The future of Houllier and McAllister?

[dave.woodhall]

It really is confusing.

One week you think, what is that prick playing at, the next you're surprised at what he's done with the team. We have an enigma going on with the management, it's 3-4 poor performances followed by 3-4 good performances. If Houllier/Mcallister could keep it more consistent who knows where we could be.

I'm not anti-Houllier, certainly not, results like this confuse me. If only we could have done it more often.

I don't want to be too negative but even in the recent wins against Spam, Newcastle and now Arsenal, we could easily have lost on any other day. Dunne got away with last man fouls twice that could have been given and Cole missed a golden opportunity. And today with another ref we would have had a defeat.

And on half a dozen occasions when we've lost we could have got a result.

[Somniloquism]

It really is confusing.

One week you think, what is that prick playing at, the next you're surprised at what he's done with the team. We have an enigma going on with the management, it's 3-4 poor performances followed by 3-4 good performances. If Houllier/Mcallister could keep it more consistent who knows where we could be.

I'm not anti-Houllier, certainly not, results like this confuse me. If only we could have done it more often.

I don't want to be too negative but even in the recent wins against Spam, Newcastle and now Arsenal, we could easily have lost on any other day. Dunne got away with last man fouls twice that could have been given and Cole missed a golden opportunity. And today with another ref we would have had a defeat.

And on half a dozen occasions when we've lost we could have got a result.

Bolton maybe and some others I never saw but in most games we have been more under the cosh then not.

[olaftab]

Let's be clear. Yes good result today  and regardless of what happens next week we need a changes all around (players and coaching staff)  as early as possible  after the season ends.

[ozzjim]

We have played better in some we have lost than those we have won. We have been understandably been very edgy when leading in recent weeks. WE have lost 26 points from winning this season. Hold onto to 10 of them and we are 7th, yet are only 3 points off 8th. Really odd season.

[Ad@m]

It really is confusing.

One week you think, what is that prick playing at, the next you're surprised at what he's done with the team. We have an enigma going on with the management, it's 3-4 poor performances followed by 3-4 good performances. If Houllier/Mcallister could keep it more consistent who knows where we could be.

I'm not anti-Houllier, certainly not, results like this confuse me. If only we could have done it more often.

I don't want to be too negative but even in the recent wins against Spam, Newcastle and now Arsenal, we could easily have lost on any other day. Dunne got away with last man fouls twice that could have been given and Cole missed a golden opportunity. And today with another ref we would have had a defeat.

And on half a dozen occasions when we've lost we could have got a result.

Bolton maybe and some others I never saw but in most games we have been more under the cosh then not.

I know it's a cliche but these things really do tend to even themselves out.

Ultimately we're where we are in the table on merit.  This season has been way off what is acceptable to a club like ours with a squad like ours.  Yes, the players have to take some of the blame but the bulk of the blame has to lie squarely at the manager's door.  For whatever reason it's not worked out and we should cut our losses and run now.

[dave.woodhall]

Bolton maybe and some others I never saw but in most games we have been more under the cosh then not.

Stoke where we were a dive away from a point, Spurs at home when Clarke pushed a last-minute chance just wide, Bolton, Everton away, Fulham equalising with the last kick, how many times did we hit the woodwork at Small Heath? Bent missing that one on one last Saturday, Sunderland away when we played well and lost, Small Heath's deflected winner in the cup.

[Matt Collins]

Could easily have won away at Stoke, Sunderland, blues, Chelsea, Bolton, fulham. In fact we were winning going into the last 15 mins in 4 of them.  I doubt we played better last season away from home, in fact I suspect we played worse. But we were a lotbetter defensively.

[Chris Smith]

It really is confusing.

One week you think, what is that prick playing at, the next you're surprised at what he's done with the team. We have an enigma going on with the management, it's 3-4 poor performances followed by 3-4 good performances. If Houllier/Mcallister could keep it more consistent who knows where we could be.

I'm not anti-Houllier, certainly not, results like this confuse me. If only we could have done it more often.

I don't want to be too negative but even in the recent wins against Spam, Newcastle and now Arsenal, we could easily have lost on any other day. Dunne got away with last man fouls twice that could have been given and Cole missed a golden opportunity. And today with another ref we would have had a defeat.

There are plenty of other games when the "ifs" might have seen us win instead of lose. Over all it hasn't been good enough but today was a great win and they deserve credit for it. Just as they did for pulling out such a good performance at West Ham when the pressure was really on.

[Somniloquism]

Bolton maybe and some others I never saw but in most games we have been more under the cosh then not.

Stoke where we were a dive away from a point, Spurs at home when Clarke pushed a last-minute chance just wide, Bolton, Everton away, Fulham equalising with the last kick, how many times did we hit the woodwork at Small Heath? Bent missing that one on one last Saturday, Sunderland away when we played well and lost, Small Heath's deflected winner in the cup.

Sorry I was looking more at games were we dominated most of it but didn't have the luck. Sunderland home and away, Bolton and Fulham away were the only ones that were like that, (thanks for the memory jog). Stoke should have been a point with the dive as well as a ref decision that really went against us but in most cases the late goals against were because we allowed the pressure to come on throughout the match and could not cope.

[pauliewalnuts]

Whilst I think this season has been unforgiveably piss poor, there's no doubt we've also had some shitty luck this season.

We had a few things go our way today. I can't remember saying that after a single other game this season.

[Somniloquism]

Whilst I think this season has been unforgiveably piss poor, there's no doubt we've also had some shitty luck this season.

We had a few things go our way today. I can't remember saying that after a single other game this season.

Missed the West Ham away and Citeh / Everton  home matches then?

[glasses]

Bolton maybe and some others I never saw but in most games we have been more under the cosh then not.

Stoke where we were a dive away from a point, Spurs at home when Clarke pushed a last-minute chance just wide, Bolton, Everton away, Fulham equalising with the last kick, how many times did we hit the woodwork at Small Heath? Bent missing that one on one last Saturday, Sunderland away when we played well and lost, Small Heath's deflected winner in the cup.

If my Auntie had bollocks, she would be my uncle. Fact is, we didnt win those games because we havent been good enough. IMO you reep what you sow.

[dave.woodhall]

Bolton maybe and some others I never saw but in most games we have been more under the cosh then not.

Stoke where we were a dive away from a point, Spurs at home when Clarke pushed a last-minute chance just wide, Bolton, Everton away, Fulham equalising with the last kick, how many times did we hit the woodwork at Small Heath? Bent missing that one on one last Saturday, Sunderland away when we played well and lost, Small Heath's deflected winner in the cup.

If my Auntie had bollocks, she would be my uncle. Fact is, we didnt win those games because we havent been good enough. IMO you reep what you sow.

Is my point exactly. But too many have been very quick to say our wins were lucky while ignoring the unlucky defeats.

[The Situation]

In all fairness... Houllier pretty much said our season from the Everton game is like Champions League matches, we stepped up to the plate when it mattered and we prevailed with the quality we have in our team.

I don't expect us to be perfect every week like today... I would just like to see some consistency going and it's up to Randy whether he wants to stick or twist. Since the Everton game we have showed consistency, albeit in patches... but just one loss from those games and considering we were right in the shit back then when we played Everton we can look back and say we've done pretty good since the Everton game. West Ham, Wolves, Birmingham, Wigan, Blackpool and Blackburn were all in the same position as us yet we've broken away whilst they're still down there in the mix (well not West Ham).

If we can get it together I have no doubt we can challenge for top 8 again next season.

[brontebilly]

Let's be clear. Yes good result today  and regardless of what happens next week we need a changes all around (players and coaching staff)  as early as possible  after the season ends.

Big time, the table doesnt lie. Changes are needed and fast. Another summer mucking around with Houllier, means another season of waste next season.

Darren Bent has kept us in the league. Some impact he has had. Aside from his goals, he has missed another heap of chances. He just keeps getting in those positions. If we can keep him fit next season, he will score 20 plus.

Other plus points, the emergence of Albrighton and Clark. Downing has improved (though I still wouldnt be his biggest fan). Nothing else to be enthused about from an awful season from start to finish.