Wes Hoolahan enjoying his run as Norwich City aim to better last season
Man of the Match Wes Hoolahan celebrates Michael Turner's equaliser at Aston Villa after crossing the ball for the defender's goal. Picture: Paul Chesterton / Focus Images
Chris Lakey
Monday, October 29, 2012
12:47 PM
Norwich City’s little magician Wes Hoolahan admitted that getting one over the old boss was definitely on his agenda as the Canaries left Paul Lambert with more headaches than his Carrow Road successor.
Hoolahan was head and shoulders above his contemporaries on a day when all eyes were on Lambert – and the reaction of the travelling fans as he walked out at Villa Park just before 12.45pm on Saturday.
But it wasn’t long before all eyes were on Hoolahan, who lit up a muted 45 minutes with a performance that surely this time cannot fail to attract the attentions of Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni when he names his squad for a friendly against Greece early this week.
Hoolahan was denied only by the boot of keeper Brad Guzman in the first half and then again in the second before teeing up a deserve equaliser for central defence Michael Turner – the least City deserved.
“In the second half we put a lot of pressure on Villa, we limited them to one or two chances and are disappointed to come away with a draw,” said Hoolahan. “It would have been galling to leave with nothing.
“At least Paul Lambert hasn’t got one over us yet.
“You want to get one over him if you can, but I thought we played well.”
Hoolahan’s association with Lambert goes back further than most – Lambert was his manager at Livingston for a short time in 2005 and they spent three years together at Carrow Road before the Scot left for Villa in the summer.
A shake of the hands as they headed down the tunnel after the final whistle perhaps reflected the longevity of the relationship.
Hoolahan profited from Lambert’s time at Norwich, and believes Villa will benefit too.
“It takes time to settle in with a new team, and he’s got new players too,” he said. “But after working with him for four years I know Villa have got a great manager there.
“Of course, he’ll do well.”
Hoolahan insists the Lambert Factor didn’t play much of a part in City’s build-up, now being orchestrated by Chris Hughton.
“We didn’t talk about it much,” he said. “Players move on, managers move on. You just have to stick with your team and work together.
“They have their different stuff, Paul’s a great man manager, Chris is real quiet but gets his word across really well.
“The gaffer told us to treat this like any other game. Just concentrate on getting three points hopefully, we want to build on a great result against Arsenal.”
The transition between managers hasn’t perhaps been as smooth as fans would hope, but four points from two games suggests things could be about to change.
It’s no coincidence that against Arsenal the previous weekend and then at Villa park, it was Hoolahan who had everyone drooling.
“It takes time, of course, with a new manager coming in and playing the way he wants to play,” said the 30-year-old, who has pretty much a free reign playing just behind skipper Grant Holt, also denied by Guzan’s heroics.
“In the last two games, we’ve played really well. When you’ve got Holty up there playing with you it’s great because he knows where to run.
“I enjoy playing in this position. Holty was unlucky, the keeper stuck a boot out and stopped him. Next week hopefully.”
So, will City finish above Villa?
“We want to finish as high as we can, achieve what we did last season and push on even more,” said Hooolahan, diplomatically.
“We’re looking higher than the bottom of the table, we have a lot of quality players here.”
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35 comments
Brewer, if Villas Boas had seen Wes`potential, he would have got him as replacement for Modric long ago. But I am as you, very keen to have him at Norwich! And about time that CH discovered his qualities.
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norwaysbiggesthoolahanfan
Friday, November 2, 2012
Lambert compensation . IF his signed contract with NCFC had a clause allowing him to talk to other Prem clubs when they made an approach for him he may have a case IF NCFC turned down an official approach without telling him. IF he only thought that had happened and walked then NCFC have the case against him , as they do if PL was tapped up by an unofficial approach. Leave it to the courts
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wivenhoebudgie
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Everton might be great for Wes, but we`d hate to lose him. Roeder bought him from Blackpool, so he`d know the Lancashire\North-West area. The thing is he`s 30 or close now and he deserves a good fillip to his career. Hoots musn`t let him go! Let Wes have his heyday with us. I don`t know, but maybe Butterfield is the long-term successor? Wes is a one-off.
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Mad Brewer
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Getting back on topic if I may, he's improved since I saw him last year. Maybe he's a little too lightweight, Scholes and Keane weren't the biggest but both had a bite to them. That said, he's immensly confident on the ball, I can see a bid from a club like Everton, they've not really replaced Arteta and he's in the same mantle.
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MonkeyNuts
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Hi, Stew. You are one of those trying to keep it friendly with a bit of self-deprecation & humour. Good ol` boy, too! I don`t like to see sensible, if opposite, views from opposing fans given the "tribal schoolboy" treatment. I loved your "wonderful newspaper" comment. Great!
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Mad Brewer
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
I cannot understand why the moderating machine at Archant is allowing some of this distasteful garbage to get through. No names, no pack drill, but if the cap fits, wear it!-- Say after me if the hat is on your head ”There was only one Stew Pydsodd on here, now there's two”
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Stew Pydsodd
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Steady On, Steady On. What good is that sort of stuff going to do? Clearly MonkeyNuts is a real football fan but if his genuine attempts to discuss the game are going to be met with tribal puerility, then he`ll give up. I hope he doesn`t. On the other hand there`s you.......
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Mad Brewer
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
This thead should be about the impact Wes has and will make forNorwich. Of course we have freedom of speech, many people gave up their lives to enable us to do so! I just think it strange that it was Leeds fans who were on here a while ago, until they really covered themselves in glory when one of their own wanted to shake Chris Kirkland by the throat! We shake hands in a sign of friendship where I come from! I for one welcome the chance to converse with people from other countries and cultures!
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RoadWarrior
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
I again reiterate this for the hard of hearing, I would love to talk football to fellow fans, but will not be rail roaded into making sweeping assumptions that you are all trolls. Infact, my views have been changed by one or two posters of this site.
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MonkeyNuts
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Oh, I disagree Shed-Monkey. Your going to respond to me. However cryptic you want to be about what team it is you support I can assure you the area in which that club is located is indeed far inferior to the magnificent Norwich City and it is indeed only a matter of time before we mug that team offmug it off again.
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Steady On
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Like you, MonkeyNuts, I dream of three points. Trouble is with NCFC it takes three dreams to achieve that aim! At least. I yearn to see some exponential growth in the points yield soon.
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Mad Brewer
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Brew - I accept your comment. Looking forward to the weekend. Dreaming of 3 points........
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MonkeyNuts
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Ok,I'm going to address the accusations aimed at me. Steady on - this is the first post I have seen from you, so one can only assume you're a troll of sorts. I have no time to interact with people like you. Doc- there comes a point in an argument when you have hit your head so many times against a brick wall before you stoop to the lowest format of wit. I tried to convey my thoughts inappropriate constructive manner yet some posters cannot seem to face the fact that we may have opposing views. For the record I like you guys. Play good proper football. No prima donnas, just blokes that want to play football the right way. Stew - your comments do make me chuckle, nothing wrong with banter till it gets personal.
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MonkeyNuts
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Come on, MonkeyNuts, no need for vitriol! Poor Wes was subjected to a few sarcastic sideswipes from PL ref his intelligence & fitness. Just thinking he may have been happier than most to engineer that draw. Ref the compensation thing, there`s many a slip `twixt cup and lip......
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Mad Brewer
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
We get all sorts making comments on here. From the highly intelligent right down to me. Let's all move one step backwards, and remember we live in a civilised community, allowed to put differing points of view across by a wonderful newspaper
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Stew Pydsodd
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Monkeynuts I'm disappointed. Your postings on Saturday revealed the glimmerings of some common sense. HOWEVER you have now reverted to your standard "ya sucks boo" postings that you were doing at the start of the season. You mention debate in a post, what you do is not debate (see the Monty Python sketch about arguments). You'll probably say it's an open forum and your right to post what you like. I agree, it's also my right to consider you an immature inadequate. Future postings from you will be treated likt Ged's, unread.
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DocOhNo
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
I'd like to add an "F Off" to the shed-dwelling monkey stalking this boards. You mad bro?
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Steady On
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
I agree that Wes played a major part in most of our attacking moves but like many of our team on Saturday he was also guilty of giving the ball away far too often. I've never seen so many misplaced passes or wasted crosses from us. Would be interesting to see the stats for the percentage of passes that were incomplete. Stats we often seem to see on foreign matches on TV but hardly ever here.. Probably too embarrassing! Anyone know of a website which shows these?
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zebbee
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Oops, missed an F off!
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canarydownunder
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Would have been nice to have got the first away win of the season at Villa, and got that Monkey of our back.
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canarydownunder
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Taxi for Thomas - I see the art of debate has been lost on you. Still, nothing a good cup of tea and some Rich Tea fingers won't cure. Now, run along, mummy's told you once......BED!
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MonkeyNuts
Monday, October 29, 2012
Where do these idiots come from?....we've lost the Ged and gained a Monkey.....perhaps its because its half term and the nursery is shut....
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tom the taxi
Monday, October 29, 2012
Where do these idiots come from?....we've lost the Ged and gained a Monkey.....perhaps its because its half term and the nursery is shut....
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tom the taxi
Monday, October 29, 2012
Monkey Nuts, I think you need a pint of Bitter, you are welcome to Lambert. We have Hoots. I would worry more about facing Utd, City and Arsenal in the next month.
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Horatio
Monday, October 29, 2012
I think I'll go and find a site that Astun Vilea fans use and post assinine comments, oh wait just remembered I've got a life!
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DocOhNo
Monday, October 29, 2012
Wes is the man to ignite the season for us. I hope CH will take on board his performace's. Would be wearing my NCFC tee shirt in work today, however it's a bank holiday here today!
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RoadWarrior
Monday, October 29, 2012
Wes has definitely been able to produce those defence-splitting passes since he re-established himself in the team, unfortunately the finishing has not always matched the quality of the pass. Time is running out on the international and World Cup front so it's now or never Trapper Tony.
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Swiss Canary
Monday, October 29, 2012
light blue (is this an affiliation to the team in Suffolk?) this, until membership is required, is an open forum, so please refrain from using inappropriate language - my nickname is MonkeyNuts so please address me correctly. Secondly, you will need to redirect your question to the editors of this website and its reporters, this story is old hat in Brum yet you are all still pining for the return of the messiah.
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MonkeyNuts
Monday, October 29, 2012
I, for one am delighted that Wes is getting his game and is playing as well as I know he can. He is a gem and a talant that should be used in as many games as possible. Wes gives Norwich that something that makes the team perform. SUPER WES! From all in Dublin!
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RoadWarrior
Monday, October 29, 2012
i will ask one more time.why are you all still talking about lambert.?he is gone.and where has this nutty monkey come from?
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bluelight
Monday, October 29, 2012
Oh dear Sharky, we are a very bitter person aren't we. You should be forever grateful to Lambert for leading you from 'Rags to Riches'. Maybe you should be renamed 'the Goldfish' due to your short term memory? El Dingo - not quite sure what to make of your comment. Are you suggesting I live in Brum so in turn would be offended? Wrong on both counts. I live spitting distance of your shed and I agree, Brum is a holem Neither relevant to topic I know but just answering your post. Good day.
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MonkeyNuts
Monday, October 29, 2012
Yes indeed Mr Nuts. But then he opens his eyes and realises he's living in Birmingham with a squad of adults who largely refuse to be bullied topped up by kids. To me, the worst bit would be living in Birmingham...
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el dingo
Monday, October 29, 2012
And thats why he is now looked opon as a traitor and not a hero.
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sharky
Monday, October 29, 2012
Thats soon to change Brewer when you line his pockets with some of your hard spent ticket sale money as compo. He must be rubbing his little Glaswegian hands together.
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MonkeyNuts
Monday, October 29, 2012
The little "common-senseless Easter Egg" was happy to make sure "Paul Lambert hasn`t got one over us yet". That`s the spirit, Wessi!!
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Mad Brewer
Monday, October 29, 2012