Hoolahan - 2 Year Deal

[Chris Brown]

Sky reporting that Hoolahan is set to sign a new 2 year deal... Good news, looked the best out of the bunch all pre season, good to see him back.

 

[Yellowfuture]

Excellent news, a settled happy Wes is exactly what we need to begin the season

 

[skijumptoes]

Super news!!

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

I think this deal is a 'shower of sh*te'. Only kidding. Wes went down in my estimation when he made those comments and refused to celebrate after scoring. Understand his beef with the manager and the club, but the fans didnt deserve it, and he has to understand that he was sticking two fingers up to the fans as well, whether he meant to or not.

But Wes is a unique player and still our most creative by a long way. In what is hopefully an attacking team this season, his qualities will hopefully be integral, and valued. Wes on-side is a good thing

 

[Ankles]

A key player at Championship level so glad we've settled him and sorted a new deal

However if we do get promotion at the end of the season he has to be one of the first out the door as he doesn't quite cut it at the top level and we don't need his toys coming out of the pram again when he isn't playing and disrupting the squad

 

[BarclayBoy88]

Very happy to have him signed up, happy and hopefully playing well. I'll never fully warm back to Wes for the comments he made and the actions he took, think it showed a complete lack of respect. However will cheer him like every other player who puts the shirt on, and as long as he's playing well, creating and scoring chances, I'm happy. 

 

[The Ghost of Michael Theo]

Very happy to have him signed up, happy and hopefully playing well. I'll never fully warm back to Wes for the comments he made and the actions he took, think it showed a complete lack of respect. However will cheer him like every other player who puts the shirt on, and as long as he's playing well, creating and scoring chances, I'm happy. 

I'm with you.

While I can see certain situations where it's OK (i.e. if Frank Lampard scores against Chelsea), I hate it when players don't celebrate aginst teams they used to play for.

However, not celebrating against a team you wanted to sign for? That was a new low for me.

I used to love Wes, and I'm happy to have him back in the side. However, I'm never going to feel the same about him.

 

[skijumptoes]

I think it was more a sign to the supporters that he wasn't happy, could it be that it being Villa was just a horrible coincidence?

 

[Yellow Fever]

Yes, it is great to hear that Wes looks like signing a new 2 year contract and with him so fully committed in the pre-season, it does feel like signing a new player, especially in the ACM role that we've been calling for. For those wondering about Adam's 'man-management skills', this seems to be a pretty good indicator. I don't think we should forget his behaviour last year, but I do think we should move on. Players get frustrated like we do. Snodgrass was another example, but we moved on from it. Wes is just the ACM we need and I'm very pleased he's back.

 

[Keels881]

Wes is going to tear up this league this season, I have a good feeling 

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

After Grant Holt put his transfer request in, I remember reading a blog (or a post) called 'Why we will never FLGH quite so much again'. Holt tarnished his reputation somewhat when he did that, and although we could understand his reasons and sympathise, we couldnt help feeling rejected by the man we thought loved us as much as we loved him. Wes' actions felt like they were cut from the same cloth. Will never quite love him quite as much again. Would have been gutted previously if he'd have left, now there is animosity where there was no animosity before I wouldnt be so bothered

 

[Beauseant]

Not sure that this is a progressive step. Wes on his day is unplayable but can also be totally innocuous. Regardless of his dummy spitting last season I would be concerned if Adams is looking to build the team around him as it would limit us to the diamond. I also worry that his tendency to slow the game down will blunt the impact of our pace elsewhere. Happy to be proven wrong though!

 

[Highland Canary]

Really good news. Our most creative player who was smothered by the previous management team's negativity. A positive forward-looking development.

 

[Agent Dale Cooper]

Not sure that this is a progressive step. Wes on his day is unplayable but can also be totally innocuous. Regardless of his dummy spitting last season I would be concerned if Adams is looking to build the team around him as it would limit us to the diamond. I also worry that his tendency to slow the game down will blunt the impact of our pace elsewhere. Happy to be proven wrong though!

I have to say I agree with this. I doubt he'd have signed the deal without the guarantee of first-team football; this rubber-stamps Fer's departure as far as I can see. Assuming that Johnson and Tettey compete for the base of the diamond, that leaves Hoolahan, Fer, Howson, Surman, O'Neil, Redmond, Pilkington, E Bennett, Murphy, Hooper, Loza, Grabban and Lafferty competing for five positions. This deal implies we should brace ourselves for further departures; I've not even included Becchio in this list, if Tettey leaves then O'Neil will compete with Johnson for the deep role, and if Hooper and Fer leave too that's still ten players for five positions. Worrying.

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

Im not sure why everyone is so focussed on the diamond. I think its going to be an option for us against certain teams when we need a narrow midfield, two up front and some creativity, but I dont think its going to be our default formation. I think Adams is planning on playing a number of different ways this season and wants an adaptable and diverse squad. There is noone better at this level than Hoolahan at the tip of the diamond. What did for him in the Prem was playing behind a lone striker. Wes need two options in front of him and needs not to be charged with scoring the goals himself, as he is not much of a direct goal threat. Wes and the diamond are going to be superb options this year in the right sorts of games. But I think there will be games where Adams will want pace, power and width, and in these games Wes will be on the bench along with the diamond as a tactical plan B. Reassuring!

 

[morty]

If this makes Wes a happier and more productive player then I'm all for it, it can only benefit the team.

But I would rather have seen the money spent on a replacement / upgrade, if I'm honest.

 

[manno_88]

I was very frustrated with Hoolahoops when he put in a second transfer request, however, his attitude throughout pre season and the fact he could be signing a new deal swings it for me. Happy to have him on board for hopefully another season at least. Pivotal in our promotion bid. 

 

[The Ghost of Michael Theo]

I think it was more a sign to the supporters that he wasn't happy, could it be that it being Villa was just a horrible coincidence?

Not sure I follow this. At the time, that was a massive goal for us. (OK, the result in that game ended pretty badly, but at the time....)

Against Villa or not, if he was any sort of team player, he'd have loved scoring that goal and showed it.

 

[hogesar]

Not sure that this is a progressive step. Wes on his day is unplayable but can also be totally innocuous. Regardless of his dummy spitting last season I would be concerned if Adams is looking to build the team around him as it would limit us to the diamond. I also worry that his tendency to slow the game down will blunt the impact of our pace elsewhere. Happy to be proven wrong though!

But i don't think he is looking to build the team around him - at least there's no sign of that thus far.

Yes he's used the diamond formation regularly, but he's regularly switched, I think to 4-2-3-1 and potentially 4-4-2 as well.

Without a doubt when we do use the diamond, Wes will be critical to it. The fact is keeping Wes gives us the option to play the diamond effectively, particularly in the Championship.

Logical, clever - allows flexibility in our tactical formations and - as you quite rightly say - is unplayable at times.

 

[Bethnal Yellow and Green]

Im not sure why everyone is so focussed on the diamond. I think its going to be an option for us against certain teams when we need a narrow midfield, two up front and some creativity, but I dont think its going to be our default formation. I think Adams is planning on playing a number of different ways this season and wants an adaptable and diverse squad. There is noone better at this level than Hoolahan at the tip of the diamond. What did for him in the Prem was playing behind a lone striker. Wes need two options in front of him and needs not to be charged with scoring the goals himself, as he is not much of a direct goal threat. Wes and the diamond are going to be superb options this year in the right sorts of games. But I think there will be games where Adams will want pace, power and width, and in these games Wes will be on the bench along with the diamond as a tactical plan B. Reassuring!

The diamond was pretty much the only formation Adams used during pre-season so I expect it to feature heavily this season - I think he also tried it at Fulham away.

Whilst I welcome a new contract for Wes, it is incredible Norwich are going into another season with Hoolahan pretty much the only option in the 'No. 10' role. Think the club has been crying out for someone there.

Fer and Howson can both play there, but they aren't quite as creative as Wes, although provide a greater physical presence.