villan-scott Posted August 16, 2019 VT Supporter Share Posted August 16, 2019 16 minutes ago, MaVilla said: He's 5ft 9 isn't he? Ahh the new Tommy Elphick has arrived. Excellent news! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaVilla Posted August 16, 2019 Share Posted August 16, 2019 15 minutes ago, villan-scott said: Ahh the new Tommy Elphick has arrived. Excellent news! im fairly sure thats not even remotely a good comparison Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dont_do_it_doug. Posted August 16, 2019 Share Posted August 16, 2019 In retrospect him being 5'2 is likely why he didn't start against Spurs. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomaszk Posted August 16, 2019 Share Posted August 16, 2019 17 minutes ago, dont_do_it_doug. said: In retrospect him being 5'2 is likely why he didn't start against Spurs. Dion Dublin doesn't help things like this by inventing Grealish is 6' 2"! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thunderball Posted August 17, 2019 Share Posted August 17, 2019 I know Hourihane is quite fashionable at the moment, and basically hasn’t put a foot wrong, but I think we played Hourihane at “DM” because he does have creative attributes in terms of assists and goals, but also out of necessity as the alternative was an elderly(!) Whelan. However, I think Luiz’s range of passing, coolness on the ball and (yet to be seen/appreciated) tackling ability should allow Jack and McGinn more freedom of movement further up the pitch. I do see Hourihane more as back up to Jack and McGinn rather than a third DM along with Luiz and Nakamba. We clearly now have strength in depth and will be able to rotate the squad match to match, but I can see Smith easing the new boys in over the first third of the season to encourage familiarity that served us well, unlike Fulham who immediately displaced the promoted players. I think the DM role/third midfielder after J&McG will be one of either Luiz and Nakamba once they have been blooded. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teale's 'tache Posted August 17, 2019 Share Posted August 17, 2019 1 hour ago, thunderball said: I know Hourihane is quite fashionable at the moment, and basically hasn’t put a foot wrong, but I think we played Hourihane at “DM” because he does have creative attributes in terms of assists and goals, but also out of necessity as the alternative was an elderly(!) Whelan. However, I think Luiz’s range of passing, coolness on the ball and (yet to be seen/appreciated) tackling ability should allow Jack and McGinn more freedom of movement further up the pitch. I do see Hourihane more as back up to Jack and McGinn rather than a third DM along with Luiz and Nakamba. We clearly now have strength in depth and will be able to rotate the squad match to match, but I can see Smith easing the new boys in over the first third of the season to encourage familiarity that served us well, unlike Fulham who immediately displaced the promoted players. I think the DM role/third midfielder after J&McG will be one of either Luiz and Nakamba once they have been blooded. This is exactly how I see it, Hourihane has done a cracking job for us at DM out of necessity, it's not his preferred position, now we have 2 new DM's I expect him to be used further forward, once they have settled. I trust Smith to know when that will be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alreadyexists Posted August 17, 2019 VT Supporter Share Posted August 17, 2019 1 hour ago, thunderball said: I know Hourihane is quite fashionable at the moment, and basically hasn’t put a foot wrong, but I think we played Hourihane at “DM” because he does have creative attributes in terms of assists and goals, but also out of necessity as the alternative was an elderly(!) Whelan. However, I think Luiz’s range of passing, coolness on the ball and (yet to be seen/appreciated) tackling ability should allow Jack and McGinn more freedom of movement further up the pitch. I do see Hourihane more as back up to Jack and McGinn rather than a third DM along with Luiz and Nakamba. We clearly now have strength in depth and will be able to rotate the squad match to match, but I can see Smith easing the new boys in over the first third of the season to encourage familiarity that served us well, unlike Fulham who immediately displaced the promoted players. I think the DM role/third midfielder after J&McG will be one of either Luiz and Nakamba once they have been blooded. Is Hourihane ‘fashionable’? I’ve seen more people saying he should never play DM again than saying he should. He did have a good game against Spurs but most people seem to be saying he should be out despite that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thunderball Posted August 17, 2019 Share Posted August 17, 2019 (edited) 30 minutes ago, alreadyexists said: Is Hourihane ‘fashionable’? I’ve seen more people saying he should never play DM again than saying he should. He did have a good game against Spurs but most people seem to be saying he should be out despite that. Count me in that number, I think we should use Luiz or Nakamba there. In fairness to Hourihane he made no errors against Spurs, but he is riding a wave of positivity: Play off final berth, good stats last season, new contract, 2 goals vs Leipzig, solid game vs Spurs. It’s hard to leave him out but reality bites and sentiment has little room when you are fighting for every point. I think/hope Luiz or Nakamba unburdens Grealish and McGinn and allows them to be more effective, which in turn improves the front three. Edited August 17, 2019 by thunderball Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alreadyexists Posted August 17, 2019 VT Supporter Share Posted August 17, 2019 7 minutes ago, thunderball said: Count me in that number, I think we should use Luiz or Nakamba there. In fairness to Hourihane he made no errors against Spurs, but he is riding a wave of positivity: Play off final berth, good stats last season, new contract, 2 goals vs Leipzig, solid game vs Spurs. It’s hard to leave him out but reality bites and sentiment has little room when you are fighting for every point. I think/hope Luiz or Nakamba unburdens Grealish and McGinn and allows them to be more effective, which in turn improves the front three. Totally understand your point. I do think that’s the general consensus though, so I would say he’s going out of fashion if anything. For what it’s worth, I would keep him in, in fact I would probably start the same eleven again. Just my personal opinion though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thunderball Posted August 17, 2019 Share Posted August 17, 2019 1 minute ago, alreadyexists said: Totally understand your point. I do think that’s the general consensus though, so I would say he’s going out of fashion if anything. For what it’s worth, I would keep him in, in fact I would probably start the same eleven again. Just my personal opinion though Just posted similar in the pre-match thread, I feel the same 11 will start today except for possibly Targett replacing Taylor. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVTuco Posted August 17, 2019 VT Supporter Share Posted August 17, 2019 Hopefully we get a first proper look at this guy today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dont_do_it_doug. Posted August 17, 2019 Share Posted August 17, 2019 Say hello to your new defensive midfielder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobzy Posted August 17, 2019 Share Posted August 17, 2019 Poor error. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom13 Posted August 17, 2019 Share Posted August 17, 2019 Few times he's gone back when an easy forward option was on, frustrating. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VillaChris Posted August 17, 2019 Share Posted August 17, 2019 Is it too simplistic to say so many of our players are nowhere near match fit yet? As much as people were patting themselves on the back over our summer signings we only got two players in the DM position very late in the window. Of course we signed Luiz mid July but he didn't get his work permit through until August so hardly played in pre season like Marvellous. Guess we'll see him possibly being subbed at half time and Hourihane back in for Everton. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomav84 Posted August 17, 2019 VT Supporter Share Posted August 17, 2019 There is not a chance in hell city are activating the buy back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daggy_333 Posted August 17, 2019 Share Posted August 17, 2019 1 minute ago, tomav84 said: There is not a chance in hell city are activating the buy back 1 match. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomav84 Posted August 17, 2019 VT Supporter Share Posted August 17, 2019 3 minutes ago, tomav84 said: There is not a chance in hell city are activating the buy back Right, now who else shall I slag off.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blasterpocket68 Posted August 17, 2019 Share Posted August 17, 2019 3 minutes ago, tomav84 said: There is not a chance in hell city are activating the buy back horse bolted ???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom13 Posted August 17, 2019 Share Posted August 17, 2019 Good player. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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