Sack the Manager?

[Ian.]

Someone on VT, who apparently is close to a couple of the players posted this.

Now, it may be true, it may be bollocks, it may have become exaggerated, but I hope there's no truth in it.

Those who say that these disputes should be kept on the training ground or in the manager's office.

Imagine, for a moment, that issues have been raised by the players regarding defensive training; issues regarding defending of set-pieces, defensive tactics being different for reserves, youths and first team. The players are unsure of their individual and collective roles whilst defending, for example, corners.

What if, when the players raised these issues and concerns, nothing was done about it? And if the concerns that were raised, and the subsequent inaction of the coaching/management staff, resulted in a huge amount of goals and points being surrendered?

The players would be feeling, quite rightly in my opinion, a little bit disappointed that their concerns weren't taken on board. Let's imagine that they were labelled as trouble makers and dissenters for raising their concerns. If they were called, in front of their colleagues, "traitors".

Then, imagine if the management commented in public that the defensive problems were purely of the player's making, that the management were as baffled as anyone as to why there were problems. And if the management were to say, in private, that these players are paid to defend and they should just defend "and stop asking questions".

What if the management responded to the player's concerns by leaving angry voicemail messages, lambasting a player's commitment and accusing them of "treachery"?

At what stage are the players to be forgiven for getting so frustrated that their patience snaps?

I am not condoning any players actions, nor am I commenting on any specific incident. Let's call this a hypothetical situation.

When are the players forgiven for taking their concerns out from the training ground and manager's office?

If true very very worrying.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

"Things are never so bad they can't be made worse." Humphrey Bogart

[woodie1978]

IF we lose the next two games which is highly likely being everton away and newcastle (i was unfortunate to be at the away game) then we are going to probably be in the bottom 3 with 6 games to go, none of which are easy, the only reason big sam is being raised as a caretaker, is he has the ability to grind out results, given big sam for 6 games, the an other next season in the prem..

or us conceding our pl status in a whimper under gh then a shite manager, as we are in the championship then i will take Big Sam everytime,

i have never feared relegation but the lack of respect GH has for the club and fans, as shown in the game at anfield, and fa cup and the lack of respect the fans and players have for him, i truly think we are in the brown stuff neck deep.

the only positive would be the large number of new away grounds to be visited

[hawkeye]

Someone on VT, who apparently is close to a couple of the players posted this.

Now, it may be true, it may be bollocks, it may have become exaggerated, but I hope there's no truth in it.

Those who say that these disputes should be kept on the training ground or in the manager's office.

Imagine, for a moment, that issues have been raised by the players regarding defensive training; issues regarding defending of set-pieces, defensive tactics being different for reserves, youths and first team. The players are unsure of their individual and collective roles whilst defending, for example, corners.

What if, when the players raised these issues and concerns, nothing was done about it? And if the concerns that were raised, and the subsequent inaction of the coaching/management staff, resulted in a huge amount of goals and points being surrendered?

The players would be feeling, quite rightly in my opinion, a little bit disappointed that their concerns weren't taken on board. Let's imagine that they were labelled as trouble makers and dissenters for raising their concerns. If they were called, in front of their colleagues, "traitors".

Then, imagine if the management commented in public that the defensive problems were purely of the player's making, that the management were as baffled as anyone as to why there were problems. And if the management were to say, in private, that these players are paid to defend and they should just defend "and stop asking questions".

What if the management responded to the player's concerns by leaving angry voicemail messages, lambasting a player's commitment and accusing them of "treachery"?

At what stage are the players to be forgiven for getting so frustrated that their patience snaps?

I am not condoning any players actions, nor am I commenting on any specific incident. Let's call this a hypothetical situation.

When are the players forgiven for taking their concerns out from the training ground and manager's office?

If true very very worrying.

Well based on what is happening it would not surprise me if some of this were true. There is something very rotten at the core of the club. There is absoloutely no way with the players at the club should we be in this situation.

[TheSandman]

Someone on VT, who apparently is close to a couple of the players posted this.

Now, it may be true, it may be bollocks, it may have become exaggerated, but I hope there's no truth in it.

Those who say that these disputes should be kept on the training ground or in the manager's office.

Imagine, for a moment, that issues have been raised by the players regarding defensive training; issues regarding defending of set-pieces, defensive tactics being different for reserves, youths and first team. The players are unsure of their individual and collective roles whilst defending, for example, corners.

What if, when the players raised these issues and concerns, nothing was done about it? And if the concerns that were raised, and the subsequent inaction of the coaching/management staff, resulted in a huge amount of goals and points being surrendered?

The players would be feeling, quite rightly in my opinion, a little bit disappointed that their concerns weren't taken on board. Let's imagine that they were labelled as trouble makers and dissenters for raising their concerns. If they were called, in front of their colleagues, "traitors".

Then, imagine if the management commented in public that the defensive problems were purely of the player's making, that the management were as baffled as anyone as to why there were problems. And if the management were to say, in private, that these players are paid to defend and they should just defend "and stop asking questions".

What if the management responded to the player's concerns by leaving angry voicemail messages, lambasting a player's commitment and accusing them of "treachery"?

At what stage are the players to be forgiven for getting so frustrated that their patience snaps?

I am not condoning any players actions, nor am I commenting on any specific incident. Let's call this a hypothetical situation.

When are the players forgiven for taking their concerns out from the training ground and manager's office?

It's believable though isn't it?

I remember commenting on one of the threads about the Dunne/Collins/Sid row that it might stem back to Houllier's four year habits comments. That frustration coupled with a few too many pints could easily end in what was rumoured to have happened. Not that I am condoning the players behaviour.

[K3Villa]

I'm not defending the manager when I say this but, all those who are calling for his sacking, what would be the next step? Who would we get in? Could this action even cause further problems? I'm worried any action could be too late with so few games left.

[cheltenhamlion]

I wouldn't believe it all but some of that doesn't sound daft to me.

[Risso]

I'm not defending the manager when I say this but, all those who are calling for his sacking, what would be the next step? Who would we get in? Could this action even cause further problems? I'm worried any action could be too late with so few games left.

I wouldn't deny that sacking him would be a gamble, but it's a decision we have to make.  Having Houllier at the club is destroying everything that has been put in place over the last five years.  He's alienated both players and supporters, and things seem to be nosediving at a critical point of the season.

[hawkeye]

The problem is that most managers take an appointment and see it as thier job or a career, Houlier sees his appointment as a project, he acts like a consultant, he thinks that he is giving the club the benifit of his wisdom and we should be gratefull for it, if it dosent work out, ho hum. He is not engaged he dosent care. He is picking up his package without a care in the world, he will turn around and say well the players let me down, i inherited a bad situation, it was the previous managers fault. Too many people have been buying this crap. So he takes a bit of stick when he walks off the pitch and then walks a multi million salary down to the bank.

[K3Villa]

I'm not defending the manager when I say this but, all those who are calling for his sacking, what would be the next step? Who would we get in? Could this action even cause further problems? I'm worried any action could be too late with so few games left.

I wouldn't deny that sacking him would be a gamble, but it's a decision we have to make.  Having Houllier at the club is destroying everything that has been put in place over the last five years.  He's alienated both players and supporters, and things seem to be nosediving at a critical point of the season.

I totally agree with all of that but what are the realistic alternatives at this stage? I think that's what concerns me the most. Kev Mac and Sid? Big Sam?

[Louzie0]

I do not want him to go.  I want to see what he can do with a squad when he has had pre-season and enough training time.  He has to pick teams with no regular or dedicated defence at the moment!

And for god's sake stop suggesting Big Sam.  Whatever you think of the opinions above.

[K3Villa]

I do not want him to go.  I want to see what he can do with a squad when he has had pre-season and enough training time.  He has to pick teams with no regular or dedicated defence at the moment!

And for god's sake stop suggesting Big Sam.  Whatever you think of the opinions above.

I'm not suggesting Big Sam. I'm saying the realistic alternatives to GH are very concerning as is the situation with him at the helm.

[K3Villa]

I do not want him to go.  I want to see what he can do with a squad when he has had pre-season and enough training time.  He has to pick teams with no regular or dedicated defence at the moment!

And for god's sake stop suggesting Big Sam.  Whatever you think of the opinions above.

**double post**

[KevinGage]

He will turn around and say well the players let me down, i inherited a bad situation, it was the previous managers fault.

Can't you just hear it.

[1780liam]

I'm not defending the manager when I say this but, all those who are calling for his sacking, what would be the next step? Who would we get in? Could this action even cause further problems? I'm worried any action could be too late with so few games left.

Sack him now, Kev mac in temp charge until end of the season, he'll unite the players, produce a gutsy performance at everton and maybe grab a point?
Newcastle at home, epic support from a full Villa park, 100% behind the team! would we win? YES!! would confidence and belief be sky high? YES! Would we stay up? YES!!
or..... leave the french tosser in charge, same pathetic dribble week in week out...Hello Championship!!