Now the hysteria from the weekend has subsided a little I will throw in my thoughts.
There appears to be a darkside to Villa this season and I think it has started to come to the forefront over the last couple of weeks. I don't know what is going on but there is a decent squad (on paper) who are under-achieving week in week out. We can all rant about the manager but at the end of the day it comes down to the team on the pitch. I'm bloody sure Houllier isn't sending them out to lose (Man Citeh apart) so is it that some of the big ego's don't like the way Houllier is changing things so they are causing unrest/want to go elsewhere. If it is then the sooner they are shipped out the better.
These so called players are on ludicrous wages for what they do and are supposed to be professionals.
Quite happy to pick up their big fat pay cheque for doing bugger all. If it transpires that the performances of some are an attempt to oust Houllier then I hope they are named and shamed come the end of the season and booted out of the club.
This is our club your royally screwing and us supporters are getting severely hacked off with your shite attitude. We will still be here long after you have jumped off this particular gravy train and we have every right to be concerned/voice our frustration with the direction your arrogance is taking our club.
The season just gets worseFuck my old boots Wiki, we know things are in a bad way, but do you have to bang on about it endlessley?
If anyone thinks this bunch are going to return from international duty and roll their sleeves up for villa you are diluded
I read that interview and was bloody furious. It did read as if Collins was laughing at us and not taking the seriousness of the event, and the clubs position to heart.
It make me wonder what the original Old Big Head Cloughie would do if he is Villa manager today.Not a lot.
Wasn't sure where else to put this.This was also in today's Times. Depressing but inevitable that a player seemingly with a reasonable attitude cannot be more supportive of the club.
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Stewart Downing glad to swap focus:
Stewart Downing has admitted the chance to join up with the England squad is a welcome relief from the stress of Villa’s current Premier League plight.
Downing is preparing for England’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Wales with Villa team-mates Darren Bent, Ashley Young and Kyle Walker.
And the 26-year-old is happy to swap his Villa shirt for an England one and revealed the break from club football will benefit all those on international duty.
He said: “It does help you. You are going into a different environment with a different kind of pressure so obviously if you go there and do well it can help bring confidence back to club.
“Sometimes the break does you good, we can also regroup and get some players back from injury and suspension so it has probably come at a good time.
“Then we can get focused and go again because we missed some of those not involved against Wolves.”
If he plays, Downing is likely to come up against Villa defender James Collins, who is set to captain Wales at the Millenium Stadium, and the Middlesbrough-born midfielder could not resist a bit of banter in the build-up to the game.
The winger said: “There are a few Villa lads in the squad so hopefully we can all play a part. Obviously James Collins is in the Wales squad so there will be a bit of rivalry there.
“I’m sure there will be a few texts flying around this week about what is going to happen but that’s what you like in a way. It is enjoyable to play against your mates and wind them up if you can get one over on them.
“I’m looking forward to it because it is a big game and hopefully I’ll be involved.”
http://www.expressandstar.com/sport/2011/03/23/stewart-downing-glad-to-swap-focus/
Wasn't sure where else to put this.This was also in today's Times. Depressing but inevitable that a player seemingly with a reasonable attitude cannot be more supportive of the club.
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Stewart Downing glad to swap focus:
Stewart Downing has admitted the chance to join up with the England squad is a welcome relief from the stress of Villas current Premier League plight.
Downing is preparing for Englands Euro 2012 qualifier against Wales with Villa team-mates Darren Bent, Ashley Young and Kyle Walker.
And the 26-year-old is happy to swap his Villa shirt for an England one and revealed the break from club football will benefit all those on international duty.
He said: It does help you. You are going into a different environment with a different kind of pressure so obviously if you go there and do well it can help bring confidence back to club.
Sometimes the break does you good, we can also regroup and get some players back from injury and suspension so it has probably come at a good time.
Then we can get focused and go again because we missed some of those not involved against Wolves.
If he plays, Downing is likely to come up against Villa defender James Collins, who is set to captain Wales at the Millenium Stadium, and the Middlesbrough-born midfielder could not resist a bit of banter in the build-up to the game.
The winger said: There are a few Villa lads in the squad so hopefully we can all play a part. Obviously James Collins is in the Wales squad so there will be a bit of rivalry there.
Im sure there will be a few texts flying around this week about what is going to happen but thats what you like in a way. It is enjoyable to play against your mates and wind them up if you can get one over on them.
Im looking forward to it because it is a big game and hopefully Ill be involved.
http://www.expressandstar.com/sport/2011/03/23/stewart-downing-glad-to-swap-focus/
It all looks like a concerted campaign against Hou ... whether orchestrated by loaded media questioning or a deliberate effort by the palyers. Either way, the club's status might change as a result of players apparently not being able to rally around and save their P'ship status, regardless of their feelings about the Manager.
It has to do with the money.
Billionaire owner buys club and starts to splash the cash, with the aim of getting richer.
Manager signs players for large fees and pays them handsomely.
Team fails to break into the big money, billionaire gets cold feet, and tells manager to stop spending money
Manager leaves.
New manager arrives and is told by billionaire, to reduce the amount of money being spent, promote the cheaper younger players and sell the expensive players.
Manager tries to follow through with these orders.
Expensive players do not want to leave, as they will not be paid as handsomely elsewhere (L.Young), some go out on loan, some decide to take a wage drop and transfer away (Davies, Sidwell), others decide to dig in, and see out their contracts.
Manager does not have players on side, they resent being forced to take a drop in income, results go badly, less income generated, the loanees come back, the wage bill is not reduced....
I fear there is only one outcome, if the players dig in their heels, they will stay.
I doubt it, but i hope to God all these players have clauses in their contracts in the event of relegation, their income gets cut, otherwise we will be like Leeds, paying off debt for years.
It has to do with the money.
Billionaire owner buys club and starts to splash the cash, with the aim of getting richer.
Manager signs players for large fees and pays them handsomely.
Team fails to break into the big money, billionaire gets cold feet, and tells manager to stop spending money
Manager leaves.
New manager arrives and is told by billionaire, to reduce the amount of money being spent, promote the cheaper younger players and sell the expensive players.
Manager tries to follow through with these orders.
Expensive players do not want to leave, as they will not be paid as handsomely elsewhere (L.Young), some go out on loan, some decide to take a wage drop and transfer away (Davies, Sidwell), others decide to dig in, and see out their contracts.
Manager does not have players on side, they resent being forced to take a drop in income, results go badly, less income generated, the loanees come back, the wage bill is not reduced....
I fear there is only one outcome, if the players dig in their heels, they will stay.
I doubt it, but i hope to God all these players have clauses in their contracts in the event of relegation, their income gets cut, otherwise we will be like Leeds, paying off debt for years.
Where does 'new manager spends £30m in a week' fit in to this scenario?
I honestly cannot see what Downing has said there that has caused offence to people! It struck me as quite a positive remark, really.