Houllier confirmed as new manager. Press Conference p22

[mazrimsbruv]

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.

[Eigentor]

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.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

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.

[sfx412]

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.

[hilts_coolerking]

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.

[LeeB]

Really? I am surprised....

[dave.woodhall]

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.

[Dave P]

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.

[SoccerHQ]

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?!

[Toronto Villa]

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%.

[Risso]

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.

[Toronto Villa]

is there anywhere we can watch the press conference at 2pm?

[NorthYvillan]

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

[Toronto Villa]

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.

[bob]

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?