Houlihan warning:dont expect miracles next year

[Silvagnis]

Houlihan warning

But Houlihan, who has now played the most games for Carlton on the current list after an exodus of senior players, said while the side was desperate to make the top eight next year, finals may be a longer-term prospect.

"I know that everyone is expecting us to get top four or top eight straight away, but we have to let our young players grow and see what happens this season," the 157-gamer said.

"First we'll have to try to get our game plan going in sync because you can't just get them all in there together and expect them to get in the finals straight away.

"I am sure we'll sit down as a group before Christmas and set goals for the whole team, but I wouldn't be expecting top four even though we'll strive for that."

"It is exciting to have Judd here, he is a great trainer, a great person, a great leader and I think we needed that at our club," Houlihan, 25, said. "

He is in rehab at the moment but all the boys can look across and see how hard he is working. It is great to have him on board as one of the best players in the competition."

HBF, should Houla have said this?

 

[Bluez]

Houlihan warning

HBF, should Houla have said this?

He plays like he talks....dont expect too much

 

[Melbdave81]

He plays like he talks....dont expect too much

What a stupid comment.

Why would we all of a sudden go from the worst team over the past 5 years to a top 4 team?

Yes, we are going to improve and we have the potential to play finals next year, but so does every other team. We have picked up Judd and Hadley who will have a huge impact on the side straight away and Kreuzer will play some role next year but it is unrealistic to expect to much from him too soon.

If we won 8-10 games next year that would be a success with the age of our group and where we have come from. To start questioning a player because he has the courage and understanding of where our team is to say that we probably wont make the top 4 is unbelievable and shows some posters lack of understanding about where we are at.

I say good on ya Houla, we all hope you're wrong but all know that you are right.

 

[tubes]

Why would we all of a sudden go from the worst team over the past 5 years to a top 4 team?

why not? i think we can do it. maybe not realistically, but possibly.

 

[dukester95]

Did it really have to be said...are Carlton supporters that stupid?
Houlas probably worried he might actually have to put his body on the line this year.....

 

[Jock]

I never have and never will expect any miracles of Houlihan that is.
Hopefully he kicks a few freakish goals for the Bullants this year.

 

[Pie_squasher]

Did it really have to be said...are Carlton supporters that stupid?
Houlas probably worried he might actually have to put his body on the line this year.....

Can hear the floodgates creaking open!!!!!!

 

[stokesy]

A very soft footballer.

 

[Blues_Man]

Houlihan has stated what most sensible Carlton supporters believe themselves ..so why is he being bagged ?? Oh thats right ..it's not the sensible ones bagging hims ..it's the nuffys .

 

[Smiley43]

I, like the rest of us, thought Houlihan was talking about his career as opposed to Carlton's finals chances next year after reading the headline.

Not the best thing to come out and say. Top 4 is crazy talk. Top 8? Well we can dare to dream. Thinking in a negative way this early into pre-season won't help anyone. They shoud set themselves goals and stick to them... 8 wins would be a good result. Anything after that is a bonus.

Good to see Judd isn't even training in the main group and already having an effect.

 

[bexta444]

A very soft footballer.

High Five!

 

[Funkalicous]

A very soft footballer.

Correct. A soft comment from a soft footballer. Obviously deep down we all know top 4 will be hard to reach next year, but don't openly tell people to expect failure, least of all to the media.

 

[TurboHead]

Is that the Carlton Tank I heard starting up in the background?

 

[AndyWalkersGirl]

A very soft footballer.

And Gibbs isn't soft??

You do not need to be the extractor to be a good footballer.

Houlihan deserves a bit more credit than a lot of people on here give him. He is no Heath Scotland, never was and never will be. I dont get why you all bag the shit out of him. He wears Navy Blues, he loves the jumper, and he deserves respect for that. We've had too many players who haven't played for the jumper.

Hopefully we'll see Houlihan played up forward this year, because that is where he belongs. Much more dangerous up there, and is 'the mercurial one' around goals. Play him there Ratts

 

[AndyWalkersGirl]

Correct. A soft comment from a soft footballer. Obviously deep down we all know top 4 will be hard to reach next year, but don't openly tell people to expect failure, least of all to the media.

He is being honest. I dont understand why it is a soft comment. If it were Murph that had come out and said it, you'd all be saying "How mature is this kid! Got his head screwed on right, knows we have work to do."

 

[as0l0]

Houlihan deserves a bit more credit than a lot of people on here give him. He is no Heath Scotland

don't rate either of them...used to rate Houlihan, but had enough now.

 

[Jeremias]

Is that the Carlton Tank I heard starting up in the background?

Nah, you heard the Juddanaut.

Piss off buddy.

 

[Funkalicous]

He is being honest. I dont understand why it is a soft comment. If it were Murph that had come out and said it, you'd all be saying "How mature is this kid! Got his head screwed on right, knows we have work to do."

That's not true. I'd be disappointed if any player was making excuses.

 

[AndyWalkersGirl]

That's not true. I'd be disappointed if any player was making excuses.

I dont see how it is an excuse?? An excuse for what? It's nothing that Ratts hasn't already said anyway.

I think the only real issue here is that it's the player who said it, not so much what he said.

 

[AndyWalkersGirl]

don't rate either of them...used to rate Houlihan, but had enough now.

Why don't you rate Houlihan or scotland?

 

[Silvagnis]

And Gibbs isn't soft??

Have you seen Gibbs play since you're comparing him to Houlihan?

He is being honest. I dont understand why it is a soft comment. If it were Murph that had come out and said it, you'd all be saying "How mature is this kid! Got his head screwed on right, knows we have work to do."

It's a pretty stupid comment to give when the Herald Scum is known for taking comments out of contest and turning it into a non-event story. They did the same thing with Hughes' naive comments about Naitanui being the best kid he's seen play when we should have been pumping the Kreuzer. My problem isn't with Houlihan and Hughes being honest, it that's they've been around long enough to know the media are scum and should be smarter with their comments.

 

[SS_Fury]

I think what houls is trying to do is just hose down some outlandish expectations from SOME of the cfc faithful. There are many who are saying that your top 4 material with the inclusion of a no. 1 draft pick, Judd and Hadley. Good inclusions, but is it going to win you an extra 8 games from 3 players? Houls is just being realistic and there is nothing wrong with that. In fact its quite refreshing to see this point of view rather than the gorilla 'we can make the grand final, blah blah' talk when you just know they (whoever says it) is just spinning the usual trollop people want to hear. I dont think Houlihan is saying you dont have that chance to grow in leaps and bounds, but your not going to be Geelong overnight. Well thats how i see it as an outsider.

 

[DonFletch]

Why don't you rate Houlihan or scotland?

i personally hate having both houla and scotland on the HBL, they are both overattacking, and cant defend as backman. id much prefer scotland to be part of the midfield rotation, and houla on a HFF, or bullants.

 

[AndyWalkersGirl]

i personally hate having both houla and scotland on the HBL, they are both overattacking, and cant defend as backman. id much prefer scotland to be part of the midfield rotation, and houla on a HFF, or bullants.

I'd love Houlihan up on the HFF, it's where he belongs - not down back.

 

[Blueinblood]

Is that the Carlton Tank I heard starting up in the background?

no thats the police raiding the eagles players houses