Just seen this on the BBC football gossip website - http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footb...villa-transfer-news-wes-2985369#ixzz2pNXdJaKy. I'm not a big fan of Wes, but think he is useful as an 'impact sub' and would rather he stayed at CR.
I really hope not. I know he is getting older, but he has a level of creativity that I can't see anywhere else in our squad.
As with so many things it would depend on whether we could get a better replacement in before the end of the window
I think this would be a big mistake. He is the only player we have that can change a game and is a creative influence. Fingers crossed it's just the media being desperate.
I think it would be very hard for CH to sell him, actually, because of the message it would send. It would say 'I don't like creative players and I intend to make Norwich City even more boring and functional than they are at the moment'. Because of that, I doubt that he could do it, even though I am sure he would love to get Wes out and replace him with someone who is 6ft 2ins and has zero imagination or vision or creativity.
I think there's some logic to what you say, Vietnam, but you're beginning to sound more and more like Carrabuh and Chippy. Can anybody remind me of a Mirror story about City that actually came true? More lazy journalism, methinks.
As I've said before if we are looking to progressed as a club then Hoolahan & players like him that have served us well in the past need to be moved on.
Only once we have two players who are better than him in that role, otherwise we need him as back up. Currently we have none.
I would prefer a back up plan please. Although Wes may have his detractors he is our most creative player. Currently our cut and thrust going forward is all too predictable, but with Wes in the team, the opposition has to think a bit harder. If he goes, I wish him well, but please can we have a replacement of similar ilk first please?
Be surprised if he didn't want out, and can't imagine he is the only one. There's not too much space for a Hoolahan on a Hughton team sheet. Would be a sorry end to a player who has been huge for us and as a knee jerk I'm well against this... The replacement would have to be a mouth waterer.
He may be our most creative player on the odd occasion, but he goes missing on too many others. Probably the reason he does not get regular starts. A more accomplished upgrade is needed to improve our creativity on a more regular basis. If such a player is signed then I can see Wes being allowed to leave.
Hate to disappoint the conspiracy theorists, but CH made a categorical denial of this rumour in his interview after the match today. Wes has a concern about his hamstring and it wasn't worth risking that.
The thing is though that Villa suits Wes. Lambert plays quick counter attacking football some times with 3 attack minded players upfront. We play very defensive football and Wes doesn't get to play that often. At his age he needs regular football and I think he would get that at Villa. Hate to say it though, feel dirty all over.
I seem to remember Worthy saying something similar about Ashton before we played Wetsham in the FA cup, a couple of weeks later he's playing for them ?.......
But is he creative? He's dynamic when played in his best role, but I don't see the intelligence and unpredictability of Wes. I agree with the people who say we need to replace Wes with someone younger and better, but where do we get that kind of player for the sort of money we can afford? And aren't most of the teams down at the bottom with us also looking for the same creative spark? Selling Wes before we have a replacement who has been tried and fitted into the team would be crazy in my opinion.
Ashton was clearly too good for us then and the club desperately needed money. We now have no need to sell, no cover for him, and I'd like to think as our longest-serving player he's fairly well settled in Norfolk. It could be the truth, yes, but I'm not going to lose any sleep over Wes going just yet.