The future of Houllier and McAllister?

[Risso]

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.

And you get the impression that most of those defenders would have run through a brick wall for O'Neill, whereas to a man they can't seem to stand Houllier.  I know that's not a valid excuse but it must be easier to motivate yourself for somebody you respect than somebody you think is a joke.

[olaftab]

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.

That is not a very good method of defending. For example Collins has been doing this, throwing himself in front of everything, all season however most of this was necessary because he makes basic mistakes as does his co-partner in crime Mr Dunne. We have been error prone this season at a very elementary  level.

[VillaZogmariner]

I've just been a bit bored, so decided to check our form out post Moscow compared to post Man City.

Moscow (match played 26th February 2009)

P12 W2 D5 L5 F14 A23 Pts11

Man City (match played 2nd March 2011)

P8 W2 D3 L3 F10 L11 Pts 9

So in 4 less matches we've almost equalled that run.

[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.

That is not a very good method of defending.

It was very effective. I think we had the third best defensive record in the league and Dunne made the PFA team of the year.

[Whiney MacWhineface]

O'Neill also favoured the "if in doubt whack it out" method - in otherwise don't try anything fancy if under pressure, get it out of play (an echo of which clearly went through Dunne's mind last week, albeit from the halfway line).

[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.

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.

And you get the impression that most of those defenders would have run through a brick wall for O'Neill, whereas to a man they can't seem to stand Houllier.  I know that's not a valid excuse but it must be easier to motivate yourself for somebody you respect than somebody you think is a joke.

I don't think the players think Houllier is a joke. I'm pretty sure they don't love him, but the defenders looked pretty motivated in the Chelsea away and Man City home matches, for example.

What is certain is that our defensive record is much worse than last season. Whether it's because defenders are unfit because of a lazy pre-season; because they don't like the management; because have been given poor instructions/instructions they don't understand by the management; because we miss the defensive contributions of Cuellar and (an in-form) Warnock (and of Heskey/Carew in defensive set-pieces); or because we've lost form for other reasons, is difficult to say. I was just trying to come up with another (possible) reason.

[pauliewalnuts]

Whether they like the manager or not, there is no excuse for some of the stuff we have seen from Dunne and.Collins this season, either on or off the pitch.

[Whiney MacWhineface]

I think there are a number of contributing factors. All of tha above are credible, and I'd throw in the fact that I felt that the midfield didn't screen the back four as well as they did under O'Neill and exposed them to running opposition forwards. And once we had the run of injuries there was a rotating door in front of them (as well as having to chop and change the defence anyway). Confidence must have been low as a result and everyone got the nadgers.

[Pete3206]

I seriously think we need a new management team to usher in a new era for the club. Someone who going to really rip it all up.
The current playing staff, as good as some of them are, all look like dead wood to me. There is still a cloud hanging over the club that Martin O'Neill left when he walked out. Add to that, the health problems of Mr Houllier and the sheer fuckwittery of Gary McAlliister, you have to wonder if The Villa won't be in real trouble next season.

 

[Mazrim]

I think its folly to let Houllier continue unless we have one hell of an assistant in place.
However, if he stays on and feels he can do it, and if he gets rid of a lot of the players that are still mooning over O'Neill and mugging us off and replaces them well, I'm happy to see how he gets on.

Ideally though, we take any doubts out of the equation and just get a new management team we can rely on.
And what's more I still think this is what will happen.

[VillaZogmariner]

To continue my boredom saving, here is where we would've been with this points total at the 36 game stage of each of the past 10 seasons and how many points clear of the relegation places -

10/11 - 14th (6 points clear)
09/10 - 14th (14 points clear)
08/09 - 12th (8 points clear)
07/08 - 13th (10 points clear)
06/07 - 13th (7 points clear)
05/06 - 16th (8 points clear) - a position we were actually in but with 3 fewer points
04/05 - 14th (11 points clear)
03/04 - 15th (10 points clear)
02/03 - 15th (4 points clear) - we were 14th and 4 points clear in this season

[OzVilla]

That's very interesting VillaSub and has certainly opened my eyes.

It does not, however, take into account the general malaise, lack of confidence and PR disasters that seem to afflict the current Management duo - and they are a duo, especially with Ged being away from his post.

They cannot continue into next season.

[VillaZogmariner]

That's very interesting VillaSub and has certainly opened my eyes.

It does not, however, take into account the general malaise, lack of confidence and PR disasters that seem to afflict the current Management duo - and they are a duo, especially with Ged being away from his post.

They cannot continue into next season.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that Houllier has made no mistakes this season, he has. However he has also had some piss poor luck this season too.

[ozzjim]

Chris, it was an over exaggeration certainly, but after the year we have had, it is the players that have come in this season that have saved us more than MON's team. They were clearly on the decline, held together by Milner last season much of the time. It was an ill put together squad, and Houllier has paid for it.

[Chris Smith]

Chris, it was an over exaggeration certainly, but after the year we have had, it is the players that have come in this season that have saved us more than MON's team. They were clearly on the decline, held together by Milner last season much of the time. It was an ill put together squad, and Houllier has paid for it.

It was a team put together to play a certain way and Houllier's biggest mistake, in my opinion, was to try to change too much too quickly. I agree that we relied heavily on Milner and miss him badly, we've also suffered with injuries but we should not be where we are in the table and the management team have to take a share of responsibility.