Ryan Houlihan

[ROORAGE]

I'm very interested to know what Carlton fans think of Ryan Houlihan? Robert Walls continues to wrap him up (not that his opinion means anything) and Fev has also lauded his apparent skills. But from the outside looking in he seems, at best, a very average player. Are there any Blues people who think he is grossly overrated?

 

[jonoman89]

Unfortunately Pagan played him all over the shop. Definitely not a HBF. If you look at his tapes pre-Pagan he did some lovely things around the goals.

Thankfully, Ratts is playing him HFF again. He delivers the ball well, something we need. Needs to work on his contested skills though, something the coaching staff have spent this preseason on.

 

[Bronx Bomber]

I'm very interested to know what Carlton fans think of Ryan Houlihan? Robert Walls continues to wrap him up (not that his opinion means anything) and Fev has also lauded his apparent skills. But from the outside looking in he seems, at best, a very average player. Are there any Blues people who think he is grossly overrated?

Whenever I hear a Carlton supporter talk about Ryan it's always about how soft he is.

I don't think he is overrated at all.

 

[Sublime]

Unfortunately Pagan played him all over the shop. Definitely not a HBF. If you look at his tapes pre-Pagan he did some lovely things around the goals.

Thankfully, Ratts is playing him HFF again. He delivers the ball well, something we need. Needs to work on his contested skills though, something the coaching staff have spent this preseason on.

His contested skills like the big don't argue, then blind turn to make space in the third quarter? Fact is he's not in the team to continually win the contested ball anyway. With his exquisite disposal, we want him to be in space.

 

[J-Train]

Hoops had 29 disposals last night, including 9 in the first quarter when the heat was on. He also laid 6 tackles, so he was getting in amongst it. A great game from him, and a very promising start to the season considering his 2008 was completely ruined by injury.

 

[wally funk]

if anything, surely he's underrated. he's always been a favourite of mine, but he's been a bit of a forgotten man the last few years i reckon. despite playing only a handful of games last year he seemed to do fairly well in them if i remember, and his good form seemed to be happening for him last night.

 

[swansfan51]

I think Fev summed it up - there's no player he'd rather have delivering the ball to him than Houlihan. He's really classy, had some great inside 50 entries last night, I see him firmly entrenched in the starting 18. He's like a number of players like Cloke and Waite who have the flexibility to play several positions if he has to, but I'd much rather see him dedicated to the HFF and it looks like that will happen this year.

 

[Gezza125]

Takes inside and outside players to win games, he is more outside but as others have pointed out 6 tackles is a more than handy contribution -inside. Definitely has skill, played 150 games and seems to have rediscovered the hunger to play at the top level.

With the added depth at carlton he also knows that he must compete for a position.

Here is a list of 10 players who didn't play that could get game time soon.

Stevens
Carazzo
Walker
Grigg
Browne
Hampson
Warnock
Yarran
Fisher
Bannister

and you could add another 5.

Depth, depth, I tells ya. Love it...

 

[bowlrig]

Robert Walls quote from last nights game was "Ryan Houlihan would be a great player if he played in a better team"

Strange thing to say considering how we were playing at the time.

 

[Hayashi_62]

Grigg, Warnock and Fisher should definitely be in the 22.

Houlihan is a great deliverer of inside 50s. The one to Eddie in particular was great.

 

[WeninRome]

Grigg, Warnock and Fisher should definitely be in the 22.

Houlihan is a great deliverer of inside 50s. The one to Eddie in particular was great.

Nope

 

[Bluebear]

In the top 3 kicks in the side (possibly the best) on the run.

Has copped it for not being hard at the man or the contest over the years and with some cause.

I.e. He is an outside player. If the ball is going inside 50 to a forward on the lead I want Hoops, Judd or Stevo kicking it, in that order.

Became a much better player when he cut the locks off.

 

[Charbzilla]

I'm very interested to know what Carlton fans think of Ryan Houlihan? Robert Walls continues to wrap him up (not that his opinion means anything) and Fev has also lauded his apparent skills. But from the outside looking in he seems, at best, a very average player. Are there any Blues people who think he is grossly overrated?

Indirect DT questions really do bloody sh1t me!

 

[Ryan Dixon Webb]

Robert Walls quote from last nights game was "Ryan Houlihan would be a great player if he played in a better team"

Strange thing to say considering how we were playing at the time.

I think you misunderstood what he was saying, Walls was implying that Houlihan plays better in a team that are on the rise or dominant. Now in the past couple of year we haven't been doing that well, but last year onward we've been on the rise therefore Houlihan benefits from playing in a successful Blues side. It wasn't a negative comment.

 

[parrot]

I wasn't actually impressed with his game. Stat's are completely meaningless. He looked a bit out of it, and slow at times. Got caught several times, and his disposal wasn't as good as it normally is. He'll improve as the season goes on, but Yarran may replace him shortly.

 

[ECHUCABOY]

Always rated him...glad his got the hips sorted and thankyou for the 100 SC points Hoops, a bargain I tell you!

 

[Blues_FC]

i'd be quite happy to see yarran stay out of the team, in exchange for keeping jeff garlett.

garlett sprayed a few kicks last night, but from what i've seen of the two of them, both in NAB cup/challenge and videos of their pre-carlton matches, i think garlett is a far superior footballer. just needs to add a few kilos.

 

[Blah Blah Blue]

I wasn't actually impressed with his game. Stat's are completely meaningless. He looked a bit out of it, and slow at times. Got caught several times, and his disposal wasn't as good as it normally is. He'll improve as the season goes on, but Yarran may replace him shortly.

Parrot, I luv ya however Ryan is in our best 22. Yarran will get a look in however it will not be at Hoops expense, at least in '09.

The beauty of our list this year is 'no walk ups'. Depth is a great thing but it does drive us supporters mad - we almost need a team of 32 instead of 22 to get all our favorites in.

And I'll indulge in an obligatory . Cheers

 

[Not My Real Name]

He is one of Carltons most important given how the team is structured now.

Backline kicking class consists of Johnson and Stevens

Midfield delivery is there with Judd, Murphy, Gibbs, etc

HFF delivery is now Simpson and Houlihan

He is probably worth 3 goals a game in assists

 

[Dramoth]

Takes inside and outside players to win games, he is more outside but as others have pointed out 6 tackles is a more than handy contribution -inside. Definitely has skill, played 150 games and seems to have rediscovered the hunger to play at the top level.

With the added depth at carlton he also knows that he must compete for a position.

Here is a list of 10 players who didn't play that could get game time soon.

Stevens
Carazzo
Walker
Grigg
Browne
Hampson
Warnock
Yarran
Fisher
Bannister

and you could add another 5.

Depth, depth, I tells ya. Love it...

You also forgot his 4 assists.

silky smooth when completely on song and can drop the ball on a 5c piece when delivering it into the forward line.

 

[HeziBarecket]

I don't care what any of youse say but I wouldn't pick Houla in my SuperCoach team.

I reckon he might get stretched for his position in the side as the season moves on and other players press for selection. Houla will get showed up when we play top4 sides that have more strength and pace, like he always does.

 

[1981]

In the top 3 kicks in the side (possibly the best) on the run.

Has copped it for not being hard at the man or the contest over the years and with some cause.

I.e. He is an outside player. If the ball is going inside 50 to a forward on the lead I want Hoops, Judd or Stevo kicking it, in that order.

Became a much better player when he cut the locks off.

You might want to add Riley said last week the club have asked Ryan to play a bit more inside, ie: be a bit harder.

It was a pretty good showing from him given he'd missed a lot of footy, however there were still a number of occassions where he did the 'old Ryan' and it made me cringe, such as that horrible dropped catch. And I thoight he played with more hardness in his first NAB CUP game to be honest, when he knew all coaching eyes would have been on him.

If he can harden up 5%, he'd be terrific.

 

[Jock]

He played well - He generally does in winning teams when we are well on top.
If he gets in the best in a losing team I'll get off his case.
And I'd like him to for the teams benefit.
It will mean he did some up hill skiing not just the down hill variety.

 

[Sublime]

I wasn't actually impressed with his game. Stat's are completely meaningless. He looked a bit out of it, and slow at times. Got caught several times, and his disposal wasn't as good as it normally is. He'll improve as the season goes on, but Yarran may replace him shortly.

Yeah no chance of this happening. Hoops is going nowhere. If Fev wants him delivering the ball to him, thats who he will get

 

[PeeKay]

Takes inside and outside players to win games, he is more outside but as others have pointed out 6 tackles is a more than handy contribution -inside. Definitely has skill, played 150 games and seems to have rediscovered the hunger to play at the top level.

With the added depth at carlton he also knows that he must compete for a position.

Here is a list of 10 players who didn't play that could get game time soon.

Stevens
Carazzo
Walker
Grigg
Browne
Hampson
Warnock
Yarran
Fisher
Bannister

and you could add another 5.

Depth, depth, I tells ya. Love it...

When will you guys realise that O'hAlipin is a big part of "Ratts" plans for the make up of the team. Whilst it is agreed he is not one of the best 22 at the club, we need his height/pace in the backhalf. The fact that his aggression frightens sh1t out our the opposition big forwards is a bonus.
if he had been available last night he would have been in and on Richo who has said that SO is one of the toughest opponents he's played on.
Now ain't that a 'kick in the bum"