The difference between o neill and houllier

[hawkeye]

What I don't get is if the training was so sloppy previously why did we score so many more goals from set pieces and also defend a lot better than we are now with our double training sessions.

Our legendry set peice success was not in abundance last season, but the frailty of our defence is a this season issue

[Chris Smith]

It's far too simplistic to put it all down to motivation, that won't keep you in the top 6 for three years on the bounce. Wee were well organised, we had some very good players who knew their jobs and what their role was within the team. That's somethingbthat gets ignored by many, there's a world of difference between having the best players and having the best team.

[hawkeye]

It's far too simplistic to put it all down to motivation, that won't keep you in the top 6 for three years on the bounce. Wee were well organised, we had some very good players who knew their jobs and what their role was within the team. That's somethingbthat gets ignored by many, there's a world of difference between having the best players and having the best team.

I agree Chris and we have lost Barry Laursen Milner all players that could influence a game, we are lacking a focal point in the team now which is a big problem. Our inactivity in the summer and the limited opportunity to appoint a manager is the prime cause of our predicament.

[Villa'Zawg]

Without doubt MON had the ability to motivate "his" players and get them to play his limited idea of football effectively.
Now we have the opposite a bloke that dosent seem to care that much and his methods are not working.

I dont have much faith that he knows how to turn this around, Sunday is a huge game for him and us.

"So Lerner and his key confidants such as chief executive Paul Faulkner deliberately sought out a successor who was completely different to the Irishman."

I can see how Faulkner with his experience as a Relationship Manager at MBNA would know what was needed. After all, he's done a fecking sterling job since he took over responsibility for transfers in May.

[hawkeye]

Without doubt MON had the ability to motivate "his" players and get them to play his limited idea of football effectively.
Now we have the opposite a bloke that dosent seem to care that much and his methods are not working.

I dont have much faith that he knows how to turn this around, Sunday is a huge game for him and us.

"So Lerner and his key confidants such as chief executive Paul Faulkner deliberately sought out a successor who was completely different to the Irishman."

I can see how Faulkner with his experience as a Relationship Manager at MBNA would know what was needed. After all, he's done a fecking sterling job since he took over responsibility for transfers in May.

The problem was that the summer went by and nothing happened except selling Milner and MON walking

[The Man With A Stick]

If MON had been after Makoun, he'd have been signed, in the shirt, on the pitch, and consigned to a lifetime on the bench by now.

[ozzjim]

If MON was after Makoun... oh no he would not have been.


But if he had... for 1 second lets be realistic. He would have been signed on the last day of the window, for an inflated fee with 10k more in his pocket than he would have had 3 weeks ago.

One noticeable different is that GH has targets in the transfer market and is willing to play the game more. Martin O'Neill was a fumbling bafoon and we all hated the way he procrastinated to the point of delirium all window and then either scrambled for too much, or got nothing.

[Villa'Zawg]

If MON had been after Makoun, he'd have been signed, in the shirt, on the pitch, and consigned to a lifetime on the bench by now.

If he was better than Petrov, it would be as it should be with Petrov on the bench and Makoun earning his money playing 45 games a season.

[Greg N'Ash]

awh come on now. MON used to play his favourites however bad they were. Say what you like about GH but he at least drops out of form players

[dave.woodhall]

Without doubt MON had the ability to motivate "his" players and get them to play his limited idea of football effectively.
Now we have the opposite a bloke that dosent seem to care that much and his methods are not working.

I dont have much faith that he knows how to turn this around, Sunday is a huge game for him and us.

"So Lerner and his key confidants such as chief executive Paul Faulkner deliberately sought out a successor who was completely different to the Irishman."

I can see how Faulkner with his experience as a Relationship Manager at MBNA would know what was needed. After all, he's done a fecking sterling job since he took over responsibility for transfers in May.

Why don't you apply for his job? What with you being an absolute expert at every single aspect of running a  football club. 

[ozzjim]

awh come on now. MON used to play his favourites however bad they were. Say what you like about GH but he at least drops out of form players

See despite the result and the falling outs, I still have a better long term feel about the old Frenchman than I did about O'Neill - I fear the latter was a glorified John Gregory. Similar results too.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

If MON had been after Makoun, he'd have been signed, in the shirt, on the pitch, and consigned to a lifetime on the bench by now.

If he was better than Petrov, it would be as it should be with Petrov on the bench and Makoun earning his money playing 45 games a season.

Don't be silly, he'd have them both in the team with Makoun playing at right back.

[Brazilian Villain]

The players, for all I care, can be commuting from John O'Groats to sit lounging in the Bodymoor Heath jacuzzi whilst chatting on their mobile phones, as long as they do the business on the pitch come match day.

Manifestly they're not, and for so long as that remains the case, all the talk of changes of culture and method is just fatuous bull shit.

I know it has already been said, but the answer to the question posed in the thread title is about 20 points, a dozen or so league places and an immeasurable amount of positivity around all things Aston Villa.

Nail on head.

[Bosco81]

"So Lerner and his key confidants such as chief executive Paul Faulkner deliberately sought out a successor who was completely different to the Irishman."

I can see how Faulkner with his experience as a Relationship Manager at MBNA would know what was needed. After all, he's done a fecking sterling job since he took over responsibility for transfers in May.

Why don't you apply for his job? What with you being an absolute expert at every single aspect of running a  football club. 

No-one on here can play professional football but it doesn't stop us making judgements on our lot.

The idea of MON spending money as if he's had the keys to the petty cash tin without anyone knowing is surely in the remit of PF.

The appointment of the new manager seemed to be the result of an advert in the job centre and then wait 4 weeks to see who applied.

Given that Houllier is out in France negotiating the Makoun deal whereas in other clubs that's left to the Chief Executive, I will ask a genuine question, what does Paul Faulkner do ?

[Concrete John]

It makes you wonder who the dis-satisfied players think the club will bring in if they sack Houllier. Can't be many managers around today who train in such a sloppy easy going manner. Short of building a time machine and kidnapping some coach from the 70's they're stuffed.

I don't think it needs a manager like Martin to come in again.  What is needed, IMO, is a manager who portrays his ideas and methods to the players in such a way as they believe in them, and therefore him, and effectively 'buy into' what he wants them to do. 

Basically, I think the faults are not with what Houllier is doing, but with how he's getting his message across.  And yes, I do find that a little 'precious' of the players.

Hopefully, with time and some of his own players brought in, Gezza will get there.