View Full Version : Wes Hoolahan (M Cambridge Utd b.1982)
eirebhoy
17/08/2007, 4:35 PM
Hoolahan signed for Blackpool officially last week. Apparently he was excellent again in a recent match. He could be a contender for the Ireland squad before too long.
paul_oshea
17/08/2007, 4:44 PM
what age is he now? 25? he would want to be getting into it soon.
eirebhoy
17/08/2007, 4:52 PM
what age is he now? 25? he would want to be getting into it soon.
He has improved a lot in the last couple of years and is the type of player that will get better and better with age and experience.
paul_oshea
17/08/2007, 4:58 PM
until he is too old!
eirebhoy
17/08/2007, 7:36 PM
until he is too old!
There's probably the best part of 10 years before he's too old. I think he's now more than a playmaker rather than a winger.
ifk101
17/08/2007, 9:17 PM
He has improved a lot in the last couple of years and is the type of player that will get better and better with age and experience.
Explain.
LeixlipRed
17/08/2007, 9:22 PM
Weso definitely deserves a chance. He could deal with the physicality of League 1 and he has the technique to rival the majority of our current squad. Is he good enough for the highest level? Who knows? But he's better than Lapira that's sure
Kivlehan
17/08/2007, 10:08 PM
But he's better than Lapira that's sure
Do you watch a lot of Notre Dame soccer then? I very much doubt there are many people on the board who can honestly say they've seen more than a few minutes of Lapira's play. He just seems to be a popular whipping boy. Not really fair to the kid.
inexile
18/08/2007, 1:22 PM
thought hoolahan was only 23?
pineapple stu
18/08/2007, 1:31 PM
25 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wes_Hoolahan
eirebhoy
18/08/2007, 5:30 PM
Explain.
He plays the game a lot more with his brain now. A lot more short passes these days. Obviously that'll only improve with experience.
Real ale Madrid
29/09/2010, 7:03 AM
Not sure if his expolits are mentioned in any other thread so apologies if they have, but Hoolahan scored twice and set up another in norwich's 4-3 win at home to Leicester last night.
He was named in the league 1 team of the season last year and seems to be a very consistant performer again this season.
Not really a Trapatoni kind of player I know, but if he keeps performing like that he might force his way into his plans.
tetsujin1979
29/09/2010, 9:01 AM
Hoolahan was given a chance by Trapattoni in the B game VS Nottingham Forest, and was very poor on the night. Was muscled off the ball easily, didn't link up well with Ward at full back and didn't make good use of the ball when in possession. In my opinion, he was so bad that he affected Ward's chances of a call up to the senior side because of how he made Ward look.
I'm not saying he hasn't improved since then, and a season in League One seems to have done him the world of good, but at best right now he's fifth choice winger behind Duff, Lawrence, McGeady and Treacy. Possibly even behind Keogh.
Real ale Madrid
29/09/2010, 9:18 AM
Plays at the head of a diamond formation for Norwich, not on the wing, - which suits him down to the ground. Norwich look like making a run for the premiership and Hoolahan is central to thier plans, I think a role for him could be say, playing off someone like Kevin Doyle in a 5 man midfield if Keane was injured. Again not a Trapatoni kind of player but he's consistantly done well over the past few years and seems to improve season to season. Hopefully Trap is keeping tabs on him.
HammerNThongs
29/09/2010, 10:19 AM
Hoolahan was given a chance by Trapattoni in the B game VS Nottingham Forest, and was very poor on the night. Was muscled off the ball easily, didn't link up well with Ward at full back and didn't make good use of the ball when in possession. In my opinion, he was so bad that he affected Ward's chances of a call up to the senior side because of how he made Ward look.
I'm not saying he hasn't improved since then, and a season in League One seems to have done him the world of good, but at best right now he's fifth choice winger behind Duff, Lawrence, McGeady and Treacy. Possibly even behind Keogh.
And Fahey & McCarthy. I reckon at this stage, Coleman must be too.
Wes hasnt a hope I would say of getting into the RoI side anymore unfortunately. Shame, but I still hope he keeps making his mark over there.
And Fahey & McCarthy. I reckon at this stage, Coleman must be too.
Wes hasnt a hope I would say of getting into the RoI side anymore unfortunately. Shame, but I still hope he keeps making his mark over there.
and hunt....
I think a role for him could be say, playing off someone like Kevin Doyle in a 5 man midfield if Keane was injured
Trapp will stick to the 4-4-2 I think, but if he ever did go with some kind of 4-4-1-1 type formation, I'd much rather see Gibson or McGeady fill in the hole behind the main striker (not a euphemism). I would be very surprised to see Hoolahan in the green shirt for the senior team again. He'll be 29 before this season is over and we're not short of younger and, quite frankly, more talented options out wide or in the centre.
At this stage, his only chance of lining out is if the Ireland team coach crashed into the Ireland A team's coach and every single player was injured in the wreckage.
Real ale Madrid
30/09/2010, 10:04 AM
A resounding thumbs down then for Hoolahan!
Personally I think he's better than someone like Paul Green, but again not a Trappatoni type of player. Be interesting to see if he performs consistently well throughout the season at the top end of the championship.
Off topic but anyone here Roddy C and Daniel O'Donnell from the indo on off the ball last night. They were discussing the merits of Irish players joining clubs in the conference or league 2 as opposed to staying in the LOI. Funny stuff, although Roddy is a complete clown.
cornflakes
30/09/2010, 2:49 PM
Ya heard that and Roddy is indeed a clown
tetsujin1979
30/09/2010, 2:54 PM
Off topic but anyone here Roddy C and Daniel O'Donnell from the indo on off the ball last night. They were discussing the merits of Irish players joining clubs in the conference or league 2 as opposed to staying in the LOI. Funny stuff, although Roddy is a complete clown.
It's on the listenback service - http://media.newstalk.ie/listenback
Scroll down to Off The Ball
Wednesday 29th
Part 2
Starts just after the 46 minute mark
and it's Daniel McDonnell
theworm2345
01/10/2010, 6:20 AM
Not sure if his expolits are mentioned in any other thread so apologies if they have, but Hoolahan scored twice and set up another in norwich's 4-3 win at home to Leicester last night.
The second
http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/9113/hoolahan.gif
:shock:
SwanVsDalton
01/10/2010, 2:40 PM
BANG! Some goal in fairness...
no different to Houghtons against Italy in 94. ;) ;)
Razors left peg
01/10/2010, 7:57 PM
no different to Houghtons against Italy in 94. ;) ;)
Maybe, but Im not changing my name to Hoolahans left peg :)
AlaskaFox
02/10/2010, 3:10 PM
Scored another penalty today to put Norwich 2 up.
Real ale Madrid
28/12/2010, 4:09 PM
Hat- trick for Hoolahan today, inc 2 pens at home to Sheff Utd, heard Stelling calling him hotlips Hoolahan??
Stuttgart88
29/12/2010, 3:25 PM
A reference to M*A*S*H, the 1970s US comedy.
tetsujin1979
17/02/2011, 4:15 PM
Wes is in the list of players for Championship player of the season on fourfourtwo.com: http://fourfourtwo.com/
He's well behind at the moment, so vote early, vote often.
(scroll down for the poll, it's on the right)
Mark Breen
14/03/2011, 6:49 PM
Wes just won a peno for Norwich, Which Holt converted.
1:33 gone in the game
CraftyToePoke
14/03/2011, 7:08 PM
He has been taken off penalty duty recently since he chipped one down the middle and the keeper didnt move. His side have had one or two spot kicks since then, so he could have two or three more goals if he had done things a bit differently.
Everton are watching him according to 4-4-2 I think. They are a club with previous in terms of lower league shopping, would be a great move for him.
theworm2345
14/03/2011, 7:12 PM
Everton are watching him according to 4-4-2 I think. They are a club with previous in terms of lower league shopping, would be a great move for him.
Not sure he'd fit in there with Arteta and Cahill occupying the place he'd likely play.
cornflakes
14/03/2011, 7:35 PM
Not sure he'd fit in there with Arteta and Cahill occupying the place he'd likely play.
I'd imagine it might be hard for Everton to hold onto both of them. Everton aren't up to much and could do with the money too
theworm2345
14/03/2011, 8:35 PM
Just set up Lansbury for what will surely be the winner with a little dink over the top.
mark12345
14/03/2011, 9:32 PM
If ever a case was to be made for the inclusion of Wes Hoolohan in the full Ireland squad, it came at Carrow Road last Monday when the Dubliner produced a performance which was streets ahead of anyone else on the pitch.
At stake were three very precious points and a place in the automatic promotion spot for the Canaries, but Bristol Rovers failed to read the script and answered an early Grant Holt penalty with a second half equalizer.
Hoolohan was brought down for the Canaries opener and it was he who, after working brilliantly for over 85 minutes, produced a delightful lob for Henri Lansbury to grab a late, late winner. Hoolohan was replaced momentarily to rich applause including a very appreciative Delia Smith who kicked every ball for the home side and must view the former Shelbourne winger as the icing on her particular cake at Norwich.
The plaudits were voluminous from the commentary booth for Hoolohan and rightly so – the Irishman controlled every ball brilliantly and used it with the utmost intelligence in supporting main striker, Holt.
Hoolohan for Ireland (and Everton next season according to reports) makes as much sense as anything so far this season.
mark12345
14/03/2011, 9:40 PM
Put the hex on him I guess. The squad is named and he's not in it. Makes no sense to see Keith Treacy in the squad, talented ok but injured for most of the season and not in anything like the form Hoolohan is (he's been named as a candidate for Championship team of the year).
Neither does it make sense for Keogh to be in there instead of Hoolohan. Lazy by Trapattoni - he's named a good squad but lazy in this case nonetheless.
theworm2345
14/03/2011, 9:58 PM
Yep he was excellent, all of Norwich's attacking play came through him and he also tracked back well in a few situations. Only saw one misplaced pass that I can remember.
Stuttgart88
14/03/2011, 10:00 PM
Only saw last 15 mins tonight and was very impressed. Very much an advanced playmaker though - not a position that Trap favours.
CraftyToePoke
14/03/2011, 11:09 PM
Only saw last 15 mins tonight and was very impressed. Very much an advanced playmaker though - not a position that Trap favours.
This is it excatly, he could reproduce it for Everton and still not be of any use to Trap. Andy Reid could have held his spot at Sunderland and still concievably not been utilised much by Ireland at present. Still, great to see Hoolohan getting this attention.
Charlie Darwin
15/03/2011, 12:08 AM
Put the hex on him I guess. The squad is named and he's not in it. Makes no sense to see Keith Treacy in the squad, talented ok but injured for most of the season and not in anything like the form Hoolohan is (he's been named as a candidate for Championship team of the year).
Neither does it make sense for Keogh to be in there instead of Hoolohan. Lazy by Trapattoni - he's named a good squad but lazy in this case nonetheless.
It's not as if Trap hasn't looked at him and played him in games before.
I think he'd fit in at Everton but he wouldn't occupy the same role he does at Norwich. He'd be competing with Osman, Coleman and Bilyaletdinov for the wide midfield positions.
SkStu
15/03/2011, 12:35 AM
great for the league and terrible for Colbert Report to see Wes Hoolahan doing so well. To be honest i have seen nothing of him since he left the league. He was class for Shels back in the day.
Stuttgart88
15/03/2011, 8:30 AM
I always thought he was a winger at Shels. He's very much a "trequartista" (right word?) at Norwich.
tetsujin1979
15/03/2011, 9:24 AM
It's not as if Trap hasn't looked at him and played him in games before.
I think he'd fit in at Everton but he wouldn't occupy the same role he does at Norwich. He'd be competing with Osman, Coleman and Bilyaletdinov for the wide midfield positions.
actually, moving to Everton might push Coleman back to right full?
Kingdom
15/03/2011, 10:11 AM
Put the hex on him I guess. The squad is named and he's not in it. Makes no sense to see Keith Treacy in the squad, talented ok but injured for most of the season and not in anything like the form Hoolohan is (he's been named as a candidate for Championship team of the year).
Neither does it make sense for Keogh to be in there instead of Hoolohan. Lazy by Trapattoni - he's named a good squad but lazy in this case nonetheless.
Hands up here, I didn't think he'd make it. I thought he'd be deemed too inferior and wouldn't be given a chance. Thankfully managers in England are coming around to the notion that the midgets are just as important as the beasts.
From what I've seen of him, Hoolihan has speed of thought rather than speed of foot? That's a useful tool for us, as it compensates against his age (he is mid/late 20's). Certainly he'd be another option particularily if Il Mister is thinking of changing things around a bit.
Our problem has never been passion, it's been guile in the last third. This is something that we seem to have either addressed to a degree or is being happened upon.
I don't believe he'd be in competition with Treacy (or Hunt for that Matter) so perhaps that argument is invalid, but he is definitely a contender for Keogh's spot - even more so given Keogh has been targetted by the manager (publically) as a like for like replacement for Robbie some time back
paul_oshea
15/03/2011, 11:49 AM
He is definitely around close to 28 or 29. Isn't that late 20s? :)
I always thought in stature he was a bit like andy reid just not as big. He seemed to be quick enough in the Euro games i saw, but generally its speed of thought but he looked like he could beat a player too. Would he be quick enough and strong enough for the PL? I dont think at the moment we acutally need him, which is as much to do with having a lot of options on the wings at present, so he might be unlucky in this regard. Still though fair play norwich in second at the moment looking like they might step up, and he is probably deserving of it, given where blackpool went, and teh fact his 2 seasons at the start there went relatively well, and he has plugged away at league 1 and championship level for the last few years.
I always thought he was a winger at Shels. He's very much a "trequartista" (right word?) at Norwich.
yeah, he played on the right at Shels.
superfrank
19/04/2011, 1:53 PM
Made it into the Championship XI of the Year.
TrapAPony
21/04/2011, 9:39 PM
Wes set up two goals tonight in a 5-1 away win over an Ipswich side that had Damien Delaney and Darren O'Dea in defence. Norwich are now second with 3 games to go. Marc Tierney who plays at left back for Norwich is supposedly a brother of Paul who played U21 for Ireland. Might be worth a look.
tricky_colour
22/04/2011, 2:29 PM
Reading who are chasing them play Leeds tonight.
Also Forest trying to get back in the play-off spots following a disastrous run (some hope).
Colbert Report
22/04/2011, 4:56 PM
great for the league and terrible for Colbert Report to see Wes Hoolahan doing so well. To be honest i have seen nothing of him since he left the league. He was class for Shels back in the day.
No idea why you took a shot at me there. Wes Hoolahan is one of my all time favourite players.
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