McAllister - 'Houllier still inputting'

[Rip Van We Go Again]

sportinglife.com

Gary McAllister admits Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier is still having some input into team plans while he recovers from his heart problem.

Assistant manager McAllister expects to remain caretaker boss for the remainder of the campaign ahead of Saturday's home clash with Wigan.

But he is receiving a helping hand from Houllier, who is recuperating at home after being discharged from hospital last week.

McAllister said: "Gerard is doing very well. I am speaking to him regularly. I'm going to see him this afternoon and he is progressing nicely.

"He is at home, he is up and about, he is enjoying the sunshine because he has got some nice views over the west Midlands countryside.

"Everything is moving along fine and each time I see him he looks better and better.

"We talk all the time about the shape and personnel in the team so there are loads of discussions about who is looking to maybe break into the team.

"We had a good little run going there which came to an end so we have discussed little bits and bobs, tactical changes and even personnel changes.

"As it stands, the guys who got us those results were very disappointed to lose at The Hawthorns last weekend so we will keep that in mind as well."

McAllister is expected to be at the helm for the remaining games with Wigan, Arsenal and Liverpool.

He said: "Gerard still sees the doctors on a regular basis and, if he keeps progressing, you can never say never.

"But at this moment in time I would project forward and say I would be here for the final three games."

McAllister insists he has had no thoughts about how his own future could be affected if Houllier, who appointed him as his number two, does decide to quit this summer on medical grounds.

He said: "To be perfectly honest, I've not had a chance to sit down and think about it. There has been so much happening, so much to be getting on with.

"It is very time consuming, even though I gave myself a couple of afternoons off to have a game of golf.

"It is 24-7, it is tough, so I've not had a chance to think about my future.

"The facts are Gerard has not been well, I'm his assistant, so I'm here and to be put in this position is a big thing for me.

"It is a massive club and taking over from Gerard and standing in for him, I'm very proud to do so."

[Rip Van We Go Again]

We had a good little run going there which came to an end so we have discussed little bits and bobs, .

Damn him and his inpenetrable football jargon.

[Mister E]

I bet Hou didn't recommend replacing NRC with Pires on Saturday in order to "to put the game beyond doubt" (as I believe GMac saw it when the BOggies went down to 10 men). He's an ejiit.

[Villa'Zawg]

I bet Hou didn't recommend replacing NRC with Pires on Saturday in order to "to put the game beyond doubt" (as I believe GMac saw it when the BOggies went down to 10 men). He's an ejiit.

I thought he made a decent case for himself. He said West Brom had put everyone behind the ball after going down to 10 men, so he took off one of the two defensive midfielders and put Pires on to try to open them up. It didn't work out but it seems a reasonable thought process.

[SteveD]

"Bits and bobs". We were only in bits after Bob came on.

[pedro25]

West Midlands countryside??

[Merv]

I bet Hou didn't recommend replacing NRC with Pires on Saturday in order to "to put the game beyond doubt" (as I believe GMac saw it when the BOggies went down to 10 men). He's an ejiit.

I thought he made a decent case for himself. He said West Brom had put everyone behind the ball after going down to 10 men, so he took off one of the two defensive midfielders and put Pires on to try to open them up. It didn't work out but it seems a reasonable thought process.

It was, really: maybe a bit naive but he was trying to be positive and win the game. Had Pires slotted a great ball through for the winner, it would have been hailed as a tactical masterstroke.

[Chris Smith]

West Midlands countryside??

Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Staffordshire Moorlands...

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Does anybody know where GH lives?

[Mister E]

I bet Hou didn't recommend replacing NRC with Pires on Saturday in order to "to put the game beyond doubt" (as I believe GMac saw it when the BOggies went down to 10 men). He's an ejiit.

I thought he made a decent case for himself. He said West Brom had put everyone behind the ball after going down to 10 men, so he took off one of the two defensive midfielders and put Pires on to try to open them up. It didn't work out but it seems a reasonable thought process.

It was, really: maybe a bit naive but he was trying to be positive and win the game. Had Pires slotted a great ball through for the winner, it would have been hailed as a tactical masterstroke.

I accept the basic logic, but Pires has opened so few defences for us that I just think putting him on the pitch at all was naive and wasteful and ultimately undid us.

[Chris Smith]

Does anybody know where GH lives?

Worcestershire according to a recent report on his recuperation.

[CJ]

The logic is perfectly reasonable til you get to the word 'Pires'. If he'd brought on Delph or Super Marc I could have accepted it. But Pires? I could even understand why we brought him in with all the injuries we had - but now we've got a fully fit squad I don't even know why he's still here let alone on the pitch

[oodman]

does that mean we can blame him for Saturday too?

[hawkeye]

I bet Hou didn't recommend replacing NRC with Pires on Saturday in order to "to put the game beyond doubt" (as I believe GMac saw it when the BOggies went down to 10 men). He's an ejiit.

I thought he made a decent case for himself. He said West Brom had put everyone behind the ball after going down to 10 men, .

They had 10 men behind the ball until they saw Pires waddle on. They ran through him and past him. It was an idiotic decision.

[pablopicasso_10]

theres no hiding from your own ineptitude mcallister, youre shit, as you have proven with every club you have failed at...