I've written my thoughts on the weekend's game in the Whitnall thread.
Having read the above I can't help feeling that the general consensus is that there is a position for Houla in the First 18.
It is obvious to me and many other contributors that Houla is not a hard nut (albeit you need to have something going for you to play this game in terms of hardness).
We have been spoiled rotten (compared to other teams) with real hard midfielders such as Williams, Ratten, Brown, and hard to match midfielders like Kouta in the last decade (let alone the last 100 years), and Houla does not resemble any of the above.
Given it was only a pre season game where a lot of experimentation should be fielded, I thought, having seen the game live in Melbourne, followed by a couple of viewings on the box that Houla was pretty and good, which makes him IMO "pretty good". Pretty good disposal, and good effort and commitment. I don't know what DP asked him to do, and for that reason I can't comment if he achieved his KPI's.
Nearly everyone in every game on the weekend fluffed one or two, and some footballers just didn't get into the hussle and bussle of the game at all. Houla at least was in the game and was in a way a "standout". ie left viewers with some positive perspective on his game.
Our "hard" players in the midfield IMO are due to their body size are the likes of Kouta, Stevens, Scotland and Carazzo, and even Bannister and then there's your Bentick type because he likes to get that hard nut ala Fraser Brown fashion. Players like Houlihan, Walker, Simo, Betts, Murphy and even Lappin are outside players....I think Blackwell needs another year to be ready. I'm not a true believer in putting kids into the fire for the season to learn, as I'd rather give them a taste as we did last year with Russell, and come in when their body is ready.
Back to Houla, he's a wingman who can hold the ball (as he did last year in the BP) can run with it, and deliver to the forward line accurately (that's why Melbourne were so keen on him), or he's a HF or FP because of his finishing skills.
I think like many others that Houla has class. I also think like many others that a lot of players are not playing in their best position for Carlton. Hey that's the situation Carlton has been in for the last 4 years, we haven't had that luxury; and it's only the preseason. This year we have more depth than in previous years, and when the dust settles and the real season begins, you will find Houlihan in the best palyers nearly every week, because he has improved over the last few years playing a defensive role, he has the skills, is now stronger and faster than before and of course has improved his stamina. You wont find the new young guys in the best every week, and I want Carlton to be competitive all year, and who knows we may win 12 games, as I believe we are a much better team than we were 2 years ago when we won 10.
Like every player that wears the famour dark navy blue jumper, when played in the right position they always look good. Then you'll hear...
"Essendon* kicks deep into their forwardline, the ball hits the deck in the FP, Campoeale can't get around the Whitnall shepherd, he's got himself lost, gee that was smart play by Whitnall, Lappin picks up the crumbs and runs into open space, has two bounces and links with Stevens with a handball, Stevens' shortpass finds Kouta in the centre wing position, Lappin runs passed him and he's ignored, there's options everywhere for Carlton, and brings it into the corridor where Waite has run 50 metres with Walker into open space, Waite handballs to Walker alongside him, gives him a high five as he passes him, then shortpasses to Houlahoop in the half forward line...he has Setanta leading into CHF on the 50m arc, and Fisher running into the pocket, there running wild into spaces every where, but it's Fevolaaaaaaaaaaaaaa right on the chest with pinpoint accuracy from the left foot and he's only 36.5 meters out directly in front shooting for his 6th goal and Carlton's 18th....shot clock says 23 seconds down, 24, 25, 26, he's walking in....and it's another goaaaaaaaaaaaal for the bluebaggers. That's 6 for the quarter for the Blues. Gees they're a different team when they aren't plugging holes and players are playing in their right poistions. I reckon they're bigger, faster and more cohesive unit this year.
THE EMPIRE WILL STRIKE BACK!!
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