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

[mozza]

Reading what Faulkner & Houllier have said is confusing to say the least but none the less
I reckon it's best for both club and individual -

Enjoy your retirement (if that's what you do) Gerard - we will never know if you could have
taken us to where we all strive -   

[jonc73]

He doesn't fill me with much confidence and people will dismiss him with how he failed so badly with the England team.

Look at the mess Capello has made of the same job.Maclaren wouldn't get the fans excited but he gets a raw deal.If he repeated wheat he did at Boro he'd be the best Villa manager since Saunders-one trophy,one European final

[rob_bridge]

Houllier has been an on field and PR disaster. FACT!. He thought concentrating on the starter (Fitness) and the Dessert (Scouting) would be fine whilst leaving McDuff to cook the main course. The Liverpool debacle was reason enough to sack him. Did Peter Taylor wave at Forest fans as manager of Derby in 1982? The Double Whammy of Man City especially the 2nd one was a disgrace especially as The Other Lot won a trophy and anyone here cannot remember the last time we won FA Cup. A Villa match on the box and I knew the result before kick off - so did everyone. Everyone!
Added to that we PAID Boro for McDuff's services. That pair is the worst appointment in terms of thought process in Villa's recent history. Faulkner needs to be sacked tomorrow too. An abject appointment from the past.
Moyes, Hughes and even McLaren are more in touch with day to day management than Houllier. A shambolic season - he is gone. For GOOD on everyone's part.

[Ger Regan]

Does shouting FACT! mean that we can't disagree with your post then?

[nicardinho]

Sad to see Gerard go, seems a nice man to me. Having seen the squad before the West Ham game boarding the bus with Houllier, I would say there was definite respect there despite what the stirrers say. As for replacements:

Moyes - cannot see a real reason why he would leave Everton for us, unless we would guarantee him funds. That seems to be his only gripe currently.

Hughes - Meh. We wouldn't progress, but we shouldn't do worse than 7-11th each season. Not where we should be aiming each August though.

McLaren - A risk, a definite risk, and not one I'd like to see us take. I cannot imagine him attracting a high calibre of player, or indeed persuading the current dis-illusioned bunch to stay.

Ancelotti, Villaa Boas - Dream on.

Martin Jol - Maybe.

Maybe just keep McAllister and McDonald on for a year before Guardiola's contract expires

[Pete]

Bit harsh on Mcclaren re Wolfsburg, their best players were sold from under him as he arrived, not to be replaced. I wouldn't mind seeing what he can do for us.

Best of luck GH, hope you keep well and thanks for your efforts. Thanks especially for signing Darren Bent, I suspect that this will be remembered as your most significant act.

[E I Adio]

I realise that I'm in a small minority on here, but I never quite gave up on GH, even in the darkest of days, although there were one or two occasions when I came close. He did a job under very trying circumstances. I'm disappointed that he's leaving, because I still believe that next season could have been exciting, but although I'm sure it's not what he wants, I am sure for the sake of what is after all a serious life threatening condition, that this resolution is the right one.

I have no doubt that Gerard is a thoroughly decent man and I wish him the best.

[maidstonevillain]

Houllier has been an on field and PR disaster. FACT!.

Didn't read any further. As soon as someone shouts FACT after expressing their own subjective view, I am not interested. I prefer to read reasoned argument, and make up my own mind. Thanks.

By the way, I disagree with what you say in the first sentence. But that is simply my opinion.

[maidstonevillain]

I realise that I'm in a small minority on here, but I never quite gave up on GH,

I think you are probably in the silent majority actually.

[ROBBO]

Sorry to see GH go, if it wasn't for his health problems he would have been good for Villa, he had a vision of the way we should play and i was confident he would bring in the players we needed.
Hughes or Moyes would be a disappointment as neither fills me with confidence of getting us challenging for top four or playing the kind of football we all want to watch.

[Pete3206]

Best for all concerned. At least Villa can now get on with the task of appointing the right man. Something that was near to impossible last August.

[Damo70]

From the statement  I've just read printed on SSN and the recorded back up interview with Pinnochio the mutual consent line hasn't lasted long. GH is looking forward to returning to football as early as possible next season after a summer break. Pinnochio has stuck the boot into us again (for a change) by saying he is shocked because GH was telling him in the last few days how he was looking forward to pre-season training. Obviously no gagging order involved in this pay off deal.

[Zhong Yi]

haven't felt this way about a change of manager since the 1986 back page of the sun which read "Villa Axe Turner"

[pauliewalnuts]

Moxley in the Daily Heil reckons the compensation deal works out at a total cost of 150k a game for Houllier. Not bad for nine months work.

[joe_c]

Moxley in the Daily Heil reckons the compensation deal works out at a total cost of 150k a game for Houllier. Not bad for nine months work.

They've had it in for us ever since we refused to give the Nazi salute.