Has Houllier changed our club for the better?

[Rip Van We Go Again]

We may have finished 6th last year, but does anyone seriously think this squad would have achieved it again? With the rumoured aquisitions of Keane and McGeady?

I don't, and I don't think the prick in charge did, so he sat on his hands all summer and fucked off when it was too late.

We'd done it three times in a row so it's possible but the club refusing to spend any money until players were sold would have made it difficult whoever was in charge.

It does make me laugh how tabloid rumours are held up as fact on here.

Chris.
I got the info about McGeady and Keane from a journo very close to the club.
I know it makes O'Neill look bad, but it's the truth.

[Concrete John]

I don't think it makes him look bad.  A lot of us cringed at the idea of paying £12m for Milner and look how that worked out.

With MON we didnt agree with the signings, but (for the most part) couldn't argue with the results.  With Gezza it's the other way around and I know which I prefer!!

[Risso]

It surprises me that anybody doubts that O'Neill would have been after McGeady.  If ever there was a player that ticked all the O'Neill boxes, that was one.

[Pete3206]

Houllier's 'Barcelona' style team formation is great in theory. The team has plenty of possesion and plays lots of nice passes around the middle of the pitch. Unfortunately, we can't score for shit and can't keep defenders fit. Plus, we keep loaning players out when we might need them.

Players like Makoun and Delph will be important in the run in and next season beacuse I think they could link up well with the wide palyers and Darren Bent. Houllier badly needs to address the defensive problems and despite him dropping a bollock by letting the world know about it, I agree with him.

I don't like Houllier. Even worse, I don't rate him. I would gladly love to be wrong about him and hope he can make us competitive next season. We have to give him that opportunity.

[Chris Smith]

It surprises me that anybody doubts that O'Neill would have been after McGeady.  If ever there was a player that ticked all the O'Neill boxes, that was one.

He might well have been interested but it's now treated as though we did sign him and he was shit.

[Risso]

It surprises me that anybody doubts that O'Neill would have been after McGeady.  If ever there was a player that ticked all the O'Neill boxes, that was one.

He might well have been interested but it's now treated as though we did sign him and he was shit.

I'm sure that in one of the other dimensions/universes, we're still managed by O'Neill, and are playing a midfield of McGeady, Downing, Young and Albrighton.  Mind you, we are 8th in the table, although March is turning out to not be a very good month.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

It surprises me that anybody doubts that O'Neill would have been after McGeady.  If ever there was a player that ticked all the O'Neill boxes, that was one.

He might well have been interested but it's now treated as though we did sign him and he was shit.

Well, we didn't sign him, but he's certainly shit.
I didn't see any other clubs of note show an interest in him.

Had we have signed him, he may well have given O'Neill a dirty look in training, then whoosh, £15m in transfer fee and wages down the khazi.

[paulcomben]

From official site: "Gerard Houllier has hailed Villa's brilliant team bonding break a massive success, insisting the overnight hotel stay has refreshed the players as they look to end the season on a high. 'I know the previous manager took the players to Dubai, but I thought this was the right choice as most of the players will be on international duty after the Wolverhampton game. I thought one night and two days was fine.' " Those budget cuts really are biting!

[WikiVilla]

Anyone know where they went ? Travelodge Perry Barr ?

[Pete3206]

Anyone know where they went ? Travelodge Perry Barr ?

The Etap on Bristol Road

[eastie]

I think had mon been here we would have finished around 10th this season , i think he knew hed probably got as much out of them as he could and would need to spend big to retain top 6 status, we may still finish 10 th under houllier yet , but i have no doubt that the team mon built had peaked and without milner we would not have finished top 6.

Equally i dont necessarily agree that he left a poor team behind but the fact that his style of play is so different to houlliers style means it would always be a transition season , however i didnt expect to flirt with relegation , but the signs are there that the football is improving and with that will come results sooner rather than later.

[Villa'Zawg]

It surprises me that anybody doubts that O'Neill would have been after McGeady.  If ever there was a player that ticked all the O'Neill boxes, that was one.

He might well have been interested but it's now treated as though we did sign him and he was shit.

Well, we didn't sign him, but he's certainly shit.
I didn't see any other clubs of note show an interest in him.

Had we have signed him, he may well have given O'Neill a dirty look in training, then whoosh, £15m in transfer fee and wages down the khazi.

If funds were available, how do you think O'Neill would react if Faulkner told him that he couldn't spend them on the player of his choice?

[ktvillan]

For me, it'll be either the most disasterous appointment in modern times or something we'll look back on in a few years and realise that he has built an absolutely brilliant new foundation that will stand the club (and any new manager that takes over) in good stead for many a year.

Flip a coin.

Good insight but the relegation issue rather than a coin will decide it.  If we stay up I think his long term vision will start to unfold and we will go from strength to strength.  If we go down the whole thing potentially unravels, we lose our better players,  and we have to start building from scratch.  The question then is whether people would accept GH as the man to bring us back up and continue with his vision.  I somehow doubt many will.   GH may well become the victim of paying too much attention to the long term and not enough to short term pragmatism. 

Would O'Neill have finished 6th? Probably not with that injury list, but I think we'd certainly be in the top 8.

 

 

[not3bad]

I don't think it makes him look bad.  A lot of us cringed at the idea of paying £12m for Milner and look how that worked out.

With MON we didnt agree with the signings, but (for the most part) couldn't argue with the results.  With Gezza it's the other way around and I know which I prefer!!

Really?  You don't like Kyle Walker, Darren Bent or Jean Mckoun?  Seem to be working out OK to me.  Bradley did have the one bad game but still a bit early to judge.

[WikiVilla]

Houlliers biggest mistake may have been McAllister. 3rd or 4th choice and not necessarily up to the job
Will Houllier be able to see this and if so will he have the balls to do something ?