Aston Villa v Sunderland Post-Match Thread

[Lobsterboy]

The tosser speaks.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/9331248.stm

He makes me want to hurl my wife's expensive new Macbook through the window.


"We'll make it, don't worry"


We might if you fuck off you inept c***.

And listening to that load of bo**ocks he clearly has no intention of doing the decent thing and resigning; still he reckons we'll be alright so nothing to worry about is there?

[SoccerHQ]

first time in the bottom 3 for 8 years... EIGHT YEARS

Were we not bottom 3 sometime in 05/06?

We're going to be bottom in two weeks time folks.

[jembob]

The whole thing was a disgrace. I don't know who to be angry at most - the dreadful manager, clueless players or inept officials. We cannot afford to persist with this arrangement regardless of who is to blame and decisive action needs to be taken straight away. Whether Houllier inherited a bunch of problems or not, the squad have not responded to him whatsoever and certainly never will.

Tonight's performance was shocking and it's clear that the players are completely demotivated. I can't see that there was any plan at all tonight apart from lumping it up to Heskey (who was excellent until he lost his head) although they continued with that approach after he had been sent off. Gabby didn't stand a chance in the air against Bramble and Ferdinand although that didn't seem to deter our brainless defenders.

Houllier failed to change anything. After half time we came out without any urgency. When Heskey went off nobody seemed to know what to do. The formation was clearly not working yet the Manager and his assistants decided that it was better to leave things as they were rather than to bring on some fresh players. Brining Bannan and Albrighton on at 87 minutes was just so fucking brainless, it beggars belief. It makes MON look like some sort of tactical genius. If they had have been on after 60 minutes we may have stood a chance.

I'm just very angry.

[deero83]

Decent first half I thought, I really felt we should have been at least 1-0 up at half time. They seemed to be playing a bit more like they did against Chelsea. Then half time happened and a different Villa 11 seemed to come onto the pitch. They'd suddenly forgotten how to play, swapped positions willy nilly and started hoofing it around to Dunne up front. Gabby looked disinterested; I couldn't see why Heskey got sent off but he was running the show for us before that incident.

These are very bad times indeed. I agree with many on here that GH has shown no real signs of being able to turn it round but I fully expect Randy to stick with him and, heaven forbid, to not give him any money over January.

[BILL DE VALL]

"James Milner aside this is the same group of players who got top 6!!!!!"

My God ,do we miss Milner

[Legion]

I'm a bit emotional, gutted, angry and down right now so I reserve the right to change this in the morning:

Far better in the first half.
Heskey and Reo-Coker at least gave it a go. Heskey was great until he swung out and got sent off. Idiot.
How Downing was not substituted I'll never know.
The subs came on far too late and then to see Young (A.) and Bannan/Albrighton(?) playing at CB for the last few minutes made me lose the plot somewhat so I apologise to all those around me for my vitriolic outburst.
Gabby should have been swapped with Young as it was obviously not working.
As for Houllier, my head says give him time but my heart is sinking fast.

I'm off to hit the bottle. Or the cat.

[andyh]

The tosser speaks.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/9331248.stm


He makes me want to hurl my wife's expensive new Macbook through the window.


"We'll make it, don't worry"


We might if you fuck off you inept c***.

I can't even be bothered to listen to what he has to say, although I can guess.
Words, platitudes and bollocks!!!!!

[midnite]

Just seen houlliers interview on sky sports news. The guy is smiling. Doesn't seem fazed at all. Not sure if I'm shocked or scared!, first time in 7 years we've dropped into the bottom 3.

Is the guy that confident he won't be getting a bollocking from up stairs he can just dismiss a performance like that??!!!!!

[kippaxvilla2]

It mirrors Paulie's point, but, in short, these players do not want to play for this manager.  As highly paid professionals this should not be the case.  They should be made to play.  But unlike any other job, players have way to much sway and ultimately will decide whether the club does well or not.  I think they are simply going through the motions as opposed to running through walls under the previous manager.  That is the difference.

It is a bad state of affairs.  But I never wanted Houllier in the first place.  I think he has changed too many things too quickly in an almost arrogant fashion and it has backfired.  He has to go now.  I cannot see us getting another point in January.  The transfer window makes no difference if we are as is being reported only in the market for Spuds kids.  So let's get rid now.  If they cannot get Jol in now (not sure why that would be the case) go for a Southgate type character until the end of the season to try and keep us afloat.  In summary, as it stands tonight I literally cannot see where we can get another 19 points (minimum) from 17 games - with three against the top 3.

[SoccerHQ]

After the red card he played for a scoreless draw, hence the lack of subs. But Albrighton for one of the lacklustre Downing, Gabby or Young would have given us a fresh outlet. Was he too afraid to bring off one of the big players? Wouldn't be surprised. I was calling for changes 10 mins before Heskey got himself sent off - seriously, it was like MON without the backbone.

No confidence or conviction going forward, Young always going on the outside before over-hitting a cross or playing for a free. And this Sunderland side were bog standard.
Creatively void without the nippers - not Houllier's fault but his training regime has not made these players improve their passing, vision and movement which we badly missed with O'Neill. Overhauling/implementing a scouting system aside we seem to have regressed in every other way. It may be only four months but give him another four months, and going by his recent record, he will take us down. 

Best post on this thread.

The whole game and whole situation in a nutshell.

[black pearl of inchicore]

Not time to sack Houllier,we need stability,he got landed with an ageing squad who were MON'S favourite 11.Time to sign Wheater and Samba and get rid of 150 year old Friedel..surely the gaffer has a decent french keeper in mind.We need an out an out poacher who will lead the line..someone like Bellamy and a midfielder who has a couple of gears in him,not like our couple of Morris Minors[petrov,coker,downing].
                                      No more signing like Pires,his playing days in top flight football are over.

[adam#1]

Just seen houlliers interview on sky sports news. The guy is smiling. Doesn't seem fazed at all. Not sure if I'm shocked or scared!, first time in 7 years we've dropped into the bottom 3.

Is the guy that confident he won't be getting a bollocking from up stairs he can just dismiss a performance like that??!!!!!

Upstairs are clueless. Thats part of the problem. No leadership at the top, just a philanthropic mute american soccer fan, his YTS trainee and an army General who disappears from message boards when the going gets tough.

[CorkVilla]

What was it he said in his first press conference after he took thejob...'Aston Villa are a club that in my view traditionally finished between 7th and 12th'...sounds like heaven now!

[mr woo]

Yeah, but you say it like you can sack him on Thursday and appoint the new bloke on Friday.

Remember how long it took last time?

Randy isn't like Mike Ashley - lining up a replacement weeks before he's fucked off his current gaffer.

In all honesty it has been obvious for some weeks that Houllier is floundering around without a clue so I would hope that Randy and his team have been keeping tabs on the Manager employment scene so that when it becomes neccessary to relieve Houllier of his duties they could replace him quickly.

If they have not been doing this then they are very stupid people.

I agree with you mate, to an extent, but what I'm saying is they won't have tapped up a currently employed manager. Out of honour, decency or whatever.

So that leaves us with Big Sam, Jol and......?

And even then, its giving a new man 3 weeks to assess the squad, identify weaknesses and broker transfers.

Not saying its the wrong thing to sack Houllier at all, but you need to a reasoned judgement after all things are considered.

[koreanmeatballs]

We are actually going down.

That was just as bad as Man City/Liverpool 'performances.'

I am shocked how bad he has made us. Can he PLEASE just leave. I don't want the guy to make transfers, I have no confidence in the man in anything he does.

HOULLIER PLEASE LEAVE.