The future of Houllier and McAllister?

[Des Little]

How about this:

Houllier comes back to a packed Villa Park. Both sets of supporters cheer him on and celebrate his good health as we romp to a convincing 3-0 victory. At the post game conference he announces that he will be standing down.

Bit early to start on the cooking Sherry isn't it old chap?

[eastie]

A nice way to go bentman but from gary macs quotes it seems that they are already planning for next season and houllier is looking ahead to it- would randy dismiss him after his illness ?

[Clampy]

A nice way to go bentman but from gary macs quotes it seems that they are already planning for next season and houllier is looking ahead to it- would randy dismiss him after his illness ?

Yes he should. He's fallen ill twice now so there's no reason to think that it could'nt happen again.

[spangley1812]

A nice way to go bentman but from gary macs quotes it seems that they are already planning for next season and houllier is looking ahead to it- would randy dismiss him after his illness ?

Randy has no choice, He has to make the move as Houllier's health is not up to it

[paul_e]

Using the custom table link provided on the page before I decided to see the results between signing Bent and Houllier being admitted to hospital.

Over 11 games we picked up 18 points which sits us in 7th place for that period.

It's easy to say if you can cherry pick a date range it's easy to prove anything but the fact of the matter is, since he's been able to spend any money the results had been very good and we had started to look a good side again but then he had his health problems and Gary Mac has proven once again why he has failed in every management job he's had.

To go back a few pages I'd say the injury problems are actually the fault of the previous management team.  All summer we looked like a side ill-prepared by a manager who had lost interest.  Adrenaline then saw us through in a game against a very poor west ham side with a goalkeeper who looked like he'd rather be anywhere else than on a football pitch, the next 4-5 games then gave a much more accurate picture of where we were.

So then do you accept that the players are just going to be short of fitness all season or do you implement a much tougher schedule and hope they handle it?  Not an easy call but houllier is well known for liking his teams to be fit and strong so I think he only saw one option.

The player unrest then probably stemmed from the fact that a bunch of older players took offence at being told that they were lazy and unfit and that they needed to put the effort in to be capable of getting through the season rather than hitting a wall in march.

To me, if his health is up to it, the preference would be another transfer window under houllier with a new assistant and then review things in late november/early december.  If we're not top 8 and looking likely to progress then look elsewhere.

[koreanmeatballs]

For the love of Christ Geddy do not come back for the Liverpool game!

It will be bad enough to see him here next year but if he comes back to a heroes welcome from them lot while we can still be technically relegated would be an absolute joke.

(Love him or hate him, a bloke whose heart has torn open twice, shouldn't really be in a high pressure job. Even if the Doc's do give him the all clear, they did so a couple of years ago and it happened again. The man isn't fit enough to be our manager, that can't be argued with)

[frank black]

Houllier back for the Liverpool game.

Villa thrash Liverpool, Young signs new contract. Villa spend £40 mil in the summer and qualify for champions league. Liverpool get relegated.

Houllier hangs on as manager, Young leaves, Villa sign the modern day french equivalent of Callaghan and Cascarino. Houllier decides to retire 5 days before the start of next season. Villa in turmoil........again.

mmmm.........

[pauliewalnuts]

It'll be nice for Gerard to be back for the Liverpool game, even if in the crowd. He'll have to go undercover, though, and not celebrate when Liverpool score. It's always a problem when we play that lot.

[OzVilla]

He'll be back for the 'The Mighty Reds YNWA' game.  And why wouldn't he, it's the 2nd biggest highlight of his season.

[Villa'Zawg]

'''
To go back a few pages I'd say the injury problems are actually the fault of the previous management team.  All summer we looked like a side ill-prepared by a manager who had lost interest.  Adrenaline then saw us through in a game against a very poor west ham side with a goalkeeper who looked like he'd rather be anywhere else than on a football pitch, the next 4-5 games then gave a much more accurate picture of where we were....

5th place in the league on 10 points, which was more or less a continuation of the previous 3 seasons of top 6 form.

[hawkeye]

The idea that we could risk another season based on uncertainty, lack of direction and a Manager with serious medical problems  is ludicrous.
We are  now a very long way from competing at the top end of the table. It will take at least 2 seasons, a new management team and serious investment in the squad to get us any where near the top 6. The rebuilding of the squad, our status and moral has to start as soon as the season ends.

[JackH]

Obviously no-one took my earlier comments seriously as the debate as to whether Houllier will be at Villa or not rages on.

You probably won't take it seriously then when I say that we may well have the same number of Spaniards at Villa next season...just a different one to what we have now.

[Toronto Villa]

Obviously no-one took my earlier comments seriously as the debate as to whether Houllier will be at Villa or not rages on.

You probably won't take it seriously then when I say that we may well have the same number of Spaniards at Villa next season...just a different one to what we have now.

Jack, being honest here, and no disrespect to you whatsoever, but it's hard to know what to believe anymore. I'm sure your Chris offers you good info, but even he might be going on what he's heard (no pun intended), rather than what he knows 100%. Let's wait and see eh?

[Jimmy Rimmer]

I missed Jack Herd's original post. What was the news/ message/ rumour?

[Neil Hawkes]

If Jacks hints are correct, then for the first time in my living history I will actually detest our new manager at the beginning of his tenure. I've gone off plenty after a while in charge, but never from the start!
I'm not looking forward to the summer :-(