In defence of Houllier

[sfx412]

There has been some extenuating circumstances I agree but even with all our players back we have remained shit.

Well they've had 2 - 3 games at most when they have all been fit, and even then not all have been present, Dunne and Young against Man city so I suppose ignoring the great fight back twice at Chelsea they must be shit.
Lets face it if a manager can't get immediate wins against top opposition within 2 weeks of players with no match fitness being back, he deserves the sack.

Derr, derr.

[sfx412]

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.

The only one group who know better than players how it should be done when things start going wrong, fans.

[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.

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.

Only vaguely remember that too be honest. Thanks! They arent totally blameless, but I think Houllier/the management team more. like I said, I see it as bad management, and a little arrogant, to come in and try to rip things up and start all over so quickly.

[Brend'Watkins]

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

I agree with that.  Furthermore, there was no need to try and implement so many changes.  A bit of tweaking was all that was needed for starters.

The thing I am picking up about Houllier and have from when he started is that he doesn't appear bothered about our predicament.  It's as though he's thinking this is an alright job, nothing more.  That might not be the case but it's the impression I get from him in his interviews and his demeanour.  He needs to start showing some passion and somehow convince us that we should get behind him.

[rutski]

i am 100% behind him whilst he is the manager of aston villa! I support the team, club etc and a few more need to support their team than turning up at the game and venting spleen, slagging off the players and the management! When you are there, support the boys! Come home and moan after, but whilst you are moaning when the game is going on and not behind our lads you are damaging us!

[dave.woodhall]

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

I agree with that.  Furthermore, there was no need to try and implement so many changes.  A bit of tweaking was all that was needed for starters.

The thing I am picking up about Houllier and have from when he started is that he doesn't appear bothered about our predicament.  It's as though he's thinking this is an alright job, nothing more.  That might not be the case but it's the impression I get from him in his interviews and his demeanour.  He needs to start showing some passion and somehow convince us that we should get behind him.

I've been told that about him - nothing seems to get him upset or seem particularly bothered. Maybe he disguises his emotions, or maybe it's a follow-on from his illness - work isn't that important after you almost died. 

[Rudy Can't Fail]

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

I agree with that.  Furthermore, there was no need to try and implement so many changes.  A bit of tweaking was all that was needed for starters.

Whilst I agree with you, in reality how was he to know what had gone on previously, especially at Bodymoor Heath, as MON took everybody with him. Houllier had no choice but to set things up his way from Day 1, as the was no continuity in any shape or form from the previous season. Nothing.

[Risso]

I still don't think there's any excuse for taking the squad of players at our disposal and getting less than a point a game from them.  We've got players like Heskey, Dunne, Collins and NRC who have all played for bosses before who like to play more football than O'Neill did.

[Shrek]

Does Houllier actually care?

He said in his press conference he is glad he is part of the 4 managers under real pressure?!

He called it an exclusive club.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

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

I agree with that.  Furthermore, there was no need to try and implement so many changes.  A bit of tweaking was all that was needed for starters.

The thing I am picking up about Houllier and have from when he started is that he doesn't appear bothered about our predicament.  It's as though he's thinking this is an alright job, nothing more.  That might not be the case but it's the impression I get from him in his interviews and his demeanour.  He needs to start showing some passion and somehow convince us that we should get behind him.

I've been told that about him - nothing seems to get him upset or seem particularly bothered.

Yes, we had noticed.

[Drummond]

So now staying calm is a bad thing? If he jumped around and shouted people would moan he was too animated.

[pauliewalnuts]

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

I agree with that.  Furthermore, there was no need to try and implement so many changes.  A bit of tweaking was all that was needed for starters.

The thing I am picking up about Houllier and have from when he started is that he doesn't appear bothered about our predicament.  It's as though he's thinking this is an alright job, nothing more.  That might not be the case but it's the impression I get from him in his interviews and his demeanour.  He needs to start showing some passion and somehow convince us that we should get behind him.

I've been told that about him - nothing seems to get him upset or seem particularly bothered.

Yes, we had noticed.

Hadn't we just.

I was never convinced by all MON's jumping around kicking imaginary footballs on the touchline, but Houllier looks like he doesn't give a flying one, and carries it all off with an air of "you should be grateful to have me".

[Drummond]

Good point, instead he should bow down, show he's not worthy and apologise every time he speaks.

[LeeB]

I just watched the interview on Midlands Today.

I quite like the bloke, and the more the mob start digging out their pitchforks, the more I'll get behind him.

[ROBBO]

Take a look back to MONs last season how many times did i read on these pages that he was living in the past, that football had past him by, that he only picks his favourites. If you think Houllier has put some players of side look at his predecessor and his spat with NRC and Luke Young then buying players such as Beye and never playing him (how much did that cost us or Randy). I can well imagine when Houllier came he panicked a little when he saw how backward we were and maybe his efforts to modernize put some players noses out of joint. All supposition i know but who knows. What i do know is this, whoever took over managing the squad had an herculian job ahead of him,  we were at the start of a decline, Randy had decided that too many players were getting too much money for doing nothing and it had to stop, we had very expensive average players on our books. This is going to be a painfull excersize, a total restructure is under way but if we are to be successful it has to be done.