Hourihane On Football Heaven

MDG's efforts to combat global warming have been virtually non-existent! Got to go for me

 

Am waiting for him to be mentioned in today's tsunami bulletins.

 

Where's the tsunami? One of my worst nightmares. A tsunami hitting Pontefract. Then again I don't sleep with my feet hanging out of bed because of Jaws and the bogieman.

 

I agree with you.
The feeding frenzy on MDG on here is pretty OTT. We haven't yet seen what effect CH has had in terms of his (CH) preferred way of playing and neither have we seen MDG in a back 4 as a right back on a regular basis.
It would be logical to get off his (MDG's) back and try and support him. That would certainly be more constructive than the constant, daily pillorying he receives.
Whether people can tone it down for a while, until we see him in that position on a regular basis, is altogether another question.

 

I’m with you on all of that. He could be the answer in that position, or he could be hopeless there. I’d rather wait and see. He deserves a chance at least. I’m just hoping that the first mistake he makes against Burton isn’t jumped on by half the crowd. Footballers can be sensitive beings. Some need more encouragement than others. I think he’s a decent player and I hope Conor brings that out of him in the months ahead.

 

Who are the outright right backs he's let go. And I get the impression it wasn't Mladen who pressed the issue.
Cotter and O’Keefe would have had very little game time, if any, said Conor.
So imo frees up wages.

He made the point going to a 4 man defence he doesn't want wing backs. hence his signings of wingers.
It's pretty obvious he wants a Right back who's ability primarily is to be able to defend. But won't sign anyone he doesn't rate. (For the sake of it.) And has to have his values.

Imo Saturday we have a back 4 to select from.
MDG. Roberts. Shepherd. And Earl.
I'm Still not sure what the situation is with lopata. Contracted to 2027.
After that. others to come into contention. Hopefully with additions.
He also says other than Robbo the rest of the defence are very quick.

I also struggle with MDG as a full back but Conor seems to think he can do a job there. (Doesn't mean he's not trying to get one or two in.) Hopefully they've done a job on him in training.

 

I listened too mate, although I can’t agree with him when he claimed our defence(excluding Robbo) are quick, we were so suspect to balls over top last season. Anyway we have to wait and see and no point making judgements before season starts, COYR’s!

 

Controversial view but I quite like MDG.

If CH thinks he can do a good job at right back then I trust his judgement.

 

Listened to it this morning. CH comes across really well, and as others have said I don’t think lack of effort will be an issue this season, because CH won’t stand for it. I can think of quite a few players we’ve had in recent years who wouldn’t have lasted 2 minutes under him. Also, sound like we might have dodged a bullet with Koroma, if his reported attitude problems are true. I couldn’t see CH putting up with that.

The McGoldrick story made me laugh. It’s nice to have a player sign for us who actively sought the transfer. Is that a first for us??

Shame about Nwakali, as he’s probably the most skillful player we had last season. His form dropped right off towards the end, but I was hopeful CH could turn him around. If he’s not interested though, get rid. We don’t want any more disruptive players bringing the dressing room down. Had enough of that in recent years.

 

I don't think Cotter should have gone till someone else was in

 

I'm still under Tsunami Advisory and Special Weather Statement warnings. I'm on the Bay side of San Francisco, not the Ocean side, and my condo is on the 4th floor, so I should be fine.

 

If he did, he's incorrect. Everyone can have their opinion on how good and effective a player is, that's subjective, but if you claim a player is very quick when they're not, you're just wrong.

2 mins 40 in, that's how easy it is to just run past MdG, because he's not very quick.

 

Agreed. Defence hasnt been sorted. Going to a back 4 see how it goes but. Think we will need to score 3 in most games to win.

 

You sure you not watched that on a dodgy stick when it was buffering lol

 

Surprised me tbf. I think Earl and Shepherd may fit that bill. Need to see new lad in a proper game.

 

I might be totally wrong but it sounds like Hourihane is trying to grab the club by the scruff of the neck and doesn't want any pussy-footing from players or board. If so, that's good, particularly if he manages to educate and improve Sormaz (who looks like he'll be here in 2050 regardless of what crap is bought). Might be completely wrong as I say but that's the vibe I'm getting.

 

Unless Sormaz isn't turning up for work then I don't know how Hourihane will improve him at his job.

 

Whilst I'm not the biggest fan of Mladen especially over the last January window. There seems to be a shift on player selection. No-one comes in without Conors approval and vetted by him. But all have to be in agreement.
And tbh. We signed plenty of crap b4 his time.

 

What you'd call 'left for dead' on that clip..
To all the faint hearts that are ok with other peoples opinions as long as they agree with it.. MDG isn't getting singled out.. It's only come about because most people think Conor and the club are off there rocker.. for not only selecting MDG at fullback, but even more so for trying to convince everyone it's a good idea..
It feels like this square peg in a round hole.. is solely just a cost cutting exercise.. Or at least just to buy some time..
So accompanying MDG we have Robbo who's best days are behind him. Shepherd who as a 'switch off' moment in every game.. And a new left back who both Bolton and Plymouth fans say is way better going forward than defending.. All in a defence that conceded enough goals comparable to a bottom four side last term.. We've added wide up top but almost neglected entirely our main problem areas at the back..

 

It's the Great Whites coming through the window you really have to worry about.