In defence of Houllier

[Simba]

Very good. Nothing about Dunne though.

[The Situation]

I can agree with some points, but it's Houllier's job to rectify what's gone wrong and that seems to be happening is going one step foward and two steps back. Good result against the Baggies, then a couple of poor defeats... great result against Chavski, then follow it up with a dire result against fucking Sunderland.

I still can't help but think those two reaults against United and Fulham have severely affected us mentally... win those 2 games and we'd be nowhere near relegation.

There's no stability or consistency right now, as manager he needs to deliver that.

[Pete3206]

I heard that members of the squad stuffed a banana Houllier's exhaust pipe and put laxatives in his cup of tea. They also start going "mmmmmmmmmmmmm" in unison when Houllier does a team briefing. It was on Facebook or something.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

I heard that members of the squad stuffed a banana Houllier's exhaust pipe and put laxatives in his cup of tea. They also start going "mmmmmmmmmmmmm" in unison when Houllier does a team briefing. It was on Facebook or something.

They also keep mumbling 'All bummers are deaf' at him.

[TheSandman]

There has been some extenuating circumstances I agree but even with all our players back we have remained shit. The selection, the delayed subs, the spirit and body language of some of the players and the position are all symptomatic of a manager in need of replacement.

As much as Houllier is not the only one to blame he is the easiest one to replace. Especially as some people might do less to actively cause the problem under the new manager.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

What's most disappointing is it's our senior players who have let us down. The kids have done us proud.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

What's most disappointing is it's our senior players who have let us down. The kids have done us proud.

Quite right Mark.
The kids have done all that's been asked whilst the senior pros have looked like peulant kids who'd rather be anywhere than playing football.

[dave.woodhall]

He's tried to do too many different things too quickly.

[JJ-AV]

I think this is a decent point, we've not had a settled team. Even discounting the injuries I think he's been too quick to change it at times.

Friedel, Collins, Downing and Ashley have just about been the only settled picks.

[Monty]

He's tried to do too many different things too quickly.

I would go along with this. It seems to me that he's tried to implement the correct style of football but without the players to do it, and he vastly over-estimated the abilities of some of the players to adapt.

[nodge]

I think he does need some support - i am hearing that a few of MON's favourites are determined that he will not succeed (Petrov + Dunne being two very influential players)
I feel that he was thrown in the deepend whern there really was not many decent choices available thanks to the pube head going the way he did also i am hearing that pre season was a joke as MON knew what he was going to do so in fact he did everything he could to fuck us up prior to him going 4 days before the season kicked in. Add to this quite a few players were already told they were surplus (NRC / Beye / Sidders etc) so it was always going to be tough for any manager to enamour them to the club. Add again the spiralling injury list which was as bad as was good all the time under MON and he was on a hiding to nothing.
Now dont get me wrong the Liverpool fiasco regarding the loss and his actions really did not help him with a lot of fans, escpecially with the more precious of our fans "demanding an apology"  (I actually feel how Hodgson has grovelled to 'The Mighty Reds YNWA' fans  is awful and probably more a sign of the times than anything else)

And then there is luck - or lack of it - it certainly goes against you when you are down here and we have certainly had some shit luck in a lot of games.

There is no excuse for Wed and he should have changed it - it was a poor game but one i felt we would win in 2nd half until Heskey had a rush of blood and then we went into panic mode - i would imagine it would be difficult to make decisions when "our fans" are taking the piss by singing "Sacked in the morning"

Lets not forget we all raved about how free from the shackles our players looked against WHU - then most of commented on how pleasing it was to see our style of gameplay change and especially the fact that he made tactical changes and did not favour  the old stages (Did you see the petulance that Petrov did when he was subbed - he would never be captain again for me - he had a shocker yet looked like he was gobsmacked to be taken off).

I feel that the window will make up my mind of Houllier and the board - get this one wrong and we could be in the shit - big style

Although he has made some cock ups - lets not forget why we are here and who put the spoke in the wheels at the start of the season

Have you got proof of this then?  I seem to remember Kev Mac saying MON called him before the West Ham game offering him advice.  Sounds like the work of a "spiteful" man.  It's amazing how many people on here know what happened between MON and the board.  Anybody heard MON's version of events yet?

[dave.woodhall]

I don't even think it's that so much as the quote I keep dredging up by one of the team about Venglos: "We used to laugh at the things he got us to do, but every top club does them now."

[glasses]

I have been saying this since Birmingham at home. Whether his changes will benefit in the long term remain to be seen, but I cant express my annoyance enough at the fact he has tried to do this. Its Bad management.

[LeeB]

I have been saying this since Birmingham at home. Whether his changes will benefit in the long term remain to be seen, but I cant express my annoyance enough at the fact he has tried to do this. Its Bad management.

I can only really bring myself to be annoyed at the arsehole players who are resisting the change.

And a quick apology for the Reo Coker cheap gag last week, I was in a good mood when I posted it.

[Monty]

I don't even think it's that so much as the quote I keep dredging up by one of the team about Venglos: "We used to laugh at the things he got us to do, but every top club does them now."

Well that's true enough, and that's as much the fault of MON's notoriously, erm, historical approach to match preparation, tactics etc. Wasn't one of the things Venglos was most derided for 'shadow play', where the team would play a 'match' without the ball or the opposition? Everybody does this now, modern positional play relies on it, but players just thought it was daft when it was brought in.