Not happy, M. Houllier

[adrenachrome]

It is a bit galling but he has to put himself up for interviews, in those interviews the journos are going to steer him toward speaking about LFC as they sell more papers than we do. He's been very naive tonight, I hope he learns from it.

The man's in his sixties. He's been a football manager for three decades. I don't give a fuck if he does a hundred interviews a day, he can't honestly always be tricked into talking about Liverpool. The reason he does is because he likes to.

He's operated at the very highest level in football, he's not some wet behind the ears Johnny Foreigner who has just arrived over here, either. He speaks better English than most of us do.

I like what GH is trying to do, I thought he was a good appointment at the time, and he has been cursed by wretched injury luck. However, I can't get away from a feeling that he's not going to be here very long, that things will conspire against him.

When he says things like this, though, it is absolutely fucking infuriating.

Firstly because it is so very, very tactless (had I travelled 100 miles each way and stood in the freezing cold to watch that tonight, then got home and heard those comments, I'd be very angry indeed).

Secondly, because it is somewhat belittling to the club and it is not the first time he's done it -  the 7th-12th place, not a club on the level of Liverpool stuff.

Thirdly, because he is contending with enough bad luck and factors conspiring against him at the moment that this kind of thing just needlessly adds more pressure, and that is the last thing we need right now.

It is all a bit worrying.

I agree with this summation.

During  interviews, he often gives the impression that he is dispensing pearls of wisdom like  some dispassionate professor of football philosophy rather than an advocate for the club. On one occasion a while ago he even said to the assembled journos: "I know this will cause trouble because of what you will do with it ...", and then carried on regardless.

[django]

I have a horrible feeling that his motivation in taking the job here was to try & turn round opinion of him about the job he did at liverpool. It doesn't feel like he gives a shit about us. If that's even remotely true were in big trouble.

[eastie]

At Liverpool it was nice cop nasty cop with phil Thompson playing the tough strict guy, garry mac has been a flop as a coach and manager wherever he's been and was a poor choice of assistant I feel-as someone said houllier would be a good director of football with maybe martin jol as coach?

Mon had a hardworking team who played unattractive football but got results, houllier likes pass and move good football but these players are not good enough to play that way- it would need a complete rebuild!

[Toronto Villa]

I think most of us appreciate the task GH has in front of him purely from a playing side of things. The fans for the most part are on his side and will give him time to make changes. What will shorten that window of opportunity considerably is how he conducts himself, and tonight has gone a long way to shortening his lifespan as Villa boss. I can deal with losing. Just don't quit on me.

[KevinGage]

Much as I dislike Pinnochio, I do wonder whether results -and particularly defensive performances- would have been different had he taken the Assistant Manager gig.

[Toronto Villa]

Much as I dislike Pinnochio, I do wonder whether results -and particularly defensive performances- would have been different had he taken the Assistant Manager gig.

It's a good question. Is GH the better man behind the scenes with Thompson the more vocal one? Either way, he isn't here, so GH has to make do. He can help himself immensely by making it apparent that this job, right now is the most important one he is doing. He's failing in that regard by what he has said tonight.

[eastie]

The general saying last week that when fit our squad is capable of great things - I totally diSagree and worry that the board think we need minor tinkering- the squad needs a major overhaul , I'd like houllier to oversee things but jol as coach and houllier as director of football would be much more productive maybe!

At least we've just beat Australia in the cricket!

[BannedUserIAT]

I posted something similar in the General's thread but it really should go in here...

That he touched the Anfield sign: I don't care.
That he applauded the Liverpool fans: I don't care.
That he said he'd be ok losing 3-0 because he likes Liverpool: Pisses me off but I think I get what he's saying.

Let's face it, if GT had done all of the above on his return to Villa Park, if he'd said that if Watford were going to be dicked by anyone, he'd prefer it to be Villa, I wouldn't hold it against him and I don't think many here would, either.

But what has boiled my piss more than anything is this:
"The first goal stunned us and the second one was vital because it meant the game was over."

WHAT. THE. FUCK??

Since when is a football game done and dusted at 2-0? Over the years (including this fucking horrible one), how many times have Man Fucking United come back from the dead? Did Tottingham HotCarl give up against us at 4-0 down? Did they fuck! Did we give up after being sucker-punched by Everton (there you go, Legion!)? Did we fuck!

Oooh, Liverpool are winning 1-0..whatever will we do? Ooooh, they're 2-0 up now. It's all over.

You brain-dead, fromage-munching simian of surrender! Fuck off out of Villa Park. Don't look back. Just fuck off.

[The Situation]

What sort of message does it give out to the players if the manager think the game is over at 2-0? It's negative and I don't want a manager who's going to install a negative mentality. However bad we were playing, if we managed to nick a goal at and make 2-1 we could of gone on a attack rampage putting lots of pressure on the defence and perhaps getting an equaliser - it's not just Man United who can do it, lots of teams can do it.

[JJ-AV]

Fuck O'Neill. Was never the man we thought he was.

As for Houllier, I supported him, I still do and think he would do an OK job given the time and resources... But that tonight is totally unforgiveable.

We're in a mess and someone needs to sort it soon.

[BannedUserIAT]

Comentators at 2-0 were saying how important the next goal would be. It'd either kill the game off or bring Villa back to life and really put what is a mentally fragile Liverpool under the kosh.

Of course, they weren't to know that the manager had given up all hope.

[KevinGage]

Aye.

That wasn't a world class Liverpool side out there.

Pinching a goal either during the first half or early second would have put us right back in it. A win might have been out of the question, but a draw wouldn't have been completely unthinkable.

Similar defeatist bollocks after the Man U game "We knew they'd get a second once they got the first." We all probably felt that, but the guy in charge should be doing something to prevent it.

[JJ-AV]

It's not the performances that pissed me off. I think the positives in the performances have been there... I quite liked him until tonight, I'm astounded by his actions and I don't want him as our manager.

We're bigger and better than that.

[ROBBO]

The game against the Baggies is huge not just for the club but also the manager, if Randy starts to believe that we are in real danger of being relegated he will take action, if just to protect his investment.

[taylorsworkrate]

I posted something similar in the General's thread but it really should go in here...

That he touched the Anfield sign: I don't care.
That he applauded the Liverpool fans: I don't care.
That he said he'd be ok losing 3-0 because he likes Liverpool: Pisses me off but I think I get what he's saying.

Let's face it, if GT had done all of the above on his return to Villa Park, if he'd said that if Watford were going to be dicked by anyone, he'd prefer it to be Villa, I wouldn't hold it against him and I don't think many here would, either.

But what has boiled my piss more than anything is this:
"The first goal stunned us and the second one was vital because it meant the game was over."

WHAT. THE. FUCK??

Since when is a football game done and dusted at 2-0? Over the years (including this fucking horrible one), how many times have Man Fucking United come back from the dead? Did Tottingham HotCarl give up against us at 4-0 down? Did they fuck! Did we give up after being sucker-punched by Everton (there you go, Legion!)? Did we fuck!

Oooh, Liverpool are winning 1-0..whatever will we do? Ooooh, they're 2-0 up now. It's all over.

You brain-dead, fromage-munching simian of surrender! Fuck off out of Villa Park. Don't look back. Just fuck off.

True, but Watford fans would be pissed of by it and rightly so.