Gerard Houllier

[dave.woodhall]

Might as well dig this up.

If he has failed in his attempt at signing J2M after flying out there to meet him, before a huge game for us then it is almost laughable. Just how shit was that sales pitch?

This couldn't have inspired much confidence with Randy.

Lose against them and I reckon that he will be gone by 6pm Monday.

May as well dig it up again. How's your mate the chef, by the way?

[Dave Clark Five]

We lose to them, the abuse he is going to get come the Man City game, especially if they go one or two up will be awful. I think it's fair to say from polls on certain sites and chants at certain games he has already lost a good chunk of the fans.

I don't think Randy will want to watch his investment implode.

Does it make you feel more comfortable when there are a load of others with the same opinion as you? I noticed a feeble effort to start an anti-Houllier chant on Sunday.

[Toronto Villa]

Hey pmk. You gone into hiding? Or are you just lining up your next salvo of anti-French and anti-Houllier slurs despite today's events?

[Willie Anderson]

David James' column in The Observer today about managers (and Houllier & Grant specifically) worth a read:

http://bit.ly/h9EYxy

Really good read there.

Abit worrying though, he seems to indicate that Houllier has always had a problem with player disliking him.

He also has the opinion that success early in the managers tenure usually means you have time when things get abit rough. Houllier is on thin ice then Jamo!

Does anyone seriously think any of the Man U players would want to go out to dinner with Ferguson?

I think the difference here is, though I would be willing to bet a good portion of the Man U squad dislike SAF they all respect(/fear) him & want to play for him.

We need to draw a line under this, as todays events have shown GH will be here a good while longer, the signing of Bent & his 20+ goals a season will improve any squad I just wish we had signed him a few seasons ago. Hopefully if he does come results should turn around & make Villa Park a happier place to be.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

We need to draw a line under this, as todays events have shown GH will be here a good while longer, the signing of Bent & his 20+ goals a season will improve any squad I just wish we had signed him a few seasons ago. Hopefully if he does come results should turn around & make Villa Park a happier place to be.

Spot on.

[KevinGage]

We've needed a boost this season, it's felt like one problem after the other since the summer. Pretty much since March 2010 TBH.

Still have major doubts about GH, one signing isn't going to alter that.

But the hope is we have a strong finish to the season. Still in the FA Cup too, so plenty to play for.

[PeterWithe]

Its a fantastic statement of intent but so far, he's not managed to inspire players more talented than Bent to play at their best.

[ROBBO]

Disagree Heskey has played his best football at Villa since Houllier arrived.

[PeterWithe]

I'll concede that one.

[Toronto Villa]

I hope that all our fans really start to get behind Houllier and the team. The biggest way to thank Randy now is show our collective support with some full houses and cheering the team to a few much needed wins.

[villa for life]

If we do sign him, it will be fantastic but I don't think it is necessarily a sign that Houllier is here for the long run, though.

Lerner has always done what he thinks is in the best interests of the club and I'm sure that if, with the signings of Walker, Makoun and Bent, by the end of Feb, we are still no more than a point or two away from the bottom 3, Houllier will be under intense pressure to leave. Perhaps Randy is thinking that getting Bent in now is a good move whoever the eventual manager of the club is.

[eastie]

Delighted with the transfers so far , randy has backed him with the cash and I believe we can go on a decent run up the table. I see houllier as being here for the long term and now he is getting in some of his players I think results will improve- well done gerard.

[TopDeck113]

I don't want to pour cold water on the new-found Houllier love-in, but we still haven't  won a match in the league since Albion.

If we beat Wigan and somehow avoid defeat to one or other of the Manchester clubs (and not get stuffed against the other), I might start to feel a little more confident.

I'm also long enough in the tooth to have seen enough Record Signing strikers come and go to know that it's easy to spend the money, but it doesn't necessarily mean you'll get the goals you imagine you've somehow guaranteed.  First, let's see Bent in a Villa shirt; then let's see a return of a goal every two game between now and the end of the season.

[pmk1981]

Hey pmk. You gone into hiding? Or are you just lining up your next salvo of anti-French and anti-Houllier slurs despite today's events?

i never doubted houlliers signings

i just dont like his management, his touchline commitment, his tactical knowledge....

so basically he signs a couple of players and he is the best manager we have ever had?

give it a rest you fool

[eastie]

Pmk have you seen what houllier has achieved as a manager in his career- his tactical knowledge can hardly be questioned, get off his back and enjoy the good times ahead of us , he is starting to build his team so give him a chance!