Aston Villa fans criticise Conor Hourihane’s display in Manchester City thrashing

Aston Villa were defeated 6-1 at home against reigning champions Manchester City at Villa Park yesterday.

Dean Smith’s 3-5-2 formation was utterly ripped apart by Pep Guardiola’s side, on an evening where Sergio Aguero set the Premier League record for most hat-tricks (12).

He also became the Premier League’s top scoring foreign player of all time, showing absolutely no mercy to a Villa side who were abject throughout.

None of the fight and grit from the midweek 1-1 draw against Leicester at the King Power Stadium was on display yesterday.

(Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images)

Conor Hourihane came in for plenty of criticism on Twitter from supporters there, picked out as one of the worst performers on the day.

Some supporters said he is not Premier League standard and contributes little apart from set piece quality and called for Dean Smith to drop him in the coming weeks.

Hourihane was utterly outclassed by City’s midfield trio and looked out of his depth – as did all of his team mates apart from Jack Grealish. There is plenty of work to be done.

Conor Hologram more like

— Richard Bishop (@RBishop_1990) January 12, 2020

Anonymous as ever

— Adam Feeley (@Mr_Feeley) January 13, 2020

He wasnt.
He was out there but you're over stretching by saying he played.

— Gary Glasgow (@GPDecorating) January 12, 2020

Been saying this for 18 months, great player fir set pieces but brings nothing to team other than that. Does not have range of passes to open up teams and not work hard enough from box to box

— Ian Green (@Iangreen0505Ian) January 13, 2020

Can’t see why he gets picked. Can’t tackle, no pace and doesn’t affect the game. Granted he gives us goals but he simply isn’t Premier league quality.

— Dean Edwards (@deanb63) January 12, 2020

Did his invisible man thing again

— Captain Jack. (@CJ7891234) January 12, 2020

I missed him, thanks for pointing that out. Must have been wearing him invisible cloak ??

— Michael J Edwards (@MichaelJEdwar14) January 12, 2020

Invisible!

— Dean Adams (@daavfc1978) January 12, 2020

I've been saying this for 2 seasons. He's ineffective when he starts. Not a premier league player but pops up with a goal every now and then and all of a sudden all is forgiven and he's best thing since sliced bread.

— Justin De'bath (@Villascott88) January 12, 2020

We can’t keep playing the Championship standard players (Elmo, Taylor, Conor) hoping they will deliver in the Prem. Put faith in FG, Targett, Nakamba etc as they have more ability

— Jim McDonald (@jimjimmcd7) January 13, 2020