Wes Hoolahan (M Cambridge Utd b.1982)

[tricky_colour]

Marc Tierney who is eligible for Ireland played, he gave away a penalty tough (which was saved).
The 2-1 win is a boost for McNaughton who takes Norwich into the quarter finals of the cup.

[mark12345]

Let's accept that Mark thinks you should drag one across the frozen lake anyway. But why jump into it and drill a hole to get through to the ice?
Even if you did something that silly, where's the boat going to go. But if you were to drill a hole through the bottom of the boat in the middle of a lake, is it not infinitely better that the boat is on solid ice than water?

Will Wes will pick up an injury before the Greece game?
(note - blatant attempt to get back on topic)

Too much time on our hands or just an over-anylytical anylyst of words?

Let's all row in the same direction about Wes Hoolahan. Interesting to see today that Trap has said he will get 45 minutes in the game against Greece. It's at the point where I swear Trap is reading the posts on this site.

[gastric]

Too much time on our hands or just an over-anylytical anylyst of words?

Let's all row in the same direction about Wes Hoolahan. Interesting to see today that Trap has said he will get 45 minutes in the game against Greece. It's at the point where I swear Trap is reading the posts on this site.

Do you think Trap is interested in the frozen lake analogy or in Hoolahan as a footballer?;)

[geysir]

Interesting to see today that Trap has said he will get 45 minutes in the game against Greece. It's at the point where I swear Trap is reading the posts on this site.
Trap said a minimum of 45 mins for Wes.
Probably means he will be used as a sub at half time :rolleyes:


One of the bizarre bits from Trap's press conference
"We know he (Wes) is beautiful but he plays in this position behind the striker," " .... we tried this in the past with James (McClean v Serbia). It was not positive."

I thought McClean was just shoved into the middle in that game, to add to the numbers. This is depressing that he even thought that stroke had a chance of working and then considers the tactical experiment a failure.

[gastric]

Certainly becoming a player in demand - at the age of 30, good to see!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2226530/Norwich-Wes-Hoolahan-odds-new-deal.html

[Charlie Darwin]

Fulham would be a good move for him but Villa and Sunderland wouldn't.

[SkStu]

seems like an agent piece to me...

[tricky_colour]

Trap said a minimum of 45 mins for Wes.
Probably means he will be used as a sub at half time :rolleyes:


One of the bizarre bits from Trap's press conference
"We know he (Wes) is beautiful but he plays in this position behind the striker," " .... we tried this in the past with James (McClean v Serbia). It was not positive."

I thought McClean was just shoved into the middle in that game, to add to the numbers. This is depressing that he even thought that stroke had a chance of working and then considers the tactical experiment a failure.

Wes and McClean are really two different types of player. I can't say I am surprised it did not work with McClean, I was surprised he was expected
to play there in the first place, it's just not his game at all. You need subtlety to play that roll, McClean's game relies more on pace and power, he was like a bull in a China shop there.

Totally agree with you. Nobody would expect McClean to succeed in that role so his failure there proves nothing other than perhaps that Trap does not
know what he is doing.

[Charlie Darwin]

I can't believe he played McClean there and not McGeady - the only reason I can think is that he knows we're light on wingers now and moving McGeady would exacerbate that. McGeady is precisely the type of player who can unlock defences, and Hoolahan is probably the next best option.

[geysir]

I don't know if it would work with McGeady as he generally doesn't play in that role but you could forgive a manager for trying him out there.

[Charlie Darwin]

How many players do play that role though? There aren't many around the world.

[geysir]

True enough, but if Trap had intended to do something like that in the game against Serbia, then surely he would have included Wes in the original squad.

[Charlie Darwin]

I don't think he rated Hoolahan at that point. To be fair, I wouldn't have had him in the squad then either, I just think he's been exceptional since forcing his way back into the Norwich team. And if it was a straight choice now between Hoolahan and McGeady I'd probably still choose Aiden.

[geysir]

There we disagree, I'd chose a decent player who is well used to the role as opposed to a decent player who hasn't played in the role and (afair) who has stated that playing there is not his thing unless he is coming across with the ball from the wing.

[Irwin3]

Was he definately referring to McClean against Serbia. When he says 'James' I thought of the McCarthy failure against Uruguay when Trap had the strange idea that McCarthy was a number 10.

[geysir]

That's a fair point.

The full quote from the Indo Trap to give 'beautiful' Hoolahan chance to shine (http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/trap-to-give-beautiful-hoolahan-chance-to-shine-against-greece-3279452.html)
"We know he is beautiful but he play in this position behind the striker," said the Italian. "Our system, until now, we tried this in the past with James (McClean v Serbia). It was not positive. And in the past, we have needed two strikers in our system.

You could be right and Trap was referring to McCarthy. The question is why did Dan McDonnell insert McClean's name ?
- another miscommunication? :)

[DeLorean]

From http://www1.skysports.com/football/live/match/261654/report

"Man of the Match - It was a game that lacked huge quality of passing, but Wes Hoolahan was the foremost creative spark, and controlled the midfield with ease

Attempt of the Match - Slightly tongue-in-cheek, but Wes Hoolahan's 50-yard effort stood out. It was off target, an unsure Asmir Begovic still touched the ball behind for a corner"

[tricky_colour]

Top rated (9 )on Sky sports which fits in with Del Lorean's post.
Worth mentioning that with Marc Wilson injured Stoke lost so that seems to work in his favour.

[tricky_colour]

More from the Star
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football/view/280473/Chris-Hughton-raves-about-Wes-Hoolahan/


CANARIES boss Chris Hughton believes midfield magician Wes Hoolahan can conjure up a victory against Stoke.

Hoolahan’s starring role in Norwich’s recent revival has earned him a recall to the Republic of Ireland squad.

Hughton said: “Wes is vitally important for us simply because he is a different type of player.

“With the quality of the opposition in this division you have to make the most of your possession otherwise life becomes difficult for you.

“But Wes can do that for us with his passing ability.

With Wes it’s all about the system and he has to operate in a central position just off the front man.

“That way he links up the play for us and the closer we can get him to the opposition goal, the more effective he is.

“Since he came into the team he has given us something extra and we have become harder to beat.”

Hughton, a former Republic player himself, is confi dent Hoolahan can be just as effective on the international stage as well.

“Wes is not a young man any more but he has producing consistently good football for the last few seasons.

“There has never been any question about his ability and I have no doubt that he can play international football.”

Hughton has plenty of respect for the Potters though, seeing them as perfect role models for the Canaries.

“Stoke are a team that have improved every year under Tony Pulis and they are always really tough opposition.

“Tony may not get the credit he deserves but he is definitely appreciated by other managers for the job he has done.”


Great result for Chris Hughton, with Norwich on a bit of a roll at the moment, takes them away from the strugglers at the bottom of the table towards a more comfortable mid-table position, a point behind Liverpool

[Yard of Pace]

Football Weekly on the Guardian:

Rob Smythe:
"Wes Hoolahan, is a FANTASTIC player.....I'm amazed a bigger side hasn't taken him". "He's a lovely footballer".

[dr_peepee]

Andy Reid went through spells like this for Charlton and Sunderland. Delighted for Hoolahan but im not getting too exited for it's implications for Ireland yet.

[Grafter]

Some liquid football from our great white thirtysomething hope...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmsVkFDX_-c

[BonnieShels]

But he doesn't fit in the system...

[Kingdom]

jesus that was enjoyable.

[geysir]

With Trap talking about a minimum of 45 mins play for Wes, I wouldn't get my hopes up just yet of any serious thought given to accommodate such a playmaker in the team.

[Charlie Darwin]

Was he quoted that he'd give Hoolahan 45 minutes or did the reporter just extrapolate it? I thought it was the latter.

[geysir]

I suppose most Trap quotes are extrapolated in some form or another, at least this one sounds like Trap.

"I have seen Hoolahan before, I know him very well. I have tried also to play one striker and we can see what he can do. Sure, he can play. We have to decide if it's the first half or the second half, but he will play a minimum of one half."

[Charlie Darwin]

No, if it was Trap he'd be using the royal we and talking about how beautiful he is.

[Sullivinho]

Some liquid football from our great white thirtysomething hope...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmsVkFDX_-c

Someone has photoshopped a Cesc Fabregas highlights reel there surely!

[mark12345]

I suppose most Trap quotes are extrapolated in some form or another, at least this one sounds like Trap.

"I have seen Hoolahan before, I know him very well. I have tried also to play one striker and we can see what he can do. Sure, he can play. We have to decide if it's the first half or the second half, but he will play a minimum of one half."

Hoolahan did it again today for Norwich. Canaries beat United 1-0 and Wes was best outfield player for them (Ruddy got man of match because of his heroics).

Pretty pathetic that he has only played 45 minutes for his country. I would feel better if I knew he's going to be part of the future plans (would be nice in a midfield including McCarthy, Ireland, Hoolahan) but Trap can't even promise that. He keeps alluding to Wes as a good player but he doesn't fit into that famous system of his, which keeps losing us games. Time to put the ball players on the park and lets see what happens.

[tricky_colour]

Nice to see a player comfortable on the ball and how can pass it with ease, especially against Man U.
Great result for Hughton. I think they gave away a last minute goal in the same game last season??

[DannyInvincible]

Pretty pathetic that he has only played 45 minutes for his country.

Don't forget that second-half substitute appearance for us against Colombia at Craven Cottage back in 2008. :p

[BonnieShels]

Watch the highlights on MOTD there. Very impressed by Wes. He made the space and then served the ball on a plate for Garrido. The guy is pure class.

Delighted for Hughton too who is showing what a belter of a manager he is. Long may it continue. Though it fecked up my Fantasy team.

[mark12345]

Watch the highlights on MOTD there. Very impressed by Wes. He made the space and then served the ball on a plate for Garrido. The guy is pure class. Delighted for Hughton too who is showing what a belter of a manager he is. Long may it continue. Though it fecked up my Fantasy team.

Delighted for both of them really. And what really gets on my goat about Trap is that the 30 thousand or so at Carrow Road each week buzz in anticipation each time Wes gets the ball. They can see how creative he is, but Trap can't? That's the one factor the Irish team is missing right now. What gives?

I mean - can someone remind me again what it is Whelan or even Andrews have that Wes hasn't? The party line is that they offer some sort of mettle in the middle of the field (wasn't Trap comparing Whelan to Gattuso at one point way back when). And how is that tough guy approach working out for Trap? Whelan intimated last week, did he not, that it was not working out.

START BUILDING MR TRAP, LIKE YOU PROMISED YOU WOULD AFTER THE EUROS. Build a team around Long, Hoolahan and Ireland (yes Ireland, he's said he wants to come back over the weekend and there's no more excuses for not including him now after all the mucky water that's gone under the bridge lately).

[wonder88]

Always reckoned he is a good player, and was at Lansdowne on wednesday and he did well. However I noticed that the Guardian/Observer newpaper reporter did not mentioned him at all in his piece. He had Pillkington as his motm and said that he must have impressed the watching England manager.

[elroy]

Always reckoned he is a good player, and was at Lansdowne on wednesday and he did well. However I noticed that the Guardian/Observer newpaper reporter did not mentioned him at all in his piece. He had Pillkington as his motm and said that he must have impressed the watching England manager.

Didnt see the game but only rated as 6 in the Times as well.

[the bear]

Only difference between Wes and Juan Mata is the Harp on his passport

[elroy]

Easily best player on pitch

Anything good for Norwich goes through him

[Stuttgart88]

Listened to the game on R5 Live while driving. Co-commentator David Pleat said Hoolahan was motm by a distance and that McClean was "so so".

Hoolahan and Gibson are both playing very well at the moment. Whelan and Walters seem to be playing well enough too and Owen Garvan is finally back on an upward trajectory again. Joey O'Brien, Ciaran Clark, Shane Long too. It's hard to find bright spots in Irish football at the moment but I suppose if you look hard enough you can find them.

[BonnieShels]

Only difference between Wes and Juan Mata is the Harp on his passport

I've been saying the same thing about Long. If he was Argentine or Italian or Spanish we would be looking at 25m player.

[It Sucks]

Wes Hoolahan is a class act. Would be nice to see him get the wider recognition he deserves.

[tricky_colour]

Watch the highlights on MOTD there. Very impressed by Wes. He made the space and then served the ball on a plate for Garrido. The guy is pure class.

Delighted for Hughton too who is showing what a belter of a manager he is. Long may it continue. Though it fecked up my Fantasy team.


Norwich are actually 3rd in the table base on the last 8 games.
Impressive stuff.

Alan Pardew the man who replaced him at Newcastle is 2nd bottom in the same table.

[the bear]

Thats true Bonnie, its like they want to be wearng designer labels.The likes of Unted should really snap Wes up. He couldn't cost them more than 5 mill and is a better option than cleverly, giggs, anderson as an attacking midfielder

[BonnieShels]

Norwich are actually 3rd in the table base on the last 8 games.
Impressive stuff.

Alan Pardew the man who replaced him at Newcastle is 2nd bottom in the same table.

True.

Why is it everyone manages to forget what he did with Birmingham City after Newcastle? Srsly. Cracking manager. Fact.

[tricky_colour]

Provide assist for Pilkington, he was driving forward lost possession but won it back
and fed Pilks through to score from the left in the penalty area.

[theworm2345]

Just scored, missed the goal though.

[tricky_colour]

Cross was from Pilks headed goal from Hoolahan!!! (from about 6 yards or so out)

So a reverse of the first all Irish goal hool - pilks, pilks - hool

[The Fly]

Cross was from Pilks headed goal from Hoolahan!!! (from about 6 years or so out)


Must have been some header then?!

[Yard of Pace]

Must have been some header then?!

Must have been traveling at 88mph

[The Fly]

Must have been traveling at 88mph

I was going more for the 'faster than the speed of light' range.