Official - Houllier leaves by mutual consent (p.28)

[paulcomben]

Surely, 'by mutual consent' means they have agreed a fair compromise on his pay-off.  I wish him good health, but never rated him as manager.  Moyes is my number one choice as replacement.

[Merv]

The training facilities at Villa were given the twice over a couple of weeks back and were unexpectedly viewed more recently by someone who raised a few eyebrows.

Jack's comment, coupled with Pep Guardiola's recent comments about wanting a new challenge after Barcelona, means only one outcome, obviously....

On Houllier, I think Mat Kendrick has jumped the gun somewhat on Twitter and pre-empted the club's announcement, but I still think the story is correct. In some ways it is a shame - feels like a waste of a season - but down to circumstances beyond anyone's control.

I'm warming to the idea of Martinez.

[eastie]

if it was hughes then i guess he would get the best out of warnock and ireland which could save a few million quid-lets hope for a quick and positive appointment this time.

[sfx412]

Not sure what is worse, the overly keen acceptance that a rumour is fact, how yet again the Villa management have been found wanting with their undies around their ankles or yet more uncertainty around the clubs manager.
Chelsea, Cardiff, Blackburn, even West Ham and most other clubs seem to be able to sort these matters far more efficiently.

[NeilH]

You know this is a bit of a watershed for the club. With the gap from the rest to the top 4 growing ever wider and players happy to jump ship as soon as the ££ signs start ringing, the club need to look at their strategy and what manager would best fit it.
We have a strong and successful youth development policy that is starting to bear some fruit and if it can be further nurtured with players that believe in Villa we could create a Barcelona style team with players used to each other and determined to play for the club that made them. In my opinion there is only one man that can develop a youth team to that extent and mould to what he wants and that is Louis Van Gaal.
We cannot compete on transfers, so let's try and compete by developing a team built from youth. Give it to Van Gaal and watch us flourish in the same way he develop AZ Alkmaar into champions.

[villasjf]

Stephen Ireland as player coach with SVC as first team coach with Sasa Curcic and Bosco Balaban.
Football is a mad world.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

Stephen Ireland as player coach with SVC as first team coach with Sasa Curcic and Bosco Balaban.
Football is a mad world.

Billy McNeill

[dave.woodhall]

Not sure what is worse, the overly keen acceptance that a rumour is fact, how yet again the Villa management have been found wanting with their undies around their ankles or yet more uncertainty around the clubs manager.
Chelsea, Cardiff, Blackburn, even West Ham and most other clubs seem to be able to sort these matters far more efficiently.

Do tell us, oh wise one, what they've done wrong this time.

[cdbearsfan]

By the sound of it we should have had someone waiting to take over from the second Houllier got ill to make Malcolm happy. Maybe the intended appointee could've hung around Gerard's hospital bed dressed as the Grim Reaper?

[Lsvilla]

doesn't hughes have a 'walk-away' clause with Fulham that is effective on 1st June ?

[cdbearsfan]

Chelski, Caerdydd and Wet Spam don't have managers yet, do they? I don't think the Blackburn appointment would've thrilled many Villa fans if we'd unveiled him.

[cdbearsfan]

doesn't hughes have a 'walk-away' clause with Fulham that is effective on 1st June ?

I hope not.

[Monty]

I do feel sorry for GH. The signs of gradual improvement during a difficult season were there, and given another transfer window and a proper pre-season I for one was willing to give him a shot. If true - and Kendrick does seem certain (not the thing to joke about surely) - then it's a real shame for him because, as Wenger and Phil Thompson have pointed out, football is his entire life, and to not be able to ccarry on with it would be very tough indeed for him.

As far as new managers go, the idea of Martinez is an interesting one. He's very young, so the gamble would be there definitely, but he seems to have genuine abilities as a manager, making some good signings, steadfastly refusing to compromise his football principles and displaying good ability to motivate his players during that remarkable run-in Wigan had there. He does seem like a genuine talent and you get the feeling that, sooner or later, someone's going to take the gamble on him and get rewarded. It might as well be us.

[Merv]

Chelsea, Cardiff, Blackburn, even West Ham and most other clubs seem to be able to sort these matters far more efficiently.

Efficiently is an interesting choice of word, there. I'd replace with 'brutally' or 'callously'. The way Ancelotti, Allardyce and Grant were all sacked was pretty shabby, IMO. Ancelotti and Grant effectively sacked in the tunnel immediately after games, if I recall. Nasty.

The situation with Houllier is a little more sensitive and needs to be handled accordingly. The season finished just over a week ago; I'd say Villa are acting fairly swiftly and decisively here.

[eastie]

im sure i heard something about hughes having a get out clause on june 1st too, surely now the club need to bring forward any announcement and confirm this news as its being reported widely now.

im a bit sad we cant use gerard on the board to add a footballing input in the boardroom but i guess a clean break makes sense as no new manager would want someone looking over his shoulder.