Villa supporters turn up heat on Houllier

[5ft811st2 Durham]

Durham and Wiki should hang their heads in shame. There is plenty to be pissed off about but can't we give positivity a go for the next home match?

I don't think so. The vocal support and general atmosphere at Villa Park in recent years has been poor, and I am in favour of  any attempts  to improve this situation, because I do believe that it could have a positive impact on results.
Obviously I don't rate Houllier, but I'm certainly not backing any protests which i can only agree are a completely ridiculous idea.

[ROBBO]

Get rid of Houllier and the disruptive players have won, what message does that send to any future manager of Villa? he would be treading on eggshells afraid to put players in their place because believe me the same cretins will rule the roost.

[Chris Smith]

Post of the week. Easily.

Yes, completely agree. Well said, Andy.

Even the bit about booing at half time?  Sure about that?

I agree that it was a good post and I agree with his argument that there's a massive difference between a spontaneous reaction during the game and the moronic protest march a few twats seem to be planning.

[Bad English]

Has it come to this though. We posture and shake our fists because we have a group on Facebook? I use Facebook, I like Facebook. But I don't care about Facebook.

[Clampy]

I use Facebook, I like Facebook. But I don't care about Facebook.

That pretty well sums up Facebook for me as well.

[brontebilly]

I am all for free speech and people being entitled to their opinions, but anybody in favour of organised protests or demonstrations because of our present predicament  is a complete and utter idiot, totally wrong in their actions and themselves show a total lack of understanding of the history of Aston Villa.
We have players underperforming and a manager who on the present evidence is not doing an effective job so our team are losing games. Yes thats horrible and I hate it, but the club itself is not disorganised or badly run. The team on the pitch may be rudderless right now, but the club itself is not.
Boo and moan during the match if you dont like what you see, boo them off at half time if you dont like the 1st half, not my style but its an emotional game. Boo them off at the end and scream verbals at the bench at full time if its bad, now that is something I've done on more than one occasion this season.
But planning and organising demonstrations because the team is losing at the moment ? Do me a favour !
We had demonstrations a few years back because Doug wouldnt let go, and it was obvious to many of us that this was increasingly holding the club back. That was justified.
In 1968 the club was rotten from top to bottom and on the verge of bankrupty from years of neglect by directors who were living in the past.  Demonstrations then were not just necessary, they were imperative to the survival of the club. The club was saved and a new era began and we avoided relegation that season. But the next season the team imploded and spectacularly went backwards on the pitch. Just as now, there was reports of player unrest and fall outs with the manager. Just put the name Docherty instead of Houllier, think Mike Ferguson, Dick Edwards, Barry Hole instead of Ireland, Collins, Dunne. Nobody talked of demonstrating, even though we finished up in the 3rd division. Because we knew the basics of the club itself were right.
So to the attention seeking big mouths who seem to be almost revelling in each defeat as they plan protest and revolution, I say shut up. Shut up because you dont cheer in equal volume when we win as you boo when we lose, shut up because you never give credit where its due in equal measure with the criticism you dish out, but most of all shut up because I suspect you are mostly spoilt brats who have known nothing but the premier league and like many modern fans you have no patience and at the first hint of problems you start crying.

how anyone can say the club isnt badly run after the release of the recent accounts is off their rocker frankly.

88% of turnover gone on wages.
Unprecedented debt and massive losses
has anyone ever really explained the sale of land last year either by RAL?
A CEO way out of his depth
Disastrous choice of manager

The above is not the fault of MON but those charged with running the finances of the club ie the board.

On the playing side

A squad - the most expensive ever assembled by the club - 3 points from bottom of the worst EPL season in terms of quality I can remember
A squad most likely without any relegation clauses into their salaries
A squad top heavy with players in which we will take a huge loss on if they are sold in the summer
Best player leaving in summer
The most expensive manager ever brought in has been a disaster and the vast majority of players/supporters have no faith in him even keeping us up never mind chasing Europe.

The only positives I can think is that the youth academy continues to produce talent capable of playing in the EPL and also that we have a great training ground.

No point burying our heads in the ground. The club is in big trouble and relegation for the clubs finances would be disastrous. Every other club whose new manager presided over such a shambles would also be up in arms.

[Dante Lavelli]

Not sure whether this has been mentioned but on the guardian podcast there is a reporter that said that there have been a number of players - off the record - undermining Houllier. If I were to guess the reporter sounds like he is a fan of Houllier but he seems to know that there is a pretty extensive recruitment strategy already planned for the summer if we can stay up.

[Toronto Villa]

I just read Andy's post. Superb and exactly how I feel about things. There is an unbelievable amount of people on here that are dying for us to lose the next game just so they can come on and rant for days on end. It's sickening. Now more than any time in the past few years we need to band together, and get through this. Because the alternative is not worth contemplating. However, it appears that some of you actually are wallowing in this, wanting the situation to get worse. Just so you can say once again what a complete wanker Houllier is and how the club is a complete disaster.

And a protest? If you think that's going to help then you might as well plan your trip to Derby, Doncaster or Barnsley right now.

[Lizz]

And here's one of today's latest exclusives:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1369704/Gerard-Houlliers-law-Aston-Villa-casts-shadow-future-players.html - at least 8 discontented players apparently.

I'm torn between how much to believe what's being written/said and how much of it is screaming headlines akin to when Prince Andrew went on holiday with Koo Stark*. Some papers reported it along the lines of Randy Andy goes on holiday with porn actress whilst others chose the line Sailor goes on holiday with girl.

* only those of us of a certain age will remember Koo Stark.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

What the fuck is Houllier doing?

[Dr Butler]

calm down, it's the Mail Rip.

[Clampy]

  There is an unbelievable amount of people on here that are dying for us to lose the next game just so they can come on and rant for days on end. However, it appears that some of you actually are wallowing in this, wanting the situation to get worse. Just so you can say once again what a complete wanker Houllier is and how the club is a complete disaster.

What a load of bollocks. I want Houiller gone, we're 1 point off relegation in case you had'nt noticed, but i want us to win up at Everton next week to help get ourselves out of it and i think you'll find the majority of people on here do too.

[sid1964]

I saw the article in the mail - could not believe that our so called super stars are upset if they get fined for being late!! diddums!! they are really pathetic!

Where I work late 3 times in 12 months and you get a written warning!

for all that Houllier has done wrong, surely we must hold these players accountable as well.

I honestly believe it would not have mattered who we would have appointed as manager there was always going to be problems. Heard on the radio last week from one of the reporters who is in the know that these problems existed under O'Neill as well!

Whichever division we are in next season, I just cannot wait to see these players leave our club, I could not care less next season if we have to play, the young lads, at least they will show some pride in wearing the shirt.

[pauliewalnuts]

No point burying our heads in the ground. The club is in big trouble and relegation for the clubs finances would be disastrous. Every other club whose new manager presided over such a shambles would also be up in arms.

So how is protesting and generally making ourselves look like Newcastle fans in front of TV cameras going to do anything other than add to the groundswell of ill feeling and negativity at the club?

If there's one thing that will guarantee this club goes down, it is lack of spirit, and I fail to see how a load of foaming-at-the-mouth dimwits getting their mardy faces on SSN is going to be anything but detrimental to spirit.

Pathetic.

[eastie]

  There is an unbelievable amount of people on here that are dying for us to lose the next game just so they can come on and rant for days on end. However, it appears that some of you actually are wallowing in this, wanting the situation to get worse. Just so you can say once again what a complete wanker Houllier is and how the club is a complete disaster.

What a load of bollocks. I want Houiller gone, we're 1 point off relegation in case you had'nt noticed, but i want us to win up at Everton next week to help get ourselves out of it and i think you'll find the majority of people on here do too.

well said clampy, if doug was in charge now hed be getting crucified , record debts, crowds dropping,a ceo who seems out of his depth, a manager who seems to have lost the plot , and a club slipping down the table with players who want out.

lets not make out randy is doing a great job here st the moment, hes the top man and needs to sort this out,we all want the club to win but bronte is right , it is a shambles and needs sorting fast.

people dont come on criticising for fun , we all love this club and care what happens,protests are not the way forward though.
toronto, to say many fans want to lose so they can complain is ridiculous.