Gerard Houllier

[MarkM]

This season?

I'm guessing you've missed the bit where he's been injured for most of it.

I have no idea what's going on around here, but every day someone else emerges with the sole intent of taking shots at the club, the manager or the players. Whatever happened to supporting your club, especially now when they need it the most?

I and some others may come accross as Jonah's by speaking out that we think something is wrong.

Since RL took over it seems to have become a crime around here to speak ill of the club / manager / players

We are doing it not out of any anti Villa feelings but because we care about the club and want the best for it.

I believe that GH is not the right man, and that relegation is a distinct possibility!

We are sliding fast

[avfcpg]

This season?

I'm guessing you've missed the bit where he's been injured for most of it.

I have no idea what's going on around here, but every day someone else emerges with the sole intent of taking shots at the club, the manager or the players. Whatever happened to supporting your club, especially now when they need it the most?

Yep..it's getting quite depressing. Ashley and Luke injured...therefore apparantly they don't want to play for GH. Take a stance and don't sign a player due to wages, injury, whatever the reason and we have missed out on the next Messi. No doubt the first player we do sign will be a masive gamble, unproven in the prem and we paid too much for him...

[eastie]

Reading this some people are talking as though we are 10 points adrift and already down , we are only 2 points off the top 10 and have now the chance to bring in new signings, a few new faces and a couple of wins will soon turn it around- there are a dozen teams who are within a few points of each other and they should all be worried- some people sound as though they have given up all hope!

We were in a similar position when dol first arrived and we managed to put a run together and finish 6th- the table is tight and we can still finish strongly- I would hope the worst is behind us , but January will be huge for our club- the fofana deal seems dead but I'm sure there are others to come!

[Willie Anderson]

Reading this some people are talking as though we are 10 points adrift and already down , we are only 2 points off the top 10 and have now the chance to bring in new signings, a few new faces and a couple of wins will soon turn it around- there are a dozen teams who are within a few points of each other and they should all be worried- some people sound as though they have given up all hope!

It's a motivational technique picked up at Anfield by GH. "abandon all hope ye who enter here" is the sign above the dressing room

[jonzy85]

http://football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_6626994,00.html

Most positive stuff ive heard from him since he arrived....but he does go on to have to mention Liverpool.

[cdward]

http://football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_6626994,00.html

Most positive stuff ive heard from him since he arrived....but he does go on to have to mention Liverpool.

so is he now saying Dunne and Ireland are part of his plans?

[jonzy85]

It looks like it....good news in my opinion. They are 2 top players when on form. It also shows that he is willing to bury the hatchet and move on.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

[hawkeye]

http://football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_6626994,00.html

Most positive stuff ive heard from him since he arrived....but he does go on to have to mention Liverpool.

so is he now saying Dunne and Ireland are part of his plans?

i saw him interviewed on SSN he said "sooner rather than later" it would not surprise me to see Dunne stat against Chelsea

[KevinGage]

well thats the risk villadawg. Seriously i can see the logic of the "GH out" lot. It makes a lot of sense. I can't argue with a lot of it

BUT

a)the names put forward are either shit or unrealistic IMO

b) a new manager would mean ripping up the plans for this transfer window which is where Houllier came in

c) it just seems wrong after so short a period in the job

The bottom line is if you sack GH  you'll have to get a better manager in who will get the best out of what we have now with probably no reinforcements. And that seems less logical to me than sticking with him (at the moment, ask me again in feb).

Of all the arguments there C has the most merit as far as I can see.

And you're right, on the surface it does seem wrong after such a short period in the job.

But it is  possible to do such a rank bad job in a relatively short period - be it GH's or any other- that your position becomes untenable.

The thought of being compared to Newcastle is less than ideal, and is largely why I advocated after the Liverpool match that -so long as we can get through this season and secure our Premiership status as a bare minimum-  GH should remain in the job until at least then.

But with each passing game it looks as if he will struggle to deliver even that modest feat.

This is different to the Newcastle - Allardyce situation too. In so far as they got shot of him when they were in mid-table. Their football wasn't 'sexy' enough. We have concerns about stopping in the division. It's a huge difference.

Look at other big clubs who have been down at the wrong end of the table in recent years. Liverpool this season under Woy, Tottenham under Jol and then Ramos. It's unacceptable for those clubs to even entertain ideas of relegation, hence the manager gets it in the neck and will generally pay for that level of non performance with his job.   For other clubs, those such as West Ham, Wigan, B-lose and co it's far from ideal, but they will have at least planned for it, factored it into the equation as a very realistic scenario.  Ergo if they are down around the foot of the table the manager won't necessarily walk the plank.

I'd be a tad more concerned if most Villa fans did actually believe the level of decline we've seen under GH was acceptable. That would nearly put us on a par with those clubs just mentioned, and the expectations they hold.

Again, I do see the argument for giving GH as long as absolutely possible to turn it around. We could look impetuous, 'just like Newcastle' and our credibility would take a hit if we're seen to act too rashly.

But our credibility will take an even bigger hit if we go down, so ultimately it could well be a 'lesser of two evils' scenario we'll have to face.

The period from now until Jan 16th will be absolutely crucial in determining which route we take.

[hawkeye]

Agree with you KG, January is critical, if the manager can not demonstrate that he has wherewithall for us at at least to survive then he has to go

[WikiVilla]

If he's regaining control of the dressing room, this can only be a positive for all concerned

[Villa'Zawg]

Houllier is ordered to bring back Villa outcasts Dunne and Ireland

By Joe Bernstein Last updated at 6:51 PM on 1st January 2011

Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier will recall Richard Dunne for their vital clash at Chelsea after the intervention of owner Randy Lerner.

Lerner and chief executive Paul Faulkner instructed Houllier to make up with Dunne and other senior stars, including Stephen Ireland, after fearing that low morale would drag Villa into a relegation battle.

The Frenchman has won only three of 14 league games since replacing Martin O'Neill and stripped Dunne of the captaincy, axeing him from the side after the defender clashed with assistant manager Gary McAllister in training.

The hierarchy urged Houllier to sort out the problems following a miserable 4-0 defeat at Manchester City.

Dunne will be back at Stamford Bridge and there will also be a place in the squad for midfielder Ireland, who has handed in a transfer request and not featured since a 3-0 defeat at Liverpool a month ago.

Houllier will accommodate the two players and may even try Luke Young in an unfamiliar role at left-back.


Daily Mail - Clicky

That's a particularly gruesome slant to put on things.

[dave.woodhall]

It's also very likely bollocks.

[PaulWinch again]

It's also very likely bollocks.

agreed, it's got to be.

[avfcpg]

Almost certainly bollocks. Can anyone really see Randy telling him he's got to play them?