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

[Marlon From Bearwood]

jol with hughton as his number 2 would be a solid management team.

I agree, but I suspect Hughton would be in the market for a manager's job of his own now, having been linked with the West Ham job, to name but one

[Chris Jameson]

Disgraceful that Villa are dragging their heels on this: unfair to Houllier and unfair to the fans.

The medical results are obviously back. If they're not looking good, take the requisite action. If they're positive, confirm he's staying and let's get on with some business for next season.

It really is that fucking simple.

Malcolm?

[goldenjimi]

I don't get why so many people are so negative about the bored.  Why are they dragging there heels?  They have done nothing wrong, except act quickly after the season to sort the problem out.  They can't help that it has been leaked on that bloody annoying twitter thing first.

[Mister E]

I get the feeling the appointment is in the bag, especially with Reo Coker leaving. Dont know how the club would agree to that without a new manager being given a say.

On Houllier, undoubtedly he had good ideas but like GT second time around, the challenge of managing players was too much for him.

Re NRC, he was out of contract! Simple as. That's why he left at the end of the season - he was free to walk away, and did.
Re GHou, I don't think he failed the challenge of managing the players: I think he was halfway through the project wehn his heart gave out. This close-season would have seen the 'surgery' that the squad needed, with the inclusion of players more mentally equipped to work in the way that GHou wanted.

[cdbearsfan]

if the cat has been let out of the bag it makes sense for the club to announce a press conference or release a statement rather than just saying its premature - if the decision has been made then lets have it official .

The cat was out of the bag at about 3am. Do you expect them to call a press conference in their pyjamas?

I'm sure they are working on getting the exact wording right for the statement, and maybe contacting relevant parties as well as making sure Houllier is given a dignified exit. They may also still be ironing out the details of his severance deal. Far better to do it now than to have it hanging over the club's head like O'Neill's tribunal did.

After the media assassination we got after O'Neill left, they may also be trying to ensure we get the best possible press out of this. Be patient!

[Tom_Mc9?]

What about Salifou, Pires and Osbourne? (winky thing)

[Mister E]

Disgraceful that Villa are dragging their heels on this: unfair to Houllier and unfair to the fans.

The medical results are obviously back. If they're not looking good, take the requisite action. If they're positive, confirm he's staying and let's get on with some business for next season.

It really is that fucking simple.

Malcolm?

TeeHee - exactly what I thought  at first when I saw this.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

3.  They now have a whole summer to find someone and none of the excuses of bad timing from last season can be used.  Big challenge for the board.

They dont have the whole summer though. It is imperative that we get a new manager in quickly. If they act as slowly as they did last time, the new manager will have less time to make signings and the players at the club will grow more and more restless at the uncertainty.

Ok so your sitting on a beach in the caribbean staying in a 5 star luxury hotel for the next 3 weeks with your family, its the end of May and a BACS transfer has just put £200k in your current account, a week after you get back another BACS transfer puts a further £200k in your account. I must admit, Im not very good sitting around on beaches for too long - I suggest a couple of good novels.

[eastie]

one problem the club need to address is the number of times stories have been leaked to the press this season from someone inside the club-who is the mystery mole?

[dave.woodhall]

one problem the club need to address is the number of times stories have been leaked to the press this season from someone inside the club-who is the mystery mole?

It's the same at every club. Most of them are lucky/informed guesses.

[brontebilly]

I get the feeling the appointment is in the bag, especially with Reo Coker leaving. Dont know how the club would agree to that without a new manager being given a say.

On Houllier, undoubtedly he had good ideas but like GT second time around, the challenge of managing players was too much for him.

Re NRC, he was out of contract! Simple as. That's why he left at the end of the season - he was free to walk away, and did.
Re GHou, I don't think he failed the challenge of managing the players: I think he was halfway through the project wehn his heart gave out. This close-season would have seen the 'surgery' that the squad needed, with the inclusion of players more mentally equipped to work in the way that GHou wanted.

Letting go Reo Coker would be bizarre if Houllier was staying on as he was one of the few to give his all under his management. Still think it was strange to let him go anyway as if he really wanted out he would have signed a pre contract with someone else last Jan. For an extra 10k a week we would have had a player that we could have sold for maybe 5m next summer at the worst. Anyway I'll let that one go. I'll always have good time for him for giving his all considering the uncertainty about his future.

halfway to the championship was where we were going under Houllier imo, GMac for all his faults and there were many actually did alright and we picked up enough to points to stay up under him.

Too many good EPL players completely went to pieces under Houllier for it to be a coincidence. We were an absolute shambles under him, to say otherwise is revisionism. Maybe he tried to change things too soon. Bent and Walker were good signings but being a manager is more about bringing in players (Makoun and Pires werent as successful). Houllier wasnt up to managing players anymore and a change is best for all concerned.

[kippaxvilla2]

Assuming this is true, then this is the correct decision by the board in the ultimate interests of the football clubs fortunes on the pitch.  That is one big challenging decision they have got right.  The biggest challenge is yet to come.  Unless the replacement has already been earmarked of course.  I cannot believe that the board would be daft enough to appoint Benitez when the Gerard experiment pretty well backfired.  It's not time for experimental appointments.  It's time for a tried and tested name who has current experience of the Premier League.  Therefore, the only three candidates are Ancellotti, Moyes and Hughes.  My preference would be Mr Moyes.

[London Villan]

I hope Sid isn't let go in the clear-out!

[E I Adio]

if the cat has been let out of the bag it makes sense for the club to announce a press conference or release a statement rather than just saying its premature - if the decision has been made then lets have it official .

The cat was out of the bag at about 3am. Do you expect them to call a press conference in their pyjamas?

I'm sure they are working on getting the exact wording right for the statement, and maybe contacting relevant parties as well as making sure Houllier is given a dignified exit. They may also still be ironing out the details of his severance deal. Far better to do it now than to have it hanging over the club's head like O'Neill's tribunal did.

After the media assassination we got after O'Neill left, they may also be trying to ensure we get the best possible press out of this. Be patient!

If I recall correctly, the General clearly said that any news would be communicated to the fans first, which is why I presume they have given the exclusive to local Birmingham newspaper.

[robbo1874]

The thing that worries me about appointing Ancelotti, is that as a club we are just a bit below his level. By that, I mean I think he may go out and spunk loads of cash on new players, but that cash will probably not be enough. Then when it doesn't go immediately to plan, there'll be noises about the board not backing him enough and rifts and he'll do one to Juve or Inter and we'll be left footing the bill.

A big 'name' manager would be nice, if we had the funds to back one with. I just don't think we should be overstretching ourselves. It would be nice to have a crack, but the model of bringing the youngsters through, with the odd rare signing of someone of bent's quality now and again is the one that best suits a club of our current standing.

Seems done and dusted that Houllier is leaving now and probably best for all concerned given his health.
Judging by how we finished the season though, I'd have been fairly happy for McAllister to carry on in that caretaker type role with Houllier helping out from upstairs (in the stand!) and giving that a go for a season, or so.