Houllier confirmed as new manager. Press Conference p22

[DANNYG]

I think he cames across very well you can allways nit pick over thngs but the majority of his answers were good and he did look fresh and healthy and hungry to do well.......
I think the players desperately need a new breath of fresh air with regard to training and tactics and things do look good with gerard on that front. So we have to wait another week jesus whats the big deal weve waited long enough so its fine i still fancy the players to put in a good shift at stoke as they know he will be accessing that match in great detail .
KMac was definitely offered assistant role id even go as far to say  maybe GH was offered a technical role first with Kmac as head coach but Gerard said all or nothing which i think is a great sign that he really wants to lay down a marker here,dunno why i think this just the way GH said 2 managers just doesntwork in football gives me that impression taht another option was offered first from villa and then KMac had his nose put out some what oh well im prob wrong but it doesnt matter now anyway.

Some players are gonna get a rude awakening sooner or later with him he doesnt suffer fools from what former players have said must admit im content now with this appointment a couple of up and coming foregin starlets he knows of wouldnt go a miss either when we can do business again in the transfer market taht would make a change from trying to get excited about Habib Beye or Marlon Harewood coming in !

[Rip Van We Go Again]

What if someone like Mortimer was handed the assistant's job?

Mortimer?
God, I hope not.
What qualifications has he got to do the job?

[Bad English]

I'm confused. Did Houllier really say we haven't got the name of the city?

[villa `cross the mersey]

Lerner - " Erm Kev, have you got a moment?"

KMac - " You`ll have to be quick, I have to take the Reserves to their next game"

Lerner - "There`s been a change of plan - Edith the tea lady will have to do that - you have to look after the first team"

KMac - "Can`t Houllier`s assistant do that?"

Lerner -"There`s been a technical hitch - Gerard and his team are, erm, shall we say unavailable"

KMac - " So just when will they be here?"

Lerner - " Erm, soon"

KMac- " How soon?"

Lerner - " Soonish"

KMac - "You don`t know do you?"

Lerner - " No, but it will happen because he has said he wants to join us although we are not as big as Liverpool , Lyon, Spurs, Everton, etc"

KMac - "We are in a pickle aren`t we Mr Lerner"

Lerner - " Erm yes we are Kevin"

KMac - " I will do it for a shortwhile but I want a payrise"

Lerner - "You know we can`t afford that Kevin"

KMac - " Well Mr Lerner - I was good enough, then I wasn`t  and  now I am again - I tell you what ...I `ll speak with Edith

Lerner - to secretary - "Have we still got Martin`s number - if not get me Brain Rix`s agent" 

[pauliewalnuts]

The guardian seem to be suggesting that his first game may be the Blackburn cc cup game at the earliest. And that he may need to still spend a few days here and there back with the fff.

If that were true, then you'd have to ask who was responsible for allowing such a farcical situation to develop.

It'd be hard not to point the finger in the same direction as Brian above.

[sfx412]

Houllier is a greedy bugger just like   others in football today. He is waiting for FFA to not pursue  him financially for walking away from his contract. Surely  if he wants our job and  as a wealthy man he can  start with us and    pay off any compensation  to the  FFA if that  turns out to be a reality.

OR being an honurable man he is negotiating his way out whilst ensuring he does not leave the Federation in the shit. He obviously is more forthright and honourable than some managers you are used to who are prone to down tools and walk with no regard for their employers.
I know which aI prefer.

[Bosco81]

I see a clear question mark appearing beside the name of the chief executive.   How much of the turbulence and uncertainty which swirls around Villa Park presently is down to the competence of the chief executive.   Two weeks ago I would have said none.   Today I am not so sure.

I couldn't agree more, his role is to give Randy the benefit of his expertise in football. The short list of 4 and the belief we couldn't attract an employed manager suggests to me Faulkner isn't the man for the job, I don't think it will be 3 months before GH starts but surely the Bolton game should be manageable

[sfx412]

his role is to give Randy the benefit of his expertise in football?
Thats a good one, where has that been said.
Faulkener was brought in to do several things I doubt the above was one of them.

[TheEgo]

Am I the only one that thinks Paul Faulkner looks way out of his depth? looks petrified everytime I have seen him. May be very competent at the opertaional stuff, but certainly not comfortable with dealing with press/media etc like a rabbit in headlights yesterday. Somebody reassure me that the guy looking after the day to day running of our club, is actually able and good at his job. I have seen no evidence yet. This isn't mean't to be a negative post for the sake of it, a genuine question about our CEO as I had never even heard him speak until yesterday (to say, thanks for coming, here's Mr Houllier)

[Risso]

What an absolute farce this whole situation has become. While O'Neill obviously made things as difficult as possible, the way the board has gone about replacing him has been laughably amateur.  If it had been Sullivan and Gold we'd be laughing our socks off at them.

[Klaus Katt]

They have identified and got the man they want, and it didn't take very long either. What if we all have to wait a few more days? Now that's laughable.

[Ian.]

I have just read GH's interview on bbc. It all sounds good, there is nothing in that which I see as negative. It sounds to me like he is honoured to be given the job and wants us to push on from MON left us. That's what we all want too

As for waiting a week or two for him to take charge, what's wrong with that? Is that not the case in most walks of if your already employed by someone else?

Our board obviously feel he is the right man for the job and will sit back and be a little patient in his appointment. To me GH is honouring his contract with the French FA, which is the dignified thing to do. How many people in football these day have a little dignity and respect to their employers?

We have a lot to thank KM for, again its in his hands to look after our club for a while. He is a fine man.  I'm sure if he was more sure of wanting the managers job from the day MON left it would have filled the fans and board with more confidence to give him longer. He never looked like he wanted it. However as I said he is doing us proud and we have to applaud him for being asked to carry on running the 1st team. I'm surprised he did not fancy the assistant job, its a shame he doesn't. I hope he stays in some capacity.

[kippaxvilla2]

They have identified and got the man they want, and it didn't take very long either. What if we all have to wait a few more days? Now that's laughable.

I cannot believe they have got 'the man they want'.  The man they wanted was managing Everton and apparently they couldn't priize him away.  With this ever increasingly farcical notice situation developing, I am more convinced than ever that we should have stuck with Macdonald until January when in all likelihood Ajax would have been out of the Champions League and Jol would have been eminently more 'gettable'.

[Bosco81]

his role is to give Randy the benefit of his expertise in football?
Thats a good one, where has that been said.
Faulkener was brought in to do several things I doubt the above was one of them.

It was more of an assumption because if he hasn't got any particular expertise in football then it really is the blind leading the blind.
I don't expect Randy to have a thorough knowledge of the game in only 4 years but I do expect him to surround himself with people that do

[Chris Smith]

Happy with Houlier considering the options.  I think he'll do a good, honest job.  I like the man and want him to do well.

However, as Kevin Gage says, we are a top 6 premiership club.  6th is par.  Let's not talk ourselves into expecting anything less.  Talk of 7th - 12th isn't correct, clever or inspiring.  I want our manager to say that we've got the players and the ambition to play for the title, in modern day football that may appear futile / silly but it's what I want to hear now and again.  Aiming for 6th is such a load of bollocks.  Aiming for mid table is..... pointless.

I detest Harry Redknapp.  Utterly despise the man.  But him saying spurs could challenge made me jealous of spurs which is not a feeling I like.  People might laugh but how refreshing would it be to hear that now and again? 

If you want that sort of tub thumping, rabble rousing bullshit then you're going to have a long wait I reckon. He doesn't strike me as that sort of man.

Our average Premier league finish is 8th, so he's not saying anything particularly controversial. We've just had 3 rounds under par with O'Neill, the challenge for Gerard is to match that and improve. As long as he's backed sufficiently by the club then I think he's got every chance.