Manchester City v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[black pearl of inchicore]

Spare a thought for siblings of aston villa players...if they were banking on a great xmas on the back of daddy's win bonuses...i bet they were ringing NSPCC on xmas morning complaining about their scrooge like dads.I just hope that none of the kids have a birthday before the season ends....they be worse off than third world kids!

[dicedlam]

I've been arguing - last time, this morning - that it is madness to consider changing manager now, that he needs to be given a transfer window etc etc, and I still feel that way largely, but this afternoon was just shocking beyond belief and I am now starting to wonder if I was right.

Man City played well, but the simple fact is, they could have played with nine men and still easily beaten us. They didn't even play Tevez, FFS.

The main thing I slowly realised today was that this is about the players not wanting to play for the manager, it is absolutely as clear as day.

For whatever reason this is - they don't like Houllier, they don't like Gary Mac, they don't like the training routines, they're all raging Francophobes, I don't know - I now am not at all sure that bringing players in in January is going to be sufficient to turn this around, and that the bad vibes and negativity at the club at the moment will swamp out any improvement from fresh faces.

The devil here is in the detail. For example, not a single protest from our players for a goal which was quite clearly not over the line says an awful lot. No passion, no fight, no grit, no nothing.

It is also noticeable that the fans are turning against him in real numbers. Someone on here (Woodhall possibly) frequently says that Villa fans are a supportive lot, but when they turn, they do so en masse. I'm wondering if that's what we saw today.

They were fucking annoying at the time, but consider again the frequent needless gaffes ('Natural position between 7th and 12th", "not a club on the same level as Liverpool", "well, I need to finish my work at the FFF first", "I might be here for Stoke, I might not", "I dont like losing 3-0, but if i have to, I prefer to do so to Liverpool", touching the Anfield sign, ignoring our fans and applauding the Kop after a shameful performance, "what is my aim? survival".

All of those were pointless, unnecessary, avoidable clangers, now he finds himself really in need of support from the fans, he's not going to get much. If he'd avoided half of those clangers, he'd probably at least have some goodwill in the bank.

Top post.
Exactly my feeling also paulie.

Its also the arrogant smirk he gives off that says ''You are lucky to have me here'' that pisses me off as well.

[damon loves JT]

I remember now what it's like to support the Villa. Being bored with coming sixth every season... sod that. This is the claret and blue crack cocaine, straight into my lung

[Legion]

Spare a thought for siblings of aston villa players...if they were banking on a great xmas on the back of daddy's win bonuses...i bet they were ringing NSPCC on xmas morning complaining about their scrooge like dads.I just hope that none of the kids have a birthday before the season ends....they be worse off than third world kids!

What are you going on about?

[mrfuse]

I like many was willing to give Houllier the transfer window, but now im beginning to think we are going to inherit players that we dont want and its best we get shot now before Houllier does even more damage

[PaulTheVillan]

We're fucking shit, all over the park.

Sell them all.

I've had enough.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

There is a rumour going around that GED did not travel back with the players on the coach and was with  Lerner? anyone heard this?

also on WM GED publically saying Lichaj had a nightmare game, sure that will boost the young lads confidence!!

Houllier Out!

It's a rumour. Most probably false.

He is Guest of Honour at a dinner tonight being held by the Spirit of Shankly mob. Apparently it had been planned months ago.

[TheSandman]

Spare a thought for siblings of aston villa players...if they were banking on a great xmas on the back of daddy's win bonuses...i bet they were ringing NSPCC on xmas morning complaining about their scrooge like dads.I just hope that none of the kids have a birthday before the season ends....they be worse off than third world kids!

Yes I'm sure they struggle to scrape by on £40K per week and their kids have to find work as chimney sweeps due to their families intense poverty.

[Irreverent ad]

How many points were people expecting out of the games against Man City (A), Spurs (H), WBA (H), L'Pool (A), Arsenal (H), Blackburn (A) and Man U (H). I would have expected 3 or 4 points. A win v West Brom and maybe a point at B'burn. And we got 4 points.

I'm still backing the manager. We have winnable games in Jan, Feb & March.

[adamski villa]

Ian Holloway anyone ??

[WikiVilla]

Give Houllier the window and all we'll get is some 3rd rate French cast offs who have no stomach for a bottom 3 scrap
Get him out straight after the Chelsea defeat if not earlier

[madirishvillain]

what i dont understand is people saying give him the transfer window?

have you seen who we have been linked with?

Djibril Cisse? Darren Gibson? and now Joey Barton?

im just waiting for the likes of Jimmy traore and sammi hyppia to be linked


please just end it now Houllier and do the most honourable thing left and walk

[Irish villain]

There is a rumour going around that GED did not travel back with the players on the coach and was with  Lerner? anyone heard this?

also on WM GED publically saying Lichaj had a nightmare game, sure that will boost the young lads confidence!!

Houllier Out!

If he has said that about Lichaj that is a bloody disgrace, that will do him the world of good.  Something else I can't stand about Houllier never takes responsibility for anything.

As I said on another thread earlier that's what Liverpool fans would say. He always points the finger of blame, he never takes responsibility. Alex Ferguson always shielded his players and look at the success he has enjoyed. Blaming players or hanging them out to dry won't work.

[PaulTheVillan]

Let's hope Liverpool sack Woy & appoint Houllier...

[Shay]

Forget about the transfer window-
1) What player of any quality would want to join us with the state we are in at the moment?

2) What player of any quality would want to play for Houllier especially given his lack of man-management skills?

3) If by some fluke we do attract a decent player who can see past my first 2 points, who would sign for a manager who could well be sacked from the club by the end of the season?