The future of Houllier and McAllister?

[Whiney MacWhineface]

Can I add that I think that Benitez is a highly annoying arsehole, whose face and utterances have nearly caused grievous bodily harm to my TV set on many many occasions?

However, he is a very good manager and a ruthless winner and if it came to a choice between him and a nicer man who hadn't actually anything to show from his career then I'd go for Rafa every time. *

* And take out extra insurance on my TV set

[ozzjim]

Why we keep blamin mon, he went 9 months ago frog and muppet been in charge 8 months over30 games and spent30 million plus and took us to edge of relegation, they are to blame for god sake

It is not that simple though is it Rich - truth is the amazing MON jumped as he knew his turd of a side was not going to keep the magic martin reputation. Sure we would have got 8-9 more points than we have now, but that could easily have been the case anyway with a couple of chances taken in games where we have been on top. Houllier should bow out on health grounds for sure, but he is not singularly responsible for this season being as bad as it has, and is responsible for introducing the best striker we have had since Dwight, and one of the best right backs that seems to want to stay if we can sort out a deal for him.

I take all points re the annoying ways of Rafa, but I think he would be a very decent appointment, and if offered a manager of his stature on paper then we would have taken it. Annoying as he is, he would win a lot of matches.

[davevillan]

I see the Atletico Madrid manager has said he is leaving at the end of the season. Another one we have been linked with.
Whatever happens, its going to be an interesting summer for us. I would imagine a decision will be made soon after this one ends.

[Chris Smith]

truth is the amazing MON jumped as he knew his turd of a side

What a load of bollocks.

Sixth three times in a row, League Cup Final and FA Cup Final. I

t might not have been the best team in the world but you're rewriting history to try to make a point.

[VillaZogmariner]

Now that would be very good ozzjim but I guess there will be a queue.... But I do like Ancelotti. Amazingly dignified and honest man and not a bad football coach.

Not a bad football coach?
Jesus, we  are acclimnatized to managers like MON and Houllier, whereas Carletto has won the Serie A, the Premier League, the FA Cup and the Champions League: maybe he deserves to be considered something better than "not a bad football coach"!

Yet people are against a coach who has won la ligue twice, the uefa cup, the european cup, the fa cup and the world club cup. For all the arguments against Benitez, he is overqualified for the job with what he has won, and is only 51.

but 'Amazingly dignified and honest man' makes ancelotti someone you can happily accept, for all the good things in terms of success benitez is an idiot and it's really tough to not let that affect your judgement.

My Niece's go to the same school as Benitez's kids in the Wirral. From what my sister tells me there is not a nicer bloke you'd wish to meet. Always chatting along with the parents on the school run, even running the odd after school football coaching session with the children and has brought along Liverpool players to help out too. All for free and not something he has to do, but does it anyway. He is well known around the local area and gets involved in the local community too.

He may have come across as a bit mad with his "fact" rant, but he is not the only manager to have been wound up to breaking point by Ferguson.

But his personal issues to one side, have a look at his CV and the things he has won. I look forward to a time when we can just write off managers that have ONLY won the Champions League, UEFA Cup, 2 La Ligas etc etc, because we then are winning that stuff every season. Until then if someone who has that pedigree wishes to come and manage us I will welcome him.

[Steve R]

truth is the amazing MON jumped as he knew his turd of a side

What a load of bollocks.

Sixth three times in a row, League Cup Final and FA Cup Final. I

t might not have been the best team in the world but you're rewriting history to try to make a point.

We were about to start the season with our most influential player halfway out of the door, with no sign of him being properly replaced. Despite another sixth place, the signs were that more and more teams had sussed us, we didn't exactly finish on a high.

That's not rewriting history, that is how it felt to me last August even before O' Neil jumped ship.

It may not be the only reason he left, but it is not bollocks at all to suggest that he saw a lean season on the cards and started worrying about his CV.

[Olneythelonely]

Why we keep blamin mon, he went 9 months ago frog and muppet been in charge 8 months over30 games and spent30 million plus and took us to edge of relegation, they are to blame for god sake

You daft racist.

[Chris Smith]

truth is the amazing MON jumped as he knew his turd of a side

What a load of bollocks.

Sixth three times in a row, League Cup Final and FA Cup Final. I

t might not have been the best team in the world but you're rewriting history to try to make a point.

We were about to start the season with our most influential player halfway out of the door, with no sign of him being properly replaced. Despite another sixth place, the signs were that more and more teams had sussed us, we didn't exactly finish on a high.

That's not rewriting history, that is how it felt to me last August even before O' Neil jumped ship.

It may not be the only reason he left, but it is not bollocks at all to suggest that he saw a lean season on the cards and started worrying about his CV.

It was the "turd of a side" comment that I took exception with.

[VillaZogmariner]

truth is the amazing MON jumped as he knew his turd of a side

What a load of bollocks.

Sixth three times in a row, League Cup Final and FA Cup Final. I

t might not have been the best team in the world but you're rewriting history to try to make a point.

We were about to start the season with our most influential player halfway out of the door, with no sign of him being properly replaced. Despite another sixth place, the signs were that more and more teams had sussed us, we didn't exactly finish on a high.

That's not rewriting history, that is how it felt to me last August even before O' Neil jumped ship.

It may not be the only reason he left, but it is not bollocks at all to suggest that he saw a lean season on the cards and started worrying about his CV.

As I said in an earlier post. Add to the fact that all the other teams in the league that we'd have been challenging for a top 7/8 position strengthened their squads, whereas we went into the season with no new signings. And look at the state of that squad too. Players clearly unfit or carrying niggling injuries. And some of the key players from the previous seasons squad were woefully off form.

When Houllier took over I'd say 95% of us had this down as a season of transition and a mid table finish would be acceptable, and any other season that is exactly where we would be now with the points that we have amassed. However, this season there hasn't been any teams cut adrift at the bottom of the table like previous years (Portsmouth, Hull, Derby etc) and there have been some crazy results (Wolves winning at Liverpool, WBA winning at Arsenal etc) and teams around the bottom all beating each other.

Yes Houllier has made some mistakes this season, but he has also been extremely unlucky in the circumstances too.

[LeeB]

Why we keep blamin mon, he went 9 months ago frog and muppet been in charge 8 months over30 games and spent30 million plus and took us to edge of relegation, they are to blame for god sake

He stripped the club of it's entire management 5 days before we kicked off, how fucking hard is that to understand? He may as well have set fire to the training ground as well, it was as close to a 'scorched earth' policy as its possible to carry out at a football club.

[Eigentor]

It's difficult to know for certain, but maybe one reason for our inability to hold on to leads this season is that we did less work in pre-season than other teams.

[olaftab]

Now that would be very good ozzjim but I guess there will be a queue.... But I do like Ancelotti. Amazingly dignified and honest man and not a bad football coach.

Not a bad football coach?
Jesus, we  are acclimnatized to managers like MON and Houllier, whereas Carletto has won the Serie A, the Premier League, the FA Cup and the Champions League: maybe he deserves to be considered something better than "not a bad football coach"!

I assume you had been on the 'pop' when you posted this?

[villasjf]

Gary Mac is quoted today as saying he will make changes today and change the system, this against a football team which must feel like a wounded tiger which wants to prove its still a killer. Now is not the time for wholesale changes or we will be battered by the Arsenal and Liverpool.

[Chris Smith]

It's difficult to know for certain, but maybe one reason for our inability to hold on to leads this season is that we did less work in pre-season than other teams.

I think it is far more basic than that. Last season we picked four defenders who loved defending, who would throw themselves in front of everything and were not expected to get too involved in anything else. We also had three centre backs and a big centre forward lined up along the 6 yard box for every set piece.

[Mazrim]

I think changes are need to be honest. If we go with the exact same team they will be beaten beyond all doubt in my opinion.
A freshen up could give a few players a chance to prove something. Arsenal will be hurting and a motivated team could pick them off.
The same old crabstars will not worry them at all.