Gerard Houllier

[KevinGage]

The only chance Houllier has is to go and get, whatever the cost, Patrice Bergues, the man that was the football brain behind Houllier's success at Liverpool. The Scousers were right, Houllier on his own is clueless. Bergues is the Ronnie Barker to Houllier's Ronnie Corbett; without Bergues he's nobody.

Phil Thompson played a big part in that too.

If we were to get either or both of them on board I might be a bit more optimistic that GH could turn it around.


For those who would rather face  Championship football than Big Sam: I have to ask when did we become the academy of football?

In my lifetime I can only recall BFR's side being one for the purists. Sir Brian's side had it's moments too between 1995-97, but for the most part his teams played functional football. As did GT's lot first time round, JG's 1998-2002 crew and MON's mob.

Allardyce would have been well down my list earlier in the campaign and wouldn't exactly be first choice now.

But he'd stabilise the defence and might even get something out of John Carew. It's not as if we don't have talented players on the books, we just have a manager who has fallen out with most of them. Who knows, with better resources Big Sam might even do away with the need to set his sides up to assault the opposition goalkeeper at every set piece.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

The only chance Houllier has is to go and get, whatever the cost, Patrice Bergues, the man that was the football brain behind Houllier's success at Liverpool. The Scousers were right, Houllier on his own is clueless. Bergues is the Ronnie Barker to Houllier's Ronnie Corbett; without Bergues he's nobody.

Phil Thompson played a big part in that too.

If we were to get either or both of them on board I might be a bit more optimistic that GH could turn it around.

Thompson played a part but not half as much as Bergues. Everybody at Anfield respected Bergues, even those that didn't particularly like Houllier and when things started going tit crazy at Liverpool, they tried to get him back. He was also alongside Houllier at Lyon, so it's a shame we never managed to get him in the summer. I think he said the timing wasn't right. Well if we are to keep Houllier on, we should at least have the full deal rather than just the packaging.

[TimTheVillain]

The only chance Houllier has is to go and get, whatever the cost, Patrice Bergues, the man that was the football brain behind Houllier's success at Liverpool. The Scousers were right, Houllier on his own is clueless. Bergues is the Ronnie Barker to Houllier's Ronnie Corbett; without Bergues he's nobody.

Phil Thompson played a big part in that too.

If we were to get either or both of them on board I might be a bit more optimistic that GH could turn it around.

Thompson played a part but not half as much as Bergues. Everybody at Anfield respected Bergues, even those that didn't particularly like Houllier and when things started going tit crazy at Liverpool, they tried to get him back. He was also alongside Houllier at Lyon, so it's a shame we never managed to get him in the summer. I think he said the timing wasn't right. Well if we are to keep Houllier on, we should at least have the full deal rather than just the packaging.

And pretty unattractive packaging it is too ;-)

[TimTheVillain]

On TSport Tony Cascarino saying that Houllier was a big mistake for Villa and that he falls out with players - is paranoid etc..

Now I don't usually take much notice of what he says, but this rings true, paranoia that is.

[pauliewalnuts]

Moxley with a pretty hard hitting article

Much more of this Houllier soap opera and Villa really will slide out of the trapdoor

Let's imagine for a minute that you had deliberately set about sabotaging Aston Villa Football Club.
Bearing in mind that you had to remain in paid employment to carry out your dastardly plan, what would you do?

For a start, you could alienate the senior players who helped the club to a sixth-placed finish last season.
You could publicly belittle a new £8million signing, who admitted he was short of confidence at his unveiling, knowing that his brittle mental state would cause him to disappear from view.

You could continue a long feud with your star striker, the leading goalscorer over the past three seasons.

You could commit a large chunk of the club's money to a has-been, a late thirty-something who will play a bit-part in the season.

You could over-play the youngsters. Watching their confidence ebb away as results worsen along with the league position.

You could return to a former club, make a big show about how much you still feel for that former club without a second's thought for the fact you are representing your current one.

You could then bring back your senior players in a bid to save face, only to see them fail to support you where it matters most: out on the pitch.

You could hold team meetings, ask players to air their thoughts without fear of repercussion - and then axe them from the squad when they suggest improvements.

The fanzine editors at Birmingham City don't even need to make this up. 'Return to your St Andrew's base, agent Houllier, your job is almost done.' A cheap shot, yes, but what else does Gerard Houllier expect?

The fact of the matter is that had it not been for Ciaran Clark's late equaliser against a Chelsea team that is clearly struggling itself for form and confidence, Aston Villa would be sitting rock-bottom.

Villa owner Randy Lerner must be wondering where his cash has gone. He's blown the best part of £200m so far. And for what? European qualification - that, when push came to shove, was worth diddly-squat in Martin O'Neill's eyes.

Of course, the American has to admit culpability in one regard. After all, he's been the one writing the cheques. But surely he deserves better than this?

At this point, I'll hold my hands up. I advocated giving Houllier a chance. That was before he embarked on his one-man mission to lead Villa into the Championship.

I understand Lerner does not want to be seen as a 'hire 'em, fire 'em' chairman. That's all well and good. If people out there think industry is ruthless, let me tell you it has nothing on football.

It's why such outmoded characteristics like values and principles are long gone. It's professional sport - ie cash is involved. And lots of it.
I remember walking across Leicester City's training pitch with Micky Adams one day and asking how many managers he could count as friends. Micky is a personable guy, likeable, plays golf, enjoys a drink, family man, etc.

'Not many pal,' came the reply, 'when we go out there, it's war.'

So that's what's at stake. Actually, people's livelihoods would be lost at Villa Park, were the unthinkable to happen. Perhaps Mr Lerner should take that into account. I'm sure he does, he's a stand-up kinda guy. (If you'll pardon the Americanisation) But just when do you just hold up your hands and admit that you got it wrong?

After what took place on Wednesday night, it's surely a matter of time. In my opinion, Villa fans are quite slow to anger. Generally, they will put up a fair amount before being taken to a breaking-point. After that, beware.

Graham Taylor never had a problem - mainly because Graham understood the club. John Gregory - a manager with whom my own relationship was stretched on occasion - never had that problem either. Nor did Brian Little. Or Ron Atkinson. People who understood what Aston Villa was. And understood too it's core support. But just recently that has been lost.

On a personal level, I got on fine with David O'Leary. But the minute the classic banner went up in the Holte End: 'We're not fickle, we just don't like you,' he was always on to a loser.

Moscow will always loom large whenever Martin O'Neill's name is mentioned. For all the fact that he produced on the pitch, that will never be forgotten.

And whatever else Houllier does as Villa's boss, fans will always refer to that night at Anfield. I've sat and listened a number of times now to the Frenchman and I'm not convinced he realises how deeply the hurt was felt.

Most importantly, however, the noises coming from the dressing-room are appalling. Hark back to the Bolton game earlier this season. Ashley Young scores and races over to celebrate with caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald. Chances of that being repeated under the new Villa boss? Erm, nil.

Lerner and chief executive Paul Faulkner do have an option to hand. They used MacDonald earlier this season as a stop-gap and he is the man to rally the dressing-room and bring back those alienated players. He is a Villa man. Someone who understands what the club is about. He will put a smile back on the players' faces. After all, he was responsible for earning seven of the points the club's now sitting on.
 
So, I return to a point I made earlier in the piece. Just how bad does it have to get before a change is made? Sheffield United in the FA Cup? Or at St Andrew's in 10 days' time?

The home fans are already voting with their feet. The crowd was down for Sunderland's visit on Wednesday night. Those that were there cried: 'You're getting sacked in the morning,' at their own manager. I mean, what else can you do to prove that you have had enough.

The writing is on the wall. Time to push the button, write the cheque and move on. The season isn't over for Aston Villa just yet. But much more of this macabre soap opera and it soon will be.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1344710/The-Midlander-Much-Houllier-soap-opera-Villa-really-slide-trapdoor.html

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I stopped reading after "You could commit a large chunk of the club's money to a has-been, a late thirty-something who will play a bit-part in the season".  A large chunk? Even Greg who is forever questioning our finances would never claim bringing in Pires was commiting a large chunk of our money. Utter bollocks.

[hawkeye]

When will he finally be sacked?

After which game:

Sheff United
Blues
Man City
Wigan
Man U
Fulham.

Place your bets.   My money is after the Blues game.

i dont think he can survive losing to blose

[Fuse]

Moxley is a ****** so I take what he has to say with a pinch of salt. Far more pro-Small Heath so no doubt has an agenda against Villa

[LeeB]

Moxley could have saved wear and tear on his fingertips by just typing "BURN THE FRENCHMAN"

[pauliewalnuts]

Moxley is a c*** so I take what he has to say with a pinch of salt. Far more pro-Small Heath so no doubt has an agenda against Villa

Regardless of whether you agree with the above article or not, he's got no agenda against Villa and has consistently written constructive, thoughtful stuff about us.

I'd be more dismissive if stuff like that were written by Oliver "Oh, Martin, you're so swoony" Holt or James "Hatchet" Nursey.

[Greg N'Ash]

Rigghhhhhht..........

So he's saying he thought Houllier was a good choice but actually he made a dreadful mistake and he's actually a disaster?  I know most journo's haven't a clue about football but them admitting it is a new one. As for over-playing the youngsters, was the manager supposed to play injured players??!!! Utter bobbins from start to finish

[hawkeye]

Moxley is a c*** so I take what he has to say with a pinch of salt. Far more pro-Small Heath so no doubt has an agenda against Villa

Regardless of whether you agree with the above article or not, he's got no agenda against Villa and has consistently written constructive, thoughtful stuff about us.

I'd be more dismissive if stuff like that were written by Oliver "Oh, Martin, you're so swoony" Holt or James "Hatchet" Nursey.

seems to me he is spot on, GH comes across as one of those guys you meet in business circles, once held a decent position and still holds a belief that he still has it, thinks that experience can replace energy, dosent understand that the world has moved on- in short a has been

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Moxley is a c*** so I take what he has to say with a pinch of salt. Far more pro-Small Heath so no doubt has an agenda against Villa

Regardless of whether you agree with the above article or not, he's got no agenda against Villa and has consistently written constructive, thoughtful stuff about us.

I'd be more dismissive if stuff like that were written by Oliver "Oh, Martin, you're so swoony" Holt or James "Hatchet" Nursey.

seems to me he is spot on, GH comes across as one of those guys you meet in business circles, once held a decent position and still holds a belief that he still has it, thinks that experience can replace energy, dosent understand that the world has moved on- in short a has been

I think you're half right, Hawkeye. I think he was half of a very successful partnership with Patrice Bergues but when he tries to go it alone, he falls flat on his face. As I mentioned elsewhere, he's like Ronnie Corbert without Ronnie Barker.

[Bad English]

I was tutting audibly when Houllier tried to get sabbatical leave from the French Football Federation (whose committee told him to fuck off) to manage the Villa (FFS!). Some thought it was 'sensible'of him. I thought it was a pisstake,typical of the scheming weeble.

[koreanmeatballs]

I was tutting audibly when Houllier tried to get sabbatical leave from the French Football Federation (whose committee told him to fuck off) to manage the Villa (FFS!). Some thought it was 'sensible'of him. I thought it was a pisstake,typical of the scheming weeble.

Was that actually true? If it is....fuck me.