The future of Houllier and McAllister?

[KevinGage]

8 months of horrendous injuries now is is? That's a new one.

You're quite right, GH and Gary Mac have done a remarkable job, all things considered. Or something.

Fully agree that we're a fickle lot. We positively enjoyed previous relegation skirmishes under Dr Jo, GT (twice) and DOL. Yet for some reason we're moaning about this one. Oh wait a second...

[The Left Side]

I think we will be fine but this summer there will be lots of changes needed on and off the field

[PhilGibson]

The spine of our team is just not up to scratch,

Friedel a very good shot stopper still on his day, but signs of decline this season for sure, he does not command his area very well.
Collins / Dunne, an accident waiting to happen, Martin ONeill motivated them to throw everything at the ball every time it came anywhere near the box last season, this is why they looked better, Collins has been shown up time and time again this season to be a complete headless chicken, and Dunne what can you say about the bloke, he has been on a downward spiral all season, lurching from one disaster to another, what does Carlos have to do to get in the side?
Reo Coker / Petrov, Reo tries really hard, he hassles and harries, tackles well etc, but for a premier league midfielder you need to be able to pass the ball better than he does, Stan has some very solid games but is very inconsistent and tires during games, plus he has no mobility to tackle back when he is expected in a 2 man midfield to be box to box.

Bent, is about the only player in the spine of the team we can rely upon, what we need to do is provide him with some kind of service, he has gobbled up several chances that have come his way since he signed, imagine if we created more?

The last two weeks we have seen Stoke and West Brom sit back soke up pressure from us, without us having the guile or creativity to break them down, we have looked very ordinary. Then we are once again undone by a set piece, I dread to think how many we have conceded this season! The 2nd goal today was the kind of situation we have been in for most of the season, a lost ball in midfield, the midfield then do not track back, the defence then plays key stone cops and we concede.

It is simply not good enough, if this is down to Gerard and McAllister fine, then get someone else in during the summer, but for me the players have shown themselves to be sadly lacking the fight, skill or concentration too often this season, and teams have capitalised on this, they do not deserve to wear the shirt especially considering they are earning obscene amounts of money for the priviledge!

If Houiller and Gary Mac are too go, then Dunne, Collins and Warnock can follow. The spine of our team needs to be improved in the summer or we are going nowhere.

[The Left Side]

Well said, good post.

[barrysleftfoot]

  Spot on for me PG.

[Chipsticks]

Houllier to stay, health permitting.
Gary McAllister to go.

This.

[The Moose]

Fickle my arse! That was a disgrace. We gave up. Those players today thought they were untouchable. Well, guess what guys, you were crap!
Now what? Go home to your big houses and bugger the fans? We're not fickle, we see effort, we see players who bust a gut, we also see the shirkers.
Step forward all those who think they played well today....

[Simon Jones]

I was sitting with the Albion fans today but I thought Dunne looked okay today till he went off and Clark was superb. It was Collins fault for the second he seemed to get cramp but What was he doing on our right wing

[KevinGage]

I'd be more inclined to give some of those players seemingly lacking in fight and concentration a second chance next year, rather than the management team that presides over them.

They've shown previously that they're well able to fight, concentrate and get results over an extended period when representing Villa. The management team don't have that same insurance.   We could still probably do with at least one new CB and a LB to shake things up, but I think most of the players who have been either under par or flat out ostracised this year could be big players for us next year. I wouldn't even write off the likes of Dunne and Warnock in that regard (though equally, I wouldn't exactly be distraught to see them depart either).

[Dante Lavelli]

Step forward all those who think they played well today....

The BBC thought we were okay:

Les Roopanarine reports: "Roy Hodgson's recipe for ending a 26-year wait for victory against Aston Villa: fall behind to a comical early own-goal; gently simmer while opponents play you off the park; lose a man to a red card with half an hour to go; bring to boiling point with a late winner; serve to a crowd of elated Albion fans. Simple."

[The Moose]

Villa: roll over, play dead, give up three points.

[TheSandman]

Spot on Phil.

As terrible and gaffe prone as the management have been the players deserve to shoulder a lot of the blame.

[Greg N'Ash]

Can't say i'm happy for GaryMac to be in charge till the end of the season. I think its a mistake to let things slide over the last few games for the sake of not undermining him. Whether GH comes back in May or not, I hope the clear-out continues. People Like Dunne have proved themsevles unable or unwilling to play anything else than the Hoof so unless we go for some basic manager similar to MON like Allardyce they're still as much use as a chocolate teapot to whoever's in charge

[The Moose]

Allardyce? Are you mad?

[andyh]

Yes, the players have been crap, but the management has been worse.
The Albion players were all probably crap, then they got a good manager !!!