Houllier confirmed as new manager. Press Conference p22

[D.boy]

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.

[Archbishop Herbert Cockthrottle]

any news on his number 2 yet?

Nope, he's still egg bound.

The kids are on the diving board

Attention! Le splash back!

[olaftab]

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?

[barrysleftfoot]

      HOU?

[Small Rodent]

I'm baffled by people saying he is the best "available". He wasn't available, he was in another job.

[Ger Regan]

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.

[supertom]

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.

[tsvet]

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.

[Bryan]

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.

[Archbishop Herbert Cockthrottle]

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

[pauliewalnuts]

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.

[PeterWithe]

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.

[Dante Lavelli]

...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.

[Glenn Peen]

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

[Malandro]

Well played!