ultimately underwhelm.

[seanfhear]

Yeah but Christie doesn't have the skillset for it and I think O'Neill did it in part to show that it doesn't work. I remember there was a discussion here years back about Stephen Hunt playing centre mid and I didn't think he had the skills either, but Doherty and Coleman I think do.

It's not about right back = automatically a centre mid, it's the skills they actually show on the field that demonstrate they can adapt. And Doherty in particular I think is a guy who sees the game as a big picture.
He sees the big picture as a wing back not a central midfielder ~ ~ Tis a complete different position.

[Charlie Darwin]

He sees the big picture as a wing back not a central midfielder ~ ~ Tis a complete different position.
Well yeah but I was rather working on the proposition that some players are not limited to one position for their entire lives.

[DeLorean]

Yeah but Christie doesn't have the skillset for it and I think O'Neill did it in part to show that it doesn't work.

What would have been the purpose for this? It was his experiment after all, not like the fans/media were clamouring for Cyrus Christie to run our midfield.

[Stuttgart88]

Id agree with this, Barkley has been over rated his entire career. He was talked about as the next Rooney as a young player and hes never lived up to expectations. Almost feels a bit like Jesse Lingard at this stage, people think of him as a young player. Hes nearly 27 and is very average
He'd have 50 caps for us and would walk into our first XI right now!

[Razors left peg]

He'd have 50 caps for us and would walk into our first XI right now!

Maybe.... Still doesnt change anything I said!

[youngirish]

He'd have 50 caps for us and would walk into our first XI right now!

True but you're setting a low bar.

Stephen Ward got 50 caps for us.

[sadloserkid]

Shur he has 33 caps for England as it is. And played in nearly 80 games for Chelsea over the last 2 seasons too. Even if his ceiling is 'very average' I'd say I'm not alone among Villa fans in thinking that unless he is in fact Drinkwater MkII he marks a definite step upwards in recruitment compared to last summer at the club.

[Charlie Darwin]

What would have been the purpose for this? It was his experiment after all, not like the fans/media were clamouring for Cyrus Christie to run our midfield.
Shows everybody how clever he is. MON was a good manager but petulant.

[irishfan86]

Shows everybody how clever he is. MON was a good manager but petulant.

Literally nobody was calling for Christie to play in midfield. By playing him there O’Neill wasn’t proving anyone wrong.

[Charlie Darwin]

Literally nobody was calling for Christie to play in midfield. By playing him there O’Neill wasn’t proving anyone wrong.
Fair enough. I kind of got wrapped up between that and the three at the back he disastrously tried a couple of times.

[seanfhear]

Literally nobody was calling for Christie to play in midfield. By playing him there O’Neill wasn’t proving anyone wrong.
Except maybe himself ! Maybe it was a further sign that football had moved on from O’Neill's time. I can remember both Mark Lawrenson and Paul McGrath ( obviously players levels above Cyrus Christie ) doing jobs for Ireland in Midfield but would they be able to do such a job in modern football = = Highly doubtful !

[Diggs246]

Literally nobody was calling for Christie to play in midfield. By playing him there O’Neill wasn’t proving anyone wrong.

He is not even a good right back

[DeLorean]

Barkley in, Hourihane out, for Villa this evening.

[Olé Olé]

Manager says Barkley gets the nod due to his physicality. I can see his point- Hourihane is probably not combative enough for the likes of Wijnaldum and Keita, not to mention Firmino and Salah putting the squeeze on.

[Olé Olé]

Barkley is doing very well tonight. He is getting beyond the Liverpool midfielders and defenders and creating chances. Grealish is also playing further forward so it should be Barkley, McGinn and Hourihane into two spots in front of Luiz. Hourihane will get a lot of games against teams that sit deeper. And, in Watkins, it looks like they have a man to capitalize from the supply Hourihane would give.

[Eirambler]

Barkley is doing very well tonight. He is getting beyond the Liverpool midfielders and defenders and creating chances. Grealish is also playing further forward so it should be Barkley, McGinn and Hourihane into two spots in front of Luiz.

That's a battle I cannot see him winning. Let's be honest - this was not a good week for Hourihane to lose his place in the team. If they score seven the week you're not playing, you're probably going to be waiting for injuries and suspensions to kick in before you get your place back.

[Olé Olé]

Not a good week? Doesn't make it a particularly bad week. He wasn't an undisputed starter last season. Villa have started the season well. They will surely be better than last season. They may improve this season beyond a level at which Hourihane can get his place in the team. For now, yeah Barkley had a good game but Villa were always going to improve their side this window. And there will be a lot of games. They will have to rotate. He will get games this season.

[Trequartista20]

Starts in the Premier League, getting a goal and an assist while he's at it, get's called up by his country, sees his team win 7-2 against the league champions, all before picking up his weekly £30,000 paycheque.

I don't know about you, but I've had worse weeks, personally...