Is this fair?

[Phil from the upper holte]

My mate sent me this from Villa talk. Someone having a go at the general, Seemed a bit harsh to me..Or is it?

Sorry Gen but I dont agree - if Houllier is trying to be a Chess master he is clearly failing.

Don't get me wrong - I can see what he is attempting to do - ie: make us a better passing side, and as with the team that destroyed us today - attempt to keep the ball for long periods.

However, you can't win the Formula 1 Championship or NASCAR series driving a 48 tonne truck !

He doesn't have the players to do that General ! - in time, he may buy them, but you cannot get Richard Dunne and James Collins to suddenly become Bobby Moore.

Thus, he has, in the space of three months took what was a no-nonsense solid defence (what I would call an old fashioned "you don't score from row Z" defence) to an utter shambles !

And lo-and-behold - we are fighting relegation.

Now, lets take for example Owen Coyle - who played a passing, very attractive style at Burnley that even in the Championship were beating the likes of Spurs and Man U !.

He went to Bolton and took over the masters of Hoof ball - but has he tried turning Kevin Davies into Ronaldo ? - has he tried to turn Gary Cahill into Paulo Maldini - has he heck !

He has played to Bolton's strengths whilst he slowly buys his own players so he can change it gradually.

Sorry General - I've said it before, I am now sick of the spin - I want action. And it is sodding obvious what the Villa have needed for 4 yrs, and for 4 yrs you have said "MON sees what you see" "Gerard sees what you see" and now above "Randy sees what you see"

So one question

If you can all see it - why haven't you done something about it ?

and I know I am like a stuck record but I will say it until it sinks in - and if you don't know what I mean - look it up.

The non-signing on Darren Bent was our Juninho moment

Our chance for 10 yrs has gone !

You know - I was no Martin O'Neill lover - but I am absolutely amazed his name has not been chanted at Villa Park yet - lose Wednesday and I will guarentee it will be next game !

Oh Gen - before I forget - injuries ?

Weren't Arsenal missing Fabregas, Van Persie, Walcott, Vermaalen, Diaby, Eboue today, so please don't use our injuries as an excuse for today ! Lets face it, even with a fully fit squad, the only players we would have had back in the line up today was Gabby, NRC and maybe Petrov (however that one has to be debated as Clark and Bannan would surely stake a claim to that spot at the moment)

Oh and if you say Albrighton - so who you gonna drop - Ashley Young ? - apparently the manager thinks he is worth 80 million !

[Rip Van We Go Again]

I got as far as 'fighting relegation' and 'Owen Coyle' (flavour of the month for any supporter who is pissed off) and gave up.

Bottom line is that we're missing a shed load of players and judgement can not be made until we're up to speed with returning players and a couple of new ones chosen by Houllier.

[pablopicasso_10]

there are some valid points hidden in there...

[dave.woodhall]

there are some valid points hidden in there...

Deeply.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

That poster says 'He's amazed that MON's name has not been chanted at Villa Park yet'
Truly delirious.

[Bosco81]

We've not signed lots of players, why does Darren Bent get a special mention.

At least Juninho got to meet Doug.

[dave.woodhall]

"I wasn't an MON fan but..." is the new "I'm not racist but...."

[rutski]

this is a new one, posting over what some other poster has posted on another website!

[Mazrim]

Yes its 20% fair enough whinge and 80% utter bollocks.

[TimTheVillain]

It's truly a rant of the not much thought attached variety.

[LeeB]

No, it's an absolute load of toss.

[pablopicasso_10]

there are some valid points hidden in there...

Deeply.

dont get me wrong, i dont agree with all of it, and there is some real nonsense in there (calling o'neills name? do me a favour...), but there are some valid points in there...

the whoever is in charge "sees what we see" comment for example... that was the case for 3 years under o'neill, yet naff all was done about certain things...

the fact that our defence has turned from one of the best to one of the worst, is another valid point... an obvious point, but a valid one nonetheless...

however, given that houllier hasnt had the chance to make his own player changes has been overlooked by the poster, does sort of make the whole context of the comments, a little premature...

[dave.woodhall]

You can't blame the board for what O'Neill didn't want to do. Their biggest mistake was to give him too much power.

[WA Villan]

You know - I was no Martin O'Neill lover - but I am absolutely amazed his name has not been chanted at Villa Park yet - lose Wednesday and I will guarentee it will be next game !
 !

Drug addicts..........................ps guarentee   2/10  see me

[Merv]

It's not an unreasonable post, but he shoots his own argument down by citing Owen Coyle. Because Coyle has changed Bolton's style, in just a few months, using almost entirely the same squad that was playing such poor football under Gary Megson. Hardly any Coyle signings in that team.

I don't think our defence is shaky suddenly because we're trying to play a neater style of football.