Given his diminutive stature, willingness to take opponents on, ability to ghost into dangerous positions and quick-feet make Wes Hoolahan a prime candidate to win frees and penalties.
A sizeable portion of the Irish midfielder’s assists for club [Norwich City] and country come from penalties won when getting the better of defenders.
Hoolahan comes in for a fair share of fouling in many matches – just look at Moldova away – but he keeps coming back for more.
He also cops his fair share of online abuse and, as far as his accusers go, it is a familiar failing – dives.
Hoolahan won Norwich a vital penalty midway through the second half of their Championship clash with Wolves at Carrow Road. After having his swivelling shot blocked, the ball broke to Hoolahan. He beat Wolves goalkeeper Carl Ikeme to it but went down with the sheerest of contact.
Credit: Wolverhampton Wanderers (YouTube)
The incident caused the game to be held up for several minutes as Wolves players converged on Hoolahan. Ikeme was sent off and outfield player Matt Doherty had to get in goal as Wolves had used up their allocation of subs.
The hold-up did not put Robbie Brady off too much and he cooly slotted home. Norwich added a third to win 3-1 but Hoolahan was accused of a dive by the Ikeme, and a slew of angry fans, after the game.
https://twitter.com/Carl_Ikeme/status/823112506797342721
Ikeme went on to say he had no hard feelings towards Hoolahan but the same cannot be said for the fans that have abused Hoolahan over the past 24 hours…
https://twitter.com/JWoody79/status/822938918828081154
https://twitter.com/SamLawrence8/status/822919580569968640
Nice dive and play acting from wes hoolahan today. Not that i thought we deserved anything as norwich were the better side. #wolves
— Lukas Lewis (@lone_wolf86) January 21, 2017
https://twitter.com/imwolves8188/status/822845486495363072
Of course, this is not the first time we have seen Hoolahan raked over the coals for going to ground too easily.
Back in April 2015, Hoolahan copped a fair racket after a spot of simulation against Middlesbrough.
Wes Hoolahan appears in a new kit for the second half #watfordfc pic.twitter.com/mb0iGWu4q2
— On tour in Sussex (@WFCsupporter) April 17, 2015
Wes Hoolahan…#itfc #dive pic.twitter.com/GDdJcJmVKd
— IPSWICH TOWN FANS (@IpswichTownFans) April 17, 2015
And Watford’s Troy Deeney accused him of admitting he had dived to win his side a penalty in February of that same season.
That’s three towns Hoolahan should probably avoid for the next while…
Catch up with this week’s episode of 888sport Football Friday Live:
