Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: shaef on September 08, 2010, 08:54:13 PM
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on the official site now
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The link doesn't say much though.. just AVFC
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Welcome aboard Gerard, may your experience and knowledge bring us success.
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Ah, well that secrets now out of the bag.
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Waaaah Waaaah Waaaaah. Won't can't everything happen NOW. Waaah waaaah waaaah.
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Hurrah... the waiting game is over, it's confirmed and now official Monsieur Houllier is our manager (even though we've known this for nearly a week, lol).
I'm interested to see who'll be assistant manager.
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Welcome Gerard, best of British luck to you!
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Welcometo Villa Park Mr. Houllier.
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well it took an age but finally we have a Manager. Welcome Gerard.
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Boo Hoo I Wanted someone betta ;)
Only kidding ... Good luck Monsieur Houllier - I see you call us great fans - whats French for fickle?
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Houllier appointment just been confirmed on Sky Sports
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Ok now its official can we lose all references to MON in the title, an new era has begun.
Long live Gezza 8)
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DW on SSN right now...
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Daves on SSN now
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On BBC Sport website too; Gerard Houllier welcome to Aston Villa Football Club!
Thank God all that is over; a waste of a transfer window but let's get behind the new manager and here's hoping for a great season
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Ooo and Dave W is on the tv.
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Fair play to the Board for apparently digging themselves out of the hole they had fallen into. Good appointment for us - maybe not the kind that will take on to a decade of success but an experienced operator nonetheless. Thumbs up from over here.
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DW on SSN right now...
I hadn't heard Dave's voice before. I don't know why, but it did surprise me that he had a brummie accent.. Maybe I need a sleep.
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Chocolate voice
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Dave Woodhall's got his contacts sorted... did that fit woman in the red tight top who's presenting on SSN ring you up to talk about Houllier?
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Very sensible comments too. Personally I'm happy with this appointment. Don't think we could have done much better given the circumstances.
Now let's all get behind him.
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They must be paying well.
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Glad to see finally sorted.
Welcome Gerard.
Interesting to note, he was not a name mentioned on the poll! Show's what we all know.
This must be our season for the FA Cup!
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DW on SSN right now...
I hadn't heard Dave's voice before. I don't know why, but it did surprise me that he had a brummie accent.. Maybe I need a sleep.
that's what I thought when I first heard him speak. How speaks in person compared to how he comes across on the internet is quite a contrast lol.
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They must be paying well.
I wonder if GuyM did the subtitles.
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Considering the names being bandied about over the past few weeks this is a top class appointment. Well done to Randy and co for pulling this one out of the bag. I'm really looking forward to see what he can bring to the club.
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Welcome Mr Houllier, may you be very successful.
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Anyone know anything on who will be assistant? If it was KMac surely they will have mentioned it...
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Welcome to the Villa, Ged.
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Welcome, G-Ho.
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aston_villa/8969268.stm
Certainly saying all the right things. Welcome Gerard.
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Welcome and all the best!
And well done the Board. Not easy, didn't see this one coming, a really good choice in my opinion.
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Welcome aboard Mr H
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Bienvenue a la Villa, Gerard. Bonne chance!
Pardon me if my French is a tad rusty.
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Wow just heard Collymore speak absolute tripe on talksport. How is is a bad appointment, how we only gave a 2 year contract (even though his fave manager MON only had a 1 year deal).
Also saying that we should be looking at Birmingham City, Stoke and Sunderland as these are the teams we are competing with.
What a twat!
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Some very stupid people e-mailing in on SSN, not surprising, but someone questioned his lack of ability to work with youth, despite bringing through most of the 98 French world cup winning team.
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Welcome Gerard. Now lets get on with the season. Glad I booked my anual pilgrimage for the Bolton game now.
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"I could not turn down the opportunity to manage a club whose approach, both on and off the pitch, I have long admired,"
Wonder who told him to say that
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And another who said that he hadn't managed in around 8 years. Riiiiiiiiiight.
Welcome Gerard, do your namesakes proud.
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Wow just heard Collymore speak absolute tripe on talksport. How is is a bad appointment, how we only gave a 2 year contract (even though his fave manager MON only had a 1 year deal).
Also saying that we should be looking at Birmingham City, Stoke and Sunderland as these are the teams we are competing with.
What a twat!
All that dogging (allegedly) on Cannock Chase has addled his (small) brain ! Villa fan my arse !
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Good luck to him. Now let's press on with the season, get behind the team and the manager and show that we're better than 6th in the PL. And a cup would be nice, Monsieur H.
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Wouldn't have been my first choice but welcome GH and I will get behind you all the way.
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Good luck to him. Now let's press on with the season, get behind the team and the manager and show that we're better than 6th in the PL. And a cup would be nice, Monsieur H.
Well said Frank, agree with all that.
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against -
style of play, by many accounts was a bit boring at Liverpool
transfers, at Liverpool were at best dire
At worst they were poor, granted, but at best they were superb.
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I'm just glad the speculation is over.
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Wow just heard Collymore speak absolute tripe on talksport. How is is a bad appointment, how we only gave a 2 year contract (even though his fave manager MON only had a 1 year deal).
Also saying that we should be looking at Birmingham City, Stoke and Sunderland as these are the teams we are competing with.
What a twat!
Is this the same Collymore that's allowed to write in the Villa Programme?!?
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OK, no more negative bollocks, time to get on with the football at last. Welcome Ged.
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Collymore by all accounts talks out of his arse.
And welcome boss.
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All that dogging (allegedly) on Cannock Chase has addled his (small) brain ! Villa fan my arse !
To be fair to Stan, I don't think you can doubt his passion for the Villa. He's just a pessimistic, slightly daft sod. But so are lots of fans.
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Considering the names being bandied about over the past few weeks this is a top class appointment. Well done to Randy and co for pulling this one out of the bag. I'm really looking forward to see what he can bring to the club.
fook, I agree with CS for the first time... yes great appointment ..
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They must be paying well.
I wonder if GuyM did the subtitles.
That was my posh voice, cheeky bollocks.
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asking steve staunton now if hes the No 2 on sky ,
fook off.....
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Hold onto your seats
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Wow just heard Collymore speak absolute tripe on talksport. How is is a bad appointment, how we only gave a 2 year contract (even though his fave manager MON only had a 1 year deal).
Also saying that we should be looking at Birmingham City, Stoke and Sunderland as these are the teams we are competing with.
What a twat!
All that dogging (allegedly) on Cannock Chase has addled his (small) brain ! Villa fan my arse !
Can't be as bad as a appointment as his own appointment. I was so hoping he was the a final piece in our jigsaw that summer.
Welcome Gerard, glad to have you in charge. Good luck and let the good times roll
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Pretty pleased with that, good luck Gerrard.
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You'd not be happy with that then JP .........
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You'd not be happy with that then JP .........
not at all mate.....
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Welcome GH.
Not unhappy with the appointment, I am interested who the rest of the team will be and where K Mac fits in.
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Presumably I'm not the only one cringing at some of the emails they're reading out on SSN
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against -
style of play, by many accounts was a bit boring at Liverpool
transfers, at Liverpool were at best dire
At worst they were poor, granted, but at best they were superb.
Exactly Read Phil Mcnulty's blog, I picked out one bit
Houllier's transfer record is often criticised and even he would struggle to make a case to defend the failures of players such as El-Hadji Diouf, Salif Diao and Bruno Cheyrou at Liverpool. Indeed, those three players are often paraded as the symbols of the beginning of the end of the Houllier era at Anfield - perhaps with some justification.
But the critics may care to remember masterstrokes, such as the signing of Sami Hyypia, a snip at £2.5m from Willem II (helped by a glowing reference from a Dutch television cameraman on a visit to Anfield), who went on to become one of the finest players and servants of the modern Liverpool era.
Stephane Henchoz was another inspirational addition to the spine of the team Houllier rebuilt. Then there was Didi Hamman, goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek and Gary McAllister.
If Houllier can recapture some of that magic in the market - and his knowledge of players has always been encyclopaedic - then the worries of the Villa faithful might just disappear.
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You'd not be happy with that then JP .........
not at all mate.....
Only reason I would like it is for the sheer comedy value of stan saying Randy Lerner in that thick Louth accent of his.
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All that dogging (allegedly) on Cannock Chase has addled his (small) brain ! Villa fan my arse !
To be fair to Stan, I don't think you can doubt his passion for the Villa. He's just a pessimistic, slightly daft sod. But so are lots of fans.
Stan is very passionate about Villa when he talks about us on talkSPORT nearly everyday; sometimes I agree with him, sometimes I don't (especially when he sucks up to MON) but he's nowhere hear as bad as some of the doom and gloom merchants who call themselves Villa fans.
Regardless if you wanted Houllier as manager as not, we should all fully support him and give him a chance instead of moaning before we've even kicked a ball under Houllier as manager. Whichever manager we got in, I am sure not every Villa would have been happy. A win against anti-football Stoke will make all the negative Villa fans who don't want Houllier as manager re-think before they pass judgement.
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Welcome to VP Gerard - here's to further improvement, & some interesting transfer windows with your European contacts.
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Steve Staunton? Not that wanker.
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Welcome to VP Gerard - here's to further improvement, & some interesting transfer windows with your European contacts.
Let's hope so.
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Welcome Gerard. Prove me wrong !!
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Great news!!
welcome Houllier, also the comment on page one where someone said what is french for Fickle! made me lauph!
Gerard Houllier's claret blue army!
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New manager syndrome 0-6 on Monday night!
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Welcome GH.
Time to win us something.
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He says pleasant things about us on the BBC, I look forward to your success Gerard.
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Welcome Gerard
Hope your second in charge is a good appointment as well. Give the lads a good team talk and lets batter Stoke.
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Welcome to VP Gerard - here's to further improvement, & some interesting transfer windows with your European contacts.
He is shit with transfers. the French oniel
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Good luck Hools.
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Welcome Mr H. Looking forward to him raiding the french youth pool of talent!
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Steve Staunton? Not that wanker.
bit harsh! i would welcome Steve to Villa park.
what did Staunton say about the Assistant Managers possition?
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some twat said he failed at liverpool..... some people aint got a clue..
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Wow just heard Collymore speak absolute tripe on talksport. How is is a bad appointment, how we only gave a 2 year contract (even though his fave manager MON only had a 1 year deal).
Also saying that we should be looking at Birmingham City, Stoke and Sunderland as these are the teams we are competing with.
What a twat!
He's not a twat at all.
I don't agree with his opinion about Houllier, but Collymore is not a twat mate.
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Steve Staunton? Not that wanker.
bit harsh! i would welcome Steve to Villa park.
what did Staunton say about the Assistant Managers possition?
[/quote
watch this space
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.......... and welcome on board Gerard, here's to a great future at VP.
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Gerard Hou?
Someone had to say it.
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Steve Staunton? Not that wanker.
Why is he a wanker?
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Wow just heard Collymore speak absolute tripe on talksport. How is is a bad appointment, how we only gave a 2 year contract (even though his fave manager MON only had a 1 year deal).
Also saying that we should be looking at Birmingham City, Stoke and Sunderland as these are the teams we are competing with.
What a twat!
He's not a twat at all.
I don't agree with his opinion about Houllier, but Collymore is not a twat mate.
The only thing saving him from twat status with me was that he said nice things about the club.
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I thought hou signed some decent players at Lyon
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Welcome Gerard (Houllier not Steve).....Staunton or Saunders as no.2 ?...how long to find out ?
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I thought hou signed some decent players at Lyon
He signed some decent ones at Liverpool, too! Some rubbish, true, but then what manager hasn't signed some duffers?!
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well the 'nothing' he achieved at Liverpool would do for us.
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someone shoot this arse fan on Talksport...twat
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I don't agree with his opinion about Houllier, but Collymore is not a twat mate.
Anyone who wastes that much talent is a grade A twat with gold star and bar.
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Steve Staunton? Not that wanker.
bit harsh! i would welcome Steve to Villa park.
what did Staunton say about the Assistant Managers possition?
He's more of a gimp than a wanker to be fair. Hope he wont considered for the post. The lads in work are allready sniggering at that prospect. He's clueless, bless him.
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Welcome Gerard. Remember we were 4th when you took over ;)
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I thought hou signed some decent players at Lyon
He signed some decent ones at Liverpool, too! Some rubbish, true, but then what manager hasn't signed some duffers?!
our fookin last manager
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well the 'nothing' he achieved at Liverpool would do for us.
Absolutely
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The people who are going mad, I wonder what they would have made of Curbs or Southgate or even worse Sven or Bradley
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I thought hou signed some decent players at Lyon
He signed some decent ones at Liverpool, too! Some rubbish, true, but then what manager hasn't signed some duffers?!
our fookin last manager
I'm sure he did, you know!
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Steve Staunton? Not that wanker.
bit harsh! i would welcome Steve to Villa park.
what did Staunton say about the Assistant Managers possition?
He's more of a gimp than a wanker to be fair. Hope he wont considered for the post. The lads in work are allready sniggering at that prospect. He's clueless, bless him.
Staunton said Villas in his heart , he wants to be on the training ground and watch this space ;-s
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Welcome to Aston Villa Mr Houllier.
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He did not have a clue at all with the Ireland team, and constantly looked lost and out of his depth against far weaker opponents. It was embarrassing.
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He did not have a clue at all with the Ireland team, and constantly looked lost and out of his depth against far weaker opponents. It was embarrassing.
But he's not going to be the manager he's going to be the assistant or coach, If he taught Downing how to swing in a centre from the left like he used to, would you complain?
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I don't agree with his opinion about Houllier, but Collymore is not a twat mate.
Anyone who wastes that much talent is a grade A twat with gold star and bar.
I'm referring to his intellect , not his football career.
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I don't agree with his opinion about Houllier, but Collymore is not a twat mate.
Anyone who wastes that much talent is a grade A twat with gold star and bar.
To be given that talent and to be given the chance to grace "your teams" colours and fail so miserable can not pass judgement in my opinion
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Patrice Bergues as assistant.
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Welcome to the club Gerard, may you lead us to the promised land.
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I don't agree with his opinion about Houllier, but Collymore is not a twat mate.
Anyone who wastes that much talent is a grade A twat with gold star and bar.
Going madly off topic, and can't remember too well, but didn't he have depression around the time of him being at villa?
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I don't agree with his opinion about Houllier, but Collymore is not a twat mate.
Anyone who wastes that much talent is a grade A twat with gold star and bar.
To be given that talent and to be given the chance to grace "your teams" colours and fail so miserable can not pass judgement in my opinion
Whatever.
I hope Gerard proves him wrong in any event ..... and it's about opinions.
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Patrice Bergues as assistant.
For definate?
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Patrice Bergues as assistant.
Sounds rather er French ( off to Google !)
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I don't agree with his opinion about Houllier, but Collymore is not a twat mate.
Anyone who wastes that much talent is a grade A twat with gold star and bar.
Going madly off topic, and can't remember too well, but didn't he have depression around the time of him being at villa?
He did, but whether it was cause or effect is open to debate. Stan's always come across as a great bloke in person but I can't get round the fact that he should have won us the league and England the World Cup.
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Patrice Bergues as assistant.
Patrice Bergues, eh? Interesting!
*googles*
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I don't agree with his opinion about Houllier, but Collymore is not a twat mate.
Anyone who wastes that much talent is a grade A twat with gold star and bar.
I'm referring to his intellect , not his football career.
I know plenty of educated, intelligent twats.
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Patrice Bergues as assistant.
Sounds rather er French ( off to Google !)
worked with him at Lens and Lyon so makes sense.
As an aside I know a really fit bird called Patrice.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/philmcnulty/2010/09/why_houllier_deserves_respect.html
Phil McNulty is batting for Gerard ( don't know if it's been posted before or not).
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Gerald Houlliers claret et bleu armée :o
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It was between Sven and Houllier, with not much to choose. I wish him well. It s going to be tough.
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Patrice Bergues worked with him at Lyon & Liverpool from what I can make out.
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Patrice Bergues worked with him at Lyon & Liverpool from what I can make out.
Yep, similar age too.
Maybe KevMac can add some youth in the backroom ? !
Maybe he will just go back to the sticks and doing what he's been doing and bank the extra few grand he will have been given for his temporary assignment.
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I still think there could be a Head Coach role there for KM - expanding what he did previously to give him an input on the first team.
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Patrice Bergues as assistant.
Sounds rather er French ( off to Google !)
worked with him at Lens and Lyon so makes sense.
As an aside I know a really fit bird called Patrice.
The only Patrice i can think of (except for Evra) is Patrice the French exchange student from that brilliant episode of the Inbetweeners.
"Your mother, she has the sex" etc.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/philmcnulty/2010/09/why_houllier_deserves_respect.html
Phil McNulty is batting for Gerard ( don't know if it's been posted before or not).
The Germans have crossed the Polish border. Don't know if it's been posted before or not.
*wink*
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He's not a twat at all.
I don't agree with his opinion about Houllier, but Collymore is not a twat mate.
Nope, hes just a scumbag who beats up women.
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I don't agree with his opinion about Houllier, but Collymore is not a twat mate.
Anyone who wastes that much talent is a grade A twat with gold star and bar.
To be given that talent and to be given the chance to grace "your teams" colours and fail so miserable can not pass judgement in my opinion
Whatever.
I hope Gerard proves him wrong in any event ..... and it's about opinions.
15 goals in 3 years for Villa.
I'm still waiting for Collywobble's apology.
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It is obvious St. Martin can do no wrong in Collymores eyes.
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Beinvenue et bon chance.
(Sits back and waits for BE to inform me that that makes no sense whatsoever.)
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collymore is a twat, villa fan my arse !
be good to hear ian taylors views, now there is a true villa fan !!! be superb if he could be involved in coaching somewhere in the villa
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We've had a dozen or more Collymore threads over the years. Is this really the time - or more pertinently - the place for another?
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Steve Staunton when questioned about assistants post on SSN "Villas in my heart,Watch this space" !
P.S Welcome Monsieur H
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It is obvious St. Martin can do no wrong in Collymores eyes.
I heard him interview MON once, and he did that cringeworthy thing of still referring to him as "gafffer" at the end of every sentence.
I heard Jason Cundy do the same thing on TalkSport the other week, too, whilst interviewing George Burley, except he managed to drop "gaffer" into the middle of sentences, too.
I like Collymore, in that he's not afraid to say what he thinks, and he is a Villa fan. However, all the time he is talking, there is a big sign in front of my eyes flashing the illuminated phrase "HE'S A TWAT" on and off.
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It is obvious St. Martin can do no wrong in Collymores eyes.
I heard him interview MON once, and he did that cringeworthy thing of still referring to him as "gafffer" at the end of every sentence.
I heard Jason Cundy do the same thing on TalkSport the other week, too, whilst interviewing George Burley, except he managed to drop "gaffer" into the middle of sentences, too.
I like Collymore, in that he's not afraid to say what he thinks, and he is a Villa fan. However, all the time he is talking, there is a big sign in front of my eyes flashing the illuminated phrase "HE'S A TWAT" on and off.
haha love it paulie !!
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Stan Collymore was chiefly responsible for the departure of the man who the Villa job meant more to than any other manager in history. In that context 'twat' is mild.
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Out of curiosity, did Collymore mention who he thought should have the manager's job, or was he too busy defending MON to say?
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Welcome...I'm hopeful...and willing to write off this season at matching last. After that...I want you to be jumping thro houlier hoops to bring us joy.
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Welcome Gerard
Personaly, I wonder if we possibly may have employed an out of favour but very competant manager, a good appointment considering the other options.
Wouldnt surprise me if Houliers stock rises back to the level that made him the manager liverpool valued in his early days. He's a champions league manager (or has been), and to be honest would we attract a manager of that calibre/experience if they were at the top of their managerial game? Could be a great appointment by Randy.
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I'm feeling really positive about this appointment.Houllier is a winner and obviously still feels he has a point to prove despite his previous health issues I've got a really good feeling about this :)
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Stan Collymore was chiefly responsible for the departure of the man who the Villa job meant more to than any other manager in history. In that context 'twat' is mild.
Exactly and when we look at Villa greats that carry that feeling about the club and proved it through thier actions then sadly stan will be a long way down the league table and he that walked on water will be very close to if not at the top
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Welcome Gerard
Personaly, I wonder if we possibly may have employed an out of favour but very competant manager, a good appointment considering the other options.
Wouldnt surprise me if Houliers stock rises back to the level that made him the manager liverpool valued in his early days. He's a champions league manager (or has been), and to be honest would we attract a manager of that calibre/experience if they were at the top of their managerial game? Could be a great appointment by Randy.
Interesting point, that. I also think that, if Houllier had turned up at, say, Juventus or Atletico Madrid or Munich or the like, I wouldn't have been surprised. From that point of view (and it's not the most important thing, to my mind), he is a 'big name' manager.
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I want to be optimistic, honestly.
So lets just say:
Gerard, if you make Trevor Francis blub like a fuckin two year old baby whats fell off his fuckin bike, twice more this year, then you're alright by me.
Good Luck
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Welcome Gerard, hopefully this is the dawn of a new exciting era in our history. I believe he will lift the air of discontent which, despite our moderate success over the last few seasons, has been hanging over the club. Under the circumstances this is a good / safe appointment.
With regard to the assistant manager, again I think we need someone experience of coaching at Premiership level. Steve Staunton was a fine player & carried us for a couple of years but I have doubts after his experience with Ireland, which came far too early after his playing career ended. Saw him at Dublin airport a couple of weeks ago with his kids who were wearing Villa tops.
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Out of curiosity, did Collymore mention who he thought should have the manager's job, or was he too busy defending MON to say?
iirc his 3 originally were
Moyes
McLeish
and Jol?
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Welcome Gerard. Not an immediate choice of mine, but then I also don't think this is a bad appointment at all. Just glad the circus has ended and we can get down to business. Thankfully he is inheriting a bloody good squad of players, and hopefully some supportive fans who give him a fair crack.
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Out of curiosity, did Collymore mention who he thought should have the manager's job, or was he too busy defending MON to say?
iirc his 3 originally were
Moyes
McLeish
and Jol?
Moyes - was denied permission to speak to us by Everton
Jol- Decided to stay at Ajax
McLeish - Ginger
So go on Stan - who else?
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its not the most exciting appointment but when you look at it in the context of the situation we are in its a bloody good shot at it, I wish the bloke the very best, there is big job to be done, we are going to be in a phase of transition but we could come out of this pertiod a lot stronger
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Bof! (basically a French equivalent of "meh!" and pretty much sums up how I feel about the whole situation)
Bonne chance, Gerard!
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its not the most exciting appointment but when you look at it in the context of the situation we are in its a bloody good shot at it, I wish the bloke the very best, there is big job to be done, we are going to be in a phase of transition but we could come out of this pertiod a lot stronger
Well said, Hawkeye.
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Really pleased with this now it's all done and dusted. Good luck Gerard, welcome to the best club in the world
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Wow just heard Collymore speak absolute tripe on talksport. How is is a bad appointment, how we only gave a 2 year contract (even though his fave manager MON only had a 1 year deal).
Also saying that we should be looking at Birmingham City, Stoke and Sunderland as these are the teams we are competing with.
What a twat!
He's not a twat at all.
I don't agree with his opinion about Houllier, but Collymore is not a twat mate.
Sorry..I should change that.
In MY OPINION Stan Collymore is a woman beating, talent wasting, dirty dogging twat!!!
Any better?
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Bof! (basically a French equivalent of "meh!" and pretty much sums up how I feel about the whole situation)
Bonne chance, Gerard!
Just about the one word I remember from those long and boring hours in the French class rooms!
Well that and merde.
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its not the most exciting appointment but when you look at it in the context of the situation we are in its a bloody good shot at it, I wish the bloke the very best, there is big job to be done, we are going to be in a phase of transition but we could come out of this pertiod a lot stronger
Well said, Hawkeye.
cheers mate, it reminds me of a thread asking are we in a stronger or weaker position than last season, i have to say that if you gave me the option of 4th in the league, some exciting prospects coming through and a manager GH with his experience, CV, ideas about the game, i happy to take that over another season of MONs limitations and ideosyncracies
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Anyone notice the statement from Mr Faulkner requesting the fans to support
the new manager and team ?.................what does he expect us to do (till Xmas anyway)
Welcome to Aston Villa Mr Houllier - I hope you give us 'amazing fans' something to cheer-
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Patrice Bergues as assistant.
So in a way, we also got Martin Jol. Absolute double.
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On a more serious note, Patrice Bergues sounds fantastic.
Very interesting comments here from the Red Scouse..
Houllier was strong willed and would stick to his game plan as he was the man with the plan.
All was set to change however when someone offered Houllier's right hand man a dream job.
When Patrice Bergues left Anfield he took with him a major part of the 5 year plan because he understood what Houllier wanted and had the quiet determination to deliver it. Bergues really was and still is a fantastic coach with tremendous defensive knowledge. Houllier relied on him to deliver the goods via his purchases and took Bergues advice on almost everything.
Houllier has tried to replace him but to no avail and without such skill and knowledge Houllier is only half the manager he could have claimed to be.
Houllier needs to be surrounded by experts and talent as he was at the French F.A. but at Liverpool he has the will but not the way.
Whilst Bergues went on to take little Lens to 2nd (on the last day of the season having been top for several months) in the French League, Houllier hasn't been up to his job.
Perhaps the only thing that could save Houllier's image would be to bring Patrice back......but that wont happen.
http://forums.thisisanfield.com/archive/index.php/t-2214.html
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Build on last season, win 3 extra cup ties and a couple more league games, we should be up and running.
It's a new era, bring it on.
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Welcome to Villa Park and all the best.
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I'd like to propose a new song to welcome Msr Houllier to Villa Park
(To the tune of Bergerac)
Ge-rard Hooooooo
Hou-Hou-Hou...lier
Ge-rard Hoooooooo
Hou-Hou-Hou...lier
He's got big feet
And hands like plates of meat
(but nice French meat)
Ge-rard Hooooo
Hou-Hou-Hou...lier
Is a manly manly man
MKH MKH MKH MKH
Welcome Gerard, and the best of brown luck from me and Bernard (Bernard doesn't really like football, but I make him watch it anyway otherwise he doesn't get any tea)
Love Glenn
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I'm not too keen on this:
http://www.lefigaro.fr/football-clubs-etrangers/2010/09/04/02017-20100904ARTSPO00426-houllier-vers-aston-villa.php
Gérard Houllier retrouve donc un championnat qu'il connait bien, lui qui a ramené Liverpool au plus haut niveau entre 1998 et 2004 avec notamment un triplé historique en 2001 (Cup, Coupe de la Ligue, Coupe de l'UEFA). «Aston Villa n'est pas un club du niveau de Liverpool, reconnait-t-il. Soyons objectifs et honnêtes… C'est un club qui se situe, pour moi, entre la septième et la douzième place. C'est surtout un club historique, qui a gagné la Ligue des Champions (Ndlr : en 1982). C'est un club qui a de très bonnes installations, une bonne équipe et qui ne demande qu'une chose : progresser d'année en année.» Pourquoi choisir un club de milieu de tableau anglais, après avoir goûté au plus haut niveau par le passé ? «J'ai bien sûr eu d'autres propositions, mais celle-là me semblait être la plus intéressante en termes d'environnement, de conditions de travail», assure-t-il.
Unless I'm mistaken (and I probably am), that translates as:
"Aston Villa is not a club of the same level as Liverpool" he said. "Let's be objective and honest, it is a club which, for me, finds itself between seventh and twelfth place. It is above all a historic club, which has won the European Cup. It is a club which a very good set up, a good team, and which demands just one thing: to progress year on year". Why choose a mid table English club after having tasted a higher level in the past? "I had other offers, but this seemed to me the most interesting in terms of environment, of work conditions"
Hmm.
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Is that for real?
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Is that for real?
pauliewalnuts' translation is indeed pretty accurate and the article does indeed seem to be genuine with direct quotes as opposed to the very British "a source close to Houllier revealed".
Won't make it into tomorrow's papers now, but I'm sure some hack will have read this thread and paulie's find and be sticking it in their paper on Friday. Having tweeted it first of course. Because that's what everyone does nowadays.
Like I said... bof!
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I had a feeling the General had written his comments tonight when I read the line about "amazing set of fans". Glenn Peen turns up and Houllier puts his right foot in the poo-poo. Coincidence? I doubt it.
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A dreadful appointment but I guess we had very few choices once MON left us in the lurch.
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Good Luck Gerard - lets hope this is the start of a bright future
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Is that for real?
pauliewalnuts' translation is indeed pretty accurate and the article does indeed seem to be genuine with direct quotes as opposed to the very British "a source close to Houllier revealed".
Won't make it into tomorrow's papers now, but I'm sure some hack will have read this thread and paulie's find and be sticking it in their paper on Friday. Having tweeted it first of course. Because that's what everyone does nowadays.
Like I said... bof!
Hmm, I dunno. He's bound to have heard that he wasn't particularly wanted here with open arms with some fans, so to say that is beyond stupidity.
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i am pretty disturbed by that Paulie, why the fuck would he say that? i did a google translation, my only hope is the context under which the questions were asked, if this gets publicised i can see trouble
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Trust Capello to take us off the headlines by making his oh so obvious statement.
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i am pretty disturbed by that Paulie, why the fuck would he say that? i did a google translation, my only hope is the context under which the questions were asked, if this gets publicised i can see trouble
Only on the internet would a throwaway line by a new manager raise even the slightest of eyebrows.
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i am pretty disturbed by that Paulie, why the fuck would he say that? i did a google translation, my only hope is the context under which the questions were asked, if this gets publicised i can see trouble
Only on the internet would a throwaway line by a new manager raise even the slightest of eyebrows.
To be honest, it wasn't a throwaway line, it was a whole paragraph of it.
And there wasn't much need to say it in the first place.
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i am pretty disturbed by that Paulie, why the fuck would he say that? i did a google translation, my only hope is the context under which the questions were asked, if this gets publicised i can see trouble
Only on the internet would a throwaway line by a new manager raise even the slightest of eyebrows.
To be honest, it wasn't a throwaway line, it was a whole paragraph of it.
And there wasn't much need to say it in the first place.
He'll explain it away if asked, everything's sorted.
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i am pretty disturbed by that Paulie, why the fuck would he say that? i did a google translation, my only hope is the context under which the questions were asked, if this gets publicised i can see trouble
Only on the internet would a throwaway line by a new manager raise even the slightest of eyebrows.
To be honest, it wasn't a throwaway line, it was a whole paragraph of it.
And there wasn't much need to say it in the first place.
He'll explain it away if asked, everything's sorted.
I'm sure he will.
Still said it, though. Seems a bit silly to me. A bit disappointing.
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Bonjour Monsieur Houllier, bien venu !
Bon chance ! Allez les claret et blues ! :D
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Welcome Gerard. Hope you enjoyed your honeymoon.
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Nice to see the £50 I put on a 10/1 has been paid out Welcome GH!
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Welcome Gerard. Hope you enjoyed your honeymoon.
World's shortest honeymoon. Fact!
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Welcome Gerard. Hope you enjoyed your honeymoon.
World's shortest honeymoon. Fact!
Well, it's a hard act to follow.
*sincer-o-face*
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Welcome Gerard. Hope you enjoyed your honeymoon.
World's shortest honeymoon. Fact!
Well it was a shotgun wedding.
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Nice to see the £50 I put on a 10/1 has been paid out Welcome GH!
you lucky bastard...
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Glad we got that sorted.
I think we will do better than expected with GH. Our expectations aren't sky high and we always do well when we don't expect to.
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Glad we got that sorted.
I think we will do better than expected with GH. Our expectations aren't sky high and we always do well when we don't expect to.
Agree on both counts, Bren. Monday can't come soon enough.
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I'd like to know the questions and answers either side of that. Quite frankly, we're not Liverpool. Like Man U, they have a tradition of consistently winning trophies. We don't have that, at least not in our recent history, so the expectations are different. Most of us would be happy to see some silverware anytime soon. I also doubt he's left what one must imagine is a more comfortable job in France, to take control of a Premiership football team that has severely underachieved in the past 20 years, if he didn't have some ambition and desire to win things left in him.
I hope that his stay puts in place many of things that will make us into one of those teams that consistently competes for every trophy ever season, and further to that, we'll have won some things too during his tenure.
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We're not liverpool but why say it so starkly on day one?
And as for our natural station being 7th to12th.
I was very pleased with this appointment, but why on earth would he want to sound so O'Leary on day one?
I feel a bit annoyed.
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What are Ian Taylor's comment about Gerard ? I want it in words not audio :)
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Agree with paulie, thought he'd be a bit more respectful, and knowledgeable about us.
7-12th place my arse. Looks like he's covering his before he's even started.
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I look forward to seeing what GH can do & bring to the table.
As fans its our turn to do our job & get behind the man & the team, welcome GH.
Though from all the garbage I've been hearing off site about fans not wanting GH in, basically throwing their toys out of their prams, all I can say is; give a man £100 & he'll complain you gave it to him in £20's.
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Welcome GH.
Looking forward for stoke away this weekend.
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7th-12th has really pissed me off. And it is day 1.
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let's all calm down and see what he says tomorrow. I'm not going to get carried away or make any judgement on the man based on something in print or on the internet. Now if he says similar things in the press conference we have an issue. I want to hear from his mouth, not in an article, how he sees us and what he thinks we can achieve. We'll all have a better idea of where we are going then.
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Those comments are not really worth getting upset about, I think. I dare say it's how we are perceived outside of our own.
I prefer to focus on his more upbeat comments in re to how we have a good setup, how he likes the environment and conditions and also that the demand (and thus expectation) is to progress year on year.
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He's right though, isn't he? Fantastic infrastructure, proud history, likely finish 7th - 12th.
You might argue for 6th but given the mayhem of the last few months, is prediction is something to put money on.
Or maybe we should have hired some YES MAN who'll blow sunshine up our arses by saying that we're the greatest team currently on the planet and he'll guarantee a top 4 finish? That didn't work out too well for the last Liverpool manager, did it?
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I wonder what an imaginary internet of 1987 would have made of GT's comments when he joined the club then.
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Paul Faulkner:
“In fact, he stands out as a football man who understands the ethos of our club and shares our core values."
Sounds so corporate, 'core values' indeed, we're not ICI, we're in it to win it - aren't we ?
Not sure about the executive set up at AVFC.
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Can't see what the fuss is about his comments. He hasn't said anything that we don't already know. My only quibble is that I would put us as a club between 6-8 but that's hardly anything to shout home about.
It is M Houllier's job to try and take us into the next bracket and he has my full support. Bienvenue Gerard.
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I think he's a good appointment. He has a proven track record in the Premiership and in Europe. Welcome to our club Monsieur Houllier, OBE.
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Nice to see the £50 I put on a 10/1 has been paid out Welcome GH!
you lucky bastard...
Or a very good tip from a very good source about 4 days before his name was even mentioned....if had acted a few hours earlier 66/1....
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I had a few quid on but at 8/1.
Anyone been paid out yet? Ladbrokes are being rather slow online.
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While we wait and see what our new boss has to say, I am reminded of a manager we had a few years ago who made a point of constantly talking the club, and indeed the team down via a number of throw away lines. It is the wrong road to take and will set the fans against you almost immediately.
Houllier would do well not to make comparisions with Liverpool, or indeed mention his former club unless the subject is bought up by the press.
We are not as big or succesfull as Liverpool, we all know that but don't take kindly to being reminded of this, particularly by any member of staff at the club. That sort of thing is best left to glory hunting Reds in the pub.
What would be nice though is for the club to have the ambition to be as big and as succesfull as those ahead of us. It may be a gargantuan task but there's no harm in trying.
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Good luck Gerard! Hopefully you can bring us some of the success you have had with teams in the past...
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Paul Faulkner:
“In fact, he stands out as a football man who understands the ethos of our club and shares our core values."
Sounds so corporate, 'core values' indeed, we're not ICI, we're in it to win it - aren't we ?
Not sure about the executive set up at AVFC.
He's an executive of a multi-million pound company. When it comes to corporate speak these days, Alan Sugar is not the role model. I'm disappointed that we didn't get something like "We have committed to assertively integrate high-quality management techniques to exceed customer expectations" whilst maybe dropping out some old favourites like paradigm shift, low hanging fruit , proactive empowerment and dynamic tipping point. It's all bovine stools these days.
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Good luck Gerard! Hopefully you can bring us some of the success you have had with teams in the past...
Woah...just seen his quote. What a fucking idiot. You don't say that when you just join a club. DOL Pt.2?
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Good luck Gerard! Hopefully you can bring us some of the success you have had with teams in the past...
Woah...just seen his quote. What a fucking idiot. You don't say that when you just join a club. DOL Pt.2?
What quote?
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We're not liverpool but why say it so starkly on day one?
And as for our natural station being 7th to12th.
I was very pleased with this appointment, but why on earth would he want to sound so O'Leary on day one?
I feel a bit annoyed.
ahh i see
so whats all this about ??
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Paul Faulkner:
“In fact, he stands out as a football man who understands the ethos of our club and shares our core values."
Sounds so corporate, 'core values' indeed, we're not ICI, we're in it to win it - aren't we ?
Not sure about the executive set up at AVFC.
I'll take 'core values' to mean being a beacon of support to local charities, looking after and listening to, the fans, implementing improvements to the stadium and the facilities.
What do you take 'core values' to mean?
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I had a few quid on but at 8/1.
Anyone been paid out yet? Ladbrokes are being rather slow online.
Paddy Power paid out before 10pm last night, fair play.
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I had a few quid on but at 8/1.
Anyone been paid out yet? Ladbrokes are being rather slow online.
Took 9/2 from Betfair last Thursday - gutted i was too tight to go beyond their free £25 bet tho! A little paypal donation will be winging its way to H&V for the sure thing
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You can already hear the knives being sharpened and the poor f*&^%r hasnt even got the keys to his office yet
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i didnt want the joker as manager anyway and if he has said this according to paulie
Aston Villa is not a club of the same level as Liverpool" he said. "Let's be objective and honest, it is a club which, for me, finds itself between seventh and twelfth place. It is above all a historic club, which has won the European Cup. It is a club which a very good set up, a good team, and which demands just one thing: to progress year on year". Why choose a mid table English club after having tasted a higher level in the past? "I had other offers, but this seemed to me the most interesting in terms of environment, of work conditions"
i am very very angry
we deserve an explanation !!
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I think you need to calm yourself down dear.
This season we will more than likely finish between 7-12th place.
Liverpool have missed out on CL football twice in the last 12 odd years?
He is correct.
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it just seems like he wants another big club before he retires and this is a stepping stone !!
sounds like he is doing us a favour :-(
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Out of interest pmk, which part of it do you disagree with? Surely you don't expect him to come in and state unrealistic expectations? I think, sadly, people are just waiting for an opportunity to have a go at Gerard.
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Well to me it sounds like he feels this is challenge and one that already has the foundations to be a success.
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Quite pleased, makes alot of sense and I'm looking forward to a different approach. Glad the uncertanties over.
It's a risk, but a calculated one. His CV is immense and he knows how to finish top 4.
Welcome aboard, Gerard!
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Well according to Mac I have to like Ged.
As he fits my original profile for a prospective manager, I'd be churlish before he's put on his first Villa tie to criticise some stray article in which he speaks the truth, especially as it wasn't even a UK publication. Last time I looked we were not Liverpool, we are Villa with a not too full achievement record in recent times.
My only concern is his lack of PL experience in the last few years. That apart he's experienced, has won trophies has managed at a high level, and has the backing of the board. Media wise he's no slouch, doesn't have that big an ego like some recent manager we've had and offers the club plenty.
Whether he can maintain our top mid table finish and push on only time will tell, his main problem will be to overcome the bias from his predecessors fanbase on the terraces and in the media, which won't be easy.
That apart, with the right backing from Randy, as long as he maintains a sensible approach on the field of play, he's an interesting prospect, only his lack of recent high pressure managerial experience and the previous managers ghost can limit his and our progress.
Good luck to him, I'm excited at the prospect, be nice to prove Mac right for once
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"Let's be objective and honest, it is a club which, for me, finds itself between seventh and twelfth place. It is above all a historic club, which has won the European Cup. It is a club which a very good set up, a good team, and which demands just one thing: to progress year on year". Why choose a mid table English club after having tasted a higher level in the past? "I had other offers, but this seemed to me the most interesting in terms of environment, of work conditions"
Well, we finished 6th last year so we'll hardly want to finish between 7th and 12th this year will we? That isn't year on year progress. Don't see what the fuss is about.
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but to say 7th to 12th when we have finished 6th for the past 3 seasons running shows a complete lack of respect to what MON did and how we have progressed under Lerner.
If he thinks Villa fans will ‘settle’ for 8th than he is wrong, we will all want at least a 6th place finish again
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Houlier says Villa to big to turn down...
Thats good enough for me....
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Good luck Gerard! Hopefully you can bring us some of the success you have had with teams in the past...
Woah...just seen his quote. What a fucking idiot. You don't say that when you just join a club. DOL Pt.2?
"Let's be objective and honest, it is a club which, for me, finds itself between seventh and twelfth place. It is above all a historic club, which has won the European Cup. It is a club which a very good set up, a good team, and which demands just one thing: to progress year on year". Why choose a mid table English club after having tasted a higher level in the past? "I had other offers, but this seemed to me the most interesting in terms of environment, of work conditions"
Which part of what he said makes him a "fucking idiot"?
The likeliness that we'll finish between 7th and 12th? It's where I'd put my money.
A historic club? Absolutely, we're very very proud of our history.
Won the European Cup? Yep, and proud of that, too.
A good set up? Yep.
A good team? Potentially, yes.
Would like to see year on year improvement? Of course we would. MON stalled at this point and fucked off so it's time for someone else to have a bash.
Suitable working conditions and environment? Not a bad comment from a bloke who's been there, done that and had other offers to do it again.
So, which part makes him a fucking idiot?
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If he thinks Villa fans will ‘settle’ for 8th than he is wrong, we will all want at least a 6th place finish again
Is 8th place year on year progress from 6th? He'd be contradicting what he said if he thought we'd settle for 8th wouldn't he?
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Did GH apply for the job or did we approach him?
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it just seems like he wants another big club before he retires and this is a stepping stone !!
What, at 63?
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Well thanks to 5Live for an underwhelming and negative piece on the appointment.
Apparently Villa fans are not as "passionate" (God how I hate that term) as Liverpool fans and most of GH's signings were "duds"
F**k you and goodnight Aston Villa
I want him to succeed because I want Aston Villa to succeed so welcome Monsieur Houllier
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Good luck Gerard! Hopefully you can bring us some of the success you have had with teams in the past...
Woah...just seen his quote. What a fucking idiot. You don't say that when you just join a club. DOL Pt.2?
"Let's be objective and honest, it is a club which, for me, finds itself between seventh and twelfth place. It is above all a historic club, which has won the European Cup. It is a club which a very good set up, a good team, and which demands just one thing: to progress year on year". Why choose a mid table English club after having tasted a higher level in the past? "I had other offers, but this seemed to me the most interesting in terms of environment, of work conditions"
Which part of what he said makes him a "fucking idiot"?
The likeliness that we'll finish between 7th and 12th? It's where I'd put my money.
A historic club? Absolutely, we're very very proud of our history.
Won the European Cup? Yep, and proud of that, too.
A good set up? Yep.
A good team? Potentially, yes.
Would like to see year on year improvement? Of course we would. MON stalled at this point and fucked off so it's time for someone else to have a bash.
Suitable working conditions and environment? Not a bad comment from a bloke who's been there, done that and had other offers to do it again.
So, which part makes him a fucking idiot?
Well said that man :)
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Did GH apply for the job or did we approach him?
From what I've read he applied and was interviewed.
It was always going to take longer than Sven, Curbs etc as Houllier was employed by the French FA
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but to say 7th to 12th when we have finished 6th for the past 3 seasons running shows a complete lack of respect to what MON did and how we have progressed under Lerner.
If he thinks Villa fans will ‘settle’ for 8th than he is wrong, we will all want at least a 6th place finish again
So a pre-season where players weren't happy with MoN, Milner unsettled then sold, rumours of Warnock and L.Young heading off (not to mention Ashley), MoN eventually having a strop and leaving a few days before the season start, a few injuries, a disaster against Newcastle, being dumped out of Europe early (which will do our confidence no good at all), Man City spending an absolute fortune again and you expect 6th again?
I don't think so. It'd be very nice, that's for sure but most fans said even before any names were mentioned for the managers job that this season will be one of transition, a season to bring through the youngsters. If we get 6th again, I'll be very very pleased indeed!
Yes, of course we all 'want' at least 6th but you state that like it's an expectation.
No offence but you're living in a fantasy world.
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He might have misspoke a bit, probably because he feels like he's beyond trying to mollify fans. But I'd still rather have him saying that than, say, southgate telling us we're going to win the champions league.
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Paul Faulkner:
“In fact, he stands out as a football man who understands the ethos of our club and shares our core values."
Sounds so corporate, 'core values' indeed, we're not ICI, we're in it to win it - aren't we ?
Not sure about the executive set up at AVFC.
He's an executive of a multi-million pound company. When it comes to corporate speak these days, Alan Sugar is not the role model. I'm disappointed that we didn't get something like "We have committed to assertively integrate high-quality management techniques to exceed customer expectations" whilst maybe dropping out some old favourites like paradigm shift, low hanging fruit , proactive empowerment and dynamic tipping point. It's all bovine stools these days.
Yep, I see nothing ambitious anymore - just mediocrity and solvency.
Maybe the glass is half empty at the moment.
Maybe it's 'expecation management' at the club now.
All in all, the zest for winning things seems a million miles away - again.
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Houllier is an appointment I was initially shocked at and thought was wrong when first reported. When you then take a step back and look at his record it does hold up to scrutiny and there are many things he could bring that would improve us.
I guess I'm open minded about him and look forward to seeing what he does in the job.
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If he thinks Villa fans will ‘settle’ for 8th than he is wrong, we will all want at least a 6th place finish again
Is 8th place year on year progress from 6th? He'd be contradicting what he said if he thought we'd settle for 8th wouldn't he?
This is year 1 for him. Expect year on year improvement from year 2.
Given the whole commotion of pre-season and that he'll have his own ideas that won't necessarily fit with MON's 'British Only' approach that he'll have to live with for a while, he'll have to spend his first season here removing the rot that had set in during the final stages of MoN's tenure.
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Too early to start worrying about something he's reported as saying!
Fact is, he will want to win as many matches as possible. He has the experience and contacts to move us on and up.
I'm optimistic.
Welcome, Gerard. I'm sure you'll find most Villa fans will get behind you, and stay behind you.
But please be positive and creative in the transfer windows. That's what we've been missing.
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Did GH apply for the job or did we approach him?
One for the General.
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Welcome Gerard, be interesting to see what he can do with the current squad of players.
It might help everyone that he can't make any signings until January so he can assess the strength of the squad, which if a little small is still a good squad of players.
He wouldn't have been my choice but he's here now so lets see what he can do, I'm just turning into a grumpy old man now I've hit 40.
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he'll have to spend his first season here removing the rot that had set in during the final stages of MoN's tenure.
I don't want to go on about the old manager, but seriously - what 'rot' had set in?
Milner wanted to move and he's gone now. A few players were unhappy about (shock horror) being out of the side. But when you saw us play under MON there was a togetherness and they all fought for each other.
I think Houllier is inheriting a good squad of players and getting the club in a good state of affairs!
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it just seems like he wants another big club before he retires and this is a stepping stone !!
What, at 63?
yea !! hodgson is 65 and just took over liverpool, fergie is nearly at the point when he cant control his bladder and he is still managing ( granted he has been there for ever ) if houllier is still as good as everyone says he is, he will have his 2 year contract here and when he is 65 take over at somewhere else
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Welcome Gerard hope we have a long and succesfull time together.
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I'll just point the immediately negative posters to my signature.
...stands back and waits for the usual bleating of it's my opinion and should be respected...
No it doesn't.
And where is that list of 100 managers one poster would have preferred above Houllier? I want to see it and the reasons why each would be better equipped.
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which demands just one thing: to progress year on year".
Anyone taking exception to that wants their head examining.
That's exactly what we want. We know that Randy wants steady, sustainable growth and Houllier has clearly bought into that ethos. If you expect different set your sat nav for Eastlands.
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he'll have to spend his first season here removing the rot that had set in during the final stages of MoN's tenure.
I don't want to go on about the old manager, but seriously - what 'rot' had set in?
Milner wanted to move and he's gone now. A few players were unhappy about (shock horror) being out of the side. But when you saw us play under MON there was a togetherness and they all fought for each other.
I think Houllier is inheriting a good squad of players and getting the club in a good state of affairs!
Ultimately, I'm sure Milner was persuaded by money but I think there'd be some consideration to MoN's ability of lack thereof to get us above the 6th place.
Some of the unhappy players (NRC and Young as an example) have been brought back into the squad so we now know that they WERE good enough. MoN just held a grudge.
MoN was very hesitant to give the youngsters a chance. In Albrighton and Clark, we've seen that that was poor judgement.
Bizarre tactics, formations and substitutions.
Lack of substitutions seemingly to spite the crowd.
Jesus! If you seriously think that there was no rot setting in under MoN then you've not been keeping track of the last 12 months.
This 'togetherness' you speak of was absolutely brilliant at the start but seemed to have turned into 'togetherness against the gaffer' by the end.
And is the club in a good state of affairs? The list of overpaid MoN-rejects says otherwise.
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I like Houllier. At the top of the game there's a little elite who all know and, mostly, like each other. This network at the top includes the likes of Ferguson, Wenger, Hiddink, Van Gaal, Lippi - and our very own M. Houiller. He commands the utmost respect at the highest levels of the game, for his youth development, long-termism and tactical flexibility as much as anything else (he had quite a fight with Lacombe when at Lyon when he wanted to change their 4-2-3-1 to a more orthodox 4-3-3 - he got his way, they won the league, went back to 4-2-3-1 when he left and promptly lost it).
My small worries are procedural, though. Out of managers with Premier League experience who were available, I'd have Houllier over Sven, certainly Curbishley or anyone else you care to mention. The trouble is, is Premier League experience really that important? Gerard is getting on a bit, our next appointment might not be far off, and who would it be then? Would Jol have become available? Would Randy and co. have realised there is football outside the British Isles worth as much if not more in terms of experience? And what is the long-term plan with Gerard? I have a hunch that he could be manager for maximum two seasons, before we bring in the more long-term team builder and Gerard becomes more of a director with responsibilities for youth development and a few other things.
Again, I have to say that I'm happy with Houllier himself, as he's a good man, a good manager and in many ways precisely what we've been looking for. However, the club's long-term strategy has to be called into question somewhat, and I suppose we won't get an answer about that until next summer at the least. If Gerard is temporary as bona fide manager, it would be very unwise to say so at this juncture.
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I've said this before elsewhere and I'll say it again. Most of the stuff on here is reasonable comment, even from those who express reservations about the appointment (for example see Monty's comment above). But some of the gutter criticism with no foundation, alongside personal insult, makes me embarrassed. Do people not realise this is an open site and that anyone (yes even Mr Houllier) can pop along to see what the fans are saying - makes me cringe. There is too much thoughtless slagging off of a highly respected, widely experienced, educated 'football' man as if he's some thug who has just burst into our house from the street and invaded our dinner party.
The actions (or comments) of a few tar us all with the same brush I'm afraid, so we all become ungrateful Villa fans. Thank God that for every ill-considered or abusive comment, there are enough posters on here to respond rationally and to put forward the views of most Villa fans with an element of rationality.
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I've said this before elsewhere and I'll say it again. Most of the stuff on here is reasonable comment, even from those who express reservations about the appointment (for example see Monty's comment above). But some of the gutter criticism with no foundation, alongside personal insult, makes me embarrassed. Do people not realise this is an open site and that anyone (yes even Mr Houllier) can pop along to see what the fans are saying - makes me cringe. There is too much thoughtless slagging off of a highly respected, widely experienced, educated 'football' man as if he's some thug who has just burst into our house from the street and invaded our dinner party.
The actions (or comments) of a few tar us all with the same brush I'm afraid, so we all become ungrateful Villa fans. Thank God that for every ill-considered or abusive comment, there are enough posters on here to respond rationally and to put forward the views of most Villa fans with an element of rationality.
We could employ Mourinho and you'd get some who'd think it was a bad appointment.
The internet is everyman's soap box to air their thoughts. I doubt very much that GH, even if he were to read some of the stuff written about him would give it any more notice than some deranged idiot telling anyone in his vicinity to "repent".
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he'll have to spend his first season here removing the rot that had set in during the final stages of MoN's tenure.
I don't want to go on about the old manager, but seriously - what 'rot' had set in?
Milner wanted to move and he's gone now. A few players were unhappy about (shock horror) being out of the side. But when you saw us play under MON there was a togetherness and they all fought for each other.
I think Houllier is inheriting a good squad of players and getting the club in a good state of affairs!
Ultimately, I'm sure Milner was persuaded by money but I think there'd be some consideration to MoN's ability of lack thereof to get us above the 6th place.
Some of the unhappy players (NRC and Young as an example) have been brought back into the squad so we now know that they WERE good enough. MoN just held a grudge.
MoN was very hesitant to give the youngsters a chance. In Albrighton and Clark, we've seen that that was poor judgement.
Bizarre tactics, formations and substitutions.
Lack of substitutions seemingly to spite the crowd.
Jesus! If you seriously think that there was no rot setting in under MoN then you've not been keeping track of the last 12 months.
This 'togetherness' you speak of was absolutely brilliant at the start but seemed to have turned into 'togetherness against the gaffer' by the end.
And is the club in a good state of affairs? The list of overpaid MoN-rejects says otherwise.
Yes, I have been watching for the last 12 months, I just don't read things in the way you do.
If MON was in some way responsible for Milner wanting to leave, would the same not be true of SAF (Tevez) or Wenger (Adebayor) or Moyes (Lescott)? No, I think that money talks in all these cases and find it odd that only in our case did the manager have something to do with it.
And you can't in one hand argue about the overpaif unused players and in the other say these players are good enough and should be used more. If we had sold them we couldn't use them!
I think Clark had a job to get in as we were so well covered at CB. Not so with albrighton, but then he's looked a LOT better now than when he did get his chances last season, so maybe this is just his time?
I wouldn't argue that everything was right under MON, but I would argue that most things were and there was no rot. We hear these rumours about player unrest, such as Warnock, but why focus on that instead of Ashley Young (our best player) saying during pre-season he wants to stay and sign a new contract?
Any manager who takes over a club that finished 6th and reached a cup final has a LOT to work with and is coming in at a good time.
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Wouldnt have been my first choice but like all appointments Im willing to see what the new man brings to our great club.
Really hoping he sees the young talent we have and develops it as it looks like our only way forward, maybe also young french talent too.
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Good luck to GH here's hoping you have a long and very successful time in B6 !
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he'll have to spend his first season here removing the rot that had set in during the final stages of MoN's tenure.
I don't want to go on about the old manager, but seriously - what 'rot' had set in?
Milner wanted to move and he's gone now. A few players were unhappy about (shock horror) being out of the side. But when you saw us play under MON there was a togetherness and they all fought for each other.
I think Houllier is inheriting a good squad of players and getting the club in a good state of affairs!
Ultimately, I'm sure Milner was persuaded by money but I think there'd be some consideration to MoN's ability of lack thereof to get us above the 6th place.
Some of the unhappy players (NRC and Young as an example) have been brought back into the squad so we now know that they WERE good enough. MoN just held a grudge.
MoN was very hesitant to give the youngsters a chance. In Albrighton and Clark, we've seen that that was poor judgement.
Bizarre tactics, formations and substitutions.
Lack of substitutions seemingly to spite the crowd.
Jesus! If you seriously think that there was no rot setting in under MoN then you've not been keeping track of the last 12 months.
This 'togetherness' you speak of was absolutely brilliant at the start but seemed to have turned into 'togetherness against the gaffer' by the end.
And is the club in a good state of affairs? The list of overpaid MoN-rejects says otherwise.
Yes, I have been watching for the last 12 months, I just don't read things in the way you do.
If MON was in some way responsible for Milner wanting to leave, would the same not be true of SAF (Tevez) or Wenger (Adebayor) or Moyes (Lescott)? No, I think that money talks in all these cases and find it odd that only in our case did the manager have something to do with it.
And you can't in one hand argue about the overpaif unused players and in the other say these players are good enough and should be used more. If we had sold them we couldn't use them!
I think Clark had a job to get in as we were so well covered at CB. Not so with albrighton, but then he's looked a LOT better now than when he did get his chances last season, so maybe this is just his time?
I wouldn't argue that everything was right under MON, but I would argue that most things were and there was no rot. We hear these rumours about player unrest, such as Warnock, but why focus on that instead of Ashley Young (our best player) saying during pre-season he wants to stay and sign a new contract?
Any manager who takes over a club that finished 6th and reached a cup final has a LOT to work with and is coming in at a good time.
Well if rot means 6th place and visits to wembley then long live the rot!
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Has GH confirmed his assistant and first team coach?
Phil Thompson commented, "Had circumstances been different, I would have been delighted to accept the chance to join Gerard Houllier and work with him and Patrice Bergues once again at Aston Villa", so I assume Bergues will be joining us, which from what I read last night, is a top draw coach.
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To me the 7-12 comments is bare minimum requirement for our club. Also he like the club factilities and working environment which would mean he can focus on the team and organising new staff. Instead of worrying about developing the training ground or whatever.
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One paragraph in an interview with a French newspaper and already people are making comparisons with that self-serving tosser O’Leary and some are incandescent with rage.
The world wide web, introducing you to idiots since 1990.
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While I'm not bowled over by the appointment, as a Villa fan I will get fully behind our new manager and hope he will bring us success.
I have just 1 small problem with supporting a French manager. He's French. It's a well known fact that the French dislike the English, and ever since they started taking all their industrial disputes straight to the Channel ports, I've been happy to reciprocate the feeling and have studiously boycotted all things French, including their wine. I'm now going to have to swallow my pride (and maybe their wine) and go back on my principals.
And on the subject of wine, as Brits are the only people to refer to a certain are of wine as 'Claret', will we now become the Bordeaux and Blues?
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Yes, I have been watching for the last 12 months, I just don't read things in the way you do.
If MON was in some way responsible for Milner wanting to leave, would the same not be true of SAF (Tevez) or Wenger (Adebayor) or Moyes (Lescott)? No, I think that money talks in all these cases and find it odd that only in our case did the manager have something to do with it.
And you can't in one hand argue about the overpaif unused players and in the other say these players are good enough and should be used more. If we had sold them we couldn't use them!
I think Clark had a job to get in as we were so well covered at CB. Not so with albrighton, but then he's looked a LOT better now than when he did get his chances last season, so maybe this is just his time?
I wouldn't argue that everything was right under MON, but I would argue that most things were and there was no rot. We hear these rumours about player unrest, such as Warnock, but why focus on that instead of Ashley Young (our best player) saying during pre-season he wants to stay and sign a new contract?
Any manager who takes over a club that finished 6th and reached a cup final has a LOT to work with and is coming in at a good time.
I said that MoN's ability to push us further than 6th MAY have played a part in Milner's move to Eastlands. I acknowledged that it was probably mostly to do with money. But there wasn't a great deal that Villa could offer over Man City was there? MoN included.
As for the players, can I argue that they're overpaid yet good enough? Of course I can! If they're not being used, they're over-paid. If they have the ability to offer something, then perhaps they aren't. Simple. MoN wasn't going to give them a chance to prove this, hence, they were a waste of resources. This has been gone over time and time again.
I think everyone could see that rot was setting in. I suspect even MoN knew it in the end, hence the silence from him. I'm sure, given his record of voicing his opinion, that if he felt he'd was completely in the wrong, something would have been said by now.
Oh there was rot alright. It took a lot of people (happy clappers like me) a long time to realise it but it was there. And it wasn't getting any better.
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One paragraph in an interview with a French newspaper and already people are making comparisons with that self-serving tosser O’Leary and some are incandescent with rage.
The world wide web, introducing you to idiots since 1990.
Overreaction! Says the man, overreacting.
I think GH is a good appointment, i just thought it was a bit daft to be quite so negative on day one.
Actually, I don't think it is a "good" appointment, i think it is an excellent one, which the board have put some clever thought into.
Far from the absence of GH on that list suggesting he wasn't good enough, i think it shows how widely they considered the options.
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it just seems like he wants another big club before he retires and this is a stepping stone !!
What, at 63?
yea !! hodgson is 65 and just took over liverpool, fergie is nearly at the point when he cant control his bladder and he is still managing ( granted he has been there for ever ) if houllier is still as good as everyone says he is, he will have his 2 year contract here and when he is 65 take over at somewhere else
So in that case we'll be in no worse a position than we are now (he'll hardly be able to use us as a stepping stone if Villa go downhill), you'll have seen that back of a manager you don't like and you'll be able to tell everyone how right you were. Sounds like a good deal from your point of view.
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One paragraph in an interview with a French newspaper and already people are making comparisons with that self-serving tosser O’Leary and some are incandescent with rage.
The world wide web, introducing you to idiots since 1990.
Overreaction! Says the man, overreacting.
I think GH is a good appointment, i just thought it was a bit daft to be quite so negative on day one.
Yeah I'm talking about you Paulie, you silly goose. You started the ball rolling and now you've had some really loons jump on your bandwagon of despair.
Nah I wasn’t really talking about you to be honest. More PMK. He's bloody mad he is isn't he?!
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While I'm not bowled over by the appointment, as a Villa fan I will get fully behind our new manager and hope he will bring us success.
I have just 1 small problem with supporting a French manager. He's French. It's a well known fact that the French dislike the English, and ever since they started taking all their industrial disputes straight to the Channel ports, I've been happy to reciprocate the feeling and have studiously boycotted all things French, including their wine. I'm now going to have to swallow my pride (and maybe their wine) and go back on my principals.
And on the subject of wine, as Brits are the only people to refer to a certain are of wine as 'Claret', will we now become the Bordeaux and Blues?
I think it unlikely that Houllier coming to work in this country for the third time "dislikes the English".
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I think it unlikely that Houllier coming to work in this country for the third time "dislikes the English".
Do you reckon Krulak's called him a "cheese eating surrender monkey" yet?
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Ged is from Normandy, which like Gascony, is English land. Therefore he’s alright.
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So in that case we'll be in no worse a position than we are now (he'll hardly be able to use us as a stepping stone if Villa go downhill), you'll have seen that back of a manager you don't like and you'll be able to tell everyone how right you were. Sounds like a good deal from your point of view.
And he can then boo boo boo him to his hearts content.
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While I'm not bowled over by the appointment, as a Villa fan I will get fully behind our new manager and hope he will bring us success.
I have just 1 small problem with supporting a French manager. He's French. It's a well known fact that the French dislike the English, and ever since they started taking all their industrial disputes straight to the Channel ports, I've been happy to reciprocate the feeling and have studiously boycotted all things French, including their wine. I'm now going to have to swallow my pride (and maybe their wine) and go back on my principals.
And on the subject of wine, as Brits are the only people to refer to a certain are of wine as 'Claret', will we now become the Bordeaux and Blues?
I think it unlikely that Houllier coming to work in this country for the third time "dislikes the English".
It was firmly tongue in cheek
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Thinking he might be successful is possibly unique in reasons to be against a new manager.
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Thinking he might be successful is possibly unique in reasons to be against a new manager.
Made me chuckle, that.
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Neil Moxley (we wont mention his "paper") on the money again >> http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1310418/Aston-Villa-fans-support-club--new-manager-Gerard-Houllier.html? "Aston Villa fans must support their club... even if they can't get behind new manager Gerard Houllier". Who's this Woodhall chap who claims to speak for us all? :0)
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I think it unlikely that Houllier coming to work in this country for the third time "dislikes the English".
Do you reckon Krulak's called him a "cheese eating surrender monkey" yet?
No, but The General has given him a gift of some chocolates and nylons.
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So a pre-season where players weren't happy with MoN, Milner unsettled then sold, rumours of Warnock and L.Young heading off (not to mention Ashley), MoN eventually having a strop and leaving a few days before the season start, a few injuries, a disaster against Newcastle, being dumped out of Europe early (which will do our confidence no good at all), Man City spending an absolute fortune again and you expect 6th again?
I don't think so. It'd be very nice, that's for sure but most fans said even before any names were mentioned for the managers job that this season will be one of transition, a season to bring through the youngsters. If we get 6th again, I'll be very very pleased indeed!
Yes, of course we all 'want' at least 6th but you state that like it's an expectation.
No offence but you're living in a fantasy world.
But we were all told by those who'd lost patience with MON that if he were to go, we'd have the cream of the crop biting their right arms off to join us and while I'm more optimistic about GH's appointment (his chosen number two being a great part of that), I still feel that he is somewhat of a sideways step. A short-ish term solution.
Besides if what you say was correct and the players were unhappy, surely they'll be delighted now and able to play with some air of freedom? We're only 3 league games in, sit 4th in the table with 6 points. MON didn't make full use of the squad. Gerard presumably will. MON had his favourites. Gerard presumably won't.
Irrespective of when MON left us, I can't see how those who wanted him go, felt he'd taken us as far as he could and said we were underachieving considering the money he'd spent are now saying this has to be a season of transition. As much as I hate him, you only need to have a look at Honest Henry's tenure at Spuds. He went there much further into the season, in a much worse position and turned things around very quickly.
Seeing as people like to remind us how much MON had spent, surely with that basis already in place, Gerard should be looking to push us into that magical top 4 this season? Or maybe, just maybe, MON wasn't doing quite so bad a job after all. And no, I don't agree with the way in which he left us or the timing.
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7th-12th has really pissed me off. And it is day 1.
He ia really an arse. Saying 7 to 12 for a club that sits in 5th position in the overall points tally since Sky invented football is a disgrace. In terms of since Will McG invented football we are 3rd behind Manu and Lpool for overall honours. I do hope he clears this up otherwise .... I am equally pissed off...do not want another DOL.
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While I'm not bowled over by the appointment, as a Villa fan I will get fully behind our new manager and hope he will bring us success.
I have just 1 small problem with supporting a French manager. He's French. It's a well known fact that the French dislike the English, and ever since they started taking all their industrial disputes straight to the Channel ports, I've been happy to reciprocate the feeling and have studiously boycotted all things French, including their wine. I'm now going to have to swallow my pride (and maybe their wine) and go back on my principals.
And on the subject of wine, as Brits are the only people to refer to a certain are of wine as 'Claret', will we now become the Bordeaux and Blues?
I think it unlikely that Houllier coming to work in this country for the third time "dislikes the English".
It was firmly tongue in cheek
Sorry, mate I think some of the more extreme views have made me a bit slow on the uptake today.
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7th-12th has really pissed me off. And it is day 1.
He ia really an arse. Saying 7 to 12 for a club that sits in 5th position in the overall points tally since Sky invented football is a disgrace. In terms of since Will McG invented football we are 3rd behind Manu and Lpool for overall honours. I do hope he clears this up otherwise .... I am equally pissed off...do not want another DOL.
Our average league finish in the PL is 8th, he's spot on. Overall points tally is meaningless.
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Guy, I see where you are coming from but MoN bought players to use in HIS way, HIS style. This may not suit Houllier. Who knows though, it just might. Maybe we will click straight away but the players will have to get used to a different style, a different attitude. Maybe Houllier will want to break it all down into basic football and rebuild completely (same players, just learning new tricks). This may take time.
As for Houllie being a sideways step, that was my first thought too. But you only have to compare him directly with MoN (from coaching ability, man-management, player knowledge, tactical knowledge, achievements, etc) to see that, in every single department (at least that I can think of), he's at least one step ahead of O'Neill.
So I don't perceived it as a sideways step. At all.
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Neil Moxley (we wont mention his "paper") on the money again >> http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1310418/Aston-Villa-fans-support-club--new-manager-Gerard-Houllier.html? "Aston Villa fans must support their club... even if they can't get behind new manager Gerard Houllier". Who's this Woodhall chap who claims to speak for us all? :0)
He's that posh, well spoken chap who was on SSN last night.
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7th-12th has really pissed me off. And it is day 1.
He ia really an arse. Saying 7 to 12 for a club that sits in 5th position in the overall points tally since Sky invented football is a disgrace. In terms of since Will McG invented football we are 3rd behind Manu and Lpool for overall honours. I do hope he clears this up otherwise .... I am equally pissed off...do not want another DOL.
Our average league finish in the PL is 8th, he's spot on. Overall points tally is meaningless.
Wasn't one of the main planks of your argument for O'Neill that he increased our points total last season?
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It was firmly tongue in cheek
[/quote]
Sorry, mate I think some of the more extreme views have made me a bit slow on the uptake today.
[/quote]
No probs! Likewise there's one poster in particular who's pushing my blood pressure but so far I've resisted the temptation to bite
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it just seems like he wants another big club before he retires and this is a stepping stone !!
What, at 63?
yea !! hodgson is 65 and just took over liverpool, fergie is nearly at the point when he cant control his bladder and he is still managing ( granted he has been there for ever ) if houllier is still as good as everyone says he is, he will have his 2 year contract here and when he is 65 take over at somewhere else
So in that case we'll be in no worse a position than we are now (he'll hardly be able to use us as a stepping stone if Villa go downhill), you'll have seen that back of a manager you don't like and you'll be able to tell everyone how right you were. Sounds like a good deal from your point of view.
i am so hoping that i am proved wrong and i will hold my hands up if things go well, but i cant see it happening, i want it to and i will support all the way but all you lot are banding on about all the contacts he has in europe, look where that got liverpool, 10 million for cisse ?? LOL
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i want it to and i will support all the way
Hang on, you said you would boo Thompson if he joined? How would that have been supporting all the way?
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7th-12th has really pissed me off. And it is day 1.
He ia really an arse. Saying 7 to 12 for a club that sits in 5th position in the overall points tally since Sky invented football is a disgrace. In terms of since Will McG invented football we are 3rd behind Manu and Lpool for overall honours. I do hope he clears this up otherwise .... I am equally pissed off...do not want another DOL.
Our average league finish in the PL is 8th, he's spot on. Overall points tally is meaningless.
I will be quite happy with 80 "meaningless" points any season!
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i want it to and i will support all the way
Hang on, you said you would boo Thompson if he joined? How would that have been supporting all the way?
but thompson aint joining now is he ?
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when is the news conference ?
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Just to continue the semi-private discussion...
Troy, I can also see where you're coming from, but the issue I have is that MON was accused of under-utilising the squad. Not that the majority of players he brought in weren't up to better.
If Gerard's "coaching ability, man-management, player knowledge, tactical knowledge" are all superior to MON's, then I would expect to see immediate rewards. I don't think a season of transition is therefore necessary. It just feels a bit to me like those that disliked MON so much are getting their excuses ready for Gerard in advance, rather than judging him on his own merits.
I thought the whole point of getting a really decent manager in is because they would be able to work with what they've got instead of relying so heavily on the transfer window. In fact, I can even see a benefit in the window now being closed because it gives everyone in the squad a clear 3-month period in which to impress the manager and justify their continued employment.
I don't think the squad requires a widespread overhaul. Just a tweak here or there. I hope and expect therefore for us still to be sitting in the top 8 at least by the turn of the year (which is actually slightly less than what I'd have wanted and expected from MON) before GH has the opportunity to freshen things up if he deems fit.
Strangely, in spite of yesterday's indifference, I am now much more likely to go to Stoke on Monday. Even if it is on the tellie, there'll be a lot to learn about how the team react to the manager and the appointment by actually seeing them in person.
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but thompson aint joining now is he ?
Hardly the point is it? You said you'd support the appointment all the way, but clearly you wouldn't have if Thompson was appointed. In fact you would have booed him, which would have really helped, wouldn't it?
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but thompson aint joining now is he ?
Hardly the point is it? You said you'd support the appointment all the way, but clearly you wouldn't have if Thompson was appointed. In fact you would have booed him, which would have really helped, wouldn't it?
i would just boo thompson for self satisfaction, one boo out of 39,000 aint gonna be heard
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Yes, I have been watching for the last 12 months, I just don't read things in the way you do.
If MON was in some way responsible for Milner wanting to leave, would the same not be true of SAF (Tevez) or Wenger (Adebayor) or Moyes (Lescott)? No, I think that money talks in all these cases and find it odd that only in our case did the manager have something to do with it.
And you can't in one hand argue about the overpaif unused players and in the other say these players are good enough and should be used more. If we had sold them we couldn't use them!
I think Clark had a job to get in as we were so well covered at CB. Not so with albrighton, but then he's looked a LOT better now than when he did get his chances last season, so maybe this is just his time?
I wouldn't argue that everything was right under MON, but I would argue that most things were and there was no rot. We hear these rumours about player unrest, such as Warnock, but why focus on that instead of Ashley Young (our best player) saying during pre-season he wants to stay and sign a new contract?
Any manager who takes over a club that finished 6th and reached a cup final has a LOT to work with and is coming in at a good time.
I said that MoN's ability to push us further than 6th MAY have played a part in Milner's move to Eastlands. I acknowledged that it was probably mostly to do with money. But there wasn't a great deal that Villa could offer over Man City was there? MoN included.
As for the players, can I argue that they're overpaid yet good enough? Of course I can! If they're not being used, they're over-paid. If they have the ability to offer something, then perhaps they aren't. Simple. MoN wasn't going to give them a chance to prove this, hence, they were a waste of resources. This has been gone over time and time again.
I think everyone could see that rot was setting in. I suspect even MoN knew it in the end, hence the silence from him. I'm sure, given his record of voicing his opinion, that if he felt he'd was completely in the wrong, something would have been said by now.
Oh there was rot alright. It took a lot of people (happy clappers like me) a long time to realise it but it was there. And it wasn't getting any better.
I think we best leave it here and agree to disagree otherwise a thread on our new manager will get dragged down with repetitive arguments about the old one.
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i am pretty disturbed by that Paulie, why the fuck would he say that? i did a google translation, my only hope is the context under which the questions were asked, if this gets publicised i can see trouble
Only on the internet would a throwaway line by a new manager raise even the slightest of eyebrows.
Would this be the same Dave Woodhall who was making a very strong (and plausible) case on here last week for appointing a man who recognised the stature of Aston Villa football club?
As mentioned above, the quote from the French newspaper is a considered opinion, not a throwaway line. Sounds like he's setting his sights low - above 12th could be seen as OK by these standards.
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i would just boo thompson for self satisfaction, one boo out of 39,000 aint gonna be heard
If a plank boos a scouser, does it really make a sound?
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7th-12th has really pissed me off. And it is day 1.
He ia really an arse. Saying 7 to 12 for a club that sits in 5th position in the overall points tally since Sky invented football is a disgrace. In terms of since Will McG invented football we are 3rd behind Manu and Lpool for overall honours. I do hope he clears this up otherwise .... I am equally pissed off...do not want another DOL.
Our average league finish in the PL is 8th, he's spot on. Overall points tally is meaningless.
Wasn't one of the main planks of your argument for O'Neill that he increased our points total last season?
A points total in a particular sesason is obviously important, a cumulative points total compared to other clubs some of who were not in the league for the whole time tells you little.
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but thompson aint joining now is he ?
Hardly the point is it? You said you'd support the appointment all the way, but clearly you wouldn't have if Thompson was appointed. In fact you would have booed him, which would have really helped, wouldn't it?
i would just boo thompson for self satisfaction, one boo out of 39,000 aint gonna be heard
A well-reasoned and cogent argument. Well done.
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Just to continue the semi-private discussion...
Troy, I can also see where you're coming from, but the issue I have is that MON was accused of under-utilising the squad. Not that the majority of players he brought in weren't up to better.
If Gerard's "coaching ability, man-management, player knowledge, tactical knowledge" are all superior to MON's, then I would expect to see immediate rewards. I don't think a season of transition is therefore necessary. It just feels a bit to me like those that disliked MON so much are getting their excuses ready for Gerard in advance, rather than judging him on his own merits.
I thought the whole point of getting a really decent manager in is because they would be able to work with what they've got instead of relying so heavily on the transfer window. In fact, I can even see a benefit in the window now being closed because it gives everyone in the squad a clear 3-month period in which to impress the manager and justify their continued employment.
I don't think the squad requires a widespread overhaul. Just a tweak here or there. I hope and expect therefore for us still to be sitting in the top 8 at least by the turn of the year (which is actually slightly less than what I'd have wanted and expected from MON) before GH has the opportunity to freshen things up if he deems fit.
Strangely, in spite of yesterday's indifference, I am now much more likely to go to Stoke on Monday. Even if it is on the tellie, there'll be a lot to learn about how the team react to the manager and the appointment by actually seeing them in person.
Again, I see your point. The sticking point for me is that most managers do better with some kind of squad depth. They manage their season accordingly. It's no coincidence that we seem to fade and die at the end of the season. Had MoN done the honourable thing and handed in his resignation with plenty of time left in the window, a new manager may have been able to bring in some new players. As it is, even if Houllier is everything that his fans say he is, I just can't see him being able to milk a quality performance over a long season with what is still a squad with limited depth.
Enjoy Stoke if you go!
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We seem to all be missing the important question.
What are we going to refer to him as? Obviously, the previous two managers both had names that made three letter acronyms quite handy, but what about Houllier?
"Houllier" - bit disrespectful
"GH" - dull. Two letters seem a bit too sparse after DOL and MON's three.
"Gezza" - twattish. Wasn't there a local radio idiot called that till recently?
"Ged" - sounds a bit southern states USA to me.
"Mr H" - used by the General. Bit formal, maybe?
"Gerard Houillier" - too much to type.
I think we need to clear this up now. If I could be arsed, I'd set a poll up.
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'H'. Just 'H'.
James Bond had 'M', we'll have 'H'.
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'H'. Just 'H'.
James Bond had 'M', we'll have 'H'.
It does have a certain panache to it ....
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Gerry?
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What are we going to refer to him as?
I'm up for MAM (manager after Martin)
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Take the Salifou chant and change it to....Gerry Houll
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'Gerard' will do fine by me. Might be a bit familiar, but at least it's not a nickname.
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Ged is what most already seem to be using
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'H'. Just 'H'.
James Bond had 'M', we'll have 'H'.
It does have a certain panache to it ....
Yeah. He could get whoever his assitant is and three girls and start a pop group. Maybe they could base their first number around a line dancing theme?
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'H'. Just 'H'.
James Bond had 'M', we'll have 'H'.
It does have a certain panache to it ....
Yeah. He could get whoever his assitant is and three girls and start a pop group. Maybe they could base their first number around a line dancing theme?
You seem quite familiar with the back catalogue of Steps there, John.
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You could always call him Ger.......
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I know - it's a down right Tragedy!
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Take the Salifou chant and change it to....Gerry Houll
I've had this track (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PDmZnG8KsM) in my head most of the morning and have obviously been substituting voyage with Gerard. It's done my sense of optimism no end of good!
Le MON est mort. Vive le Gerard!
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Any news on the Press Conference?
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Take the Salifou chant and change it to....Gerry Houll
I've had this track (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PDmZnG8KsM) in my head most of the morning and have obviously been substituting voyage with Gerard. It's done my sense of optimism no end of good!
Le MON est mort. Vive le Gerard!
That's a great slice of Euro disco, that track.
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I'm not too keen on this:
http://www.lefigaro.fr/football-clubs-etrangers/2010/09/04/02017-20100904ARTSPO00426-houllier-vers-aston-villa.php
Gérard Houllier retrouve donc un championnat qu'il connait bien, lui qui a ramené Liverpool au plus haut niveau entre 1998 et 2004 avec notamment un triplé historique en 2001 (Cup, Coupe de la Ligue, Coupe de l'UEFA). «Aston Villa n'est pas un club du niveau de Liverpool, reconnait-t-il. Soyons objectifs et honnêtes… C'est un club qui se situe, pour moi, entre la septième et la douzième place. C'est surtout un club historique, qui a gagné la Ligue des Champions (Ndlr : en 1982). C'est un club qui a de très bonnes installations, une bonne équipe et qui ne demande qu'une chose : progresser d'année en année.» Pourquoi choisir un club de milieu de tableau anglais, après avoir goûté au plus haut niveau par le passé ? «J'ai bien sûr eu d'autres propositions, mais celle-là me semblait être la plus intéressante en termes d'environnement, de conditions de travail», assure-t-il.
Unless I'm mistaken (and I probably am), that translates as:
"Aston Villa is not a club of the same level as Liverpool" he said. "Let's be objective and honest, it is a club which, for me, finds itself between seventh and twelfth place. It is above all a historic club, which has won the European Cup. It is a club which a very good set up, a good team, and which demands just one thing: to progress year on year". Why choose a mid table English club after having tasted a higher level in the past? "I had other offers, but this seemed to me the most interesting in terms of environment, of work conditions"
Hmm.
Maybe he tried to be honest, rather than risking to appear Houllier-than-thou.
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I also keep getting that Craig David Bo Selecta (sic) song in my head.......Houl-li-er.......
Only problem is my head wanders to the Van Persie song when I try to finish it!!!
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I'm rather heartened by the cautious welcome that is being afforded to our new boss by the fans.
He appears to be few people's first or even third choice and is something of a step into the unknown, but in the main he is being supported and I think this will be reflected in his first game in charge at home.
I'm quite proud that we haven't replicated the modern trend of greeting a managerial appointment like the second coming, complete with all the hyperbole and hoopla associated with the Premier League. Usually shown live on Sky Sports News, hosted by Jim "never knowingly understated" White.
It also means that supporters look less foolish if it all goes tits up.
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Gerard Houllier also scans rather beautifully into "Joe le taxi" (if you're a bit casual with the pronunciation of his surname) and the prospect of Vanessa Paradis recording our cup final song means I'm increasingly seeing the benefits of this appointment.
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I also keep getting that Craig David Bo Selecta (sic) song in my head.......Houl-li-er.......
I have an even worse one in mine.
Sussudio by Phil Collins (or was it Genesis), except with Hou Hou Houllier instead of Su Su Sudio
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I also keep getting that Craig David Bo Selecta (sic) song in my head.......Houl-li-er.......
Only problem is my head wanders to the Van Persie song when I try to finish it!!!
I worked for the company that did the kids' programme Big Barn Farm and the music department had the idea of using that track as a reworking of the theme tune:
Big Barn Farm
When the cow says moo, you milk her!
So blatantly stealing their idea and yours, I came up with:
Hou-li-er
When the crowd says boo, you sack him!
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Or....
Houllier gonna call.....Ghostbusters!
I'm sorry....
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I also keep getting that Craig David Bo Selecta (sic) song in my head.......Houl-li-er.......
I have an even worse one in mine.
Sussudio by Phil Collins (or was it Genesis), except with Hou Hou Houllier instead of Su Su Sudio
Well there you have it. A name for a French Poodle. Hou Hou.
"Hou are you, Hou Hou, Hou Hou"
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I also keep getting that Craig David Bo Selecta (sic) song in my head.......Houl-li-er.......
I have an even worse one in mine.
Sussudio by Phil Collins (or was it Genesis), except with Hou Hou Houllier instead of Su Su Sudio
Well there you have it. A name for a French Poodle. Hou Hou.
"Hou are you, Hou Hou, Hou Hou"
The Who - yes. Phil Collins - for the love of God, NO!
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I also keep getting that Craig David Bo Selecta (sic) song in my head.......Houl-li-er.......
I have an even worse one in mine.
Sussudio by Phil Collins (or was it Genesis), except with Hou Hou Houllier instead of Su Su Sudio
Well there you have it. A name for a French Poodle. Hou Hou.
"Hou are you, Hou Hou, Hou Hou"
The Who - yes. Phil Collins - for the love of God, NO!
What about the lyrical master that is Craig David?
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Houllier m'Lord...
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Half of what I say is meaningless
But I say it just to reach you,
Hooo-lier.
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Welcome Gerard.
All I really want to see is this;
a) The players give their all on the pitch
b) For us to improve our movement off the ball when not in possession.
c) For the players to have belief in themselves that they are good enough to win something
d) To take the cup competitions seriously
and a small gripe of mine..
Acknowledge the supporters at the end of the game - not just a quick clap from the half way line and then trudge off.
Attending games is getting bloody expensive and the option nowadays to watch it online or on tv or down the pub is often far more tempting than travelling to the likes of Noocastle at stupid o'clock in the morning when on tv. The supporters should come right upto the fans and acknowledge the support, win, lose or draw.
Good luck
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12 months down the line and we have 8 French Internationals in the side, the fans will be singing "Hou let the frogs out? Hou Hou Hou Houllier" ;)
Only kidding and I`m not being Xenophobic or racist - my French teacher at school was French :o
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and a small gripe of mine..
Acknowledge the supporters at the end of the game - not just a quick clap from the half way line and then trudge off.
I'm not one to defend MON whatever, but to be fair, i thought he was quite good in that sense.
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I just pray we don't hear the cringing, small time, childish, extremely embarrassing chant of "Gerard, give us a wave".
It's no wonder MON had such a low opinion of the Villa fans.
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The voice of reason that is Phil McNulty on Twitter:
"If Houllier is appointing Patrice Bergues as assistant that is good news for Villa. Had his biggest successes at Liverpool with Bergues.
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any news on his number 2 yet?
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12 months down the line and we have 8 French Internationals in the side, the fans will be singing "Hou let the frogs out? Hou Hou Hou Houllier" ;)
Only kidding and I`m not being Xenophobic or racist - my French teacher at school was French :o
I quite like the idea of having 8 French internationals at Villa. The club shop will have a nightmare though knowing where to place all those accent aigu, accent grave and accent circonflexes on little Johnny's number 17 shirt.
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Acknowledge the supporters at the end of the game - not just a quick clap from the half way line and then trudge off.
I'd go one step further and suggest that players wave an apology to the crowd (as in, "Sorry I shanked that sitter. My bad").
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Perhaps we could do a regular piece like BFR with the microphone before that Crystal Palace game.
GH: "Hello everyone. An important win today. I am sorry that Sidwell played like a ****** again".
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Pissing myself at the thought of that one!
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I just pray we don't hear the cringing, small time, childish, extremely embarrassing chant of "Gerard, give us a wave".
It's no wonder MON had such a low opinion of the Villa fans.
"Gerard, give us a shrug"
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any news on his number 2 yet?
Clean break, I think.
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any news on his number 2 yet?
Nope, he's still egg bound.
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any news on his number 2 yet?
Nope, he's still egg bound.
The kids are on the diving board
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12 months down the line and we have 8 French Internationals in the side, the fans will be singing "Hou let the frogs out? Hou Hou Hou Houllier" ;)
Only kidding and I`m not being Xenophobic or racist - my French teacher at school was French :o
I quite like the idea of having 8 French internationals at Villa. The club shop will have a nightmare though knowing where to place all those accent aigu, accent grave and accent circonflexes on little Johnny's number 17 shirt.
Yeah, I hear training is very intense amongst French internationals!
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Does anyone else find the picture on AVFC.co.uk slightly odd when you look at his face and the background....
http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2147901,00.html
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Does anyone else find the picture on AVFC.co.uk slightly odd when you look at his face and the background....
http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2147901,00.html
must be what he does for motivation
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its quite steve coppel esque isnt it ?
bet the bristol city players never dropped the soap when he was manager eh??
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Collymore by all accounts talks out of his arse.
And welcome boss.
Collymore is a pundit, the greatest crime for a pundit is to be bland. I take all the bollocks with a pinch of salt.
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Bland or talk bollocks constantly? I'd rather have bland.
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He's not going to get much work by being bland was my point.
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12 months down the line and we have 8 French Internationals in the side, the fans will be singing "Hou let the frogs out? Hou Hou Hou Houllier" ;)
Only kidding and I`m not being Xenophobic or racist - my French teacher at school was French :o
I quite like the idea of having 8 French internationals at Villa. The club shop will have a nightmare though knowing where to place all those accent aigu, accent grave and accent circonflexes on little Johnny's number 17 shirt.
Yeah, I hear training is very intense amongst French internationals!
I wouldn't work hard either if I had that prize knob Domenech as my boss
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He's not going to get much work by being bland was my point.
Heh, Jamie Redknapp manages it perfectly.
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Seeing as no one else has claimed it, may I be the first one to say "Houllier Out!"
H&V's standards have definitely slipped.
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"Gerard Houllier's Claret and Blue Army"
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Welcome Monsieur,
3 points on Monday night please.
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I'm happy with the appointment of Houllier and hope we can all get behind the team now and see where the journey takes us, onwards and upwards.
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any news on his number 2 yet?
Nope, he's still egg bound.
The kids are on the diving board
Attention! Le splash back!
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We seem to all be missing the important question.
What are we going to refer to him as? Obviously, the previous two managers both had names that made three letter acronyms quite handy, but what about Houllier?
"Houllier" - bit disrespectful
"GH" - dull. Two letters seem a bit too sparse after DOL and MON's three.
"Gezza" - twattish. Wasn't there a local radio idiot called that till recently?
"Ged" - sounds a bit southern states USA to me.
"Mr H" - used by the General. Bit formal, maybe?
"Gerard Houillier" - too much to type.
I think we need to clear this up now. If I could be arsed, I'd set a poll up.
How about Ghoul?
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HOU?
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I'm baffled by people saying he is the best "available". He wasn't available, he was in another job.
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I'm baffled by people saying he is the best "available". He wasn't available, he was in another job.
Very true. Hopefully this will also shut up those who were saying we'd go for the cheapest option.
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I'm baffled by people saying he is the best "available". He wasn't available, he was in another job.
Yeah but not at a specific club. I assume we don't have to pay the French FA any money??
I'd have preferred Jol, but as Fulham found out, easier said than done.
I'm pleased with Houllier anyway. There really wasn't much going at the moment, and we've got someone with a record not to be sniffed at. We've done okay. Well, we hope anyway.
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I am not happy by the appointment, but I welcome the new manager and hope he proves all my worries wrong.
I'd support him 100% till the end of the season.
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Sure it's been mentioned but Houillers league finishes as Liverpool Manager were 4th, 3rd, 2nd, 5th and 4th.
An approximation of that with a little of his cup success and I'd be happy. From what I understand, he's very much a counter-attacking manager but with more tactical nous than MON.
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We seem to all be missing the important question.
What are we going to refer to him as? Obviously, the previous two managers both had names that made three letter acronyms quite handy, but what about Houllier?
"Houllier" - bit disrespectful
"GH" - dull. Two letters seem a bit too sparse after DOL and MON's three.
"Gezza" - twattish. Wasn't there a local radio idiot called that till recently?
"Ged" - sounds a bit southern states USA to me.
"Mr H" - used by the General. Bit formal, maybe?
"Gerard Houillier" - too much to type.
I think we need to clear this up now. If I could be arsed, I'd set a poll up.
How about Ghoul?
Le Boss
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I'm baffled by people saying he is the best "available". He wasn't available, he was in another job.
It's not so much available in the sense of not being in a job, but prepared to stop doing what he was doing and come to us.
If you look at someone like David Moyes, for example, he'd be unlikely to leave Everton for Villa as it is a sideways move, but he'd be even less likely to do it just after the start of the season, thus leaving Everton AND dropping them in the shit.
I actually think that, even if you take out the whole issue of who is available or willing to come etc etc, Houllier still looks a decent appointment.
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I've just had an email from the club beginning with the line 'Show your support for Gerard Houllier with free delivery....' but I cant read the rest of the mail, I wonder what they are offering to deliver? I hope its stripey jumpers, berets and strings of onions.
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...And what is the long-term plan with Gerard? I have a hunch that he could be manager for maximum two seasons, before we bring in the more long-term team builder and Gerard becomes more of a director with responsibilities for youth development and a few other things.
Agree, it is a concern but the solution you have mentioned seems logical with Ged as the ideal man to fill the role.
2-years for him to move the team forward and mould it into more dynamic squad. In the meantime he and the board can identify a young coach who can take over the long term planning and coaching with Ged taking full control of the youth coaching, scouting and maybe given a board level strategic involvement at the club.
I like the idea because it would mean that there is a degree of succession planning taking place and in the future we would not be left in the MON situation where one guy leaves and takes all of the football knowledge with him.
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I'm so excited by Ged's arrival at Villa that I sat down on the loo with Bernard this morning and came up with a brilliant new song for the Holte to sing to welcome him (Ged, not Bernard)
(To the tune of Go West)
Bon-jour
Monsieur Houllier
Bon-soir
Monsieur Houllier
Bon-nuit
Monsieur Houllier
Bon-bon
Monsieur Houllier
Bon-jovi,
Monsieur Houllier
Bon-dage
Monsieur Houllier
Bon-appetite
Monsieur Houllier
J'ai une petite étoile brune
Monsieur Houllier
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Well played!
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Solid name. Hopefully he'll stay the full 3 years and continue building on what MON achieved.
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Hou's with us? (On the OS)
And you call him Monsieur L'entraineur. Merci.
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i am pretty disturbed by that Paulie, why the fuck would he say that? i did a google translation, my only hope is the context under which the questions were asked, if this gets publicised i can see trouble
Only on the internet would a throwaway line by a new manager raise even the slightest of eyebrows.
Would this be the same Dave Woodhall who was making a very strong (and plausible) case on here last week for appointing a man who recognised the stature of Aston Villa football club?
As mentioned above, the quote from the French newspaper is a considered opinion, not a throwaway line. Sounds like he's setting his sights low - above 12th could be seen as OK by these standards.
It's also the same Gerard Houllier who talks well about the Villa's history and how he hopes to make improvements. You can take it whichever way you want.
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7th-12th has really pissed me off. And it is day 1.
He ia really an arse. Saying 7 to 12 for a club that sits in 5th position in the overall points tally since Sky invented football is a disgrace. In terms of since Will McG invented football we are 3rd behind Manu and Lpool for overall honours. I do hope he clears this up otherwise .... I am equally pissed off...do not want another DOL.
Our average league finish in the PL is 8th, he's spot on. Overall points tally is meaningless.
Wasn't one of the main planks of your argument for O'Neill that he increased our points total last season?
A points total in a particular sesason is obviously important, a cumulative points total compared to other clubs some of who were not in the league for the whole time tells you little.
Points totals are impoprtant to suit your arguments and irrelevant for anyone else's. Nice to see you consistent as ever.
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I'm looking at the fact he says he wants us to progress, that'll do for me. Also the fact he had a number of options, but chose us.
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The last man promised Champions League success.
So not bothered what GH says.
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Not sure how informed the writer is about Lerner, but it is the Mirror so it's probably bollocks:
LINK (http://www.people.co.uk/sport/football/news/2010/09/05/aston-villa-owner-randy-lerner-uses-cleveland-browns-blueprint-for-gerard-houllier-appointment-102039-22537564/)
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7th-12th has really pissed me off. And it is day 1.
He ia really an arse. Saying 7 to 12 for a club that sits in 5th position in the overall points tally since Sky invented football is a disgrace. In terms of since Will McG invented football we are 3rd behind Manu and Lpool for overall honours. I do hope he clears this up otherwise .... I am equally pissed off...do not want another DOL.
Our average league finish in the PL is 8th, he's spot on. Overall points tally is meaningless.
Wasn't one of the main planks of your argument for O'Neill that he increased our points total last season?
A points total in a particular sesason is obviously important, a cumulative points total compared to other clubs some of who were not in the league for the whole time tells you little.
Points totals are impoprtant to suit your arguments and irrelevant for anyone else's. Nice to see you consistent as ever.
What on earth are you talking about? It's nothing to do with twisting arguments to suit, it is pointing out that you're not comparing like with like, so statistically it is worthless. If one club has 200 points from 5 seasons and another has 199 points from 3 seasons who is likely to have been the most succesful even though the raw data says that one figure is higher than the other?
We've got a higher overall points total than Chelsea. Have we been a more succesful side in the PL era? Last season we had more points than Liverpool, so we were better than them. The season before they had more than us so were better than us.
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What on earth are you talking about? It's nothing to do with twisting arguments to suit, it is pointing out that you're not comparing like with like, so statistically it is worthless. If one club has 200 points from 5 seasons and another has 199 points from 3 seasons who is likely to have been the most succesful even though the raw data says that one figure is higher than the other?
We've got a higher overall points total than Chelsea. Have we been a more succesful side in the PL era? Last season we had more points than Liverpool, so we were better than them. The season before they had more than us so were better than us.
More than Chelsea? Wouldn't be too sure about that. The fact that we've been in the Premier League throughout its history is worth mentioning as well, and shows that we are more successful than you, for some reason, would give us credit for. Why you wish to do the club down is beyond me.
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Not sure how informed the writer is about Lerner, but it is the Mirror so it's probably bollocks:
LINK (http://www.people.co.uk/sport/football/news/2010/09/05/aston-villa-owner-randy-lerner-uses-cleveland-browns-blueprint-for-gerard-houllier-appointment-102039-22537564/)
Re your sign-off line "Câlisse d'esti de sacrament de crisse d'osti de viarge de TABARNAK!" Google translates this as "Fuck of the Sacrament of estimates of fucking fucking viarge of tabarnak!" Now is this a poor translation? If not, what the fuck does it fucking mean?
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I can't believe the negativity some people have towards G-Dog. Oh yes - he will be known as G-Dog from now on for me. Thanks to a mate who reads these parts. Thanks Mad Dog.
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Henry Winter (or Mrs Martin O'Neill as he is better known), err, tweeted this earlier this afternoon
henrywinter
Patrice Bergues following Houllier to #AVFC. #Liverpool players really enjoyed Bergues training sessions (tho he did recommend buying Diouf)
Which sounds promising. If you ignore the Diouf thing.
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More negative press stuff, this time from something called The Bleacher:
Gerrard Houllier Is a Bad Managerial Choice for Aston Villa (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/453145-gerrard-houllier-is-a-bad-managerial-choice-for-aston-villa?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+bleacherreport%2FdGcS+%28Bleacher+Report+%29)
Not sure how informed the writer is about Lerner, but it is the Mirror so it's probably bollocks:
LINK (http://www.people.co.uk/sport/football/news/2010/09/05/aston-villa-owner-randy-lerner-uses-cleveland-browns-blueprint-for-gerard-houllier-appointment-102039-22537564/)
Re your sign-off line "Câlisse d'esti de sacrament de crisse d'osti de viarge de TABARNAK!" Google translates this as "Fuck of the Sacrament of estimates of fucking fucking viarge of tabarnak!" Now is this a poor translation? If not, what the fuck does it fucking mean?
Ask (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCAnxniC0kQ) and ye shall seek.
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I can't believe the negativity some people have towards G-Dog. Oh yes - he will be known as G-Dog from now on for me. Thanks to a mate who reads these parts. Thanks Mad Dog.
It'll be a cold day in hell before I refer to him as 'G-Dog'
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7th-12th has really pissed me off. And it is day 1.
He ia really an arse. Saying 7 to 12 for a club that sits in 5th position in the overall points tally since Sky invented football is a disgrace. In terms of since Will McG invented football we are 3rd behind Manu and Lpool for overall honours. I do hope he clears this up otherwise .... I am equally pissed off...do not want another DOL.
Our average league finish in the PL is 8th, he's spot on. Overall points tally is meaningless.
Wasn't one of the main planks of your argument for O'Neill that he increased our points total last season?
A points total in a particular sesason is obviously important, a cumulative points total compared to other clubs some of who were not in the league for the whole time tells you little.
Points totals are impoprtant to suit your arguments and irrelevant for anyone else's. Nice to see you consistent as ever.
I couldn't resist adding another subroutine to this fine set of nested procesures.
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What on earth are you talking about? It's nothing to do with twisting arguments to suit, it is pointing out that you're not comparing like with like, so statistically it is worthless. If one club has 200 points from 5 seasons and another has 199 points from 3 seasons who is likely to have been the most succesful even though the raw data says that one figure is higher than the other?
We've got a higher overall points total than Chelsea. Have we been a more succesful side in the PL era? Last season we had more points than Liverpool, so we were better than them. The season before they had more than us so were better than us.
More than Chelsea? Wouldn't be too sure about that. The fact that we've been in the Premier League throughout its history is worth mentioning as well, and shows that we are more successful than you, for some reason, would give us credit for. Why you wish to do the club down is beyond me.
Again, nothing to do with 'doing the club down', it's to do with being accurate. I was actually supporting our new manager against a misguided criticism.
Staying in the PL throughout its history is worth mentioning, using spurious statistics to pretend that we're the fifth best in that time is, to use your favourite cliché, very small time.
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I can't believe the negativity some people have towards G-Dog. Oh yes - he will be known as G-Dog from now on for me. Thanks to a mate who reads these parts. Thanks Mad Dog.
It'll be a cold day in hell before I refer to him as 'G-Dog'
Don't for one second think when you next see him you not think, ah there is G-dog..... You are clearly not down with it Mark.
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What on earth are you talking about? It's nothing to do with twisting arguments to suit, it is pointing out that you're not comparing like with like, so statistically it is worthless. If one club has 200 points from 5 seasons and another has 199 points from 3 seasons who is likely to have been the most succesful even though the raw data says that one figure is higher than the other?
We've got a higher overall points total than Chelsea. Have we been a more succesful side in the PL era? Last season we had more points than Liverpool, so we were better than them. The season before they had more than us so were better than us.
More than Chelsea? Wouldn't be too sure about that. The fact that we've been in the Premier League throughout its history is worth mentioning as well, and shows that we are more successful than you, for some reason, would give us credit for. Why you wish to do the club down is beyond me.
Again, nothing to do with 'doing the club down', it's to do with being accurate. I was actually supporting our new manager against a misguided criticism.
Staying in the PL throughout its history is worth mentioning, using spurious statistics to pretend that we're the fifth best in that time is, to use your favourite cliché, very small time.
Only in the Wonderful World of Smith could points totals be considered spurious.
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More negative press stuff, this time from something called The Bleacher:
Gerrard Houllier Is a Bad Managerial Choice for Aston Villa (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/453145-gerrard-houllier-is-a-bad-managerial-choice-for-aston-villa?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+bleacherreport%2FdGcS+%28Bleacher+Report+%29)
Not sure how informed the writer is about Lerner, but it is the Mirror so it's probably bollocks:
LINK (http://www.people.co.uk/sport/football/news/2010/09/05/aston-villa-owner-randy-lerner-uses-cleveland-browns-blueprint-for-gerard-houllier-appointment-102039-22537564/)
Re your sign-off line "Câlisse d'esti de sacrament de crisse d'osti de viarge de TABARNAK!" Google translates this as "Fuck of the Sacrament of estimates of fucking fucking viarge of tabarnak!" Now is this a poor translation? If not, what the fuck does it fucking mean?
Ask (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCAnxniC0kQ) and ye shall seek.
Sacre pink . . . fair enough.
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I'm not too keen on this:
http://www.lefigaro.fr/football-clubs-etrangers/2010/09/04/02017-20100904ARTSPO00426-houllier-vers-aston-villa.php
Gérard Houllier retrouve donc un championnat qu'il connait bien, lui qui a ramené Liverpool au plus haut niveau entre 1998 et 2004 avec notamment un triplé historique en 2001 (Cup, Coupe de la Ligue, Coupe de l'UEFA). «Aston Villa n'est pas un club du niveau de Liverpool, reconnait-t-il. Soyons objectifs et honnêtes… C'est un club qui se situe, pour moi, entre la septième et la douzième place. C'est surtout un club historique, qui a gagné la Ligue des Champions (Ndlr : en 1982). C'est un club qui a de très bonnes installations, une bonne équipe et qui ne demande qu'une chose : progresser d'année en année.» Pourquoi choisir un club de milieu de tableau anglais, après avoir goûté au plus haut niveau par le passé ? «J'ai bien sûr eu d'autres propositions, mais celle-là me semblait être la plus intéressante en termes d'environnement, de conditions de travail», assure-t-il.
Unless I'm mistaken (and I probably am), that translates as:
"Aston Villa is not a club of the same level as Liverpool" he said. "Let's be objective and honest, it is a club which, for me, finds itself between seventh and twelfth place. It is above all a historic club, which has won the European Cup. It is a club which a very good set up, a good team, and which demands just one thing: to progress year on year". Why choose a mid table English club after having tasted a higher level in the past? "I had other offers, but this seemed to me the most interesting in terms of environment, of work conditions"
Hmm.
Maybe he tried to be honest, rather than risking to appear Houllier-than-thou.
Sounds like a guy trying to set expectations and give himself enough room for manoeuvre if we underperform (and it will be underperforming) and finish mid table this year.
Be interesting to hear what he says tomorrow. When MON came in there was vague mention of European Cups and any club having won one previously should be aiming to do so again.
Our target should be near enough the same ground we've occupied for the past three years 4th-6th. There are better equipped sides than us more capable of securing 4th, I accept that. But in our favour we have a more settled squad than a few of those sides and in a team sport that can prove crucial.
If GH believes his remit is to tread water between 7th-12 and deliver minimal improvement that would be a worry.
I guess we'll have a clearer picture tomorrow.
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What on earth are you talking about? It's nothing to do with twisting arguments to suit, it is pointing out that you're not comparing like with like, so statistically it is worthless. If one club has 200 points from 5 seasons and another has 199 points from 3 seasons who is likely to have been the most succesful even though the raw data says that one figure is higher than the other?
We've got a higher overall points total than Chelsea. Have we been a more succesful side in the PL era? Last season we had more points than Liverpool, so we were better than them. The season before they had more than us so were better than us.
More than Chelsea? Wouldn't be too sure about that. The fact that we've been in the Premier League throughout its history is worth mentioning as well, and shows that we are more successful than you, for some reason, would give us credit for. Why you wish to do the club down is beyond me.
Again, nothing to do with 'doing the club down', it's to do with being accurate. I was actually supporting our new manager against a misguided criticism.
Staying in the PL throughout its history is worth mentioning, using spurious statistics to pretend that we're the fifth best in that time is, to use your favourite cliché, very small time.
Only in the Wonderful World of Smith could points totals be considered spurious.
A world where accuracy is prefered to bluster; I leave the latter to those better practiced.
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Not sure how informed the writer is about Lerner, but it is the Mirror so it's probably bollocks:
LINK (http://www.people.co.uk/sport/football/news/2010/09/05/aston-villa-owner-randy-lerner-uses-cleveland-browns-blueprint-for-gerard-houllier-appointment-102039-22537564/)
First Mirror article in 6 months that doesn't utter the phrase 'sell to buy'?
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I'm not too keen on this:
http://www.lefigaro.fr/football-clubs-etrangers/2010/09/04/02017-20100904ARTSPO00426-houllier-vers-aston-villa.php
Gérard Houllier retrouve donc un championnat qu'il connait bien, lui qui a ramené Liverpool au plus haut niveau entre 1998 et 2004 avec notamment un triplé historique en 2001 (Cup, Coupe de la Ligue, Coupe de l'UEFA). «Aston Villa n'est pas un club du niveau de Liverpool, reconnait-t-il. Soyons objectifs et honnêtes… C'est un club qui se situe, pour moi, entre la septième et la douzième place. C'est surtout un club historique, qui a gagné la Ligue des Champions (Ndlr : en 1982). C'est un club qui a de très bonnes installations, une bonne équipe et qui ne demande qu'une chose : progresser d'année en année.» Pourquoi choisir un club de milieu de tableau anglais, après avoir goûté au plus haut niveau par le passé ? «J'ai bien sûr eu d'autres propositions, mais celle-là me semblait être la plus intéressante en termes d'environnement, de conditions de travail», assure-t-il.
Unless I'm mistaken (and I probably am), that translates as:
"Aston Villa is not a club of the same level as Liverpool" he said. "Let's be objective and honest, it is a club which, for me, finds itself between seventh and twelfth place. It is above all a historic club, which has won the European Cup. It is a club which a very good set up, a good team, and which demands just one thing: to progress year on year". Why choose a mid table English club after having tasted a higher level in the past? "I had other offers, but this seemed to me the most interesting in terms of environment, of work conditions"
Hmm.
Maybe he tried to be honest, rather than risking to appear Houllier-than-thou.
Sounds like a guy trying to set expectations and give himself enough room for manoeuvre if we underperform (and it will be underperforming) and finish mid table this year.
Be interesting to hear what he says tomorrow. When MON came in there was vague mention of European Cups and any club having won one previously should be aiming to do so again.
Our target should be near enough the same ground we've occupied for the past three years 4th-6th. There are better equipped sides than us more capable of securing 4th, I accept that. But in our favour we have a more settled squad than a few of those sides and in a team sport that can prove crucial.
If GH believes his remit is to tread water between 7th-12 and deliver minimal improvement that would be a worry.
I guess we'll have a clearer picture tomorrow.
I still think the pertinent bit is "demands just one thing: to progress year on year". Randy said in his statement after MON left "Finally, there have been no changes in our approach to building the club, aiming always to be as competitive as possible given our size and resources." Sounds to me like they're singing from the same hymn sheet.
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collymores a twat,he didnt do us any favours when he played for us ,he ruiend brian littles time here.hou;;iers a good appointment hope we give him a chance
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A world where accuracy is prefered to bluster; I leave the latter to those better practiced.
You can't get more accurate that the total number of points. It's a fact. Four clubs have got more points than us during the Premier League's history. We are therefore its fifth-most successful club and no manner of disinformation and the sort of silly little digs at which you're an expert can disguise the fact.
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collymores a twat,he didnt do us any favours when he played for us ,he ruiend brian littles time here.hou;;iers a good appointment hope we give him a chance
what do you think of our past managers Pete ;-))
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A world where accuracy is prefered to bluster; I leave the latter to those better practiced.
You can't get more accurate that the total number of points. It's a fact. Four clubs have got more points than us during the Premier League's history. We are therefore its fifth-most successful club and no manner of disinformation and the sort of silly little digs at which you're an expert can disguise the fact.
We're more succesful in the Premier League than Blackburn are we? Does winning it not count these days compared to amassing points over 20 years?
As I tried to explain to you above, total number of points is only valid if everyone has played the same number of games. It's like being 2 points clear at the top of the league when everyone has got 10 games in hand.
And what is "wonderful world of Smith" if it isn't a silly little dig?
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Comments on the appointment from Steve Gerrard.
http://tinyurl.com/32swyln
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Comments from BFR (http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2148790,00.html).
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The only thing that matters is where we finished last year, and where we finish this.
If we're the same or above, excellent. If, under the circumstances, it's a little lower, then, well it's the circumstances.
But here is the rub.
If it was sooo simple that MON just rotated the squad and put players in their correct positions, made substitutions etc. Then shouldn't 6th be easy?
I think we can still do it. Houllier will do it.
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I am pleased with the appointment, I liked the way the scouses played while Gerard was there. As for taking time with the appointment, well in my opinion that is just being professional; rather than snapping up the first option you wait for someone that can deliver.
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A world where accuracy is prefered to bluster; I leave the latter to those better practiced.
You can't get more accurate that the total number of points. It's a fact. Four clubs have got more points than us during the Premier League's history. We are therefore its fifth-most successful club and no manner of disinformation and the sort of silly little digs at which you're an expert can disguise the fact.
We're more succesful in the Premier League than Blackburn are we? Does winning it not count these days compared to amassing points over 20 years?
As I tried to explain to you above, total number of points is only valid if everyone has played the same number of games. It's like being 2 points clear at the top of the league when everyone has got 10 games in hand.
And what is "wonderful world of Smith" if it isn't a silly little dig?
I'm learning from the master. Does that mean Liverpool aren't the most successful club of all time because they've been in the top division longer than Wigan? While you're figuring that out, tell me how many clubs you think have been better than us since 1992.
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A world where accuracy is prefered to bluster; I leave the latter to those better practiced.
You can't get more accurate that the total number of points. It's a fact. Four clubs have got more points than us during the Premier League's history. We are therefore its fifth-most successful club and no manner of disinformation and the sort of silly little digs at which you're an expert can disguise the fact.
We're more succesful in the Premier League than Blackburn are we? Does winning it not count these days compared to amassing points over 20 years?
As I tried to explain to you above, total number of points is only valid if everyone has played the same number of games. It's like being 2 points clear at the top of the league when everyone has got 10 games in hand.
And what is "wonderful world of Smith" if it isn't a silly little dig?
I'm learning from the master. Does that mean Liverpool aren't the most successful club of all time because they've been in the top division longer than Wigan? While you're figuring that out, tell me how many clubs you think have been better than us since 1982.
Should it not be judged on prize money earned, rather than on points gained..
Surely that would be how a club would gauge its success?
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If this is the apprehension based on we have one of the most succesful managers ever at Villa Park. I would hate to of seen it if we had signed Southgate ....................
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A world where accuracy is prefered to bluster; I leave the latter to those better practiced.
You can't get more accurate that the total number of points. It's a fact. Four clubs have got more points than us during the Premier League's history. We are therefore its fifth-most successful club and no manner of disinformation and the sort of silly little digs at which you're an expert can disguise the fact.
We're more succesful in the Premier League than Blackburn are we? Does winning it not count these days compared to amassing points over 20 years?
As I tried to explain to you above, total number of points is only valid if everyone has played the same number of games. It's like being 2 points clear at the top of the league when everyone has got 10 games in hand.
And what is "wonderful world of Smith" if it isn't a silly little dig?
I'm learning from the master. Does that mean Liverpool aren't the most successful club of all time because they've been in the top division longer than Wigan? While you're figuring that out, tell me how many clubs you think have been better than us since 1992.
I'm with Chris on this one. This 'total points' table is often mentioned on here. Just because we have accumulated the 5th highest number of points since 1992 doesn't mean we are more likely to finish there than any of the other chasing pack teams. We have only finished 5th or higher 3 times since 1992. Our average place is 8th over the last 18 seasons.
In my view we have been more than likely to finish behind one or two of the less consistent teams (Newcastle, Leeds, Blackburn; now Everton, Spurs or Man City) every season.
It's like saying that Barichello is a better formula 1 driver than Senna was as he has more career points or that Fredericks was a better sprinter than Bolt as he has 4 Olympic silvers compared to 2 golds (so far).
We have made decent progress under Randy Lerner and MON in the last 4 seasons. Considering the transition period if Houllier can get us to 7th and a good cup run I would be happy this season as long as we get better football and further progress next year. Which I think is what Houllier is trying to say.
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Is 'The wonderful world of Smith' a new theme park?
What's in it, I might give it a go.
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Chris V Dave (http://www.googlefight.com/index.php?lang=en_GB&word1=Chris+Smith&word2=Dave+Woodhall)
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Is 'The wonderful world of Smith' a new theme park?
What's in it, I might give it a go.
Maybe is a sex shop for the weird or a sweet shop for special children.
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Still confusion whos going to be No. 2 ..
G-Hou wasnt at BH yesterday..
and there is a couple of players who are unhappy with G-Hou, as I said last night ' fook em, they are well payed to play for this massive club ' I suppose I had a few beers when I said that, and there is always going to be a few unhappy players in every squad when a new manager comes in as maybe they had it too safe.....
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Who are these unhappy players? How do you know they are unhappy?
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Who are these unhappy players? How do you know they are unhappy?
Players that have worked with him before... Cant say too much , I like my free tickets ;-)) but there was a few stressed people at Villa yesterday including my friend... but hes job is safe.... still problems with the No.2 thou that needs sorting...
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While you're figuring that out, tell me how many clubs you think have been better than us since 1992.
I know that the question wasn't directed at me, but I would say that Manew, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Blackburn have done better than us in the league in the last 18 years.
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I'll take your word for it.
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I'll take your word for it.
Randy is still investing as well ... spent loads of money in the area where my friend works.
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I am pleased with the appointment, I liked the way the scouses played while Gerard was there. As for taking time with the appointment, well in my opinion that is just being professional; rather than snapping up the first option you wait for someone that can deliver.
I agree with this. I'm prepared to give Houllier time to get rid of dead wood and bring some exciting new foreign players in. I just felt over the last year that we were starting to go stale again.
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A world where accuracy is prefered to bluster; I leave the latter to those better practiced.
You can't get more accurate that the total number of points. It's a fact. Four clubs have got more points than us during the Premier League's history. We are therefore its fifth-most successful club and no manner of disinformation and the sort of silly little digs at which you're an expert can disguise the fact.
We're more succesful in the Premier League than Blackburn are we? Does winning it not count these days compared to amassing points over 20 years?
As I tried to explain to you above, total number of points is only valid if everyone has played the same number of games. It's like being 2 points clear at the top of the league when everyone has got 10 games in hand.
And what is "wonderful world of Smith" if it isn't a silly little dig?
I'm learning from the master. Does that mean Liverpool aren't the most successful club of all time because they've been in the top division longer than Wigan? While you're figuring that out, tell me how many clubs you think have been better than us since 1992.
The goal posts are now in the street outside the ground you've moved them that far.
The initial post was in response to GH's remarks about us being a 7th-11th side and was about points earned in the PL era and you reckoned that we are the fifth most succesful team. How does that square with an average league finish of 8th when, as MasR says, we've only finished 5th or above 3 times the last time in 97? The fact that we're one of a smallish number of sides who have been ever present is something worth remarking on but our recent record is 8,8,16,6,10,16,11,6,6,6. Seems to me Gerard was being generous.
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I'll take your word for it.
Randy is still investing as well ... spent loads of money in the area where my friend works.
Is Bergues coming regardless of being the No.2 or not?
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I'll take your word for it.
Randy is still investing as well ... spent loads of money in the area where my friend works.
The canteen?
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If the players are unhappy let say the 4
John Carew - maybe fell out in Lyon, but he might calm down by now as he love playing for Villa and is settled. Gerard might move him on.
Brad Friedel - might not be happy getting irregular football at Liverpool, but he had grow into one of top goalkeeper in premier league. Gerard will keep him as he got no other option apart from Guizan.
Emile Heskey - might not be happy to leave Liverpool. Gerard will probably try to get best out of him, and if he can't he might move him on.
Steven Warnock - he is very young player at Liverpool, Gerard will keep him as he would have established himself.
All the others players wouldn't be unhappy as they never play or work with him.
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I'll take your word for it.
Randy is still investing as well ... spent loads of money in the area where my friend works.
The canteen?
Like it.. ;-))
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The canteen?
Might explain Dunne's extra pounds this season......
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I'll take your word for it.
Randy is still investing as well ... spent loads of money in the area where my friend works.
Is Bergues coming regardless of being the No.2 or not?
My friend doesnt know anything at the moment as G-Hou didnt turn up yesterday.. Theres just a few problems that need sorting at the moment, I dont know what they are.... He was a little stressed last night...
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Anybody know ?
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2 pm SSN
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2pm.
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As it's Friday, it's probably a welcome and pre-game conference.
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Even though the game is on Monday :)
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anyone know if it will be live on internet?
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SSN - Gerard WON'T be managing us against Stoke.
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i know yea, just saw that, any reason why ?
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Gerard Houllier to miss Villa's next match at Stoke
From Birmingham Mail (http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/aston-villa-fc/aston-villa-news/2010/09/10/gerard-houllier-to-miss-villa-s-next-match-at-stoke-97319-27239120/)
GERARD Houllier will not be able to kick off his Villa reign until the middle of next week – leaving caretaker Kevin MacDonald to pick the team at Stoke on Monday.
Houllier will be paraded as the claret and blues’ new boss at a press conference at Villa Park today but will not take complete control until after Villa’s next game.
The former Liverpool manager still has loose ends to tie up following his resignation from his role as technical director with the French Football Federation on Wednesday.
His absence from Monday night’s Premier League game against the Potters at the Britannia Stadium will leave MacDonald in charge of team selection for a sixth game.
The caretaker boss will meet Villa’s new manager at Bodymoor Heath this morning as part of a whirlwind day for the 63-year-old successor to Martin O’Neill.
As well as plans for the Stoke game the duo will discuss MacDonald’s future role in Houllier’s new-look coaching set-up during his first official visit to the training ground.
But Houllier will be back sorting out personal issues in his native France when Villa aim to build on two league wins and a defeat against Tony Pulis’ team on Monday evening.
Houllier will also wait until next week to formally introduce himself to Villa’s players who have today off ahead of training sessions tomorrow and on Sunday.
The unavoidable complication comes as Houllier has revealed that he turned down other jobs to replace O’Neill in the Villa Park hotseat on Wednesday.
Houllier has delivered a realistic assessment of the challenge he faces to keep Villa competing alongside the Premier League big boys.
The Frenchman insists the claret and blues have been traditionally regarded as best of the rest team in the top flight in recent seasons.
But Houllier is relishing the task of continuing the steady progress Villa have made since Randy Lerner bought the club four years ago.
“It was starting to tickle me, I really wanted to go back pitchside!” said Houllier on his desire to return to top-level club management.
“I had, of course, other proposals but this one seemed to be the most interesting to me in terms of environment and working conditions.
“Aston Villa is not a club on the same level as Liverpool, let’s be objective and honest.
“It’s a club that, according to me, has belonged between seventh and 12th place in the Premier League.
“But above all it’s a historic club which won the European Cup.
“It’s a club which has got very good infrastructure and a fine team which is only after one thing – to improve year on year,” he added.
MacDonald has so far experienced a mixed record during his temporary charge of the first team, leading Villa to Premier League home wins over West Ham and Everton and defeat at Newcastle along with a draw and loss to Rapid Vienna which resulted in the club’s Europa League exit.
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“Aston Villa is not a club on the same level as Liverpool, let’s be objective and honest.
“It’s a club that, according to me, has belonged between seventh and 12th place in the Premier League."
Houllier quote... I hope he does a bit more research on what our Premier League record really is. Hmmmmmmm
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SSN - Gerard WON'T be managing us against Stoke.
What the fuck?
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“Aston Villa is not a club on the same level as Liverpool, let’s be objective and honest.
“It’s a club that, ACCORDING TO ME has belonged between seventh and 12th place in the Premier League."
Houllier quote... I hope he does a bit more research on what our Premier League record really is. Hmmmmmmm
according to me ??
prick, where is the motivation ? and the want to succeed ?
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Strange.
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No Houllier versus Stoke (other thread) (http://www.heroesandvillains.info/forumv3/index.php?topic=40192.msg1580054#msg1580054)
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Bloody French. They are always going on strike.
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I imagine he wants to use the benefit of K-Mac's knowledge and watch from the stands. Get a better idea of the lay of the land. It's not the first time we've seen incoming managers watch from the stands for their 'first game' after being appointed.
Or, perhaps, he still has many loose ends to tie up with FFF and needs this time to do it.
I think most people on here would be obliged to give a months notice. Why not Houllier?
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“It’s a club that, according to me, has belonged between seventh and 12th place in the Premier League.
this comment has really annoyed me, if he thought we were so "mid table" why come and join us then
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That is ridiculous, we've had a few weeks to get this sorted and for him to sort out any issues back home. So we now go into an important game led by a bloke who has been told he's not good enough to pick the team permanently.
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That is ridiculous, we've had a few weeks to get this sorted and for him to sort out any issues back home. So we now go into an important game led by a bloke who has been told he's not good enough to pick the team permanently.
It does seem a little bit strange.
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From what the Mail is saying he's not even going to be at the game never mind in the stands
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“It’s a club that, according to me, has belonged between seventh and 12th place in the Premier League.
this comment has really annoyed me, if he thought we were so "mid table" why come and join us then
You are starting to sound like a f**king stuck record.
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What do you mean, 'starting'?
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The whole process from start to finish has been an absolute shambles. I know that's mostly O'Neill's fault, but even so, the fact that it'll be next week before Houllier starts work properly is ridiculous.
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i do not like that statement one bit...
there is trying to be realistic, and there is factually incorrect bollocks...
those comments are the latter...
obviously, it suits the mans agenda to play us down, so that if he does a good job and surpasses his own assessment, it makes him look a better manager, as redknobb has done in every job he has taken, but as an introduction to the fans, it really is a pr nightmare and a crock of shit...
but, as the new manager, we have to get behind him and forget about this nonsense... i am focusing on the positives he can bring to the club, so welcome to the club...
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Its no surprise that MacDonald will pick the side, but it is quite the shock that Houllier won’t be at the ground.
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"Gerard Houllier's Claret and Blue Army"
L'Armée Claret et Bleue de Gérard Houllier.
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I agree with Houllier in a pedantic way. Our average finish since 2000 is 9.3 which sits between 7th and 12th.
He could have said it differently, though.
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He's right about us not being on the same level as Liverpool.They finished below us last season and they're below us now 8)
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The fact that a Franch chap has better English grammar than you bunch is quite saddening, "that has belonged" let's conjugate the verb...
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"Not on the same level as Liverpool" We finish above them last year I'm worried he's been out of the game too long with that comment that he doesn't see how poor Liverpool have been of late and it doesn't enfuse confidence. It seems to suggest that's how he feel about it right now not past experience!
I'm one of those people who belives that the Manager should of been British. I'll be seriously annoyed if KMac doesn't have a big say in team affairs because lets be honest with comments like this it doesn't seem as though he has much respect for the club and may just work out on us at any point like O'neil has (although I belive O'neil had great respect for the club") ! "belongs between seventh and 12th place in the Premier League" if that's all he aiming for now I would never appoint him seriously he won't be building a team more like demolishing it with those aim. I really belive he's a backwards step he'll probably let A Young go to his beloved Liverpool in January and then say when a club of Liverpool's "level" comes in for the player it's had to say no!
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Give the bloke a fucking chance you whingeing bunch of wankers.
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Give the bloke a fucking chance you whingeing bunch of wankers.
lol :D
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Give the bloke a fucking chance you whingeing bunch of wankers.
Sometimes, it just needs to be told straight. Sir, I salute you.
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anyone know if it will be live on internet?
Risso has a great link to SSN. Risso?
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I don't see the problem in starting next week, I don't think he would have had sufficient time to assess the best 11, far better that KMAC picks the team as he's spent all week with them.
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I don't see the problem in starting next week, I don't think he would have had sufficient time to assess the best 11, far better that KMAC picks the team as he's spent all week with them.
anyone know if it will be live on internet?
Risso has a great link to SSN. Risso?
I think it's this one. Doesn't always work though
http://www.streamick.com/index.php?tv=ssn
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I agree with Houllier in a pedantic way. Our average finish since 2000 is 9.3 which sits between 7th and 12th.
He could have said it differently, though.
Our average finish over the last 3 years is sixth, so why are we choosing to look at 2000 onwards, but let's not get bogged down with this. We are just using statistics to back our arguments.
I am slightly concerned he comes across as being DOL like in his opinion of us, however we have all heard the sycophantic views in the past as well, i think i would prefer the view from an outsider, it is probably more realistic.
The best description i have heard of us is they are "the best of the rest".
It's strange that we can criticise ourselves, but we get all defensive when ever someone else dares to do it, and we fawn all over someone who "blows smoke up our arse".
Interested to see what he says at the official press conference.
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Those words are an English translation of something he said to le Figaro - the French Daily Mail. Pity the usual "lazy journalism" dismissal of anything we don't like isn't in operation here.
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Give the bloke a fucking chance you whingeing bunch of wankers.
[/quote
Could of not said it better myself ......Whats the next whinge "your bum looks fat in that suit" ?????
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I agree with Houllier in a pedantic way. Our average finish since 2000 is 9.3 which sits between 7th and 12th.
He could have said it differently, though.
Across all 18 Premier League seasons our average finish is 8.1, which includes one runners-up finish, two top-four finishes and nine, yes nine top-six finishes. No other team outside the Sky Four has a better PL record but this is never mentioned in the media because of their total lack of respect for our football club.
Having said that I expect it from them, I don't expect it from our manager. You can argue statistics all day but Randy needs to get him in a room and explain that this type of 'objectivity and honesty' will not endear him to Villa fans and is meat & drink to our rivals across the city, who love to portray us as mid-table and mediocre.
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I agree with Houllier in a pedantic way. Our average finish since 2000 is 9.3 which sits between 7th and 12th.
He could have said it differently, though.
Our average finish over the last 3 years is sixth, so why are we choosing to look at 2000 onwards
I know, but something about people whinging without giving the bloke a chance brings the troll out in me.
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I agree with Houllier in a pedantic way. Our average finish since 2000 is 9.3 which sits between 7th and 12th.
He could have said it differently, though.
Across all 18 Premier League seasons our average finish is 8.1, which includes one runners-up finish, two top-four finishes and nine, yes nine top-six finishes. No other team outside the Sky Four has a better PL record but this is never mentioned in the media because of their total lack of respect for our football club.
Having said that I expect it from them, I don't expect it from our manager. You can argue statistics all day but Randy needs to get him in a room and explain that this type of 'objectivity and honesty' will not endear him to Villa fans and is meat & drink to our rivals across the city, who love to portray us as mid-table and mediocre.
We don't hear it in the media, you're right, but we also have won fuck all in the same period, so it's no surprise.
And as for that shower in Small Heath, fuck 'em, we don't answer to them. Being mid-table and mediocre is something they can only dream of.
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There's a press conference at two. Let's see what he says when he's at Villa Park, answering questions that won't be translated.
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The fact that a Franch chap has better English grammar than you bunch is quite saddening, "that has belonged" let's conjugate the verb...
hmmm, people in glass houses, what exactly does FrAnch mean?
Hate that!
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There's a press conference at two. Let's see what he says when he's at Villa Park, answering questions that won't be translated.
Dave, I understand you wanting to put a positive spin on things when the manager's only just been appointed but I've just been to Le Figaro's website and read the quotes in French.
I have lived and worked in France for a few years and I'm fairly fluent in the language and I can promise you there is no mis-translation here. It's exactly what he said.
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When I saw the quote the first thing I thought of was David O'Leary's constant belittling of the club.
Let's just hope this isn't a pre-cursor to something similar.
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FFS the guy hasn't even started yet and people are having a go.......
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Well if it is 'lost in translation' then he needs to rectify that at the press conference later, so we'll see.
It's not a good start to tell us we need to prepare for mediocrity.
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There's a press conference at two. Let's see what he says when he's at Villa Park, answering questions that won't be translated.
Dave, I understand you wanting to put a positive spin on things when the manager's only just been appointed but I've just been to Le Figaro's website and read the quotes in French.
I have lived and worked in France for a few years and I'm fairly fluent in the language and I can promise you there is no mis-translation here. It's exactly what he said.
But you don't know the questions and the context in which they were asked. There are few times when I'm stuck for an answer but I honestly do not know why some people have, even before he was announced as manager, been looking for ways to stick the boot into Gezza.
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There's a press conference at two. Let's see what he says when he's at Villa Park, answering questions that won't be translated.
It doesn't look like he'll be in the dugout and officially with the club until after the Stoke match though.
As to his comment
"Aston Villa is not a club on the same level as Liverpool, let's be objective and honest.
"It's a club that according to me has belonged between seventh and 12th place in the Premier League.
"But, above all, it's a historic club which has won the European Cup. It's a club which has got good infrastructure and a fine team which is after one thing - to improve year on year."
Its certainly objective and realistic which I don't feel most of the reactions to it are and seems to suggest he feels he can do something about.
I also think the Phil McNulty article on the BBC website gives a, if Liverpool biased, view of his achievements too.
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Across all 18 Premier League seasons our average finish is 8.1, which includes one runners-up finish, two top-four finishes and nine, yes nine top-six finishes. No other team outside the Sky Four has a better PL record but this is never mentioned in the media because of their total lack of respect for our football club.
Your stats are a little misleading though. To me they read like we have one runners up finish AND two top four finishes AND nine top six finishes, when in fact the nine top 6 obviously includes the runners up year etc. Other than that I agree with you.
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I don't see what's so upsetting about it, frankly. If that's his opinion then fine. If he's only interested in keeping everyone onside then maybe he could have put it differently; but if he's more interested in plain speaking and being honest in his assessment of the club then he was right to say what he said. I'd much rather have the latter.
I can't stand the bleating that goes on when anyone dares to offer comment which is less than 100% glowing about the club.
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Another quote to even the balance:
Houllier admitted it had been a "very difficult decision" to leave his post in France but he was "very happy and proud to join this great and historic club".
Spend too long listening to Brummies and they will suck all of the joy and optimism out of you (says a Brummie).
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There's a press conference at two. Let's see what he says when he's at Villa Park, answering questions that won't be translated.
Dave, I understand you wanting to put a positive spin on things when the manager's only just been appointed but I've just been to Le Figaro's website and read the quotes in French.
I have lived and worked in France for a few years and I'm fairly fluent in the language and I can promise you there is no mis-translation here. It's exactly what he said.
But you don't know the questions and the context in which they were asked. There are few times when I'm stuck for an answer but I honestly do not know why some people have, even before he was announced as manager, been looking for ways to stick the boot into Gezza.
I am not one of those people. I'm fairly pleased with the appointment under the circumstances and this is the first time I've posted anything at all on the subject.
It's true I don't know the question he was asked or the context it was asked in, but then I don't need to know. Context is irrelevant here. There is no question he could have been asked that would make the reply look any better. Even if that question were: Do you think you can win the title this season?
I'll have to put this down to ignorance (maybe he reads the English papers and watches SSN too) and hope that he turns out to more media savvy and sensitive to the feelings of Villa fans than this suggests.
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To me, Houllier has basically said that Villa are a upper mid-table team which are looking to progress; that he recognizes our history; that he generally likes the club; and that he has chosen to manage us rather than accepting other offers or staying in a French Football Federation office playing Solitaire on his computer. Seems like some people are reading his quotes in the same way as the devil reads the bible.
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I can't stand the bleating that goes on when anyone dares to offer comment which is less than 100% glowing about the club.
Almost right Hilts.
More correct would be
I can't stand the bleating that goes on when anyone dares to offer comment which is less than 100% glowing about MON.
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Lets face it Randy has taken thew safe option and made a good choice.
He could have taken a risk and pushed for an up and coming manager, but didn't.
He could have made big noises to try and push a big name but didn't and from what I can gather of his character, I'm not surprised, he didn't.
So he's gone for a tried and tested product that perhaps has questions over his ability to stand the pressure but a man who is renowned for bringing on youth and for organising off the field factors which the club needs, and above all he has a tactical brain as good as any.
He's no Messiah, but he could be our saviour.
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I can't stand the bleating that goes on when anyone dares to offer comment which is less than 100% glowing about the club.
Almost right Hilts.
More correct would be
I can't stand the bleating that goes on when anyone dares to offer comment which is less than 100% glowing about MON.
True, I couldn't stand that either.
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Really? I am surprised....
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I am not one of those people. I'm fairly pleased with the appointment under the circumstances and this is the first time I've posted anything at all on the subject.
It's true I don't know the question he was asked or the context it was asked in, but then I don't need to know. Context is irrelevant here. There is no question he could have been asked that would make the reply look any better. Even if that question were: Do you think you can win the title this season?
I'll have to put this down to ignorance (maybe he reads the English papers and watches SSN too) and hope that he turns out to more media savvy and sensitive to the feelings of Villa fans than this suggests.
How about:
"You have been with Liverpool, a club who have won five European Cups and are known throughout the world. Do Aston Villa really compare with this record?"
"Aston Villa is not a club on the same level as Liverpool, let's be objective and honest.
"When you were at Liverpool, what was your impression of Aston Villa at the time?"
"It's a club that according to me has belonged between seventh and 12th place in the Premier League."
"What impresses you about your new club and what do you hope to do there?
"But, above all, it's a historic club which has won the European Cup. It's a club which has got good infrastructure and a fine team which is after one thing - to improve season on season."
And suddenly things look a bit different.
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I'm a Villa fan as most of us are on here (hi Stokies) and I concede that Liverpool has a much higher social standing then us, surely we can all see that ? Houllier was answering honestly.
If he though we were a shit pot of a club, he wouldn't have joined.
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Is it true he's going to miss the Stoke game?
I'd be fuming if that's the case, surely the delay this week was to sort out everything with the French fa?!
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I really don't care what he might have said to a journalist, and as Dave has excellently presented, the questions could have put and interpreted very differently. What I am confidently assuming is that he isn't coming to Villa to finish 7th to 12th. He's won things throughout his career and at 63 he could have taken a much easier route out of football. There's still a fire burning. WE need to get of his back over something that is incredibly trivial and support the bloke 100%.
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I just think he's been a bit naive. I don't think his statements are anything to get too upset about, but it's a bit off that almost his first utterance as a Villa manager is a less than complimentary comparison to his former club. We know we're not as successful as them, but it's the same as going on a date with a new girlfriend and telling her that she's not as pretty as your ex. It may be true, but it's not going to get the relationship off to the best of starts.
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is there anywhere we can watch the press conference at 2pm?
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is there anywhere we can watch the press conference at 2pm?
On the BBC news website:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aston_villa/8987996.stm
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is there anywhere we can watch the press conference at 2pm?
On the BBC news website:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aston_villa/8987996.stm
cheers, but for some stupid reason they don't allow this to us folk outside the UK.
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I just think he's been a bit naive. I don't think his statements are anything to get too upset about, but it's a bit off that almost his first utterance as a Villa manager is a less than complimentary comparison to his former club. We know we're not as successful as them, but it's the same as going on a date with a new girlfriend and telling her that she's not as pretty as your ex. It may be true, but it's not going to get the relationship off to the best of starts.
Exactly. He shouldn't have put it that way.
Not all that surprised he's not in charge for Stoke, I suspected he wouldn't be.
Is the press conference still on?
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is there anywhere we can watch the press conference at 2pm?
On the BBC news website:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aston_villa/8987996.stm
cheers, but for some stupid reason they don't allow this to us folk outside the UK.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/birmingham/hi/tv_and_radio/
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"the fans are the most important, passionate vocal there fantastic". "we want places of honour, lets have the progress" sounds good to me!
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is there anywhere we can watch the press conference at 2pm?
On the BBC news website:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aston_villa/8987996.stm
cheers, but for some stupid reason they don't allow this to us folk outside the UK.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/birmingham/hi/tv_and_radio/
can't get it going Mark. No big deal. Thanks anyway. I'm quite disappointed that AVTV aren't showing this live. I do wonder why I pay for it sometimes.
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GH is not going to be in charge for the Bolton game.
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Sounds like he's been cramming a few Derrick Spinks books. Or reading from cue cards.
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Kevin Mac going back to the Reserves.
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GH is not going to be in charge for the Bolton game.
huh??? I thought it was only the Stoke game he was missing. Bolton is a week away. That doesn't make sense. I imagine he'll have some other people in place to help direct but still.
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GH is not going to be in charge for the Bolton game.
huh??? I thought it was only the Stoke game he was missing. Bolton is a week away. That doesn't make sense. I imagine he'll have some other people in place to help direct but still.
Contract with French FA. He will be there to see the game.
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Really liking this press confence so far.
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GH is not going to be in charge for the Bolton game.
huh??? I thought it was only the Stoke game he was missing. Bolton is a week away. That doesn't make sense. I imagine he'll have some other people in place to help direct but still.
Contract with French FA. He will be there to see the game.
fair enough. I'm sure there will be plenty of contact between him and the club. Like I said, I assume he'll have some of his people directing stuff in his absence. Any word on his assistant now that KM is going back to what he does best?
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He seems like a really honest and switched-on guy. Long may it continue.
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For those of us abroad and unable to see the press conference, proof he's actually here:
(http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/2019/19446761.jpg)
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I like him.
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Came across very well, oozing confidence. I'm very happy we're in safe hands - he looked healthy too.
Seemed quite witty and funny as well and clued up on our squad.
SSN are saying he'll be in charge for Bolton though.
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Uh oh. "happy memories of Villa Park.. Robbie Fowler scoring a hattrick!"
D'oh!
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Thought he came across superbly. Looked genuinely excited about managing the team. Im a bit annoyed he cannot get started straight away though
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Someone summarise what he said in neat bullet point format
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He got me on side when he talked about Liverpool not losing at VP since 1998, and then said 'I want to change that first of all'.
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Someone summarise what he said in neat bullet point format
With a nice readable font.
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Came across very well, oozing confidence. I'm very happy we're in safe hands - he looked healthy too.
Seemed quite witty and funny as well and clued up on our squad.
The above echoes my sentiments entirely, I've been fairly ambivalent about the appointment thus far but that press conference has given a boost of confidence that we have indeed got the right man for the job. He certainly seems to be relishing the challenge.
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Christ, someone speaking a foreign language at Villa Park.
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Came across very well, oozing confidence. I'm very happy we're in safe hands - he looked healthy too.
Seemed quite witty and funny as well and clued up on our squad.
The above echoes my sentiments entirely, I've been fairly ambivalent about the appointment thus far but that press conference has given a boost of confidence that we have indeed got the right man for the job. He certainly seems to be relishing the challenge.
Aye, he looked like a kid on Christmas morning.
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He got me on side when he talked about Liverpool not losing at VP since 1998, and then said 'I want to change that first of all'.
Ok, i am wrong, i hold my hands up, i admit i was a bit of a dick.
i have just watched the press conference ( which sky cut short " bastards" ) bet they wouldnt do that if a new man u manager was there
i like him
Like what he is saying
wants europe. Wants silverware
Is looking to get players in jan
Having a laugh with press. Seems pretty laid back
Doesn't seem as miserable as oniell
and that liverpool comment i thought was brilliant !!
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He got me on side when he talked about Liverpool not losing at VP since 1998, and then said 'I want to change that first of all'.
Ok, i am wrong, i hold my hands up, i admit i was a bit of a dick.
i have just watched the press conference ( which sky cut short " bastards" ) bet they wouldnt do that if a new man u manager was there
i like him
Like what he is saying
wants europe. Wants silverware
Is looking to get players in jan
Having a laugh with press. Seems pretty laid back
Doesn't seem as miserable as oniell
and that liverpool comment i thought was brilliant !!
Well done!
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Having just watched the press conference i was very impressed with our new manager, he knew quite a lot of stuff about our great club. It might be some time before he actually starts properly though,possibly after the Bolton match, he will be there though. Kevin MC going back to managing the reserves though. Both men seem very nice and genuine.
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A very good press conference indeed. The cynic in would say that he said the right things to impress the fans however his tone and body language suggest that he is genuinely enthused by this job. He's been honest and realistic from day one and he has my full backing (not that he needs it!).
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Uh oh. "happy memories of Villa Park.. Robbie Fowler scoring a hattrick!"
D'oh!
cue another 30 pages of why he would have brought that up **winky**
I'm glad people have got a good impression of him. He always speaks very well and intelligently. Kind of what I like about Wenger too. Very much looking forward to him changing things around. The one thing that his former players have all said is that he isn't afraid to wield the knife and bring in his own staff and players. We need to broom some of the crap, and introduce some additional quality into the squad.
Here's to a very unpredictable January transfer window.
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He got me on side when he talked about Liverpool not losing at VP since 1998, and then said 'I want to change that first of all'.
Ok, i am wrong, i hold my hands up, i admit i was a bit of a dick.
i have just watched the press conference ( which sky cut short " bastards" ) bet they wouldnt do that if a new man u manager was there
i like him
Like what he is saying
wants europe. Wants silverware
Is looking to get players in jan
Having a laugh with press. Seems pretty laid back
Doesn't seem as miserable as oniell
and that liverpool comment i thought was brilliant !!
Fair play. Give the man a chance. Same goes for any player he brings in. Don't have such hard stances on things.
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Just caught the end on BBC. Seems like a cool dude.
I might start learning French.
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Aside from the history lesson he gave us that sounded a bit stilted, I picked out that:
(a) Champions League isn't an immediate goal
(b) He thinks January is a bad time of year to do business, but he'll still have a look.
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Welcome aboard, Gerard!
Really exciting for the coming months now.
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Firstly, I am glad we actually have a manager.
Secondly, I am glad that we have a manager *who actually wants to be the manager*.
I am going to put my paranoia and cynicism on the shelf for a bit and let him get on with it. Good luck Gerard
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Fantastic part news conference. Sounded articulate, enthusiastic and fully aware of things what are going on around him. There were early doubts about his health etc but they have been wiped out after that interview. Come on Villa ..........................
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Aside from the history lesson he gave us that sounded a bit stilted, I picked out that:
(a) Champions League isn't an immediate goal
(b) He thinks January is a bad time of year to do business, but he'll still have a look.
which is realistic I think. I've maintained from the start that our current squad is good enough for the top 8. 1 or 2 new faces in January and we are again looking at top 6. If we can stay alive in the cups, we can go for that too. Next year, with a full summer, we can attack every competition.
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He's not going to be at Stoke ...............'hoping to be at Bolton match'
mentioned 3 months notice to FFF !! but trying to negotiate earlier release ?
Looks like KMac will be caretaker till Xmas then
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Just caught the tail end on BBC i -player - I must confess I was not overly impressed. Is it me or did he look like a rabbit in the headlights of a car?
Mentioned liverpool how many times?
We still don`t know when he will be available to manage.
Also said something about his contacts in the game - he stated it was not mentioned in his interview etc.
Finally he said something in French at the end regarding Benitez - anyone know what that was about?
(Champions League?)
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Uh oh. "happy memories of Villa Park.. Robbie Fowler scoring a hattrick!"
D'oh!
cue another 30 pages of why he would have brought that up **winky**
I'm glad people have got a good impression of him. He always speaks very well and intelligently. Kind of what I like about Wenger too. Very much looking forward to him changing things around. The one thing that his former players have all said is that he isn't afraid to wield the knife and bring in his own staff and players. We need to broom some of the crap, and introduce some additional quality into the squad.
Here's to a very unpredictable January transfer window.
He said January isnt the ideal time for transfers and he's very happy with the squad at the moment..
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Aside from the history lesson he gave us that sounded a bit stilted, I picked out that:
(a) Champions League isn't an immediate goal
(b) He thinks January is a bad time of year to do business, but he'll still have a look.
If you think about it deep down are we ready for champions league yet ? We dont have the squad depth yet
look what happened in the europa when we changed a few players about to rest them for the premier league game? and look what happened to spurs when they didnt change many players against wigan, they were fucked and lost
and janurary isnt the best time to buy players because prices go up, players are carrying little knocks...
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True TV, I wouldn't say it is realistic this year.
But you'd want to see a guy burning with ambition and when asked the question respond "Yes. That's the goal." We might have to do it in a different way to other clubs and achieve it over a period of time, but it should still be a legitimate target. Always set the target a bit higher than your comfort zone, and if you fall short chances are you still might have progressed. Rather than settling.
If we're happy bobbing along between 7th-12th with the odd cup run and (maybe) nicking a LC once in a blue moon I don't think that's the kind of vision that will inspire many, or improve our standing in the game.
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He's not going to be at Stoke ...............'hoping to be at Bolton match'
mentioned 3 months notice to FFF !! but trying to negotiate earlier release ?
Looks like KMac will be caretaker till Xmas then
Yes that was a bit worrying re the 3 months comment, he spoke about brad and Warnock too.
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I think his first target is a respectable finish this season, ship the shite out and replace the high earners who don't deserve it with players off the continent who'll cost less and earn a quater of what we're paying 'em now.
Then take it from there.
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Just caught the tail end on BBC i -player - I must confess I was not overly impressed. Is it me or did he look like a rabbit in the headlights of a car?
Mentioned liverpool how many times?
We still don`t know when he will be available to manage.
Finally he said something in French at the end regarding Benitez - anyone know what that was about?
(Champions League?)
Yes. He said "i bet some Dick head is saying i look a rabbit caught in someone`s headlights" ............
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True TV, I wouldn't say it is realistic this year.
But you'd want to see a guy burning with ambition and when asked the question respond "Yes. That's the goal." We might have to do it in a different way to other clubs and achieve it over a period of time, but it should still be a legitimate target.
If we're happy bobbing along between 7th-12th with the odd cup run and (maybe) nicking a LC once in a blue moon I don't think that's the kind of vision that will inspire many, or improve our standing in the game.
I don't take much notice of that though. MON said that was the goal every year he was here. What will make a difference is his actions. I think we all want to see a more complete squad assembled that can stay alive in every competition and will be deep enough and strong enough to challenge for a top 4 spot. We're not a million miles off that now in my opinon. At 63 he hasn't come here to wallow in mid table or just be content with the Europa. If we do this right we can intelligently get a CL spot much like Wenger has at Arsenal without spending crazy money.
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I thought he came over well and only really mentioned Liverpool in context of his last job in this country, and the fact they are not in the top 4 anymore both of which I thought were understanable to mention (well on SSN coverage).
The 3 months notice - the same as many jobs they can hold you to it but the fact that they have let him take the job means they wont but want him to honor the meeting with all the managers captains and ref for the top league in France that has obviously taken some setting up - fair enough for me and he has looked at getting a private jet but even then would not be back in time.
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Thank you Walters Warriors - I was making a valid observation about his body language - no need for the attempted insult
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Anybody got a link for this please chaps ? Can't find it.
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GH is not going to be in charge for the Bolton game.
He must be waiting for his replica shirt from the club shop!
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Just caught the tail end on BBC i -player - I must confess I was not overly impressed. Is it me or did he look like a rabbit in the headlights of a car?
Mentioned liverpool how many times?
We still don`t know when he will be available to manage.
Also said something about his contacts in the game - he stated it was not mentioned in his interview etc.
Finally he said something in French at the end regarding Benitez - anyone know what that was about?
(Champions League?)
He came across very well I thought
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Christ, someone speaking a foreign language at Villa Park.
Talking sense you mean
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GH is not going to be in charge for the Bolton game.
He must be waiting for his replica shirt from the club shop!
he said it is possible that he could be, depends if he can get out of his contract at fff
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Anybody got a link for this please chaps ? Can't find it.
Here you go - might be on BBC i-player later
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aston_villa/8988856.stm
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I'm trying to be objective here and I do think that, in essence, what Houllier was saying was that when you are trawling someone's wife, seagulls are better than sardines.
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I couldn't disagree more vctm, I thought he came across really well and looked excited by the job. (although I'm not sure I've seen all the interview as sky kindly switched to some rubbish once their reporter had finished monopolising the conference).
He looked to me like a man with a point to prove can not wait to get going.
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Every time I hear the man speak Liverpool are always bloody mentioned in some capacity.
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I'm trying to be objective here and I do think that, in essence, what Houllier was saying was that when you are trawling someone's wife, seagulls are better than sardines.
you sound like cantona, lol
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Every time I hear the man speak Liverpool are Every time I hear the man speak Liverpool are always bloody mentioned in some capacity.
always bloody mentioned in some capacity.
He used to manage them and was successful with them, he was asked a question about his time there in comparison to now. What do you want him to do???
He used to be their manager and was asked a question a
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I'm trying to be objective here and I do think that, in essence, what Houllier was saying was that when you are trawling someone's wife, seagulls are better than sardines.
you sound like cantona, lol
Sigh
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We need Troy Eccles to do a "Lie to me" step-by-step analysis of every twitch and mannerism.
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The fans are most important, they are passionate, vocal and fantastic
And who compared him to DOL?
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I was neither downhearted nor enthused by the PC. He spoke well, said the right things about the club, didn't patronise the fans and was gushing about the board (well, Randy and Faulkner anyway). The issue of transfers in January was rather fudged, but thats the norm really in this sort of thing.
On the positive side he was very relaxed, had time to laugh and joke and seemed to convey a man happy with his lot. Rather different from the rather intense days of MON.
However, the notice period and unclear situation regarding him taking charge is not a good thing. WM did cut away from the PC after 20 minutes so this may have been covered but I like a manager, when taking charge, to have his backroom staff lined up and ready to go. In this case they could work under the direction of Houllier until he is allowed to assume control. The situation, on Monday at the very least, with Kevin McDonald in charge is far from ideal.
Although I still have my reservations, this afternoons events have not caused me any serious doubt about Houlliers ability and I believe his in more than capable of maintaining the Status Quo, beyond that is where my doubt creeps in.
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Did anybody else get the impression Kevin Mac turned down the opportunity to be Assistant Manager?
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The fans are most important, they are passionate, vocal and fantastic
And who compared him to DOL?
I did - or at least stated on the now-closed thread that the words reported in the Mail, translated from a French paper, made me think of the way DOL belittled the club.
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I'm trying to be objective here and I do think that, in essence, what Houllier was saying was that when you are trawling someone's wife, seagulls are better than sardines.
you sound like cantona, lol
He didn't see it.
Oh, and, at ease everybody, for Sullivan and Gold have pipped us to the signing (according to Radio Monte Carlo)
(http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/5729/screenshot3m.jpg) (http://img230.imageshack.us/i/screenshot3m.jpg/)
Link to article (http://www.rmc.fr/editorial/125743/girard-houllier-a-ete-irrespectueux-avec-moi/)
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How nice to have a real communicator in charge one who speaks coherently, smiles and has plenty of charming comments to get people on side. Loved the comment about it being a Sky interview.
If that was a man looking like a rabbit in headlights Mon must have been a rat in the gaze of a viper.
Very impressed, and as suggested obviously well prepared and up for the challenge. As to his Liverpool comments, he mentioned Lyon too several times, can we criticise him for that. In fact he mentioned Villa several times too and he's only been here 4 hours.
Some people.
Anyway first view 9/10, bring him on, could be an interesting time.
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Did anybody else get the impression Kevin Mac turned down the opportunity to be Assistant Manager?
BBC Sport (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aston_villa/8988856.stm)
Gerard Houllier praises Aston Villa's ambition
Houllier is returning to English football after a six-year absence
Gerard Houllier says Aston Villa's ambition was key to him agreeing to succeed Martin O'Neill as manager.
Houllier, 63, said he had rejected other offers, adding he was fit and healthy after heart problems in 2001 during his reign at Liverpool.
"I had a good and safe job at the French Football Federation, but Villa's ambition made me feel I wanted to be part of the team," he stated.
Caretaker manager Kevin MacDonald will return to his job as reserve team boss.
However, Houllier added that he was disappointed that MacDonald, who took over the reins following O'Neill's shock departure in August, had rejected the chance to work as his assistant.
"I am working on naming an assistant manager," the Frenchman continued.
"Joint management doesn't work, but in some capacity as assistant manager he would have been helpful. he could also have maybe learnt the trade and, who knows, taken over from me.
"But I understand his decision, he's a nice bloke so I won't hurt him - I told him I'd like him to stay at the club."
Under MacDonald, Villa won two of their opening three Premier League fixtures, a foundation on which Houllier is keen to build.
"I'm here to meet anyone who says it's not a good club, so lets try to make it better," enthused Houllier.
"The facilities are first class, the training ground is really good, there is a vision for the future.
"It's down now to us to work hard to bring success and joy to the fans. The fans are most important, they are passionate, vocal and fantastic."
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Cheers, adrenachrome.
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The fans are most important, they are passionate, vocal and fantastic
And who compared him to DOL?
I did - or at least stated on the now-closed thread that the words reported in the Mail, translated from a French paper, made me think of the way DOL belittled the club.
I also raised this point and it is a lesson for anyone taking charge of a football team. Get the fans on your side from the off and it might just buy you some time when things gets tough. Start ramming home truths down peoples throats and you crush the one thing that keeps fans going. Hope.
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I have to give 3 months notice at work, why shouldn't he?
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Did anybody else get the impression Kevin Mac turned down the opportunity to be Assistant Manager?
it seems as though he did. I like the bloke, and he's been great for the club for ages. But he took forever to make up his mind. He was never convincing in interviews, and quite frankly he got beaten out to the job by a much, much better candidate. It would have been good for him as Houllier points out to get the experience as an assistant. Something tells me he's gone back to the reserves in somewhat of a huff which would be very unfortunate indeed. The way I see it, for players or coaches, there's no room for passengers. Pick up a fucking oar and row hard. Do your part. That or get off. There will be one or two coaches and players that will need to make that decision in the coming weeks and months.
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I can't think of any manager's job, anywhere, where the subject of his assistant has been debated so much. In the normal course of event the caretaker job would have gone to the first team coach and Kev wouldn't have been anywhere near it or in line for promotion.
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He basically said they could have made him give 3 months notice- not that they were and he expects to be available next week, never implied that it would be longer, he just has a few commitments to fulfil !
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I have to say I'm disappointed Macdonald has turned down the assistant's job.... apart from the dithering about the original job in the first place, it's not the brightest move when a new boss starts... hardly a ringing vote of confidence in Team Villa. Sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone.
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I have to say I'm disappointed Macdonald has turned down the assistant's job.... apart from the dithering about the original job in the first place, it's not the brightest move when a new boss starts... hardly a ringing vote of confidence in Team Villa. Sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone.
I'm glad, as long as he's staying where he is. It ain't broke so don't fix it.
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I can't think of any manager's job, anywhere, where the subject of his assistant has been debated so much. In the normal course of event the caretaker job would have gone to the first team coach and Kev wouldn't have been anywhere near it or in line for promotion.
I think it would have been here too if the former assistants had stuck around. I'm tired of the whole thing to be honest. You'd think he was some up and coming star. The man's nearly 50 and I'm sure has had a few opportunities to enter management and hasn't. Aston Villa shouldn't be his apprenticeship as a football manager.
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It would appear I am in the minority on here with respect to today`s PC - Personally I didn`t see him in the way others have. I wish him well and hope he takes us onto the next level.
Did anyone catch his last comments ? - he said something in French at the end regarding Benitez - anyone know what that was about?
(I think it referred to Champions League?)
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If anyone was in any doubt about the appointment of Mac. Then if you have seen Houlliers press conference you will know the difference in his approach, enthusiasm and proffessional competence that they are worlds apart. Houllier has energy and is positive in his deliberation. Mac was negative and that would reflect on the players. Fell much better having seen that press conference ...........
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Kev Mac wont be in charge till xmas will he?
He's in after Bolton Game?
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There's no point Kev Mc doing a job he's not comfortable with, managing the reserves could be a job for life for him, as an assistant manager he could be out in 2 years if things don't work out.
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Did he mention assistants,coaches ?
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Looks like KM was offered the assistant role and turned it down. Shame I think the 2 of them would have a made a good team.
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There's no point Kev Mc doing a job he's not comfortable with, managing the reserves could be a job for life for him, as an assistant manager he could be out in 2 years if things don't work out.
That's true. As reserve team coach he's under the radar of any new manager.
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Did he mention assistants,coaches ?
I think just that he's addressing it. I think the bit about the 3 months is that FFF could have insisted on 3 month, but they obviously aren't. he has some final details to look after, but managing ahead of the Bolton game may not happen. But he'll be there.
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Kev Mac wont be in charge till xmas will he?
He's in after Bolton Game?
As the reserve team manager probably as that's where he wanted to return said Ged
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Did he mention assistants,coaches ?
He said KMc wanted to go back to Reserve Team Manager and it was a shame as he could have been assistant and maybe followed him
He also metioned that assistants and staff that he wants are already employed so he needs to work on that and it will take time etc
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MacDonald is so clearly not cut out for the manager's job it kind of makes you wonder why Randy was so keen to give it to him.
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was Randy keen to give it to him, or was he keen to give him every opportunity to apply and put forward his case? I know out here, people are often encouraged to apply for jobs even if they aren't fully qualified to get the experience of an interview, and even in rejection know what they have to work on. Maybe that was it. In a straight fight between Houllier and KM, Houllier wins every time. It's not even close.
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Press conference clip up now on the bbc site.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aston_villa/8988856.stm
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was Randy keen to give it to him, or was he keen to give him every opportunity to apply and put forward his case? I know out here, people are often encouraged to apply for jobs even if they aren't fully qualified to get the experience of an interview, and even in rejection know what they have to work on. Maybe that was it. In a straight fight between Houllier and KM, Houllier wins every time. It's not even close.
I really don't think MacDonald was encouraged to go through what, for him, appeared to be an agonising process, in order to get interview experience and feedback!
I just think Randy was very keen on appointing MacDonald until the Newcastle and Rapid Vienna results were so bad that he wised up and looked for someone more experienced.
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He came across well. Seemed relaxed, in possession of a sense of humour and, dare I say it, charming. Now let's see what he can do with the team.
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I'm absolutely certain that the board wanted to give Kevin the job until results went wrong. Even then things might have turned out different had we thumped Everton convincingly.
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was Randy keen to give it to him, or was he keen to give him every opportunity to apply and put forward his case? I know out here, people are often encouraged to apply for jobs even if they aren't fully qualified to get the experience of an interview, and even in rejection know what they have to work on. Maybe that was it. In a straight fight between Houllier and KM, Houllier wins every time. It's not even close.
I really don't think MacDonald was encouraged to go through what, for him, appeared to be an agonising process, in order to get interview experience and feedback!
I just think Randy was very keen on appointing MacDonald until the Newcastle and Rapid Vienna results were so bad that he wised up and looked for someone more experienced.
his facial contortions suggest that he's continuously constipated so may have given the impression of agony. I think if Randy was totally seriously about giving him the job, then the Everton victory against all odds would have been a great way of showing the boss how he turned around a bad situation. You're right though that the Rapid and certainly Newcastle results did him in.
Either way, I'm glad he didn't get it.
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Did he really say THIS?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1310772/Aston-Villa-boss-Gerard-Houllier-Were-Liverpool--expect-finish-7th-12th.html?
EDIT: "Aston Villa is not a club on the same level as Liverpool, let's be objective and honest. But it's a club which has got good infrastructure and a fine team which is after one thing - to improve year on year
Villa manager Gerard Houllier"
WTF????
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Houllier really looks the part. We have a serious manager on our hands now. He is a born winner and that press conference was impressive.
Well done Randy and co.
As for Kevin Mac looking constipated, I have heard it mentioned by others! He is a great bloke but he did not impress me during his tenure as caretaker. If he is to be a manager, he would need to prove himself elsewhere.
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Did he really say THIS?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1310772/Aston-Villa-boss-Gerard-Houllier-Were-Liverpool--expect-finish-7th-12th.html?
EDIT: "Aston Villa is not a club on the same level as Liverpool, let's be objective and honest. But it's a club which has got good infrastructure and a fine team which is after one thing - to improve year on year
Villa manager Gerard Houllier"
WTF????
That's paraphrased from the article that's already been discussed isn't it?
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Did he really say THIS?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1310772/Aston-Villa-boss-Gerard-Houllier-Were-Liverpool--expect-finish-7th-12th.html?
EDIT: "Aston Villa is not a club on the same level as Liverpool, let's be objective and honest. But it's a club which has got good infrastructure and a fine team which is after one thing - to improve year on year
Villa manager Gerard Houllier"
WTF????
it's been discussed to death on the other Houllier threads. We don't really know the full context of that quote, and frankly it doesn't matter in the slightest. He hasn't come here to be mid-table if that's what the article suggests that we are.
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Did he really say THIS?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1310772/Aston-Villa-boss-Gerard-Houllier-Were-Liverpool--expect-finish-7th-12th.html?
EDIT: "Aston Villa is not a club on the same level as Liverpool, let's be objective and honest. But it's a club which has got good infrastructure and a fine team which is after one thing - to improve year on year
Villa manager Gerard Houllier"
WTF????
it's been discussed to death on the other Houllier threads. We don't really know the full context of that quote, and frankly it doesn't matter in the slightest. He hasn't come here to be mid-table if that's what the article suggests that we are.
I apologise. I didn't know it was on the other threads. I thought it'd come from the press conference. Where did he say it then? Doesn't sound very flattering.
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I'm trying to be objective here and I do think that, in essence, what Houllier was saying was that when you are trawling someone's wife, seagulls are better than sardines.
you sound like cantona, lol
He didn't see it.
Oh, and, at ease everybody, for Sullivan and Gold have pipped us to the signing (according to Radio Monte Carlo)
(http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/5729/screenshot3m.jpg) (http://img230.imageshack.us/i/screenshot3m.jpg/)
Link to article (http://www.rmc.fr/editorial/125743/girard-houllier-a-ete-irrespectueux-avec-moi/)
Don't like RMC?
Par Bad English - le 10/09 à 17:30
Bad English
Avis aux journalistes de RMC: C'est Aston Villa, pas West Ham. svp de verifier vos infos, voila pourquoi on entend plutot Europe1 pour des info sportives.
;)
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Is there a link to the full thing anywhere? My pops wants to see it.
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Did he really say THIS?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1310772/Aston-Villa-boss-Gerard-Houllier-Were-Liverpool--expect-finish-7th-12th.html?
EDIT: "Aston Villa is not a club on the same level as Liverpool, let's be objective and honest. But it's a club which has got good infrastructure and a fine team which is after one thing - to improve year on year
Villa manager Gerard Houllier"
WTF????
it's been discussed to death on the other Houllier threads. We don't really know the full context of that quote, and frankly it doesn't matter in the slightest. He hasn't come here to be mid-table if that's what the article suggests that we are.
I apologise. I didn't know it was on the other threads. I thought it'd come from the press conference. Where did he say it then? Doesn't sound very flattering.
he said to a French magazine or newspaper. Can't remember now. But again, it's a snippet from a conversation and we don't know the specific question that was asked. Was there more than one question? Instead of asking "where do you see Villa as a club?", how about "how do you remember Villa as a club from your time at Liverpool?". If that was the question, then in the time he was here we didn't really challenge for much, and even came in the bottom 6 one year. So again, not a big deal.
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Good luck Mr. H - like every Villa Manager before you (even including DOL) you have my absolute and complete support.
but please don't be phoning Steve Staunton this weekend.
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Did he really say THIS?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1310772/Aston-Villa-boss-Gerard-Houllier-Were-Liverpool--expect-finish-7th-12th.html?
EDIT: "Aston Villa is not a club on the same level as Liverpool, let's be objective and honest. But it's a club which has got good infrastructure and a fine team which is after one thing - to improve year on year
Villa manager Gerard Houllier"
WTF????
it's been discussed to death on the other Houllier threads. We don't really know the full context of that quote, and frankly it doesn't matter in the slightest. He hasn't come here to be mid-table if that's what the article suggests that we are.
I apologise. I didn't know it was on the other threads. I thought it'd come from the press conference. Where did he say it then? Doesn't sound very flattering.
he said to a French magazine or newspaper. Can't remember now. But again, it's a snippet from a conversation and we don't know the specific question that was asked. Was there more than one question? Instead of asking "where do you see Villa as a club?", how about "how do you remember Villa as a club from your time at Liverpool?". If that was the question, then in the time he was here we didn't really challenge for much, and even came in the bottom 6 one year. So again, not a big deal.
Fair enough. It would be just like the press to put a negative spin on a story involving any club so I'll take his 'comments' with a pinch of salt. The PC actually came across rather well now that I have seen it. Hopefully he gets his arse in the hotseat in time for Bolton. I shudder to think what tactical anomalies we will see at Stoke.
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If that was the question, then in the time he was here we didn't really challenge for much
He came to Liverpool in 1998 didn't he? Didn't we top the table for much of 98/99? And didn't we top the table again after winning at Anfield in 2000/2001? Not forgetting the FA Cup final.
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If that was the question, then in the time he was here we didn't really challenge for much
He came to Liverpool in 1998 didn't he? Didn't we top the table for much of 98/99? And didn't we top the table again after winning at Anfield in 2000/2001? Not forgetting the FA Cup final.
I meant in the league with my challenge for much line and I'm getting where we ended up in his time here. Being top is all good and well if you can see it through. I think we didn't finish higher than 6th in any of those seasons, and finished 15th or something in that period also.
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Aside from the history lesson he gave us that sounded a bit stilted, I picked out that:
(a) Champions League isn't an immediate goal
(b) He thinks January is a bad time of year to do business, but he'll still have a look.
If you think about it deep down are we ready for champions league yet ? We dont have the squad depth yet
look what happened in the europa when we changed a few players about to rest them for the premier league game? and look what happened to spurs when they didnt change many players against wigan, they were fucked and lost
and janurary isnt the best time to buy players because prices go up, players are carrying little knocks...
I don't, no. But I'd say we're about two players away from a squad capable of challenging. A good DM/ CM and a top class forward. A manager with cojones might back himself to source those players, rather than talking in riddles about 7th-12th.
We're an established top 6 club, and have been for three years. During that time there have been periods when we looked like we could get even higher. Indeed, we were probably disappointed at *only* finishing 6th for the past two seasons. If GH says he sees us as a 7th-12th side that indicates he hasn't been following the game all too closely in this country since he's been out of it. 7th-12th is roughly consistent with the JG/ GT era.
Note: I'm not saying anything less than 4th this year is't good enough and he should be chased out if he doesn't deliver. It's probably the least favourable season for us to achieve it with the strength of the other sides around us and the managerial shitstorm we've just encountered.
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Le Figaro full quote:
"Aston Villa is not a club on the same level as Liverpool, let's be objective and honest. For me it's a club placed between 7th and 12th. It's an historic club, which has won the Champions League [in 1982]. It's a club which has got good infrastructure, a fine team, and which only asks one thing - to improve year on year."
Why choose a club in the middle of the English [Premier League] table, after getting a taste at the highest level in the past?
"Of course I had other proposals, butt this one seemed to be the most interesting, in terms of the work environment, its working conditions"
We're NOT a fcuking mid-table team!
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Im inclined to agree with VCTM on this one. The impression I got was a very nervous chap, Although I dont think its a bad thing. He probably hasnt had to be centre of attention in a press conference for some time, so its no surprise he looked to be shaking like a shitting dog.
I like him, he seems a nice guy, I think he will do well. Unsure why Im feeling so 'meh' about it all?
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I thought he came over as being very relaxed and confident, not at all nervous. He spoke fluently, positively and with a smile. The reference to Liverpool was that we haven't beaten them at home since 1998 and his priority is to turn that around. But he also said how important it is to win silverware. For me the only slightly worrying aspect is that he won't take over immediately as he has convened a meeting of French managers next week, but he expects to be at the Bolton game, though not necessarily in the dugout. I was feeling pretty optimistic about his appointment already, and am more so after that interview.
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So 3 finishes in the last 3 years makes us a top 6 club ?
As Houllier said we have to be realistic here.
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I think he would really have loved thommo there with him but I'm sure he will soon get a backroom staff around him- I would prefer him to see us as a top 6 team rather than 7-12th as since the premier league began we are one of the top 6 teams.
Anyway welcome GED and let's hope you can deliver some long overdue silverware during the next 3 yrs!
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So 3 finishes in the last 3 years makes us a top 6 club ?
As Houllier said we have to be realistic here.
Yeah those first two 6th places, maybe even the last, I think we punched above our weight. Which is largely to O Neill's credit. Certainly last season we wouldn't have expected to finish above Liverpool to be honest.
I wouldn't say down to 12th is realistic. We're far better than to warrant there, with the current squad. With this team, 7th-9th is probably realistic. 5th-6th optimistic. Top 4 getting into the heady realms of fantasy, but as Everton have proved, it's possible. Spurs were more worthy given the money they've spent and style in which they got 4th last season.
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Of course we are an established top six team, we were still competing for fourth until the last 2 weeks of the season.
If we had been efficient in the window we would doing the same this season.
We finished above Liverpool because we were a better team.
GH's target first of all is too Maintain us as a top six team, not 7th to 12th.
We must get a strike in January though, we cannot rely on gabby and Carew again.
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I must admit its got my back up that he wont start for another week, would the next ManUtd manager be given a week off to tidy up his old desk and hand his car back, would he fuck.
He should be chomping at the bitt to start and fuck the French FA.
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We dis not punch above our weight last season at all, if anything we underachieved in the league with so many draws and poor results against lesser teams, mainly due to Martins poor team selections and tactics.
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I must admit its got my back up that he wont start for another week, would the next ManUtd manager be given a week off to tidy up his old desk and hand his car back, would he fuck.
He should be chomping at the bitt to start and fuck the French FA.
Perhaps he's a man of honour? Showing integrity to his prior commitments?
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One thing seems sure enough, Ged won’t have any problems answering to Paul Faulkner.
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I must admit its got my back up that he wont start for another week, would the next ManUtd manager be given a week off to tidy up his old desk and hand his car back, would he fuck.
He should be chomping at the bitt to start and fuck the French FA.
Perhaps he's a man of honour? Showing integrity to his prior commitments?
He's technical director of a nation whos fans hate them, they cant wait for a clean sweep from top to bottow. Whatever the circumstances we come out of this looking less than efficient.
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I'm happy enough with Houllier and his technical abilities but think we've bungled our way towards appointing him and rather than being "considered" think we've been "fumbling" since O'Neill quit, not really knowing who we want. Fair enough the timing of O'Neill going was unfortunate but the writing was on the wall with someone like him. He was always going to go in a huff or a puff of smoke. Clubs should always be prepared and there was little sign of a plan B being activated. Getting to the transfer window without spending any of the Milner money seemed more important - and the criteria also seemed to avoid bringing in a manager who would involve anything in terms of compo to another club. I'm all for realism, but if Houllier effectively sees us as a mid table team it doesn't set the bar particularly high - for those already here, and certainly not for anyone who may come in.
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I thought he came across as very enthusiastic and excited about the job.Sure he mentioned Lplop , but also said he wanted to beat them.For me he made me feel he is confident of making AVFC a better club than he sees it as now;thats all i ask of incumbent managers....make us better than we are.
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If that was the question, then in the time he was here we didn't really challenge for much
He came to Liverpool in 1998 didn't he? Didn't we top the table for much of 98/99? And didn't we top the table again after winning at Anfield in 2000/2001? Not forgetting the FA Cup final.
It really pissed me off when I read it. It brought back memories of a previous manager talking us down, and I still would much prefer that he hadn't said it. Risso's comparison with having a new girlfriend is a very suitable one.
Having said that, though, we should really just move on and look at the positives.
He definitely looked up for it, he sounds like he's proud to have the job, and like he's itching to get back into it. I think they've made the best appointment they could realistically have made at the time they needed to appoint someone, and one which would have looked a pretty forward thinking appointment had we not been operating under the constraints we were.
I'm really looking forward to him getting to grips with the job and us moving on from the shitty period we've just emerged from.
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If anybody gets a chance to watch Houllier's media briefing where he answers questions, and thoughts of him being nervous, or staged or whatever will be washed away. I've been watching it on AVTV and it is quite excellent. What a very refreshing change. He also dismissed the player revolt bollocks regarding old players. He said Warnock was too young when he was there, and Friedel left to go to Turkey because his work permit was expiring. He comes across very well indeed. Very laid back and in touch with things.
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Happy with Houlier considering the options. I think he'll do a good, honest job. I like the man and want him to do well.
However, as Kevin Gage says, we are a top 6 premiership club. 6th is par. Let's not talk ourselves into expecting anything less. Talk of 7th - 12th isn't correct, clever or inspiring. I want our manager to say that we've got the players and the ambition to play for the title, in modern day football that may appear futile / silly but it's what I want to hear now and again. Aiming for 6th is such a load of bollocks. Aiming for mid table is..... pointless.
I detest Harry Redknapp. Utterly despise the man. But him saying spurs could challenge made me jealous of spurs which is not a feeling I like. People might laugh but how refreshing would it be to hear that now and again?
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I also thought he came across very well, relaxed and confident. Liked the bit when he asked Pete Colley if it was just him who was going to ask the questions.
Also thought it was good that he could quote dates such as the club being formed, founder member of league etc. Obviously had taken the trouble to remember those.
As already stated, one of the references to Liverpool was about him never losing at VP when in charge, but he would be trying his hardest to make sure he won the match this year.
He made great play, I thought, about the way the club was run, its history, and the aspirations for a steady strenghthening of the playing staff - I could hear Randy Lerner's voice almost coming through. To me he seems to have linked in with the way RL wants things to happen and the way the club is perceived by outsiders.
Presumably the reference to persons being in jobs was referring to the one who has been linked who I think is still a manager in France.
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All things considered, I think this is a good appointment. His comments about Villa's offer coming "very late" suggest that there has been some dithering from the club (even though they would like to portray it as thoroughness), and they do lend credibility to the theory that the board wanted to appoint MacDonald in the first place but bailed out when results went wrong. For me, it would have been better if the board realised straight away that they couldn't appoint someone as inexperienced as MacDonald. As I have pointed out elsewhere, it makes sense to gamble when signing players sometimes; to gamble when appointing a manager is much more risky*.
*Some may argue that Houllier is a gamble. But he is a much safer option than MacDonald.
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I'm happy with Houllier I'm confident that with the right backing(which I'm sure he'll get) he can win us trophies and push us forward.
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I detest Harry Redknapp. Utterly despise the man. But him saying spurs could challenge made me jealous of spurs which is not a feeling I like. People might laugh but how refreshing would it be to hear that now and again?
Exactly right Rigadon.
Spurs probably won't challenge for the title this year, probably more chance of Robbie Keane appearing on Mastermind.
But 'arry has set it as a target and if they fall short of that chances are they've still had a good season.
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All things considered, I think this is a good appointment. His comments about Villa's offer coming "very late" suggest that there has been some dithering from the club (even though they would like to portray it as thoroughness), and they do lend credibility to the theory that the board wanted to appoint MacDonald in the first place but bailed out when results went wrong. For me, it would have been better if the board realised straight away that they couldn't appoint someone as inexperienced as MacDonald. As I have pointed out elsewhere, it makes sense to gamble when signing players sometimes; to gamble when appointing a manager is much more risky*.
*Some may argue that Houllier is a gamble. But he is a much safer option than MacDonald.
I'm not sure about the "late" bit. I think he seemed a struggle a bit with the language there. The MON thing is 4 weeks old, so there's no timeframe about being late if you're approaching somebody already in a job. I think by late he was just referring to turning down a lot of possible offers and this is the last one he got which he liked. Just my take.
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Friends in high places
Aston Villa fans may be underwhelmed by the arrival of Gérard Houllier in the Second City but his appointment can have done the club no harm in the eyes of Uefa. The former Liverpool manager has served as a technical assessor for the European football body and has a close relationship with its president, Michel Platini. Indeed, he was having dinner with Platini when the latter was taken ill at the World Cup in South Africa. Indeed it is believed he even accompanied Platini to hospital. With Platini widely expected to succeed Sepp Blatter as Fifa's president in a few years, it surely cannot hurt Villa to have friends in such high places.
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If anybody gets a chance to watch Houllier's media briefing where he answers questions, and thoughts of him being nervous, or staged or whatever will be washed away. I've been watching it on AVTV and it is quite excellent. What a very refreshing change. He also dismissed the player revolt bollocks regarding old players. He said Warnock was too young when he was there, and Friedel left to go to Turkey because his work permit was expiring. He comes across very well indeed. Very laid back and in touch with things.
Seconded. He also seems a very civilised and cultured man and that is important to me when we are talking Aston Villa....he evidently takes after me in that respect
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Right, I'm back.
Firstly, welcome to Aston Villa, Mr Houllier. I can't say he would have been my choice but he's a good football man with a lot of plus points and I wish him all the best of luck.
Secondly, what the fuck has happened over the last week? Can somebody sum up for a weary traveller please?
Ive heard all sorts of things about fan uproar, resigning Andy Marshall, the General being pissed off...etc.
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Right, I'm back.
Firstly, welcome to Aston Villa, Mr Houllier. I can't say he would have been my choice but he's a good football man with a lot of plus points and I wish him all the best of luck.
Secondly, what the fuck has happened over the last week? Can somebody sum up for a weary traveller please?
Ive heard all sorts of things about fan uproar, resigning Andy Marshall, the General being pissed off...etc.
Fan Uproar= Media stirred up crap from a comment from the General. As a result the Gen stopped posting til manager was sorted.
Sorry to break it to you...its true about Marshall
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Right, I'm back.
Oh, good.
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Right, I'm back.
Oh, good.
Who are you again?
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I thought he came across as polished, eloquent and said all the right things about our club, he talked about the club and its values, a refreshing contrast to the monitsallaboutme.com
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Right, I'm back.
Firstly, welcome to Aston Villa, Mr Houllier. I can't say he would have been my choice but he's a good football man with a lot of plus points and I wish him all the best of luck.
Secondly, what the fuck has happened over the last week? Can somebody sum up for a weary traveller please?
Ive heard all sorts of things about fan uproar, resigning Andy Marshall, the General being pissed off...etc.
Fan Uproar= Media stirred up crap from a comment from the General. As a result the Gen stopped posting til manager was sorted.
Sorry to break it to you...its true about Marshall
Cheers ad. I hope those hacks are docked money reading Pit Viper websites when they should be working.
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Mazrim, to fill you in so to speak, we have a new manager, one which hasn't set our collective pulses racing but a safe pair of hands to steady the ship. Big Brother is finishing thank fuck, Marshall has re-signed and the general took a break from posting on this site in case the Daily Sell To Buy mis quoted him about a new manager. Eigentor showed pleasure at your return.
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Le Figaro full quote:
"Aston Villa is not a club on the same level as Liverpool, let's be objective and honest. For me it's a club placed between 7th and 12th. It's an historic club, which has won the Champions League [in 1982]. It's a club which has got good infrastructure, a fine team, and which only asks one thing - to improve year on year."
Why choose a club in the middle of the English [Premier League] table, after getting a taste at the highest level in the past?
"Of course I had other proposals, butt this one seemed to be the most interesting, in terms of the work environment, its working conditions"
We're NOT a fcuking mid-table team!
Well, we're not Top 4 and we're not relegation fodder so...
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..so... what Troy? That's the question isn't it? What are we? I thought we'd moved on since 4 years ago, made progress and were a couple of players away from challenging.? I see a lot of expectation changing going on, not necessarily from the club but from some nervous folk on here and from come conversations I've had with other fans. Is this transition or is it onwards and upwards?
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Mazrim, to fill you in so to speak, we have a new manager, one which hasn't set our collective pulses racing but a safe pair of hands to steady the ship. Big Brother is finishing thank fuck, Marshall has re-signed and the general took a break from posting on this site in case the Daily Sell To Buy mis quoted him about a new manager. Eigentor showed pleasure at your return.
I read this with the theme tune from " Soap" in the background.
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Welcome Mr Houllier. My first question is; Would you mind just letting me know when you can make it to your first game this season?
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Apparently he hasn't actually signed a contract yet or negotiated his exit from FFF. Patrice Bergues has also turned down the assistant role.
Guardian Clicky (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/sep/11/gerard-houllier-aston-villa)
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Houllier is a greedy bugger just like others in football today. He is waiting for FFA to not pursue him financially for walking away from his contract. Surely if he wants our job and as a wealthy man he can start with us and pay off any compensation to the FFA if that turns out to be a reality.
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Le Figaro full quote:
"Of course I had other proposals, butt this one seemed to be the most interesting, in terms of the work environment, its working conditions"
We're NOT a fcuking mid-table team!
Well, we're not Top 4 and we're not relegation fodder so...
Sounds as though Randy has given him very low objectives...like "Please just keep us in the PL"
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Le Figaro full quote:
"Of course I had other proposals, butt this one seemed to be the most interesting, in terms of the work environment, its working conditions"
We're NOT a fcuking mid-table team!
Well, we're not Top 4 and we're not relegation fodder so...
Sounds as though Randy has given him very low objectives...like "Please just keep us in the PL"
How do you work that one out?
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I wasn't sure about this appointment at first but let's face it, he's been manager of Liverpool during a successful period for them. He's seen Lyon to titles, he's been technical director to a national tram recognised for playing good football (it's not his fault they are a bunch of arseholes) and generally we've got a good man.
We keep KMac too which is a result.
I'm content.
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I thought he came across very well, it was a nice touch that he took the time to quote our history. He seems to have an understanding of what a historic and unique club this is. After all we are doing him the favour not the other way round, something O'Leary for one never quite grasped.
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I thought he came across very well, it was a nice touch that he took the time to quote our history. He seems to have an understanding of what a historic and unique club this is. After all we are doing him the favour not the other way round, something O'Leary for one never quite grasped.
It's not about favours though, and to be honest, I'm fed up with the 'Villa history' thing myself.
The most important thing is our future, and Villa fans continue to hark on about what a great history we have etc etc ..... it's embarrassing.
Our history isn't that great - the last time we won the FA Cup, Harold Macmillan was our Prime Minister !
As for being unique, so are Kidderminster Harriers.
I agree, he looked the part in the interview, but time will tell.
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The guardian seem to be suggesting that his first game may be the Blackburn cc cup game at the earliest. And that he may need to still spend a few days here and there back with the fff.
Also suggest people keep turning the number 2 job down.
Surely we need him in place asap and getting his staff in position
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Having a history certainly isn't embarassing, having no history now that is embarassing.
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Slightly off thread but I wish to make the point.
I was, and still am very critical of the manner and timing of Martin O"Neill's departure. However, when you consider that the best short list we could put together was the admirable Kevin McDonald, Curbishley and Houllier and then when we choose the least worst of the two experienced managers we choose a man who cannot start for three months, I see a clear question mark appearing beside the name of the chief executive. How much of the turbulence and uncertainty which swirls around Villa Park presently is down to the competence of the chief executive. Two weeks ago I would have said none. Today I am not so sure.
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What if someone like Mortimer was handed the assistant's job? Or does it have to be Houllier's choice now?
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I think he cames across very well you can allways nit pick over thngs but the majority of his answers were good and he did look fresh and healthy and hungry to do well.......
I think the players desperately need a new breath of fresh air with regard to training and tactics and things do look good with gerard on that front. So we have to wait another week jesus whats the big deal weve waited long enough so its fine i still fancy the players to put in a good shift at stoke as they know he will be accessing that match in great detail .
KMac was definitely offered assistant role id even go as far to say maybe GH was offered a technical role first with Kmac as head coach but Gerard said all or nothing which i think is a great sign that he really wants to lay down a marker here,dunno why i think this just the way GH said 2 managers just doesntwork in football gives me that impression taht another option was offered first from villa and then KMac had his nose put out some what oh well im prob wrong but it doesnt matter now anyway.
Some players are gonna get a rude awakening sooner or later with him he doesnt suffer fools from what former players have said must admit im content now with this appointment a couple of up and coming foregin starlets he knows of wouldnt go a miss either when we can do business again in the transfer market taht would make a change from trying to get excited about Habib Beye or Marlon Harewood coming in !
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What if someone like Mortimer was handed the assistant's job?
Mortimer?
God, I hope not.
What qualifications has he got to do the job?
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I'm confused. Did Houllier really say we haven't got the name of the city?
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Lerner - " Erm Kev, have you got a moment?"
KMac - " You`ll have to be quick, I have to take the Reserves to their next game"
Lerner - "There`s been a change of plan - Edith the tea lady will have to do that - you have to look after the first team"
KMac - "Can`t Houllier`s assistant do that?"
Lerner -"There`s been a technical hitch - Gerard and his team are, erm, shall we say unavailable"
KMac - " So just when will they be here?"
Lerner - " Erm, soon"
KMac- " How soon?"
Lerner - " Soonish"
KMac - "You don`t know do you?"
Lerner - " No, but it will happen because he has said he wants to join us although we are not as big as Liverpool , Lyon, Spurs, Everton, etc"
KMac - "We are in a pickle aren`t we Mr Lerner"
Lerner - " Erm yes we are Kevin"
KMac - " I will do it for a shortwhile but I want a payrise"
Lerner - "You know we can`t afford that Kevin"
KMac - " Well Mr Lerner - I was good enough, then I wasn`t and now I am again - I tell you what ...I `ll speak with Edith
Lerner - to secretary - "Have we still got Martin`s number - if not get me Brain Rix`s agent" ;)
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The guardian seem to be suggesting that his first game may be the Blackburn cc cup game at the earliest. And that he may need to still spend a few days here and there back with the fff.
If that were true, then you'd have to ask who was responsible for allowing such a farcical situation to develop.
It'd be hard not to point the finger in the same direction as Brian above.
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Houllier is a greedy bugger just like others in football today. He is waiting for FFA to not pursue him financially for walking away from his contract. Surely if he wants our job and as a wealthy man he can start with us and pay off any compensation to the FFA if that turns out to be a reality.
OR being an honurable man he is negotiating his way out whilst ensuring he does not leave the Federation in the shit. He obviously is more forthright and honourable than some managers you are used to who are prone to down tools and walk with no regard for their employers.
I know which aI prefer.
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I see a clear question mark appearing beside the name of the chief executive. How much of the turbulence and uncertainty which swirls around Villa Park presently is down to the competence of the chief executive. Two weeks ago I would have said none. Today I am not so sure.
I couldn't agree more, his role is to give Randy the benefit of his expertise in football. The short list of 4 and the belief we couldn't attract an employed manager suggests to me Faulkner isn't the man for the job, I don't think it will be 3 months before GH starts but surely the Bolton game should be manageable
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his role is to give Randy the benefit of his expertise in football?
Thats a good one, where has that been said.
Faulkener was brought in to do several things I doubt the above was one of them.
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Am I the only one that thinks Paul Faulkner looks way out of his depth? looks petrified everytime I have seen him. May be very competent at the opertaional stuff, but certainly not comfortable with dealing with press/media etc like a rabbit in headlights yesterday. Somebody reassure me that the guy looking after the day to day running of our club, is actually able and good at his job. I have seen no evidence yet. This isn't mean't to be a negative post for the sake of it, a genuine question about our CEO as I had never even heard him speak until yesterday (to say, thanks for coming, here's Mr Houllier)
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What an absolute farce this whole situation has become. While O'Neill obviously made things as difficult as possible, the way the board has gone about replacing him has been laughably amateur. If it had been Sullivan and Gold we'd be laughing our socks off at them.
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They have identified and got the man they want, and it didn't take very long either. What if we all have to wait a few more days? Now that's laughable.
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I have just read GH's interview on bbc. It all sounds good, there is nothing in that which I see as negative. It sounds to me like he is honoured to be given the job and wants us to push on from MON left us. That's what we all want too
As for waiting a week or two for him to take charge, what's wrong with that? Is that not the case in most walks of if your already employed by someone else?
Our board obviously feel he is the right man for the job and will sit back and be a little patient in his appointment. To me GH is honouring his contract with the French FA, which is the dignified thing to do. How many people in football these day have a little dignity and respect to their employers?
We have a lot to thank KM for, again its in his hands to look after our club for a while. He is a fine man. I'm sure if he was more sure of wanting the managers job from the day MON left it would have filled the fans and board with more confidence to give him longer. He never looked like he wanted it. However as I said he is doing us proud and we have to applaud him for being asked to carry on running the 1st team. I'm surprised he did not fancy the assistant job, its a shame he doesn't. I hope he stays in some capacity.
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They have identified and got the man they want, and it didn't take very long either. What if we all have to wait a few more days? Now that's laughable.
I cannot believe they have got 'the man they want'. The man they wanted was managing Everton and apparently they couldn't priize him away. With this ever increasingly farcical notice situation developing, I am more convinced than ever that we should have stuck with Macdonald until January when in all likelihood Ajax would have been out of the Champions League and Jol would have been eminently more 'gettable'.
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his role is to give Randy the benefit of his expertise in football?
Thats a good one, where has that been said.
Faulkener was brought in to do several things I doubt the above was one of them.
It was more of an assumption because if he hasn't got any particular expertise in football then it really is the blind leading the blind.
I don't expect Randy to have a thorough knowledge of the game in only 4 years but I do expect him to surround himself with people that do
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Happy with Houlier considering the options. I think he'll do a good, honest job. I like the man and want him to do well.
However, as Kevin Gage says, we are a top 6 premiership club. 6th is par. Let's not talk ourselves into expecting anything less. Talk of 7th - 12th isn't correct, clever or inspiring. I want our manager to say that we've got the players and the ambition to play for the title, in modern day football that may appear futile / silly but it's what I want to hear now and again. Aiming for 6th is such a load of bollocks. Aiming for mid table is..... pointless.
I detest Harry Redknapp. Utterly despise the man. But him saying spurs could challenge made me jealous of spurs which is not a feeling I like. People might laugh but how refreshing would it be to hear that now and again?
If you want that sort of tub thumping, rabble rousing bullshit then you're going to have a long wait I reckon. He doesn't strike me as that sort of man.
Our average Premier league finish is 8th, so he's not saying anything particularly controversial. We've just had 3 rounds under par with O'Neill, the challenge for Gerard is to match that and improve. As long as he's backed sufficiently by the club then I think he's got every chance.
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Sounds as though Randy has given him very low objectives...like "Please just keep us in the PL"
How do you work that one out?
Well read his summing up of the task
"most interesting, in terms of the work environment, its working conditions"
Does not sound to me as his objectives have been set as "challenging"
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This place is chock full of hysterical, repetitive little schoolgirls at the moment, isn't it? If the club had announced that they'd found their man but weren't revealing his name until he'd finalised his current commitments, half of you would be up in arms demanding his name. So what if if can't start for a few weeks? No-one dies. We're 4th in the league and are facing stoke. Man the fuck up and stop acting like spoilt little brats. We've got a good manager coming in, we've good players, a fantastic chairman, we're not going to be relegate, we're not facing extinction (although you'd think so judging by the complete over-reaction by some) and, so far as I can tell, the future's still pretty bright.
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This place is chock full of hysterical, repetitive little schoolgirls at the moment, isn't it? If the club had announced that they'd found their man but weren't revealing his name until he'd finalised his current commitments, half of you would be up in arms demanding his name. So what if if can't start for a few weeks? No-one dies. We're 4th in the league and are facing stoke. Man the fuck up and stop acting like spoilt little brats. We've got a good manager coming in, we've good players, a fantastic chairman, we're not going to be relegate, we're not facing extinction (although you'd think so judging by the complete over-reaction by some) and, so far as I can tell, the future's still pretty bright.
Have you broken your keyboard as yet?
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So he's not here for Stoke and not in the dugout for Bolton.
What a shambles the recruitment of the new manager has been. (Even though he still isn't our manager)
No new players when we needed to strengthen either because of the lack of manager. Yes of course O'Neill is to blame for walking out, but a month later we'll still have Kevin Mac in the spotlight - Not good enough
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what the fuck does that mean?
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I must say I agree with Troy. There is a lot of negativity on the threads.
Our manager left us five days before the season started and to be fourth after three games and with the appointment of a new manager with a proven pedigree at the very top level in the game there are many reasons to be cheerful.
Let's get behind the club and help make this season as good as any of the MON era.
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This place is chock full of hysterical, repetitive little schoolgirls at the moment, isn't it? If the club had announced that they'd found their man but weren't revealing his name until he'd finalised his current commitments, half of you would be up in arms demanding his name. So what if if can't start for a few weeks? No-one dies. We're 4th in the league and are facing stoke. Man the fuck up and stop acting like spoilt little brats. We've got a good manager coming in, we've good players, a fantastic chairman, we're not going to be relegate, we're not facing extinction (although you'd think so judging by the complete over-reaction by some) and, so far as I can tell, the future's still pretty bright.
I was thinking this myself, its like a version of Big Brother but with even more crazy hysterical drama queens than they ever had.
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What an absolute farce this whole situation has become. While O'Neill obviously made things as difficult as possible, the way the board has gone about replacing him has been laughably amateur. If it had been Sullivan and Gold we'd be laughing our socks off at them.
It gives me no pleasure to say that I couldn't agree more, holding a press conference to sort of announce your new manager may be starting sometime in the future strikes me of a course of action the Bhatti Brothers would have turned away from.
I expected a lot more.
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What about his comment of You cannot buy success Was that a dig at Citeh or was it saying we dont have much money?
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He sounds pretty ambitious here, I think....
http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_6369609,00.html (http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_6369609,00.html)
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Lerner - " Erm Kev, have you got a moment?"
KMac - " You`ll have to be quick, I have to take the Reserves to their next game"
Lerner - "There`s been a change of plan - Edith the tea lady will have to do that - you have to look after the first team"
KMac - "Can`t Houllier`s assistant do that?"
Lerner -"There`s been a technical hitch - Gerard and his team are, erm, shall we say unavailable"
KMac - " So just when will they be here?"
Lerner - " Erm, soon"
KMac- " How soon?"
Lerner - " Soonish"
KMac - "You don`t know do you?"
Lerner - " No, but it will happen because he has said he wants to join us although we are not as big as Liverpool , Lyon, Spurs, Everton, etc"
KMac - "We are in a pickle aren`t we Mr Lerner"
Lerner - " Erm yes we are Kevin"
KMac - " I will do it for a shortwhile but I want a payrise"
Lerner - "You know we can`t afford that Kevin"
KMac - " Well Mr Lerner - I was good enough, then I wasn`t and now I am again - I tell you what ...I `ll speak with Edith
Lerner - to secretary - "Have we still got Martin`s number - if not get me Brain Rix`s agent" ;)
Lerner played by Richard Marner
KMac by Kenneth Connor
Edith by Carmen Silvera.
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Sounds as though Randy has given him very low objectives...like "Please just keep us in the PL"
How do you work that one out?
Well read his summing up of the task
"most interesting, in terms of the work environment, its working conditions"
Does not sound to me as his objectives have been set as "challenging"
And where does it say "Avoid relegation"? The way some are eager to put negatives into every word and every situation is beyond me.
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Agree with the others here - I just can't believe the negativity that is being shown.
We all accept the position that MON left the club/board in but as far as I am aware they have acted with dignity and professionalism. I also believe that shone through with GH's press conference yesterday, the things he was saying, to my mind, made us look a top class club in the manner it conducts itself.
Yes, we could have gone down the road of wheeling and dealing and doing deals behind peoples backs and forcing issues by putting people in situations they did not wish to be in but we have shown dignity and respect to all parties and I think the board and GH should be applauded for that.
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I also thought he came across very well, relaxed and confident. Liked the bit when he asked Pete Colley if it was just him who was going to ask the questions.
Sky do that all the time at press conferences. Because they take it out live they try to bully the people hosting it to give them pole position, tell them what time they want it to begin and end, and then act as if it's some kind of Sky exclusive.
I did an England presser last week, the first one I've done for a couple of years, and it was a farce. It wasn't even a Sky game and their reporter sat front and centre asking a list of pre-agreed questions. As soon as he'd finished Fabio stood up and walked out.
The FA are in Sky's pocket for some reason, I don't know why. So I'm glad Gerard realises it's not just Sky who will be reporting on the Villa.
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The FA are in Sky's pocket for some reason, I don't know why.
Take a wild gue$$
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This place is chock full of hysterical, repetitive little schoolgirls at the moment, isn't it? If the club had announced .......... and, so far as I can tell, the future's still pretty bright.
Well said, that man.
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I have to say, Houllier certainly seems as mad as a box of snakes.
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This place is chock full of hysterical, repetitive little schoolgirls at the moment, isn't it? If the club had announced .......... and, so far as I can tell, the future's still pretty bright.
Well said, that man.
The board have set the bar pretty high in terms of presentation, supporter liason, professionalism and general slickness over the last four years. The current situation falls a long way short of that IMO.
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He is very Houllier than thou.
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Sounds as though Randy has given him very low objectives...like "Please just keep us in the PL"
How do you work that one out?
Well read his summing up of the task
"most interesting, in terms of the work environment, its working conditions"
Does not sound to me as his objectives have been set as "challenging"
And where does it say "Avoid relegation"? The way some are eager to put negatives into every word and every situation is beyond me.
Yeah I'm sorry Aftab, but I don't see that at all. I think GH said he was impressed by Villa's ambitions as well, so no idea where you're getting what you said from.
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Having a history certainly isn't embarassing, having no history now that is embarassing.
Certainly not, but some Villa fans do have a propensity to live in the past, would you agree ?
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I have to say, Houllier certainly seems as mad as a box of snakes.
Should have no problem with the den of vipers then
<winky thing>
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We all accept the position that MON left the club/board in
Are you sure of that ?
I wonder how many of those not too keen to give Ged a chance were those most upset by Mon's departure, many of whom turned and still do on Randy, because Ged hasn't been able to negotiate a quick exit similar to the one Mon engineered.
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One thing I was encouraged by was when he said "We play for the fans. Our aim is to give them pleasure, to make sure they have a style that's entertaining.", which indicates a change of heart that I think he had at Lyon - that entertainment and style is more important than he thought.
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Having a history certainly isn't embarassing, having no history now that is embarassing.
Certainly not, but some Villa fans do have a propensity to live in the past, would you agree ?
And in particular one year. Maybe it's because we were never allowed to celebrate it under Doug, but 1982 is getting a bit repetitive now.
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Sounds as though Randy has given him very low objectives...like "Please just keep us in the PL"
How do you work that one out?
Well read his summing up of the task
"most interesting, in terms of the work environment, its working conditions"
Does not sound to me as his objectives have been set as "challenging"
And where does it say "Avoid relegation"? The way some are eager to put negatives into every word and every situation is beyond me.
It's clear you don't get what I am on about so we will leave it at that. The man's come to make some money for himself and I would rather he was set a more challenging task than how it appears at the moment.
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I don't think we get what you're going on about aftab, because you seem to be seeing stuff that isn't there. I'm sure he's fine for money, he said that Villa's ambitions attracted him.
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It's clear you don't get what I am on about so we will leave it at that. The man's come to make some money for himself and I would rather he was set a more challenging task than how it appears at the moment.
You're absolutely right I don't understand what you're on about and where you get this about making money and avoiding relegation I don't know.
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Slightly off thread but I wish to make the point.
I was, and still am very critical of the manner and timing of Martin O"Neill's departure. However, when you consider that the best short list we could put together was the admirable Kevin McDonald, Curbishley and Houllier and then when we choose the least worst of the two experienced managers we choose a man who cannot start for three months, I see a clear question mark appearing beside the name of the chief executive. How much of the turbulence and uncertainty which swirls around Villa Park presently is down to the competence of the chief executive. Two weeks ago I would have said none. Today I am not so sure.
Incredibly, he is even more elusive than our chairman. What does a 32 year old ex-relationship manager (whatever that is) from a credit card company know about running a football club like Aston Villa? He's had a truly awful first few months in the job.
It's not very often that I am stuck for words when someone takes the piss out of Villa but I honestly don't know what to say about the situation where we are holding a press conference to present Gerard Houllier as our new manager before he has even negotiated his release from an admin job at the French FA. We're behaving like a bunch of amateurs.
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Yeah I'm sorry Aftab, but I don't see that at all. I think GH said he was impressed by Villa's ambitions as well, so no idea where you're getting what you said from.
I live in hope like many of you. Hoping to win the FA Cup every year and win every game when we turn up at VP. Therefore my hope is best delivered by a Coach who fears no one and aims very high. I stopped being a ST holder when DOL started killing my hope. I am a little concerned that so far GH with references to 7th to 12th and in an answer to "Why pick a mid table PL team?" he said " I had other offers" but this one had "good working conditions". Now you can read that in different ways I read it as "easy working conditions". That's all.
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I don't get what all the fuss is about. It would have been a farce if when Houllier talking about his remaining commitments to the FFF, Faulkner looked shocked. Like "You never mentioned this before" kind of look. It was all agreed and disclosed.
Now that it's a official, he'll be contact with the club every day. There is a sense of certainty because the players and staff all know who the manager is. Sometimes, I honestly feel some of us get far too carried away with the detail. In business, this happens quite often, that an employee is hired and announced, yet cannot take up a new position immediately. And while football isn't exactly the same, we're not talking about 5 year olds here. We're talking about professional athletes and professional coaches that can handle this situation for a couple of more weeks. The season is a long one, and if getting a very good candidate means we have work around some minor technical difficulties, then so be it. After all, we could have hired Curbishley, who had fuck all else going on. He could have started right away but then that would have been a bigger nightmare all round.
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So he's not here for Stoke and not in the dugout for Bolton.
What a shambles the recruitment of the new manager has been. (Even though he still isn't our manager)
No new players when we needed to strengthen either because of the lack of manager. Yes of course O'Neill is to blame for walking out, but a month later we'll still have Kevin Mac in the spotlight - Not good enough
Agree 100%. The whole thing has descended into a farce and Houllier himself has'nt a clue when he will be taking over.
This morning we have quotes that he 'hopes' it will be the local derby with Wolves, by then we could have lost three games as I don't think a manager who has been turned down by the club and is about to revert to the reserve team instils much confidence.
Randy has had many plaudits since he took over our club but this whole protracted process has been poor.
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The fuss is because we look daft, we've called a press conference to announce the not quite signing of a manager who isn't quite as available as we thought he was.
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One thing I was encouraged by was when he said "We play for the fans. Our aim is to give them pleasure, to make sure they have a style that's entertaining.", which indicates a change of heart that I think he had at Lyon - that entertainment and style is more important than he thought.
I wouldn't read too much into that, Monty. If you watch the press conference, GH had his prompter notes on his left hand side, which may go some way to explain why he looked a little nervous at first. After that, I think he looked a lot more comfortable, talking about what he knows about. Obviously the club and especially the General will have realised how important it is to have the fans onside.
It's a shame Kevin Mac is so "disappointed" at not getting the job but from the comments in the football365 article, Patrice Bergues still may be joining us if he can sort things out at his end. From all accounts, he sounds like the football brain behind Houllier's success and well worth waiting for. If he's not available I'd like us to get in Quieroz who's now available and an excellent coach. We need to use this change in management to strengthen the club to ensure that even if we can't compete with the top 4 and Man City in financial terms, we can on the football side.
As we saw with MON, it's all well and good having a good leader but the backroom staff are just as important. Houllier has great experience and I believe will get us very well organised but he needs the right people along side him. Hopefully within the next ten days, he'll have the time to find the right people to keep us in the top 6 and also playing like a top six side. MON only managed one of those and to be honest, never really looked like achieving both. I have no problem waiting until after the Bolton game providing we get the right coaching staff in to build on what we have over the next three years and beyond.
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One thing I was encouraged by was when he said "We play for the fans. Our aim is to give them pleasure, to make sure they have a style that's entertaining.", which indicates a change of heart that I think he had at Lyon - that entertainment and style is more important than he thought.
I wouldn't read too much into that, Monty. If you watch the press conference, GH had his prompter notes on his left hand side, which may go some way to explain why he looked a little nervous at first. After that, I think he looked a lot more comfortable, talking about what he knows about. Obviously the club and especially the General will have realised how important it is to have the fans onside.
It's a shame Kevin Mac is so "disappointed" at not getting the job but from the comments in the football365 article, Patrice Bergues still may be joining us if he can sort things out at his end. From all accounts, he sounds like the football brain behind Houllier's success and well worth waiting for. If he's not available I'd like us to get in Quieroz who's now available and an excellent coach. We need to use this change in management to strengthen the club to ensure that even if we can't compete with the top 4 and Man City in financial terms, we can on the football side.
As we saw with MON, it's all well and good having a good leader but the backroom staff are just as important. Houllier has great experience and I believe will get us very well organised but he needs the right people along side him. Hopefully within the next ten days, he'll have the time to find the right people to keep us in the top 6 and also playing like a top six side. MON only managed one of those and to be honest, never really looked like achieving both. I have no problem waiting until after the Bolton game providing we get the right coaching staff in to build on what we have over the next three years and beyond.
It's getting a little concerning that we are beginning to share the same opinon on things as much as we are. Winky thing.
I don't see why people are hanging on to every word or facial expression. Off course he looked nervous. It's his first day in front a TV cameras, media etc. I'd be petrified. The media briefing is excellent where he speaks very confidently, casually and is quite funny at times.
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It's not necessarily a case of reading things into the statement, more the fact that he said it when he would never have said it when taking over at Liverpool or Lyon. For someone who used to be known as the curmudgeonest of functional curmudgeons, this statement is quite significant - or at least could be. I have to admit, I saw a little bit of a change in him at Lyon, when he forced through the change to 4-3-3 against Lacombe's wishes and it worked very well. We shall see.
As for the coaching staff, it is good that Houllier, unlike MON, is good at surrounding himself with the right people and, as he mentioned pointedly, working as a team, a stark contrast to MON's dictatorial approach. I would love to have Queiroz as a coach, but you wonder if he'd really want to go straight back to no. 2 at a club like Villa. Mind you, his stock as a no. 1 has never been lower, so you never know.
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if he is the right man, and only time will tell on that one,
then it doesnt matter to me if it takes 3 weeks or 3 months to get him,
i'd rather wait a few weeks than appoint someone like Curbs just because he can start straight away.
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I think if anyone else uses the phrase "7th to 12th place" I''m going to start taking hostages.
A couple of things don't go exactly how they should - because they just SHOULD - and suddenly we're doomed.
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It's getting a little concerning that we are beginning to share the same opinon on things as much as we are. Winky thing.
Don't get me wrong TV, there is reason for concern but I would hope the club and now Houllier know what they're doing. We desperately need to make the right appointments otherwise we're going to have serious problems.
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It's not necessarily a case of reading things into the statement, more the fact that he said it when he would never have said it when taking over at Liverpool or Lyon. For someone who used to be known as the curmudgeonest of functional curmudgeons, this statement is quite significant - or at least could be. I have to admit, I saw a little bit of a change in him at Lyon, when he forced through the change to 4-3-3 against Lacombe's wishes and it worked very well. We shall see.
As for the coaching staff, it is good that Houllier, unlike MON, is good at surrounding himself with the right people and, as he mentioned pointedly, working as a team, a stark contrast to MON's dictatorial approach. I would love to have Queiroz as a coach, but you wonder if he'd really want to go straight back to no. 2 at a club like Villa. Mind you, his stock as a no. 1 has never been lower, so you never know.
which would be an incredible coup if he decided Villa Park was the place for him. I just don't see it.
I don't see the relevance of what he might have done at Liverpool or Lyon. I think this is a very different Houllier to one we have seen before. I think his time away from football management may have given him a different insight into doing things. I want him to get the very best assistant he can so there's less pressure on him. Also, I want the assistant to have more energy and passion. I didn't always feel that from Robertson and Walford. If Quieroz is remotely an option, and a possible future Villa manager, we should be all over that.
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It's getting a little concerning that we are beginning to share the same opinon on things as much as we are. Winky thing.
Don't get me wrong TV, there is reason for concern but I would hope the club and now Houllier know what they're doing. We desperately need to make the right appointments otherwise we're going to have serious problems.
Maybe I'm not as bothered by it as some are. In the next 10 days, I don't think Rome will fall, because Caesar isn't in town. I think we'll be just fine. I also hope in the next 10 days Houllier finds a solid assistant (Quieroz possibly to eventually take over would be nice). My point is it doesn't all have to happen according to conventional timelines. If we have to wait a little to get the right man (or men) at this stage of the season it will hold us in good stead for the rest of it.
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It's not necessarily a case of reading things into the statement, more the fact that he said it when he would never have said it when taking over at Liverpool or Lyon. For someone who used to be known as the curmudgeonest of functional curmudgeons, this statement is quite significant - or at least could be. I have to admit, I saw a little bit of a change in him at Lyon, when he forced through the change to 4-3-3 against Lacombe's wishes and it worked very well. We shall see.
As for the coaching staff, it is good that Houllier, unlike MON, is good at surrounding himself with the right people and, as he mentioned pointedly, working as a team, a stark contrast to MON's dictatorial approach. I would love to have Queiroz as a coach, but you wonder if he'd really want to go straight back to no. 2 at a club like Villa. Mind you, his stock as a no. 1 has never been lower, so you never know.
That and not having a job could be persuasive if GH was to go after him?
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I think if anyone else uses the phrase "7th to 12th place" I''m going to start taking hostages.
A couple of things don't go exactly how they should - because they just SHOULD - and suddenly we're doomed.
I'm honestly struggling to think of anything that has gone exactly how it should since we appointed the new CEO. Can you think of anything?
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I think if anyone else uses the phrase "7th to 12th place" I''m going to start taking hostages.
A couple of things don't go exactly how they should - because they just SHOULD - and suddenly we're doomed.
I'm honestly struggling to think of anything that has gone exactly how it should since we appointed the new CEO. Can you think of anything?
what if this was pre-arranged with the CEO's full knowledge. From his perspective surely everything is going as it should. We're not privy to all of the arrangements that have been disclosed between Faulkner/Randy and Houllier so aren't we just making wild assumptions most of the time?
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I think if anyone else uses the phrase "7th to 12th place" I''m going to start taking hostages.
A couple of things don't go exactly how they should - because they just SHOULD - and suddenly we're doomed.
I'm honestly struggling to think of anything that has gone exactly how it should since we appointed the new CEO. Can you think of anything?
I'm with you on that. I'm sure he's great at marketing and the like, and is good when everything's going OK. In the last few months though, we've had the new kit balls up, and now the new manager circus, with the latest that apparently the French Football Federation have said that they don't know how long they need Houllier for.
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the kit situation is a balls up. No argument there.
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what if this was pre-arranged with the CEO's full knowledge. From his perspective surely everything is going as it should. We're not privy to all of the arrangements that have been disclosed between Faulkner/Randy and Houllier so aren't we just making wild assumptions most of the time?
Are you suggesting that the position we're in where we have no idea when Houllier will actually start is PLANNED? Where we've no assistant manager because the two people identified so far have turned it down. Honestly?
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I'm really surprised that so many dont think its important that we failed to negotiate the release of our new manager before unveiling him, what if the French hold him to three months notice, what if Kmac wins all the games in the meantime, what if he loses them all, the list of available managerial talent could look a lot different at that time.
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I don't think it has been handled disastrously but, even taking the timing difficulties into account, I don't think anyone would argue this has been a model of how to appoint a manager.
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what if this was pre-arranged with the CEO's full knowledge. From his perspective surely everything is going as it should. We're not privy to all of the arrangements that have been disclosed between Faulkner/Randy and Houllier so aren't we just making wild assumptions most of the time?
Are you suggesting that the position we're in where we have no idea when Houllier will actually start is PLANNED? Where we've no assistant manager because the two people identified so far have turned it down. Honestly?
Maybe pre-arranged wasn't the correct term. What I am saying is that none of this would be a surprise to Faulkner/Randy, as they would have discussed it beforehand. I don't think the first time the board knew of his remaining commitments to the FFF was yesterday. Is it a less than perfect situation. Yes. But it's not the end of the world, and not even close to a farce as some as suggesting. A farce would have been if this had never been disclosed by Houllier which I cannot for a second believe is the case.
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I think if anyone else uses the phrase "7th to 12th place" I''m going to start taking hostages.
A couple of things don't go exactly how they should - because they just SHOULD - and suddenly we're doomed.
I'm honestly struggling to think of anything that has gone exactly how it should since we appointed the new CEO. Can you think of anything?
It's not necessarily a case of reading things into the statement, more the fact that he said it when he would never have said it when taking over at Liverpool or Lyon. For someone who used to be known as the curmudgeonest of functional curmudgeons, this statement is quite significant - or at least could be. I have to admit, I saw a little bit of a change in him at Lyon, when he forced through the change to 4-3-3 against Lacombe's wishes and it worked very well. We shall see.
As for the coaching staff, it is good that Houllier, unlike MON, is good at surrounding himself with the right people and, as he mentioned pointedly, working as a team, a stark contrast to MON's dictatorial approach. I would love to have Queiroz as a coach, but you wonder if he'd really want to go straight back to no. 2 at a club like Villa. Mind you, his stock as a no. 1 has never been lower, so you never know.
That and not having a job could be persuasive if GH was to go after him?
Absolutely. The one thing in modern day football I've failed to understand is the lack of importance given to first team coaching. I'm struggling to think of another industry where millions are invested in single aquisitions and then handed over to non-experts. I think Houllier does understand the importance of coaching excellence and I would hope the club will back him. I would really like to see us break the mould and bring in the best coaches possible, paying them top money if required, who could get the best out of Randy's investment. Patrice Bergues is known as a superb defensive coach, why not also bring in a top midfield/attacking coach?
It would go a long way in helping us attract the best young players, keep our existing quality players and hopefully lead to a bit of success on the pitch. Cost wise, it would less than we pay Emile Heskey.
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Houllier mentioned KM as possibly his replacement, but that KM had declined that opportunity. Shame, but his loss. If we could attract Quieroz as an assistant with one eye on eventually replacing Houllier, that would be a great situation for the club. We need top coaches at Villa to push us on again.
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Houllier mentioned KM as possibly his replacement, but that KM had declined that opportunity. Shame, but his loss. If we could attract Quieroz as an assistant with one eye on eventually replacing Houllier, that would be a great situation for the club. We need top coaches at Villa to push us on again.
As I've mentioned elsewhere, Quieroz is a great coach but lacks the leadership skills to be a top manager. Saying that, Fergie wanted him to be his eventual replacement at Old Trafford, so he must have seen something in him.
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We have mentioned about the old fashion out of date coaching staff MON had. Now we have a chance to get some of the best coaches in the world. Patrice Bergues is one of them coaches and there is still a chance he may come on board. If not Houllier has impeccable contacts ................
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I think if anyone else uses the phrase null7th to 12th placenull I''m going to start taking hostages.
A couple of things don't go exactly how they should - because they just SHOULD - and suddenly we're doomed.
I'm honestly struggling to think of anything that has gone exactly how it should since we appointed the new CEO. Can you think of anything?
The club seems to be ticking over well enough. There's been a few problems because somebody the board placed too much faith in dumped on us from a great height, but I'm sure that'll be sorted.
It's dead easy, this theoretical management. You do whatever you want, nothing ever gets in your way and you're always right.
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I'll take a slight delay in order to get Houllier in place. I think he'll be excellent for us and will get in the right coaches and in time the right players to supplement the squad. A brief delay that will lead to long term progress is ok for me. Better that than Curbishley or Bradley etc immediately.
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I think if anyone else uses the phrase "7th to 12th place" I''m going to start taking hostages.
A couple of things don't go exactly how they should - because they just SHOULD - and suddenly we're doomed.
It was always a statement that was going to come back and bite him on the arse TBF.
I'm pretty certain our rivals and certain sections of the press won't let us forget it either, particularly if things start to go tits up.
I'd take the approach that we are one of the biggest clubs in one of the best leagues in the world. Not a shoe-in for 4th by any stretch. But one of the few sides that can at least semi-realistically aim for that spot. To talk as he did pre press conference was ill advised.
New managers generally have a certain amount of grace, a honeymoon period where they can do no wrong. Those kind of comments mean we're having the type of discussions that normally only crop up a year/18 months into the job.
Bottom line: I don't care how he perceived us previously. Maybe he did genuinely see us as mid-table dross - certainly his comments about us in 2005 when both Villa and Lyon were trying to sign Baros from Liverpool would indicate as much. I don't even care if he sees us as on a par with Walsall truth be told - providing he delivers.
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I think if anyone else uses the phrase "7th to 12th place" I''m going to start taking hostages.
A couple of things don't go exactly how they should - because they just SHOULD - and suddenly we're doomed.
I'm honestly struggling to think of anything that has gone exactly how it should since we appointed the new CEO. Can you think of anything?
I'm not impressed with Faulkner either, I think he's out of his depth.
He looks like a back office boy trying to front a company to me and a company in a business where he has no previous experience.
I guess it depends what Randy wants from a CEO; we aren't a plc anymore so it's more an MD position really -- see what he does going forward maybe.
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what the fuck does that mean?
Do you not recall nearly breaking your keyboard a few years back such was your incandescence with me over something we were arguing over.
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I'm glad we've decided to give the job to Houllier, I think in that sense the club have got the best man they could have got.
I do think, though, that the press conference was somewhat farcical.
We've effectively unveiled a man as our manager who isn't actually our manager. That's one thing, but then to compound the mistake, it doesn't actually emerge until during the press conference that he hasn't signed a contract yet, or that he doesn't know when he can start.
I appreciate the argument of those who say they'd have got crucified if they hadn't held a press conference, but why not at the very least, if they insisted on holding it, did PF not say something at the start about Houllier's position with the FFF and his release situation?
Or just make a statement that he's agreed to become the manager and is negotiating his release and wait until he's got an answer?
Instead what we got, in drips and drabs was . "No, i won't be here on Monday, I can't come, I've got meetings for my current job .... I don't know if i can come for the game after, but if i do, i won't be in the dug out ..... the game after is a possibility, but I can't guarantee it ..... theoretically, they have the legal right to make me work out three months notice ..... actually, even then, I might have to continue to do the odd day here and there in Paris even after I start".
Can you even begin to imagine how stupid we're going to look if now, for whatever reason, he doesn't become our manager? Unlikely but it is not really on that there's even the slightest possibility, and if there is that element of doubt, holding a press conference risks making us look ridiculous.
Then, for added surrealness, we have a situation where, the man for whom we delayed the process whilst he make his mind up if he even wanted to apply, who we interviewed and rejected for the job, and who has rejected the chance to be GH's number two, is now possibly going to be in charge of the team for another 3 or 4 games (or even longer). How motivated and up for it is he going to be? And is it fair for us, having rejected him, to ask him to continue to step in?
Before anyone weighs in with "grow some balls" or "stop being a drama queen", it is not hysterical wailing, I just find it a bit disturbing when we make ourselves look so amateurish.
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Grow some testicles Paulie and stop being a John Barrowman.
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Bloody hell Paulie, you really are a drama queen. I can only think you've got the painters in.
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Strap on a pair you big girl's blouse.
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Fucking hell Paulie, man up! (that is what the kids are saying lately isn't it?)
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Is there anything lower than being called a wuss by Belle & Sebastian fan no. 1?
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Grow some Sweet Mary Jane, strap on a pinny and get the jerk chicken going.
Hang on, I''ve missed the flow of this one haven't I?
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Is there anything lower than being called a wuss by Belle & Sebastian fan no. 1?
I'm off to see them in December.
OOOOH! Is Strictly on tonight???
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Is there anything lower than being called a wuss by Belle & Sebastian fan no. 1?
Being mugged at the Cropredy Festival possibly, but it's still pretty low.
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Is there anything lower than being called a wuss by Belle & Sebastian fan no. 1?
Ha ha! I'm off to cry into my cardie now!
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Maybe Paulie and Stewart Downing can go to counseling together.
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Is there anything lower than being called a wuss by Belle & Sebastian fan no. 1?
I'm off to see them in December.
OOOOH! Is Strictly on tonight???
And I thought Smith disappeared from the O'Neill thread because he was getting a hiding.
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Is there anything lower than being called a wuss by Belle & Sebastian fan no. 1?
Being mugged at the Cropredy Festival possibly, but it's still pretty low.
Hiltz, Legion's hacked into your computer.
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Haha, Paulie I think you walked into that one...
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Is there anything lower than being called a wuss by Belle & Sebastian fan no. 1?
I'm off to see them in December.
OOOOH! Is Strictly on tonight???
It is, the wife's got it on now. Sarah Lou from Corrie has "grown" I have to say. Cor Blimey. And I never knew Goldie was a Walsall lad either.
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Goldie's lad has just been given a life sentence for a particularly dispiriting, pointless knife murder in Wolverhampton.
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The world's best producer (Trevor Horn) produced Belle and the Sebastian.
I bought the CD, you can't fucking tell.
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Just want to say, I hope Houllier signs Adel Tarrabt. Bit of a wanker, but what a player.
That boy is gonna be world class if he keeps his head right.
Just realised I'm calling him 'boy' when he's two months younger than me!
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I think if anyone else uses the phrase "7th to 12th place" I''m going to start taking hostages.
A couple of things don't go exactly how they should - because they just SHOULD - and suddenly we're doomed.
Missed this earlier. That is it D Woodhall you have offended me enough today I am going to burn both of your books I own ...hmmm OK just one of them ...at mid day tomorrow. SSN have been informed you just watch!
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I think if anyone else uses the phrase "7th to 12th place" I''m going to start taking hostages.
A couple of things don't go exactly how they should - because they just SHOULD - and suddenly we're doomed.
Missed this earlier. That is it D Woodhall you have offended me enough today I am going to burn both of your books I own ...hmmm OK just one of them ...at mid day tomorrow. SSN have been informed you just watch!
As long as you buy then again, I'm happy with that.
Hang on. Both? That means there's some you haven't got. I love a challenge.
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You need to sort out your distribution network. I have the two I have seen on bookshelves
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You need to sort out your distribution network. I have the two I have seen on bookshelves
Borders in town always used to have loads. I bet he was wailing and weeping on the day they closed.
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You need to sort out your distribution network. I have the two I have seen on bookshelves
Borders in town always used to have loads. I bet he was wailing and weeping on the day they closed.
Not really - they didn't owe me anything.
http://www.heroespublishing.co.uk/Shop/shop.html
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You need to sort out your distribution network. I have the two I have seen on bookshelves
Borders in town always used to have loads. I bet he was wailing and weeping on the day they closed.
Not really - they didn't owe me anything.
http://www.heroespublishing.co.uk/Shop/shop.html
"**AVAILABLE FROM 14th SEPTEMBER 2007**"
Dear oh dear, Dave.
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Interesting piece in today's Observer about Houllier, in particular his reputation in France:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/sep/12/gerard-houllier-aston-villa
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I think that backs up my opinion that we have got a very good manager and his wealth of experience is going to help us a lot.
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I hope that's the case.
But if he's seen as part of the problem in France (which seems to be the perception as it was he who championed Domenech and stuck behind him after a woeful 2008) that might impact on the players we sign.
I have a horrible feeling that he might be viewed as a Graham Taylor- type figure over there. Let me clarify: I know his most recent role was as technical director and GT never occupied that role for his country. But there might be a parallel in so far as GT is widely respected amongst officials and suits in the game here but -lets be honest- he is often portrayed as a joke figure amongst ex players and supporters (supporters of clubs he didn't manage anyway).
It's a somewhat unfortunate reputation and a reputation that most Villa and Watford fans don't buy into. But the perception is out there all the same.
We all witnessed the scorn and outright ridicule senior French players had for Domenech and other FFA officials this summer. Maybe that was just a few rotten apples, their very own Baby Bentley generation asserting their authority.
But it could be that the mistrust and lack of respect runs deep and Houllier -who was instrumental in first selecting Domenech, then backing him despite 2008 and the farce v Ireland- is seen as part of the problem.
Part of his appeal was his contacts in the game, his broad knowledge base and the possibility of exploring foreign transfer markets - the French one being an obvious one.
If there is a reticence on the part of French players to join us because of Houllier it already limits the pool we can select from and effectively invalidates one of his supposed plus points.
I guess we'll have a clearer idea about that this time next year, when he will have had two transfer windows to start moulding the side and leaving his imprint on it.
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I wonder how donkey feels about being re-teamed with his old boss?
I'm surprised he hasn't come out and said something.
Of course, I am worried that Heskey will be a regular starter now...
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I hope that's the case.
But if he's seen as part of the problem in France (which seems to be the perception as it was he who championed Domenech and stuck behind him after a woeful 2008) that might impact on the players we sign.
They were discussing the Houllier appointment on the Guardian's Podcast (v good generally) and one of their pundits (? guests ?) said that there is a theory in France that Houllier "championed" Domenench because he thought he'd be sacked and then Houllier could replace him at the last moment because - by that point - there would be no other candidates available.
Impossible to prove, however the gist of what they were saying was that he can be a bit manipulative.
I'm choosing to ignore it but an interesting angle nonetheless.
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I beleive he has quite a track record for being manipulative.
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Maybe, just maybe the reason Houllier has been sold the job is the (reported) £8m three year contract - nice little retirement fund that.
Sorry but cynicism comes with age !!
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Well, as DTN of the FFF, Houillier was on a monthly gross salary of €26,345 (£21 825)...
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Maybe, just maybe the reason Houllier has been sold the job is the (reported) £8m three year contract - nice little retirement fund that.
Sorry but cynicism comes with age !!
I doubt he would have done it for free.
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Maybe, just maybe the reason Houllier has been sold the job is the (reported) £8m three year contract - nice little retirement fund that.
Sorry but cynicism comes with age !!
Or we could have got Phil Brown or Curbishley on a £3m three year contract. If you want the best, you have to pay for it.
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Maybe, just maybe the reason Houllier has been sold the job is the (reported) £8m three year contract - nice little retirement fund that.
Sorry but cynicism comes with age !!
Do you expect him to give up an easy job in France to take on a mid table club in crisis in the Prem, thanks to the previous manager, and do it for free then ?
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Out of interest, if the £8m figure for Houlier's wages is correct ( I honestly have no idea whether it is), how does this comnpare with other Premiership manager?
any idea?
And what was O'Neill on? anyone know?
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And what was O'Neill on?
Fuck knows, but I'd like some if it, if it makes you crazy enough to make some of the decisions he did.
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I seem to remember a figure of £3m a year being bandied about.
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That being the case, they have increased the wage bill this summer rather than reduce it as planned.
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certainly not the cheap option then
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oops - deleted.
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That being the case, they have increased the wage bill this summer rather than reduce it as planned.
The post overleaf said £8m over 3 years, so a saving over O'Neill's reported £3m p.a.
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I read somewhere Real Madrid pay Mourinho 8 million euros a year. about 6.5 millions pounds.
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I read somewhere Real Madrid pay Mourinho 8 million euros a year. about 6.5 millions pounds.
He was on 11 million euros at Inter and now on 13 million at Real.
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Out of interest, if the £8m figure for Houlier's wages is correct ( I honestly have no idea whether it is), how does this comnpare with other Premiership manager?
any idea?
And what was O'Neill on? anyone know?
The £8m figure has come from an article in The Mirror, the same article states that MON was on 'over £2m a year' and that Le Gez is the highest paid Villa employee ever. A statement which is completely contradicted by the box on the right hand side of the article which states that they have found out that Ash has signed a contract worth £65k a week, or £3.38m a year which equates to an awful lot more over three years than £8m.
The Mirror really is a crock of shit.
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I hope Houllier sends Warnock to Coventry again.
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Well, as DTN of the FFF, Houillier was on a monthly gross salary of €26,345 (£21 825)...
Well thats a nice little pay rise for our new manager - from £21k per month to £222K per month...just proves he`s no mug when it comes to feathering his own nest, sorry I meant preparing for his retirement.
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So, is it really about the football at Villa Park, or about his retirement funds?
Hmmm, he really seems desperate to get here, doesn't he? The board also seem that keen on bringing him here. They've let this issue drag on, like they have with every other single issue that they have had to handle.
I came to the conclusion that our friend Faulkner, doesn't have one fucking clue, what he is doing.
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It is also worrying that the first two people apparently approached by him to be Assistants have turned him down. Is that because they think he is past it, or the sales pitch he used is off or the money they will be on isn't worth it.
Even without him being here the back room staff should have been sorted at a similar time to when he accepted the job. We are still shy several coaches at the moment. If we had the full compliment would Dunne still be in the shape he is in?
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So, is it really about the football at Villa Park, or about his retirement funds?
Hmmm, he really seems desperate to get here, doesn't he? The board also seem that keen on bringing him here. They've let this issue drag on, like they have with every other single issue that they have had to handle.
I came to the conclusion that our friend Faulkner, doesn't have one fucking clue, what he is doing.
How would you do it any differently?
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So, is it really about the football at Villa Park, or about his retirement funds?
Hmmm, he really seems desperate to get here, doesn't he? The board also seem that keen on bringing him here. They've let this issue drag on, like they have with every other single issue that they have had to handle.
I came to the conclusion that our friend Faulkner, doesn't have one fucking clue, what he is doing.
How would you do it any differently?
For starters, not hold a press conference to announce our new manager which then descends into a farce as it turns out he isn't the new manager and we don't know when he will start.
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So, is it really about the football at Villa Park, or about his retirement funds?
Hmmm, he really seems desperate to get here, doesn't he? The board also seem that keen on bringing him here. They've let this issue drag on, like they have with every other single issue that they have had to handle.
I came to the conclusion that our friend Faulkner, doesn't have one fucking clue, what he is doing.
How would you do it any differently?
For starters, not hold a press conference to announce our new manager which then descends into a farce as it turns out he isn't the new manager and we don't know when he will start.
Strange, but after the conference the general feeling was that it went well. It was only when some reporter (weren't they all supposed to be "lazy journalists" with an anti-Villa agenda?) called it a farce that it was described as such. And would this be the press conference that came after days of people asking when the press conference was going to happen?
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So, is it really about the football at Villa Park, or about his retirement funds?
Hmmm, he really seems desperate to get here, doesn't he? The board also seem that keen on bringing him here. They've let this issue drag on, like they have with every other single issue that they have had to handle.
I came to the conclusion that our friend Faulkner, doesn't have one fucking clue, what he is doing.
How would you do it any differently?
For starters, not hold a press conference to announce our new manager which then descends into a farce as it turns out he isn't the new manager and we don't know when he will start.
Strange, but after the conference the general feeling was that it went well. It was only when some reporter (weren't they all supposed to be "lazy journalists" with an anti-Villa agenda?) called it a farce that it was described as such. And would this be the press conference that came after days of people asking when the press conference was going to happen?
It was only when the full reports came out that we were aware of exactly what was said, though.
What he said to the printed media was far more worrying than what was said in the pc we all watched. No mention there about having to go back for a few days here and there, maybe it'd be Wolves, but he couldn't guarantee it, etc.
If that was the case, then they should have said something about it up front, rather than letting it come out in drips and drabs. If there was still that much doubt, they should have announced he was joining the club, just working his notice, and left it at that until he could come.
We're used to them being slick with the media. They went from looking like Jeremy Paxman to Nick Owen with this one, I thought.
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Come off it. If not knowing when your "new manager" is actually going to start work can't be legitimately be described as a farce, I don't know what can. You've said yourself that there's no real football knowledge on the board, well the last few weeks have shown just how little that actually is.
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Also - and it's ultimately not their fault, but when you're so vague, you are inviting this sort of trouble - it looked very, very poor tonight to see Pulis there after his mother had died, whilst GH was at an awards dinner.
Like I said, not their fault Pulis is such a trooper, but unveiling a manager who can't manage you is going to put you at risk from situations like that.
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So what could they do that's any different? Keep quiet and get blamed for that?
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Strange, but after the conference the general feeling was that it went well. It was only when some reporter (weren't they all supposed to be "lazy journalists" with an anti-Villa agenda?) called it a farce that it was described as such. And would this be the press conference that came after days of people asking when the press conference was going to happen?
I didn't see the conference as I was at work but most of the comments were based on his pro Villa rhetoric. it seems (similar to the Budget) that although the bad news was announced most did not realise until the papers summarised the conference to its main parts.
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Strange, but after the conference the general feeling was that it went well. It was only when some reporter (weren't they all supposed to be "lazy journalists" with an anti-Villa agenda?) called it a farce that it was described as such. And would this be the press conference that came after days of people asking when the press conference was going to happen?
I didn't see the conference as I was at work but most of the comments were based on his pro Villa rhetoric. it seems (similar to the Budget) that although the bad news was announced most did not realise until the papers summarised the conference to its main parts.
And as I've said before - for years we've dismissed criticism. Now we seem to be revelling in it.
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So what could they do that's any different? Keep quiet and get blamed for that?
Well going on Paulies comments that the televised bit of the press conference did not cover it. Isn't that what they tried and then a journalist asked the questions and the truth came out.
I've never seen any other club announce a new manager at a conference and then find out they will not be in charge for several more matches. At least Villa have been first in football again.
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So what could they do that's any different? Keep quiet and get blamed for that?
They could have told Houllier that unless he wanted to stay in his €26k a month job, he'd better have his arse in Stoke tonight to start work.
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So what could they do that's any different? Keep quiet and get blamed for that?
They could have told Houllier that unless he wanted to stay in his €26k a month job, he'd better have his arse in Stoke tonight to start work.
Yes, it's that easy.
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So he's going from 20K to 200K. I have a fair idea where his allegiance should be.
Get your arse into the job that you are so handsomely being paid for and stop fucking the fans and club about.
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So what could they do that's any different? Keep quiet and get blamed for that?
If I were the billionaire (more or less) owner of Aston Villa, I'd have kept Milner and given the manager £20m to spend on a new striker and midfield general.
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Yes, it's that easy.
Of course it's that easy. When was the last time a new manager stayed behind at his old job to sort things out? It is that easy if you have football people who know what they're doing.
What exactly is it keeping Houllier from starting? What is it that the almighty FFF can do that no other football organisation in the world can do, ie stop a manager leaving and starting immediately in a new job?
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So what could they do that's any different? Keep quiet and get blamed for that?
If I were the billionaire (more or less) owner of Aston Villa, I'd have kept Milner and given the manager £20m to spend on a new striker and midfield general.
Of course you would. You'd handcuff a player who wanted to leave and regularly handed over tens of millions of pounds on demand. Meanwhile, on this planet......
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Yes, it's that easy.
Of course it's that easy. When was the last time a new manager stayed behind at his old job to sort things out? It is that easy if you have football people who know what they're doing.
What exactly is it keeping Houllier from starting? What is it that the almighty FFF can do that no other football organisation in the world can do, ie stop a manager leaving and starting immediately in a new job?
I don't know, and neither does anyone else. But something is, and sadly, the world doesn't revolve around Aston Villa FC.
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Strange, but after the conference the general feeling was that it went well. It was only when some reporter (weren't they all supposed to be "lazy journalists" with an anti-Villa agenda?) called it a farce that it was described as such. And would this be the press conference that came after days of people asking when the press conference was going to happen?
I didn't see the conference as I was at work but most of the comments were based on his pro Villa rhetoric. it seems (similar to the Budget) that although the bad news was announced most did not realise until the papers summarised the conference to its main parts.
And as I've said before - for years we've dismissed criticism. Now we seem to be revelling in it.
Again the first time I knew of the starting situation was these threads, not any newspaper.
It isn't revelling in criticism. All the papers apparently did was state the basic facts as they were told them. I'm sure if the papers had come out and said Houllier is a wanker and will be shit at Villa most respected posters would have jumped on the papers as you are now suggesting. Those same posters are looking at the current situation and calling it a farce.
You are coming across very ChrisSmithical in the defence of the board in these situations. Yes they have had a difficult job in replacing the runaway but for the first time in 4 years they have become very amateurish and naive and when the fall is from such normally high level of standards it stands out massively.
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You are coming across very ChrisSmithical in the defence of the board in these situations. Yes they have had a difficult job in replacing the runaway but for the first time in 4 years they have become very amateurish and naive and when the fall is from such normally high level of standards it stands out massively.
I'll defend anyone I think is being uunfairly criticised, and while there are a few problems I think the level of abuse that's being levelled is massively disproprtionate.
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Not blaming it squarely on one person, but does anyone else find it funny that things start to go downhill and questionable board decisions are made, once Paul Faulkner is ascended into his glorious role?
I might also add that the prick constantly looks bored whenever we play, whether we're playing well, winning or whatever. It is clear to anyone he has no interest in this club, so why should he really care about his actions?
In my mind he is to blame for a lot of this bullshit dragging on. How he is qualified to be given such a job in the first place is beyond me. A degree in history, doesn't give you the business acumen to run a football club like Aston Villa successfully. Time after time he has tried to pull some stunt and it has backfired - his choice of words in statements, the manager situation, lack of information given to fans, and back to the managerial situation again.
Yadda, yadda.
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I don't know, and neither does anyone else. But something is, and sadly, the world doesn't revolve around Aston Villa FC.
For the board it should. And if we can't get Houllier to start straight away, it rather backs up what I've said in that the board have been acting with hopeless naivety and a dismal lack of football knowledge. They're a multi million pound entity being run like a corner shop at the moment. Who out of Lerner, Krulak or Faulkner has any grounding in football whatsoever?
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Not blaming it squarely on one person, but does anyone else find it funny that things start to go downhill and questionable board decisions are made, once Paul Faulkner is ascended into his glorious role?
I might also add that the prick constantly looks bored whenever we play, whether we're playing well, winning or whatever. It is clear to anyone he has no interest in this club, so why should he really care about his actions?
In my mind he is to blame for a lot of this bullshit dragging on. How he is qualified to be given such a job in the first place is beyond me. A degree in history, doesn't give you the business acumen to run a football club like Aston Villa successfully. Time after time he has tried to pull some stunt and it has backfired - his choice of words in statements, the manager situation, lack of information given to fans, and back to the managerial situation again.
Yadda, yadda.
You can comment on someone without the sort of abuse you're using.
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Could the board not pay the compensation to get the FFF to release him immediately so he's in the dugout for the Bolton game?
Must say I'm very pro Randy and the rest of the directors but I'm not sure how anyone can argue this appointment process hasn't been a bit of a shambles?
Remember there was a delay last week in even appointing GH and we still can't get him properly in acharge.
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I don't know, and neither does anyone else. But something is, and sadly, the world doesn't revolve around Aston Villa FC.
For the board it should. And if we can't get Houllier to start straight away, it rather backs up what I've said in that the board have been acting with hopeless naivety and a dismal lack of football knowledge. They're a multi million pound entity being run like a corner shop at the moment. Who out of Lerner, Krulak or Faulkner has any grounding in football whatsoever?
What's your opinion of Martin O'Neill's departure now?
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Yes, it's that easy.
Of course it's that easy. When was the last time a new manager stayed behind at his old job to sort things out? It is that easy if you have football people who know what they're doing.
What exactly is it keeping Houllier from starting? What is it that the almighty FFF can do that no other football organisation in the world can do, ie stop a manager leaving and starting immediately in a new job?
I don't know, and neither does anyone else. But something is, and sadly, the world doesn't revolve around Aston Villa FC.
I could only assume that they threatened to get Uefa involved somehow to ban him as manager at another club if he left them now. Especially as Platini is in charge.
As an aside. I have always worked my notice periods when leaving employments but someone at work resigned last week, should work a 2 month period but said she was leaving in two weeks instead. They are allowing it as she has forsaken payments!?!. What is the legal requirement to work your notice?
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I could only assume that they threatened to get Uefa involved somehow to ban him as manager at another club if he left them now. Especially as Platini is in charge.
As an aside. I have always worked my notice periods when leaving employments but someone at work resigned last week, should work a 2 month period but said she was leaving in two weeks instead. They are allowing it as she has forsaken payments!?!. What is the legal requirement to work your notice?
You could have something there. I think the main problem is that this is the first time (certainly that I can remember) when a club has appointed a manager who was working for a major FA during the season. It's not like taking a manager from another club, who themselves want the deal done quickly so they can appoint a replacement. I can also see the French FA (maybe with the connivence of Platini) doing their best to annoy one of those all-powerful Premier League clubs.
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Of course I still think that O'Neill is a twat for leaving us in the lurch. But you can only go on using that as an excuse for so long, before you have to roll your sleeves up and get on with it. The board have made a hash of the appointment every step of the way. This summer has been an absolute disaster on just about every level.
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Could the board not pay the compensation to get the FFF to release him immediately so he's in the dugout for the Bolton game?
Must say I'm very pro Randy and the rest of the directors but I'm not sure how anyone can argue this appointment process hasn't been a bit of a shambles?
Remember there was a delay last week in even appointing GH and we still can't get him properly in acharge.
If he was at another club, that would be easy. I expect it is a bit different in the role he currently has as what will the FFF do with that money which I would expect would be only £60,000 (3 months contract at £20,000 a month). What I am surprised at is he obviously never intended to manage a club again as he didn't negotiate some type of release clause if a club comes calling.
The other salient point is the question on whether Houliier is a hands on, (or hands off and let the coaches work), when on the training pitch. We need backroom staff asap as well and we could probably work without Houllier for most of the week apart from Matchdays if required.
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Of course I still think that O'Neill is a twat for leaving us in the lurch. But you can only go on using that as an excuse for so long, before you have to roll your sleeves up and get on with it. The board have made a hash of the appointment every step of the way. This summer has been an absolute disaster on just about every level.
So one manager is a twat for walking out but another should do exactly the same.
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We’re in desperate need of direction. There was a lot of good play tonight, but we need Houllier in now. He may not pick the team for Bolton, but having him there to bark out words of instruction or encouragement before and during the game will be a big help. I don’t like the fact that he might not be there for our visit to “Leeds circa 1970’s but without all the good players” aka the Molineux though.
I respect his integrity especially in a game that is so lacking in it, but c’mon Ged we need you!
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I could only assume that they threatened to get Uefa involved somehow to ban him as manager at another club if he left them now. Especially as Platini is in charge.
As an aside. I have always worked my notice periods when leaving employments but someone at work resigned last week, should work a 2 month period but said she was leaving in two weeks instead. They are allowing it as she has forsaken payments!?!. What is the legal requirement to work your notice?
You could have something there. I think the main problem is that this is the first time (certainly that I can remember) when a club has appointed a manager who was working for a major FA during the season. It's not like taking a manager from another club, who themselves want the deal done quickly so they can appoint a replacement. I can also see the French FA (maybe with the connivence of Platini) doing their best to annoy one of those all-powerful Premier League clubs.
What was Brooking when 'Ammers came calling? Although that was different as it was only temporary I suppose
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It makes me wonder how bad the other candidates were if the stand-out was a man who hasn't managed in the Premiership for 6 years and who can't say when he'll be able to start.
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The way MON departed five days before the start of the season, the drawn out procedure of appointing a new manager followed by the new manager not being availeable for a few weeks does smack of people not knowing what they're doing. I don't know whether Faulkner is competent or not but all this has happened on his watch.
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What was Brooking when 'Ammers came calling? Although that was different as it was only temporary I suppose
Come on. You should now by now that West Ham own the FA.
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So one manager is a twat for walking out but another should do exactly the same.
Clever answer, but a) Houllier isn't actually manager of France, and b) walking out on a league club where you're pretty well in charge of everything and taking all your staff with you 5 days become a new season starts is a million miles away from leaving a position in the French FA where your presence doesn't really affect day to day matters greatly. As well you know. Should we not sign any more players because Milner walked out on us?
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It makes me wonder how bad the other candidates were if the stand-out was a man who hasn't managed in the Premiership for 6 years and who can't say when he'll be able to start.
You know how bad they were if Curbishley was the first bloke interviewed.
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Of course I still think that O'Neill is a twat for leaving us in the lurch. But you can only go on using that as an excuse for so long, before you have to roll your sleeves up and get on with it. The board have made a hash of the appointment every step of the way. This summer has been an absolute disaster on just about every level.
So one manager is a twat for walking out but another should do exactly the same.
So what was your opinion of BFR and BL when they joined us?
Unless the manager is out of work most new managers will leave a job. The difference is either the board approach another manager already in place before sacking the first (Spurs with Jol and Ramos) or the leaving is mutual (BL leaving us). This is the first time we have been in the lurch since Saunders walked.
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It makes me wonder how bad the other candidates were if the stand-out was a man who hasn't managed in the Premiership for 6 years and who can't say when he'll be able to start.
You know how bad they were if Curbishley was the first bloke interviewed.
I think that, more than anything, gave me the impression that the board weren't totally on top of what they were doing.
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So what could they do that's any different? Keep quiet and get blamed for that?
If I were the billionaire (more or less) owner of Aston Villa, I'd have kept Milner and given the manager £20m to spend on a new striker and midfield general.
Of course you would. You'd handcuff a player who wanted to leave and regularly handed over tens of millions of pounds on demand. Meanwhile, on this planet......
I'd happily hold a player to his contract when he is less than halfway through it and I'd know upfront that it could cost more than £80m to replace a squad that had finished 16th with a squad that is winning trophies and competing for CL places, which is what they said they were trying to do.
You make it sound like this type of thinking is beyond reason, when it is just normal business planning.
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This summer and circus that is still going on has essentially made me realise that the Yanks, and Faulkner actually don't have a clue at all what they are doing.
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So one manager is a twat for walking out but another should do exactly the same.
Clever answer, but a) Houllier isn't actually manager of France, and b) walking out on a league club where you're pretty well in charge of everything and taking all your staff with you 5 days become a new season starts is a million miles away from leaving a position in the French FA where your presence doesn't really affect day to day matters greatly. As well you know. Should we not sign any more players because Milner walked out on us?
The principle is still the same, and as was said earlier, we don't know what's happening in the background.
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This summer and circus that is still going on has essentially made me realise that the Yanks, and Faulkner actually don't have a clue at all what they are doing.
You're right. They haven't a clue. They've been fucking awful these last four years - everyone's always said so.
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This summer and circus that is still going on has essentially made me realise that the Yanks, and Faulkner actually don't have a clue at all what they are doing.
You're right. They haven't a clue. They've been fucking awful these last four years - everyone's always said so.
I think if you look back at some of the statements - "We will get the right man in. We will not be rushed. He will be here".
They've confirmed Houllier as manager, yet he still isn't here.
It's laughable and small-time.
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This summer and circus that is still going on has essentially made me realise that the Yanks, and Faulkner actually don't have a clue at all what they are doing.
You're right. They haven't a clue. They've been fucking awful these last four years - everyone's always said so.
I think if you look back at some of the statements - "We will get the right man in. We will not be rushed. He will be here".
They've confirmed Houllier as manager, yet he still isn't here.
It's laughable and small-time.
And that means they haven't a clue about anything. Thank you for that.
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They certainly haven't had a clue about this summer, and the evidence towards that is the following:
- Rumours of no money, Krulak says there is, then O'Neill leaves apparently over transfer funds
- Dragging out of the managerial situation - stating they'd get the right man in ASASP, and he "would be here", yet he isn't here, he's off in France
- Why not pay the FFF a compensation package like other clubs? What a bunch of tight-arses
- The constant statements from Faulkner indicating we wouldn't be spending money, when Krulak says we had money to spend.
- Curbishley interviewed first before anyone (A man who said "Going to Aston Villa was the worst mistake of my life", remember that? Yet the board thought he had enough credibility and deserved an interview, when he has spoken publicly about his disdain for the club. I smell desperation.
Too many contradictions, and the circus keeps on spinning around and around.
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They certainly haven't had a clue about this summer, and the evidence towards that is the following:
- Rumours of no money, Krulak says there is, then O'Neill leaves apparently over transfer funds
- Dragging out of the managerial situation - stating they'd get the right man in ASASP, and he "would be here", yet he isn't here, he's off in France
- Why not pay the FFF a compensation package like other clubs? What a bunch of tight-arses
- The constant statements from Faulkner indicating we wouldn't be spending money, when Krulak says we had money to spend.
- Curbishley interviewed first before anyone (A man who said "Going to Aston Villa was the worst mistake of my life", remember that? Yet the board thought he had enough credibility and deserved an interview, when he has spoken publicly about his disdain for the club. I smell desperation.
Too many contradictions, and the circus keeps on spinning around and around.
I know for a fact that at least two of those aren't true.
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This summer and circus that is still going on has essentially made me realise that the Yanks, and Faulkner actually don't have a clue at all what they are doing.
You're right. They haven't a clue. They've been fucking awful these last four years - everyone's always said so.
But for four years they have only had to supply the cash and ensure the pies are sorted. Yes they have done stuff like the Holte Pub, the mosaics, Acorns and so on which has raised their appeal. Apart from the Trinity 400 they haven't done anything to really upset fans and when they acknowledged their mistake they did what they could to ensure an easy transition.
But this is their first really big decision that affects the footballing side since they have taken over and they have definitely screwed the pooch. The shortlist wasn't inspiring, the process weirdly undertaken and the final decision (although on the face of it a good one) was poorly executed.
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So one manager is a twat for walking out but another should do exactly the same.
Clever answer, but a) Houllier isn't actually manager of France, and b) walking out on a league club where you're pretty well in charge of everything and taking all your staff with you 5 days become a new season starts is a million miles away from leaving a position in the French FA where your presence doesn't really affect day to day matters greatly. As well you know. Should we not sign any more players because Milner walked out on us?
The principle is still the same, and as was said earlier, we don't know what's happening in the background.
Perhaps there is a good reason but don't you think Faulkner should explain why it is that we haven't simply paid compensation to FFF in order to release Houllier immediately?
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I know for a fact that at least two of those aren't true.
Well there are two statements about money so it could be those two, although I expect the other one is the Curbisley one. But then the first name that was confirmed by yourself and the papers was him so it would have been an easy assumption to make.
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They certainly haven't had a clue about this summer, and the evidence towards that is the following:
- Rumours of no money, Krulak says there is, then O'Neill leaves apparently over transfer funds
- Dragging out of the managerial situation - stating they'd get the right man in ASASP, and he "would be here", yet he isn't here, he's off in France
- Why not pay the FFF a compensation package like other clubs? What a bunch of tight-arses
- The constant statements from Faulkner indicating we wouldn't be spending money, when Krulak says we had money to spend.
- Curbishley interviewed first before anyone (A man who said "Going to Aston Villa was the worst mistake of my life", remember that? Yet the board thought he had enough credibility and deserved an interview, when he has spoken publicly about his disdain for the club. I smell desperation.
Too many contradictions, and the circus keeps on spinning around and around.
I know for a fact that at least two of those aren't true.
Ok, could you please point out which two? And why? If you can.
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This summer and circus that is still going on has essentially made me realise that the Yanks, and Faulkner actually don't have a clue at all what they are doing.
You're right. They haven't a clue. They've been fucking awful these last four years - everyone's always said so.
But for four years they have only had to supply the cash and ensure the pies are sorted. Yes they have done stuff like the Holte Pub, the mosaics, Acorns and so on which has raised their appeal. Apart from the Trinity 400 they haven't done anything to really upset fans and when they acknowledged their mistake they did what they could to ensure an easy transition.
But this is their first really big decision that affects the footballing side since they have taken over and they have definitely screwed the pooch. The shortlist wasn't inspiring, the process weirdly undertaken and the final decision (although on the face of it a good one) was poorly executed.
I love "only supplied the cash" as though it's a mere detail. They've run the club very well since the day they arrived. Then an massive upheaval took place, the sort that would rock any club. It's going to take a long time to put right, and while it might be taking longer than we - and they - would like, I think the evidence garnered over the years indicates they will get there. Yet we're getting "haven't got a clue" and "laughing stock" thrown at them. It's a strange world where after four years Martin O'Neill was still being excused because he hadn't had enough time yet after four weeks Randy Lerner is being castigated.
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They certainly haven't had a clue about this summer, and the evidence towards that is the following:
- Rumours of no money, Krulak says there is, then O'Neill leaves apparently over transfer funds
- Dragging out of the managerial situation - stating they'd get the right man in ASASP, and he "would be here", yet he isn't here, he's off in France
- Why not pay the FFF a compensation package like other clubs? What a bunch of tight-arses
- The constant statements from Faulkner indicating we wouldn't be spending money, when Krulak says we had money to spend.
- Curbishley interviewed first before anyone (A man who said "Going to Aston Villa was the worst mistake of my life", remember that? Yet the board thought he had enough credibility and deserved an interview, when he has spoken publicly about his disdain for the club. I smell desperation.
Too many contradictions, and the circus keeps on spinning around and around.
I know for a fact that at least two of those aren't true.
Ok, could you please point out which two? And why? If you can.
Sorry, but it's a bit tricky. I hope to be able to sort something out in the next few days.
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Perhaps there is a good reason but don't you think Faulkner should explain why it is that we haven't simply paid compensation to FFF in order to release Houllier immediately?
Even though I'm critical of the board in the handling, what would the FFF want with £60,000 (paying off Houliers notice period) and being left in the lurch.
What would be better would be some regular updates from the club via the OS on what is happening on the time frames, (if they know). Houllier has had several days before the announcement and press conference and several days after to talk with the FFF. I also would like an explanation on why he couldn't have been at the game at least tonight to check on his players he will be taking over. Randy has a private jet so could have flown him in and out easily. Yes he has video but when managers are scouting a rival team they go and watch them from the stands, not watch a video as they cannot get the same feel and information. I do understand about the awards dinner but as mentioned previously Pullis dedication to Stoke puts that to shame today.
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Give the FFF a bit extra then to ensure that it happens immediately. Would the FFF rather have £200-300k, or are they really that desperate for Houllier to attend a French managerial award ceremony? It just seems that the FFF are playing hardball over this, and we are letting them.
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I love "only supplied the cash" as though it's a mere detail. They've run the club very well since the day they arrived. Then an massive upheaval took place, the sort that would rock any club. It's going to take a long time to put right, and while it might be taking longer than we - and they - would like, I think the evidence garnered over the years indicates they will get there. Yet we're getting "haven't got a clue" and "laughing stock" thrown at them. It's a strange world where after four years Martin O'Neill was still being excused because he hadn't had enough time yet after four weeks Randy Lerner is being castigated.
I'm talking about the contribution from the footballing side. As we all know MON (rightly or wrongly) ran the footballing side so he choose who to get in and how much to pay and Randy signed it off pretty much on MON's say so. So the contribution to the footballing side was the cash. Most of the complimentary comparisons with Randy and other chairman was along the lines of he is doing a good job as he is leaving Martin to get on with it and not interfering.
As for the four year / four week comment, to build something can take years, to destroy it can take seconds. At the moment it it is just shy of five weeks since the toys were thrown. We could, at worst case, need to wait 12 weeks for Houllier if he has to work his full notice (unlikely I know). That will be 16 weeks of the season gone. Potentially over a third of the games. How many wins would you expect playing the football we have played in the last 5 games under KMac. A potential relegation dog fight as the new manager comes in would not be the best situation, especially if he struggles to turn it around with the limited squad / potential exodus it could entail. I'm talking total worst case scenario at the moment and i don't expect it to get anywhere near as bad as that but the more games KMac has to be in charge, the closer it is getting. That is why the fans are jumpy about this delay.
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Yet we're getting "haven't got a clue" and "laughing stock" thrown at them. It's a strange world where after four years Martin O'Neill was still being excused because he hadn't had enough time yet after four weeks Randy Lerner is being castigated.
For the first four years, Randy hardly put a foot wrong. This summer, though, I think he's hardly put a foot fight, even allowing for O'Neill's actions. Praise when it's due, criticise when it's due, I don't see what's so off about that.
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I find it hard to belive Randy & co. aren't trying to hammer out a deal to get him here asap, it's the only thing that makes sense. It's been a pretty depressing summer all round, they must want it over as much as we do.
So much for the cliche that contracts in football aren't worth anything - it seems this is the only one that is worth something!
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I find it hard to belive Randy & co. aren't trying to hammer out a deal to get him here asap, it's the only thing that makes sense. It's been a pretty depressing summer all round, they must want it over as much as we do.
So much for the cliche that contracts in football aren't worth anything - it seems this is the only one that is worth something!
The FFF must have a legal team second to no other in the Western footballing world.
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Can someone provide a one paragraph summary of where we are at the moment
Houlier has signed - official, oui?
He's still under contract at FFF? when is he released from that?
Has any statement been offically released by Villa to clarify things?
I'm not sure now what's official and what is speculation.
I'm all confused
When this is all sorted, I think the Villa need to look at how they communicate with their fans - and I don't mean General K posting unofficial stuff on fans' sites, interesting as his posts may be.
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His posts are interesting? No they are misleading. To the point that we hear 'We hear you', 'These things take time you know', 'Stop saying anything that I may think is bad about Randy'. What are we being told? Really?
Yes, I agree that when little admin errors, or problems crop up he is a useful go-between, but that's it. I didn't like the way that we were used to put out press releases, and I don't like the way the club has gone about its business this summer.
Yes, MON dropped us in the shit, but maybe the way we're all scratching our heads as to what the flying feck is going on, is what forced him to walk. He has kept a dignified silence thus far whilst the General implied that he thought he was bigger than the club and had a go.
I don't know. I still think Randy has enough credit to be very much in the black with regards his standing. But, and I've tried to not say this, if the old regime had have done anything like this they (he) would have been hung, drawn, and quartered.
Maybe the General doesn't understand the hurt of being close to something to see it being friottered away. Over the past 20 years or so we've gone from being close, to flirting with relegation, to being close, to looking nervously over our shoulder, to being close again. Now what? We're definitely looking over our shoulder at the moment.
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From what I understand he'll be in contact very much with Kevin this week, and will oversee the Bolton game and will be in the dugout for Wolves?
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From what I understand he'll be in contact very much with Kevin this week, and will oversee the Bolton game and will be in the dugout for Wolves?
Thanks
I'm not sure what "overseeing" means though. When does his honeymoon period begin?
The fact that it's not clear really does highlight how piss poorly this has been handled by us.
And before anyone reminds me that O'Neill left us in the lurch5 days before the season started.....
I'm even getting piss-taking emails from Boro fans now, for chrissakes
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The problem we have is that we are coasting now and it cannot continue. We desperately need the new manager in so he can stamp his authority on the team and give it some direction.
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I'm even getting piss-taking emails from Boro fans now, for chrissakes
I've got people in the office taking the mickey out of the fans for singing "Gerard Houllier's claret and blue army" when he wasn't even bloody there!
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I'm even getting piss-taking emails from Boro fans now, for chrissakes
I've got people in the office taking the mickey out of the fans for singing "Gerard Houllier's claret and blue army" when he wasn't even bloody there!
Tell the sheep shaggers to fuck off then.
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Should have been 3 well earned points in the bag last night, which could make all the difference at the end of the season, and you lot know it. Sure there are lots more games to come. But at the end of every season I always look back at games like last night and say "if only", it usually results in us just missing out on Europe, or the Champions fucking League.
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Surely if the FFF was offered a bit money they would have let him be in place already. This is the first time I can remember a Premier League club having to wait for someone to work time before they started. He is only an official anyway. Supposedly he was at some award ceremony last night. The mind boggles.
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I'm even getting piss-taking emails from Boro fans now, for chrissakes
I've got people in the office taking the mickey out of the fans for singing "Gerard Houllier's claret and blue army" when he wasn't even bloody there!
Tell the sheep shaggers to fuck off then.
They're mostly Scousers and Mancs rather than Manx.
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Do we know for definite that he won't be in charge on Saturday ?
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how did you know about the awards in France ? (I don't listen to radio or commentary)
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I'm even getting piss-taking emails from Boro fans now, for chrissakes
I've got people in the office taking the mickey out of the fans for singing "Gerard Houllier's claret and blue army" when he wasn't even bloody there!
Tell the sheep shaggers to fuck off then.
They're mostly Scousers and Mancs rather than Manx.
Entrepreneurs from "the chemical" cough , cough industry?
Formby seems to be attracting the "Nouveau Riche" from the "recreation industry" - myself excepted of course
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Can someone provide a one paragraph summary of where we are at the moment
Houlier has signed - official, oui? oui oui
He's still under contract at FFF? when is he released from that? est-il de la baise ?
Has any statement been offically released by Villa to clarify things? Ils sont naïfs
I'm not sure now what's official and what is speculation. eetiz a buggers muddle
comme ils disent en Angleterre
I'm all confused Vous n'êtes pas l'onle un
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The Town shop has a massive two floor window display. It's a picture of Houllier, the Bolton match details and the text "Hou'll be there?" I realise what it is trying to state but under the current circumstances I can't help to mis-read it.
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The Town shop has a massive two floor window display. It's a picture of Houllier, the Bolton match details and the text "Hou'll be there?"
Hou knows.
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Gerard Hou - dini.
I'm starting to think that GH is a figment of my imagination.
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Gerard Hou - dini.
I'm starting to think that GH is a figment of my imagination.
Hou Done it? when he starts is a complete mystery....
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I'm starting to think he doesn't exist and what we saw unveiled as our manager last week was actually a Houllogram.
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An echo from a distant, savage time. Like the Cafe 80's in Back to the Future II.
Welcome to Villa Park, where it is always 2001 even in 2010.
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An echo from a distant, savage time. Like the Cafe 80's in Back to the Future II.
Welcome to Villa Park, where it is always 2001 even in 2010.
Mangers? Where we're going, we don't need managers!
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I'm starting to think he doesn't exist and what we saw unveiled as our manager last week was actually a Houllogram.
I think it was just one of our Houlligan element
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Hopefully Heskey, Sidwell and co will be erased - erased from existence.
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Or make like a tree
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Least it looks like he will start work with us Monday
The waiting is over...
Gerard Houllier will finally take charge of Aston Villa after Saturday's game against Bolton, it was confirmed today
Houllier will be sat in the Villa Park stands for this weekend's Premier League match against the Trotters - but will formally kick off his reign on Monday morning. (Birminghammail.net)
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Hou are ya
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Least it looks like he will start work with us Monday
The waiting is over...
Gerard Houllier will finally take charge of Aston Villa after Saturday's game against Bolton, it was confirmed today
Houllier will be sat in the Villa Park stands for this weekend's Premier League match against the Trotters - but will formally kick off his reign on Monday morning. (Birminghammail.net)
About fucking time.
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Good
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Hou-raaaah
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HallellHouja
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Hallel -hou - jah
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JINX!!!!!!
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*injection, injection, no infection*
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You spoke! *gives Paulie a dead arm for breaking the jinx*
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Hou-ston we have a manager.
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Hou'd have thought it?
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Hou let the puns out?
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Holte! Hou goes there
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Bienvenue apres Bolton Monsieur Houllier.
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'Houly mackerel, I nearly choked on my lunchtime Houla Hoops
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Houdini ?
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Houlier than thou
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Hou thinks we're starting to sound like VT?
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I bet we lose on Saturday now.
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Hou let the frog out... Hou hou hou
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Hou thinks we're starting to sound like VT?
Hou let the frog out... Hou hou hou
We d'hou now.
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wahey, I wonder if he'll get an assistant
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I bet we lose on Saturday now.
That's it....nice and positive.
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If we do lose, is it ok if we all boo-Hou
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I am going to sing (to the tune of Daddy Cool) Gerry, Gerry Houlllll, Gerry Gerry Houl yeh.
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L'ancien préparateur de l'équipe de France devrait rejoindre l'ancien DTN en Angleterre dans les jours qui viennent. Ce dernier voudrait retrouver l'association qu'ils formaient à l'OL entre 2005 et 2007.
Robert Duverne n'aura pas mis longtemps pour retrouver un poste. Démissionnaire d'Arles-Avignon, où il était entraîneur-adjoint de Michel Estevan depuis le début de la saison, l'ancien préparateur physique des Bleus devrait selon L'Equipe rejoindre Gérard Houllier à Aston Villa. Ce dernier, qui a été nommé manager du club la semaine dernière, se constitue actuellement un staff technique, et prendra les rênes de l'équipe ce week-end..
The rumour is: Robert Duverne (a former fitness coach for the French international team, and long-serving fitness coach at Olympique Lyonnais) has resigned from his job at minnows Arles-Avignon where he was assistant manager) and should be joining up with Houllier as assistant... (or maybe sponge and bucket man, it's not clear).
Link to article (http://www.chronofoot.com/robert-duverne/duverne-a-aston-villa-avec-houllier_art7007.html)
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You load of drama queens ( c. Mark Kelly) ;)
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So Houllier is in charge on Saturday?
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So Houllier is in charge on Saturday?
No from Monday by the sounds of it. However if we have a poor first half I would like to see him storming down the touchline a la Pullis on Monday.
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That article is probably about as reliable as your hairdresser's mate's dad, but you never know.
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L'ancien préparateur de l'équipe de France devrait rejoindre l'ancien DTN en Angleterre dans les jours qui viennent. Ce dernier voudrait retrouver l'association qu'ils formaient à l'OL entre 2005 et 2007.
Robert Duverne n'aura pas mis longtemps pour retrouver un poste. Démissionnaire d'Arles-Avignon, où il était entraîneur-adjoint de Michel Estevan depuis le début de la saison, l'ancien préparateur physique des Bleus devrait selon L'Equipe rejoindre Gérard Houllier à Aston Villa. Ce dernier, qui a été nommé manager du club la semaine dernière, se constitue actuellement un staff technique, et prendra les rênes de l'équipe ce week-end..
The rumour is: Robert Duverne (a former fitness coach for the French international team, and long-serving fitness coach at Olympique Lyonnais) has resigned from his job at minnows Arles-Avignon where he was assistant manager) and should be joining up with Houllier as assistant... (or maybe sponge and bucket man, it's not clear).
Link to article (http://www.chronofoot.com/robert-duverne/duverne-a-aston-villa-avec-houllier_art7007.html)
Was that the same fitness coach who was involved in that hilarious training ground strop with Evra in South Africa?
The one who marched off and threw his pass violently across the pitch?
I hope so. One of the funniest football-related scenes seen in a long time.
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Should have been 3 well earned points in the bag last night, which could make all the difference at the end of the season, and you lot know it. Sure there are lots more games to come. But at the end of every season I always look back at games like last night and say "if only", it usually results in us just missing out on Europe, or the Champions fucking League.
The only team that doesn't do that is the one that wins the league (and even they do it if they want to improve).
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Was that the same fitness coach who was involved in that hilarious training ground strop with Evra in South Africa?
Yep!
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I bet we lose on Saturday now.
That's it....nice and positive.
I normally am. It's just the place needs stablity but we have another game before that happens against a team akin to Stoke.
In fact, scrub everything I've just said, of course we will win (winky, smiley, happy face)
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Sky Sports article (http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_6378135,00.html)
It has been confirmed Gerard Houllier will take charge of the team after the Bolton game," said a club statement.
"He will be in charge for the Carling Cup game against Blackburn Rovers next Wednesday.
Did we know this already?
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Well about time.
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No statement on the OS
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Its on the BBC now
www.bbc.co.uk/sport
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I have a feeling that Kevin McDonald is as keen to see Houllier take the reins as we are, but for different reasons.
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By the way, that Duverne bloke: when he had the handbags with Evra, it was his stopwatch he threw away, not his accreditation. He said he had no time for him.
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What's the perception of GH amongst fans of other clubs over there, BE?
I assume he's still popular at Lyon, PSG and maybe even Lens. But outside of those clubs is he a bit of a Graham Taylor figure?
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Not knocking GT, by the way. We know how good he is/was. Even if the rest of the country doesn't.
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How strange? Page after page of apoplexy at not knowing when GH will start, a locked General's thread due to the same issue, and when it is announced there is barely a word typed.
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How strange? Page after page of apoplexy at not knowing when GH will start, a locked General's thread due to the same issue, and when it is announced there is barely a word typed.
Nothing to be dramatic about now, that's why ;-)
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Good to know that we will have him after Saturdays game.
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Good stuff. Hopefully swell the crowd for next Wednesday up too.
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What's the perception of GH amongst fans of other clubs over there, BE?
I assume he's still popular at Lyon, PSG and maybe even Lens. But outside of those clubs is he a bit of a Graham Taylor figure?
Well, hordes of rabid forum posters are screaming "good riddance, fuck off Pontius Pilate!", others are shrugging their shoulders, and a couple are saying "All Villa need now is Domenech as Director of football and in two years they will be "posting the key through the letterbox as they leave " (as the French say).
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By the way, that Duverne bloke: when he had the handbags with Evra, it was his stopwatch he threw away, not his accreditation. He said he had no time for him.
I suppose it will be fun when ManU turn up. At least he has shown he won't take unprofessional behaviour from PrimaDonna players.
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Will he be on the pitch before the Bolton game as an introduction?
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What's the perception of GH amongst fans of other clubs over there, BE?
I assume he's still popular at Lyon, PSG and maybe even Lens. But outside of those clubs is he a bit of a Graham Taylor figure?
Well, hordes of rabid forum posters are screaming "good riddance, fuck off Pontius Pilate!", others are shrugging their shoulders, and a couple are saying "All Villa need now is Domenech as Director of football and in two years they will be "posting the key through the letterbox as they leave " (as the French say).
Sounds like a popular guy.
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How strange? Page after page of apoplexy at not knowing when GH will start, a locked General's thread due to the same issue, and when it is announced there is barely a word typed.
Well it's hardly a massive coup is it. Hooray, the Villa have managed to get permission for the man they announced as their manager to finally manage them.
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Houllier has apparently confirmed that Duverne is joining.
http://www.leparisien.fr/sports/football/aston-villa-houllier-confirme-la-venue-de-duverne-comme-preparateur-15-09-2010-1069678.php
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Good to know that we will have him after Saturdays game.
Depends whether he can get a babysitter.
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Duverne "coaching" has just been involved with a team that have lost five games in a row. Dont sound very inspiring ............
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Duverne "coaching" has just been involved with a team that have lost five games in a row. Dont sound very inspiring ............
Yes judging by Man Utd recent results I'm having serious doubts about that Ferguson chap too
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Will he be on the pitch before the Bolton game as an introduction?
Yeah, He will be coming on the pitch in the Pope mobile ...
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Duverne "coaching" has just been involved with a team that have lost five games in a row. Dont sound very inspiring ............
Stop being so negative ;) ;) ;)
(Grr ..... gotcha) - cheers VCTM
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Will he be on the pitch before the Bolton game as an introduction?
Yeah, He will be coming on the pitch in the Pope mobile ...
Gérard Houllier drives Montego
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By the way, that Duverne bloke: when he had the handbags with Evra, it was his stopwatch he threw away, not his accreditation. He said he had no time for him.
Wow. How profund, and yet deeply shallow.
I picture the scene, coach at a 45 degree angle to the camera shot, balck and white, whilst homing in on the greyness around, voice-over sounding very Cantona-esque and in hushed gravelled poetic tones, I have (emphasize) no time for you' *discards watch dramatically.
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I predict a new burst up with the new Fitness coach and John Carew by end of October.
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Duverne "coaching" has just been involved with a team that have lost five games in a row. Dont sound very inspiring ............
He's coming as "fitness coach" (So the fat lazy bastard players are going to be doing a few extra laps of the pitch and so on).
And, for what it's worth: a fan of Arles-Avignon (commenting on a French newspaper website) wrote that Duverne was offered the manager's job there, turned it down, then decided to leave out of respect for the incompetent incumbent they were trying to oust.
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Duverne "coaching" has just been involved with a team that have lost five games in a row. Dont sound very inspiring ............
He's coming as "fitness coach" (So the fat lazy bastard players are going to be doing a few extra laps of the pitch and so on).
He'll throw his accreditation (or stopwatch) out of the post code, let alone the training pitch when he sees the size of Richard "Twelve Pints" Dunne.
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Aye, he's got his work cut out there alright.
Disgraceful that a pro footballer can come back to pre season training that overweight and still be carrying it two months later.
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It is the fact he's still carrying it two months later which is most worrying.
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You have to wonder whether last summer he was fit and raring to go as he was desperate to keep his place at Citeh.
Then even after he moved, he was still fired up by the challenge of proving them wrong.
Is he just settling now?
I was one of the few who wasn't distraught at his signing last summer. As he showed last year, he has it in his locker to be as good as anything in the country.
But he has had motivational and weight issues in the past, perhaps no coincidence that they overlap.
Luckily we've got a very good CB in Carlos waiting in the wings. Forget any nonsense of playing Carlos in place of Luke Young. Any more performances like Newcastle or Stoke from Dunne and it's his place that should be under threat.
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Quite right.