Message From Houllier

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Talk is cheap, let's see some tackling, some work rate, some leadership on the field and from the bench this Saturday and we might start to feel we are all together in it. 

And please...let's not see any players smiling, joking or fraternizing with the opposition until we have ripped them a new arse.

Spot on, Bren.

[Matt C]

As Big Ron used to say; 'don't tell me, show me'. Over to you GH.

[dave.woodhall]

He would of been more upset if we had beat them,is he here for real or just a laugh!

Where did he say that?

[PeterWithe]

Nobody actually says sorry any more do they, its all 'you lot were too stupid to understand that I meant something beyond the words I used and surely I cant be held responsible for that'

It was a storm on a tea-cup any road.

[SoccerHQ]

Better, clearly the boardroom has shown its displeasure at his behaviour last night and ticked him off.

Now let's make life a whole lot easier for ourselves by winning some games!

[DeKuip]

Just supposing MON returns one day with say Newcastle, or more likely Wolves, and we give him a great reception in respect of the good times he gave us - and unfurl a huge banner on the Holte End thanking him for what he did for us... do you think we'd be slightly peeved if he totally ignored us and refused to answer questions about the reception in his aftermatch interview? And do you think it's quite possible that amid the disappointment of having just seen his side stuffed he might forget all about thanking the Wolves or Newcastle fans who had travelled?

Come on, let's cut the guy some slack (GH that is).

I say fair play to the scousers for going to the trouble with the banner, and for remembering someone who gave them good service. And Gary Mac too.

[glasses]

I'll forgive, but won't forget. It will be like that arguement you have with the Mrs, where she brings up something you did years ago and forgave you for, but throws it back in your face. Yeah, thats what I'll do!

[JUAN PABLO]

well done the manager and well done to the person who  had a word...  now have a fookin word with that tripe who wear our  claret and blue shirts...

[j66acd]

I wish my girlfriend was as understanding as you lot when I apologise for something I've done wrong!

[Surrey Villain]

Better, clearly the boardroom has shown its displeasure at his behaviour last night and ticked him off.

Now let's make life a whole lot easier for ourselves by winning some games!

That was not an apology and I doubt he wrote it.

[Bottom Right 89]

So following a difficult week when the dregs of our support brought shame upon the club, it is our manager who has to issue a statement to explain a gesture of thanks and kind words for his former fans - the bastard.

That said the small band of brothers who travelled in the freezing cold to watch that garbage deserve better - 3 points on Saturday is the minimum requirement lets kick the wheels off the baggie bandwagon.

[vilan461]

Talk is cheap, let's see some tackling, some work rate, some leadership on the field and from the bench this Saturday and we might start to feel we are all together in it. 

And please...let's not see any players smiling, joking or fraternizing with the opposition until we have ripped them a new arse.

Spot on, Bren.

Absolutely  bang spot on,---players need to realise the seriousness of the plight we ARE IN---and sorry for me for our captain to walk off the pitch laughing and jokingbwith an opponent after a defeat JUST AINT ON,
at least have the f*****g decency to wait till your in the tunnel,

[old man villa fan]

I didn't hear the interview so cannot comment on what GH said or what the question was that was put to him.

Pre-match, every article I read or discussion I heard on the radio was about GH going back to Liverpool.  It was like Liverpool were playing GH, not Aston Villa.  We hardly got a mention.  The media hyped up his return to Anfield to the point of the match being insignificant compared with his return.  Every question put to him was either about his time at Liverpool or about Liverpool as a club.  We think that it would have been very easy for him to say "I'm manager of Aston Villa now and will only talk about Aston Villa" and there are some managers that have done that in the past, usually because they want to make themselves appear bigger than the club.  However, GH seems a genuine and respectful person and when asked a question gives an honest response rather than twisting it to make himself seem more important.

As others have said, draw a line under it, learn from it and file it with 'must do better next time'.  People see things from the angle they want to see them and I will not say whether it was an apology from GH or he was told to say it as I do not know.  Why some people can say he was clearly told to give the apology, I do not know because there is no evidence, one way or the other.

The more worrying thing is the form of the team.  I always felt that the players we had under MON were playing to their limit in a certain system that suited them but not suited us if we wanted to progress.  We have to acknowledge that some of the players are not top class, although have played very well in the past.

The lack of depth of the squad in relation to central midfield players has always worried me, especially as I have never thought we were particularly good in that area anyway.  Throwing kids in together (although we do not have a choice) in this key area leaves us very weak, both defensively and going forward because they lack experience.  Young players can look good on the ball but watch them when they do not have the ball and they get caught not concentrating e.g. Hogg for the 3rd goal last night.  This also puts pressure on the defence.  Defending is not just the back four but players from all over the pitch.  This is why I believe we are conceeding so many goals from dead ball situations.  The kids do not have the experience to, say, lean into a player if you are not going to win a header.  This is making the back four look very poor but, by far, not the only reason.

Dunne played out of his skin last season, probably a reaction to being pushed out of Man City (I wish Ireland would show the same) but he does not seem to have the same desire this season and has gone back to his 'average' player status.  Whether Dunne playing so well last season made Collins look better than he is, I don't know.  Luke Young has lost some of his pace and is getting caught out of position at times and is receiving the ball facing his own goal rather than in front of him.  Warnock is not the player he was before the injury last season.  Whether this is due to not having AY in front of him, again I don't know.  With the injuries we have in central midfield, I might be tempted to playing him in midfield for his experience and to try and get his form back.  The biggest concern with the defence is that they do not seem to be talking to the younger players and getting them organised.  Dunne as captain looks as vocal as an old lady in a library.

All in all, we are in trouble but have to do the best we can until we can bring some players in in January.  For me, I think we need a dominating centre half (Johnson from Blues or is that too hard to swallow), a central midfield player who is a hard b****** (probably foreign as I cannot think of anyone in the PL that would suit) and a striker that can score goals.  Which brings me to our formation.  I do not think we have the right type of player with the right skill levels to play 5 in midfield with only one up front.  I believe we need to play with two goalscorers, particulary as Gabby is not prolific and can drift out of the game.

[brian green]

Houllier was appointed to his job because he is regarded as a safe pair of hands.   The Liverpool debacle proved to me that the assessment of him as a manager always to do and say the right thing at the right time is completely wrong.   He dropped the ball nine times on Monday night.   Shall I touch the Liverpool badge as I walk out with the team of the club which pays my astronomical salary?   Yes I will.   F*ck the Villa.   Shall I wave to the kop before the game?  Yes I will. F*ck the Villa.   Shall I sit to attention to listen to the Liverpool anthem?  Yes I will.  F*ck the Villa.   Shall I wave to the kop after the game?  Yes I will.  F*ck the Villa.   Shall I ignore the travelling fans who have made a journey of 200 miles and stood in the freezing cold to watch our team utterly humiliated?   Yes I will.   F*ck the Villa.   Shall I say the game was lost when we went two nil down?  Yes I will.  F*ck the Villa.   Shall I give a post match interview and play my part in a Liverpool adoring media love-in?  Yes I will.   F*ck the Villa.   Shall I wait until I get back to Birmingham and get a bollocking about all the above before I issue the usual stereotyped banalities to save my own reputation as a caring manager so that my next salary cheque comes through on time?  Yes I will.  F*ck the Villa.

We have been put in a position that beating the Albion is the high point of our season.   If we win every shortcoming of this manager and this team will be temporarily forgotten and swept under the carpet until we slide again.   If we lose it will be headless chicken time and the lines of France Telecom will go into meltdown trying to find free forty year olds.

I don't forgive and I don't forget.

[Simba]

I don't give a toss about his love affair with Liverpool. And this pathetically crafted piece of PR spin is an affront. Clearly written by a copywriter to a tight breif.  i.e. Praise the Villa fans. Laugh off the comment about the loss. Tell them you are working hard. Tell them that we will win in the end. Oh, and support the team on Saturday
( not criticize me).
Obvious and transparent.

I do care about the obvious lack of passion, guts, team spirit, lack of confidence and this nonsense of losing a game and passing the ball back and forth behind the halfway line. As if WE are protecting a lead and holding the ball. What kind of game plan is THAT?

This team could play and win. This team has actually been improved by the youngsters. This team were brilliant against United. GH - it looks like you have lost the dressing room and a good deal of the support.

Now stop this training class and put some fire in their bellies and offer a tactical plan that makes the best of what we have to create chances. And let's go out to win a bloody game.

If you can't do that GH-  then please resign. Or the fans will push you out. Shortest honeymoon period in football.