SA Footy

I feel very sorry for our beleaguered manager Gerard Houllier. His appointment came when the August transfer window had already closed so he was stuck for several months with a group of players used to Martin O'Neill's high-tempo game style - and minus James Milner. He is implementing a new passing-based game to which the players are struggling to adapt. We were always going to go backwards initially.

Hopefully the club and fans will be patient because he needs to be given the chance to bring the right kind of players to the club and he will start that in January.

Martin O'Neill had us in the mix for two seasons but we always fell short when the time came to take the next step. Trouble is he spent ridiculous money on players and had nothing to show for it.

What's really annoying me as a fan is these petulant sooks who are complaining about Houllier's training methods. These blokes are getting paid staggering money to get super fit and have fun playing football yet they whinge and moan when they are asked to push themselves a bit.

And then you have 65,000 quid-a-week John Carew not trying because he is holding onto a grudge against Houllier from the days when he played under him at Lyon.

The sooner we offload the malcontents like Carew, Richard Dunne, Stephen Ireland, the grossly-overrated Ashley Young and Steve Sidwell the better off we'll be.

Houlier might be the next casualty. I don't agree with player power, they are paid to do a job and should get on with it , but Villa look a very ordinary side this year.
They've not built on the last couple of seasons and all their pace and attacking style seems to have evaporated

Critcism must be laid at the players door for the way they have reacted to the departure of O'Neill but Houllier has done nothing in his time to motive or inspire a devoted team imo

agreed. i think if things dont improve he will be gone by the end of january and if not i can see villa maybe slipping into the championship

Bulldog wrote:agreed. i think if things dont improve he will be gone by the end of january and if not i can see villa maybe slipping into the championship

The roblemvwith leaving it until the end of JAN is any new manager coming in won't have an opportunity to bring in new blood.
Either sack him now or stick with him until the end of the season imo

dont disagree there mate leaving it to long i just believe they might or might not stick with houlier and see where it goes but i can see it going pear shaped

Houllier needs to be given a chance to overhaul the squad before his managerial performance at Villa can be judged.

The good thing is that he is a respected man in football and thus has the ability to attract good players.

He will definitely bring in a striker - probably Robbie Keane, Michael Owen or Piquionne from West Ham next month.

westozfalcon wrote:Houllier needs to be given a chance to overhaul the squad before his managerial performance at Villa can be judged.

The good thing is that he is a respected man in football and thus has the ability to attract good players.

He will definitely bring in a striker - probably Robbie Keane, Michael Owen or Piquionne from West Ham next month.

doubtful owen would move as fergie has stated he aint going no where and coming into the busy season then i would doubt fergie would let any striker of his move on

westozfalcon wrote:Houllier needs to be given a chance to overhaul the squad before his managerial performance at Villa can be judged.

The good thing is that he is a respected man in football and thus has the ability to attract good players.

He will definitely bring in a striker - probably Robbie Keane, Michael Owen or Piquionne from West Ham next month.

Keane - good target, although the Hammers are after him too.
Owen - if you want to pull out of danger, you need someone who can string some games together.
Piquionne - why would the Hammers sell a player in their first XI to one of their relegation rivals?

McAlmanac wrote:

westozfalcon wrote:Houllier needs to be given a chance to overhaul the squad before his managerial performance at Villa can be judged.

The good thing is that he is a respected man in football and thus has the ability to attract good players.

He will definitely bring in a striker - probably Robbie Keane, Michael Owen or Piquionne from West Ham next month.

Keane - good target, although the Hammers are after him too.
Owen - if you want to pull out of danger, you need someone who can string some games together.
Piquionne - why would the Hammers sell a player in their first XI to one of their relegation rivals?

Like Villa, West Ham are looking to overhaul their pool of strikers so a move would be on the cards if they've got someone to replace Piquionne.
Then there's the French Connection

like i said it will be doubtful owen would go from man utd but if he did he hasnt played much premier league and i wouldnt think he would be the one to rely on to 'escape' the relegation trap for anyone. Might score a few games if he gets a starting spot week in week out but he wont leave man utd

thank you villa for holding chelsea at stamford bridge this morning.

Bulldog wrote:thank you villa for holding chelsea at stamford bridge this morning.

X2
Would have hated for that knob terry to get the winner. Great to see the smirk wiped off his face with the late equaliser.

Villa have signed Darren Bent from sunderland for a record 18 million quid .. That figure could rise to 24 mil with add-ons.

http://www.premierleague.com/page/Headl ... 97,00.html

Constance_Perm wrote:Villa have signed Darren Bent from sunderland for a record 18 million quid .. That figure could rise to 24 mil with add-ons.

http://www.premierleague.com/page/Headl ... 97,00.html

An amazing almount of cash for someone who is average-to-good at best...

Hope it doesn't bite them on the Arsene....

Jase wrote:

Constance_Perm wrote:Villa have signed Darren Bent from sunderland for a record 18 million quid .. That figure could rise to 24 mil with add-ons.

http://www.premierleague.com/page/Headl ... 97,00.html

An amazing almount of cash for someone who is average-to-good at best...

Hope it doesn't bite them on the Arsene....

Yeah it's a massive amount but you always have to pay over the odds for English players.

The good thing is that he's a proven goalscorer in the Premier League - 81 goals in the last 5 years. In that time only Didier Drogba and Wayne Rooney have scored more.