Wes Hoolahan (M Cambridge Utd b.1982)

[OwlsFan]

I was responding to you statement that Walters "was on a different planet" which he wasn't. He read the back heel and I agree he could have done better, but would have been closed out in either case.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Hoolahan on the bench for a third consecutive game tonight.

Brady starts.

[DeLorean]

Norwich 2-1 down at home to Huddersfield since before half time. They've made three second half substitutions and none of them involved Hoolahan coming on. What's going on there? Brady assisted the Norwich goal.

[seanfhear]

Surely a managerial change has to be on the cards at Norwich...... Alex Neill must have lost the dressing room for Norwich to be doing this bad .

[DeLorean]

Just looking through Norwich's Championship results with and without Hoolahan starting this season.

With:

PLD 16 W 8 D 3 L 5 F 25 A 25 PTS 29

Average points per game = 1.81
Average goals scored per game = 1.56
Average goals conceded per game = 1.56

Without:

PLD 7 W 2 D 0 L 5 F 13 A 13 PTS 6

Average points per game = 0.86
Average goals scored per game = 1.85
Average goals conceded per game = 1.85



Some other points:

Of the seven games he didn't start, he was only used from the bench in one of them, despite Norwich needing goals in most of them.

In the interest of balance, Norwich's form had dipped before he was dropped. They've lost the last five games he's started along with the majority he hasn't.

Of the 16 games he's started he's been substituted 11 times. Of those 11 games the scoreline changed in 5 of them after he went off, but only once for the better (when they went from 2-1 up to 3-1 at home to 10 man Burton Albion).

[DeLorean]

Hoolahan just on the receiving end of a fairly poor looking tackle from Derby's Jacob Butterfield, for which he received a straight red. Norwich lead 1-0.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Completed a rare 90 minutes today, probably because Alex Neil didn't want him to get cheered off the pitch.

[DeLorean]

He ran the show by all accounts even though I don't think he was directly involved in the goals. The guys on Radio Derby said he was the best player on the pitch by a mile and can't understand how he's been out of the side. To give Neil his due, he did resurrect Hoolahan's Norwich career in the first place so hopefully he can show a bit more faith in him from now on.

[tetsujin1979]

I finished Jason McAteer's autobiography over Christmas, and there's a bit in it just after the World Cup in the States where he's been dropped at Bolton and he has a go at the manager for it. Manager turns around and says he had to drop him at the start of the season, so he'd still be firing on all cylinders at the end of the season, when he'd be needed to try and keep them up. Was wondering if this also applied to Hoolahan lately at Norwich - did Neil drop him to keep him fresh for the second half of the season?

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

I finished Jason McAteer's autobiography over Christmas, and there's a bit in it just after the World Cup in the States where he's been dropped at Bolton and he has a go at the manager for it. Manager turns around and says he had to drop him at the start of the season, so he'd still be firing on all cylinders at the end of the season, when he'd be needed to try and keep them up. Was wondering if this also applied to Hoolahan lately at Norwich - did Neil drop him to keep him fresh for the second half of the season?

Hopefully that's what Owen Coyle is doing with Anthony Stokes.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Just watched the highlights on Sky Sports News. That tackle and the defending for the 2nd and 3rd goals. Welp.

[DeLorean]

Derby have appealed Jacob Butterfield's red card for his tackle on Hoolahan. McClaren didn't see it as excessive and questioned whether it was even a foul.

Decide for yourselves! (https://youtu.be/b80iBk1OPYE?t=57s)

[geysir]

I finished Jason McAteer's autobiography over Christmas, and there's a bit in it just after the World Cup in the States where he's been dropped at Bolton and he has a go at the manager for it. Manager turns around and says he had to drop him at the start of the season, so he'd still be firing on all cylinders at the end of the season, when he'd be needed to try and keep them up. Was wondering if this also applied to Hoolahan lately at Norwich - did Neil drop him to keep him fresh for the second half of the season?
Jason didn't play much for Ireland at WC 94, did he?
Hard to say about Wes, probably his fitness re injuries/niggling issues was a more obvious reason for him being dropped this season. In all of Wes' club career the most baffling questions are to do with Hughton's use or rather non-use of him in the club's critical period where they could have survived the relegation drop from the epl, also Hughton's sub hardly played Wes.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Putting in a masterclass against Nottingham Forest.

Involved in all three goals so far, scoring the third.

[tetsujin1979]

What a finish from Hoolahan!
https://twitter.com/FootballOn5/status/830467177857875968

[seanfhear]

He hit the target and thats good enough for me:D.....A good goal alright he either saw that the goalkeeper was off his line or took the chance that he was....either way its a cracker......

[tricky_colour]

Good goal as was the first one, keeper too far off his line though.

He had another chance at 1.25 ish.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiMufZ7oUSU

[DeLorean]

Yeah, just saw that Howson one while ago, insane goal. A bit tough for Wessi not to get goal of the day, but bizarre that he can't even claim goal of the match!

[SkStu]

Some cracking goals in that game alright!

[SkStu]

Just read that Irish keeper Stephen Henderson injured himself badly scrambling back in trying to save Wessi's strike yesterday. Achilles injury and he's out for 6-8 months. Poor guy.

[seanfhear]

http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/row-over-wes-hoolahans-future-led-to-alex-neils-sacking-781172.html

A bit of a stretch I'd say......... Anyhow a new manager for Wes at Norwich.....

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Norwich concede twice after substituting Hoolahan but they equalise immediately after going behind.

Norwich 2-2 Blackburn now.

[DannyInvincible]

Hoolahan went off injured with a hamstring issue in the first-half of Norwich's game against Barnsley today.

[mark12345]

Will be a big loss if we don't have Wes ready for Friday night. Looking around the place - Clark didn't play for Newcastle, Arter didn't play for Bournemouth, McCarthy was another inactive for Everton and Whelan was also a spectator for Stoke. While Whelan wouldn't be in my game planning, if both Wes and Harry are out then it may be opportunity knocks for Conor Hourihane.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Norwich urge Ireland not to risk Hoolahan.

http://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/soccer-news/norwich-urge-martin-oneill-not-10056010

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Hoolahan's goal against Rotherham nominated for an EFL Goal of the Year award: http://www.canaries.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/norwich-city-goty-wes-hoolahan-3634265.aspx

[DannyInvincible]

Wes will return to action sooner than was originally anticipated, according to Paul O'Hehir. There'd been a fear that he might miss the Austria game in June due to the current injury, but all should be OK, so long as he otherwise stays fit.

'Wes Hoolahan's 'season ending injury' not as bad as first feared, and could be back for Austria tie': http://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/wes-hoolahans-season-ending-injury-10133900


But Norwich have confirmed today that Hoolahan is making good progress - and could be back next week.

While Canaries caretaker Alan Irvine has ruled him out of tomorrow’s clash with Aston Villa, he said: “I expect Wes to start training with the rest of the squad on Monday.

"While it's a big disappointment to lose him, it's important we don't rush him back and we have plenty of options."

[Stuttgart88]

Has two already today as Norwich are 6-1 up at half time against Reading.

[tetsujin1979]

are Reading even on the pitch?
First time Hoolahan scored more than once in a game since December 2010!

[Olé Olé]

His second was his 50th for Norwich. Also assisted Alex Pritchard.

It's as though he heard some people comparing Liam Kelly to him and he was like "alright pal, watch the master in action."

Let's hope he stays injury free until June. A home game is always a Hoolahan game.

[DeLorean]

Was happy to see Paul McShane wasn't involved in any of that. Is he injured or what?

[Closed Account]

Disgraceful that Wes is happily able to play and score only 2 weeks after our Wales game. And he didn't even come over to Dublin to have the FAI doctors look at him. I can't imagine any other players in the squad getting away with behaviour like that. Probably driving his car around to the shops all the time too and not resting.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Disgraceful that Wes is happily able to play and score only 2 weeks after our Wales game. And he didn't even come over to Dublin to have the FAI doctors look at him. I can't imagine any other players in the squad getting away with behaviour like that. Probably driving his car around to the shops all the time too and not resting.

Arter played on 01/04/17 a couple of days after the Iceland game. Hoolahan played on 08/04/17.


“Wes is definitely out,” the Ireland boss said after today’s training session at the FAI headquarters in Dublin. “We got the news through about the scan this morning and obviously it’s not great for us, not great for him and not great for his club.

“I have often said this before, you just curse your luck and get on with it,” he added, when asked about absentees.



I'd quote what he said in relation to Arter but I can't find anything.

[Closed Account]

I was joking, everything I said is ridiculous.

[DannyInvincible]

Video of the goals from the Norwich-Reading game here: https://vid.me/21Mj

[OwlsFan]

Was happy to see Paul McShane wasn't involved in any of that. Is he injured or what?

Yes, he was out with a calf injury.

[Charlie Darwin]

DeLorean delighted to see an Irish patriot injured. Disgusting. I bet he was go-karting on cows when he said it too.

[DeLorean]

Ha... lesser of the two evils maybe. :o

[tetsujin1979]

Back on the bench this evening against Brighton, game live on sky.

[DeLorean]

Scored as Norwich lead QPR 1-0 at half time.

[DeLorean]

Hoolahan add his second late on to make it 4-0. Good to see with Austria starting to loom.

[DeLorean]

Also picked up Norwich's player of the season award (for the first time, surprisingly).

http://www.canaries.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/norwich-city-wes-hoolahan-player-of-the-season-3708207.aspx

[Olé Olé]

Alex Neil, you silly, silly boy.

[mark12345]

Hoolahan add his second late on to make it 4-0. Good to see with Austria starting to loom.

Certainly is. Hoolahan, McGeady, Brady and McClean in the starting eleven should provide a nice cutting edge for MON's team.

[liamoo11]

Certainly is. Hoolahan, McGeady, Brady and McClean in the starting eleven should provide a nice cutting edge for MON's team.

Is that Brady left back with McLean and mcgeady either side of long and hoolahon in a midfield three (hopefully with McCarthy and one of hendick/arter) ?

[Olé Olé]

Is that Brady left back with McLean and mcgeady either side of long and hoolahon in a midfield three (hopefully with McCarthy and one of hendick/arter) ?

I thought McGeady would start against Wales. He didn't. On the above, I can't see Ward being dropped. After that, could be anything.

[DannyInvincible]

There's a video here of Norwich's goals against QPR today: http://www.punditarena.com/football/sokeefe/wes-hoolahan/

[Charlie Darwin]

I thought McGeady would start against Wales. He didn't. On the above, I can't see Ward being dropped. After that, could be anything.
Ward is one of the few who will play whenever fit, I think, alongside Brady, McCarthy and Coleman.

[mark12345]

Is that Brady left back with McLean and mcgeady either side of long and hoolahon in a midfield three (hopefully with McCarthy and one of hendick/arter) ?

No, I'd keep Ward at left back. I'd even contemplate playing 3 at the back, 4 in the middle and 3 up front.
I think we have to take it to Austria in this game on June 11, no holding back.
Perhaps Arter as a deep lying midfielder to help the defensive three (can't see McCarthy making it even with a month to go).
Midfield of Arter, Hoolahan, Brady, McGeady (perhaps a bit ambitious and it would also mean dropping Jeff Hendrick but he wasn't too impressive against Wales)
Front three of Long, Walters and McClean

[DeLorean]

Ward is one of the few who will play whenever fit, I think, alongside Brady, McCarthy and Coleman.

I'd add Randolph (for now at least), Hendrick and Walters to that.