PS Mr Lerner

[eastie]

I'm with you on this clampy, I think houllier made a big big mistake last night , what must the likes of Ashley young be thinking? Hardly inspiring is it , sure make 2 or 3 changes but to change 8 is ridiculous.

We are football fans, we want to see our team win games and not turn out such a weak side in a big cup game. , I think houllier has lost a lot of fans over this in just the same way o neill did in Moscow.

[Chris Smith]

In my judgement we would've been better persevering with the team that had only lost one of the last nine or so games and had a thumping four-one win at the week-end.

We're not going down anyway. If Houllier is that much of a scaredy-pants I doubt he'll be able to motivate us to a huge number of future glories.

I admire your confidence but our defensive failings, particularly with the latest crop of injuries, give me cause to think that although we're not favourites it is still a possibility.

[cdbearsfan]

It's still a possibility. I would have been a possibility had we played our full team and beaten Man City. I don't understand your point.

And if it was just to avoid the risk of injury then why bring Young, Downing and Walker on when the game was lost? Also, why play Clarke and Dunne - we have no cover for them if one gets injured?

[Legion]

In my judgement we would've been better persevering with the team that had only lost one of the last nine or so games and had a thumping four-one win at the week-end.

We're not going down anyway. If Houllier is that much of a scaredy-pants I doubt he'll be able to motivate us to a huge number of future glories.

I admire your confidence but our defensive failings, particularly with the latest crop of injuries, give me cause to think that although we're not favourites it is still a possibility

So is qualification for Europe.

[cdbearsfan]

I'm trying to imagine the line-up if we qualify for Europe...

Marshall
Herd
Petrov
Lowry
Tea Lady
Pires
Petrov
Johnson
Programme Seller
Petrov
Groundsman

[Chris Smith]

Chris, you've been telling everyone we won't go down and how we have lost 1 in 9 and yet now you say we daren't take the risk- which is it to be?

I don't think that we'll go down but think that there is still a chance. The manager wants to minimise that risk as, I'm sure, does his boss.

There is a difference between understanding his motives and agreeing 100% with the decision. What we're getting on here is mostly emotional with little effort to to see it from any other perspective.
 

[PeterWithesShin]

In my judgement we would've been better persevering with the team that had only lost one of the last nine or so games and had a thumping four-one win at the week-end.

We're not going down anyway. If Houllier is that much of a scaredy-pants I doubt he'll be able to motivate us to a huge number of future glories.

I admire your confidence but our defensive failings, particularly with the latest crop of injuries, give me cause to think that although we're not favourites it is still a possibility

So is qualification for Europe.

Finishing 6th to 20th is a mathematical possibility for every club currently 6th-20th. Virtually anything can be claimed to be a possibility, some are just a lot more or less likely than others. I'd list us being relegated considering our run in to be highly unlikely. The same as it's highly unlikely we'll finish 6th.

Winning the FA Cup was a possibility as well. It became a lot less likely once the team sheet was handed in last night.

[Legion]

I agree with all of that. So our season is effectively over. Mid-table mediocrity awaits.

[TimTheVillain]

How many people slating Young and Downing in recent months have complained about them being rested last night I wonder?

I haven't really slated either. However, I think even those that had would recognise that they both played excellently against Blackburn. It would therefore be madness, when they appeared to be in top form, to rest them for our biggest game of the season.

And therein lies the difference. To you, as a fan, it is the biggest game of the season. To the manager and owner it is secondary to ensuring we don't get relegated. We've all seen the accounts and can be left in no doubt that going down would be very difficult to deal with, we just cannot afford to take the risk.

If ( and it's a big IF) Randy told him to stay up at ALL costs, even play a weak team in the attempt to stay in the Prem., then as an employee, GH did the right thing.

I can't see Randy doing this though, he wants to win the FA Cup as much as we do - surely ?

Staying up is :-

a) Not dependant on how we do in the FA Cup even though it can be argued that winning is a habit.

or

b) Very likely, looking at our team, our form lately, our run in and what other teams in the bottom half are looking like.

Bad move GH.

[Chris Smith]

It's still a possibility. I would have been a possibility had we played our full team and beaten Man City. I don't understand your point.

And if it was just to avoid the risk of injury then why bring Young, Downing and Walker on when the game was lost? Also, why play Clarke and Dunne - we have no cover for them if one gets injured?

My point Is that the manager wanted to rest some players and have a look some others so took the opportunity. He can't leave them all out but he did what he thought would be best for the squad. You don't have to like it but I would expect that you at least make an effort to understand it.

[eastie]

Football is a game of emotions chris, of course people will be angry, houllier made out in the press we were taking this seriously, if we were going to play a weakened team , why not let the fans know before they travelled up there?

If we had won the club would be buzzing and on a high at Bolton but now we have taken a huge backward step and houllier has again alienated many fans, if we were in the bottom 3 maybe i'd understand it but surely the manager must have faith that his improving team can win at least 2 of the last 10 games?

[Chris Smith]

Eastie, you're not making any attempt to understand.you've decide you are right and that there are no other views allowed but then you've said previously that you think relegation is not that bad so you will obviously be coming from a different angle.

[eastie]

Come on chris , Im not saying I am right, but more people feel houllier was bang out of order than agree with your understanding of things, yes I value the fa cup as the holy grail and it's clear that others don't , I agree with rotation and many other things GED has done but last night he was wrong and I stand by that, you of course are quite entitled to your view and I respect that but we will have to agree to differ on this one.

[ozzjim]

I value the cup, but the draw was possibly the toughest we could get IMO. City are a very good side, and love playing the Villa at their place. I think the hysteria since has been way over the top, and I think the manager would argue that until next season when he has had a summer to shape his own squad that he will be solely concentrating on the league and making sure there is a next season.

[Chris Smith]

You keep missing the point, Eastie. I don't fully support his selection, I think he made a couple too many changes. What I am saying is that I understand why he did it and accept that he, as the manager, has every right to pick the team he sees fit without getting all the abuse he has and that calls for him to be sacked because of it are verging on insane.