I appear to be a bit rogue here so I will try and explain a couple of things.
I agree that Howson is a better player than Dorrans, I actually think Howson is exceptionally good and our most gifted 'generalist' midfielder, but I also think he has looked off his game the last 4 / 5 games and I would have dropped him ahead of Swansea (shows what I know).
I think Hoolahan is very good but my frustration is that when he isn't 'on his day' he seems to slow the play down a lot, it comes to him and he turns, then turns again and then plays a relatively simple ball that frustrates the runners. When AN first took over I was really excited to see the willingness to knock it in behind other teams and the desire to move the ball quickly, dare I say, it reminded me of PL in how we were not a long ball team but we were happy to go direct. When Wes is not on his day it feels like he works against that system and acts as a block to quick movement of the ball. Don't get me wrong I am not taking a black and white position on Wes, I am actually really impressed with how hard he works both with and without the ball, but I just wish sometimes he would use that passing ability to hook ne in behind for Jerome of Redmond to run onto, to get the defence facing the wrong way.
Dorrans - I agree he is probably a solid squad player but I feel a confidence when he plays, i don't expect / believe he will make a stupid mistake, he will work hard and he will do what he does well. There is a lot to say for players like that, as Gary O'neil showed int he most recent game. I guess I have always liked a bit of a 'journey-man' (non-pejorative) / a grinder, I always loved to see Gary Holt at work, I liked Grant Holt's constant annoyance of those around him, and I suppose why I like Tettey and Brady, neither stops running.
