Carlton's forgotten man

DownUnderChick · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2009 1:13 pm

http://www.carltonfc.com.au/tabid/4311/Default.aspx?newsid=71515

Quote:

Houlihan will be given license to roam the forward line in 2009 and, with the backing of a full pre-season, he's excited by the prospect.

Look out.

Taff · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2009 1:17 pm

Great news! With his high skill level, he has the potential to make a huge difference to our forward line structure. Remember, the boy can play.

camel · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2009 1:31 pm

Oh yeah, this is good news. :thumbsup:

bondiblue · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2009 2:22 pm

Strut your stuff Houla.

30 goals? I'd be happy with that, even if 5 of the are in the GF. :wink:

kingkerna · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2009 2:51 pm

30 goals is a high target for houla, he was talked up pre-season a few years ago, lets hope this time he delivers - would be awesome.

Deano Supremo · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2009 2:53 pm

ABOUT BLOODY TIME

One of Pagan's worst mistakes - trying to turn Houlihan into a tough guy half back.

I hope he can get some of his early career form back as a classy goalsneak.

AGRO · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2009 2:57 pm

Deano Supremo wrote:

ABOUT BLOODY TIME

One of Pagan's worst mistakes - trying to turn Houlihan into a tough guy half back.

I hope he can get some of his early career form back as a classy goalsneak.

Absolutely.

Around 2000/2001 - both Lappin and Houlihan had a license to wander around the forward line and they were lethal at setting up and crumbing and kicking goals - at times they were so good at it they used to wax the goals. :cool:

Houlihan will be the great as that in between forward with Betts/Yarran as the goal sneaks and Fev, Kreuzer, Cloke, Fisher as the marking options - will be a hard match up. :grin:

Virgin Blue · **Joined:** Mon Oct 22, 2007 12:32 pm **Posts:** 3021

I think it's the right time for him to go back forward.

We have enough options down back and in midfield, so we now have the luxury of using his skills closer to goal.

The only concern I have is he's a bit one paced and so I have doubts about his defensive pressure, but if we go witha Hawthron like zone set up that should cover up the not quick Houlihans and even Clokes to a degree.

mjonc · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2009 3:07 pm

The tag team is back!!!

What you gonna do when the Fevouligan runs wild on you!!

AGRO · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2009 3:15 pm

mjonc wrote:

The tag team is back!!!

What you gonna do when the Fevouligan runs wild on you!!

Probably hide the fire extinguishers and provide security to all nearby Brown-Gouge outlets. :wink:

tommi · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2009 4:12 pm

Great stuff...........

Houla delivers the ball to Feva better than anyone in our team..........!

get ready for an avalanche........!

kindest regards tommi

Brock Landers · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2009 4:24 pm

I think he will be a very important component of our side this year. If he can average 1-2 goals per game and help set up a couple more every week then it will go a long way to improving the function of the forward line and our thus our overall performance.

The one concern I have for upcoming season will be our ability to accumulate a winning score if Fevola doesnt fire. Both our midfield and fwd line need to significantly contribute to our scoreline if were going to be a genuine finals contender.

Good Luck for 2009 Ryan - looking fwd to seeing the chainsaw again!!!! :thumbsup:

Big Kahuna Boot · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2009 5:51 pm

.... ..don't forget that Ratts played with Houla's.... ..he knows how good the guy is, and that he's a natural forward.. ..and so does Fev, you can see him grinning when houla's is streaming forward with the ball.. ..they've got a natural forward connection those two.. ..as for 30 goals a year, if he's really given license to roam the forward line i reckon he'll crunch the 30 target easily..

cj69 · **Joined:** Mon May 14, 2007 12:06 pm **Posts:** 2098

Happy about this!

Hoops is a class player who uses the ball as well as anyone. We need these players. The time Pagan gave him in defence did him a lot of good.

A forward line with small options of Hoops, Betts, Yarran, Gartlett, Ellard, Wiggins plus Gibbs, Murphy, Stevens, Hadley, Judd, Simpson all pushing through there gives us some real options. Add Kruezer, Cloke, Fev, Setanta, Walker, Harlett, Edwards, Waite, Fisher as taller targets and we can fix what I believe was our biggest weakness.

Multiple goalkicking options! :smoking:

bluey95 · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2009 8:02 pm

tommi wrote:

Great stuff...........

Houla delivers the ball to Feva better than anyone in our team..........!

get ready for an avalanche........!

kindest regards tommi

bah bowwww...

Murph's the master Fev Blaster! Without a doubt but I'm more than happy for Houla to prove me wrong this season!

over and out..

Rich

Wet Willie · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2009 8:56 pm

Bring on the chainsaw!!

Nick · **Joined:** Tue Apr 25, 2006 4:52 pm **Posts:** 1857

Deano Supremo wrote:

ABOUT BLOODY TIME

One of Pagan's worst mistakes - trying to turn Houlihan into a tough guy half back.

I hope he can get some of his early career form back as a classy goalsneak.

Disagree. Pagan's game plan was based on exquisite delivery from the forward line and Houlihan and Lappin were two of a handful on the list who could hit a target 8/10 times, hence the reason for their move in the backline. Bringing the ball out from the backline is one of the most important facets of play in any team and where if a team makes an error, results in an opposition goal most times.

Ultimately, Pagan fell on his own sword but you can certainly see why he did it. Incidentally, most good teams in the AFL also follow the same plan, that is quick and reliable set-up of attacks from the backline.

Have you forgotten the days of Glenn Bowyer and Andrew Eccles delivering the ball from the backline already? *Shudder* :eek:

As for the topic, great move. I've been wanting him to move into the forward line since '06. Good to see it finally and he'll give us some options up forward and, hopefully, more than a few goals.

Blue Vain · **Joined:** Mon Feb 28, 2005 10:35 am **Posts:** 18035

Nick wrote:

Deano Supremo wrote:

ABOUT BLOODY TIME

One of Pagan's worst mistakes - trying to turn Houlihan into a tough guy half back.

I hope he can get some of his early career form back as a classy goalsneak.

Disagree. Pagan's game plan was based on exquisite delivery from the forward line and Houlihan and Lappin were two of a handful on the list who could hit a target 8/10 times, hence the reason for their move in the backline. Bringing the ball out from the backline is one of the most important facets of play in any team and where if a team makes an error, results in an opposition goal most times.

Ultimately, Pagan fell on his own sword but you can certainly see why he did it. Incidentally, most good teams in the AFL also follow the same plan, that is quick and reliable set-up of attacks from the backline.

Have you forgotten the days of Glenn Bowyer and Andrew Eccles delivering the ball from the backline already? *Shudder* :eek:

As for the topic, great move. I've been wanting him to move into the forward line since '06. Good to see it finally and he'll give us some options up forward and, hopefully, more than a few goals.

Gee, you've rewritten a fair bit of history there Nick. :screwy:

Firstly, Pagan didn't fall on his sword. He was removed because he didn't have the capability to do the job.

Secondly, lets remember who bought guys like Glen Bowyer to the club and played them when their form didn't dictate it. Meanwhile guys like Kade Simpson who were playing better footy at Preston were overlooked. He wanted hard heads who could play a contested gamestyle instead of smelling the roses like the rest of the competition.

Lastly, Pagans game plan was never based on "exquisite delivery" to the forwards. He can sell candy to the media and supporters as much as he wants about his intentions and expectations but all training was based on kicking to contests.
From day one he instructed the players to get the ball in quickly with minimal possession and long kicks. In fact, players were admonished for trying to create and wait for leads.
If you want players to use the ball well and give silver service to the forwards, you need training drills and match simulation to practice it.
He was either too pig headed or too uninformed to understand that.

Good luck to him but thank god he's gone.

AGRO · **Posted:** Thu Jan 29, 2009 8:30 am

Blue Vain wrote:

Good luck to him but thank god he's gone.

More the point good luck to the Northern Knights who is coaching in the Under 18s TAC Cup Competition - they're going to need it. :roll:

HELLAS BLUE · **Posted:** Thu Jan 29, 2009 7:07 pm

Blue Vain wrote:

Nick wrote:

Deano Supremo wrote:

ABOUT BLOODY TIME

One of Pagan's worst mistakes - trying to turn Houlihan into a tough guy half back.

I hope he can get some of his early career form back as a classy goalsneak.

Disagree. Pagan's game plan was based on exquisite delivery from the forward line and Houlihan and Lappin were two of a handful on the list who could hit a target 8/10 times, hence the reason for their move in the backline. Bringing the ball out from the backline is one of the most important facets of play in any team and where if a team makes an error, results in an opposition goal most times.

Ultimately, Pagan fell on his own sword but you can certainly see why he did it. Incidentally, most good teams in the AFL also follow the same plan, that is quick and reliable set-up of attacks from the backline.

Have you forgotten the days of Glenn Bowyer and Andrew Eccles delivering the ball from the backline already? *Shudder* :eek:

As for the topic, great move. I've been wanting him to move into the forward line since '06. Good to see it finally and he'll give us some options up forward and, hopefully, more than a few goals.

Gee, you've rewritten a fair bit of history there Nick. :screwy:

Firstly, Pagan didn't fall on his sword. He was removed because he didn't have the capability to do the job.

Secondly, lets remember who bought guys like Glen Bowyer to the club and played them when their form didn't dictate it. Meanwhile guys like Kade Simpson who were playing better footy at Preston were overlooked. He wanted hard heads who could play a contested gamestyle instead of smelling the roses like the rest of the competition.

Lastly, Pagans game plan was never based on "exquisite delivery" to the forwards. He can sell candy to the media and supporters as much as he wants about his intentions and expectations but all training was based on kicking to contests.
From day one he instructed the players to get the ball in quickly with minimal possession and long kicks. In fact, players were admonished for trying to create and wait for leads.
If you want players to use the ball well and give silver service to the forwards, you need training drills and match simulation to practice it.
He was either too pig headed or too uninformed to understand that.

Good luck to him but thank god he's gone.

Great post......good to see I'm not the only one who didn't believe Dennis when he said the water on my back was rain!!

Carlton's forgotten man

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