Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Tokyo Sexwhale on March 15, 2016, 05:06:34 PM
-
http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~5422097,00.html
We hardly knew you...
-
No surprise , expect Riley to go next
-
Fox's house of cards starting to collapse.
-
Good, let the overdue culling commence. Hopefully Fox next on the hit list.
-
who?
-
And so it begins.....
-
Bound to score against us next season.
-
wherever he ends up it'll be an upgrade..
we finally get a sporting director and he lasts a few months.
-
If we continue with the set up can we please get someone in next who is actually qualified to do the job? We pay well enough after all, pay whatever the FA want for Dan Ashworth.
-
Has he took his copy of Fifa 2015 with him or has he left it for the next bloke to source 'talent' ?
-
Paddy Reilly must have switched his phone off.
-
Jolly good. Hopefully one clown less won't mean a comedy replacement any time soon. "Aston Villa calling Joe Kinnear... "
-
Just the start I hope. A token departure unless Fox and Riley follow him!!!! Lerner selling would then be the bonus!!
-
I wonder how this will play out with Fox. He is very protective of "his team" and is of the belief we have top staff. Looks Hollis and King disagree. Reilly next I would wager.
-
Good. Start the blood letting. Is Fox's gaff up for sale yet?
-
Now get rid of that Reilly git
-
Don't get rid of fox until after banner day please, it's gonna be a brilliant laugh
-
It's not surprising, we'll see much more of this unless they pay the living wage
-
wherever he ends up it'll be an upgrade..
we finally get a sporting director and he lasts a few months.
So we get rid of an unmitigated disaster of an appointment and you are not happy?
-
I wonder how this will play out with Fox. He is very protective of "his team" and is of the belief we have top staff. Looks Hollis and King disagree. Reilly next I would wager.
No offence meant at all Stu, but you were fairly certain they'd all be in jobs next season. "This is a non story. Unless anything changed yesterday, all those quoted will be in post next season."
-
Further evidence that Hollis is now pulling the strings and not Fox. The OS states they are looking for a replacement, obviously someone cheaper for a start.
Be interested to see who the replacement is.
-
Bound to score against us next season.
Made me chuckle!
-
I wonder how this will play out with Fox. He is very protective of "his team" and is of the belief we have top staff. Looks Hollis and King disagree. Reilly next I would wager.
No offence meant at all Stu, but you were fairly certain they'd all be in jobs next season. "This is a non story. Unless anything changed yesterday, all those quoted will be in post next season."
Clearly something changed.
-
I wonder how this will play out with Fox. He is very protective of "his team" and is of the belief we have top staff. Looks Hollis and King disagree. Reilly next I would wager.
No offence meant at all Stu, but you were fairly certain they'd all be in jobs next season. "This is a non story. Unless anything changed yesterday, all those quoted will be in post next season."
I clarified that with another post in response to your "telling the Trust about Senior Executives" whinge. I can't be arsed to find it to quote, but it basically read that "of course they didn't say that over tea and biscuits with us. The flavour of the conversation though was that Fox thinks he has a good team. The big question is whether Hollis agrees".
-
I thought the lack of a "we'd like to thank him for his efforts and wish him all the best for the future" type statement was pretty telling too.
-
Further evidence that Hollis is now pulling the strings and not Fox. The OS states they are looking for a replacement, obviously someone cheaper for a start.
Be interested to see who the replacement is.
The Chuckle Brothers could replace both Almstadt and Reilly.
-
Parting is such sweet sorrow
-
Good riddance....
But..... no champagne will be drunk till the biggest waste of space for SIX consecutive seasons (https://vimeo.com/158062532) is off the books.
-
Was beginning to wonder if he even existed and was just Tom Foxs imaginary friend. I wouldn't be able to pick him out in a crowd.
-
Good news. It's at the top this needs to be solved. King/BernsteinLittle in, Almstadt out. That's a good couple weeks
-
Hollis' experience of restructuring and sorting out failing companies is coming to the fore. I think he might end up the most shrewd appointment Lerner makes.
-
I wonder if we didn't stumble across the best type of chairman. Hollis didn't exactly seem desperate to get the job so maybe he said he'd only take it if he could do exactly what he wanted.
-
I wonder if we didn't stumble across the best type of chairman. Hollis didn't exactly seem desperate to get the job so maybe he said he'd only take it if he could do exactly what he wanted.
Long may it continue - clearly is not thick and to have done and been where he has, he has a bit of steel about him.
-
He's the best type of chairman for right now that's for sure.
-
He's the best type of chairman for right now that's for sure.
Question is, what did the Fox say?
-
No need to gush praise all over Hollis just yet. Let's wait till he does something more substantial. For all we know Almstadt may have levy of his own accord.
-
Ozz, it's what he'll say as his door hits his arse on the way out that interests me the most.
-
Oh I don't want to hear any of it. Just want him to slink off and forget his terrible period here.
They have stated they will be appointing a new sporting director. The search for that will be interesting. When you look at the people in those roles at the sides in the top 8, they are not high profile people at all, but are clearly effective. Someone over-seeing the academy, coaching side, lining up the next manager, forward planning, having responsibility for scouting functions etc, in conjunction with the manager, would be great.
-
We have gone from a board that was Lerner, Fox and Russell, to what we have now in a very short time on Hollis' watch. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see more Little style advisors to come either. Positive at last on infrastructure.
-
SVC will be sleeping with his phone under his pillow.
-
SVC will be sleeping with his phone under his pillow.
Stan is losing it with Villa fans on twitter again!!
-
No need to gush praise all over Hollis just yet. Let's wait till he does something more substantial. For all we know Almstadt may have levy of his own accord.
He took his Chevy to the levee or was it a Honda Accord?
-
When Fox, Reilly and Almstadt came in, the majority of us were saying how it looked like the club were starting to get their act together. With the possibility of all three now leaving, the fans are saying that it's looking like the club are getting their act together. Let's hope this is where the rebuild starts.
-
Tara Henry. Who's next and how long before the trigger is pulled?
-
When Fox, Reilly and Almstadt came in, the majority of us were saying how it looked like the club were starting to get their act together. With the possibility of all three now leaving, the fans are saying that it's looking like the club are getting their act together. Let's hope this is where the rebuild starts.
Indeed. What I would say is that the people Hollis has brought in hopefully look like the correct sort of people. When Fox, Almstadt and Reilly came in I think people were supportive of the roles that they inhabited rather than the people themselves. We'll have to wait and see if this is the start of an improvement, we won't really know until the summer.
-
SVC will be sleeping with his phone under his pillow.
Stan is losing it with Villa fans on twitter again!!
Stan is in a bit of battle with Andy Townsend right now.
-
When Fox, Reilly and Almstadt came in, the majority of us were saying how it looked like the club were starting to get their act together. With the possibility of all three now leaving, the fans are saying that it's looking like the club are getting their act together. Let's hope this is where the rebuild starts.
On paper it looked like a great plan, however like so many of recruitments on and off the pitch over the last five years it was the wrong people employed.
-
When Fox, Reilly and Almstadt came in, the majority of us were saying how it looked like the club were starting to get their act together. With the possibility of all three now leaving, the fans are saying that it's looking like the club are getting their act together. Let's hope this is where the rebuild starts.
Indeed. What I would say is that the people Hollis has brought in hopefully look like the correct sort of people. When Fox, Almstadt and Reilly came in I think people were supportive of the roles that they inhabited rather than the people themselves. We'll have to wait and see if this is the start of an improvement, we won't really know until the summer.
Agreed.
-
SVC will be sleeping with his phone under his pillow.
Stan is losing it with Villa fans on twitter again!!
Stan is in a bit of battle with Andy Townsend right now.
I don't do Twitter, but that's really Andy Townsend? A picture of a lion and "AV" after his name. I'd wager not.
-
Probably Andros.
-
Stan Collymore needs Twitter like Paul Gascoigne needs a Wetherspoon's opening next door.
-
Fair enough I suppose. As long as he is not the sacrificial lamb offered up to keep Fox in a job. Hollis can't be that stupid I hope.
I guess Riley's fate depends upon the preference of Almstadt's successor.
-
What does Riley do again?
-
Bound to score against us next season.
Nothing worse than thinking oh man, I have a funny comment to make. Then 3 posts in some other bugger posts it before you!
-
SVC will be sleeping with his phone under his pillow.
Stan is losing it with Villa fans on twitter again!!
Stan is in a bit of battle with Andy Townsend right now.
It isn't the former player
-
SVC will be sleeping with his phone under his pillow.
Stan is losing it with Villa fans on twitter again!!
Stan is in a bit of battle with Andy Townsend right now.
I don't do Twitter, but that's really Andy Townsend? A picture of a lion and "AV" after his name. I'd wager not.
yeh, I didn't look that closely.
Agree that Stan needs to keep away from Twitter. Bloody hell he doesn't half get wrapped up in utter nonsense discussions.
-
What does Riley do again?
He's the PlayStation guy
-
He's the best type of chairman for right now that's for sure.
Let's see what type of player budget they'll be in the summer first.
We've done this back patting before when we've appointed people before, no good if their are pub players on the pitch.
-
When Fox, Reilly and Almstadt came in, the majority of us were saying how it looked like the club were starting to get their act together. With the possibility of all three now leaving, the fans are saying that it's looking like the club are getting their act together. Let's hope this is where the rebuild starts.
Exactly, no good just getting in more people who aren't capable of doing the jobs required and wasting much more cash.
At least Brian Little knows this club inside out and Bernstein played his part in Man. City turning it around when they were at their lowest ebb so I'm happy with those two coming in but ultimately neither are going to be actively involved in player recruitment or setting how much we will be paying them so that's the test, can we get competent people in those roles?
-
He's the best type of chairman for right now that's for sure.
Let's see what type of player budget they'll be in the summer first.
We've done this back patting before when we've appointed people before, no good if their are pub players on the pitch.
I agree. Dispensing with underperforming management is very welcome, but I'd have preferred to have seen him prise some money out of Lerner in January. And Fox is the person who really needs to go.
-
He's the best type of chairman for right now that's for sure.
Let's see what type of player budget they'll be in the summer first.
We've done this back patting before when we've appointed people before, no good if their are pub players on the pitch.
I agree. Dispensing with underperforming management is very welcome, but I'd have preferred to have seen him prise some money out of Lerner in January. And Fox is the person who really needs to go.
To be fair in regards to january, Hollis had barely got his seat warm by the time the window had slammed shut. He's (it seems) at least moving things in the right direction now. It'll be very interesting to see what happens in the summer and how our budget looks.
-
What does Riley do again?
He's the PlayStation guy
did he find benteke?
-
What does Riley do again?
He's the PlayStation guy
did he find benteke?
Benteke was already a Belgian international before we signed him so I don't think anyone at the club can take any credit for "finding" him - least of all this load of parasites.
-
What does Riley do again?
He's the PlayStation guy
did he find benteke?
Benteke was already a Belgian international before we signed him so I don't think anyone at the club can take any credit for "finding" him - least of all this load of parasites.
Had you heard of him? Had any other Premier League side signed him? There's enough mistakes and bad decisions to go into without having to take the credit away from one of the few decent ones.
-
Bound to score against us next season.
Nothing worse than thinking oh man, I have a funny comment to make. Then 3 posts in some other bugger posts it before you!
Sorry! To be honest I hadn't a clue who he was until I read the announcement, I'm still a bit old school in that I don't take much notice in who does what off the pitch, on the board etc. His name made me think he'd end up replacing Ross Mcormack at Fulham.
-
I wonder how this will play out with Fox. He is very protective of "his team" and is of the belief we have top staff. Looks Hollis and King disagree. Reilly next I would wager.
No offence meant at all Stu, but you were fairly certain they'd all be in jobs next season. "This is a non story. Unless anything changed yesterday, all those quoted will be in post next season."
I clarified that with another post in response to your "telling the Trust about Senior Executives" whinge. I can't be arsed to find it to quote, but it basically read that "of course they didn't say that over tea and biscuits with us. The flavour of the conversation though was that Fox thinks he has a good team. The big question is whether Hollis agrees".
Whinge? You posted claiming it was a "non-story" and how you expected all three to still be in a job. Well it clearly was at least partly a story, as one of the named trio has now gone. I don't imagine he'll be the last either.
-
What does Riley do again?
He's the PlayStation guy
did he find benteke?
Benteke was already a Belgian international before we signed him so I don't think anyone at the club can take any credit for "finding" him - least of all this load of parasites.
Had you heard of him? Had any other Premier League side signed him? There's enough mistakes and bad decisions to go into without having to take the credit away from one of the few decent ones.
No indeed, that's fair enough. Benteke was a great bit of business, and one that paid off in terms of his goals and the profit made on him. However I think it's fair to say that however good that was, just about everything since has been terrible, and this summer's business is absolutely dismal and has relegated us.
-
What does Riley do again?
He's the PlayStation guy
did he find benteke?
Benteke was already a Belgian international before we signed him so I don't think anyone at the club can take any credit for "finding" him - least of all this load of parasites.
Had you heard of him? Had any other Premier League side signed him? There's enough mistakes and bad decisions to go into without having to take the credit away from one of the few decent ones.
No indeed, that's fair enough. Benteke was a great bit of business, and one that paid off in terms of his goals and the profit made on him. However I think it's fair to say that however good that was, just about everything since has been terrible, and this summer's business is absolutely dismal and has relegated us.
I find this summer's business intriguing. For arguments sake, if you replaced Gestede with a £5m striker who actually knows where the goal is, and Lescott / Richards with leaders who can actually lead rather than disrupt, I wonder how differently this summers business might have been viewed. I still don't see the French contingent/Traore as bad signings. What has screwed us is the choice of the senior pros / spine of the team.
-
And no Benteke was prior to Reilly being here.
-
Agree 100% SV. 100%.
-
Given what's happened this season this was an almost cert. But I don't suppose his decision to be on holiday in Dubai at the weekend was the smartest move.
-
I wonder how this will play out with Fox. He is very protective of "his team" and is of the belief we have top staff. Looks Hollis and King disagree. Reilly next I would wager.
No offence meant at all Stu, but you were fairly certain they'd all be in jobs next season. "This is a non story. Unless anything changed yesterday, all those quoted will be in post next season."
I clarified that with another post in response to your "telling the Trust about Senior Executives" whinge. I can't be arsed to find it to quote, but it basically read that "of course they didn't say that over tea and biscuits with us. The flavour of the conversation though was that Fox thinks he has a good team. The big question is whether Hollis agrees".
Whinge? You posted claiming it was a "non-story" and how you expected all three to still be in a job. Well it clearly was at least partly a story, as one of the named trio has now gone. I don't imagine he'll be the last either.
Nor do I now the genie is out of the bottle. Perhaps my speed typing tone didn't help at that time. I will take that on the cin. But I clarified why I said it in response to your post the next day. Fox was not for turning on any of "his team". The big question was whether Hollis was.
-
Fair enough Stu, and it's no biggy, really. Things do appear to be improving on that front, in any case.
And to answer Duncan, Reilly was definitely here when we bought Benteke, and I recall him being given credit for it. He then subsequently left and spent time at Liverpool before coming back, which is maybe where the confusion lies.
-
http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~5422097,00.html
We hardly knew you...
Ironic seeing as he hardly knew what he was doing.
-
What does Riley do again?
He's the PlayStation guy
did he find benteke?
Benteke was already a Belgian international before we signed him so I don't think anyone at the club can take any credit for "finding" him - least of all this load of parasites.
Had you heard of him? Had any other Premier League side signed him? There's enough mistakes and bad decisions to go into without having to take the credit away from one of the few decent ones.
No indeed, that's fair enough. Benteke was a great bit of business, and one that paid off in terms of his goals and the profit made on him. However I think it's fair to say that however good that was, just about everything since has been terrible, and this summer's business is absolutely dismal and has relegated us.
I find this summer's business intriguing. For arguments sake, if you replaced Gestede with a £5m striker who actually knows where the goal is, and Lescott / Richards with leaders who can actually lead rather than disrupt, I wonder how differently this summers business might have been viewed. I still don't see the French contingent/Traore as bad signings. What has screwed us is the choice of the senior pros / spine of the team.
I agree, if we had that essential spine we might not be in this mess. Your missing the goalkeeping situation though. Sherwood dropped Guzan last season and replaced him with Given who he let go. I can't believe Bunn was a first choice signing?
-
And no Benteke was prior to Reilly being here.
Might be wrong, but Reilly was at Liverpool the summer they spunked loads of money on Blues wasn't he?
-
What does Riley do again?
He's the PlayStation guy
did he find benteke?
Nope, that was in the early days of Lambert when he was advised on signings by Michael Henke who was gonna be our Euro guru until he moved on to a coaching role.
-
What does Riley do again?
He's the PlayStation guy
did he find benteke?
Benteke was already a Belgian international before we signed him so I don't think anyone at the club can take any credit for "finding" him - least of all this load of parasites.
Had you heard of him? Had any other Premier League side signed him? There's enough mistakes and bad decisions to go into without having to take the credit away from one of the few decent ones.
No indeed, that's fair enough. Benteke was a great bit of business, and one that paid off in terms of his goals and the profit made on him. However I think it's fair to say that however good that was, just about everything since has been terrible, and this summer's business is absolutely dismal and has relegated us.
I find this summer's business intriguing. For arguments sake, if you replaced Gestede with a £5m striker who actually knows where the goal is, and Lescott / Richards with leaders who can actually lead rather than disrupt, I wonder how differently this summers business might have been viewed. I still don't see the French contingent/Traore as bad signings. What has screwed us is the choice of the senior pros / spine of the team.
I agree, if we had that essential spine we might not be in this mess. Your missing the goalkeeping situation though. Sherwood dropped Guzan last season and replaced him with Given who he let go. I can't believe Bunn was a first choice signing?
You'd hope not, wouldn't you. But then Gestede was bought as Benteke's replacement, so who knows?
-
What does Riley do again?
He's the PlayStation guy
did he find benteke?
Benteke was already a Belgian international before we signed him so I don't think anyone at the club can take any credit for "finding" him - least of all this load of parasites.
Had you heard of him? Had any other Premier League side signed him? There's enough mistakes and bad decisions to go into without having to take the credit away from one of the few decent ones.
No indeed, that's fair enough. Benteke was a great bit of business, and one that paid off in terms of his goals and the profit made on him. However I think it's fair to say that however good that was, just about everything since has been terrible, and this summer's business is absolutely dismal and has relegated us.
I find this summer's business intriguing. For arguments sake, if you replaced Gestede with a £5m striker who actually knows where the goal is, and Lescott / Richards with leaders who can actually lead rather than disrupt, I wonder how differently this summers business might have been viewed. I still don't see the French contingent/Traore as bad signings. What has screwed us is the choice of the senior pros / spine of the team.
I agree, if we had that essential spine we might not be in this mess. Your missing the goalkeeping situation though. Sherwood dropped Guzan last season and replaced him with Given who he let go. I can't believe Bunn was a first choice signing?
You'd hope not, wouldn't you. But then Gestede was bought as Benteke's replacement, so who knows?
It's got to be the most spineless team (in both senses) I have ever witnessed.
So, anyway what does Reilly actually do?
-
So, anyway what does Reilly actually do?
He is the playstation guy!
-
http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~5422097,00.html
We hardly knew you...
Ironic seeing as he hardly knew what he was doing.
Possibly. But then again, who outside the club actually knew what he was supposed to do? I'm sure he did, although as he's been given the heave-ho, he didn't do it properly.
-
So, anyway what does Reilly actually do?
He is the playstation guy!
Oh yeah! Got it now.
-
So, anyway what does Reilly actually do?
He is the babestation guy!
Fixed.
-
What does Riley do again?
He's the PlayStation guy
did he find benteke?
Benteke was already a Belgian international before we signed him so I don't think anyone at the club can take any credit for "finding" him - least of all this load of parasites.
Had you heard of him? Had any other Premier League side signed him? There's enough mistakes and bad decisions to go into without having to take the credit away from one of the few decent ones.
No indeed, that's fair enough. Benteke was a great bit of business, and one that paid off in terms of his goals and the profit made on him. However I think it's fair to say that however good that was, just about everything since has been terrible, and this summer's business is absolutely dismal and has relegated us.
I find this summer's business intriguing. For arguments sake, if you replaced Gestede with a £5m striker who actually knows where the goal is, and Lescott / Richards with leaders who can actually lead rather than disrupt, I wonder how differently this summers business might have been viewed. I still don't see the French contingent/Traore as bad signings. What has screwed us is the choice of the senior pros / spine of the team.
I agree, if we had that essential spine we might not be in this mess. Your missing the goalkeeping situation though. Sherwood dropped Guzan last season and replaced him with Given who he let go. I can't believe Bunn was a first choice signing?
You'd hope not, wouldn't you. But then Gestede was bought as Benteke's replacement, so who knows?
Well I think Adebeyor was supposed to be Benteke's replacement. As for a keeper we did chase a couple more in the summer, but of course we failed dismally.
Not that signing Adebeyor would have changed our fortunes.
-
Wasn't Benteke a personal recommendation from Wilmots to Lambert?
-
Well I think Adebeyor was supposed to be Benteke's replacement. As for a keeper we did chase a couple more in the summer, but of course we failed dismally.
Not that signing Adebeyor would have changed our fortunes.
I wasn't a fan of the idea at the time, but we probably could have done with him.
On the basis that we seemed to decide it was him or nobody, for some reason.
Not that he would have made us a good team, mind. Just slightly less shit.
-
F*** Almstadt, his stereos and computers were shite anyway
-
F*** Almstadt, his stereos and computers were shite anyway
And that emailer phone thing. Fuck that.
-
Will we go back to the manager being given a budget and deciding on new players, with input from the board and sporting director rather than the other way around.
-
I imagine Little will have some input I could see him and Garde working well together.
-
Gone - after all he achieved. Hard to believe.
-
Oh I don't want to hear any of it. Just want him to slink off and forget his terrible period here.
They have stated they will be appointing a new sporting director. The search for that will be interesting. When you look at the people in those roles at the sides in the top 8, they are not high profile people at all, but are clearly effective. Someone over-seeing the academy, coaching side, lining up the next manager, forward planning, having responsibility for scouting functions etc, in conjunction with the manager, would be great.
I would like Houllier in that role, especially if they plan to keep Garde on. Think we missed a trick by not keeping him on in the first place
-
so do I but I doubt Garde will be here or that Houllier's health would be up to it.
-
so do I but I doubt Garde will be here or that Houllier's health would be up to it.
I think his health would be up to that role, think he is currently doing similar for the red bull lot
-
Oh I don't want to hear any of it. Just want him to slink off and forget his terrible period here.
They have stated they will be appointing a new sporting director. The search for that will be interesting. When you look at the people in those roles at the sides in the top 8, they are not high profile people at all, but are clearly effective. Someone over-seeing the academy, coaching side, lining up the next manager, forward planning, having responsibility for scouting functions etc, in conjunction with the manager, would be great.
I would like Houllier in that role, especially if they plan to keep Garde on. Think we missed a trick by not keeping him on in the first place
Christ no. Look at his transfer business while he was here. Darren Bent and Jean Makoun. Look at most of the players he bought at Liverpool. A genius director of football he was not.
-
Darren Bent's goals helped keep us up and lost his effectiveness after he got injured. I also believe had Houllier remained healthy and in charge in season 2 he'd have got much more out of Makoun by partnering with players like Cabaye. I would judge Houllier on those two transfers.
-
Darren Bent's goals helped keep us up and lost his effectiveness after he got injured. I also believe had Houllier remained healthy and in charge in season 2 he'd have got much more out of Makoun by partnering with players like Cabaye. I would judge Houllier on those two transfers.
I agree completely that Bent's goals kept us up, but an £18m splurge on a player most of us on here had been banging about for years is hardly evidence of being able to spot a good un. And no, don't just judge him on those, look at his last few years at Liverpool. He spent a fortune on absolute rubbish.
-
I'd have liked to have seen Cabeye running our midfield, even if it would only have been for a couple of seasons, instead of some of the utter bilge we've had in there since.
-
Darren Bent's goals helped keep us up and lost his effectiveness after he got injured. I also believe had Houllier remained healthy and in charge in season 2 he'd have got much more out of Makoun by partnering with players like Cabaye. I would judge Houllier on those two transfers.
I agree completely that Bent's goals kept us up, but an £18m splurge on a player most of us on here had been banging about for years is hardly evidence of being able to spot a good un. And no, don't just judge him on those, look at his last few years at Liverpool. He spent a fortune on absolute rubbish.
You just linked Bent with Makoun, implying he was a bad buy, then you said he kept us up. Which is it - good or bad? Houllier also brought in Kyle Walker who did well, Michael Bradley who's had a good subsequent career and wanted the French lad (Fofana?) who failed a medical then played in the Champions League. His limited transfer dealings definitely showed promise.
-
Darren Bent's goals helped keep us up and lost his effectiveness after he got injured. I also believe had Houllier remained healthy and in charge in season 2 he'd have got much more out of Makoun by partnering with players like Cabaye. I would judge Houllier on those two transfers.
I agree completely that Bent's goals kept us up, but an £18m splurge on a player most of us on here had been banging about for years is hardly evidence of being able to spot a good un. And no, don't just judge him on those, look at his last few years at Liverpool. He spent a fortune on absolute rubbish.
It really depends on the role. There's lots of managers that in combining roles of manager and head of player recruitment make mistakes. Ferguson signed Taibi, Bebe, and Djemba Djemba along with signing several good players. It would be more about can he work in an advisory capacity to the current manager and use his links to access players? In any case it appears Sir Brian will be involved in player recruitment and scouting next season.
-
Darren Bent's goals helped keep us up and lost his effectiveness after he got injured. I also believe had Houllier remained healthy and in charge in season 2 he'd have got much more out of Makoun by partnering with players like Cabaye. I would judge Houllier on those two transfers.
I agree completely that Bent's goals kept us up, but an £18m splurge on a player most of us on here had been banging about for years is hardly evidence of being able to spot a good un. And no, don't just judge him on those, look at his last few years at Liverpool. He spent a fortune on absolute rubbish.
You just linked Bent with Makoun, implying he was a bad buy, then you said he kept us up. Which is it - good or bad? Houllier also brought in Kyle Walker who did well, Michael Bradley who's had a good subsequent career and wanted the French lad (Fofana?) who failed a medical then played in the Champions League. His limited transfer dealings definitely showed promise.
And has been well documented, Cabaye was going to sign for us had Houllier remained at the club.
-
Darren Bent's goals helped keep us up and lost his effectiveness after he got injured. I also believe had Houllier remained healthy and in charge in season 2 he'd have got much more out of Makoun by partnering with players like Cabaye. I would judge Houllier on those two transfers.
I agree completely that Bent's goals kept us up, but an £18m splurge on a player most of us on here had been banging about for years is hardly evidence of being able to spot a good un. And no, don't just judge him on those, look at his last few years at Liverpool. He spent a fortune on absolute rubbish.
You just linked Bent with Makoun, implying he was a bad buy, then you said he kept us up. Which is it - good or bad? Houllier also brought in Kyle Walker who did well, Michael Bradley who's had a good subsequent career and wanted the French lad (Fofana?) who failed a medical then played in the Champions League. His limited transfer dealings definitely showed promise.
My point as I explained quite clearly I thought is that I cannot see any evidence to back up the oft-repeated idea that Houllier would make a good director of football. Bent was a good signing for that season, but a bad one overall I would say, given the actual total cost to the club. As for Michael Bradley, well it was Houllier who chose not to play him while he was here. And you forgot Robert Pires.
-
Darren Bent's goals helped keep us up and lost his effectiveness after he got injured. I also believe had Houllier remained healthy and in charge in season 2 he'd have got much more out of Makoun by partnering with players like Cabaye. I would judge Houllier on those two transfers.
I agree completely that Bent's goals kept us up, but an £18m splurge on a player most of us on here had been banging about for years is hardly evidence of being able to spot a good un. And no, don't just judge him on those, look at his last few years at Liverpool. He spent a fortune on absolute rubbish.
You just linked Bent with Makoun, implying he was a bad buy, then you said he kept us up. Which is it - good or bad? Houllier also brought in Kyle Walker who did well, Michael Bradley who's had a good subsequent career and wanted the French lad (Fofana?) who failed a medical then played in the Champions League. His limited transfer dealings definitely showed promise.
My point as I explained quite clearly I thought is that I cannot see any evidence to back up the oft-repeated idea that Houllier would make a good director of football. Bent was a good signing for that season, but a bad one overall I would say, given the actual total cost to the club. As for Michael Bradley, well it was Houllier who chose not to play him while he was here. And you forgot Robert Pires.
Pires is a bit of a cheap shot though, considering he was signed on a free after the transfer deadline. He wasn't successful, but it wasn't as if he was signed ahead of anyone else.
-
In relation to Almstadt, my understanding was that he had no involvement in player recruitment, so I'm not too sure what he role entailed. I guess the fact that he's been slung shows he wasn't particularly effective at whatever it was that he was meant to do.
-
Pires was brought in to help cope with the crippling injury list at the time I would have thought. It's not as if we'd paid millions for him.
-
Pires was probably the best player in the world who could have been signed at that time. He was here at a time when we had so many injuries we could barely have a five a side match in training. You can hardly blame Houllier for Bent's injury and as with Makoun, Bradley may have been a different prospect here. Anyway, it's all immaterial as it's a matter of record that Ged left on bad terms so he won't be back.
-
Pires was probably the best player in the world who could have been signed at that time. He was here at a time when we had so many injuries we could barely have a five a side match in training. You can hardly blame Houllier for Bent's injury and as with Makoun, Bradley may have been a different prospect here. Anyway, it's all immaterial as it's a matter of record that Ged left on bad terms so he won't be back.
didn't realise that Houllier left on bad terms, did Randy blame him for getting sick :-)
-
Littles signings were better overall than Houlliers and apparently they want him to be involved in scouting and recruitment so that's good enough for me. Just learn from the 2 big mistakes he made and steer away from anyone with 'baggage'.
-
Little as DOF with Larry Grayson as manager?
-
Little's signings until the summer of 2006 were really good. Not to mention gleaning more than we should have for those going out the door IMO.
Thereafter the signings were largely terrible - Curcic, Collymore and Grayson
-
Pires was probably the best player in the world who could have been signed at that time. He was here at a time when we had so many injuries we could barely have a five a side match in training. You can hardly blame Houllier for Bent's injury and as with Makoun, Bradley may have been a different prospect here. Anyway, it's all immaterial as it's a matter of record that Ged left on bad terms so he won't be back.
Talking of Pires, is he the only player to play for The Villa that has won the World Cup?
-
All managers sign a few crap players from time to time. It's just that the ones with unlimited cash get to make more mistakes.
-
Pires was probably the best player in the world who could have been signed at that time. He was here at a time when we had so many injuries we could barely have a five a side match in training. You can hardly blame Houllier for Bent's injury and as with Makoun, Bradley may have been a different prospect here. Anyway, it's all immaterial as it's a matter of record that Ged left on bad terms so he won't be back.
Talking of Pires, is he the only player to play for The Villa that has won the World Cup?
Can't think of any others, but then we haven't signed many Brazilians , Germans or Argentinians over the years. I assume that everybody in a world cup squad gets a medal by default, because I don't think that Pires played much, other than as the odd sub in the group matches. Think the 98 World Cup was a few years before he was in his pomp at Arsenal.
-
Pires was probably the best player in the world who could have been signed at that time. He was here at a time when we had so many injuries we could barely have a five a side match in training. You can hardly blame Houllier for Bent's injury and as with Makoun, Bradley may have been a different prospect here. Anyway, it's all immaterial as it's a matter of record that Ged left on bad terms so he won't be back.
Talking of Pires, is he the only player to play for The Villa that has won the World Cup?
Can't think of any others, but then we haven't signed many Brazilians , Germans or Argentinians over the years. I assume that everybody in a world cup squad gets a medal by default, because I don't think that Pires played much, other than as the odd sub in the group matches. Think the 98 World Cup was a few years before he was in his pomp at Arsenal.
Had a look and Pires made two appearances in the 1998 World Cup, one fewer than the greatest ever player in Small Heath Alliance history.
-
TA lads, but if Doug had had his way and Brian Little hadnt said no we would have had Juninho and Roberto Carlos ;D