We are ruining Houli

[HighettBomber]

This post is out of frustration at the treatment of Bachar Houli. He has consistently been a good ball winner, has a deadly left foot and runs all day. He is exactly what we need in our midfield. Sure there are some issues with the defensive side of his game and he occasionally sells his team mates into trouble with loopy handballs, but he is not on an island there, they are aspects of his game that should not be too hard to improve and for the life of me I can't see that his I can't see that these negatives outway the positives he brings. It's very hard to learn to kick long and accurately and to be a consistent ball winner.

Statistically he has been in the top echalon of midfielders his age, see stats below for him and Bryce Gibbs:

Ave Disposals - 2007 Gibbs 13, Houli 11. 2008 Gibbs 20, Houli 19. 2009 Gibbs 26, Houli 22

Not saying he is as good, or ever will be as good as Bryce Gibbs. But he obviously has similer ball getting ability. Bachar is a player we should be developing, not banishing to the VFL.

 

[Kaan]

Agreed.

Should've left last year to a team that will actually play him. Best outcome for both partys.

He was unfairly treated last year as well only played a few games and deserved more.

 

[BrunoV]

He is very much a confidence player and bringing him back for a game or two is certainly not going to get any better.

I have Prismall in the gun so look out for bias but I would prefer to see Houli running around.

 

[Skeeta Olly]

Deserves a chance, no doubting that.

He did get unlucky last year, broke into the team, but got injured.

 

[Wahooti Fandango]

He is very much a confidence player and bringing him back for a game or two is certainly not going to get any better.

I have Prismall in the gun so look out for bias but I would prefer to see Houli running around.

Agree. Also remember that Myers has had back/hamstring issues for a while now.

 

[Spikey]

April Fools?

 

[Macca18]

Should've left last year to a team that will actually play him. Best outcome for both partys.

Already will.

Had a few chats with Sheedy already... will be at West Sydney as soon as they are up and going.

 

[Eons]

been a big wrap for houli the last few years but it baffles me why knights wont play him. like someone said he should have asked to be traded at the end of last year. shame cause the kid can play.

 

[Skeeta Olly]

Already will.

Had a few chats with Sheedy already... will be at West Sydney as soon as they are up and going.

It's past 12..

 

[Longy413]

No we're not.

He's just all that good.
I wouldn't have dropped anyone last week for him, except maybe Howlett.
Even then, Lonergan, McVeigh and Lovett-Murray would get a game first.

When he stops front-running and averting contests, I'm sure he'll get a game.

 

[Macca18]

It's past 12..

You'll see.

 

[Kaan]

I wouldn't have dropped anyone last week for him, except maybe Howlett.

The thing is Houli deserved to play round 1 based on preseason and players like Reimers didn't(he was very good though.)

 

[Slattery_20]

He'd get hunted at the top level, just like Geelong did in 08 or 09, they know he'll cough it up under pressure. Dunno how much of a ball winner he is. I would guess he has a lot of handball receives and possies in space and for mine, just doesn't do enough with it.
Well behind Hocking and Lonergan, and probably Howlett too.

We don't need 1-way players.

 

[Smyth94]

Houli is the most overrated player on our list now

 

[C4[2]Yo`DooR]

Will most likely be a Kangaroo in 2011.

 

[Trav0]

Will most likely be a Kangaroo in 2011.

how do you figure?

while i doubt he will move interstate, if he is traded it will depend on who gives us the best pick, which will most likely be in the 50s...

i also cant see how we are ruining a player if he just isnt in our best 22, surely its upto the player to make himself available for selection...

 

[kelvin_sheedy]

Houli in... Davey out. He's given us nothing for 1 year and 1 game now.

Houli might be the unlucky guy that gets pushed out as we develop a better side.

I'd like to see him play more and I think he should have been given first preference over a guy like Howlett. Houli has the runs on the board over 3 years and has performed and trained quite well.

Maybe he could take over Prismal's role?

 

[HighettBomber]

He could easily take the place of Slattery, Davey, Howlett or Hocking. He deserves a place above all of them on performance during preseason and during 2009.

 

[Kong]

He could easily take the place of Slattery, Davey, Howlett or Hocking. He deserves a place above all of them on performance during preseason and during 2009.

Your opinion.

 

[Ben the Gooner]

He was unfairly treated last year as well only played a few games and deserved more.

Bollocks.

Do you honestly think they aren't picking their best team?

 

[Enki]

1. You can't "ruin" a player by playing them in the VFL. If anything they should have more time and space to improve on their basic skills and any areas they need to work on. Did Geelong ruin Prismall? No, he just didn't regularly deserve a game over any of the other players.

2. If Houli was actually as good as people thought he was it wouldn't matter that he has started the year in the VFL as he would push his way into the seniors. Almost all the people who saw the Casey game said he was solid without being anything outstanding and didn't cry out to be selected.

3. I have to agree with whomever said Houli is now the most overrated player on our list.

 

[The Bombs]

Houli in... Davey out. He's given us nothing for 1 year and 1 game now.

Houli might be the unlucky guy that gets pushed out as we develop a better side.

I'd like to see him play more and I think he should have been given first preference over a guy like Howlett. Houli has the runs on the board over 3 years and has performed and trained quite well.

Maybe he could take over Prismal's role?

I agree with the davey out call, has done nothing to keep getting games like he has.

 

[kelvin_sheedy]

Bollocks.

Do you honestly think they aren't picking their best team?

He was a better option than either Quinn or Myers last year. We lost a game against North because we did not select our best side.

 

[The Bombs]

I think it's more to do with us not having a better option than Davey earning his place.

Jetta has been mediocre; Quinn not ready; Zaharakis too useful to stay in a pocket all day; same for Winderlich; Lonergan not good enough.

I said before last year's draft that I hoped like hell that Essendon would at the very least rookie list a small crumbing type (not necessarily Indigenous, but it seems to be the craze). We didn't, and this is the result.

Davey's defensive pressure is absolutely amazing, but his offensive output not enough for our sole specialist forward pocket. His two goals in quick succession last week gave me a glimmer of hope that he's going to start producing more. If he kicks 2 goals a game, he'll end up with 40-odd; not even the haters can be dissatisfied with that.

Hopefully Jetta has his confidence issues sorted upon his return.

The other option is Colyer; while a midfielder first, I could see him giving us another option for the next year or two while he develops. He has the pace, clean hands and evasiveness needed, for a start.

You make a very fair point, daveys defensive side is great, but if hes not putting away goals that should be his bread and butter then we have to look elsewhere....where that is I do not know.

Davey has become a frustrating player to watch, missing goals from 35 meters out shouldnt be happening.

 

[Slattery_20]

That's the thing with Davey, he fluffs a couple of chances a week, but creates 3-4 out of speedy chasing. He does enough to keep his spot.