Sack the Manager?

[Risso]

Sacking him now would just cause even more unrest, I don't think it would help.

It looks like we're buggered with him, and buggered if we get rid.  Bugger.

[TopDeck113]

Too many people have listened too much to the likes of Alan Green to have a balanced view of Sam Allardyce. 

For the most part he has managed low-to-middle ranking clubs to over-achievement.  In doing so, he had to be pragmatic about who he signed and way he set them up tactically. 

However, he was not just about route-1, dogmatic, percentage, boring football, as anyone who was at the Reebok to watch Bolton stuff us in the League Cup semi-final will testify. 

Having said all that, I don't know as to whether he - or anyone else for that matter - could sort out our defence over the next six games.

[eastie]

Are you still fully behind him chris, or have you began to have serious doubts - yesterday was so bad that I cannot in all honesty continue to back him as he seems to have lost the dressing room- as other posters have said there is an element of the damned united about this with the players responses.

My concern is that I cannot see him motivating them to get the results required.

[WikiVilla]

the lesser of 2 evils is to get rid
Keep him and our fate is sealed

My view, get Sid & KMac in as night watchmen til the season is over
Get us back to 442 counter attacking, regroup / rally the troops. Get the loan players back

Get the fans back on board

[pauliewalnuts]

Yes, lets have tactical genius like this"

[Jimbo]

Getting rid of Houllier shouldn't necessarily mean we automatically appoint Sam Allardyce. But keeping Houllier is only going to cause more pain. It hasn't worked, it will not work, and we need to wake up to that. It's entirely possible that the right man can give us the boost we need to get us the three or more wins we'll need to stay up. We should go all out to get that man, whoever he may be. But it's all hypothetical, because I don't think Randy will sack Le Gaffeur.

[Risso]

Too many people have listened too much to the likes of Alan Green to have a balanced view of Sam Allardyce. 

For the most part he has managed low-to-middle ranking clubs to over-achievement.  In doing so, he had to be pragmatic about who he signed and way he set them up tactically. 

However, he was not just about route-1, dogmatic, percentage, boring football, as anyone who was at the Reebok to watch Bolton stuff us in the League Cup semi-final will testify. 

Having said all that, I don't know as to whether he - or anyone else for that matter - could sort out our defence over the next six games.

Exactly what I was saying last night Rob.  He wouldn't be my first choice as new manager by a long shot, but he'd be a huge improvement on Houllier.  Bolton at their best were capable of playing some decent football at times.  With Blackburn, I'd say his football was very similar in style to O'Neill's, just with less expensive players.  All this "anti-football" stuff is total drivel, and anybody who would honestly rather be relegated than have Allardyce as manager is mental. 

[WikiVilla]

If Lerner / Faulkner dither again, then they fully deserve the consequences
Now is a time for decisive action

[ktvillan]

It's rarely I agree with you Mr. Smith but I do on this occasion, I would hate to see Allardyce in charge and us employing Diouf tactics on opposition keepers.  I could live with it until the end of the season if it kept us up, but what then?  I also think it's too late to change things now, plus I can;t see many better alternatives around.  The sad thing is I think Houliier's long term ideas are the right ones.  The problem is he's tried to change too much too soon,  and should have focussed on getting enough points in the bag to ensure safety before introducing his revolution, alienating dissenting players, and leaving us short of experience, spirit and fight.  He's like a tightrope walker who's wobbling and decides to change his shoes a third of the way across.  Some of his actions and decisions have been strange to say the least.  A "team building exercise" that leaves the camp split, the coaching staff and players at loogerheads, and the struggling team short of spirit, defies belief.  But if we can hold our nerve and survive I think the long term benefits could be worth it.   

[eastie]

Paulie , would you rather be relegated therefore than for instance have big Sam for 8 games and be in the premiership next season under Owen coyle for example?

I agree the prospect of sam long term would be awful but I could live with it short term if it ensured survival, and we appointed a coyle or jol in the summer?

[andyh]

For the sake of the club, we have to get shot of Houllier immediately.
Then, as caretakers till the end of the season I'd ask Chris Hughton and Sid to take the reigns.
If we stay up, try tempting Felix Magath in the summer.
If we didn't survive at least would have a Hughton who know what it takes come straight back up.

Hold on, why are we even having to consider this nightmare scenario !!!!
FUUUUUUCK !!!!

[sfx412]

no matter who the manager is with the lack  of fit defenders the lack of real cover, means we start every game at a disadvantage.

Plus as many on here keep saying, as the defensive stats show, our defence and its coaching is the weak part of the team. Collins and Dunne are piss heads, and deserve all they got but I'm sure they are not the only players holding that view.

No new manager will change matters in 8 games, so our fate is in the lap of the Gods and Houllier will stay, take the brunt of the fans frustration and move into retiremenr in the summer, when hopefully Lerner will make the correct decision with his replacement.

[Chris Smith]

Are you still fully behind him chris, or have you began to have serious doubts - yesterday was so bad that I cannot in all honesty continue to back him as he seems to have lost the dressing room- as other posters have said there is an element of the damned united about this with the players responses.

My concern is that I cannot see him motivating them to get the results required.

I've never been fully behind him, more a give him the benefit of the doubt due to the difficult circumstances.

[Percy McCarthy]

Sacking him now would just cause even more unrest, I don't think it would help. As for Allardyce, in all seriousness I would rather be relegated than have that c*** managing my club.

I was with you on the first bit yesterday, Chris, but having seen the way we performed, and thinking about the fact that it comes after a very public fall out in the squad, it makes me think that, actually, we're reached the tipping point where, even with the turmoil and unrest of a new manager, we'd have a better chance of staying up.

re the second point, I have to agree with you. Relegation would be humuliating, but appointing the anti-football would be worse.

I love the way people are going on about Houllier's tactical awareness then in the next breath, calling for that tactical expert "Big Sam".

Couldn't care less about tactics at the moment. I want a manager who can organise this shower of shit into a unit capable of three or four 1-0 wins between now and the end of the season. I think motivation is the most important skill for whoever is manager at this stage, which  definitely rules out Houllier IMO.

[eastie]

Fair enough chris , I was of that view until yesterday tipped it for me - I think once a manager loses the players and a lot of the fans there is no way back - even if we survive I'm not sure it will keep him in his job - I see Hughes linked in today's press , not inspiring for me but I'm sure Stephen Ireland would be happy as would dunne and warnock .

Felix magath has taken over as Wolfsburg manager I believe, but a very good manager he is.