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Daniel Brigham

Hoolahan could kick-start our season - latest blog

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Wes Hoolahan has nothing to apologise for, says Daniel Brigham

Wes Hoolahan is a Norwich player. Wes Hoolahan plays for Norwich. Norwich player Wes Hoolahan. Norwich''s Wes Hoolahan. However you say it, it still sounds good. It still sounds right. 

For a time it seemed like we were about to lose him in an adolescent break up of crying, screaming and punching inanimate objects. It seemed unlikely we''d be able to talk about his Norwich career in the present tense again. He was turning into a ''was'', into a ''former''. That he''s still here is a very nice surprise, like finding your lost cat alive under the floorboards. 

Some saw our January transfer dealings as underwhelming. There was no Zaha, no Mitroglou, no Holtby, no one to change a match with something out of the ordinary. There was some moaning, some dissatisfaction, a few shrugs at Yobo and Gutierrez (which, incidentally, is a superb name for a whacky TV cop duo). But it wasn''t all about arrivals. It was about departures also. Or rather, how many planes we could keep grounded. 

We''ll never know how hard Norwich fought to keep Hoolahan. But the board, unfairly under fire from many this season, should be applauded for remaining strong and keeping hold of him. However they did it – and I wouldn''t rule out David McNally kidnapping Hoolahan and bundling him into a locked cupboard, guarded by a dachshund to ensure wee Wes didn''t squeeze under the door – we have neither weakened our own squad or strengthened a rival.

Remarkably, some Norwich fans would have been happy to see Hoolahan chuff off after a Sky journalist let twitter know that he had said rude words about our dear beloved club. Some fans took it as a personal affront, while forgetting that a) it''s only football b) Hoolahan had justifiable reasons for wanting to leave and c) he is a human being.

Fans are passionate about their club and make snap judgements. But the continuing anger by some over what he said is bonkers. It''s as if they believe footballers should live by a pious code of ethics and loyalty that no one else in any other job has to abide by. If you want to spot these people, the great morally outraged, they normally own mugs with images of the royal family printed on them. Beware the royal mug. 

While Hoolahan’s actions were certainly unwise and misguided – and the journo''s decision to report something said outside of the formal interview situation was seriously iffy – who hasn''t got frustrated and worked up about work? Who hasn''t said something out of line when the boss isn''t around? Who hasn''t thought the grass may be greener on the other side (although not at Villa Park. There''s barely any grass left at all there)? 

Fall-outs happen in sport, as they do in any profession. England won the Rugby World Cup in 2003 despite huge ego clashes and many players disliking the coach Clive Woodward. Kevin Pietersen became England''s highest runscorer of all time during an unprecedented level of success for the national side despite almost everyone he''s ever met wanting to punch him. Argentina won the 1986 World Cup with Maradona – football’s greatest lunatic – as their star player. 

Footballers, like anyone else, make mistakes and say stupid things. Some even take an insane amount of drugs and then run screaming towards the camera like a bull with a firework up its ** when they’ve scored a goal. So there''s nothing Hoolahan should apologise for. He isn''t Bill Clinton, and Paul Lambert, in trying to tempt Wes, certainly isn''t Monica Lewinsky (massive apologies for that image). 

We don''t need to put Hoolahan in the stocks at Norwich castle and have Stephen Fry, Mylene Klass, Mark Knopfler and Barry Pinches throw rotten vegetables at him. As long as Hoolahan tries his hardest when he next plays for us, as long as he is committed to seeing Norwich do well, who cares what he said in private? 

He should be given the chance to prove his commitment against Manchester City. It might just give Norwich – and Carrow Road – the spark that we were hoping a new signing would offer us. Like a child that''s been put on the naughty step Wes should be desperate to prove he''s not a naughty boy – in fact it''s his chance to be the messiah. With no Fernandinho, he''ll have license to buzz more freely between the lines.

Perhaps it’s time to bring out the formation that served Norwich so effectively against Manchester United and Arsenal last season. For a one-off special comeback, like Led Zeppelin but without all the hair, have two holding midfielders – Alex Tettey and Leroy Fer – behind a creative trio of Nathan Redmond, Hoolahan and Robert Snodgrass. 

Two enforcers is overly cautious against most teams but Citeh aren’t most teams; plus, it worked for Chelsea on Monday. While many Norwich fans are sensibly worrying about an annihilation served up by revenge, now may well be a good time to play City. After Monday night’s defeat they may be doubting themselves for the first time this season, a bully with a sudden pang of conscience. 

Keep it tight – or at least avoid going 2-0 down inside four minutes as we did against them at Carrow Road last season – and those little lingering doubts could start jabbing away at Manuel Pellegrini’s men. Then again, they’ll probably spank us.

Whatever the result, at least Hoolahan will be back. At least he remains a Norwich City player, at least he won’t be setting up a Grant Holt hat-trick against us on March 2nd. In fact, wouldn’t it be a lovely way to prove his commitment to Norwich by popping up with the winner against Lambert’s Aston Villa? 

Daniel Brigham is features editor of The Cricketer.Follow us on Twitter: @cricketer_dan

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He can''t kickstart our season because he doesn''t have the ability to split defences at this level any more. And he barley had it to start for.
Best he can do is keep the ball a bit better in final third and allow other players to get involved. But we can do that without him when we try.

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Gingerpele wrote:

Best he can do is keep the ball a bit better in final third and allow other players to get involved. But we can do that without him when we try.

...................................................................................

Can do it without him if we tried -- oh yah - why are we struggling then ???

Absolutely clueless !!!

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"the formation that served Norwich so effectively... Alex Tettey and Leroy Fer – behind a creative trio of Nathan Redmond, Hoolahan & Robert Snodgrass"

 

Good article and this part in particular is spot on (with the exclusion of it being a one off special...)   Its the formation likely to suit us best and Wes is the player at the club who can fulfill that role better than any other.     More importantly Chelsea showed this formation is one to stifle Citeh,  even if their calibre of player is slightly better...

 

I can see it happening,  although I suspect we will see Jonas start instead of Redderz.

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Oh dear, Daniel. And for eight paragraphs you were doing so well with the incomprehensible cultural references. There weren''t any. But you just couldn''t resist. Worse, you have stooped to inventing people. Monica  Lewinsky? Mylene Klass?? Mark Knopfler??? Barry Pinches??? And something called Led Zeppelin????? These are obviously all made-up names. Couldn''t you at least have come up with monikers a bit more believable?

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[quote user="Six Pack"]Gingerpele wrote:

Best he can do is keep the ball a bit better in final third and allow other players to get involved. But we can do that without him when we try.

...................................................................................

Can do it without him if we tried -- oh yah - why are we struggling then ???

Absolutely clueless !!![/quote]
We aren''t struggling because Hoolahan isn''t playing. We have struggled when he has played, he''s played 9 times in the PL and played well twice in those 9. And one of those good performances was Man.U at home in which Hoolahan, the key man, his best game all season still failed to score/set up a goal.
Perhaps its you who is ''Absolutely clueless !!!''.

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[quote user="Gingerpele"][quote user="Six Pack"]Gingerpele wrote: Best he can do is keep the ball a bit better in final third and allow other players to get involved. But we can do that without him when we try. ................................................................................... Can do it without him if we tried -- oh yah - why are we struggling then ??? Absolutely clueless !!![/quote]


We aren''t struggling because Hoolahan isn''t playing. We have struggled when he has played, he''s played 9 times in the PL and played well twice in those 9. And one of those good performances was Man.U at home in which Hoolahan, the key man, his best game all season still failed to score/set up a goal.


Perhaps its you who is ''Absolutely clueless !!!''.

[/quote]

 

so, we have struggled with him and clearly we have also struggled without him.

 

As we are struggling the conclusion from our summary can only be that the reason is we are not trying?   Can we also do it with him when teh team tries?   I suspect we can.

 

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Will he definitely start? Whatever gifts he has, defending is not a strong one, so if he plays it increases the pressure on the defence. So the question is whether Hughton will perhaps attempt to hit Man City quickly and hard, Or, more likely, Hughton will go for his "keep it tight from the start", in which case Wes won''t start.. Or will Hughton surprise us all?

It is always possible that Wes will spot and pick out a pass to Hooper - it probably has to be him, because if Wes is playing as no. 10, there will be space for only one striker. If we go with one striker only, then he will be heavily marked as a main threat, so picking a pass for him will be very difficult.

There are many, even on this board, who wonder whether Wes really still has it in him at this level to create very much. Does he have the touch or range of Fer at his best, possibly not, and his scoring is not prolific.

So, if he plays, we must wish him well, but while I hope he will have an impact I have my doubts whether this will revive the team for a vast improvement.

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In reality we have had one thing or the other this year to kick start our season and each time it''s floundered, like our team.

 

Wes is an important part of the team and offers a different option when played in the right game at the right time, but we can''t rely on Wes to somehow come in and transform a team with such  negative structure and attitude.

 

We have had a small parts where we have seen what this bunch is capable but only for 10-15 minutes a game.

 

Our best combo has been a fit Tettey, Fer & Howson with Snodders & Redmond on the wings and one up top, this is our most solid and creative.

 

I''m not sure what the issue is this season but there is a real lack of connection between the manager & the fans, the fans & the players and most important fans themselves. I have never seen such a deflating season where we keep waiting on the KICK START to our season.

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[quote user="Indy"]

I''m not sure what the issue is this season but there is a real lack of connection between the manager & the fans, the fans & the players and most important fans themselves. I have never seen such a deflating season where we keep waiting on the KICK START to our season.

[/quote]Oh I don''t know, Indy; were there not quite a few of those immediately before the Paul Lambert years? Did we all ''connect'' with Hamilton, Rioch, or [shudder] Roeder? Has there not been bitching and sniping amongst the fans on here every single season we are not on the up?

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If he comes on as a sub it will be to one massive ironic cheer.

Talk about public humiliation - maybe Fox should ''have a go'' in the press as well.

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Purple - I might make it my mission to sneak a made-up one into each blog.

Zippers - Against most teams I''d like to see only one holding mid (Tettey) with Fer and Howson (when fit) ahead as earlier in the season. Think you''re right that Redmond won''t play but I think his pace can cause real problems when setting up to counter-attack.

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