Caldwell is a donkey alright, but it was a very skillful finish and he timed his arrival well. Didn't see much else of the game, how did he do?
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Caldwell is a donkey alright, but it was a very skillful finish and he timed his arrival well. Didn't see much else of the game, how did he do?
Like Caldwell, I drifted in and out of consciousness, afaia both Hoolahan and McCarthy did very well.
I'm biased (should go without saying) but I thought McCarthy actually looked a class player out there, he had personality.
should have scored with a very Gerrard-esque break through in the second half tooQuote:
Originally Posted by geysir
He should but I thought having to take it on his left foot made this less likely, he didn't seem to hit it clean or with much confidence. I thought as well, just going by M.O.T.D. highlights and having had the game on in the background on the radio earlier, that McCarthy wasn't bossing the game in any way but that Hoolahan was causing his opponents more trouble, with some clever pass selection in the final third.Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
Obviously the radio commentary didn't do justice to McCarthy's game, he was central and looked very confident, always getting into position to receive the ball, shouting for the ball and directing the build up play.
Goal for Hoolahan against Arsenal, don't think he will get an easier goal than that. Hoolahan seems to be playing a central and advanced role for Norwich in a five man midfield.
Assist for Hoolahan to put Norwich 2-1 up. Norwich break from the back with Hoolahan receiving the ball in the midfield of the pitch. He makes a run deep into the Arsenal half and lays the ball off for Holt, who then chips in with an audacious goal.
Goal for Hoolahan today and put Norwich's second on a plate for Holt. They're talking about Holt getting into the England team and many of his goals this season have come from Hoolahan's graft.Quote:
Originally Posted by Carrigaline
It's not too late for Trap to have a rethink (he won't we all know) but he is the best midfielder we have. And if you don't believe that then ask yourself who of Whelan, Andrews, Gibson could have done what he's done for Norwich today at Arsenal? None of them have the guile to do it. McCarthy maybe, but none of the above and yet all are considered before Hoolahan.
In the final analysis there's no substitution for quality and Hoolahan is the classiest Irish midfielder out there right now.
I think Irish fans are looking at Hoolahan all wrong. He is not an alternative to the likes of Andrews, Whelan, Fahey, etc. because you can't play him in a 4-man midfield. We should actually be looking as taking him as a second striker, which is the kind of position he seems to excel in for Norwich.Quote:
Originally Posted by mark12345
Wes nearly scores again
Works for me. He's a fine footballer and one we cannot afford to leave home.Quote:
Originally Posted by Carrigaline
subbed off for Pilkington
Some stats here I was looking at.
http://www.whoscored.com/Players/19541
Come out as Norwich's second best player and Ireland 2nd or 3rd
That's before his goal and an assist? today.
Lies, dammed lies, and statistics :)
I think that's a bit over-the-top. You give the impression he's an indispensable member of our squad. He has one senior cap from four years ago, and we've been able to afford his non-selection since,qualifying for the Euros in the process. Not necessarily saying he's not worthy of serious consideration, but the management have been keeping an eye on him and have expressly mentioned the possibility of another call-up during the next campaign. Obviously they don't feel he'd fit into the current system.Quote:
Originally Posted by mark12345
He has the best pass success rate of Irish players, Duff is second.
That good old 'system' again. I keep hearing about the system. Not knocking Trap's achievements because he did get us to the Euros but let's not get carried away with this wonderful system. The first time we played a team of note, Russia, we were ate, beat and S***. The system didn't exist on those occassions.Quote:
Originally Posted by DannyInvincible
Speaking clearly about Hoolahan and we need to be honest, but he's more capable than any of our midfielders, You can look it whatever way you want but none of Whelan, Andrews or Gibson could have done what he's done for Norwich this year. McCarthy has plenty of potential but even he is a bit behind Hoolahan's achievements this season. It's a moot point however because Trap will not break with tradition and bring him to Poland. But if we are found wanting in the middle of the park, remember the option to bring him was there.
He also has the highest number of assists, 7 tied with Kevin Doyle, they are also tied on goals scored 4 ad yellow cards 4.
Actually I think Wes has 5 goals now, and 8 assists as I think his last match is not included.
Andrews could have easily fit the Hoolahan role at Norwich. He was banging them in left, right, and centre for Ipswich. And he's been impressive for WBA when given a chance.
I will very respectfully disagree with you sir.Quote:
Originally Posted by AlaskaFox
Hoolahan is class, I'm shocked it took him this long to get the premier. Even if Trap doesn't want to start him, how he wouldn't be handy to have on the bench is beyond me.
I've been really impressed by Hoolahan and the step up he's made to premiership level but not bringing him to the Euro's or playing him in the qualifiers is hardly an injustice. It's Trap's system that creates our competitive advantage against teams that may be able to call on a higher calibre of player. Were Trap to pick the form 11 for the Euro's and play Hoolahan off Robbie up front, or in the middle of the park beside James McCarthy or Gibson then he'd be up against players like Iniesta, Pirlo and Xavi. Realistically, Hoolahan isn't at the same level as these players. Sticking to our current, tried and tested set-up and using our core rigidities are Trap's methods, and qualification to the Euro's stands to justify those methods.
I wouldn't be critical of Trap leaving someone like Hoolahan out. The only alterations I'd like to see wouldn't be from a tactical perspective, but from a personnel perspective. I think Trap could keep the same shape but ensure that McClean is in the squad, and maybe consider Gibson or McCarthy in the middle of the park. Maybe also have a look at Walters up front, and perhaps Dunne and O'Shea at centre-half.
Well its certainly beyond me how having someone who doesn't fit into a 4-4-2 is of any benefit on the bench. Trap has a system, Hoolahan doesn't fit into it, it really doesn't matter what his form is like.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stevo Da Gull
I'd like to think "the system" could be adapted to some extent. By all means keep Whelan sitting deep and Andrews as the destructive-yet-mobile midfielder, but there could still be room for a talented player who can muck in when necessary but also carry the ball well or pass to the wide and forward players. By retaining possession better the system could even be enhanced. Will we really be playing 2 up front against Spain? In reality we'll be playing 6 in midfield for most of that game (all 3 games probably).
I haven't seen any of the Arsenal game yet but the radio commentray seemed to mention Hoolahan a lot. I think both Wigan and Norwich have shown that sitting deep but also being aggressive on the counter can reap rewards against possession dominating teams. I know we tend to get goals when they matter but I think our counter-attacking play is poor, possission breaking down too easily.
Wigan and Norwich are both also sides that are very comfortable in possession of the football and can dominate the ball themselves.
Well it's irrelevant now, but do you not think if we were a couple of goals down and running out of time in a game that we had to get a result out of to stay in the competition that even Trap would give players a bit more freedom to attack.. or possibly even change his formation?Quote:
Originally Posted by Murfinator
His faith in the system (and the players employed within it that he has come to trust) is possibly "stubborn" enough to believe it will never come to that. It appears to be a risk he's willing to take and I suppose only time till provide the answer.
Besides, when it really came down to absolutely needing to score, the team he sent out in Paris was able to go on the front-foot and do so. Similarly, when we found ourselves 3-0 down at home to Russia, we nearly staged an impressive comeback. As it happened, it was too little, too late, but had we a few minutes longer in that game, we might well have managed an equaliser.
Had we taken our gilt edged chances in that game we wouldn't have needed an equaliser.
What does he say?
Not doubting that Hoolahan has had a good season. But can people answer me this, why does Lambert choose to generally leave him out of the starting XI when they play away from home??
That is telling. Especially as Norwich tactics away from home (i.e. dont lose) is probably the mindset in which Trap has and will continue to instil in his players.
actually he's started the same number of games home and away, 14 eachQuote:
Originally Posted by elroy
Its 5 minutes of traps broken English - You'd need to watch it really
Summary,
We've watched (inferrring continue to watch) Hoolahan. Hes a good player.
Hes - 28, implying he's not a youngster breaking through.
It was too late to change the system. We have McCarthy, Maybe Ireland
The system is our strength. Strong wingers, strong centre.
He doesnt think (or is not sure) we can play with one up front. Or cannot justify changing the two strikers in the 4-4-2.
No friendlies to try him/change of system out.
Im not sure whether that means he will try him out for WC14 campaign/friendlies or not really but he and Tardelli it would appear have discussed it on many occasions.
Anyone else want to add what I missed - I wouldnt like to be a journa summarising that!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Junior
Thats about the size of it .... boring, defensive system, its all he knows, thats our lot
I wonder was Wes ever in contention? A good game against Arsenal by the looks of things. It would have meant a change of system to accommodate him so I suspect he wasn't but it does seem such a shame that an obviously gifted player wasn't even considered. However, with Trap the system is all and since it has got us this far, who am I to complain?
Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
Fair enough, didnt do my research beforehand. To me, had noticed he been omitted from the starting 11 more times away from home than the other way round. Although Lambert does like to change his XI, for example, holt and morrison and regularly changed round.
He actually says Holenan is a great player who is 28, 29 and 30 all at once. :PQuote:
Originally Posted by Junior
Oh...and he mentions Stephen Ireland 3 times. Why he feels the need to do this is beyond me.
Its actually quite embarrassing/frustrating to watch him...I would prefer to cut of my ears than to have to sit in on one of these press conferences.
You would get more insight into football listening to George Hook talk about the game.
What exactly is the point of this thread? I don't see how Trap said anything there we didn't know already.
Personally I think that'd be a really bad time to bring on a creative pass master like Hoolahan. If you're behind and the opposition are backs against the wall defending, the channels are closed and breaking them down is nigh on impossible. In that situation the best route to goal is through set pieces and physicality through a target man in a crowded box. Best bench impact trio we could probably have are Harte, Delap and Walters. Not pretty but using free kicks, throw ins and aerial prowess as a weapon is exactly what you need in that situation.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stevo Da Gull
I'm personally a big fan of the type of player Wes, Andy Reid and Stephen Ireland are but I don't think we could accommodate them in a 4-5-1 because we don't really have a suitable lone striker, it would also mean dropping Keane. The best compromise is 4-4-2 with Keane dropping deep.
Rory Delap hasn't been a set piece weapon for a couple of years now. I think the last goal Stoke scored from it was like a year and a half ago.