Prediction for the rest of the season and the close season

[dave.woodhall]

Why cant we have a debate? Mr Woodhall speaks and all the usual suspects treat him like Royalty.. Its possible 'fans' have different opinions.

Come again?

[Mazrim]

It's not about a change in policy. When you spend spend spend as Randy has done and the squad is clogged up with expensive "assets" that arent used, you have to move them on. You cant just keep buying more players. The money was there to invest in new players as Randy has shown he is willing to do year on year, IF the manager cropped the squad of those he did not need.

So no change in strategy. Throwing good money after bad isnt a strategy, its foolishness.
We're not Real Madrid. The books have to balance somewhere.


Anyway, prediction:

Unfortunately, Houllier will have to call it a day and may take a role at the club somewhere, which I'd like.
I think Moyes will get the job although not who I'd choose, and he'll do well. He'll also have money to spend and will just the sort of guy to ruthlessly overhaul the squad and dish out some much needed kicks up the arse.
McAllister will be offered a coaching role.
Moyes will probably agree to many of the transfer deals Houllier has lined up and will add a few gems of his own.
We'll enter next season leaner, meaner and with renewed momentum.

[KevinGage]

In comes Roberto Martinez as Manager (with Ngobia in the same taxi.).

I thought this would be a good idea, but my only concern is Villa fans. When Wigan were passing it around, and not always getting anywhere, there was lots of people at the game commenting things like "why can't we pass it around like that?", but when we get the ball and pass it around a bit, you get the same people shouting "FUCKING GET IT FORWARD - WE'RE FUCKING GOING NOWHERE!!!".

And therein lies the problem with passing and biding your time. Villa fans just aren't patient enough. So, in conclusion, whilst I'd like to see Martinez be given a chance at Villa, I don't think it'd be fair on him as the fans would expect us to be able to pass the ball well instantly, not realising it takes time to change.

The fundamental difference there is Wigan passed with purpose yet were quite happy to have players run at our backline and get in behind when the situation required it.

When we tried to pass the ball (in keeping with most of this season) we looked laboured, like we were more concerned with giving as many players as possible a touch rather than finding a route through to goal. It looked like passing to avoid responsibility.

Villa teams in the not too distant past have been able to combine an attractive style of play with decent results, so I don't think that patience (or lack of) from fans is the issue. When the side looks unconvincing -regardless of what style we're supposedly trying to implement-  the crowd pick up on that.

[brian green]

The reason why so many fans get angry at our constant cross field passing and being "patient" is because we have too many weak links at the back who are not comfortable on the ball and do not pass with sufficiently  accurate and correctly weighted passes.   Top teams can do it because they have the personnel with the skills to do it.   We do not.

Nigel Reo Coker was one of only two or three who played reasonably well against Wigan but he does not have the technique or the confidence to move the ball from side to side for twenty passes until the killer pass is delivered.   It is far better to use players like Nigel in a high tempo, high energy sustained assault at the opposition than to try to be Barcelona.

The most glaring example was the move which began with us winning possession on the edge of Wigan's box ending up with Dunne putting it out for a Wigan corner without one of their players touching the ball.

I wish we did have the players to play the beautiful game so beautifully that it makes you swoon with pleasure but we do not and very few teams do.

As for the very odd and unmerited comment from somebody that we treat Dave Woodhall like Royalty I can't think of anything he has done to make me want to treat him so badly.

[Dave Cooper please]

Dave W, can you tell me what to have for tea please, I just can't decide without you telling me what to think.

[maidstonevillain]

I am convinced we're going to get relegated

I don't think we are, but I do not think we are as safe yet as most people seem to think. I have this gut feeling Man U are going to lose their last two games, which affects considerably the relegatin situation.

I still think it is squeaky bum time.
 

[dave.woodhall]

Dave W, can you tell me what to have for tea please, I just can't decide without you telling me what to think.

You're in Hill Top, so scratchings and faggots probably.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Dave W, can you tell me what to have for tea please, I just can't decide without you telling me what to think.

You're in Hill Top, so scratchings and faggots probably.

And spending the afternoon flying his Whippets.

[UsualSuspect]

Battered by Arsenal
A defeat by Liverpool
Just about surviving, Houllier to quit, then another drawn out hunt for a manager.  A mass clearout when he eventually arrives not getting all the players we need going into next season making another poor start.

what a little ray of sunshine you are

Realist I would say

Add to that we are linked with Ian St John and Alan Sunderland based on the success of Robert Pires

[Dave Cooper please]

Dave W, can you tell me what to have for tea please, I just can't decide without you telling me what to think.

You're in Hill Top, so scratchings and faggots probably.

Just to be totally stereotypical I do have a big pan of grey peas and bacon in the slow cooker.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Anyway, prediction:

Unfortunately, Houllier will have to call it a day and may take a role at the club somewhere, which I'd like.
I think Moyes will get the job although not who I'd choose, and he'll do well. He'll also have money to spend and will just the sort of guy to ruthlessly overhaul the squad and dish out some much needed kicks up the arse.
McAllister will be offered a coaching role.
Moyes will probably agree to many of the transfer deals Houllier has lined up and will add a few gems of his own.
We'll enter next season leaner, meaner and with renewed momentum.

I predict you're bang on the money there, Maz.

[adrenachrome]

The reason why so many fans get angry at our constant cross field passing and being "patient" is because we have too many weak links at the back who are not comfortable on the ball and do not pass with sufficiently  accurate and correctly weighted passes.   Top teams can do it because they have the personnel with the skills to do it.   We do not.

Nigel Reo Coker was one of only two or three who played reasonably well against Wigan but he does not have the technique or the confidence to move the ball from side to side for twenty passes until the killer pass is delivered.   It is far better to use players like Nigel in a high tempo, high energy sustained assault at the opposition than to try to be Barcelona.

The most glaring example was the move which began with us winning possession on the edge of Wigan's box ending up with Dunne putting it out for a Wigan corner without one of their players touching the ball.

I wish we did have the players to play the beautiful game so beautifully that it makes you swoon with pleasure but we do not and very few teams do.

As for the very odd and unmerited comment from somebody that we treat Dave Woodhall like Royalty I can't think of anything he has done to make me want to treat him so badly.

Nice post, BG.

When Percy said that you don't try and make a cup of coffee with a teabag, he wasn't kidding around.

Of course, GH might reply using the words of his compatriot Robespierre that you can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs.

No doubt Mr Woodhall is a devious Machiavellian manipulator who maintains a stranglehold on discussion on this forum. We are all, in the words of Mrs. Overall, his "little followers". 

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Anyway, prediction:

Unfortunately, Houllier will have to call it a day and may take a role at the club somewhere, which I'd like.
I think Moyes will get the job although not who I'd choose, and he'll do well. He'll also have money to spend and will just the sort of guy to ruthlessly overhaul the squad and dish out some much needed kicks up the arse.
McAllister will be offered a coaching role.
Moyes will probably agree to many of the transfer deals Houllier has lined up and will add a few gems of his own.
We'll enter next season leaner, meaner and with renewed momentum.

I predict you're bang on the money there, Maz.

Houllier is welcome to do some scouting, maybe.
But personally, I don't want him anywhere near the day to day running of the club.

He's shown absolutely nothing this season to say that employing him in some sort of 'upstairs' capacity would benefit us.

[pauliewalnuts]

The most glaring example was the move which began with us winning possession on the edge of Wigan's box ending up with Dunne putting it out for a Wigan corner without one of their players touching the ball.

That's the single most depressing instant of "football" I can remember seeing in years and years.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Anyway, prediction:

Unfortunately, Houllier will have to call it a day and may take a role at the club somewhere, which I'd like.
I think Moyes will get the job although not who I'd choose, and he'll do well. He'll also have money to spend and will just the sort of guy to ruthlessly overhaul the squad and dish out some much needed kicks up the arse.
McAllister will be offered a coaching role.
Moyes will probably agree to many of the transfer deals Houllier has lined up and will add a few gems of his own.
We'll enter next season leaner, meaner and with renewed momentum.

I predict you're bang on the money there, Maz.

Houllier is welcome to do some scouting, maybe.
But personally, I don't want him anywhere near the day to day running of the club.

He's shown absolutely nothing this season to say that employing him in some sort of 'upstairs' capacity would benefit us.

That may be the case Fletch but it wouldn't surprise me if that's what the board decide to do.