Gills manager Mark Stimson told BBC Radio Kent:

[Account Closed 0]

Transcript from BBC convrsation recording on web site"You know these are big teams we are playing now and you can see that in the quality of some of the players they have got.That little man Hoolahan I thought was simply outstanding today-His work rate- his passing- his movemaent-You can see why he has played at a higher level for a period of time and err-they can still be up there-they can still certainly be up there,err I dont think they had their full strength team today but with that following and the players they have got I think they will be competing at the top end of the league at the end of the season."Mmm, praise indeed, particularly for that little man Hoolahan.

[big dick sanchez 0]

Bless him, will you look at the little man!

[I am a Banana 0]

he is correct, most our fans think  he is poor, but he clearly not! people just do not respect players who try the right things!

[Herman 11,136]

[quote user="I am a Banana"]he is correct, most our fans think  he is poor, but he clearly not! people just do not respect players who try the right things![/quote]

I don''t think most of our fans think he is poor!! The gripe i hear mostly is that he holds on to it for too long,which is a fair complaint!!

[Matt Juler 211]

As one of the main anti-Hoolahan posters on this board, I admit that he''s looked a lot better playing as the second forward instead of on the left wing, but he still frustrates too much. I''ve never ever known a technical player such as him to be so so one footed. At one point yesterday he could have easily kept a ball in play with his right, but no, tried to use the outside of his left and the ball went out of play. He has also not learnt that you only need to beat a player ONCE. Not twice, three times, or four, just ONCE. It''s not difficult football, but he makes it difficult. That sort of player is impossible to play with as you just don''t know what to expect. I know comparing any City player with the likes of Beckham is tenuous, but he was so good during his prime as forwards would know he''d beat the man and whip it in. How are forwards meant to make a run when Hoolahan has the ball? Do you go the first time he beats the man? The second? Third? Forth?

I play football at a very very low standard through work, but even at that level you have the lads who look good, but in reality they actually produce very little. Maybe they ping one in from 40 yards once a season, but they never see that simple ball to put the forward clear on goal.

[ncfcstar 342]

[quote user="Matt Juler"]As one of the main anti-Hoolahan posters on this board, I admit that he''s looked a lot better playing as the second forward instead of on the left wing, but he still frustrates too much. I''ve never ever known a technical player such as him to be so so one footed. At one point yesterday he could have easily kept a ball in play with his right, but no, tried to use the outside of his left and the ball went out of play. He has also not learnt that you only need to beat a player ONCE. Not twice, three times, or four, just ONCE. It''s not difficult football, but he makes it difficult. That sort of player is impossible to play with as you just don''t know what to expect. I know comparing any City player with the likes of Beckham is tenuous, but he was so good during his prime as forwards would know he''d beat the man and whip it in. How are forwards meant to make a run when Hoolahan has the ball? Do you go the first time he beats the man? The second? Third? Forth? I play football at a very very low standard through work, but even at that level you have the lads who look good, but in reality they actually produce very little. Maybe they ping one in from 40 yards once a season, but they never see that simple ball to put the forward clear on goal.[/quote]Couldn''t have put it better myself [Y]

[Nuff Said 5,962]

I agree too, but at the end of the day I think we''re playing better with him in the team.

[Ian 1,211]

[quote user="Matt Juler"]I play football at a very very low standard through work, but even at that level you have the lads who look good, but in reality they actually produce very little. Maybe they ping one in from 40 yards once a season, but they never see that simple ball to put the forward clear on goal.[/quote]I would agree with that if Hoolahan hadn''t scored one goal, and made another in the last two games. I actually think he likes to play the ball early if he sees that anything is on. Unfortunately with the lack of pace/movement in the squad, I don''t think he gets this opportunity very often, and as such hangs onto the ball.

[Mr.Carrow 394]

[quote user="Matt Juler"]As one of the main anti-Hoolahan posters on this board, I admit that he''s looked a lot better playing as the second forward instead of on the left wing, but he still frustrates too much. I''ve never ever known a technical player such as him to be so so one footed. At one point yesterday he could have easily kept a ball in play with his right, but no, tried to use the outside of his left and the ball went out of play. He has also not learnt that you only need to beat a player ONCE. Not twice, three times, or four, just ONCE. It''s not difficult football, but he makes it difficult. That sort of player is impossible to play with as you just don''t know what to expect. I know comparing any City player with the likes of Beckham is tenuous, but he was so good during his prime as forwards would know he''d beat the man and whip it in. How are forwards meant to make a run when Hoolahan has the ball? Do you go the first time he beats the man? The second? Third? Forth?

I play football at a very very low standard through work, but even at that level you have the lads who look good, but in reality they actually produce very little. Maybe they ping one in from 40 yards once a season, but they never see that simple ball to put the forward clear on goal.[/quote]

Spot on.  I`ve never been "anti-Hoolihan" but i have pointed out on the threads of people creaming themselves that he wasn`t in the team (despite the fact that we were winning games) that his stats for an out-and-out attacking player have been appalling for us. 

Also i do have a hunch you`re right that it may take a bit of playing experience to understand why playing with a player like him can be so frustrating.  I`ve played with a few tricky hoggers and the truth is people stop making runs when they`ve got the ball because it`s simply a waste of energy.

Having said all that, his effort and workrate have been superb this season and i really hope Lambert plays him up front whenever possible- that kind of trickery around the oppo`s box is very useful, constantly doing it on the halfway line is not.