Houllier asked for a sabbatical year to manage Villa (Now signed)

[olaftab]

Ah good it's confirmed on Sky now he has signed a three year deal, happy with that.

Yes he did once the FFF burnt his boat

[Californian Villain]

I don't have a problem with Rene negotiating to get absolutely the best deal for himself - that's what any sensible person would do before accepting a new job. I'll be judging him on his performance alone, and he's had a great start.

[Woofles The Wonder Dog]

A knife, a fork, a bottle and a cork
That's the way we spell commitment, Ged?

[MattW]

I also feel that there is the touch of the temporary about Houllier at the moment. It feels a bit like a dalliance for him. Mentioning Liverpool in every press conference doesn't help. But I have been impressed by his presence in press conferences; he has gravitas. I'm hoping some early success will fully bed him in. He mentioned the Chelsea game in his most recent press conference - a decent result there would help.

[adrenachrome]

When I was young, it seemed that life was so wonderful,
a miracle, oh it was beautiful, magical.
And all the birds in the trees, well they'd be singing so happily,
joyfully, playfully watching me.
But then they send me away to teach me how to be sensible,
logical, responsible, practical.
So when the Villa came in, I just wanted a sabbatical
clinical, intellectual, cynical.
There are times when all the world's asleep,
the questions run too deep
for such a simple man.
Won't you please, please tell me what we've learned
I know it sounds absurd
but please tell me who I am.

[not3bad]

Shall we have kippers for breakfast

[dave.woodhall]

Hippies.

[pauliewalnuts]

After having been deeply riled by the whole press conference bollocks up, the lack of starting date, the wishy washiness about having to go back and do a few days for the FFF, I can honestly say I no longer give a fuck about this.

We finally have someone in charge who knows what he is doing, that'll do for me.

As for only thinking in timeframes of a year, that's all the former manager ever gave us, and even he flounced off with an hour's notice in the end, so I won't worry too much about it.

[Bad English]

I have to admit I slept well, even though I was aware that Mr Weebles wobble but they don't fall down was initially considering us as a 'year out' until the FFF told him where to get off. But he got Emule to score and he even got a home shirt to hold up on the pitch. Now that's really some doing.

[kipeye]

I would always take these stories with a large pinch of salt from the Holy See (topical). However it is nice to see you posting threads again BE-but I am a bit worried about the edit.

[Legion]

He's signed.

[Chris Smith]

So Gerard saw the Villa job as the equivalent of pretending he was travelling while getting pissed for a year in Thailand on his dad's money.

Glad to see he saw sense and decided to get down to some serious work, hope he gets a first.

[Bad English]

I know he's signed but I'm still marvelling at his cheek in asking to have a year out from defining a nation's footballing policy just after its most disastrous World Cup ever, and with the intention of taking a lucrative contract at Aston Villa. But,as I say, if he manages to get Emule to start spanking them in, Dunney to lose a few kilos, Carlos to stop hoofing, Friedel to shout 'away' without making so much noise, and if he finds out where Salifou is hiding, then fair play to the scheming rapscallion.

[Eigentor]

I'm not taking notes, so maybe the relevant messages comes from different posters. Even so, it is a bit strange that we believe that Houllier is cheeky when apparently doing what he can to get the best possible deal for himself; but at the same time think that it would be commendable if Villa's board resorted to Cosa Nostra methods to get either Hiddink, Jol or Moyes as new manager.

[garyfouroaks]

After having been deeply riled by the whole press conference bollocks up, the lack of starting date, the wishy washiness about having to go back and do a few days for the FFF, I can honestly say I no longer give a fuck about this.

We finally have someone in charge who knows what he is doing, that'll do for me.

As for only thinking in timeframes of a year, that's all the former manager ever gave us, and even he flounced off with an hour's notice in the end, so I won't worry too much about it.

I totally agree with this.

Longevity of mangers is over rated. Dolly should have gone after his first year's sixth finish, JG after his first full season, and in all probability MON's work here was done.

After being deserted by MON the main requirement was stability and experience, it looks like we have that. Without having had the benefit of a summer transfer market if Ged can deliver a top eight finish, we can't complain.

And intriguingly, with Chelsea, Spurs and Man City out  of the League Cup, he might just surrpise us all - and irritate the hell out of MON!