Has Houllier changed our club for the better?

[Shrek]

At the start of the summer he'd agreed with Lerner and Faulkner which players should be sold (Davies, L young, Beye, NRC, Sidwell, Shorey)

Had he?

According to the General, yes he had. His criticism was that MON then changed, which I took to mean he got impatient waiting for the club to sell some players and wanted to make his signings as the season was about to start.

So the General has actually said those players were for sale?

[cheltenhamlion]

MON stuck a few on the list early, either rejected bids or couldn't find buyers for most because of their wages, and had a hissy fit when he couldn't spend the Milner money on Keane and McGeady before they went.

[Cuz]

Quiet right

He inherited a top 6 team less one player. He's been backed with a lot of money in his one transfer window. We're out of both cups and 2 points off relegation with 9 games to go, am I missing something here? He's been a pretty much unmitigated disaster. The comment about him being sure we would win things was a couple of days before he jacked in the FA cup. I don't believe any of this "vision for the future" bollocks. As I recall a Champions League place was always the target when Gregory was boss. Well I couldn't see it happening then and I can't see it happening now.

[Cuz]

Passion giving direction, if something is wrong like a player not picking up etc just sitting there like a plank isn't going to get the message across, perhap this is why GMac has been a disastar in every managerial job he's had

What pisses me of about mcAllister is that he sits on the bench and shows no emotion, rarely getting up and tbh he looks like he would rather be somewhere else.

Best line was from the WM commentary against man City:

"The only reason I know that Houllier & McAllister are not waxwork dummies is because Houllier just blinked"

I've never bought into this 'The Manager and coaches should be jumping around on the touch line like prawns on a hot plate.'

I don't think it proves a thing.

[LeeB]

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.

How the fuck did you get to "fact" from "rumoured aquisitions"?

[LeeB]

What pisses me of about mcAllister is that he sits on the bench and shows no emotion, rarely getting up and tbh he looks like he would rather be somewhere else.

Best line was from the WM commentary against man City:

"The only reason I know that Houllier & McAllister are not waxwork dummies is because Houllier just blinked"

You're right. We should get Freddie Starr in instead.

[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!

Isn't it interesting. GH took the trouble to say that at a press conference, knowing that Collins & Dunne had a drunken fight.

[eastie]

Drunken fight ? The report I read was Collins and dunne had a heated row with the coaching staff while houllier and Gary mac were away at the spurs game- hardly Collins and dunne having a drunken fight is it?

[dave.woodhall]

Obviously the useless, incompetent, lazy, anti-Villa media have suddenly become purveyors of truth and justice.

[Bad English]

"The only reason I know that Houllier & McAllister are not waxwork dummies is because Houllier just blinked"

Houllier has had to undergo emergency heart surgery in the past; he may well have chosen to conduct himself in a more sedate manner for this reason. I don't think it would be in anyone's interest for him to make a show of his passion and desire to win.* Do you really care about all the histrionic bollocks we see in the "technical area"?


*He could do that via his team selections and press interviews, couldn't he?

[Chris Smith]

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.

How the fuck did you get to "fact" from "rumoured aquisitions"?

You used the rumours as a reason that we couldn't finish sixth.

[pauliewalnuts]

So Paul Faulkner now owns, runs and makes every decision at the club? Or is it just that he is an easier target?

It is far simpler than that. Paul Faulkner is at fault for everything.

In fact, Martin didn't actually walk out, he was driven out by Faulkner.

In fact, that's why we haven't heard anything from Martin - he's dead, Faulkner's got him locked in his basement.

[LeeB]

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.

How the fuck did you get to "fact" from "rumoured aquisitions"?

You used the rumours as a reason that we couldn't finish sixth.

No Chris, try reading up to the first question mark before you make a condescending generalisation.

[Chris Smith]

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.

How the fuck did you get to "fact" from "rumoured aquisitions"?

You used the rumours as a reason that we couldn't finish sixth.

No Chris, try reading up to the first question mark before you make a condescending generalisation.

I wasn't intending to be condescending but to me it read like you were trying to use them to support your argument. If you weren't then my aologies for the  misunderstanding.

[LeeB]

I wasn't intending to be condescending but to me it read like you were trying to use them to support your argument. If you weren't then my aologies for the  misunderstanding.

No problem Chris.