The replacement for MON...?

[Monty]

I'd like to believe that we are going to try and copy the Lyon model, hence the appointment of Houllier.

We'd need more than just Houiller, as I'm sure you're aware. We'd need a fundamental, top-to-bottom structural revolution, and most importantly we'd need our own Bernard Lacombe. I also happen to think that the structural method of Lyon is unworkable anywhere other than France, but that's another matter.

[usav]

If this is true, then I hope it was done with the full agreement of Kevin MacDonald.

(I see nobody has given me an example of where this has worked yet).

[KevinGage]

I don’t know how I feel about Houllier. I’m neither excited nor bricking it. I really cannot remember what sort of football Liverpool played under him, but I do remember him wasting a lot of cash and having some dodgy finishes by Liverpool’s standards. By the same token, I also remember him winning quite a lot and having some really good finishes by Liverpool’s modern standards.

I’m airing on the side of optimistic, because for all his faults, at least he knows his business at the right end of the Premier League, whether he takes us higher than O’Neill obviously remains to be seen.

A decent summary, though I wouldn't be as optimistic as you for reasons outlined earlier.

I'd only add to that that £100+ million is a lot for clubs even now to fork out (and we should know). Back then it was huge, and -first few years apart- didn't secure the returns and results the Redscouse would have expected for that outlay.

Some of their football in the latter years was also less than tedious.

[Mazrim]

What of this rumour that Moyes cancelled a photoshoot at Everton today due to "personal business" apparently?

[eastie]

MOre bad pr from the club with the new manager being leaked on the net rather than the club announcing it. At least now we can start to move forwards again.

[PeterZ]

what exactly is the model at Lyon ?

[Yossarian]

I'd like to believe that we are going to try and copy the Lyon model, hence the appointment of Houllier.

We'd need more than just Houiller, as I'm sure you're aware. We'd need a fundamental, top-to-bottom structural revolution, and most importantly we'd need our own Bernard Lacombe. I also happen to think that the structural method of Lyon is unworkable anywhere other than France, but that's another matter.

Perhaps you are right but the drugs I am taking prevent me from seeing any type of news in anything but the most positive of lights.

[eastie]

Wonder how Carew feels- didn't houllier get rid of him?

[pauliewalnuts]

Houllier positives: won some silverware at Liverpool (quite a lot), his team which won the CL the year after he left, on the inside track with youth development in France, on FIFA technical comittees (just like, err Dr Jo was), wide knowledge of European football could lead to an actual European scouting network, is not Alan Curbishley.

Houllier negatives: bought some utter shite for Liverpool, played some of the most boring, unadventurous football of that era in the PL, getting on a bit, out of the game a while, bought Emile Heskey for lots of money, bought Milan Baros twice

[dave.woodhall]

MOre bad pr from the club with the new manager being leaked on the net rather than the club announcing it. At least now we can start to move forwards again.

Like that never happens anywhere else.

And I'd be very surprised if the new man is anything other than a manager.

[Mazrim]

I could see a team of Houllier as a director of football tasked with getting the whole footballing side of the infrastructure of the club ship shape, Kevin MacDonald as first team coach preparing the squad and a manager like Moyes working great together.

[Yossarian]

bought Milan Baros twice

Oh God, I think I need to increase the dosage.

[KevinGage]

Houllier positives: won some silverware at Liverpool (quite a lot), his team which won the CL the year after he left, on the inside track with youth development in France, on FIFA technical comittees (just like, err Dr Jo was), wide knowledge of European football could lead to an actual European scouting network, is not Alan Curbishley.

Houllier negatives: bought some utter shite for Liverpool, played some of the most boring, unadventurous football of that era in the PL, getting on a bit, out of the game a while, bought Emile Heskey for lots of money, bought Milan Baros twice

You've convinced me.

[midnite]

Still only those original reports at the moment though. Nothing on sky sports website. I take it they'll want something more substantial before reporting on it.... Or since it's international week, nothing else matters.

[dave.woodhall]

I could see a team of Houllier as a director of football tasked with getting the whole footballing side of the infrastructure of the club ship shape, Kevin MacDonald as first team coach preparing the squad and a manager like Moyes working great together.

Like Moyes would take a job with those restrictions.