Sack the Manager?

[JUAN PABLO]

It's obvious though that Houllier isn't up to the job, and he will take us down.  His methods aren't working, and haven't worked all season.  We can't defend, and we don't score enough goals.
On that basis, I'd say we need somebody in who would at least sort out the rather obvious flaws in Houllier's game plan.  Play 4-4-2 with Young on the wing and a proper partner for Bent.

I would actually drop Ashley Young. Let's get used to life without him.

Albrighton Makoun NRC Downing
Heskey Bent

I thought this myself  , maybe agbonlahor up front with Bent .
I did think NRC and Makoun were poor together on Saturday but NRC had a good game against Bolton , maybe Delph in there instead of one of them.

[PaulTheVillan]

It's obvious though that Houllier isn't up to the job, and he will take us down.  His methods aren't working, and haven't worked all season.  We can't defend, and we don't score enough goals.
On that basis, I'd say we need somebody in who would at least sort out the rather obvious flaws in Houllier's game plan.  Play 4-4-2 with Young on the wing and a proper partner for Bent.

I would actually drop Ashley Young. Let's get used to life without him.

Albrighton Makoun NRC Downing
Heskey Bent

I thought this myself  , maybe agbonlahor up front with Bent .
I did think NRC and Makoun were poor together on Saturday but NRC had a good game against Bolton , maybe Delph in there instead of one of them.

NRC was Ok, Makoun looked a little off the pace, due to missing games suspended. Delph looked lightweight and out of his depth v Bolton away.

I would seriously consider dropping Ashley Young if I was GH. Can't see it.

[hawkeye]

Sacking him now would likely cause more harm than good.

It's hard to see how.

Perhaps that is the problem in a nutshell

Well the window is this week, 2 weeks before the next game and 8 games to go. If it dosent happen now we are stuck till the end of the season or he walks leaving us with a panic reaction and short of games. The nightmare scenario is a bad result at Everton followed by a defeat at home to Newcastle, the reaction at VP would be over whelming because of the animosity that has built up against him. Then we will be all looking back and saying why did RL not react after Lpool, Citeh, Citeh again and wolves. By then it will be too late.

[UsualSuspect]

Albrighton - Delph - NRC - Downing

         gabby -    Bent



We have shitloads of pace in the side but never use it

Our big big problem is AY in the hole, gives us a shit shape and doesnt play to bent's or gabbys strengths

[jonzy85]

Unfortunately he is here til the end of the season now, no way he will be sacked if he wasnt in the wake of Saturday's game.

It's time for the players to stand up and be counted. As shocking as Houllier is, they are all professionals, many of them experienced.

I think Houllier needs to play our most experienced side possible for the remaining games. I am not having a go at any of the youngsters and I know many of our senior players have been rubbish this year. But I just think playing the amount of youngsters in our team who havent even got a full year in the PL, together with Makoun, who only has a few games (dont think his English is great either) is asking for trouble.

[JUAN PABLO]

It's obvious though that Houllier isn't up to the job, and he will take us down.  His methods aren't working, and haven't worked all season.  We can't defend, and we don't score enough goals.
On that basis, I'd say we need somebody in who would at least sort out the rather obvious flaws in Houllier's game plan.  Play 4-4-2 with Young on the wing and a proper partner for Bent.

I would actually drop Ashley Young. Let's get used to life without him.

Albrighton Makoun NRC Downing
Heskey Bent

I thought this myself  , maybe agbonlahor up front with Bent .
I did think NRC and Makoun were poor together on Saturday but NRC had a good game against Bolton , maybe Delph in there instead of one of them.

NRC was Ok, Makoun looked a little off the pace, due to missing games suspended. Delph looked lightweight and out of his depth v Bolton away.

I would seriously consider dropping Ashley Young if I was GH. Can't see it.

well if he keeps playing Ash in that position Ash wants to play , we will be in serious trouble.   He needs putting back on the wing or to the bench , how many goals has he scored in open play in that position anyway?

[PaulTheVillan]

At a guess (without looking) less than Downing & Albrighton & they've been on the wings.

[JUAN PABLO]

At a guess (without looking) less than Downing & Albrighton & they've been on the wings.

or how many Villa wins since hes been playing there.        Im starting to think the sooner Ash goes , the better for the team. Hes a great player but he isnt doing us much good at the moment ( yes I know he works hard) and he could have easily been sent off on Saturday. 

[PaulTheVillan]

At a guess (without looking) less than Downing & Albrighton & they've been on the wings.

or how many Villa wins since hes been playing there.        Im starting to think the sooner Ash goes , the better for the team. Hes a great player but he isnt doing us much good at the moment ( yes I know he works hard) and he could have easily been sent off on Saturday. 

Exactly my thoughts.

[WikiVilla]

At one point on Saturday ash took a free kick on the edge of our own 18 yard box

Nuts

[JUAN PABLO]

It would have been interesting If he had got a red on Saturday , Houlier went for Bent and Agbonlahor up front for Everton and we actually got a good result..   I know , a big If , but would Ash Y  have been able to waltz back into the team.

[ROBBO]

I think we still think of Ash Young as he was two years ago, for me he has lost his technique, at one time his ball controll was the best in the side, no longer. Two years ago any free under thirty out you could guarantee he would go close, now everything is well of target or too high, and finally he slows our attacks down by going sideways or turning back on himself.
He is a winger who should be instructed to take on the full back with pace, he is not a midfielder and never will be.

[Concrete John]

It's a gamble that any new managers change of methods will have the immediate impact necessary.  At least by sticking with Gezza (for now!) we don't have any upheavel or changes for them to take on board.  What they need is motivation and I'd hope that sheer professional pride will make up for the clear lack of this they're getting from their manager.   

It's obvious though that Houllier isn't up to the job, and he will take us down.  His methods aren't working, and haven't worked all season.  We can't defend, and we don't score enough goals.

On that basis, I'd say we need somebody in who would at least sort out the rather obvious flaws in Houllier's game plan.  Play 4-4-2 with Young on the wing and a proper partner for Bent.

I'm not sayign you're wrong, especially when the reaction to a new manager is usually positive for a game or two and that might be all it takes, but it's not a guaranteed solution.  I could be wrong, but statistically have those clubs that changed manager at this stage of the season managed to stay up or not?

For me keeping him is the lesser of two evils right now, but I think he should go in the summer.

[PaulTheVillan]

I think we still think of Ash Young as he was two years ago, for me he has lost his technique, at one time his ball controll was the best in the side, no longer. Two years ago any free under thirty out you could guarantee he would go close, now everything is well of target or too high, and finally he slows our attacks down by going sideways or turning back on himself.
He is a winger who should be instructed to take on the full back with pace, he is not a midfielder and never will be.

From 2007-2009 he was a very good winger, who had everything. Games at Everton away and the 5-1 stick out a mile.

We've not seen that form this season at all.

[Legion]

Or last. He seemed to 'lose' it when he got sent off against Sunderland.