Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Gaztonniller on September 04, 2010, 11:57:52 AM
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Hearing/ seeing one or two underwhelming comments from fans about the possible appointment of GH as the new Villa boss. But digging into his managerial history, can anyone really argue against a manager with a record such as this.
Awards
Houllier has been awarded the Légion d'honneur for his services to French football, and an honorary OBE for services to British football, along with fellow manager, compatriot and friend Arsène Wenger.
[edit] Club honours
PSG
1 × French League: 1985–86
Liverpool
1 × UEFA Cup: 2000-01
1 × UEFA Super Cup: 2001
1 × FA Cup: 2000-2001
2 × Football League Cup: 2000-2001, 2002-03
1 × FA Community Shield: 2001
Lyon
2 × French League: 2005-06, 2006–07
2 × Champions Trophy: 2005, 2006
[edit] International honours
[edit] France
1996 European Under-19 Football Championship
[edit] See also
List of UEFA Cup winning managers
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Its the potential appointment of him being only a DoF or technical director thats a problem for me.
Just such a shit way of doing things IMO, i'd almost rather Curbishley than that.
according to some report i was reading apparently he's being blamed in france for the downfall of french football
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Where is there any suggestion that Houllier is being appointed as a Director of Football? They are looking fo a manager. I have no problem with Houllier he's been around the block and he's famous for bringing through good young players, why do you think Arsene likes him so much? Give him a whirl I say.
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Houiller sounds too much like a like a stop gap appointment to me. I'd like someone a bit younger and enthusiastic personally.
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We already owe him after he took Milan Baros off our hands in exchange for John Carew.
Thank God the Transfer Window's shut for now, though.
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Where is there any suggestion that Houllier is being appointed as a Director of Football? They are looking fo a manager. I have no problem with Houllier he's been around the block and he's famous for bringing through good young players, why do you think Arsene likes him so much? Give him a whirl I say.
its all over the internet on news reports
no quotes, but theres no quotes to say he'll take over at all either.
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Houllier would be fine with me as a MANAGER (not as director of football)
just give him the job on a 3year contract with a transfer budget from now till then to spend how he likes...
i'm sure we would all be very happy with this.
still think Sven would be best but Houllier would come in a close second!! but please please no DoF appointment! let KMac be his Assistant to learn the ropes of 1st team football!
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TBH id be pretty chuffed to have GH as the manager! And if we could have half the success Gh had with lpool i'd be chuffed to bits!!
like most people I am not in favour of a DOF , maybe this works on the continent but can anyone name tell me if its ever worked in the England? all it seems to do is cause problems,,, who picks the team? who buys the players?
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He needs to appointed as MANAGER, none of this airy-fairy director of football nonsense.
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Houiller sounds too much like a like a stop gap appointment to me. I'd like someone a bit younger and enthusiastic personally.
Agreed, theres someone out there with all the qualities but yet to be seen, Houllier really doesnt appeal to me and never has...
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I'd be fine with him as manager, as I've said on another thread. He's won trophies in different countries and he is well respected throughout Europe. It might help broaden our horizons when looking for players.
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My concerns are his age- although to be fair I think Redknapps the same age- hes been away from English football for seven or eight years and I think he spent a lot of money at Liverpool, signed some expensive flops and had one really good season. And werent Lyon already established as the best team in France when he went there? Im sure Jol would fancy it, lets pay Ajax the compo they want.
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Look at it this way, the Spanish think Liverpool are idiots for sacking rafa, it's ok looking from the outside, but when you see his managerial skills every week you know the truth.
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My concerns are his age- although to be fair I think Redknapps the same age- hes been away from English football for seven or eight years and I think he spent a lot of money at Liverpool, signed some expensive flops and had one really good season. And werent Lyon already established as the best team in France when he went there? Im sure Jol would fancy it, lets pay Ajax the compo they want.
His age shouldn't be a problem, but I'd see a health report if I was Randy.
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Its the potential appointment of him being only a DoF or technical director thats a problem for me.
Just such a shit way of doing things IMO, i'd almost rather Curbishley than that.
according to some report i was reading apparently he's being blamed in france for the downfall of french football
Wasn't he the manger when France failed to qualify for U.S.A 94 ? Ginola lost possesion and Bulgaria scored in the last minute to put them out,and Houllier publically slated Ginola,and there was a big fall out over it.
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Why the long faces about Houllier?
I don't think people are overwhelmingly negative about a possible Houllier appointment. I had expected people to be more sceptical, especially since his most obvious weakness is his record in the transfer market, which is one of the factors most fans have a lot of opinions about.
I would have prefered Sven, because I think he has about the same amount of technical expertise and tactical knowledge, but is a better operator in the tranfer market. However, it is possible to imagine why the board would prefer Houllier -- maybe he comes across as a person who is interested into building something, whereas Sven seems more like a journeyman manager.
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Get Harewood in as the manager.
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Its the potential appointment of him being only a DoF or technical director thats a problem for me.
Just such a shit way of doing things IMO, i'd almost rather Curbishley than that.
according to some report i was reading apparently he's being blamed in france for the downfall of french football
Surely the spoilt cu*ts that play for them should be to blame?
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I'd be fine with him as manager, as I've said on another thread. He's won trophies in different countries
Well apart than here, he's won trophies in France, but that's about it as other countries go.
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Well England and France are two different countries. He also helped build a very good Lyon side.
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Well England and France are two different countries. He also helped build a very good Lyon side.
He certainly continued to bring success to Lyon. I wouldn't say he built the side. You have to remember he took over from a Paul Le Guen team that had won the previous 4 French titles, and Houllier kept that going by winning the next two.
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The managers we appoint, are like the players who we should be buying.......hungry/something to prove/one step up.
Players like AYoung/Milner/Delph.....players/managers who can play/manage at the very top level, and hopefully they can advance the club foward at the same time.
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I think it's quite well known that Houllier believes he has unfinished business with the Premier League, so he would be hungry.
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Raymond Domenech is slightly more responsible for the current state of French football than Houllier. Blaming Ged for it is on a par with pointing the finger at Darth Vader for 9/11.
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I think it's quite well known that Houllier believes he has unfinished business with the Premier League, so he would be hungry.
I certainly think he has a point left to prove. A lot of Liverpool fans have respect for what he did, and partly down the health he left under a cloud. I'm sure there is a lot of motivation in there to restore some of his reputation.
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GH would be ok as manager. At least if we somehow make it into Europe GH may have the team selection and tactical skills to beat our new derby rivals Rapid Vienna when we draw them again in the play off qualifier game.
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Its all good and well saying get a young manager in but who is there?
I think he is the best of a bad bunch
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Its all good and well saying get a young manager in but who is there?
I think he is the best of a bad bunch
McCleish
I'd also rather take a risk on Koeman or Donadoni but thats obviously not going to happen.
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Its all good and well saying get a young manager in but who is there?
I think he is the best of a bad bunch
McCleish
I'd also rather take a risk on Koeman or Donadoni but thats obviously not going to happen.
Koeman has a horrendous managerial record. Donadoni's isn't much better.
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Its all good and well saying get a young manager in but who is there?
I think he is the best of a bad bunch
McCleish
I'd also rather take a risk on Koeman or Donadoni but thats obviously not going to happen.
Koeman has a horrendous managerial record. Donadoni's isn't much better.
I'm aware he doesn't have the best record, but i'm of the opinion that we're not going to get champions league football any time soon with the top 4 and spurs/man city's respective superior squads and bigger budgets.
So we might as well go for a big name in european football who will bring good football and quality players to the club, therefore making us a club thats exciting to watch and probably achieve a trophy or two.
Koeman could do that, i'm not all that familiar with Donadoni but i'd like us to take a risk on young/foreign manager, if hes got a good standing in the game, i.e hes managed Italy in a major tournament, rather than someone like Martinez who's managed Swansea and Wigan.
McCleish would be my first choice, then probably Sven.
I'm not campaigning for Koeman or Donadoni, would just prefer to take a risk on them rather than someone like Houllier.
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I don't have a long face about it. He's not my first choice by all means but I think that he's better than any of the other names listed. If we appointed Kevin MacDonald, Curbishley or Sven I'd have a long face.
I have reservations and I'd prefer a younger or more glamorous appointment but at the end of the day he's a good enough appointment for me especially when compared to other names on the list.
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link (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/aston-villa/7981814/Randy-Lerner-would-be-taking-a-big-gamble-naming-Gerard-Houllier-as-Aston-Villa-manager.html)
Good article by Smith highlighting what most already know about the pitfalls of having a DoF!
I fear a bad ending if this is the way Randy plans on going.
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Lets wait and see. If Houlier is appointed it will be for a good reason.
What that is I must admit I have no idea.
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I think if Houllier is appointed it will be as manager, not as director of football
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I am going to abstain from commenting on potential managers until I see who gets the job.
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Houiller sounds too much like a like a stop gap appointment to me. I'd like someone a bit younger and enthusiastic personally.
It would be for Moyes or Jol imo.
If not, then I wouldn't be happy with Randy at all.
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My problem with Houlier was his rabit in the headlights interviews at the end of his liverpool reign, but if he was bought in for a season to stabalise the club that would not be so bad
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I am going to abstain from commenting on potential managers until I see who gets the job.
Thanks for the input =P
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I thinks a long conversation with my Liverpool mate tomorrow about Houllier's tenure at Merseyside.
If memory serves the general consensus from that lot was that under him they were a bit kick and rush.
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I thinks a long conversation with my Liverpool mate tomorrow about Houllier's tenure at Merseyside.
If memory serves the general consensus from that lot was that under him they were a bit kick and rush.
What!!!! utter rubbish, they played their best football under Houllier, they looked every bit of class!! all my Lpool mates have told me that he will be the best appoitment we can go for and everyone has said if only he went back to Anfield when Benitez left.
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I thinks a long conversation with my Liverpool mate tomorrow about Houllier's tenure at Merseyside.
If memory serves the general consensus from that lot was that under him they were a bit kick and rush.
What!!!! utter rubbish, they played their best football under Houllier, they looked every bit of class!! all my Lpool mates have told me that he will be the best appoitment we can go for and everyone has said if only he went back to Anfield when Benitez left.
just to add 2 of my mates have been ticket holders in the kop end for 14years.
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also......
just read this of Wiki.....
Gérard Houllier was appointed as co-manager in the 1998–99 season, he became the sole manager in Novermber 1998 after Evans resigned. In Houllier's second full season in charge, Liverpool won a treble of the FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup, Houllier underwent major heart surgery in the 2001–02 season and Liverpool still finished second behind Arsenal.
WOW i would be soooo unhappy with this success!!
hope and pray Houllier gets the job!
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I think the concern about Houllier currently isnt that he would be an obvioulsy worse choice than hs rivals, but the nature of his role.
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I think the concern about Houllier currently isnt that he would be an obvioulsy worse choice than hs rivals, but the nature of his role.
Agreed Gary,
its Manager or nothing!
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Morning.
Does Houlier always use the same right hand man ? a team of Houlier as manager and Mcdonald has his coach seems fine to me...
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Where is there any suggestion that Houllier is being appointed as a Director of Football? They are looking fo a manager. I have no problem with Houllier he's been around the block and he's famous for bringing through good young players, why do you think Arsene likes him so much? Give him a whirl I say.
Where is there any suggestion that Houllier is being appointed as a Director of Football? They are looking fo a manager. I have no problem with Houllier he's been around the block and he's famous for bringing through good young players, why do you think Arsene likes him so much? Give him a whirl I say.
Its the potential appointment of him being only a DoF or technical director thats a problem for me.
Just such a shit way of doing things IMO, i'd almost rather Curbishley than that.
according to some report i was reading apparently he's being blamed in france for the downfall of french football
Its the potential appointment of him being only a DoF or technical director thats a problem for me.
Just such a shit way of doing things IMO, i'd almost rather Curbishley than that.
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according to some report i was reading apparently he's being blamed in france for the downfall of french football
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How do you get blamed for the downfall of french football then get awarded the Légion d'honneur for his services to French football ??
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[quoteauthor=Gaztonniller
How do you get blamed for the downfall of french football then get awarded the Légion d'honneur for his services to French football ??
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don't shoot the messenger!
Was just saying that on a report(can't remember which now, but it wasn't a tribalfootball sort) it said that people in france were blaming him for having a hand in french football downfall. Could be bollocks for all i know.
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Aint shooting the messenger, just asking a question to what seems a bit of a puzzling contradiction. :)
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I hope MHW is wrong, so there'll be loads of French people becoming Villa fans!
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don't shoot the messenger!
Was just saying that on a report(can't remember which now, but it wasn't a tribalfootball sort) it said that people in france were blaming him for having a hand in french football downfall. Could be bollocks for all i know.
THIS (http://www.hourrafoot.com/2010/08/10/30-entraineurs-en-exercice-plus-prestigieux-que-gerard-houllier/) seems to suggest otherwise:
Hourrafoot article
No doubt that the reader of this article would be extremely revolted. Accuse us for being spoilsports or taking an extreme dislike to our current technical director, and you would be right. But the balls with which Gérard Houllier washed his hands of all responsibility of what we call "the Blues Fiasco" (World Cup failure to qualify 1994) gives one an ulcer.
Houllier is his own enigma. How a club like Liverpool had confidence in him for five years after he eliminated France from the World Cup in 1994?
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It goes on to say he is seen as the untouchable in French football, despite his failures with the Bleus and lists 30 managers more worthier than him.
The Mirror labeled him "the vainest man in football".
Enjoy!
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Bilic was my choice, but that's only because he'd have made us hated ala Mourinho at Chelsea. He's got that arrogant swagger about him which I like.
I'd have been happy with Sven or Klinsmann. McLeish too.
But on relfection I'm pretty happy, he's got a wealth of knowledge has won shedloads and is capable of bringing on our youth and using his contacts to bring in a transfer coup or two.
Keep MON's good work going with a few bits of fine tuning ready for a long term manager when he becomes available.
Do wish we'd have got a more charismatic figure though.
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As I say all this criticism is largely historical stuff, so maybe he has changed since then. He must have impressed the Board, and I'm sure they wouldn't be looking for another ego maniacal manager.
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Houllier manager with Kmac as assistant would be a pretty good team I reckon.
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He deserves a shot. Who else is available?
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He's blamed for the downfall of French football by those who bemoan Clairefontaine for its supposed production of 'identikit' players, as opposed to the days of Platini, Tigana, Fernandez and Giresse. This is a ridiculous myth of course, because all Clairefontaine has done has raise the standards of the less talented players. The likes of Gourcuff and Nasri still get through the system fine. Houiller is an unquestionably important figure for the good in the history of French football.
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Given that he'd (quoting from Liverpool fans) done a job of dragging the red scouse into a modern age of football and won silverware all whilst having the on-going issues with Evans (I can only imagine that that would hold a club back significantly), maybe he's not such a bad appointment. He's probably forgotten more about European players and tactics than MoN has actually ever known. That can't be a bad thing.
The big concern is that many Villa fans are terribly wound up at the moment and the first sign of a mistake will be jumped on and highlighted to a degree that is simply not warranted.
Whoever comes in - even it was Mourinho - is going to need time. Time to re-build confidence, time to rebuild the team, time to bring in some much needed technique. I fear that there are few managers who will be afforded this if the current climate of 'school-holiday H&V' is anything to go by.
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I think the fears that we would be going for an unambitious or cheap appointment can be put away.
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I am going to abstain from commenting on potential managers until I see who gets the job.
Perhaps you should have abstained from telling us that.
Anyway, how can you comment on "potential" managers after someone has the job?? Well? :)
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I’ve been off the site for a few days, so apologies if any of the following has already been discussed, but here’s my take on it all:-
I see Houllier as an ‘OK’ appointment. He did well at Liverpool up to a point, with a good amount of money to spend, but then couldn’t really finish the job off. Not dissimilar to MON for us, but with the obvious difference that he won a few trophies along the way. His transfer record would suggest we’ll see the foreign players a lot have been crying out for, but then he was also a bit ‘hit and miss’ as well.
Footballing style is another thing a lot want to see changed. From memory his Liverpool sides were built arounf the defence and not overly expansive or brilliant on the eye, so I don’t think we’ll see much of a transformation here.
When he took the Liverpool job he appointed that big nosed scouse idiot to be his right hand man ad a link between him and the players. It was also a good PR exercise in keeping the fans onside by having a ‘Liverpool man’ around to at least give the impression that the club’s traditions were being respected. I think K-Mac is ideally placed to be that man, should Houller get the job.
His greatest achievement seems to have been the way he rebuilt the French academy system, which nurtured players like Henry and Anelka. We already have a good youth system, so maybe his task in this regard is to expand on what we already have by mixing in foreign kids also, so as to give us something similar to what we’re seeing at Arsenal?
One major concern I have is his age – 63 and having spent 6 years out of the manager’s chair. I think it was the General who said we’re looking for ‘the’ manager and not just ‘a’ manager, but I can’t see him doing the job in 5 years time. If his brief is to oversee the club expanding it’s youth and scouting policy to a more European/worldwide scope, whilst maintaining a strong top 6 finish, then move aside for a younger manager to benefit from that in 3 years time, that would seem to a logical and good idea.
Ultimately though, will he do any better than Martin with the same players and/or money to spend? I’m not convinced he will. It’ll be different, but I don’t think it’ll be any better results wise.
So, he gets my backing, as any new manager would, and I’ll be interested to see what he brings to us and if it’s enough to push us over that 4th place line in a year or two!
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im really starting to come round to the idea...
having seen a few liverpool fans views over at the likes of rawk, etc, apart from the ones who dont like him for what he said about ginola (?) and benitez, most seem to have very fond memories of him, especially for progressing them in terms of league placings and trophies, and also with their training...
this season aside, as for me, it will be transitional season due to the purposeful timing of o'neill chucking his toys, if he can steady the ship, and then as i mentioned, help bring in his european scouting contacts and knoweldge and contacts at the clairefontaine academy, then that can only help us in the long term...
bad football aside, as we are used to that under o'neill, if he can get results and move us further than 6th and a cup run or two, then he will be considered a success.. and with his age and health issues, then i cant see it being a long term appointment, and if he can leaves us in a stronger position than when he arrived, like he did with liverpool (not expecting the same amount of trophies etc), but as long as he can leave us in a stronger position both on and off the pitch than when he arrived, then job done, and maybe then, we can bring in someone younger and more exciting, like a martin jol, etc...
the timing of o'neill jumping ship, really did make this hunt even harder than it would have been had he had the decency to leave at the end of last season... so for that, houllier really wont be a bad appointment...
i am not jumping for joy, however, by simply having a european scouting system, then that will improve us off the pitch instantly...
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I think if you look at whole picture, it will be a great appointment.
Youth - He can use his knowledge from French Football to make our Academy even better and maybe more development on younger players. This would be great for our club and make us lot of money from selling quality players to Barcelona,. Real Madrid and Moremoneythansense City. As long he continue using English and foreign players like we do today.
Scouting Network - We have nothing special for first team players. We don't even import players from oversea in last 4 season apart from Salifou, Carew and Guzan and very young kids. I wonder if we have a scout outside Europe for example.
Playing Football - Hopefully with Champions League experience from Lyon will make Gerard mould our team similar to them. He wouldn't put up with Martin O'Neill style. (Not sure what to expect)
Buying players - He would have a lot more contacts and see lot of young players and bound to bring some hot property from aboard. We just need a left back, 2 strikers and a midfield general for short term.
Trophies - I think we will do well in Cups and UEFA but will we be good enough to win the league or champions league is another question. (But you never know LOL)
Coaching Staff - He will use our coaching staff and add them with like of Phil Thompson and Steve Staunton (and possibly Dean Saunders if he want to leave Wrexham manager job)
I also will think Gerard wouldn't attempt to do too much and use his coaching team more.
I hope Gerard will be our Arsene Wenger for next few years.
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Wasn't he the manger when France failed to qualify for U.S.A 94 ? Ginola lost possesion and Bulgaria scored in the last minute to put them out,and Houllier publically slated Ginola,and there was a big fall out over it.
This is my main reason for not wanting anything to do with the twat, he's a bigger blame game merchant than TF & that's saying something. The manager should shield his players from undue public pressure/criticism. Phil Brown without the tango surprise look.
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Wasn't he the manger when France failed to qualify for U.S.A 94 ? Ginola lost possesion and Bulgaria scored in the last minute to put them out,and Houllier publically slated Ginola,and there was a big fall out over it.
This is my main reason for not wanting anything to do with the twat, he's a bigger blame game merchant than TF & that's saying something. The manager should shield his players from undue public pressure/criticism. Phil Brown without the tango surprise look.
Didn't he publicly blame Ginola for that? Giving away the ball at a corner, or taking a crap corner or something?
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no matter how much i try and accept this and be happy for houllier being her i cant !! i just dont want him as our manager. fuckin rediculous appointment. he is not the man to take us further, mid table here we come
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Give the guy a chance pmk, he deserves at least that much mate!
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no matter how much i try and accept this and be happy for houllier being her i cant !! i just dont want him as our manager. fuckin rediculous appointment. he is not the man to take us further, mid table here we come
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Has he done something personally against you or your family? Your posts have been what's ridiculous on this topic. Does he have any history to the best of your knowledge of his teams coming mid-table, or are you just making stuff up now? I mean why would we want a manager that has won league titles, domestic and European trophies, has loads of experience and contacts around the world as our manager? I think I'm right in saying that he'll be the most successful manager ever hired by Villa in our long history. What exactly is "rediculous" about that?
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Personally, I'm not against the appointment, even if he wouldn't have been my choice, but I also don't expect him to do any better than MON did. THis season is up in the air as it'll be transitional, but after that I expect us to settle back down into 6th again.
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the thing is we can give him a chance and after giving him that chance it all goes boobies to the sun and then we are stuck with him.
Granted if he does well than happy days, but wouldnt you rather have someone you know is good rather than having to give the job to someone who hasnt managed a premier league team in 6 years.
When randy said he wanted premier league experience i didnt expect houllier. The league has changed a lot in 6 years and it would of been better having someone who has managed in the last couple of years..
i really really want to be proved wrong , but i just cant get motivated on this appointment :-(
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no matter how much i try and accept this and be happy for houllier being her i cant !! i just dont want him as our manager. fuckin rediculous appointment. he is not the man to take us further, mid table here we come
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Has he done something personally against you or your family? Your posts have been what's ridiculous on this topic. Does he have any history to the best of your knowledge of his teams coming mid-table, or are you just making stuff up now? I mean why would we want a manager that has won league titles, domestic and European trophies, has loads of experience and contacts around the world as our manager? I think I'm right in saying that he'll be the most successful manager ever hired by Villa in our long history. What exactly is "rediculous" about that?
i know mate, but a lot of this was achieved a long time ago, times change
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Personally, I'm not against the appointment, even if he wouldn't have been my choice, but I also don't expect him to do any better than MON did. THis season is up in the air as it'll be transitional, but after that I expect us to settle back down into 6th again.
Fair enough, and I think you're right that 6th this season may be a good achievement. However, it's what else he does that is more important. I've said before that this squad as it is today is good enough with the right manager for minimum 8th. We need some fresh faces in January for sure, and for the first time in a long time we can all look forward to a transfer window in great anticipation. What I want from Houllier is that we progress as a club from where MON left us. That we broaden our reach for players, that we become technically better and maintain our ability to challenge on multiple fronts, especially in Europe.
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no matter how much i try and accept this and be happy for houllier being her i cant !! i just dont want him as our manager. fuckin rediculous appointment. he is not the man to take us further, mid table here we come
]
Has he done something personally against you or your family? Your posts have been what's ridiculous on this topic. Does he have any history to the best of your knowledge of his teams coming mid-table, or are you just making stuff up now? I mean why would we want a manager that has won league titles, domestic and European trophies, has loads of experience and contacts around the world as our manager? I think I'm right in saying that he'll be the most successful manager ever hired by Villa in our long history. What exactly is "rediculous" about that?
i know mate, but a lot of this was achieved a long time ago, times change
he was manager of Lyon, I believe from 2005 to 2007. That's only 3 years ago. The game hasn't changed a lot since then. It's not like he's coming out of retirement after 20 years. He's been in the game in a technical and developmental level for France. If nothing else he is going to be very well positioned to know who the next promising French players are. His contacts across Europe will also mean he will likely have better knowledge of the continental game than almost any domestic hire we could have made. You have to give him a chance to bring his philosophy to Villa, and see how it plays out.
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Im worried with technique side Gabbys gunna struggle, cus his pace is the most important factor and you dont generally use the fitness side when you use technique. Also i just cant bring myself to accepting Phil Thompson, the guy irritates me so much and long before he was on sky
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Personally, I'm not against the appointment, even if he wouldn't have been my choice, but I also don't expect him to do any better than MON did. THis season is up in the air as it'll be transitional, but after that I expect us to settle back down into 6th again.
Fair enough, and I think you're right that 6th this season may be a good achievement. However, it's what else he does that is more important. I've said before that this squad as it is today is good enough with the right manager for minimum 8th. We need some fresh faces in January for sure, and for the first time in a long time we can all look forward to a transfer window in great anticipation. What I want from Houllier is that we progress as a club from where MON left us. That we broaden our reach for players, that we become technically better and maintain our ability to challenge on multiple fronts, especially in Europe.
Well, Houllier's transfers and Liverpool were pretty hit and miss, much like MON's for us. So it will be foreign players who we are arguing the toss over and not British ones, but things won't change, IMO.
His footballing style also seems to be very defensive, so those crying out for a more expansive game will be disappointed.
Things will be different, but overall results won't improve. And I do hope to be proven wrong on that!
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What I'm hoping for is an overhaul of the structure so that next time the Board's intransigence (that's a joke in case you're watching General) causes a manager to walk out we're better able to cope. I'm hoping for him to use his contacts in the game to attract players who might not previously have considered joining us, for us not to suffer too much of a transition period and I'm hoping to see Steve Sidwell become the player we thought he might be.
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Im worried with technique side Gabbys gunna struggle, cus his pace is the most important factor and you dont generally use the fitness side when you use technique. Also i just cant bring myself to accepting Phil Thompson, the guy irritates me so much and long before he was on sky
so if he's willing to give up a cushy job on TV to coach Villa, you wouldn't look past your personal dislike of him as a TV pundit? I don't care one little bit about his personal biases or his act on Sky. What I care about is him as a professional and being committed to Villa under Houllier.
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to be honest i was ok until i found out he was bring that prick thompson with him, i could live with houllier ( even though i think he is wrong ) but that thompson makes my blood boil... remember what he said on soccer saturday when oniel left
martin oniell done a great job, you have to remember he got ASTON VILLA to 6th, we are tallking about ASTON VILLA here, that is an amazing achievment, and now he is coming to be assistant manager ??
someone said the other day they would like to see thompsons reactiion when steve G scores a 25 yard winner in the last minute against us....
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Houllier hasn't managed in England for 6 years. Only last season, MON supporters were telling us how much harder it is to achieve a 6th place finish now than it was when O'Leary did it. Which was 6 years ago.
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Personally, I'm not against the appointment, even if he wouldn't have been my choice, but I also don't expect him to do any better than MON did. THis season is up in the air as it'll be transitional, but after that I expect us to settle back down into 6th again.
Fair enough, and I think you're right that 6th this season may be a good achievement. However, it's what else he does that is more important. I've said before that this squad as it is today is good enough with the right manager for minimum 8th. We need some fresh faces in January for sure, and for the first time in a long time we can all look forward to a transfer window in great anticipation. What I want from Houllier is that we progress as a club from where MON left us. That we broaden our reach for players, that we become technically better and maintain our ability to challenge on multiple fronts, especially in Europe.
Well, Houllier's transfers and Liverpool were pretty hit and miss, much like MON's for us. So it will be foreign players who we are arguing the toss over and not British ones, but things won't change, IMO.
His footballing style also seems to be very defensive, so those crying out for a more expansive game will be disappointed.
Things will be different, but overall results won't improve. And I do hope to be proven wrong on that!
The difference being though John is that he's got over the hump. That is, where MON fell short Houllier has found ways in England and France to get his team to finals and win things.
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Eh? Getting Aston Villa to 6th is a great achievemnet? Blimey, where next for him to do his brillaint work? Colchester?
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to be honest i was ok until i found out he was bring that prick thompson with him, i could live with houllier ( even though i think he is wrong ) but that thompson makes my blood boil... remember what he said on soccer saturday when oniel left
martin oniell done a great job, you have to remember he got ASTON VILLA to 6th, we are tallking about ASTON VILLA here, that is an amazing achievment, and now he is coming to be assistant manager ??
someone said the other day they would like to see thompsons reactiion when steve G scores a 25 yard winner in the last minute against us....
yeh, if he does I'm sure Thompson will peg it across the pitch sliding on his knees to where the Liverpool fans are pumping his fists. Come on, get real.
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Eh? Getting Aston Villa to 6th is a great achievemnet? Blimey, where next for him to do his brillaint work? Colchester?
i couldnt beleive what i was hearing when he said it the cheeky scouse prat
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Toronto,
Do you get to many games ? Got a season ticket ?
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Eh? Getting Aston Villa to 6th is a great achievemnet? Blimey, where next for him to do his brillaint work? Colchester?
i couldnt beleive what i was hearing when he said it the cheeky scouse prat
Because he's on TV as a SKY pundit. His job is to speak his mind and be controversial if he wants. He is completely biased as a TV pundit as he should be. That's what he is PAID to do. When he is PAID to coach Villa that is what he will do to the best of his ability.
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Toronto,
Do you get to many games ? Got a season ticket ?
what has that got to do with anything?
edit: sorry, was that a serious question?
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Wooooahhhh, there fellas, let's not go down that route again. We've actually done well with these debates recently without descending into nonsense.
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Wooooahhhh, there fellas, let's not go down that route again. We've actually done well with these debates recently without descending into nonsense.
that's why I had to ask. That's a path covered in broken glass.
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Toronto,
Do you get to many games ? Got a season ticket ?
Yeah Toronto, no season ticket = no opinion, that's the rule. No exceptions.
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Houllier hasn't managed in England for 6 years. Only last season, MON supporters were telling us how much harder it is to achieve a 6th place finish now than it was when O'Leary did it. Which was 6 years ago.
While you were telling us it was a piece of piss, so no doubt the new man will do it while at the same debating existentialism and smoking a Gitanes in the dug out.
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Wooooahhhh, there fellas, let's not go down that route again. We've actually done well with these debates recently without descending into nonsense.
that's why I had to ask. That's a path covered in broken glass.
I know. We went down there not long ago and I thought it was a good debate about supporting Villa from overseas. That's why bringing it back up again isn't really going to be productive. Not from your side I hasten to add.
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The difference being though John is that he's got over the hump. That is, where MON fell short Houllier has found ways in England and France to get his team to finals and win things.
True, yet he had a comparative larger spend when at Liverpool than we have enjoyed under Randy. For instance, he spent £14m on one player over 6 years ago and despite the market inflation since then, that's still above our transfer record. He also inherited two youth products called Michael Owen and Stephen Gerrard, who I'm sorry to say are better than anything we have coming through.
I'm not knocking him, but based on my evaluation of his merits as a football manager I would not expect him to do any batter tha Martin O'Neill with the same resources to work with.
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Houllier hasn't managed in England for 6 years. Only last season, MON supporters were telling us how much harder it is to achieve a 6th place finish now than it was when O'Leary did it. Which was 6 years ago.
While you were telling us it was a piece of piss, so no doubt the new man will do it while at the same debating existentialism and smoking a Gitanes in the dug out.
That's some good knowledge, I'd have said 'Gauloises'
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just wondering mate
i have had a season ticket now for 13 years and dont miss any home games and get away when i can and buy every home and away shirt so i can say i put a fair bit of money into the villa
I just think i have the right to be fooked off when this sort of appointment is made.
OH SHIT WHILE I WAS WRITING THAT I REALISED SOMETHING.... HOULLIER SIGNED HESKEY FOR LIVERPOOL....YOU DO REALISE THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE HE WILL PLAY EVERY GAME ........
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just wondering mate
i have had a season ticket now for 13 years and dont miss any home games and get away when i can and buy every home and away shirt so i can say i put a fair bit of money into the villa
I just think i have the right to be fooked off when this sort of appointment is made.
OH SHIT WHILE I WAS WRITING THAT I REALISED SOMETHING.... HOULLIER SIGNED HESKEY FOR LIVERPOOL....YOU DO REALISE THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE HE WILL PLAY EVERY GAME ........
He also sold him.
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Houllier also got rid of Friedel. You saying Guzan is likely to be our starting keeper with Marshall on the bench?
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just wondering mate
i have had a season ticket now for 13 years and dont miss any home games and get away when i can and buy every home and away shirt so i can say i put a fair bit of money into the villa
I just think i have the right to be fooked off when this sort of appointment is made.
OH SHIT WHILE I WAS WRITING THAT I REALISED SOMETHING.... HOULLIER SIGNED HESKEY FOR LIVERPOOL....YOU DO REALISE THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE HE WILL PLAY EVERY GAME ........
Good day!
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Houllier also got rid of Friedel. You saying Guzan is likely to be our starting keeper with Marshall on the bench?
Were you asking me this?
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just wondering mate
i have had a season ticket now for 13 years and dont miss any home games and get away when i can and buy every home and away shirt so i can say i put a fair bit of money into the villa
I just think i have the right to be fooked off when this sort of appointment is made.
OH SHIT WHILE I WAS WRITING THAT I REALISED SOMETHING.... HOULLIER SIGNED HESKEY FOR LIVERPOOL....YOU DO REALISE THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE HE WILL PLAY EVERY GAME ........
He also sold him.
For a lot less than the £11m he signed him for.
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Houllier also got rid of Friedel. You saying Guzan is likely to be our starting keeper with Marshall on the bench?
Were you asking me this?
No, pmk.
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just wondering mate
i have had a season ticket now for 13 years and dont miss any home games and get away when i can and buy every home and away shirt so i can say i put a fair bit of money into the villa
I just think i have the right to be fooked off when this sort of appointment is made.
OH SHIT WHILE I WAS WRITING THAT I REALISED SOMETHING.... HOULLIER SIGNED HESKEY FOR LIVERPOOL....YOU DO REALISE THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE HE WILL PLAY EVERY GAME ........
I had a season ticket from 1985 to 1993. I moved to the US in 1995 and then to Canada in 1998. I try and get back twice a year and catch as many games (first team and reserves) as the time allows. It was hard following things in the late 90's but it's amazing now. I haven't missed "watching" a game in a good while. We are all entitled to our opinion. You are no better a fan for going every week than the rest of us. The club appreciates your support, but you are physically in the country. Life takes us in different directions and it doesn't mean my passion is any less than yours just because I live elsewhere. This isn't a debate that we need to have.
As for the Heskey thing, you have to remember it was when Heskey was a highly thought of player. He also scored 23 goals that year for Liverpool so the money was justified. Heskey is a very different player today, and one of the biggest things he's lost is his pace which he used more when he was younger. I don't think we need to worry about Heskey as his stay at Villa is short term at most, and I would guess the board have already sounded out that he'd be one of the salaries they'd like to cut if possible.
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just wondering mate
i have had a season ticket now for 13 years and dont miss any home games and get away when i can and buy every home and away shirt so i can say i put a fair bit of money into the villa
I just think i have the right to be fooked off when this sort of appointment is made.
OH SHIT WHILE I WAS WRITING THAT I REALISED SOMETHING.... HOULLIER SIGNED HESKEY FOR LIVERPOOL....YOU DO REALISE THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE HE WILL PLAY EVERY GAME ........
He also sold him.
For a lot less than the £11m he signed him for.
At least he had an excuse in that he bought him when he was a sought-after young striker, rather than a player that the world and his wife could see delivers the square root of feck all at club level.
He also managed to get a decent goals return out of him initially, too, rather than just a lot of "defensive strikering" and falling over.
*wink*
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just wondering mate
i have had a season ticket now for 13 years and dont miss any home games and get away when i can and buy every home and away shirt so i can say i put a fair bit of money into the villa
I just think i have the right to be fooked off when this sort of appointment is made.
OH SHIT WHILE I WAS WRITING THAT I REALISED SOMETHING.... HOULLIER SIGNED HESKEY FOR LIVERPOOL....YOU DO REALISE THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE HE WILL PLAY EVERY GAME ........
He also sold him.
For a lot less than the £11m he signed him for.
How does that affect if he's going to play him or not?
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Houllier hasn't managed in England for 6 years. Only last season, MON supporters were telling us how much harder it is to achieve a 6th place finish now than it was when O'Leary did it. Which was 6 years ago.
While you were telling us it was a piece of piss, so no doubt the new man will do it while at the same debating existentialism and smoking a Gitanes in the dug out.
Rubbish, what I said was that 6th was the least we should have expected given the unprecedented level of money and control that O'Neill had. That he spunked a lot of it up the wall, insisted on not using his squad properly and only knew one tactic are the reasons we never got any higher. Not that those drawbacks ever seemed to bother you.
In any case, the point I'm making is that if you believe the league is harder now than it was 6 years ago then saying "the game hasn't changed that much" doesn't wash, as TV has done in order to dismiss concerns that Houllier's six years out of the English game might possibly be a handicap.
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Houllier hasn't managed in England for 6 years. Only last season, MON supporters were telling us how much harder it is to achieve a 6th place finish now than it was when O'Leary did it. Which was 6 years ago.
While you were telling us it was a piece of piss, so no doubt the new man will do it while at the same debating existentialism and smoking a Gitanes in the dug out.
Rubbish, what I said was that 6th was the least we should have expected given the unprecedented level of money and control that O'Neill had. That he spunked a lot of it up the wall, insisted on not using his squad properly and only knew one tactic are the reasons we never got any higher. Not that those drawbacks ever seemed to bother you.
In any case, the point I'm making is that if you believe the league is harder now than it was 6 years ago then saying "the game hasn't changed that much" doesn't wash, as TV has done in order to dismiss concerns that Houllier's six years out of the English game might possibly be a handicap.
No. I just don't have a downer on it like you do because I don't see it as big a concern as you clearly do. Then again, outside of Mourinho or Wenger you'd have found fault in anyone we would have hired. And how much experience of England did Mourinho or Wenger have before they led their respective sides to incredible levels of success. Didn't seem to hamper them did it? In fact I'd be scared to death at your reaction if we were about to hire some bloke managing a team in Japan. You'd melt down.
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No. I just don't have a downer on it like you do because I don't see it as big a concern as you clearly do. Then again, outside of Mourinho or Wenger you'd have found fault in anyone we would have hired. And how much experience of England did Mourinho or Wenger have before they led their respective sides to incredible levels of success. Didn't seem to hamper them did it? In fact I'd be scared to death at your reaction if we were about to hire some bloke managing a team in Japan. You'd melt down.
Calm down TV. What I've actually said is that, as dave suggested, he's probably only going to be here for a year or two at the most so it's difficult to get either too enthusiatic or too despondent about it. I don't think Houllier's absence from the English game is something than can be so easily dismissed as you are doing. But to say "the game hasn't changed that much" when the exact opposite argument was used in defence of O'Neill's record is laughable.
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I was having a bit of a laugh with the 'Heskey for £11m' thing. But that having been said it was top dollar back then for a return of 39 goals from 150 games, which is around 1 in 4. An eye for a player is an eye for a player, regardless of age, so he can be forgiven for paying more or him due to his age, but not for signing him in the first place.
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No. I just don't have a downer on it like you do because I don't see it as big a concern as you clearly do. Then again, outside of Mourinho or Wenger you'd have found fault in anyone we would have hired. And how much experience of England did Mourinho or Wenger have before they led their respective sides to incredible levels of success. Didn't seem to hamper them did it? In fact I'd be scared to death at your reaction if we were about to hire some bloke managing a team in Japan. You'd melt down.
Calm down TV. What I've actually said is that, as dave suggested, he's probably only going to be here for a year or two at the most so it's difficult to get either too enthusiatic or too despondent about it. I don't think Houllier's absence from the English game is something than can be so easily dismissed as you are doing. But to say "the game hasn't changed that much" when the exact opposite argument was used in defence of O'Neill's record is laughable.
I'm perfectly calm and I don't want to get into a pissing match with you. We can debate this maturely.
MON had been completely out of the game when he joined to Villa. Houllier has been in the game so even if he doesn't have an intimate knowledge of the PL since 2004, he's still actively involved in watching the game. So how much has "the game" in England really changed since 2004? Are teams no longer playing 4-4-2 or 4-5-1? Are players no longer overpaid? Is the money no longer stupid? It was stupid back then and it is now. Have we now reached a different technical level that wasn't there in 2004? What exactly has changed in your opinion that would make him a dinosaur coming back into the game today. Serious question.
As I said, I clearly don't put as much stock into his absence from the game in England as you do. And my point about Mourinho or Wenger is that they had never in their lives managed in England, yet it had no little or no bearing on their ability to do well. In fact if anything, you could argue Houllier has a step up on them even if he isn't as talented which nobody is going to contest.
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Houllier hasn't managed in England for 6 years. Only last season, MON supporters were telling us how much harder it is to achieve a 6th place finish now than it was when O'Leary did it. Which was 6 years ago.
While you were telling us it was a piece of piss, so no doubt the new man will do it while at the same debating existentialism and smoking a Gitanes in the dug out.
Rubbish, what I said was that 6th was the least we should have expected given the unprecedented level of money and control that O'Neill had. That he spunked a lot of it up the wall, insisted on not using his squad properly and only knew one tactic are the reasons we never got any higher. Not that those drawbacks ever seemed to bother you.
In any case, the point I'm making is that if you believe the league is harder now than it was 6 years ago then saying "the game hasn't changed that much" doesn't wash, as TV has done in order to dismiss concerns that Houllier's six years out of the English game might possibly be a handicap.
Oh, sorry I was giving a flippant answer to what I saw a fliappant post. I didn't realise you were being serious. If you want to fight old battles you go ahead but I'll claim my cliche bingo winnings for "spunked ... up the wall".
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just wondering mate
i have had a season ticket now for 13 years and dont miss any home games and get away when i can and buy every home and away shirt so i can say i put a fair bit of money into the villa
I just think i have the right to be fooked off when this sort of appointment is made.
OH SHIT WHILE I WAS WRITING THAT I REALISED SOMETHING.... HOULLIER SIGNED HESKEY FOR LIVERPOOL....YOU DO REALISE THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE HE WILL PLAY EVERY GAME ........
You've had a season ticket since before you were born, good going.
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OH SHIT WHILE I WAS WRITING THAT I REALISED SOMETHING.... HOULLIER SIGNED HESKEY FOR LIVERPOOL....YOU DO REALISE THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE HE WILL PLAY EVERY GAME ........
The prick who managed us previously did his best to play him in every game, even to the point of sidelining the much better goal threat of Carew.
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I was having a bit of a laugh with the 'Heskey for £11m' thing. But that having been said it was top dollar back then for a return of 39 goals from 150 games, which is around 1 in 4. An eye for a player is an eye for a player, regardless of age, so he can be forgiven for paying more or him due to his age, but not for signing him in the first place.
Look, I'm not about to defend Heskey because I wish we were rid of him. But when you sign players, you expect them to live up to expectation at the very least and hopefully exceed them. In Heskey's case, in year one at least he lived up to the transfer fee. It shoudn't be discounted that the year after Heskey scored 23 goals for Liverpool, they sold Michael Owen to Real Madrid. they worked brilliantly together for Liverpool and England. Ultimately, he's well past his sell by date, and we need to bring in some new forwards to challenge Gabby.
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All I would say is that those who defended O'Neill's record by saying that it was a lot harder to finish 6th now than when O'Leary did it are those who should be stating how the game has changed and after they've done that have a go at explaining why those changes won't make any difference to a man who hasn't managed in England for 6 years.
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I was having a bit of a laugh with the 'Heskey for £11m' thing. But that having been said it was top dollar back then for a return of 39 goals from 150 games, which is around 1 in 4. An eye for a player is an eye for a player, regardless of age, so he can be forgiven for paying more or him due to his age, but not for signing him in the first place.
Look, I'm not about to defend Heskey because I wish we were rid of him. But when you sign players, you expect them to live up to expectation at the very least and hopefully exceed them. In Heskey's case, in year one at least he lived up to the transfer fee. It shoudn't be discounted that the year after Heskey scored 23 goals for Liverpool, they sold Michael Owen to Real Madrid. they worked brilliantly together for Liverpool and England. Ultimately, he's well past his sell by date, and we need to bring in some new forwards to challenge Gabby.
I wouldn't ask you to defend him or either managers decision to sign him. But going back to our discussion over the relative merits of Houllier and MON, I think both rating the bloke is at least an indication that there may not be a huge amount of change under our next manager.
Martin signed Heskey - so did Gerrard.
We're crap to watch - Houllier is quite defensive in his approach.
Martin signed some crap players - Cisse.
It's just one of the factors that goes to my contention that we'll be no better off under him then we were with Martin!
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All I would say is that those who defended O'Neill's record by saying that it was a lot harder to finish 6th now than when O'Leary did it are those who should be stating how the game has changed and after they've done that have a go at explaining why those changes won't make any difference to a man who hasn't managed in England for 6 years.
I don't think the game has changed as much as there are now better teams around. We've had large investment and are competing, Spurs have got their act together, Everton are stronger and then there's Man City.
No dramatic changes like if we compared now to 20 years ago, but it is more competitive.
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I was having a bit of a laugh with the 'Heskey for £11m' thing. But that having been said it was top dollar back then for a return of 39 goals from 150 games, which is around 1 in 4. An eye for a player is an eye for a player, regardless of age, so he can be forgiven for paying more or him due to his age, but not for signing him in the first place.
Look, I'm not about to defend Heskey because I wish we were rid of him. But when you sign players, you expect them to live up to expectation at the very least and hopefully exceed them. In Heskey's case, in year one at least he lived up to the transfer fee. It shoudn't be discounted that the year after Heskey scored 23 goals for Liverpool, they sold Michael Owen to Real Madrid. they worked brilliantly together for Liverpool and England. Ultimately, he's well past his sell by date, and we need to bring in some new forwards to challenge Gabby.
I wouldn't ask you to defend him or either managers decision to sign him. But going back to our discussion over the relative merits of Houllier and MON, I think both rating the bloke is at least an indication that there may not be a huge amount of change under our next manager.
Martin signed Heskey - so did Gerrard.
We're crap to watch - Houllier is quite defensive in his approach.
Martin signed some crap players - Cisse.
It's just one of the factors that goes to my contention that we'll be no better off under him then we were with Martin!
1) Both signed Heskey at very different stages of their careers. Houllier's signing of Heskey to play alongside Owen was a very good decision. That as I pointed out, fell apart as soon as Owen left. Heskey since then hasn't played with a player of Owen's movement and quality. Again not defending Heskey's entire body of work, but that is important to point out. He needs a great player like Owen or Rooney to be productive.
2) We were crap to watch at home, and for the most part great away. We weren't always crap to watch under MON. That's a myth. Houllier is defensive in his philosophy first and foremost. So is Mourinho. You can win things being conservative which is the most important thing. I'm not going to pretend we're getting Wenger football any time soon.
3) All managers sign good players, crap players, ones that turn out great and ones that were great at the time and turn out shit. Cisse turned to be in the final version. Highly thought of at the time, young, fast and dynamic. He turned out to be a complete nut. How do you really know (insert Sasa Curcic story here)
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OH SHIT WHILE I WAS WRITING THAT I REALISED SOMETHING.... HOULLIER SIGNED HESKEY FOR LIVERPOOL....YOU DO REALISE THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE HE WILL PLAY EVERY GAME ........
The prick who managed us previously did his best to play him in every game, even to the point of sidelining the much better goal threat of Carew.
Houllier also sold Heskey!
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OH SHIT WHILE I WAS WRITING THAT I REALISED SOMETHING.... HOULLIER SIGNED HESKEY FOR LIVERPOOL....YOU DO REALISE THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE HE WILL PLAY EVERY GAME ........
The prick who managed us previously did his best to play him in every game, even to the point of sidelining the much better goal threat of Carew.
i know, scares the crap outa me
...phil thompson .....
bloody hell :-(
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What is so bad about Phil Thompson pmk?
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1) Both signed Heskey at very different stages of their careers. Houllier's signing of Heskey to play alongside Owen was a very good decision. That as I pointed out, fell apart as soon as Owen left. Heskey since then hasn't played with a player of Owen's movement and quality. Again not defending Heskey's entire body of work, but that is important to point out. He needs a great player like Owen or Rooney to be productive.
2) We were crap to watch at home, and for the most part great away. We weren't always crap to watch under MON. That's a myth. Houllier is defensive in his philosophy first and foremost. So is Mourinho. You can win things being conservative which is the most important thing. I'm not going to pretend we're getting Wenger football any time soon.
3) All managers sign good players, crap players, ones that turn out great and ones that were great at the time and turn out shit. Cisse turned to be in the final version. Highly thought of at the time, young, fast and dynamic. He turned out to be a complete nut. How do you really know (insert Sasa Curcic story here)
I'm not entirely in disagreement with you. I was just using some of the common anti-MON arguments I see (and not saying they are yours) and seeing how I'd expect Houllier to measure up against them. As for point 2, I've never really had an issue with style of play, other than needing to break teams down at home more often.
You think he'll do better than Martin and I don't. I have no problem with that and hope and we see how things develop you're proven right.
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OH SHIT WHILE I WAS WRITING THAT I REALISED SOMETHING.... HOULLIER SIGNED HESKEY FOR LIVERPOOL....YOU DO REALISE THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE HE WILL PLAY EVERY GAME ........
The prick who managed us previously did his best to play him in every game, even to the point of sidelining the much better goal threat of Carew.
Houllier also sold Heskey!
So did Martin O'Neill
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1) Both signed Heskey at very different stages of their careers. Houllier's signing of Heskey to play alongside Owen was a very good decision. That as I pointed out, fell apart as soon as Owen left. Heskey since then hasn't played with a player of Owen's movement and quality. Again not defending Heskey's entire body of work, but that is important to point out. He needs a great player like Owen or Rooney to be productive.
2) We were crap to watch at home, and for the most part great away. We weren't always crap to watch under MON. That's a myth. Houllier is defensive in his philosophy first and foremost. So is Mourinho. You can win things being conservative which is the most important thing. I'm not going to pretend we're getting Wenger football any time soon.
3) All managers sign good players, crap players, ones that turn out great and ones that were great at the time and turn out shit. Cisse turned to be in the final version. Highly thought of at the time, young, fast and dynamic. He turned out to be a complete nut. How do you really know (insert Sasa Curcic story here)
I'm not entirely in disagreement with you. I was just using some of the common anti-MON arguments I see (and not saying they are yours) and seeing how I'd expect Houllier to measure up against them. As for point 2, I've never really had an issue with style of play, other than needing to break teams down at home more often.
You think he'll do better than Martin and I don't. I have no problem with that and hope and we see how things develop you're proven right.
I don't know if he'll do better than MON from a league position standpoint. Obviously we all hope he is, but a lot of factors will influence that. One will certainly be money. One thing is I hope we can be more savvy in the broader transfer market, and that going that route allows us acquire more technically gifted players. I want Houllier's tenure to push us on to the point where we can win the League Cup final as opposed to just getting there and running out of ideas. Or that we do well in Europe. I think Hodgson showed how having an understanding of European football allowed him to prepare Fulham better. I think we have been quite naive under MON in that regard.
Importantly, I want his time here to put in place some new ideas that will benefit us for many years to come.
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I never rated Houllier at Liverpool-he did not seem to be able to handle the players or press well and made some very poor signings. (Did he not swap Carew for Baros with us as well? Probably not as it would have been mentioned)
We have a couple of players who played under him and I will wait to see how this plays out as neither found favour with him then.
He did do a good job at Lyon but there is no great comparison in this and I am not sure being recently involved with the French team is anything you want to put on your C.V.
That said, like most, I will get behind him like every other manager we have had (most of whom I have tended to be over -enthusiastic about), but retain the right to say "well I am not surprised it turned out badly".
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I didn't really have a strong opinion either way, but I've just been looking at his transfer record for Liverpool (can be seen here (http://www.liverweb.org.uk/houllier.asp)) and it's absolutely dreadful. Thats not to say he's a bad coach or tactician but I'm not expecting any great things in the market.
He broke the 10m barrier 3 times..
Djibril Cisse July 2004 14,000,000
Emile Heskey March 2000 11,000,000
El Hadji Diouf July 2002 10,000,000
Hardly set the world alight those 3.
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i can see a 12,000,000 bid going in for n'gog in janurary ;-(
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I am not sure being recently involved with the French team is anything you want to put on your C.V.
You know, with everything else going on I had forgotten all about that! So he was involved when the cheese-eating juggler decided rules don't apply to him?
I'm with pmk1981 now - fuck him and the onion covered bicycle he rode in on.
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Houllier is yesterday's man and this appointment reminds me so much of Graham Taylor's second spell, I think it will send us backwards but I hope I am wrong.
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I didn't really have a strong opinion either way, but I've just been looking at his transfer record for Liverpool (can be seen here (http://www.liverweb.org.uk/houllier.asp)) and it's absolutely dreadful. Thats not to say he's a bad coach or tactician but I'm not expecting any great things in the market.
He broke the 10m barrier 3 times..
Djibril Cisse July 2004 14,000,000
Emile Heskey March 2000 11,000,000
El Hadji Diouf July 2002 10,000,000
Hardly set the world alight those 3.
I find it difficult to believe that the Blues paid £6M for Heskey. In defence of Houllier's record, he did make some good signings and you can't expect every player to be a success. There's no real science to determine whether or not a player will settle at a club but that said there are a couple of overpriced, dodgy acquisitions there.
When I was skiing in France in January, a local lad saw my Villa hat and asked about Carew. He was a Lyon fan and said that Carew had become a real problem at that club and everybody knew that he'd be out on the town every night whether there was a game or not. JC may have settled down a bit now but judging what this French lad told me, everybody was glad to see the back of him in France. Houllier signed Baros in the first place and they probably had a good relationship so it's hardly surprising the swap deal was done.
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Despite the trophies he won at pool, they never really came close to winning the league and I'm afraid they did have the resources at the time to do it.
Having said that, if he's appointed, I'll enjoy the ride.
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I am not sure being recently involved with the French team is anything you want to put on your C.V.
You know, with everything else going on I had forgotten all about that! So he was involved when the cheese-eating juggler decided rules don't apply to him?
I'm with pmk1981 now - fuck him and the onion covered bicycle he rode in on.
If you want to get banned, keep it up.
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Acodding to SSN L'Equipe in France saying he's been appointed on a two year deal.
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Despite the trophies he won at pool, they never really came close to winning the league and I'm afraid they did have the resources at the time to do it.
Having said that, if he's appointed, I'll enjoy the ride.
Do you mean apart from the time they finished runners up?
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I am not sure being recently involved with the French team is anything you want to put on your C.V.
You know, with everything else going on I had forgotten all about that! So he was involved when the cheese-eating juggler decided rules don't apply to him?
I'm with pmk1981 now - fuck him and the onion covered bicycle he rode in on.
If you want to get banned, keep it up.
I'll take this as proof that trying to write in a sarcastic/mocking tone of voice really doesn't work on the internet!
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He's already 'unofficially' been appointed, the board for whatever reason are trying to wait as long as possible to 'officially' appoint him which sounds like it'll be on either Thursday or Friday. Silly really as you'd think Houllier would want as many training sessions he can have before our game on Monday against the mighty Stoke working with new players and sorting out tactics etc...
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I am not sure being recently involved with the French team is anything you want to put on your C.V.
You know, with everything else going on I had forgotten all about that! So he was involved when the cheese-eating juggler decided rules don't apply to him?
I'm with pmk1981 now - fuck him and the onion covered bicycle he rode in on.
If you want to get banned, keep it up.
I'll take this as proof that trying to write in a sarcastic/mocking tone of voice really doesn't work on the internet!
Not really, no.
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Wether it's Houllier or not, this appointment has to be the most dithering in the history of football, even I am bored with it now so god knows what everybody else in football thinks.
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He's already 'unofficially' been appointed, the board for whatever reason are trying to wait as long as possible to 'officially' appoint him which sounds like it'll be on either Thursday or Friday. Silly really as you'd think Houllier would want as many training sessions he can have before our game on Monday against the mighty Stoke working with new players and sorting out tactics etc...
Try getting the press to turn up on an international day.
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Wether it's Houllier or not, this appointment has to be the most dithering in the history of football, even I am bored with it now so god knows what everybody else in football thinks.
they wont give it a second thought, its nothing that concerns them much is it,
it'l I am not sure being recently involved with the French team is anything you want to put on your C.V.
You know, with everything else going on I had forgotten all about that! So he was involved when the cheese-eating juggler decided rules don't apply to him?
I'm with pmk1981 now - fuck him and the onion covered bicycle he rode in on.
If you want to get banned, keep it up.
I'll take this as proof that trying to write in a sarcastic/mocking tone of voice really doesn't work on the internet!
Not really, no.
Dave , you really are a miseryarse lately
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1) Both signed Heskey at very different stages of their careers. Houllier's signing of Heskey to play alongside Owen was a very good decision. That as I pointed out, fell apart as soon as Owen left. Heskey since then hasn't played with a player of Owen's movement and quality. Again not defending Heskey's entire body of work, but that is important to point out. He needs a great player like Owen or Rooney to be productive.
2) We were crap to watch at home, and for the most part great away. We weren't always crap to watch under MON. That's a myth. Houllier is defensive in his philosophy first and foremost. So is Mourinho. You can win things being conservative which is the most important thing. I'm not going to pretend we're getting Wenger football any time soon.
3) All managers sign good players, crap players, ones that turn out great and ones that were great at the time and turn out shit. Cisse turned to be in the final version. Highly thought of at the time, young, fast and dynamic. He turned out to be a complete nut. How do you really know (insert Sasa Curcic story here)
I'm not entirely in disagreement with you. I was just using some of the common anti-MON arguments I see (and not saying they are yours) and seeing how I'd expect Houllier to measure up against them. As for point 2, I've never really had an issue with style of play, other than needing to break teams down at home more often.
You think he'll do better than Martin and I don't. I have no problem with that and hope and we see how things develop you're proven right.
I don't know if he'll do better than MON from a league position standpoint. Obviously we all hope he is, but a lot of factors will influence that. One will certainly be money. One thing is I hope we can be more savvy in the broader transfer market, and that going that route allows us acquire more technically gifted players. I want Houllier's tenure to push us on to the point where we can win the League Cup final as opposed to just getting there and running out of ideas. Or that we do well in Europe. I think Hodgson showed how having an understanding of European football allowed him to prepare Fulham better. I think we have been quite naive under MON in that regard.
Importantly, I want his time here to put in place some new ideas that will benefit us for many years to come.
I'm not hugely enthusiastic about this appointment truth be told, nor the imminent arrival of Pinnochio.
But I hope what you suggest there turns out to be true.
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Despite the trophies he won at pool, they never really came close to winning the league and I'm afraid they did have the resources at the time to do it.
Having said that, if he's appointed, I'll enjoy the ride.
Do you mean apart from the time they finished runners up?
Oops did they?! I'm told! I really can't remember that, oh well!
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Dave , you really are a miseryarse lately
Oh dear, I am sorry to have incurred your displeasure once more. Whatever can I do to make amends?
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Wether it's Houllier or not, this appointment has to be the most dithering in the history of football, even I am bored with it now so god knows what everybody else in football thinks.
I'm interested to know how people have reached the conclusion that the board have dithered over this appointment. I can't think of any reason why anybody would have wanted this appointment to drag on as long as it has but we just don't have enough information to decide that it's been due to procrastination. Sadly the lack of information coming out of VP provides an opportunity for people to think the worst despite the fact that the board has done virtually everything right over the past 4 years or so. I would prefer to think that they have taken the time to properly judge the situation and to make the best decision possible in very difficult circumstances.
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Dave , you really are a miseryarse lately
Oh dear, I am sorry to have incurred your displeasure once more. Whatever can I do to make amends?
your just acting like a big twat now, dont know whats the matter with you
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The voice of reason from Phil McNulty at the BBC: http://bbc.in/9gd2XE
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Dave , you really are a miseryarse lately
Oh dear, I am sorry to have incurred your displeasure once more. Whatever can I do to make amends?
your just acting like a big twat now, dont know whats the matter with you
"acting like a big twat" = saying something you disagree with. How dare I.
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Dave , you really are a miseryarse lately
Oh dear, I am sorry to have incurred your displeasure once more. Whatever can I do to make amends?
your just acting like a big twat now, dont know whats the matter with you
"acting like a big twat" = saying something you disagree with. How dare I.
Whatever
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I can sense some sexual tension in this thread, so I’ll pop back later.
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The voice of reason from Phil McNulty at the BBC: http://bbc.in/9gd2XE
Good write up that, which broadly sums up my own expectations. I know a fair few people are, er, underwhelmed, but I am really looking forward to seeing how we get on under Houllier.
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I can sense some sexual tension in this thread, so I’ll pop back later.
I'm trying to work out if everyone is joking or not!
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Does anyone else get the feeling that pmk1981 is either a 'blunose' or a journo just on here to try to create a situation that doesn't exist?
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Does anyone else get the feeling that pmk1981 is either a 'blunose' or a journo just on here to try to create a situation that doesn't exist?
I don't know about that. But I do think he is being very unfair, or extremely unreasonable. It's almost personal which isn't warranted. Houllier has never had a bad word to say about Villa so why the need for such vitriol? As for Phil Thompson, ok so he's not said anything glowing about us, but that's his remit as a TV pundit. He won't be like that in a professional capacity while employed by us.
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The voice of reason from Phil McNulty at the BBC: http://bbc.in/9gd2XE
I have a lot of time for Phil McNulty. Always comes across as a decent, sensible bloke and I fully agree with his assessment.
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The voice of reason from Phil McNulty at the BBC: http://bbc.in/9gd2XE
Good write up that, which broadly sums up my own expectations. I know a fair few people are, er, underwhelmed, but I am really looking forward to seeing how we get on under Houllier.
Yep good piece and he makes a good case for Houllier. My concerns about him are not his commitment, professionalism, attention to detail and so on. I'm not even terribly bothered about his reputation for defensive football, because his job will be to stabilise and consolidate, not play cavalier football. Where I do have doubts is in regard to the time he has been away from top flight management, specifically the top end of the Premier League. It's been a long time since he was successful here and, in some respects, he'll probably have less at his disposal with us than he did at Liverpool.
I think if he can keep us at least in touch with the challengers for fourth, keep us in Europe and bring some influence to bear on our approach to the transfer market then I think he will have done a good job. He's not a long-term option, that's obvious, so as long as he ensures we will be an attractive proposition to whoever comes next then I'll be very happy.
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When/where did McNulty get that General Krulak quote from?
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The voice of reason from Phil McNulty at the BBC: http://bbc.in/9gd2XE
I have a lot of time for Phil McNulty. Always comes across as a decent, sensible bloke and I fully agree with his assessment.
An interesting article. Im up for this to be honest. I'll give him the support he deserves.
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I think we could choose to look at the spell away from management as a positive - during that time he's been watching football across the globe building an (even more) worldly view of the game, amassing more contacts. Plus it says to me that he really wants the job. I'm sure he's had other opportunities but he's waited for the right one, one he believes in. I like that.
Just a thought.
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While Phil McNulty lauds my ex-colleague G Houllier, in France they are hanging out the bunting, screaming (hence ALLCAPS which follow) "FUCK OFF PONTIUS PILATE", "YOU WERE A SHIT MANAGER OF LES BLEUS", "SHAME ON YOU, YOU WERE THE ONE WHO ENROLLED DOMENECH", "YOU KEPT THE FUCKER ON AFTER THE EURO 2008 FUCK-UP", "YOU WILL SAY ANYTHING NOT TO TAKE YOUR PART OF THE BLAME", "c***", "THE LUCKY LUKE OF FOOTBALL, TURNS HIS COAT QUICKER THAN HIS OWN SHADOW", "YOU SURF ON YOUR RESULTS AT LIVERPOOL BUT THE REST IS WANK!" Indeed, there were 2-3 million people demonstrating across France today. Ostensibly, they were protesting against Pension reform injustice, but there are many who believe the day of action was called due to frustration at Randy Lerner's snail-like interview process and tergiversation over the role of Pinocchio.
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I wonder how often Gerrard watched Aston Villa recently. Would he know who is Barry Bannan or Marc Albrighton for example.
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I wonder how often Gerrard watched Aston Villa recently. Would he know who is Barry Bannan or Marc Albrighton for example.
I don't think Martin O'Neill knew who Marc Albrighton was, to be honest.
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That write up from McNulty and GH's record make you realise what a good manager we have got. Its so easy to remember his last couple of years at Liverpool.
As I said last night I was extremely excited when we got MON, I'm getting more and more I'll say intrigued by this appointment. On paper I should be more excited than I was 4 years ago, its just MON had a very, very good reputation in this country. When you look at his record on paper you have to ask why is this with MON?
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I have to say though that in any of the interminable "I think we need a better manager than O'Neill / Okay who do you suggest then?" threads, had anyone suggested Gerard Houllier as a replacement they would have laughed off the board. So I have to take this sudden enthusiasm for him with a pinch of salt, coinciding as it does with him apparently getting the job.
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I have to say though that in any of the interminable "I think we need a better manager than O'Neill / Okay who do you suggest then?" threads, had anyone suggested Gerard Houllier as a replacement they would have laughed off the board. So I have to take this sudden enthusiasm for him with a pinch of salt, coinciding as it does with him apparently getting the job.
The difference is, surely, that those polls were in the context of MON leaving at a time when it suited us, rather than at the worst time possible.
That's bound to have a major impact on the range of replacements available, and as a result, i don't think that is a fair comparison.
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no phil thompson according to sky sports.
<cheers>
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The difference is, surely, that those polls were in the context of MON leaving at a time when it suited us, rather than at the worst time possible.
That's bound to have a major impact on the range of replacements available, and as a result, i don't think that is a fair comparison.
Well, either he's a good manager who is worth a crack, or he isn't. He hasn't become a better (or worse) manager because of the manner of O'Neill's departure. If he's only got the job because of the timing then that tends to support woodhall's view that he will only be here short-term.
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The difference is, surely, that those polls were in the context of MON leaving at a time when it suited us, rather than at the worst time possible.
That's bound to have a major impact on the range of replacements available, and as a result, i don't think that is a fair comparison.
Well, either he's a good manager who is worth a crack, or he isn't. He hasn't become a better (or worse) manager because of the manner of O'Neill's departure. If he's only got the job because of the timing then that tends to support woodhall's view that he will only be here short-term.
I agree he is no better or worse, but that's not the point, surely?
You mentioned the polls of the past / where Houllier would have been pitched, but surely the point now is how good a manager he is in the context of who is available?
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Well 2 year deal hardly suggests long term does it?
I still maintain it will be GH for this season then we'll go for either Jol or Moyes next summer.
Cool with that.
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If GH does well then I'll want him to stay.
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Can someone take the Devil's Advocate job of Hilts please, it's tedious.
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Well, who was available? We'll never know who was approached, wasn't approached, turned us down, asked for too much money or whatever. So all you can do is judge Houllier on his own merits, not relative to those on some assumed list of who was available.
Like I say, as a stop gap he's okay. Anything longer-term than that and I'm not so sure.
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Can someone take the Devil's Advocate job of Hilts please, it's tedious.
Swap you for your no less tedious 'foaming at the mouth, burn the heretics' job.
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Moxley on Twitter says it is a 3 year deal for GH
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When MON became our manager, the whole country took note. Every fan in the country thought he was a great manager and would've had them as their manager without doubt (except Man Utd/Arsenal/Chelsea, but they would've loved him after their manager at the time had left).
Now, we're appointing a manager whereby the whole country is thinking, "oh, how interesting...yawn".
It's not an exciting appointment, so I think this is why the long face.
However, my opinion, having been disgusted with the idea of him managing us, is beginning to change having researched him and found out a bit more.
But, it still doesn't hide the fact that it's not the sort of manager anyone was really hoping for.
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I honestly couldn't care less what everyone else thinks about us. I only care about Villa and what Houllier will do as manager over the next 2 or 3 years. They'll be talking about us enough if we win things.
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However, my opinion, having been disgusted with the idea of him managing us, is beginning to change having researched him and found out a bit more.
Woah, hold on there buddy, you had been 'disgusted' with the idea of someone who has won numerous cups and trophies and lead Liverpool to their best league position in a long time? Fair enough if you were 'annoyed' or whatever with us appointing Houllier, but to be disgusted?! Oh heavens, what have you done Randy, who the fcuk is this frog Houllier, has he ever managed in England, has he ever won anything? Where's my Mourinho!
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How much does he like Heskey? :0)
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We've backed worser managers in the past,so he's got to be giving a chance by us,though I, like most, never so this coming.
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I have to say though that in any of the interminable "I think we need a better manager than O'Neill / Okay who do you suggest then?" threads, had anyone suggested Gerard Houllier as a replacement they would have laughed off the board. So I have to take this sudden enthusiasm for him with a pinch of salt, coinciding as it does with him apparently getting the job.
The difference is, surely, that those polls were in the context of MON leaving at a time when it suited us, rather than at the worst time possible.
That's bound to have a major impact on the range of replacements available, and as a result, i don't think that is a fair comparison.
If Houllier had been suggested as a replacement for MON then yes, it would have seemed ridiculous. However, from where we were when MON walked out he seems the best of the options.
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Yes, agree. Houllier wouldn't have been in my top hundred potential managers for Aston Villa before MON.
However, sometimes you are in the right place at the right time though and that's happened to him.
He's a bloody lucky bugger to have got the job, not us for having him.
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I think the attached article deserves a read...i feel a little more comfortable with him now. Also, Gary McAllister would be a good no.2 i feel to leave Kev Mac with the kids again, what he does best
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/philmcnulty/2010/09/why_houllier_deserves_respect.html (http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/philmcnulty/2010/09/why_houllier_deserves_respect.html)
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Well, who was available? We'll never know who was approached, wasn't approached, turned us down, asked for too much money or whatever. So all you can do is judge Houllier on his own merits, not relative to those on some assumed list of who was available.
Like I say, as a stop gap he's okay. Anything longer-term than that and I'm not so sure.
I agree with you that there are a lot of unanswered questions, is the reason why we couldn't attract a current manager because of the new guidelines and spending restrictions in place, that to me must be the reason why we couldn't poach the likes of Jol, Moyes or even McLeish, either that or the board are out of their depth when it comes to hiring a manager.
GH has got a good track record if a little in the past, did George Graham not get his CV in on time, being better than Alan Curbishley is not a ringing endorsement.
I see Southampton are trying to poach Scunthorpe's manager, I wonder why they can do it but we can't.
NB Not that I wanted Nigel Adkins as manager, just an example
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That Mcnulty piece on the BBC is a great read.
I believe we have a good 'un' in Houllier and I for one can't wait for him to get started.
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Well, who was available? We'll never know who was approached, wasn't approached, turned us down, asked for too much money or whatever. So all you can do is judge Houllier on his own merits, not relative to those on some assumed list of who was available.
Like I say, as a stop gap he's okay. Anything longer-term than that and I'm not so sure.
I agree with you that there are a lot of unanswered questions, is the reason why we couldn't attract a current manager because of the new guidelines and spending restrictions in place, that to me must be the reason why we couldn't poach the likes of Jol, Moyes or even McLeish, either that or the board are out of their depth when it comes to hiring a manager.
GH has got a good track record if a little in the past, did George Graham not get his CV in on time, being better than Alan Curbishley is not a ringing endorsement.
I see Southampton are trying to poach Scunthorpe's manager, I wonder why they can do it but we can't.
NB Not that I wanted Nigel Adkins as manager, just an example
It's probably easier to poach Scunthorpe's manager than it is the manager of Ajax/Everton etc.
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Now, we're appointing a manager whereby the whole country is thinking, "oh, how interesting...yawn".
That was pretty much the reaction when we appointed Brian Little.
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give houllier a chance
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Not when you've finished 6th 3 seasons running in the richest league in the world, we're a bit higher up the food chain than Soton.
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I'll hold my hand up and say I wasn't exactly jumping with joy when I heard Houllier mentioned but the more I read and the more I hear about him, the more I realise that he's a more knowledgable, more up-to-date version of MoN.
He seems to have the man-management skills that MoN supposedly had, has a far more varied CV which illustrates experience from the bottom to the top, as won more than MoN and, most importantly, whereas MoN took time out when his wife got sick, Houllier continued his footballing education.
I think he'll look at Villa as a club that, like Liverpool when he took over, has so much unrealised potential. Potential that he'll no doubt feel he can make very good use of. And he brings with him experience from the playing pitch to the board-room.
People on here (and, yes, me included) weren't overly impressed with the idea as we hoped for a significant improvement on O'Neill. The way I see it, we're getting one!
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Now, we're appointing a manager whereby the whole country is thinking, "oh, how interesting...yawn".
That was pretty much the reaction when we appointed Brian Little.
True, though it did mean a lot to Villa fans.
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Here is a list of my reactions to the appointments of Aston Villa managers in recent history:
Graham Taylor (1st) - Ah...
Josef Venglos - Uh?
Big Ron - Yay!!
Brian Little - Yay!!
John Gregory - Ugh!!
Graham Taylor (2nd) - Hmmm...
David O'Leary - Yay!!
Martin O'Neill - Yay!!!!
Gerard Houllier - *scratches chin*
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I think he could do a decent job.
However just to put this into perspective take a look at his signings while in premier league.
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Yes, agree. Houllier wouldn't have been in my top hundred potential managers for Aston Villa before MON.
Go on then. Name all one hundred...
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Here is a list of my reactions to the appointments of Aston Villa managers in recent history:
Graham Taylor (1st) - Ah...
Josef Venglos - Uh?
Big Ron - Yay!!
Brian Little - Yay!!
John Gregory - Ugh!!
Graham Taylor (2nd) - Hmmm...
David O'Leary - Yay!!
Martin O'Neill - Yay!!!!
Gerard Houllier - *scratches chin*
And look where those two recent "Yays" got us!
Mr. H is the best qualified manager there and we can hopefully benefit from that. We should support him and the team more so now than ever before.
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He gets a good write up in the BBC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/philmcnulty/2010/09/why_houllier_deserves_respect.html
Not saying that's the be all and end all, but give the guy a chance whenever he gets here
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Here is a list of my reactions to the appointments of Aston Villa managers in recent history:
Graham Taylor (1st) - Ah...
Josef Venglos - Uh?
Big Ron - Yay!!
Brian Little - Yay!!
John Gregory - Ugh!!
Graham Taylor (2nd) - Hmmm...
David O'Leary - Yay!!
Martin O'Neill - Yay!!!!
Gerard Houllier - *scratches chin*
And look where those two recent "Yays" got us!
Mr. H is the best qualified manager there and we can hopefully benefit from that. We should support him and the team more so now than ever before.
Dolly never got a 'yay' free me, even when the pug nosed twat was being unveiled at the press conf.
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He gets a good write up in the BBC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/philmcnulty/2010/09/why_houllier_deserves_respect.html
Not saying that's the be all and end all, but give the guy a chance whenever he gets here
Is posting this article the new "Why didn't Barry take the penalty?"
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Because he was off the pitch at the time.
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Here is a list of my reactions to the appointments of Aston Villa managers in recent history:
Graham Taylor (1st) - Ah...
Josef Venglos - Uh?
Big Ron - Yay!!
Brian Little - Yay!!
John Gregory - Ugh!!
Graham Taylor (2nd) - Hmmm...
David O'Leary - Yay!!
Martin O'Neill - Yay!!!!
Gerard Houllier - *scratches chin*
And look where those two recent "Yays" got us!
Mr. H is the best qualified manager there and we can hopefully benefit from that. We should support him and the team more so now than ever before.
Because MON was so bad? Not like we finished well in the league and made a cup final and semi-final FA Cup?
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The thing is I always associate Houllier with his reponse to Gerrards red card for trying to break George Boateng's leg ; "He is a very good actor." Whatever you may think of Boateng, that accusation was unwarranted and insulting and I lost all respect for Houllier at that precise moment.
Right now I'd struggle to find a manager that I wouldn't rather have instead of him.
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Ever-so-slight exaggeration there perhaps?
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To me there is absolutely no reason to welcome the appointment of Houllier.
His teams play dreary football and his record at Liverpool in the transfer market was appalling. For those who think that MON "spunked" Randy's milllions should check out some of Houlliers signings.
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To me there is absolutely no reason to welcome the appointment of Houllier.
His teams play dreary football and his record at Liverpool in the transfer market was appalling. For those who think that MON "spunked" Randy's milllions should check out some of Houlliers signings.
Here's one, he wins things. Anyone else?
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I do wonder just who this 'perfect' manager is for Villa that people are hankering after. According to some of the replies I've read here, we should be after a man who has an excellent knowledge of world football and is prepared to spend money, but not too much, on superstars that nobody has heard of. He should also have a backroom team full of committed and knowledgable Villa fans who could name the team who started our first match in the Third Division without a beat. The football he has his team play should be dynamic, exciting and concede less than ten all season. He should purposely leave out all the players the majority of people who post on here think are shit yet have the personal charm to deflect any player unrest. His contract will be on a game-by-game basis until a richer club comes in for him, when said contract will automatically be worth ten years and will need to be compensated accordingly. He will not be the board's yes man but his relationship with them will see a magical harmony settle across B6. He will be a trophy specialist yet know utterly that fourth place is all that counts. He will be like a father to his squad, none of whom will ever entertain an overture from Manchester City while he is in charge. And finally, he will work for 1 and 6, a dripping sandwich and live above that barbeque chicken place next to Witton station.
I wish Houllier luck in the role.
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I do wonder just who this 'perfect' manager is for Villa that people are hankering after. According to some of the replies I've read here, we should be after a man who has an excellent knowledge of world football and is prepared to spend money, but not too much, on superstars that nobody has heard of. He should also have a backroom team full of committed and knowledgable Villa fans who could name the team who started our first match in the Third Division without a beat. The football he has his team play should be dynamic, exciting and concede less than ten all season. He should purposely leave out all the players the majority of people who post on here think are shit yet have the personal charm to deflect any player unrest. His contract will be on a game-by-game basis until a richer club comes in for him, when said contract will automatically be worth ten years and will need to be compensated accordingly. He will not be the board's yes man but his relationship with them will see a magical harmony settle across B6. He will be a trophy specialist yet know utterly that fourth place is all that counts. He will be like a father to his squad, none of whom will ever entertain an overture from Manchester City while he is in charge. And finally, he will work for 1 and 6, a dripping sandwich and live above that barbeque chicken place next to Witton station.
I wish Houllier luck in the role.
I can't argue with a single word of that.
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I don't know whats happened for Houllier to be seen as some sort of clown. He's a fine manager, my only worries with him are his time out of the game and his health issues.
edit: and his style of football.
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He hasnt really been out of the game thou. He breathes Football....
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I do wonder just who this 'perfect' manager is for Villa that people are hankering after. According to some of the replies I've read here, we should be after a man who has an excellent knowledge of world football and is prepared to spend money, but not too much, on superstars that nobody has heard of. He should also have a backroom team full of committed and knowledgable Villa fans who could name the team who started our first match in the Third Division without a beat. The football he has his team play should be dynamic, exciting and concede less than ten all season. He should purposely leave out all the players the majority of people who post on here think are shit yet have the personal charm to deflect any player unrest. His contract will be on a game-by-game basis until a richer club comes in for him, when said contract will automatically be worth ten years and will need to be compensated accordingly. He will not be the board's yes man but his relationship with them will see a magical harmony settle across B6. He will be a trophy specialist yet know utterly that fourth place is all that counts. He will be like a father to his squad, none of whom will ever entertain an overture from Manchester City while he is in charge. And finally, he will work for 1 and 6, a dripping sandwich and live above that barbeque chicken place next to Witton station.
I wish Houllier luck in the role.
Excellent post, curiousorange.
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His signings for Liverpool were very hit or miss but cant argue with his record there.
But recently I thought his signings were Lyon were excellent..
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I do wonder just who this 'perfect' manager is for Villa that people are hankering after. According to some of the replies I've read here, we should be after a man who has an excellent knowledge of world football and is prepared to spend money, but not too much, on superstars that nobody has heard of. He should also have a backroom team full of committed and knowledgable Villa fans who could name the team who started our first match in the Third Division without a beat. The football he has his team play should be dynamic, exciting and concede less than ten all season. He should purposely leave out all the players the majority of people who post on here think are shit yet have the personal charm to deflect any player unrest. His contract will be on a game-by-game basis until a richer club comes in for him, when said contract will automatically be worth ten years and will need to be compensated accordingly. He will not be the board's yes man but his relationship with them will see a magical harmony settle across B6. He will be a trophy specialist yet know utterly that fourth place is all that counts. He will be like a father to his squad, none of whom will ever entertain an overture from Manchester City while he is in charge. And finally, he will work for 1 and 6, a dripping sandwich and live above that barbeque chicken place next to Witton station.
I wish Houllier luck in the role.
Excellent post, curiousorange.
Very good, nailed most of H & V with that.
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MON has left a big hole to fill - personality-wise and what might be something in terms of a power vacuum. Houllier is well respected and less of a gamble than Sven, more inspiring than Curbishley, less risky than McDonald. I'd have preferred McLeish. A few weeks earlier, we might have got Hughes, who I feel is the right age and experience, with something still to prove.
Houllier is a safe-ish pair of hands, appears a proper football man, won't be daunted by "big" egos and I'm sure he has kept an eye on the Premiership from over the Channel. He has a battle on for us to maintain our position of the last few seasons though - and his latter years at Liverpool were poor. I expect he will have a tiny honeymoon period. There were enough doom-mongers moaning after we finished sixth and went to Wembley twice - the expectation level around VP is ludicrous - and with not a penny spent over the summer it won't be long before the whinges re-start.
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MON has left a big hole to fill - personality-wise
Never really understood that with MON.
Always thought he come across as a twat in interviews, when he tried to be funny or clever.
I remember many on this site saying what a wanker he was on those MOTD World cups, before he joined us.
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I do wonder just who this 'perfect' manager is for Villa that people are hankering after. According to some of the replies I've read here, we should be after a man who has an excellent knowledge of world football and is prepared to spend money, but not too much, on superstars that nobody has heard of. He should also have a backroom team full of committed and knowledgable Villa fans who could name the team who started our first match in the Third Division without a beat. The football he has his team play should be dynamic, exciting and concede less than ten all season. He should purposely leave out all the players the majority of people who post on here think are shit yet have the personal charm to deflect any player unrest. His contract will be on a game-by-game basis until a richer club comes in for him, when said contract will automatically be worth ten years and will need to be compensated accordingly. He will not be the board's yes man but his relationship with them will see a magical harmony settle across B6. He will be a trophy specialist yet know utterly that fourth place is all that counts. He will be like a father to his squad, none of whom will ever entertain an overture from Manchester City while he is in charge. And finally, he will work for 1 and 6, a dripping sandwich and live above that barbeque chicken place next to Witton station.
I wish Houllier luck in the role.
Excellent post, curiousorange.
Very good, nailed most of H & V with that.
quality post CO. Top marks sir
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Always thought he come across as a twat in interviews, when he tried to be funny or clever.
I don't mean so much with the media, although he was certainly eccentrically watchable/quotable, 50% guile and 50% nervous energy. But he seems to have been very much the boss in the old-style at Villa, for good or bad, right through the club, and you get the impression Randy is going to construct something more modern, in his own image, with his replacement. It remains to be seen whether it's more effective.
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Personally im quite pleased, Just had my enthusiasm dampened a bit after reading the Evening mail, some of the letters people send in are pathetic! The Villa have no ambition etc etc, The board shouldn't be allowed to be in charge of the new manager blah blah.
The man has a pedigree of winning, he has won trophies and I can't remember Liverpool being dull under him, We were hardly breathtaking under MON were we?
Good luck to him I say
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If Houllier gets the job I wish him all the best. He will have my support. At least he doesn't come with the nickname of the previous incumbent, The Poison Dwarf; a name that was fully justified by the time he left.
I look forward to giving him a rousing welcome at Stoke and more so when he first steps out at Villa Park.
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To me there is absolutely no reason to welcome the appointment of Houllier.
His teams play dreary football and his record at Liverpool in the transfer market was appalling. For those who think that MON "spunked" Randy's milllions should check out some of Houlliers signings.
Here's one, he wins things. Anyone else?
Most people who manage Liverpool win something - even Souness.
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If Houllier gets the job I wish him all the best. He will have my support.
Same for me. This is my club and if he is the manager of my club I will support him and give him time based on realistic expectations.
I would have preferred somebody more long term with a stategic view for the future of the club but that is in the past now, so good luck Houllier. Just pleased it was not a British Manager as none would take us where we want to be as they all manage for today and not the future - even David Moyes.
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really wasnt looking forward to the season under MON,
but now its the future with Houllier, which is in its self a change and a bit more exciting hopefully.
my for's for Houllier are -
experience,
knowledge of the French and European players
different tactics
seems to be a team builder, and not a quick fix merchant
against -
style of play, by many accounts was a bit boring at Liverpool
transfers, at Liverpool were at best dire
we arnt going to tick all the boxes, and he could be just the job for Villa at the moment,
i certainly will look forward to him starting, and hopefully taking us on a bit further
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I'll take the boringness as long as he keeps us in the top 6 and then improves us in January.
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I don't remember the Liverpool UEFA Cup Final win under GH being all that boring. What a game that was for a neutral that night.