Houllier confirmed as new manager. Press Conference p22

[villa `cross the mersey]

Well, as DTN of the FFF, Houillier was on a monthly gross salary of €26,345 (£21 825)...

Well thats a nice little pay rise for our new manager - from £21k  per month to £222K per month...just proves he`s no mug when it comes to feathering his own nest, sorry I meant preparing for his retirement.

[Reality]

So, is it really about the football at Villa Park, or about his retirement funds?

Hmmm, he really seems desperate to get here, doesn't he? The board also seem that keen on bringing him here. They've let this issue drag on, like they have with every other single issue that they have had to handle.

I came to the conclusion that our friend Faulkner, doesn't have one fucking clue, what he is doing.

[Somniloquism]

It is also worrying that the first two people apparently approached by him to be Assistants have turned him down. Is that because they think he is past it, or the sales pitch he used is off or the money they will be on isn't worth it.

Even without him being here the back room staff should have been sorted at a similar time to when he accepted the job. We are still shy several coaches at the moment. If we had the full compliment would Dunne still be in the shape he is in?

[dave.woodhall]

So, is it really about the football at Villa Park, or about his retirement funds?

Hmmm, he really seems desperate to get here, doesn't he? The board also seem that keen on bringing him here. They've let this issue drag on, like they have with every other single issue that they have had to handle.

I came to the conclusion that our friend Faulkner, doesn't have one fucking clue, what he is doing.

How would you do it any differently?

[Somniloquism]

So, is it really about the football at Villa Park, or about his retirement funds?

Hmmm, he really seems desperate to get here, doesn't he? The board also seem that keen on bringing him here. They've let this issue drag on, like they have with every other single issue that they have had to handle.

I came to the conclusion that our friend Faulkner, doesn't have one fucking clue, what he is doing.

How would you do it any differently?

For starters, not hold a press conference to announce our new manager which then descends into a farce as it turns out he isn't the new manager and we don't know when he will start.

[dave.woodhall]

So, is it really about the football at Villa Park, or about his retirement funds?

Hmmm, he really seems desperate to get here, doesn't he? The board also seem that keen on bringing him here. They've let this issue drag on, like they have with every other single issue that they have had to handle.

I came to the conclusion that our friend Faulkner, doesn't have one fucking clue, what he is doing.

How would you do it any differently?

For starters, not hold a press conference to announce our new manager which then descends into a farce as it turns out he isn't the new manager and we don't know when he will start.

Strange, but after the conference the general feeling was that it went well. It was only when some reporter (weren't they all supposed to be "lazy journalists" with an anti-Villa agenda?) called it a farce that it was described as such.  And would this be the press conference that came after days of people asking when the press conference was going to happen?

[pauliewalnuts]

So, is it really about the football at Villa Park, or about his retirement funds?

Hmmm, he really seems desperate to get here, doesn't he? The board also seem that keen on bringing him here. They've let this issue drag on, like they have with every other single issue that they have had to handle.

I came to the conclusion that our friend Faulkner, doesn't have one fucking clue, what he is doing.

How would you do it any differently?

For starters, not hold a press conference to announce our new manager which then descends into a farce as it turns out he isn't the new manager and we don't know when he will start.

Strange, but after the conference the general feeling was that it went well. It was only when some reporter (weren't they all supposed to be "lazy journalists" with an anti-Villa agenda?) called it a farce that it was described as such.  And would this be the press conference that came after days of people asking when the press conference was going to happen?

It was only when the full reports came out that we were aware of exactly what was said, though.

What he said to the printed media was far more worrying than what was said in the pc we all watched. No mention there about having to go back for a few days here and there, maybe it'd be Wolves, but he couldn't guarantee it, etc.

If that was the case, then they should have said something about it up front, rather than letting it come out in drips and drabs. If there was still that much doubt, they should have announced he was joining the club, just working his notice, and left it at that until he could come.

We're used to them being slick with the media. They went from looking like Jeremy Paxman to Nick Owen with this one, I thought.

[Risso]

Come off it.  If not knowing when your "new manager" is actually going to start work can't be legitimately be described as a farce, I don't know what can.  You've said yourself that there's no real football knowledge on the board, well the last few weeks have shown just how little that actually is.

[pauliewalnuts]

Also - and it's ultimately not their fault, but when you're so vague, you are inviting this sort of trouble - it looked very, very poor tonight to see Pulis there after his mother had died, whilst GH was at an awards dinner.

Like I said, not their fault Pulis is such a trooper, but unveiling a manager who can't manage you is going to put you at risk from situations like that.

[dave.woodhall]

So what could they do that's any different? Keep quiet and get blamed for that?

[Somniloquism]

Strange, but after the conference the general feeling was that it went well. It was only when some reporter (weren't they all supposed to be "lazy journalists" with an anti-Villa agenda?) called it a farce that it was described as such.  And would this be the press conference that came after days of people asking when the press conference was going to happen?

I didn't see the conference as I was at work but most of the comments were based on his pro Villa rhetoric. it seems (similar to the Budget) that although the bad news was announced most did not realise until the papers summarised the conference to its main parts.

[dave.woodhall]

Strange, but after the conference the general feeling was that it went well. It was only when some reporter (weren't they all supposed to be "lazy journalists" with an anti-Villa agenda?) called it a farce that it was described as such.  And would this be the press conference that came after days of people asking when the press conference was going to happen?

I didn't see the conference as I was at work but most of the comments were based on his pro Villa rhetoric. it seems (similar to the Budget) that although the bad news was announced most did not realise until the papers summarised the conference to its main parts.

And as I've said before - for years we've dismissed criticism. Now we seem to be revelling in it. 

[Somniloquism]

So what could they do that's any different? Keep quiet and get blamed for that?

Well going on Paulies comments that the televised bit of the press conference did not cover it. Isn't that what they tried and then a journalist asked the questions and the truth came out.

I've never seen any other club announce a new manager at a conference and then find out they will not be in charge for several more matches. At least Villa have been first in football again.

[Risso]

So what could they do that's any different? Keep quiet and get blamed for that?

They could have told Houllier that unless he wanted to stay in his €26k a month job, he'd better have his arse in Stoke tonight to start work.

[dave.woodhall]

So what could they do that's any different? Keep quiet and get blamed for that?

They could have told Houllier that unless he wanted to stay in his €26k a month job, he'd better have his arse in Stoke tonight to start work.

Yes, it's that easy.