The Insider Blog: Is Houllier doing things the right way?

[cheltenhamlion]

Two things.

1) I keep hearing that transition word again. See Saturday's H&V for my take on that.

2) I really must take umbrage with the original article which suggests that peopel were happy with the timing of MON's departure.

Had he gone at the end of the previous season I would have been happy but, regardless of whether you thought he was the man for the job or not, having him bugger off when he did was not something that any right minded person wanted.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

The signs are very encouraging, especially given our injury problems but as Chris Smith said, we really need to start putting a few points on the board. A win tomorrow will go a long way in calming the nerves.

I still think we can finish in the top 6 this season, the squad, when fit, are good enough and a signing/loan deal or two in January should see us finish the season strongly. It's not all about Houllier, it's about him and his backroom staff. That's what makes me confident we can get something from this season; we've finally joined the 21st century and just need our more established players to start performing like we know they can.

[dave.woodhall]

During the Sir Graham II season, Talksport rang me on the afternoon of a midweek game and asked if I would go on their programme next morning and talk about Villa's start. Like an idiot I agreed. We won that night and next morning I went on air ready to enthuse about the great win we'd had. That Everton twat whose name I can't remember started off with "Villa won last night but that kit they've got is awful. What's that all about?"

When you're a club of our size (or Everton, Newcastle and Spurs unless they're doing well) bad news sells.

[TheSandman]

Its a sensationalist article written with a passing nod to some fo the facts, whilst clearly ignoring some huge factors - the timing of MON's departure, the lack of any real recruitment last summer, the injury problems, the change in football tactics Houllier is trying to pursue, the lack of a decent scounting network, and the state of some of MON's signings now they're over 30, etc etc etc.

Quite frankly if that is written by a journalist, it's a mug's business.

Yep. Agree with all that.

[stevenjos]

Cant see what is that wrong with it to be honest! Our record under monsieur Houllier isnt all that!

[Merv]

Next week: Manchester United, and why they're on the brink of total disaster.

And... Spurs: why they'll win the Champions League AND get relegated in the same season.

[django]

I think the injuries we have had, particularly Gabby, have made things really difficult and go a long way to explaining our poor points return under our new manager. The problem is that it hasn't helped get things off to a good start.

I was really pleased with Houlliers appointment, in my era as a fan we haven't appointed a manager with anything like his cv, but it wasn't a universally well received appointment. There was already a downer on the place after mon left in the way he did and the way the club went about replacing him.

Very little of this is Houlliers fault but I'm sure every club on a bad run can point to a set of extenuating circumstances and feel hard done by.

I'm not critical of the way our new manager has done so far but I am aware that there are already as many dissenting voices as there were when it felt like mon had lost a lot of support.

We're not in crisis but I feel like Houllier has got very little credit in the bank with a good number of our support and we have some tough games coming up so dont be surprised if we see a few more of these articles appearing if we don't get some good results in those.

[Dr Butler]

Cant see what is that wrong with it to be honest! Our record under monsieur Houllier isnt all that!

Jesus mate, Houllier has only had about 10 games !  unbeaten at home in the league with only one goal conceded,clean sheets in our last two home games against the champions and our nearest and not so dearest.
and away we (apart from the barcodes game when he was not in charge anyway) we have generally played well and it is only the result that has not been forthcoming.

blimey...start the car !!

UTV
The Doc

[PaulTheVillan]

Cant see what is that wrong with it to be honest! Our record under monsieur Houllier isnt all that!

Jesus mate, Houllier has only had about 10 games !  unbeaten at home in the league with only one goal conceded,clean sheets in our last two home games against the champions and our nearest and not so dearest.
and away we (apart from the barcodes game when he was not in charge anyway) we have generally played well and it is only the result that has not been forthcoming.

blimey...start the car !!

UTV
The Doc

Good post Doc.

[Monty]

From the trusting in youth to the new style of football, the tougher training to the emphasis on long-term development, the not taking rubbish from anybody to the not minding about media criticism of himself, I support everything GH has done so far.

[Shrek]

Can people just imagine what it would be like if Martin was still on charge and we had all these injuries?

I think everyone has forgot how important Gabby is to us, especially as he generally scores the majority of his goals the first half the season.

I'm currently really excited as a Villa fan, the complete opposite to the way I was feeling before Oneil left.

[Eigentor]

Most aspects of GH's management has been promising: the attempt to play in a more attractive style, an improved training regime, generally a more modern approach, more tactical nous, a willingness to play promising youngsters, a team selection based on meritocracy.

The almost only negative aspect has been the results.

[Bad English]

I'm sure we will be fine next year: we'll have had a full pre-season with the fitness coach.

[olaftab]

The way GH has preferred our young guns to  old " stay & collect  wages" brigade has impressed me. We need to support his brave approach.

[Lizz]

I'm not so sure there's a 'right way', but I reckon Houllier's more imaginative, and despite results to date, is doing a better job than MON would have done in the same circumstances. Some of the comparisons are like comparing apples and oranges, imo.