Bright Future with M. Houllier

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I agree with Chris, given how poorly the Dippers and the Bitters have started and how poor they look in general, then I see no reason why we cannot finish 6th at least.

As for January, its obviously tough to get the right players at the right price, but if we’ve opened up our horizons with regards to who we’re willing to sign, then at least we’ll have a bigger pool of players to choose from. Plus there is a minimum of £16 million to spend.

  Who are the "Bitters"

Everton.

[Bad English]

PARIS fucking SAINT GERMAIN? WHAT? That fucking shower in their shitty concrete stadium with bog seats for er... seats who attract all the neo-nazis down one end and all the chavvy, hoodie gangs down the other. Cheeky fucker!

[Monty]

PARIS fucking SAINT GERMAIN? WHAT? That fucking shower in their shitty concrete stadium with bog seats for er... seats who attract all the neo-nazis down one end and all the chavvy, hoodie gangs down the other. Cheeky fucker!

I have to say, talking about a 'nice club' and then comparing us to PSG did strike me as a bit mental.

[Bad English]

Saint Etienne would be more like it.

[Bad English]

Saint Etienne would be more like it.

Oh, hang on, their fans are really loud singers.

[Monty]

Liked by many, glorious history but haven't really won anything since the 80s (I think their last title was also in '81?)? It's not a bad comparison, and I have a soft spot for Les Verts, but we haven't been recently overtaken by savvy neighbours who win everything in sight. I think the club we're most like across Europe is probably Hamburg.

One good comparison with St Etienne, though: there's an English band called St Etienne and a French one called Aston Villa. That sort of link is priceless. I'd also take Matuidi off their hands as well if we could, strikes me as a sort of French Delph.

[Bad English]

And let us note that Lyon are currently 'languishing' in 17th spot while St Etienne are top of the table for the first time since about 1982, I think. in fact, look at the top four: it's like having Villa top with Wigan, Wolves and Stoke just below.

Now, I know many don't rate Ligue 1 football, but at least you can still have any old team top of the league and teams from Division 19 nearly winning the cups.

[damon loves JT]

Saint Etienne would be more like it.

Oh, hang on, their fans are really loud singers.

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[Monty]

And let us note that Lyon are currently 'languishing' in 17th spot while St Etienne are top of the table for the first time since about 1982, I think.

True, but Toulouse apart they've beaten Sochaux, Lens and Montpellier, games that you'd expect them to do well in. They're also relying on Payet a bit, not in itself a bad thing as he's a really good player, but the goals will have to come from elsewhere. Still, The Big One this weekend, away at the Gerland. We'll learn more about both teams after this one.

I prefer Ligue 1 to the Bundesliga, much more exciting football in my view and no Bayern-style superclub, no 'FC Hollywood' that wins every other year at least. Much more fun.

[Bad English]

After the game at St Etienne. Nobody is 'beating the traffic' in their end.

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[TheSandman]

Ged Said:

"Villa is a club which is liked in Europe. It has an identity," Houllier said. "Aston Villa is known as [being like] Paris Saint‑Germain. This club is known to be a good club. I've not met anyone saying it's a bad club. What the club needs is more ambition, more biting teeth.'

*Clappy man*

He's bang on there I reckon.

I think we can expect to be in the 6th to 8th area this season under Houllier. We are in transition and it will take time for him to stamp his image upon the team. After that I expect us to climb up that table a bit.

[Bad English]

O'Neill said similar things when he arrived "It's been 25 years since the European Cup..that is the dream" "I have seen a few players from a distance...". Houllier is saying the same: "good club, be nice to win something. Saw a few players on Saturday, blah, blah." Whatever.

Interested in his "continental" approach to training though. About time they did something more inventive than a game of "Germans" and a quick jog round Bodymoor with extra-heavy big headphones on.

[eastie]

I can see where he's coming From in a way as we have won the league once once in the last 100 yrs and the fa cup once in the last 90 yrs , so to a Frenchman we wouldn't appear as big as we maybe think we are.

Agree sandman I think 6 th to 8th would be ok this year and kick on next season, I think given time GED could be very successful here and am looking forward to his reign.

[Monty]

We should aim at 7th, no doubt, as our competition for that is Everton and their start has been even worse than ours, and hardly much more difficult games (including us beating them) either. Blues, Fulham, Sunderland - I don't think they're ready for the step-up to top 8 yet. We could get sixth if Liverpool continue to stutter and Ged settles quickly, and maybe adds one or two in January. I think 4 and 5 will prove to be Man City and Spurs respectively, but there's no reason why we should be too far behind, and that would be a good platform to build on for next season.

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Monty, you look at Liverpool's midfield and it says everything about where they are as a club right now when you think "Christ, they miss Kuyt".