How did it come to this? How did Wes Hoolahan become the saviour of Irish football? Going by some of the praise last night and this morning, he'll be leading us to World Cup glory for years to come. Only he won't, primarily because he's nearly 33 but also because he's simply not up to scratch, no matter how much we want him to be.
Now before the cries of begrudgery come flowing down the mountainside, hear me out. Hoolahan is a more than decent player and he deserves to be in the Ireland squad. However, the constant clamouring for his inclusion no matter the cost has seemingly gotten to Martin O'Neill. You really have to ask yourself why the Ireland manager is so opposed to playing Hoolahan away from home yet will happily rest all our attacking play on the Norwich man when we get to the Aviva.
That fact that Hoolahan was named man of the match on RTÉ has only served to intensify the debate surrounding the ex-Shelbourne man. Quite simply, there's not a hope in hell Hoolahan was the best player on the pitch last night. The effusive praise of Dunphy (and Giles) really put in context just how much the standard of Irish football has slipped.
However, are we doing him a disservice? It wasn't just Dunphy who was impressed with Hoolahan's performance.
Wes Hoolahan is your classic "if he'd been born somewhere else..." case. What a footballer. It's just so natural to him. Imperious tonight.
— JohnGunning (@jgunned) March 30, 2015
@TheKawaiiSailor I thought hoolahan played out of his skin tonight, definitely deserved MOTM
— Alex Byrne (@BABYFACE0895) March 29, 2015
Wes hoolahan is so good just sees everything,about time he got in the 11
— James Newell (@jamesnewell1067) March 29, 2015
Hoolahan was without a doubt the man of the match. Anyone who says otherwise doesn't know football.
— Aido (@Aido1895) March 29, 2015
Such a shame that it's taken so long for Wes Hoolahan to show his class at international level. Waste of talent for so many years
— Tomás Keating (@MossBoxx) March 29, 2015
However, despite such positive reactions to the Norwich man's performance, there were as much if not more tweets in disbelief that Hoolahan was getting so much praise.
Really admire Hoolahan's ability to do fuck all and still be raved about. He should act in Beckett plays.
— Thar Barr Superstar🕯 (@WildState) March 29, 2015
Cannot understand the love for Hoolahan. There's no excuse for being a pro and being that weak. He can't protect the ball.
— 🎯🌚 (@Foran__) March 29, 2015
Hoolahan gives the ball away an awful lot for a Messiah
— Rúaidhrí O'Connor (@RuaidhriOC) March 29, 2015
Didn't feel Hoolahan was at the races tonight. Not sure how he got man of the match
— GirlOnUtd (@GirlOnUtd) March 29, 2015
Wes Hoolahan man of the match? Only the RTÉ panel could award that. Didn't make a single incisive pass
— Colm Shanahan (@CWShanahan) March 29, 2015
At least brady is talking abit of sense. Wes hoolahan is still shit and that's why he plays in the championship
— Tiarnan (@TiarnanMorrisse) March 29, 2015
To be fair some of that is probably going overboard on the criticism simply to balance out the complete overreaction from the RTÉ panel. Hoolahan is an option to have from the bench at home and away. He's not the messiah though, far from it.
What Hoolahan offers is a very simple desire to be willing to get on the ball in the final third. What he doesn't offer enough of, is the ability to do anything particularly inventive with that possession. Aidan McGeady is regularly criticised for not having enough end product, yet the same can be said of Hoolahan and somehow RTÉ are giving him man of the match.
McGeady (granted, he did very little last night) will usually create at least one chance from nothing during a game. Can the same be said of Hoolahan? It seems it's much less acceptable to criticise the former Shelbourne man given that fans undoubtedly feel more affinity for him than they do for McGeady.
Coming through the ranks of a League of Ireland club, making the move to England, eventually working his way up to the Premier League. It's the way it's 'supposed' to be.
I assume all footage of Hoolahan giving the ball away has been incinerated by now.
— Thar Barr Superstar🕯 (@WildState) March 29, 2015
Not quite.
(Click on images if not playing)
You might say that they are two completely innocuous moments but they are indicative of what Hoolahan offers. A desire to show for the ball but not enough consistency when he gets possession.
The question has to be asked, is that enough? If we want someone to get on the ball between midfield and attack perhaps Hoolahan is the best we have. Who's the alternative? Harry Arter? Get Stephen Quinn or David Meyler in midfield and move James McCarthy forward?
We're not blessed with technical attacking midfielders. As such, Hoolahan remains a good option but to be pinning our hopes of qualification on his shoulders is very dangerous indeed.
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