The future of Houllier and McAllister?

[Chris Jameson]

I find it interesting that so many people are sure McAllister is the real problem whereas Cowans is completely unquestioned. Wonder why that is . . . ?

Might be all his wonderful previous work with the highly succesful Leeds and Middlesbrough teams.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

I find it interesting that so many people are sure McAllister is the real problem whereas Cowans is completely unquestioned. Wonder why that is . . . ?

Might be all his wonderful previous work with the highly succesful Leeds and Middlesbrough teams.

Plus, he's 2nd in command, Sid isn't.

[Clampy]

What's annoyed me about GH and GMac is that just as you thik they're starting to make some kind of progress, they always make an almighty fuck up. Man City in the cup was the main one and Saturday's bizarre sub was another. Personally, as harsh as it would be, if we get 3 points on Saturday, i'd let them both go straight after the game and put Sid in charge for the last two games.

[andyh]

Has this been posted elsewhere in here ?
We may know within 2 weeks of the season ending what our direction will be.

http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/aston-villa-fc/aston-villa-news/2011/05/03/aston-villa-gerard-houllier-s-managerial-fate-to-be-known-in-june-97319-28623416/

[Chris Smith]

What's annoyed me about GH and GMac is that just as you thik they're starting to make some kind of progress, they always make an almighty fuck up. Man City in the cup was the main one and Saturday's bizarre sub was another. Personally, as harsh as it would be, if we get 3 points on Saturday, i'd let them both go straight after the game and put Sid in charge for the last two games.

While a clean break has some appeal, sacking a bloke while he is off sick would be a pretty shit thing to do. Clearly some big decisions need to be made this summer but it can wait a month.

[Mazrim]

I dont know Chris. There's so much work to do that we could do with getting it sorted immediately.
I hope Houllier sticks around in some capacity (although realistically I cant see it being as manager) but any new manager is going to have his work cut out for him to put it mildly.

We seem to be sounding out targets already, nice and early, as Houllier is known to do. A new manager needs to give them his seal of approval and set his own targets. We could do with all the turmoil this summer will naturally bring whatever happens to be sorted by end of June at the latest so that we have a genuine chance to send a settled, reinvigorated and prepared squad into the new season and challenging back where we belong again.

[sfx412]

What's annoyed me about GH and GMac is that just as you thik they're starting to make some kind of progress, they always make an almighty fuck up. Man City in the cup was the main one and Saturday's bizarre sub was another. Personally, as harsh as it would be, if we get 3 points on Saturday, i'd let them both go straight after the game and put Sid in charge for the last two games.

While a clean break has some appeal, sacking a bloke while he is off sick would be a pretty shit thing to do. Clearly some big decisions need to be made this summer but it can wait a month.

Quite right Chris it is a very shitty thing to do, nearly as bad as running away from a club as the season starts but these things happen.

However, sometimes they need doing in, of course,  the most sympathetic way possible. Sometimes hard decisions have to be made for the overall good, and starting a fresh with plenty of time to do so is what we need above anything else, now.

[pablopicasso_10]

best way to do it is to give houllier a job upstairs...

he can carry on his scouting network overhaul and academy input malarky, and i think he could still be useful doing that, he gets to stay in football without being sacked, we dont look like cocks for sacking a sick man, and we get a new manager and everyone saves face...

[Concrete John]

I dont know Chris. There's so much work to do that we could do with getting it sorted immediately.
I hope Houllier sticks around in some capacity (although realistically I cant see it being as manager) but any new manager is going to have his work cut out for him to put it mildly.

We seem to be sounding out targets already, nice and early, as Houllier is known to do. A new manager needs to give them his seal of approval and set his own targets. We could do with all the turmoil this summer will naturally bring whatever happens to be sorted by end of June at the latest so that we have a genuine chance to send a settled, reinvigorated and prepared squad into the new season and challenging back where we belong again.

Although I agree in principle, I wouldn't get too hung up on this 'end of June' thing.  A lot needs to be done, but every summer the majority of deals are July onwards once everyone is back from their jollies, one deal leads to another and a domino effect takes place.

I'd be happy enough to have the managerial issue resolved by the start of pre-season, so that his methods and approaches are adopted from scratch, and then do our dealing once he's had a look at what he's got.

[Chris Smith]

What's annoyed me about GH and GMac is that just as you thik they're starting to make some kind of progress, they always make an almighty fuck up. Man City in the cup was the main one and Saturday's bizarre sub was another. Personally, as harsh as it would be, if we get 3 points on Saturday, i'd let them both go straight after the game and put Sid in charge for the last two games.

While a clean break has some appeal, sacking a bloke while he is off sick would be a pretty shit thing to do. Clearly some big decisions need to be made this summer but it can wait a month.

Quite right Chris it is a very shitty thing to do, nearly as bad as running away from a club as the season starts but these things happen.

However, sometimes they need doing in, of course,  the most sympathetic way possible. Sometimes hard decisions have to be made for the overall good, and starting a fresh with plenty of time to do so is what we need above anything else, now.

That you think a bloke walking out of his job after a row is worse than sacking a seriously ill man says more about you than it does about those concerned.

I expect Randy to show his customary integrity in how he deals with this situation.

[Concrete John]

best way to do it is to give houllier a job upstairs...

he can carry on his scouting network overhaul and academy input malarky, and i think he could still be useful doing that, he gets to stay in football without being sacked, we dont look like cocks for sacking a sick man, and we get a new manager and everyone saves face...

That is what I expect to see happen, but all parties would also save face by Gezza resigning due to medical grounds and being given a nice little settlement by Randy.

[ROBBO]

The problem is this , if Houllier is given the all clear and resumes his duties then, in say October his problem reaccurs  we are really left with
looking for a new manager when all the decent options have already commited themselves.

[themossman]

All the theories about using this as an excuse to make a clean break so everyone can save face assume Randy secretly wants to start again with new management, which I don't think is true.

[Mazrim]

I dont think its a matter of saving face, more that Randy's hand will be forced regardless as Houllier is unlikely to be well enough to physically do the job and McAllister is not up to it in any regard and will not be considered.

A new man coming in is inevitable as far as I'm concerned. May as well give him as much time as possible and hopefully with Houllier's help, if he has a mind for it.

[TheSandman]

The problem is this , if Houllier is given the all clear and resumes his duties then, in say October his problem reaccurs  we are really left with
looking for a new manager when all the decent options have already commited themselves.

Then we should get a competent assistant in. Possibly someone with a long term chance of getting the top job.