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

[eastie]

Whoever comes in i think we can forget about the champions league for the foreseeable future unless randy has 100m or so to pump in each summer-the gap now is huge and growing wider, i think whoever comes in will be looking at top 6 and europa league as realistic ambitions and maybe grab a cup.

See, I simply don't accept that.

What we should be doing is looking at what we need to get into the top 4 and seeing how best to achieve that with our resources.  We're not paupers, but also don't have the money to buy pur way in a la Man City.  So it's a matter of focusing what we do have and maximising every pound spent.

Here's an example blueprint:-
We have a decent squad that looked dis-organised and unmotivated last year, so get a manager (Moyes) who can get the best out of them by addressing those issues.  To build further, get the scouting to be top notch (maybe a job for Houllier?) so that we're getting £10m players for £5m and so on.  Continue to develop the youth so that they take places saving money for other areas and/or a top notch £20m signing.

Do that and we won't be far away!   

Without huge and substantial investment the champions league is just a dream, arsenal and man u have huge attendances and cash and man city and chelsea have pots of cash to spend , we are very much in the bracket of everton and maybe a bit behind spurs and competing for a top 6 place in my view-it took city over £200m to break the top 4 and the gap is far wider now than when randy took over.

I  reluctantly have reassessed my hopes and now top 6 and a cup seem realistic aims to me.
Sadly when we get good players coming through they are being picked off by the richer clubs and its very hard to stop that happening in the current football climate- the game is now very different from the 80s.

Whoe

Yet Arsenal are there and stay there with relatively little spent.

Also, some similarities can be seen between us and Spurs, who got there:-  been close for a few years, then change the manager and fall back, but change again shortly afterwards and get there.  And for all the talk of £200m, we were a Darren Bent away under MON.

You may be right, but I see a danger to limiting ourselves to top 6 and a cup run here and there.  Lets try to be as good as we can and see where that takes us.   

Agreed arsenal spend little but they reportedly get £3m from each home game in revenue and besides their champions league income have gates that double ours.

Of course we have to aim to do as well as we can but i see us and everton along with maybe spurs in a chase to catch the top 5 as liverpool now seem to be in a position to compete financially under their new owners and are expected to splash the cash this summer.

[Caiphus]

you can't reply without quoting 3 times mate...

[Concrete John]

Agreed arsenal spend little but they reportedly get £3m from each home game in revenue and besides their champions league income have gates that double ours.

Of course we have to aim to do as well as we can but i see us and everton along with maybe spurs in a chase to catch the top 5 as liverpool now seem to be in a position to compete financially under their new owners and are expected to splash the cash this summer.

Arsenal's turnover is of very little relevance if they aren't using it to finance the playing side.  I'm not convcinced of any great spending power Liverpool will have, but do think they'll be difficult to finish above given the King Kenny factor.

Thing is though, I think back to our chances at 4th in 2009 and 2010 and each time someone would say "We'll never have a better chance."  Yet we were closer in 2010 than 2009 and if you look at last season's table, had we had our act together who knows what would have happened. 

Of the current top 4:-
Arsenal faded badly last season and there seems to be a growing disatisfaction with Wenger.  Will that carry through to this season, especially if Fabregas does one?
Chelsea have great spending power, but lack stability with what now seems like regular managerial changes.  They also have an aging squad (Drogba, Terry, Lampard, Cole, Malouda all 30+) so although they have the money to replace them, they could be in for a 'transitional season' with a new manager.
Man City will keep spending on an level envied by even Chelsea, so they may be untouchable.
Man Utd have issues financially with the Glaziers and debt repayment, even though they earn enough to do it and still spend.  They're probably safe aslong as Fergie is there, but again key players are aging (already now need a Scholes replacement) and once he goes the wrong apointment, in what must be the most difficult act to follow in the history of the game, could see them falter somewhat.

I suppose the phrase is 'raising the bar' and if the top 4 clubs do that we need to do what we can to raise our game.  Otherwise, what's the point?   

[Rudy Can't Fail]

So no new developments on this then?

Official statement expected this afternoon.

Edit: Matt Kendrick at the Mail now saying it may not happen today.

[eastie]

So no new developments on this then?

Official statement expected this afternoon.

Edit: Matt Kendrick at the Mail now saying it may not happen today.

Looks like geds holding out for a big pay off, if reports are true he says he has medical proof hes fit so it seems to be more like a sacking rather than him agreeing to go.

Another tribunal case beckoning maybe?

[lukey27]

It's just a case of when and not if this is announced. Quite funny that the picture on the Villa homepage is of a smiling Carlos Cuellar. He's just thinking thank god Houllier's off!

Houllier did make some puzzling decisions with players, Cuellar's omission for a half-fit Dunne earlier this season was perhaps his oddest one.

Ultimately his face never really fit with the fans and he didn't help himslef in this regard.

[Ger Regan]

Except we don't know the reasoning behind Cuellar not playing. Considering he is going in for an operation (an operation that he put off during the season in order to cover for others), I'd wager that whatever injury he has / had meant he wasn't going to be risked unless others were also out injured.

[PeterWithesShin]

Just read the last few pages. Very entertaining reading.

This.

Although I am now confused as to how many points we finished with!

48 POINTS!  48 POINTS!!!!

Are you sure it wasn't 45? Or 42?!!!

[AsTallAsLions]

Snore. Matt Kendrick, dependable as ever.

This may never happen.

[Dave Cooper please]

Just read the last few pages. Very entertaining reading.

This.

Although I am now confused as to how many points we finished with!

48 POINTS!  48 POINTS!!!!

Are you sure it wasn't 45? Or 42?!!!

Awww! I don't know now, because you've used four exclamation marks which sort of makes it official.

[Simba]

For weeks now GH has been stating that he is fit and wants to stay. G Mac has been planning for next season. Whoever said it - I think you are right- this could cost the club if he is proven as medically fit.

Personally for what it is worth I think he should go. It is simply not establishing any stable foundation with a man his age and medical history. Yes I know Sir Alex is older but he is fit.

No, his Wife is right- time to call it quits and I would be bloody angry if he waved his contract at us.

[PaulWinch again]

Well this has all gone very quiet now.

[spangley1812]

Well this has all gone very quiet now.

Tom Ross on facebook says there will be an official announcement tommorow

[holtepaul]

I understand legally the Villa wouldn't have a leg to stand on, but surely morally, GH could never show his face again if he demanded his contract paid up.

Joins in October, leaves at the beginning of April, does a poor job in the 6 months he is here, has a dodgy heart (now I know he cant be blamed for that) and then when Villa raise a concern , he demands his 6 million quid he is owed.

As I say legally, yes, but how on bloody earth can he have a go at the likes of Warnock and Carew one minute and do that the next.

I have always said - no malice, quite like the bloke, but if he tries to take us for the lot, he will lose all credibility with me.

 

[Tucson Villain]

Matt Kendrick is now saying that a statement may be released tonight.