Houllier position safe at Villa
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Because somehow in the short space of less than half a season, he's turned a defensively solid, top 6 side with a core of players capable of at least challenging for the European spots into a team which is frail, defensively weak, lacking in desire and quality.
Somehow, Houllier's also managed to alienate some key players (Dunne springs to mind) within a few months of him joining. He has done some good things, I will admit: he's taught the team how to pass to someone closer than forty yards away, and our attacking movement is much improved. On the other hand, our formerly miserly defence is giving away goals. I don't mean "the opposition scored", I mean the defence gifted them the chance. That would be okay, of course, if our newfound attacking movement lead to goals, which it hasn't. Our second-highest scorer in the league is Ciaran Clark, a 21 year old utility back, which rather highlights the extreme profligacy of our forwards. Which brings me neatly onto another thing.
So, Martin O'Neill used to play Carlos Cuellar, a centre-back, at right back. We lambasted him for this. Now, however, Houllier is playing Clark and Cuellar on the flanks of the defence, both central defenders, both contributing to a lack of width, something that used to be our one big strength. Combine that with playing Gabriel Agbonlahor, an out-and-out forward, on the wing and a winger in the centre, and you can understand why Villa fans are getting rather ****** off.
These results are just not good enough. No defence, no attack, an impressive midfield but one that has too much to do. Granted, Houllier has brought the best out of Emile Heskey, but that's like bringing the best out of a Lee-Enfield rifle: yeah, you've got it to fire, but it's going to last what, at most another year? On top of that, it's still prone to misfires, as seen by yesterday's debacle of a miss. Oh, and that reminds me. Someone needs to tell Houllier what a "substitute" is.
I will not credit Houllier for implementing youngsters like Marc Albrighton into the first team. It was Kevin Macdonald, who was caretaker, who properly brought him up. Whilst Houllier had persevered, yesterday he left out a fit, firing Marc Albrighton, a player with lethal crossing and an on fire target man ahead of him, in order to bring in a player who was out of position. On top of that, Stiliyan Petrov, our captain, has just come back off a long-term injury and is expected to play two games within four or so days. Alright, this could still be forgivable if Petrov can last the distance and Albrighton is brought on if we need him. But no. We needed him from at least half-time, and what does Houllier do? Brings on him and another bring young talent in Barry Bannan, in the 88th minute. Frustration doesn't even begin to cover it...
If Houllier cannot compete with a competitive team (and it is a competitive team: three top 6 positions in a row, and rising new talent), I have little wish to see him try and build a squad he thinks he can compete with. I am normally a fairly moderate fan, and was disgusted at the people calling for Houllier's head a few weeks into his reign. That said, I can take it no longer.
I want him out. My mind may be changed, I will fully admit that, but going on recent form, recent results and all-round judgement, I want Houllier out of Aston Villa.
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My opinion ... these kind of things would happen long time ago for Aston Villa ... but there was Martin O'Neill to save them and to build a great team for Europe... year after year, Aston Villa fought for Champions League places with him in charge .. now he is gone, and look what happens ... It's not only Houllier's fault, most of great managers would fail Villa's test altough they have great team and great potential, only few of them could do something like Mr. O'Neill ... Same thing happened to Celtic, Gordon Strachan is good manager but O'Neill indispensable. I hope someone will replace Houllier, some young and talented .. And I also hope that Lennon will continue good work with Celtic .. My choice for Aston Villa is Big Sam ( not so young, but amazing manager (H) )
Just think though mate...
Tactics:
Richard Dunne... BOOM........ Emile Heskey or John Carew.
PERFECT!!! ^^)
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hahahahahhaha ... i just told my opinion, he's one of the few good managers who are without club
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Villa need a young , European manager to get them playing football again.
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They need Andre Villas-Boas ! the next Mourinho .. but is that possible ?
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I think Alex would cream if he saw Boas in the Premier League
Who said anything about Dunne being used as a defender? Considering previous Allardyce form, he'd be being played as a striker.
Someone who knows what a substitute and a defence is., at least.
No. He's way too good for us, and is flying with Porto at the minute. If anywhere, he'd go to Liverpool.
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Bob Bradley from USA . Christian Gross former Stuttgart or Mallorca's boss Michael Laudrup ... or in best case, beg for Martin O'Neill ! lol
Yes, it's true for Villas-Boas
I would take Laudrup and Bradley in a second. Don't know enough about Gross. I'd have MON back, come to think of it, without a doubt.
Found this article on the daily mail. Yeah, I know, daily fail and all that, but still.
From dailymail.co.uk:
Let's imagine for a minute that you had deliberately set about sabotaging Aston Villa Football Club.
Bearing in mind that you had to remain in paid employment to carry out your dastardly plan, what would you do?
For a start, you could alienate the senior players who helped the club to a sixth-placed finish last season.
You could publicly belittle a new £8million signing, who admitted he was short of confidence at his unveiling, knowing that his brittle mental state would cause him to disappear from view.
You could continue a long feud with your star striker, the leading goalscorer over the past three seasons.
You could commit a large chunk of the club's money to a has-been, a late thirty-something who will play a bit-part in the season.
You could over-play the youngsters. Watching their confidence ebb away as results worsen along with the league position.
You could return to a former club, make a big show about how much you still feel for that former club without a second's thought for the fact you are representing your current one.
You could then bring back your senior players in a bid to save face, only to see them fail to support you where it matters most: out on the pitch.
You could hold team meetings, ask players to air their thoughts without fear of repercussion - and then axe them from the squad when they suggest improvements.
The fanzine editors at Birmingham City don't even need to make this up. 'Return to your St Andrew's base, agent Houllier, your job is almost done.' A cheap shot, yes, but what else does Gerard Houllier expect?
The fact of the matter is that had it not been for Ciaran Clark's late equaliser against a Chelsea team that is clearly struggling itself for form and confidence, Aston Villa would be sitting rock-bottom.
Villa owner Randy Lerner must be wondering where his cash has gone. He's blown the best part of £200m so far. And for what? European qualification - that, when push came to shove, was worth diddly-squat in Martin O'Neill's eyes.
Of course, the American has to admit culpability in one regard. After all, he's been the one writing the cheques. But surely he deserves better than this?
At this point, I'll hold my hands up. I advocated giving Houllier a chance. That was before he embarked on his one-man mission to lead Villa into the Championship.
I understand Lerner does not want to be seen as a 'hire 'em, fire 'em' chairman. That's all well and good. If people out there think industry is ruthless, let me tell you it has nothing on football.
It's why such outmoded characteristics like values and principles are long gone. It's professional sport - ie cash is involved. And lots of it.
I remember walking across Leicester City's training pitch with Micky Adams one day and asking how many managers he could count as friends. Micky is a personable guy, likeable, plays golf, enjoys a drink, family man, etc.
'Not many pal,' came the reply, 'when we go out there, it's war.'
So that's what's at stake. Actually, people's livelihoods would be lost at Villa Park, were the unthinkable to happen. Perhaps Mr Lerner should take that into account. I'm sure he does, he's a stand-up kinda guy. (If you'll pardon the Americanisation) But just when do you just hold up your hands and admit that you got it wrong?
After what took place on Wednesday night, it's surely a matter of time. In my opinion, Villa fans are quite slow to anger. Generally, they will put up a fair amount before being taken to a breaking-point. After that, beware.
Graham Taylor never had a problem - mainly because Graham understood the club. John Gregory - a manager with whom my own relationship was stretched on occasion - never had that problem either. Nor did Brian Little. Or Ron Atkinson. People who understood what Aston Villa was. And understood too it's core support. But just recently that has been lost.
On a personal level, I got on fine with David O'Leary. But the minute the classic banner went up in the Holte End: 'We're not fickle, we just don't like you,' he was always on to a loser.
Moscow will always loom large whenever Martin O'Neill's name is mentioned. For all the fact that he produced on the pitch, that will never be forgotten.
And whatever else Houllier does as Villa's boss, fans will always refer to that night at Anfield. I've sat and listened a number of times now to the Frenchman and I'm not convinced he realises how deeply the hurt was felt.
Most importantly, however, the noises coming from the dressing-room are appalling. Hark back to the Bolton game earlier this season. Ashley Young scores and races over to celebrate with caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald. Chances of that being repeated under the new Villa boss? Erm, nil.
Lerner and chief executive Paul Faulkner do have an option to hand. They used MacDonald earlier this season as a stop-gap and he is the man to rally the dressing-room and bring back those alienated players. He is a Villa man. Someone who understands what the club is about. He will put a smile back on the players' faces. After all, he was responsible for earning seven of the points the club's now sitting on.
So, I return to a point I made earlier in the piece. Just how bad does it have to get before a change is made? Sheffield United in the FA Cup? Or at St Andrew's in 10 days' time?
The home fans are already voting with their feet. The crowd was down for Sunderland's visit on Wednesday night. Those that were there cried: 'You're getting sacked in the morning,' at their own manager. I mean, what else can you do to prove that you have had enough.
The writing is on the wall. Time to push the button, write the cheque and move on. The season isn't over for Aston Villa just yet. But much more of this macabre soap opera and it soon will be.
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I really don't get the high praise for Villas-Boas... But I especially don't get the "next Mourinho" thing. I might eat my words, and feel free to quote them if I do, but he won't ammount to much outside of Porto, and he is definitely no Mourinho.
How do you know? You can't tell anything yet, it's far too early.
I don't know, I suspect
Hence the "might eat my words" bit.