Gerard Houllier

[wif]

Has Houllier united Villa fans? We all dislike the man.

Is there anyone who actually likes the bloke?

I think he comes across quite well, but that doesn't really matter.  It's how good he is as a manager that counts, and I would like to see him given a chance rather than chucked out in the middle of the worst run of injuries for years.

However, I've taken an instant dislike to you and your presupposing, koreanmeatballs.

[DeKuip]

Don't see what there is to gain by sacking him at this time of the season - there's no-one out there available to replace him. And don't anyone dare suggest Big Fat Sam!

We've had plenty of patients this season, now it's time for some patience.

[koreanmeatballs]

Fair enough Legion.

Can I ask what you like about him/what he has done so far.

i'm with legion, i like him for these reasons -

we are trying to play better more actractive football

he is brave enough to give our young players a chance and not shit himself and play negative boring football by packing the midfield and try and gain a point by playing in a similar vien to blues/blackburn under aladyce

he's not scared of upsetting senoir players who arnt performing, and saying they can leave if they dont improve

i think he is building something at Villa that might take more than 5 minuets given that it will revolve around inexperienced players, and hopefully he will bring in some better quality players than he inherited to play his way



you might not agree with me on most points, but that is the way i see it,
theres plenty who dont like him,. thats fair enough, every one has there own viewpoint,
 i wouldnt back someone like Alladyce, i wouldnt give him a chance,
 i just wouldnt go whilst he was there, i'm to old now to watch shit anti football, yesterday was not great and the result was bad, but it wasnt anti football, it wasnt long ball, and there were a lot of good young Villa players gaining a lot of experience by playing against the likes of van der vart,
so for me it wasnt all bad

I understand what you're saying but we all have different opinions.

Are you surprised how he is disliked with some fans? Reading this message board and others quite a few people are having a go at him (even reports of people having a go at the game.)

I can't really remember a manager at Villa who has become so unpopular with certain sections of fans in such a short space of time.

[damon loves JT]

I can't really remember a manager at Villa who has become so unpopular with certain sections of fans in such a short space of time.

There has never been a manager arrived at the Villa in such circumstances. He is like a man who's bought a car with the bonnet open and the hazard lights flashing.

[villa `cross the mersey]

I can't really remember a manager at Villa who has become so unpopular with certain sections of fans in such a short space of time.

There has never been a manager arrived at the Villa in such circumstances. He is like a man who's bought a car with the bonnet open and the hazard lights flashing.

Yeah and there is no spare wheel in the boot


PS Damon...no news out there or are you on holiday? Cheers VCTM

[damon loves JT]

The point is: usually when a new man takes over at the Villa, he comes in on the back of a long losing streak under an increasingly unpopular coach, and can enjoy a bit of goodwill from players and fans and a bit of a rebound in form and support.

O'Neill was relatively popular and relatively successful at the moment when he ran away.

(I am doing the cricket today, just killing time a bit.)

[Mac]

True, except for SGT Mk II, who was hated immediately by some twats.

[damon loves JT]

The SGT mk II analogy is a good one, I'd forgotten that. In effect he was trying to do exactly the same job, trying to shovel somebody else's shit. And *he* got a load of stick when he dared to suggest that finishing above the noses wasn't his top priority.

[ozzjim]

I am amazed at the lack of some people's ability to put the season in context.

Houllier deserves another season after this one as long as we stay up imo. Martin O'Neill had a shed load of cash and 4 years to build a side that has crumbled in 6 months following his departure, not a great advert for his ability to build a sustainable squad. Give Houlier at least 2 full windows to see if his signings are any better.

[WikiVilla]

The major difference and worrying thing for me is that GH seems unable to organise, motivate or guide 11 players on the field.

Compare and contrast to MON's first game in charge - even with an average 11 players, he had them organsied as a team and got a great result at The Emirates

[damon loves JT]

The major difference and worrying thing for me is that GH seems unable to organise, motivate or guide 11 players on the field.

Compare and contrast to MON's first game in charge - even with an average 11 players, he had them organsied as a team and got a great result at The Emirates

Totally different vibe at the club. Apples and oranges.

[SteveD]

MON's signings - with MON as manager - meant top six, some inspiration and belief (and last season two Wembley appearances). Predictable at times but effective most of those times. Taking MON out of the equation is the problem. The fumbling over his replacement, and what looked now (and then) like a convenient distraction by his sudden exit not to strengthen before the transfer deadline, we are now being built to be a mid-table club. This is unfortunately a risky strategy when we have a poor run of results and bad run of luck with injuries. And then the manager mystifyingly starts with a bizarre line-up against one of the in-form sides in the division. We were competely over-run. Houllier does not need to hop around like a madman on the touchline to show he's in control but he at least needs to show a bit more guile and some more of tactical nous many thought he had in spades over his predecessor. He looks increasingly like a rabbit in headlights.

[WikiVilla]

The major difference and worrying thing for me is that GH seems unable to organise, motivate or guide 11 players on the field.

Compare and contrast to MON's first game in charge - even with an average 11 players, he had them organsied as a team and got a great result at The Emirates

Totally different vibe at the club. Apples and oranges.

Think you're forgetting how shocking a state DOL had left us in. There certainly was no positive vibe then

[Legion]

Fair enough Legion.

Can I ask what you like about him/what he has done so far.

i'm with legion, i like him for these reasons -

we are trying to play better more actractive football

he is brave enough to give our young players a chance and not shit himself and play negative boring football by packing the midfield and try and gain a point by playing in a similar vien to blues/blackburn under aladyce

he's not scared of upsetting senoir players who arnt performing, and saying they can leave if they dont improve

i think he is building something at Villa that might take more than 5 minuets given that it will revolve around inexperienced players, and hopefully he will bring in some better quality players than he inherited to play his way



you might not agree with me on most points, but that is the way i see it,
theres plenty who dont like him,. thats fair enough, every one has there own viewpoint,
 i wouldnt back someone like Alladyce, i wouldnt give him a chance,
 i just wouldnt go whilst he was there, i'm to old now to watch shit anti football, yesterday was not great and the result was bad, but it wasnt anti football, it wasnt long ball, and there were a lot of good young Villa players gaining a lot of experience by playing against the likes of van der vart,
so for me it wasnt all bad

Now that my Grandson has gone back to his Mom's, I was going to reply in depth in answer to koreanmeatballs. john e has saved me the time because this is basically how I see it as well. I'd have used capital letters and full stops, though.

[dave.woodhall]

The major difference and worrying thing for me is that GH seems unable to organise, motivate or guide 11 players on the field.

Compare and contrast to MON's first game in charge - even with an average 11 players, he had them organsied as a team and got a great result at The Emirates

Totally different vibe at the club. Apples and oranges.

Think you're forgetting how shocking a state DOL had left us in. There certainly was no positive vibe then

We'd just got an owner who couldn't have been bettered and the manager everyone wanted. Of course it was positive.