View Full Version : Bloody Houlihan
AndSmithMustScore
14 Mar 2005, 02:59
Ok it's official his game gives me the ********s.
He strolls around like he thinks hes got all the time in the world to get rid of the ball.
He squibs too many hard ball or body contact situation.(iv'e nicknamed him the squib)
Added to that he still plays with his ********in hair too much.
He cost us a couple of goals on Saturday and i was glad to see Pagan drag him there at one stage.
Sure he can do a few freaky things that make us think wow hes got talent.
I just think at times his thought process is a bit too slow which leads to poor decisions, and his brain seems to think his legs are going faster than they are.
Just wondering what other fans think of his playing style
BlueBoy83
14 Mar 2005, 08:37
Ok it's official his game gives me the ********s.
He strolls around like he thinks hes got all the time in the world to get rid of the ball.
He squibs too many hard ball or body contact situation.(iv'e nicknamed him the squib)
Added to that he still plays with his ********in hair too much.
He cost us a couple of goals on Saturday and i was glad to see Pagan drag him there at one stage.
Sure he can do a few freaky things that make us think wow hes got talent.
I just think at times his thought process is a bit too slow which leads to poor decisions, and his brain seems to think his legs are going faster than they are.
Just wondering what other fans think of his playing style
everyone seems to either be for or against houla ...
i for one think he's a huge talent, he frustrates me like hell, but he had a poor game sat night, but everyone has them!
two weeks ago he was sensational picking up 24 touches ...
he is still young he'll come good ...
ps: walker gave me the irites, he seems to turn the ball over a lot too
Funkalicous
14 Mar 2005, 09:49
He has alot of confidence in his own ability. He seems overconfident at times. But I think his technique suits our gameplan. He runs hard and has a superb kick.
Teagueeee15
14 Mar 2005, 09:53
He just needs to stop kicking the ball laterally and kick it more straighter.
He sets up the play, he makes the opposition play at him.
Of course there'll be turnovers involved :p
He had a solid game last night - the only one who really disappointed for me was Wiggins - he was a deer in headlights.
Nervous or what?
Blues_Man
14 Mar 2005, 10:44
He sets up the play, he makes the opposition play at him.
Of course there'll be turnovers involved :p
He had a solid game last night - the only one who really disappointed for me was Wiggins - he was a deer in headlights.
Nervous or what?
well i totally disagree about Wiggins he chases and tackles like his life depends on it..he will be an integral part of this blues line up ..just you wait and see.
as for Houla he has great skills and appears casual at times ..he made a couple of mistakes during the game .but which player on the ground didn't ?
campereale missed 2 players 35 out from goal and kicked the ball between them to the defenders .
Nick Stevens had a shot at goal when he had a player free 10 metres out calling for the ball .
Fev had a snap on his left from the pocket when he had a player free directly in front . we forget these little stuff ups because these players are stars and will make the correct descision 99 percent of the time .
we should extend the same courtesy to the younger blokes
Funkalicous
14 Mar 2005, 10:51
Yeah our skills on the weekend were a little sloppy. But Fevola kicked straight and that's what really counts.
Abaddon
14 Mar 2005, 11:31
Houlihan makes a few turnovers, but his skills are mostly very good.
Houlihan is an important part of the team.
astro_toby
14 Mar 2005, 12:09
Houla's positive points far outway his negatives IMO.
He is the type of player who will always be copping abuse for his style, like a fiora type, but it comes down to, it takes different types to win a game.
A key member to the blues line up, and adds the creativeness that we require to create goals from the backline
legendtofski
14 Mar 2005, 12:33
I like Houla...He's reliable and his attacking disposals are always handy and he rarely stuffs it like say a Wiggins or Carrazzo. He's an important part of our backline.
Waite_30
14 Mar 2005, 17:11
i think houlihan has talent but he's given the same role as lappin, which is running off the backline. But, when we compare the two lappin is miles ahead due to his speed and footskills. Houlihan is a good player but he has to play faster footy and he has to be more lively on the field, its like his walking in a mall, when his on the field.
Funkalicous
14 Mar 2005, 17:19
I like Houla...He's reliable and his attacking disposals are always handy and he rarely stuffs it like say a Wiggins or Carrazzo. He's an important part of our backline.
I'm a fan of Carazzo, has good pace and reads the play well. He's just gotta stop rushing his kicks.
astro_toby
14 Mar 2005, 17:30
i think houlihan has talent but he's given the same role as lappin, which is running off the backline. But, when we compare the two lappin is miles ahead due to his speed and footskills. Houlihan is a good player but he has to play faster footy and he has to be more lively on the field, its like his walking in a mall, when his on the field.
But in all honesty, that is because Lappin is a brillant player. i would always expect him to do a better job than houla's. he is quite a few years his senior, and it doesnt detract from the fact that Houla still has a good game, even if Lappin had a better one - also means that if need be, we can play lappin up forward, and let houla play his role
Funkalicous
14 Mar 2005, 17:37
But in all honesty, that is because Lappin is a brillant player. i would always expect him to do a better job than houla's. he is quite a few years his senior, and it doesnt detract from the fact that Houla still has a good game, even if Lappin had a better one - also means that if need be, we can play lappin up forward, and let houla play his role
Did you enjoy watching a team that can win premierships? Must've been a change of pace for you. :D
astro_toby
14 Mar 2005, 17:47
i saw 95? that was fun :confused:
im a member of both teams, so double the fun / pain ;)
blues4flag
14 Mar 2005, 17:48
I rate Houla as a good and important part of the Blues, but the only thing that makes me angry is how he seems to stride when he gets the ball. He rarely runs full pace with the ball and always thinks he has a lot of time, which can lead to bad passes and turnovers. Apart from that, he's a very good player.
Funkalicous
14 Mar 2005, 18:00
i saw 95? that was fun :confused:
im a member of both teams, so double the fun / pain ;)
I know how you could lose a substantial amount of the pain. ;)
.. No it's not pain killers.
i think houlihan has talent but he's given the same role as lappin, which is running off the backline. But, when we compare the two lappin is miles ahead due to his speed and footskills. Houlihan is a good player but he has to play faster footy and he has to be more lively on the field, its like his walking in a mall, when his on the field.
Lappins nearly 30. Houlas still only 22-23. Houla is a better all round player than lappo was at houlas age.
BulldogMike
16 Mar 2005, 00:20
When it appears that Houlihan is going slow he is showing composure. Definately one of your sides best rebounding defenders.
He seems to lack urgency at times...........he also turns the ball over in the back half at least once a game - too many times if you ask me. We can't afford to be giving easy goals away like that in the back half
I cringe whenever he has the ball........
T-Bird32
16 Mar 2005, 20:09
If only we could merge the talent of Houlihan with the urgency of Wiggins... what a player we'd have then.
We could call him Wigglihan.....! :D
If only we could merge the talent of Houlihan with the urgency of Wiggins... what a player we'd have then.
We could call him Wigglihan.....! :D
Or "Houligin"
Or "Houligin"
Great call :D
As for whoever was suggesting I was trashing Wiggins, I said I was disappointed - He was looking fantastic last year before he did his shoulder - same as Prenda.
The difference I know the way Prenda goes about his footy, and that will lead to him returning to those heights. Wiggo I'm not so sure about.
But he did pull an effort (7 minutes into the second quarter if you have footage) where we spoiled in a contest, swooped on the ball and fired it out to Stevens in the same motion before getting collected, play on advantage - F50 entry.
But in that situation where he ran straight into an Eagles bloke, he was looking to pass when Simmo kept telling him to run - he had just shut his brain off. Disappointing is how I described that.
gadj1976
20 Mar 2005, 01:39
Ok it's official his game gives me the ********s.
He strolls around like he thinks hes got all the time in the world to get rid of the ball.
He squibs too many hard ball or body contact situation.(iv'e nicknamed him the squib)
Added to that he still plays with his ********in hair too much.
He cost us a couple of goals on Saturday and i was glad to see Pagan drag him there at one stage.
Sure he can do a few freaky things that make us think wow hes got talent.
I just think at times his thought process is a bit too slow which leads to poor decisions, and his brain seems to think his legs are going faster than they are.
Just wondering what other fans think of his playing style
I can see where you're coming from, but I think he's extremely skilled and therefore an asset to our side. Shirking the hard ball? Not sure about that. If anything he's guilty of trying to do too much - too much fiddling and finessing. If he's no good I'm sure Pagan wouldn't be persisting with him.
Blues_Man
20 Mar 2005, 09:27
I can see where you're coming from, but I think he's extremely skilled and therefore an asset to our side. Shirking the hard ball? Not sure about that. If anything he's guilty of trying to do too much - too much fiddling and finessing. If he's no good I'm sure Pagan wouldn't be persisting with him.
when asked about Houlihan on club previews on fox, Pagan said he was hoping to play Houla in the midfield at a later date . so he apparently rates him very highly
AndSmithMustScore
2 Apr 2005, 13:44
Ok it's official his game gives me the ********s.
He strolls around like he thinks hes got all the time in the world to get rid of the ball.
He squibs too many hard ball or body contact situation.(iv'e nicknamed him the squib)
Added to that he still plays with his ********in hair too much.
He cost us a couple of goals on Saturday and i was glad to see Pagan drag him there at one stage.
Sure he can do a few freaky things that make us think wow hes got talent.
I just think at times his thought process is a bit too slow which leads to poor decisions, and his brain seems to think his legs are going faster than they are.
Just wondering what other fans think of his playing style
2 games in and i'm thinking this thread is more relevant now than when i started it.
Just can't get into the game at the moment and looks pretty ordinary at this stage to which the coach must agree as he's not played much footy yet and even started on the bench against the Dons.
TheSheik
2 Apr 2005, 18:07
Houlihan is a blouse.
AndSmithMustScore
2 Apr 2005, 18:44
Houlihan is a blouse.
Magda Zubanski size
Funkalicous
2 Apr 2005, 19:43
Probably our worst player last night. I thought most of the side were soft allowing Essendon to hold the ball up forever. Houlihan was a major culprit. I'm not sure if he's injured or not, but if he plays like that next week, we have to drop him. There's no room in our side for softc*cks. I'd prefer Wiggins than the Houlihan we saw last night.
Wiggins should be an automatic starter in our 22. He has discipline, is courageous and can go for a dash.
Hopefully he can become more of a regulae than playing 5 games and being dropped.
Waite_30
2 Apr 2005, 21:09
seriously he looks like a girl. Who has seen him go back courageously to take a mark? ....... Who has seen him go hard at a ball?...... Who has seen him put his body on the line for the team?..... He is silky, no doubt. But a bit 2 silky.
I've seen him go back in the flight.
He's not soft - he has a role with his foot skills.
He looks underdone at the moment, hopefully they're making the right decision on him medically.
Funkalicous
2 Apr 2005, 22:51
seriously he looks like a girl. Who has seen him go back courageously to take a mark? ....... Who has seen him go hard at a ball?...... Who has seen him put his body on the line for the team?..... He is silky, no doubt. But a bit 2 silky.
I agree. I think the club should force him to cut his hair. It makes him look like a fairy. A new change of image and change of style should do him good. Dennis should force him to reinvent his game or else we'll trade him to the Bulldogs (should fit well with McMahon, Giansiracusa, ect..).
AndSmithMustScore
3 Apr 2005, 06:58
I agree. I think the club should force him to cut his hair. It makes him look like a fairy. A new change of image and change of style should do him good. Dennis should force him to reinvent his game or else we'll trade him to the Bulldogs (should fit well with McMahon, Giansiracusa, ect..).
Skinhead with full body tatts and im not sure any of the opposition would fear him even then.
blues4flag
3 Apr 2005, 09:56
Yeh, he played a shocker on Friday, but he probably is underdone, and might need a couple of weeks to start playing some good footy. Is it possible he had a small injury?
Funkalicous
3 Apr 2005, 11:52
Yeh, he played a shocker on Friday, but he probably is underdone, and might need a couple of weeks to start playing some good footy. Is it possible he had a small injury?
He was actually on and off the ground because of his knee. If that's the case he shouldn't have played at all. I really am getting sick of the selection committee picking unfit players. How many games do we have to lose before someone recognises the problem? :(
Houlihan is highly skilled and can play hard football. In his first or second season he finsihed the season in great form and was very hard at the ball.
Last season he carried a very bad shoulder injury for much of the season and was having pain killers just to play. In my opinion he should not have played but once on the field I suppose he is open to judgement. I am not sure if he is injured this year but it could be a factor.
I believe that the club needs to analyze his situation with him fully to get to the core problem. Houlihan at near 100% focas would be a very good player.
With regards to softness he is not on his own in our team. There are others who go in and out of hardness at the ball. Perhaps their hairstyles save them from judgement.
Funkalicous
3 Apr 2005, 12:12
With regards to softness he is not on his own in our team. There are others who go in and out of hardness at the ball. Perhaps their hairstyles save them from judgement.
Agreed. Our softness was on display Friday night. We played off our opposition like West Coast. If you want to play like West Coast, make sure you have the blitzing midfield and an open ground (like Subi) to play on.