Monday, 21 March 2011 07:32
It needs more than just the Holte End
And so it has come to this. With eight games left of the season, we are sitting teetering on the edge. Amidst a tumultuous season of upheaval, we are faced now with the stark reality of dereliction of duty by our players.
Aston Villa have a group of players who should, given their undoubted capability, be further up the table than they are at present. However, “should” is a word of zero value to a game that relies on points rather than potential, on shots rather than “should have”s, and on fight rather than fear.
The “team” concept seems as fragmented as an army routed and fleeing back from whence they came. In fighting is in abundance - partly due to the players who have decided they are bigger than the manager, and partly because of the manager who thought it wise to try to build Rome in a day.
However, now is not the time for pointing the finger, now is the time for the people with the most passion - the fans of this proud club - to step in and fill in the void that has gaped in our team for far too long.
Right now, there is a need to sound the horns and prepare for the final stand. What was once deemed unthinkable, impossible, and improbable, is now sharply coming into view. In the midst of this unthinkable possibility, we need to stand firm, and make our contribution to the battle. We are the twelfth man, and we are more important now than ever.
Our contribution could well be the difference between success and failure - for we are standing on the edge of the abyss, and it is a knife edge that we precariously perch on for now.
Our objective is to stir and rally those morale sapped men who wear our shirt. If we are quick to question why our fellow men are weary and disorganised, are we right to turn our anger on each other and destroy ourselves? Only the most foolhardy desires to claim the hollowest of victories - that they were right all along that we would be defeated, for defeat holds no glory, merely despair and anguish.
So come now - stand up and be counted. In the midst of this battle, we need to rebuild Fortress Villa Park. To do so, stand. Stand and sing your hearts out like your lives depended on it. Stand up and sing like our away support does every time we go on the road. For the very life of our club as a Premier League team is under threat, and we must be the bastion of hope behind this great and proud club of ours.
Whether you love or hate the manager, love or hate the players, love or hate the tactics, forget our divisions and stand up and sing because you love the club. The team will always change with time, and the owners may own the bricks and mortar, but we will always own the essence of this club and it’s memories.
Aston Villa is not just bricks and mortar, not just a squad, and not just a series of matches. Aston Villa belongs to all of us - and Aston Villa needs us now more than ever.
Our next stand comes soon - be ready for battle. For to desert of duty now will only empower our enemies. The infighting stops now - whether you support the personnel or not, support the team, or we are in danger of plunging ourselves into the abyss.
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Damian
said:
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... I actually groaned when I read some of the comments on the previous post so I'm glad you sent this in Matt T ... I'm sure it will be lost on some. |
Vills til I die
said:
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... Hi Symbas. How is the state of emergency with you? Too far away to be the 12th man unfortunately. |
mickey86
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... this one sentence makes the whole post seem a load of b****x. Stand up and sing like our away support does every time we go on the road. home record Won 6 Drew 5 Lost 4 away record Won 2 Drew 4 Lost 9 If our away record with our Loud singing supporters was as good as our home form with our booing supporters we would be on 46 points, aka 6th. |
frem
said:
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...It was bitterly disappointing against Wolves but nothing’s changed.“We remain committed to the same long-term strategy.“It’s important we show unity from the boardroom to the management, from the terraces to the players.“I haven’t seen anything in Gerard’s body language that suggests he is losing faith.“We have eight games to go and we have more than enough to believe we will stay up. i just have the feeling we are already down   |
Damian
said:
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... mickey86 the point Matt T is trying to make is that if everyone sang at Villa Park, like everyone that travels away sings, chances might be improved the very nature of travelling support suggests they are going to be in the minority at every single game so the home support will sing louder. maybe, because the home support is singing louder that is why the results are not so good maybe, just maybe, you are proving the point |
The Droyd
said:
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... I give up. It seems that the board are backing Houllier and this blog is too. Damian, you groaned at some of the comments on the last post but I was groaning at yours. In particular when you said that Houllier hasn't had enough time. How long does it take to completely ruin a team and a club? Houllier has been utter dog s**t. When you have a cancer, it has to be cut out and cut out quickly. He is destroying our club in conjunction with Paul Faulkner. The players revolts are testament to this. I was hoping for a post with calls to demonstrate against the board and the manager. Fan power, forcing them to sack him is the only way to get us out of this s**t. By blindly backing Houllier we betray our club because we know that if he continues then the likelyhood of us staying isn't good. Even by some miracle, if he does keep us in the division, we can't go on like this next season. We need someone that knows what they are doing. Not this muppet. Houllier out! |
Damian
said:
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... The Droyd thats the thing. you are looking at it from a negative perspective. instead of asking How long does it take to completely ruin a team and a club?you should be asking How long does it take to completely transform a team and a club?because if you did then you'd understand it takes longer than a few months, a tough transfer window and no pre-season and nobody is blindly backing houllier. they are merely asking the right question and answering it sensibly after due consideration |
Alexcropleysleftfoot
said:
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... Full marks to Matt T , a speech of churchillian proportions that hopefully will go a long way in uniting the villa fans, i say hopefully because i feel some have gone too far the other way and will not rest until GH is gone. We are at a crossroads and in a quandry of what direction to take, do you sack GH and put someone in charge temporarily or permanately, do you keep him and hope to god he can work wonders and keep us up. Damned if you do damned if you don"t Randy needs to make that choice this week during the international impasse. Many times a new man comes in and invigorates the team over a short period of time and as many times they have screwed things up, i am as distraught as most to find ourselves in this predicament but the decision must be made this week to give the new man maximum time before our next game. I am not advocating sacking GH but decisions need to be made one way or another this week, being in the championship is absolutely unthinkable but how many times have we heard "too good to go down". Don"t let our great club go the ways of too many others when Leeds were in the champions league could they have seen themselves so soon after playing at Chesterfield, we have seen the third division before please never again. UTV. |
VillaNick
said:
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... Agree with the post: We all need to get behind the club and stop moaning. Although we have no given right to Premiership survival, the players owe us 8 good performances to keep the club that has paid them handsomely in the Premiership. As for Houllier, its a side issue for me. Newcastle got Shearer in to try and save Newcastle and failed. I fear the same outcome. |
John Salter
said:
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... There's a distinct difference between supporting Villa, the team, the manager or watching AVFC die before our eyes and not doing anything about it. The crowd were the collective voice of 'the majority' of opinions of Gerard Houllier on Saturday and anyone who says differently is foolish and doing more harm than good to our club. He's lost the team and he's lost the majority of the fans, the vast majority. Wolves out played and beat a demoralised Villa team at the weekend and only one person is responsible. He's a dreadful manager, too old, too out of date, has alienated some of our better players and has made too many mistakes already. If the board doesn't get rid of this clown it will be an unmitigated disaster for AVFC! Houllier Out! |
The Droyd
said:
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... Damian - The club didn't need transforming. We were fine until Houllier came along. Wage bill issues yes but that could have been addressed without revolutionising the team for the worse. It is a staggering come down from where we were last year. If the players and fans are against the manager then how can he continue? How can he get results? You can call for us all to support him as much as you like but it is too late for too many people. A new manager would at least get the players and fans behind him for the crucial remainder of the season. We all have an opinion of who it should be but there is always an initial honeymoon or goodwill period. And we are desperate for that right now. I am horrified by the board's actions since the summer and that has continued with further support for Houllier this morning. You may accuse me of being negative but I believe that I am calling for positive action. We are in a desperate situation and we will find it getting a whole lot worse unless action is taken. |
AussieLion
said:
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... Even though I was only watching it on TV I could definitely notice the lack of noise coming from the fans. Obviously having thousands of people cheering you on would make you try/play harder. But currently as it is, I dont think many of the fans would be in the mood to cheer judging by last match. Sadly, due to this (and possibly because of lack of care/interest too) many of our players played poorly against Wolves. The only players I could say who looked like they were putting at least some effort/care in were Albrighton, Cuellar, Young and Makoun. Everyone else looked lacklustre and the whole performance was sluggish and just plain bad. Sadly the only player who looked like he could make anything happen was Ash, who will be gone next season and, regardless of what other people say, will be hard to replace due to his skill and pace which can change the game and get out players doing something. But hopefully we can win the next few, as there is no reason we cant, the only problem is that the team looks like they lack motivation and therefore are not playing to their full potential and ability. |
StevieC
said:
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... Its possibly a bit late now calling for a unified support when all i have read throughout the season is constant critism of either players or manager. I cannot think of one player who has not come in for critism from so called supportors on this blog...from Ashley Young to Barry Bannan, from stylian Petrov to Mark Albrighton. This is not getting behind the team...this is slowly ebbing any confidence and team spirit that this club needs to be succesful. I don't think i have ever heard any supportors from other clubs constantly moan about the manager, the chairman, the players as much as i regularly hear from so called Villa supportors. Doug Ellis could do no right...Martin O'Neil could do no right. GET A LIFE YOU VILLA FANS AND GET BEHIND THE CLUB 100%. Not every team has a God given right to success. Not every player can be a Messie or Ronaldo...Not every manager can be a Shankley or Ferguson.....be happy that we are Premiership (at the moment)and enjoy those moments times when success comes our way.GET BEHIND THE CLUB. |
steve in ireland
said:
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... Unfortuneatley speeches of Churchillian proportions from fans do not inspire football teams. That has to come from The manager or from someone inside the club. I have bee a passionate supporter of this wonderful club for over 50 years. I like many have seen good and bad times. In the past the only direct effect I have seen supporters have is when they have influenced the board to get rid of a manager. The effect of trying to influence what goes on the pitch is minimal and always has been. Fans do not pick players, fans do not pick systems, fans do not man manage players, fans do not alienate sections of the club. All of this is the domain of the management of the club. I was no lover of MON style of football but the way GH has gone about trying to change it has been a disaster and now even when it can be seen to taking us to the edge of the abyss he seems incapable of admitting he might be even slightly wrong and changing his approach even it was for a 8 match spell to keep us up. Good managers quickly assess the strength and weakness of their team and play within its capabilities. Good managers to not try to play a style to which players do not have the necessary skill set. I expect their will be a lot of rants today. Some good and some not so good. However one thing is for sure they will all come from the heart but will have little or no effect on GH or RL or THE PLAYERS. The plot has been lost, GH seems to have lost the players, the players have lost heart - if they even had any, RL seems to have just got lost. What this team needs at the moment is not a few good songs but some strong management from all within the club RL, GH and crew. I fear it just isn't their!! |
frem
said:
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... well i cant see how we are going to stau up with a lifeless manager on the touchline and players who dont care what happens becuse they know other clubs will want them if we go down. I think the everton game might decide our fate. The away fans will get behind the team and if we can beat everton we will have a big boost going into the newcastle game. ( players and fans) on the other hand, if we loose, the fans will be on houlliers back again and the players will have no confindence coming into a game they should win |
toxytag
said:
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... What a load of rubbish!! Houllier out and I'll be singing the loudest!! We have two week to get him out or be relegated it's Lerners choice. Sing and shout all you like but the players don't want to play for him! |
Gregory The Aston Villa Villain
said:
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... yeah ive an awful feeling we are already down to frem. All the teams below us have been picking up points against stronger opposition, and every time we have a test in from of us we fail. I dont know where the results are going to come from. West ham, blackpool and wolves are all in good form and will pick up a couple of wins b4 the end |
Damian
said:
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... The Droyd but it did. football pundits, managers and former players commented on how the team was playing one dimensional football kick and rush football under the previous manager that was only ever going to take us so far. it did. the players we have at the club, the majority, were bought for that football. it needed transforming. that is happening as for where we were last year. we were 6th. 6th is nothing |
Damian
said:
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... frem it doesn't surprise me you cant see how we are going to stay up despite there been 6 teams below us. for the love of god, why do you come on here? if it isn't banging the drum about a player, it is all doom and gloom you were so adamant that stephen ireland was going to take us to the next level, surely your views on us going down are going to prove wrong too |
Damian
said:
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... steve in ireland i think the point is, villa park is a bit quiet. if maybe the supporters supported the club for 90 minutes, it might have an effect on the result |
Luckynumber7
said:
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... Nice post, Matt. Nicely written but I fear we're targeting the wrong areas Whilst I tend to agree that we, as the fans, get on the backs of the players and manager very quickly - I tend to doubt this is the issue. More symptomatic rather than cause. I laughed when I read the story about Dunne and Collins. Not because it was actually very funny, more so because of how ironic it was. Two players undermining the camp, two players we gave a chance to. What a joke. Assets or not - these two should go. Idiots. |
The Droyd
said:
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... Damian - 6th is about as good as we can hope for in the real world. 6th is miles and miles better than we will get under Houllier. We can't financially compete with the top 5 so 6th is brilliant for a club like us. A bit of European football and some cups runs(and possible cup victories) is about as good as we can hope for. Houllier is useless. Everything on the pitch this season has been garbage. The off pitch in fighting has hardly inspired any confidence either. If you spent some time at Villa Park this season then you would realise that the only way we are going with Houllier is backwards. And at a staggering rate. The fans will get behind the team and the manager when they show the fans that they have the competence and passion to get us out of this. The fans got behind O'Neill because he was inspirational and moderately successful. They get on Houllier's back because he is passive and makes retarted substitutions and team selections. The style of football doesn't matter; it is about results. But how can you even begin to suggest that the football under Houllier is in any way of better quality or more pleasing on the eye? |
AstonVilla1964
said:
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... I for one will sit tight with GH, because long term I can see the benefits and I for one believe changing now WILL definately send us down, Newcastle tried that one with Shearer an absolute idol on the Toon and look what happened. The players need to stand up, their can be as much termoil behind the scenes as suggested but when they step out on Saturday after 2 weeks off and put the lack of energy and passion they showed, as professionals is a disgrace. A surgeon going through a terrible devorce the heartache of his children doesnt turn up for work and does a heart opp on a patient needing a hip op. We all have problems. Put them aside and play for pride and get this great club away from trouble before Arsenal and the Scousers. I agree there is a time for banners ect if that is your opinion, end of season demos, dont renew season tickets etc. BUT not now. I for one since 73 will be at Everton, and I will have nothing but support for the team regardless who is picked. We have been in difficult positions before and had bigger idiots in charge than GH....UTV |
Villa_Chris
said:
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...i think the point is, villa park is a bit quiet. if maybe the supporters supported the club for 90 minutes, it might have an effect on the result Exactly Damian. I was ashamed at the so called 'support' that I witnessed in the Holte end at the weekend. It was embarrassing. Spout your negativity on the net or at the train station after the game but please, try and support whilst watching the game. These are hard times, lets do our part and try and spur them on. |
nigel
said:
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... I agree Damian. A large percentage of Villa fans seems very good at tearing down at a time when the team need building up. I bet your head must be hurting mate. I know if I was a player (regardless of how much I was getting paid) I would feel more energised and spurn on positively if the vibe from the terraces were positive. It's not just down to a bunch of players, manager or board. It's the fans that make it a complete undivided unit! Therefore, let's find the strength in unity whilst we can. |
vivavilla
said:
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... Good post Matthew, the third-from-last paragraph in particular speaks volumes and I think all Villa fans should read and take note of it. Just because you may have lost faith in the manager, it doesn't mean you shouldn't support him, and give him the opportunity to re-gain that faith once again. If Villa decide Houllier has to stay, despite the fact I don't agree with the decision, I will support it. The team needs the fans more now than ever - but it's time for the players to start giving back. |
The Droyd
said:
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...We have been in difficult positions before and had bigger idiots in charge than GH When was that then? He is the worst Villa manager I can recall. The only ones I can recall of similar incompetence are McNeill, Turner and Venglos. Can't remember anyone else taking us so far backwards at such an alarming rate. |
Damian
said:
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... The Droyd why cant we compete with arsenal or spurs? as for the football under houllier - if you cant see it changing from what it was then you need to speak to someone. it is clear as day we are not hitting it long as often and we are trying to play the ball on the ground but this doesn't just happen because we decide to pay it differently. it takes time after 30 games under the previous manager in his first season, we had 1 more point than we do now if we win our next game we will have more points than we did after 31 games with the previous manager in his first season tell me. will that then be seen as progress or going backwards? change takes time. houllier hasn't had enough time. he needs the summer and a pre-season and anyone that says differently or anyone that is judging him now is irrational and not giving him a fair crack someone at the club has said there is a long term strategy and that houllier is part of it. it is at times like this, as Matt T suggests above, that we stand together and do what we have to do. if in 3 season times all we have got is top 6 under this manager .. then sure, lets get a new one in .. if what we really want to achieve is better ... but right now, give the man a proper chance |
Bloggert
said:
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... Villa parks getting a bit quiet coz the fans are getting really fed up with what there seeing. The players dont want to play for GH and its showing on the pitch. That mixed in with GH's same mistakes over and over again is the reason why were in the position were in. Hes had long enough to realise that its not working....yes the players have to take some responsibility but the buck stops with the manager at the end of the day.... Liverpool have had the same goings on as us. Kenny Daglish inherited a squad that wouldnt perform under hodgson, but Liverpool did something about it and now look at them. Daglish has got the same squad hodgson had yet the results of the 2 managers are completley different. Thats the difference the manager can have. |
Rowley Villan
said:
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... The notion that louder fans will equal better results is crap. As a Holte End season ticket holder I witnessed that shower of s**te on Saturday and the poor atmosphere. The crowd cannot be blamed for the crap on the pitch. Damian, your continued negativity towards paying fans the last few days is annoying. You mysteriously disappeared yesterday when a few people got on your case about it. How you have the nerve to question our support is shocking. I go to games, I sing. I jeered Houllier's appalling substitutions. I cheered the team on until full time, like most. There are fans that go that don't sing at any time, regardless of the atmosphere. Are you suggesting those fans should have their tickets revoked? Or maybe everyone purchasing a ticket should be asked if they will sing incessantly for 90 minutes, regardless if performance or scoreline. You are so far wide of the mark it's unreal. You continue to show that you are not the voice of the average villa fan and that you have no real care for what the fans at villa park are thinking. I'm not a performing monkey. I'm not going to sing and clap like a seal when the team and management show no fight, no passion, no determination. Old Trafford is like a morgue on matchdays, until they score. They don't do too bad without singing fans. |
Damian
said:
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... Bloggert i agree with you that manager is a vital cog in the wheel. but the atmosphere at villa park hasn't just become like it is. it isn't new. also, do you not think the atmosphere at anfield is better now they have king kenny back? i'd say it is .. and i'd then say that maybe that had an impact much like the atmosphere at white hard lane these days is quite posibly having an impact for spurs |
PMR
said:
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... This is a typical post from Damien, the MON hater who refuses to accept what is happening under his very nose. Blinded by his own ignorance. Instead of saying what needs to be said, which is that Houllier has done a very bad job so far, and I'm not just talking results - I'm talking tactical decisions, player morale, etc etc. You try and swing the focus to the fans. Of course the Holt End voice is needed, we all want to stay up regardless. But you running out of stats to back up GH Damo, and you need to acknowledge that this man is possibly the wrong man and that the board may have made a big mistake. You may well be right and this may well turn out to be a "transistional season", but on the evidence I've seen I'll happily lay you any stake you like that Houllier's Aston Villa reign isn't as successful as Martin O Neill's. after 30 games under the previous manager in his first season, we had 1 more point than we do now Are you taking into account that Houllier has inherited a team that got to Wembley twice last season and finished 6th, and that MON inherited a team that was 16th?? Thought not. You're like a stuck record mate. |
Bloggert
said:
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... Damian, Thing is oniels first season was an improvent on the previous league position. Houlliers first season is a massive decline over the previous season. |
vivavilla
said:
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... It's not entirely fair to make a direct comparison between this manager and the previous, Damian, given there are other circumstances. O'Neill didn't fall out with the players the way Houllier has (or if he did, never to the extent we're seeing now). He never fell out with the fans the way Houllier has. These are enourmously negative influences on the club as a whole and undoubtedly affecting our performances and therefore results. The football might be changing, that's fair enough (I won't commit to saying it's better yet, because frankly, it's not. Say what you will about varying styles of football, evidence is there in terms of what works). But there is a far bigger picture than what is taking place on the pitch. Some might say Houllier's relationships with fans and players are now irreparably damaged. If that is the case, things will only get worse, not better. There aren't many examples of fans turning on their manager in large numbers only for things to work out rosey in the end. Another factor is precisely the awful situation in which this season might end. Relegation is disastrous, utterly disastrous - we all know that. Even IF Houllier is actually changing things for the better, albeit very slowly, we could still end up in the Championship. This is not a compromise I am willing to settle for, nor should any Villa fan. Call it a knee-jerk reaction if you will, but my absolute number one priority is to see Villa survive. I don't give two hoots how we do it, I don't care if undoes all the work Houllier has done so far, I don't care if it means another "transitional" season for the next campaign. This is backs-against-the wall stuff now, and some fans are having to make a Jack Bauer-style do-or-die decision. IF getting rid of Houllier gives us a better chance of staying up, it has to be done. Not a doubt of that in my mind. |
The Droyd
said:
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...The Droyd Apart from financial clout, they are based in London so can attract players easier than we can. They have far superior managers and can get away with charging a lot more money for tickets. They have larger supporter bases. Besides the London aspect, they can hope to attract top foreign players like Modric and Arshavin. Do you need more? as for the football under houllier - if you cant see it changing from what it was then you need to speak to someone. it is clear as day we are not hitting it long as often and we are trying to play the ball on the ground Damian - It's changed alright. It is slow and ineffective. By the time our pacey players get the ball it is too late for them to have any effect. It is dull to watch but more importantly it doesn't work. after 30 games under the previous manager in his first season, we had 1 more point than we do now I am surprised that you are offering that as a plausible argument. You have more intelligence than that. You are better than that. Very simply, O'Neill inherited a truly dreadful squad and it took time to change it. Houllier inherited a multi million pound squad that had finished 6th 3 years in a row etc. Come on. That's a s**t argument. You are not comparing like for like. That is gross manipulation of statistics. We can't afford to give this man time because we are going backwards far too quickly. To the extent that our Premiership survival is in grave danger. I could accept your time argument if we were 12th but the situation is incredibly serious and we can't afford to give Houllier the luxury of time. |
vivavilla
said:
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... I should point out that when I mentioned O'Neill not falling out with players, I was referring to his first season. |
ak_27
said:
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... Honestly GH is going nowhere until this season is finished. f**king accept that now or become another part of the problem that will drag us down to the Championship. You are not supporting a manager you are supporting your team and they need that extra help now we are in such dire trouble but looking on these boards lately just makes me wonder about it sometimes it really does. GH is begginning to annoy me too also regarding a few things and im worried but if you think that all this moaning and hatred which is being brought to Villa park is doing anything other then making it harder for our players, especially the younger ones then you are deluded. Get behind the f**king team for a change. Stop adding fuel to the fire. Do you think any of the other clubs at the bottom with us are reacting like we are right now. Again GH is here until the end so deal with that now and stop acting like kids. It may be a gamble staying with him now but you tell me that bringing in an entirely new guy wouldn't be an even bigger gamble? A new guy who would have to learn all about what players can do again with only 8 massive games left? And before you sprout on about Kmac our results under him were just as bad and he didn't want the job back then so i doubt he has the leadership to come in now in such a highly tense period like this. |
Rowley Villan
said:
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... Aston Villa 1964 The Newcastle comparison is irrelevant. Their squad was crap, ours isn't. They were in the relegation zone, we aren't. We have a top 6 squad- that's a fact. You cannot say we will 'definitely' go down by changing managers. I'd rather risk going down with a fight than keep Houllier and go down with a whimper. |
Bloggert
said:
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... Damian, I agree that the 12th man does play a big part but the fans at white heart lane and anfield have got good managers and results to match... There playing good football and have something to cheer about, in comparison to Villa park, no one is gonna get behind the manager coz hes not producing the results |
nigel
said:
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... Sorry to cut in but... Old Trafford may be like a morgue, but there's an air of expectancy that somehow gets conveyed to the pitch. Besides, it hasn't always been that way at Old Trafford. I can remember them booing Fergie and asking for his head at one time too! |
PMR
said:
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... Just noticed original post by Matthew not Damo, so I'll take that back. My comments about MON/GH remain though, I think he needs to go right now. Then we can get behind the team and stay up with a caretaker. |
vivavilla
said:
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...We have a top 6 squad- that's a fact. Sorry my friend but that is most certainly not a fact. It's an opinion, and an extremely jaded on in my view. I could look at this from a thousand different angles and not one of them would I perceive this squad to be top 6. |
davidc
said:
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... We need to give GH until the end of the season. And then, as soon as the final whistle is blown, I want him gone. He has no place at our club. He has done absolutely nothing since he's been here to be given any further chances. He's acted like a nieve greenhorn manager rather than an educated, cultivated "man of world football". He's spunked £30M (when money is tight) on two players and we find ourselves in a relegation battle. He's besmirched and belittled the club at every opportunity far more than the likes of O'Leary ever did. He threw a game that cost us a reasonable chance of a Wembley visit (regardless of how much us fans we're hurting after taking a week of sh&t from our nearest and dearest from Small Heath). He's taken us from pretty much universally respected opponents to an absolute laughing stock in less than 12 months. You might as well throw your lot in with the majority now Damian. the end-game is here. The crowd have spoken. We'll give him to the end of the season - but not a single day longer. |
Rowley Villan
said:
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... Damian You said something along the lines of "the atmosphere at Liverpool has been better since Kenny Dalglish returned". I'm not sure if that is for or against your argument. A change of manager there has improved the atmosphere and results on the pitch. Why wouldn't that happen at Villa? |
steve in ireland
said:
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... Damian - I know what the post was trying to say. However you cannot sing the ball into the net. Players may respond to encouragement but I think The crowd responds to the players. The reason Liverpool supporters became louder was because they saw the improvement under Kenny D. Do you believe that if Kenny had the same points return in his games as GH that the crowd would still be making noise - I think not. |
PMR
said:
|
... davidc, I agree with everything you've said - bar the end of season bit. Things can only get worse, with even a caretaker I think the plus of a new manger stepping in, even KM for a 2nd small stint, or the "new manager syndrome" as its sometimes called will keep us up. A couple of wins may well be enough to keep us up so if you're saying he has to go end of season... Why wait?? C'mon Randy, take a leaf out of Dougs book and PULL THE FRIGGING TRIGGER!!! |
Damian
said:
|
... PMR This is a typical post from Damien, the MON hater who refuses to accept what is happening under his very nose.if only it was. because you got it so wrong in the first sentence, i didn't read the rest. but it does highlight one thing - you're only coming on to have a pop at me. Rowley Villan The notion that louder fans will equal better results is crap.you are right, in the sense that one does not directly mean the other. however if you think positive support doesn't have a positive impact, you are misguided - not only is it common sense, but you don't have to dig very far on the internet to see the results vivavilla no it isn't. you're right. all i'm trying to do is say that this manager has issues to deal with, much like the previous manager had issues to deal with much like the next manager will and the manager after that The Droyd it actually isn't a 'gross manipulation of statistics' because those are the statistics. it is simply me suggesting that while the previous manager had to deal with issues, he had the summer to bring in a player or two that he wanted and this manager hasn't had that opportunity and has also had issues sack the manager or not. it isn't going to impact my views or opinion. it is clear as day that most on the internet want him gone but most aston villa fans dont visit internet forums/blogs on a daily basis so what is written here isn't going to impact my view but whatever the club decide, the club decides. i think it would be a mistake to let him go now. but that is my opinion. others have their opinion which is the complete opposite, but if you read above, others also have opposite to that |
Rowley Villan
said:
|
... Viva For gods sake you have much self importance, don't you. We finished 6th for 3 consecutive seasons. Take away Milner add Makoun, Walker and a proven 20 goal a season striker and we don't have a top 6 squad. I don't take your points seriously anyway viva. So for you to disagree with me is a compliment. You've already shown yourself a fool by your comedown over Houllier and let's not forget your 'score predictor' revelation  |
The Droyd
said:
|
... As fans, if we are to have a positive effect we must be unified. Either unified in our support for Houllier or unified in our determination to get rid of him. Unfortunately there is too much divided opinion so the fans will not be unified. This will only add to our woes. It is difficult to find any positives at the moment. Things couldn't be worse on the pitch but still there is support for Houllier. Is it going to take relegation for some people to see the light? Unfortunately many have already answered that question. Including our board of directors. |
vivavilla
said:
|
... Yes, we finished 6th in 2008, 2009 and 2010. This is 2011 and we're not 6th anymore. The table doesn't lie, I wish it did but we're exactly where we deserve to be. |
VillaBoyDanny
said:
 |
...as for where we were last year. we were 6th. 6th is nothing Maybe, but from where I'm sitting it's a helluva lot better than what we're facing now, lol. Anyway, great post Matt T. I do like reading your 'insider' info & your points of view are always refreshing amidst all the doom & gloom round 'ere. We'll be all right, lads...won't we? I'm keeping the faith right up until the final whistle. And then, either way, I'll be glad our forefathers invented alcohol. |
RayK
said:
 |
... Damian I'm afraid you're dealing with a mob mentality now. I am just appalled that having totally sabotaged the team building excercise - AND preparations for the Wolves match - by getting trolleyed there are people on this site calling for Dunne and Collins to be restored to the team!!! I am not saying that Houllier hasn't made mistakes but what has made his job virtually impossible from day one is the sickening and utterly selfish player power that exists at Villa Park. You can't for one minute believe that Dunne's recent behaviour was motivated by his passion for Villa or the fans - he only cares about himself and having to do extra taining when he's on £55k a week!!! I'm afraid the biggest problem at Villa Park is not Houllier, it is the presence of the likes of Dunne, Warnock, Beye, probably Collins (and before Christmas Carew and Ireland) all of whom would probably prefer to see Villa go down if they felt that it would get Houllier the sack. It is truly sickening. |
Damian
said:
|
... Rowley Villan i dont have an argument. my view is simply that i dont think the manager has had long enough to show us what he is capable of. i'd also like to point out that the day he became our manager i wrote that it was the wrong decision and that he was not the right man. but, he is going to change things. he is (this is me assuming now) going to look for his replacement and bring us, as a football club, into the 21st century my view is simple. he hasn't had enough time. should he be given enough time, he might get it right. at the same time we could finish in the bottom 3. at the exact same time, if we change manager now, that could mean bottom three too but one thing it also means is this; there will have to be another manager too, because you are not going to get anyone to take over the club with 8 games left that is seriously the manager you want because no sane manager would take on the job now, unless your name is alan shearer and regardless of what happens you cant fail |
vivavilla
said:
|
... I wonder if the current top 6 sides could cherry pick at our team, which players would be drafted? I'd say Bent, clearly for his goalscoring record. I'd say Clark because I think he as the potential to be a top defender. Ditto Albrighton and his potential, I don't think he'd be out of place with any of the big teams at the moment. I reckon Cuellar could play for Tottenham or Liverpool. After that I really begin to struggle. Makoun hasn't been here long enough prove anything yet, Walker doesn't count as he technically already plays for a top 6 side. So 4 players, basically. You might get one or two calls for Bannan or Delfouneso, but realistically they're a long way from being that good yet. |
Damian
said:
|
... Someone above suggested I ducked out of questions yesterday. I didn't. I just didn't sit in front of the machine working. I have to leave now too. But I hope what I've said is clear. My position is in black and white all over the site. But to clear one thing up; i didn't hate the pervious manager, I just thought he had taken us as far as he could. I don't think I was wrong also. I think he knew that to, which is why he walked. He wasn't going to take us higher and he knew it. There. Said and done. Now I'm not duking anything and I will scan but I have work to do. |
The Droyd
said:
|
...We finished 6th for 3 consecutive seasons. Take away Milner add Makoun, Walker and a proven 20 goal a season striker and we don't have a top 6 squad. Very good point Rowley. What's the glaringly obvious difference? Could it be that we had O'Neill as manager and now we have Houllier? Yes that'll be it. Not rocket science. You've already shown yourself a fool by your comedown over Houllier I think viva deserves some credit there rather than criticism. He has had enough. Save the criticism for the people that are still in denial. |
davidc
said:
|
... The board have brought this on themselves entirely. Two reasons for this: 1. We didn't look for the best man for the job. We stupidly thought we'd be all moralistic and only go after available managers. Well, hey - guess what - the reason they're available is because they're NOT good enough. Its not rocket science. 2.The unexplained way that MoN left/flounced off was always an open wound that would fester with a sizeable proportion of Villa fans. Houllier (or whoever) was on a hiding to nothing coming in with that scenario. And then to compound it, his behaviour before joining us was an absolute insult ("I'm coming", "I'm not coming", "I've got a contract/job to do in France" etc etc). FFS - most Villa fans just wanted to hear him say "Its an honour and privilege to be chosen as manager of Aston Villa. I'll drop everything to be here". Any talk of Kevin Mac filling in is nonsense. He didn't want the job 9 months ago when there was hardly any pressure. He sure as hell isn't going to take it now when (a) there's massive pressure from the off (b) we dicked him around by ditching him for GH after not giving him a fair crack of the whip. My view - and its not out of sympathy for GH, or belief in his ability - is simply we have to give him to the end of the season. If that means relegation, so be it. My basis for this is I'd rather wait 3 months and get the best candidate in. Rather than rush in now and end up repenting at our leisure with someone like Allardyce/Curbishley etc etc. |
Damian
said:
|
... VillaBoyDanny one more before i go. i agree, it is better. but i was referring to 6th as nothing in terms of the point of why we are all here supporting Aston Villa - to win things. no prizes for 6th. no medals. no silverware. 6th is nothing, if you want better. if you are wigan or bolton. take 6th. if the day comes that everyone is happy with 6th. i'm going to walk away from all this because i still believe we can do better. in fact, i know it. |
steve in ireland
said:
|
... Also to say that there are 8 clubs below us now is not an indicator as to how things may finish. If yoy apply current form over the last six matches and give that points total to the next six matches I think you will have a clearer picture. I have done this and with two matches to play Arsenal and Liverpool we could on current form be on 38 points along with,Wigan,Blues,Blackpool. With only blackburn below us on 35. If this is the picture then we are in trouble as we will get nothing from the last two games |
Deadley Doug
said:
 |
... Good morning fellow sufferers!I Refused to even look at the blog yesterday full knowing it would be full of neurotic villa fans crying and balling trying to assertain blame somewhere! Trying to be as positive as we can under the circumstances it is hard.I called the game on saturday i thought they would be mentally and physically stronger than us and they were.What we have to identify under gerrard houllier is given a chance to play football we will have a chance.Playing polished championship method teams ie;wolves,stoke, bolton,etc we will come undone! Houllier only knows one way and i am afraid to say this given our position, he his the wrong man at the wrong club at the moment. We need an o'neil,allardyce,mcCarthy type in fact people who draw on emotions.Managers who demand that last ounze of sweat. I do believe he has lost the changing room.I am sure the fiasco team bonding was the final nail for houllier.For the youngster they do not know what to think for the best, listen to seasoned pro's or their manager!! On the eye he comes across as inspector clouseau,he has that wry smile even with everything that is going on! All said i think it was a master stroke from from lerner to get GH i still back him because he his the right man for the job.How can you account for players missing penaltys,the chance young had on saturday rooney or defoe would have scored instead of looking for goal of the month? For villa fans trying to assertain blame here it is 12.00pm 10th august 2010 the day we were abandoned and left to fend for ourselves!Football unfortunately is a business and that decision from o,neil turned us into a free falling juggernaut with no brakes,and do you know he knows that his smile will be bigger than houlliers !!!!!!! I think we will finish on 43 points which should just see us ok! |
The Droyd
said:
|
...I'm afraid the biggest problem at Villa Park is not Houllier, it is the presence of the likes of Dunne, Warnock, Beye, probably Collins (and before Christmas Carew and Ireland) all of whom would probably prefer to see Villa go down if they felt that it would get Houllier the sack RayK - Footballers are essentially over paid, uneducated chavs. They are not pillars of society. So they have to be managed accordingly. The Bosman ruling has given them untold power. Houllier clearly is incapable of managing a modern day football squad. If you are Fergie and at a club like Man Ure then you can probably get away with being a strict disciplinarian. It's not realistic to be like that at Villa. We need someone that can manage a modern day squad of players not some has been that is incapbable of keeping his players and fans happy. |
mickey86
said:
|
... damian after 30 games under the previous manager in his first season, we had 1 more point than we do now MON was managing a tem that finished 16th the previous season in his first season, GH is managing a team that finished 6th in his season, so MON progressed in his first season, GH hasnt. but it did. football pundits, managers and former players commented on how the team was playing one dimensional football kick and rush football under the previous manager so if the players were bought to play kick and rush football, how can you expect them to change there style of play, if GH had any clue he would play to the players strengths. you cant make chicken soup with carrots and corriander. |
Rowley Villan
said:
|
... Droyd My criticism of viva is valid and I stand by it. Calling for Houllier to be given time following the Bolton game and then suddenly declaring he's not good enough before the Wolves game finished is foolish, not to mention f****e. He shouldnt spout such strong views and opinions, only to change them 70 odd minutes later. |
VillaBoyDanny
said:
|
... Damian, mate, I realise you've had a stressful few days, as have we all, but I wasn't having a pop at you. It was a glib observation, that's all & not designed in any way as an attack. Anyway, I don't have the energy, as I am having a claret & blue crisis. Damn it man, don't you know there's a war on? |
Shady
said:
 |
... Great post i love away games theres a sence of togetherness its amazing. Could people stop worrying about finishing 6th with o neill. We need to stay up and think we need 9 points to do so. Back the team or we shall go down. Then whrn were safe point fingers but nit until. I'l get slated for this but feel sorry for hoillier. Look at the injuries he's had. Im not defending him entirely but i can see what he's trying to do. So either back the team or f*** off. I can see us beating newcastle, wigan and if our lives depend on it liverpool (angel against cov) style. Keep goin lads. Get petrov back in the middle cos he's got fight. And play 2 up front, ash on the left. Back to what were used to just til the end of the season |
mikedevon
said:
 |
... Despite his experience Mr Houlier shows an amazing lack of judgement in his team selections/substitutions. Just when things were looking up the Manchester City match started the slide(team selection) -and now we are in danger of being relegated-I hope that there is time to change things and save us! |
Bloggert
said:
|
... I think what people are trying to say is that under the current climate Winning the league is impossible.... so youve gotta aim for the next best thing IE silverware in the cups and trying to achieve 4th to 6th and get european football. So 6th is concidered success in this league Realistically no ones going to win the league for a few years to come thats not Man utd Arsenal or chelsea. |
vivavilla
said:
|
... So beliefs aren't allowed to change? After the Bolton game, I was more than happy to let Houllier carry on, because in my mind a home match against Wolves had win written all over it. It was a test I expected him to pass with flying colours, because it should have been an easy test. I never for one moment expected to see anything as shambolic as I did, so I had no problem calling for more time. There's nothing f****e about that at all. In 90 soul-sucking minutes I saw enough to convince me we are in a more real danger of getting relegated than I ever thought possible, so I made a snap decision that I want somebody else to do this job because the fear of relegation is now too much for me to handle. Forgive me for not sticking to a rigid belief all season long, but I'm just calling it as I see it. |
The Droyd
said:
|
... Mikedevon - Correct. The Man City game was huge. Just when Houllier was starting to gain some goodwill from the fans he pulled the rug from under his own feet. The pathetic pre January performances were starting to be forgotten with the excellent signings and one or two good results. But he has at no point got us going on any sort of run. When something positive happens it is followed up with crap. |
B62 Villa
said:
 |
... Good post by matt, the title says it all DERELICTION of duty, but not by the fans this should be aimed at the board and owner because we have passed the point of no return with GH, he should have gone following that debacle sat. He clearly knows nothing about a Relegation battle which we seem to have been in since he started, we will always be outmuscled the way he sets us up and tries to play, at this point of the year it's all about points and not how you get them, we are in a battle and he is not a leader he has divided the club at levels he is incapable of change and goes blindly on trying to play like a poor mans barca. The time for action is now HOULLIER OUT, the fans will sing and shout when they have something to shout about otherwise as demonstrated sat the will voice there discontent, we need a lot of investment in the summer and the correct appointment or next year will be same again and that's if we stay up |
RayK
said:
|
...
So what are you saying - that we should pander to the ego's of the troublemakers because we're not Man United? And by doing so giving them even more power? I seem to remember that GH took on the ego's of the dressing room when he took over from Liverpool - Ince, McManaman, Fowler etc - and the club reaped the benefits of that clear out. Maybe 10 years on he his too old now to do it all again but I admire the fella for standing up to the sort of appalling player power that had developed at Villa Park. |
The Droyd
said:
|
... Wolves were there for the taking on Saturday. They are a very poor team. 18 months ago we'd have been putting 5 past that side. Makoun and NRC were crucial. That's where we had to control the game. They underperformed, especially Makoun. I can only hope is was down to a lack of match fitness. This is why I am so worried. We are not going to have any easier games than that one. If we can't get a point against that sack of s**t then where can we? If I was to do a predictor based on that last game, I can't predict a point from any of our remaining games. |
Rowley Villan
said:
|
... Viva But your comment was made before the game had finished! 70 odd minutes, I think. As unlikely as it was, had we turned it round, you would have had nowhere to turn. Of course opinions, views, beliefs can change. It's the degree of change in the amount of time that is what I disagree with. I don't like Houllier. When we beat Blackburn I didn't change my mind. Your views can't be too strong if they can change in just over an hour. I won't bother you again, Viva. If we beat Everton you'll flip flop again anyway. |
vivavilla
said:
|
... That's exactly my point, Droid. If we let Houllier send out any more teams like that, we won't score many points at all. At this stage, the morale shift of a new manager may be the only cure. |
vivavilla
said:
|
... That Wolves game was enough for me to think we might not make it. I might have lost faith in Houllier being able to keep us up but I haven't lost my support, and if he does I'll be over the moon and quite happily give him his due and say I was wrong to lose faith. I'm not out to fight battles with other users, Rowley (though when some go out of their way to harrass me like they did yesterday, I feel some obligation to stand up for my beliefs). If my comments offend or upset you in any way then I apologise because that's not my intention. Aston Villa is a very passionate subject for us all, and some might get carried away with that passion (especially on match days, which is understandable). |
Carlsberg
said:
 |
... Finally, some on here have woke up and smelt the coffee, I only hope it's not too late. Damian swallow your pride and admit you got it seriously wrong about Houllier. Saying that now is not the time for point scoring it's a time to battle, we have to make sure the owner know's we won't settle for this crap any longer get Houllier out. It's the only way the players will respond, anyone, anyone with an ounce of passion will make the players and fans unite as one in this battle. |
Rowley Villan
said:
|
... Not at all viva. Just banter buddy. Football can do things to people they might not normally do. I'm happy to have one more in the camp against Houllier  I'm not out to fight battles with other users, Rowley (though when some go out of their way to harrass me like they did yesterday, I feel some obligation to stand up for my beliefs). I can only assume you don't mean me there? Some people love to get personal and not even mention avfc. |
The RON SAUNDERS STAND
said:
 |
... Sorry Matthew but I feel your article is naive and misguided. No fan blindly cheers any old dross and would be fools to do so, "lets all give a rip roaring round of cheers for the inept, soulless, tactically inept performance we are witnessing", it simply doesn't work that way, fans don't operate on that level its an emotive game.I agree with Steve in Ireland's comment, "The effect of trying to influence what goes on the pitch is minimal and always has been".All the noise and singing in the world isn't going to help you beat better prepared, more organised and highly motivated opposition (AKA Wolves)let alone the technically better teams, Fans dont cheer ANYTHING, they cheer SOMETHING and at the moment at VP there's little to rouse the most ardent fan. Team motivation is down to the manager and Mr Motivator he aint,FIRE THE FROG NOW! |
RayK
said:
|
...It's the only way the players will respond, anyone, anyone with an ounce of passion will make the players and fans unite as one in this battle. Where is the passion from the players? Surely they have to stand up and be counted too. Young was the only one who looked up for its on Saturday. Its all soooooooo easy and simplistic to blame Houllier or Lerner. WHAT ABOUT THE PLAYERS? |
vivavilla
said:
|
... Nah it wasn't you Rowley. To be honest I'd rather just move on from this whole saga and get straight to the Everton game. I'd much rather be proven wrong than right at the moment! |
B62 Villa
said:
|
... Droyd I have to agree wolves away from the custard bowl are a poor team who score few but let in many, we were at home and should have dominated them, we played into there hands with one up front, but more importantly they turned up with bags more desire passion and fight we just rolled over, the dressing room is lost and so are the vast majority of fans, we need a short sharp fix or we are down we cannot carry on playing this s**te and expect to stay up, I fear another Leeds utd |
JT8
said:
 |
... I have tried to keep faith in GH and understand that he should be given time to make the necessary changes, but from the start he has shown an inability to prepare and motivate the team. I really do think if we carry on with GH we will go down with a wimper and therefore the club needs to act. |
Rowley Villan
said:
|
... Ridiculous stat of the day- Aston Villa have won just 3 games during the month of March over the last 7 seasons. Glad we don't play again until April |
vivavilla
said:
|
... That's unbelievable, how can that even be possible spanning 3 different managers?! Unless it's just attrociously bad luck, that's quite remarkable. It would never happen, but it makes David Moyes seem even more appealing, he always seems finish strongly with Everton. |
qashqai
said:
 |
... GH inherited a talented squad with players superior to many other clubs in the premiership. However,it became apparent very quickly that there were problems behind the scenes between the players and the coaching staff and the manager WHY ? GH decisions both on and off the pitch soon alienated him with the fans and the players. The players were playing with no belief in the manager and the dressing room was soon lost. RL should have stepped in much THEN to stop the rot. Unfortunately,we looked STUFFED !!!!! Just cannot see how GH can turn things around unless he has the support of the players which on saturdays performance seems unlikely. All we can do is show our support and hope the players will play for the shirt. A new manager with frsh ideas will have a positive impact on the players but the time to change will be in the summer. Just look how a young manager who bonds with his players ie Owen Coyle at Bolton has transformed the team. GH IMO is to old and looks bewildered in the premier league and was a very poor appointment by RL. I was not a great fan of MON but to give GH 30 million and deny MON funds seems very odd. For the remainder of the season we must support our team,especially the young players who must wonder whats going on at our great club. |
The Droyd
said:
|
...Its all soooooooo easy and simplistic to blame Houllier or Lerner. WHAT ABOUT THE PLAYERS? Who is responsible for the performance of the players? If the manager isn't repsonsible for the team then what is the point of having a manager? |
The Droyd
said:
|
...It would never happen, but it makes David Moyes seem even more appealing, he always seems finish strongly with Everton. He does tend to start badly though! Would love him at Villa. Passionate and competent. |
Rowley Villan
said:
|
... That stat was just league games. Adding cup games takes it to a mighty 5, I think If Moyes came in it would be amazing. I actually thought we should have pushed to boat out for him when O'Neill left. Reading quotes from him last week, it sounds like he might have had enough at Everton. If only the powers-that-be would act...... |
vivavilla
said:
|
... It would have to be Moyes leaving off his own back, Bill Kenwright likes him far too much to get rid of him. I suppose it's not entirely out of the question, he has had Everton on the edge for a long time now without making that final push. If he decided he'd done as much as he could, he might well welcome a different challenge (well, not all that different I suppose). But you can bet he'd be given a bigger financial backing here, which would be key. |
The Droyd
said:
|
... I don't think Moyes is a realistic target unless he resigns. But you never know. I didn't think Darren Bent was realistic. |
vivavilla
said:
|
... Me neither and boy did I look silly for it. Hey, maybe if I rant about how ridiculous it would be to suggest Moyes would take over Villa, it might actually happen later in the day! |
RayK
said:
|
...Who is responsible for the performance of the players? If the manager isn't repsonsible for the team then what is the point of having a manager? The players are responsible for their own individual performances! Its a nanny state environment any other way! If I today spent the next 7 hours on the internet instead of working - whose fault is that mine or my bosses? Mine obviously. If my boss gives me instructions and I don't carry them out properly, again whose fault is that - mine or my bosses? Mine clearly. Sure its a manager's responsibility to select the team, tactics and make sure everyone is well briefed - but you cannot put the fact that we have lost more points from a winning position than any other team ALL down to Houllier. Yes motivation is important and yes the manager has an important role in doing that - but what about player professionalism? It really gets my goat when either (i) players make mistakes (countless times this season) or (ii) there is a general player apathy (ie Wolves, Sunderland etc) and there is no accountability when they are paid £30k - £50k a WEEK. |
frem
said:
|
..."We all believe in the manager and we're still fighting for him," said Bent. |
The RON SAUNDERS STAND
said:
|
... It depends weather your managers a P***k, the working environment he creates and the instructions he gives are clear.If he is a t**t you aint going to give your all and you are going to get the F**kums, thats life. |
Rowley Villan
said:
|
... Moyes has said he will look at it in the summer, sit down with the board and see if he can work with them and move forward. Not exactly positive for evertonians! I hope the board decide to cash in on Rodwell, that'll piss him off! |
Primetime
said:
 |
... I enjoy reading this blog, But at the moment some of our so called fans arent helping, I understand we are all hurting, but in true brummie fashion most of the fans just wanna moan instead of come together and help get our club though this. Think of all the other clubs that have been in this sit over the years, we have one bad season and we all wanna jump on the bandwagon and moan moan moan like a teenager that's not getting his own way. We are supporters, so let's support. |
ak_27
said:
|
...Yes motivation is important and yes the manager has an important role in doing that - but what about player professionalism? If the players can't motivate themselves at this stage with so much at risk then they are an absolute disgrace to the club. What really made me sick the last day was Young acting the complete p***k at the end of the game. Instead of doing everything in his power to help us get the equiliser he started throwing tantrums and looked like he was actually trying to get sent off at the end. I cannot believe GH made him captain. |
The Droyd
said:
|
... RayK - I take your point about player responsiblity. They are by no means blameless and certainly aren't covering themselves in glory. But that doesn't change the fact that the manager is TOTALLY responsible for our results. This is a basic fact of life in football management. |
Jon F
said:
 |
... When I was lurking at this site when Houllier first arrived in proper capacity as manager (after all the FFA shenanigans), it felt to me like the majority of fans unreasonablu jumped on him very quickly for mediocre results immediately after he got here, and that vitriol only got worse as the results worsened due to the injury pile-up (among other things, like Carew and Ireland losing the ability to play football and acting like asshats). I don't think Houllier's been given a fair chance at all in his time here by the majority of the fanbase, who never really liked the hiring (reasonable, I suppose) and really refused to take into account the other factors at stake which produced those bad results early in his managership. Sure, his thing at Anfield was naive and the FA Cup thing was also misguided, and we've all seen his oft-bizarre substitution patterns, but that shouldn't allow the fans to have been so incredibly impatient with him, considering the circumstances this club was left in by MON. This is a team which has gone through an extended slump in form and morale, and has seen players probably perform beneath their real talent (compared to last season, where MON probably got players to outperform their ability - I'll credit him with that). You know what? I doubt that anyone outside of the great managers can really get a team out of such a slump with some magical ability to motivate - I think that's bull. Likewise, players go through form slumps, and I think they overcome that as well, but it takes time. Houllier hasn't received an ounce of patience from what seems like a lot of people, with quite a few choosing to call him 'clown' and 'frog' since back in October and November when this team had practically no central midfielders. In the state the team is right now, I don't care what people think of the manager. They need to support the team, because survival is the most important thing right now - MON's walking-out hardly set the team in good stead to achieve anything this season. Wait til after the season to debate Houllier. |
Olaze
said:
 |
... Shut up about this getting behind the manager. Where was Damian's backing of MON when he took us to 2 wembley trips and fighting 4th this time last year? Yet you and other MON haters are licking Houllier's backside when not only his made us a laughing stock, but it looks like his actually bringing us down to the championship with no fight. And our away support is f**king fantastic so don't give me this 12th man b******s. Look at his f**king away record you clown and see why it's all down to him you bloody bluenose. How the hell can you back a man who waved the white flag against Man City, tarnished us at Liverpool, ignored us there and continue to derail us. Piss off. |
The Droyd
said:
|
... We desperately need Warnock back in the side. Really desperately. Houllier won't do this. Instead we have Baker, who was so bad on Saturday that he had to be subbed after 30 mins and then Delph came on who was just as bad. Clark isn't much better there either. It's not Baker or Deplh's fault that they are played out of position. The manager is only serving to destroy their confidence put putting them there. Warnock had a poor half season and was dropped quite rightly. But what has replaced him as been about 3 leagues below Warnock's worst. Do what is good for the club Houllier. Get the best players in the starting XI. Put your pathetic differences with the players behind you and manage the situation. Your differences with the players pale into insignificance compared to the plight of our club. |
The Droyd
said:
|
...Wait til after the season to debate Houllier. When we are in the division below? Too late pal. |
Jon F
said:
|
... So what? f**king complain your brains off about the manager and refuse to support the team until he gets s**tcanned? You might think that a manager change might suddenly magically inject some 'passion' into the club, but that's papering over cracks, and I don't think that's something one ought to hitch their tents over. |
frem
said:
|
... Fixtures for wigan Wigan v Tottenham, 15:00 Chelsea v Wigan, 15:00 Blackpool v Wigan, 15:00 Sunderland v Wigan, 15:00 Wigan v Everton, 15:00 Aston Villa v Wigan, 15:00 Wigan v West Ham, 15:00 well i can see them loosing at least 3. They have a fairly hard run of games. scum fixtures Birmingham v Bolton, 15:00 Blackburn v Birmingham, 15:00 Birmingham v Sunderland, Chelsea v Birmingham, Liverpool v Birmingham, Birmingham v Wolverhampton, Newcastle v Birmingham, Birmingham v Fulham, Tottenham v Birmingham chelsea, liverpoll and sours should beat them wolves have newcastle away everton home fullham home scum away west brom home sunderland away blackburn home they have a nice run of games |
Shauny
said:
 |
... This situation is a hard one to swallow! i was at the game.. There was no fight, no drive, you look to insperation from the internationals! none exsistant, i really dont think that Ashley young should be captain... he moaned all game, and produced ... jack all!!! he first touch was awful, his set peices...were crazy! his head is gone, united bound! But we do need to back our club!!! i did not boo at the end of the game... i could not bring myself to do it.. i love my club! we can do our part!! BUT SO SHOULD THE PLAYERS!!!!!AND MANGER! ALSO WE NEED TO HAVE 2!!!! UPFRONT ASH ON THE WING!!!!!!! |
Olaze
said:
|
... The fact that Grant, GRANT, who didn't have 30m to spend, has been treated by the board like s**t, even announcing his gonna be sacked to actually coming close of overtaking us is nothing short of a f**king disgrace and it makes me sick to see some still some defending the trash that is Houllier. You idiots can't admit your wrong with your poor, no VERY poor judgement that you don't deserve to make comments ever again. |
frem
said:
|
... west ham have man u home bolton away Villa home chelsea away man city away blackburn home wigan home sunderland they should loose 4 man u, chelsea, city and bolton. tough games |
Jon F
said:
|
... I mean, okay, I'm backing Houllier but I get plenty of the arguments people make about him - he makes dodgy subs, he's probably too stubborn in some instances on playing players in certain positions (like Gabby on left wing). I'm not going to make a judgement on how he supposedly kills passion and clashes needlessly with players - who knows what goes on. Maybe the person making the team energy drink unwittingly adds some sort of sleeping power to make them look drowsy through a game. Maybe the players who he fights with are truly t**ts. Who knows. But it was evident that the board was going to keep him around, even back in December when there already existed calls for Houllier's head, that he was going to stick around through the end of the season, unless he absolutely went bats**t or something. That should've settled things. But the whingeing's continued and continued, when the team has to be backed. Back the club. Don't have to back the manager - I don't think you could say that his tactics are so awful that no matter how well the team plays, they're going to lose because of it. The players need to lift, and it might be on them, and the fans can help them. Houllier might or might not. |
The Droyd
said:
|
...So what? f**king complain your brains off about the manager and refuse to support the team until he gets s**tcanned? Firstly, I always support the team in the stadium. I also spend thousands of pounds a year supporting Villa. So no I don't refuse to support the club. Secondly, if you can debate on a blog where can you? There's very little point of having a blog if we just spout the same positive, unrealistic spin that the club programme always promotes. Thirdly, I don't give a s**t about papering over cracks. We need to survive in the Premiership at all costs. We need fresh impetus. A new manager is the only way to do this especially as the current one has been nothing short of an abject failure. |
B62 Villa
said:
|
... SSN has just shown the teams in a Relegation battle I'd from Newcastle in 11th down, they have shown the form guide for last 6 games and points earned, worryingly we are joint bottom with a points total of 5, teams like wolves answer ham have 11 the others between 6 and 9. |
Jon F
said:
|
... Well, then I'm sorry for implying/accusing of you refusing to support the club. Bad of me. I just highly doubt that taking a directionless plunge with a new manager (Big Sam? bahahahaha) on the hope (not certainty) of gaining some impetus to survive this season, is a pretty poor risk. |
ak_27
said:
|
...We desperately need Warnock back in the side. Really desperately. Warnock had a poor half season and was dropped quite rightly. But what has replaced him as been about 3 leagues below Warnock's worst. Not true Droyd. As bad as you may feel the likes of Delph and Baker have been there Warnock was well beyond them as a liability in that position (for 3 managers not just one it has to be said). Now could you honestly trust Warnock right now to come back into the team and not be an even bigger liability? I mean he now actually has a bigger issue with GH and i wouldn't put it past the guy to purposely give away free's and pens. Same goes for Beye. Warnock is a brainless idiot. And from all accounts both have done nothing to try and work their way back into his squad by putting in dire performances in the reserve team. GH certainly isn't excused from our current situation as i just cannot get over some of his tactical moves ie : Not grasping that Albrighton is by far our most creative force (couldn't believe he took him off the last day). That Young up top is crap. That Young's demanding of set pieces is hurting us. That pen away to Bolton could well have been the moment that cost us hugely as a club. Letting Bannan go out on loan when we badly lack that inventiveness in the CM. His total blanking of Heskey since Bent arived in favour of little big head in that linking role. The playing of Gabby on the left. But the injury crisis at the back is not his fault and the way certain senior players have acted all season long neither is his fault. They should be professional enough to accept the Boss's decisions are final and get on with it. They have acted like little petulent kids and our club is suffering hugely as a result. Again i'll say this GH will not be sacked as the board simply cannot gamble on doing it as such a late stage in a season. Serioulsy get behind the team and stop making bad matters even worse. |
The Droyd
said:
|
... I must add that I don't make a habit of calling for a Villa manager's head. I have lived through the days of Turner, McNeil, Gregory, Venglos, Taylor part 2 and O'Leary. Houllier is the first Villa manager I have ever wanted sacked. |
The Droyd
said:
|
... I feel certain that Big Sam could save us. What has he ever done in his career in football management that hasn't been successful? Even at Newcastle he was sacked when they were 10th. I'd kill for 10th right now! |
The Droyd
said:
|
... ak - Your views on Warnock are well documented but I still totally disagree. On his day is a fantastic left back. The others try their best but they just don't have it in their locker. |
Jon F
said:
|
... I have reasonable optimism for Houllier's plan down the road, but I agree that his tactics as of right now are questionable - especially in his refusal to change his formation around. He might have to go against his ideas just to end the season - get Heskey to partner Bent, move Ashley Young to the left wing so he at least poses a threat in cutting inside, rather than serving up useless crosses. Once Ashley moves in the summer, and this team hopefully stays up, perhaps Houllier can then play a more suitable formation, maybe a 4-3-3 to utilize his CMs more. |
vivavilla
said:
|
...I feel certain that Big Sam could save us. What has he ever done in his career in football management that hasn't been successful? People will ridicule the Big Sam suggestion, but the more I think about it, the more I actually quite like the idea. He gets bad rep for being a long ball merchant, I think this is quite unfair. Sure he deployed this style at Blackburn, but he had to. It kept them up, it got them moving forwards again. But I remember a time with Bolton when he actually played quite decent football, back in the Jay-Jay Okocha days. I think he'd shoot a rocket up some of the players arses and really get a bit of fire in the belly. I have little doubt that with 8 games he could keep up, personally. |
bobvillian
said:
 |
... no good putting other teams fixtures on here and then saying they should lose or win them?Matches are won on the field not on paper;you can have world class players but desire is the main thing which is our problem and behind the scenes flare-ups.i do think it will come down to goal difference which again will not suit us. SO GRIT YOUR TEETH AND HOPE FOR THE BEST----------------------------------------------- |
LukeR
said:
 |
... I don't like how the situation keeps getting turned back round onto the fan's heads. It's hard to sing more than a few half assed lines of "come on villa" when you're so angry from paying a lot of money to watch such a lacklustre, disgraceful performance on the pitch. As was evident on Saturday I'm not alone in thinking this. |
mon 4-5-1
said:
 |
...The Droyd said: The Droyd Yes but they are not his players, which is an important factor that you have missed. They are O’Neil’s overrated and Over Hyped player’s that, frankly are aware that the gravy train is nearing its end. As long as we avoid the drop this season I could not care less, because fingers crossed a lot of this players will be shown the exit door, I am convinced of this. We can then move on as a club, knowing players who will want to play for the manager and club, and not there own personnel wealth. What did people expect after the disgraceful behaviour of Dunne and Collins mid week – do these look like players who care about the club predicament? – And there supposed to be the leaders. The one dimensional view is to solely blame the manager when taking all the factors into account: . Not Houllier’s Players. A lot of them are now past there sell by date and know they will in all probability need to take a pay cut when they are shipped out. . Certain senior players are clearly not behind the manager and have there own agenda. . GH has not had a pre-season to put his stamp on the team It serves the club no interest in saying, get GH out and replace him with Big Sam, whose style of football has frankly been dire. |
word
said:
 |
... we're so toothless at the mo. because our creative/attacking players have no will to win (downing, young, albri)... they're sissies. then in our injury prone season mugs like heskey, young, clarke etc get sent off for stupid things. these wouldn't be a problem if there was proper leadership because players would be roasted for acting like babies. that doesn't mean that we don't stand up for ourselves though. houllier isnt aston villa. the chairman and players aren't either. we are. |
RayK
said:
|
...The Droyd said: I don't know how you can accept player responsibility plays a part in the results we've got this season and then in the same breath say that the results are the manager's TOTAL responsibility?!? Sure, if a manager selects a team from a squad of players that he has brought into the club, has the opportunity to get them playing his style of football and at the end of the season the team gets relegated then yes, its the managers responsibility. Absolutely, 100%. That is not the case here. GH has had to deal with 4-5 players that have been unwilling from the start to adopt GH's philosophy. Why? Probably because they were far too entrenched in their comfort zone OR because of historic personal greivances with the new manager coming in. Either way, that is TOTALLY unprofessional in my view, especially given the amount of money they're paid. Had they embraced the new philosophy - and I mean really busted their gut - and they'd not worked then I'd have a lot more sympathy for them. But they didn't and so I don't. Now sure, not many managers get that opportunity in football today. But that's because managers are all too often used as a scapegoat - by club owners, players and fans alike - when the real issues facing the club are more difficult to face. I am NOT saying GH is blameless - far from it - but from what I'm seeing from the comments on here he's getting ALL the blame. |
fen
said:
 |
... You don't turn into a bad manager overnight, houllier was the best manager out there at the time o'neill bottled it and left us, its his legacy which has done this to us, I back houllier 100 percent, he excites me more than o'neill as he is willing to bring in proper talent and isn't afraid to swap things around and try things out, we always complained o'neill fielded the same 11 every week, to be honest I think from day 1 a massive amount of our fans gave up on houllier before he even began, if we stay up we'll have a big shake up in the summer and we'll finish 7th or above next year |
The Droyd
said:
|
... 100% agree Viva. He is an adaptable manager and has a great record of getting the best out of difficult people. He picked up a lot of talented but difficult to manage players at Bolton. Some would describe them as journeymen. Okocha, Djorkaeff, Davies, Campo, Anelka etc. He can handle difficult personalities alright. I don't recall ever hearing of any unrest or disciplinary problems from his camps. And I would imagine that he can be quite a tough b*****d as well. To me he is ideal for our current predicament and we could do a lot worse than him going forwards as well. |
The Droyd
said:
|
...I don't recall ever hearing of any unrest or disciplinary problems from his camps Obviously El Hadj Diouff but not from the point of view of disrupting his fellow staff and team. |
frem
said:
|
... i really think houllier can get us back to 6th and maybe win the carling cup or fa cup in the future but we have to survive this season first and im not sure if we will. what also worries me is what the players will be thinking in the summer if we stay up. A. young and downing will be wanted and we know young is going so why wont downing ? if we loose both of the it will be disaster. even bent, alot of clubs will want him if he isn't happy. same with delph etc. i hope we can get some of the players out who are not wanted like beye, frieadl,ireland and heskey but i think we would be stupid to have a huge claer out adding players like petrov, warnock, dunne and collins. maybe 1 or 2 can leave but that should be it |
frem
said:
|
... against everton we have to bring at least 1 of dunne or collins back. we also should stick two up top |
Bloggert
said:
|
... I dont think we will go down but theres no way we should even be in this position. I cant see things getting much better under GH. Ashley young and Stewart Downing will both leave in the summer and I cant see any players of real quality coming in to replace them. Why would they. Weve got nothing to offer anymore. |
The Droyd
said:
|
...I don't know how you can accept player responsibility plays a part in the results we've got this season and then in the same breath say that the results are the manager's TOTAL responsibility?!? Because it is. There are all sorts of variables and reasons for results in any business. But at the end of the day the manager or whoever is running the show has to accept TOTAL responsibility. That's a basic given. For example... If I am managing a team of people, they haven't performed and the board of directors bollock me then I have to hold up my hands and say that it is my responsibility. Even if I know there are extenuating circumstances beyond my control. If you don't man up and accept TOTAL responsibility for an area that you run then you aren't a proper manager but instead an excuses merchant. |
The Droyd
said:
|
...... That is quite a leap of faith. What have you seen at VP this season to inspire this bold statement? |
frem
said:
|
... ye i fear we will losse downing to. i dont care about young. hes been poor for two seasons now and he need change. i think downing is more important to us. he done alot more this season than young has. you could tell downing was wanted in jan as well when houllier siad neither of the would be sold |
mon 4-5-1
said:
|
...If I am managing a team of people, they haven't performed and the board of directors bollock me then I have to hold up my hands and say that it is my responsibility. Even if I know there are extenuating circumstances beyond my control. If you don't man up and accept TOTAL responsibility for an area that you run then you aren't a proper manager but instead an excuses merchant. But if you are manning a team and are asked to produce a set of results, and you know you do not have the skill set within the team to produce the results, or the backing of the team then, what do you do? |
The Droyd
said:
|
...But if you are manning a team and are asked to produce a set of results, and you know you do not have the skill set within the team to produce the results, or the backing of the team then, what do you do? Move jobs! The annoying thing is that we have the skill sets within the squad to be in the top 8. We just have the wrong manager. |
The Real Frem
said:
 |
... frem you are the most depressing person on this blog. do you get paid to bring the mood down because you only ever seem to be here spreading joy |
Bloggert
said:
|
... Downings been good for us all season to be fair and he was our top scorer earlier in the season. I do think he'll end up at liverpool while young will go to utd. |
taglor
said:
 |
... Right so as if paying our little prima donnas thousands of pounds a week to play 1 game of football a week isn't motivation enough you are now asking that WE sing loud to make the poor little lambs feel better. Ok just let me finish my 50 hr week at work and fork out for a ticket just to be able to get there and cheer loudly for little ash young who will f**k off the first minute into the next transfer window. Theres being a supporter of the club and theres being a mug |
kieran55555
said:
 |
... i think that next season if we spend a few quid we will be a top 4 team, maybe even a top 3 team. i dont think we will get automatic promotion tho |
frem
said:
|
...What have you seen at VP this season to inspire this bold statement? ha, not really sure. well houllier has been a very sucssesfull manager in the past. hes one alot of silverwhere and made teams finish high in the leauge. i know it was at lyon and liverpool who were already good clubs but you still need a good manager to push you to the finish line. He completely changed liverpool's squad around for the best and i think he can/ will do the ame with us. he has a good foundation to build. we have a fairly good amount of money to spend but we also have good players already at the club. |
Christian1983
said:
 |
... Well, I've had the weekend to try and recover from what happened on Saturday between 3-4.50pm. And I'm still lost for words. Right, I don't really know where to stand. I've been pro-Houllier all season long, I've rode the criticism with him and offered positive responses about 'dead wood', 'transfer market excellence', 'passing and moving', 'cutting the wagebill', 'blooding the kids' etc etc but Saturday was shocking. It shocked me to my core. The most limp, soul-less performance I can remember in 20 years of supporting Villa. (Hmmm, actually a 3-0 home drubbing by Man City on a freezing Wednesday night under O'Leary was pretty low...) But, at the peril of looking increasingly simple and stupid, I'm going to keep backing Houllier. I don't even know why, but I just keep trying see the positives. I keep thinking that it will click, and that given a full pre-season he'll create us a fluid, passing side void of all MON's unwanted hallmarks (hopefully retaining some of the effort and fight though). Our home games are MASSIVE now. We can do it. |
RayK
said:
|
...If I am managing a team of people, they haven't performed and the board of directors bollock me then I have to hold up my hands and say that it is my responsibility. Even if I know there are extenuating circumstances beyond my control. If you don't man up and accept TOTAL responsibility for an area that you run then you aren't a proper manager but instead an excuses merchant. If you are managing a team and they haven't performed you move them on, if staff gets trolleyed on a works do they gets fired. Has GH been able to do this? No. Why? Player power alone. And to follow your analogy to the obvious conclusion - does your board of directors resign / get fired if you're team's underperformed? Err, no.... |
Bloggert
said:
|
... This season I can only pick a handfull of games were I can say yep we played well today.. West Ham Chelsea both times Blackburn Baggies Man Utd so all season that 7 games were weve played well... Not good enough |
no lol
RayK
said:
|
...taglor Spot on. |
davidc
said:
|
... Big Sam? No thanks. There's no way he'd come here without at least a guarantee that should he stay up, he'll be rewarded with a 3-4 year contract. I'd far rather we took our chances to May. Even if it ends up in relegation. In the belieft the board will show some intelligence/guts and go after the best candidate during the summer. If that means upsetting a few fellow chairmen, so be it. Moyles, Coyle, Mark Hughes. Going from abroad - Jurgen Klopp (unlikely I know, but stranger things have happened). |
RobAVFC
said:
 |
...... No I think we will make the play offs.Hope GH has a claus in his contract that This may sound negative,I was behind GH and the lads all the way until Saturday. and for the first time in 40 yrs of supporting AV I left before the final whistle, The changes he made were a joke. you can see this team do not want to play for him there is no team spirit. I have not seen a game where we have came out second half and looked up for the game his half time talks must be so depressng. I also would be looking at the training staff as our players are picking up injuries like never before. I really hope we can escape relagation but under GH things are getting worse. |
kieran55555
said:
|
... next time i get behind houllier, i hope im in a land rover travelling 90mph towards him |
frem
said:
|
... ye before the wolves game i was still fairly confident that the future would be fairly bright under houllier but something in that wolves game just f**ked all villa fans off. the bolton result and games before that we lost was hard to take but the loss on saturday just was a stepp to far. why ? well mostly because our players and managers did not seem to have a carein the world weather we lost or won. the football we played was just so dull and lifeless. it had no bite or energy about it |
Bloggert
said:
|
... frem The players dont want to play for him and if you cant get your team up for a derby game what hope have you got |
Bloggert
said:
|
... GH Never looks bothered when hes out there. The only time Ive ever seen any emotion from him was the liverpool game.. |
gregthevillain
said:
|
... Great optimism damian. But where was that when we were riding high under oneill. All for gettin behind the new manager. Pity we never gave the last the same chance |
villavillavilla
said:
 |
... gregthevillian its that old saying mate, be careful what you wish for..... |
Elmo Grub
said:
 |
... Like it or not it's pretty clear that the players aren't going to perform for GH however loudly the crowd shouts. That's the reality of the situation and, because we can't replace the whole team at this minute, we can't do anything to change that right now except get rid of GH. That's the only option at this moment to change things. Can GH somehow rescue the relationship he has with the players - I don't think so and certainly not without it taking time. He's shown he's not willing to adapt a system that clearly isn't working even for expediencies sake till the end of the season, he's handled the media, players and fans poorly, there is as much intent to the style of play as there is passion in the squad to win - zero, and his team selections have at times been just bizarre. It does make me question how anyone seeing this and looking at the vital statistics (6 wins in 25 games is it?) feels it is anywhere near successful or even acceptable. Or indeed why they think it can change and how GH can change it when it's not just a trickle but a flood of disquiet. The one thing you don't do is hide when the going gets tough and that's what GH did on Saturday. He should have been on the touchline firing those players up, showing some balls, instead he was hiding from a hostile crowd. Terrible leadership - lack of respect for himself, the players, fans and the club. GH is a dead man walking, and I don't think he gives a sh*t; he'll get a nice pay off at the end of the season when he's removed and has made a lot of money for doing very little in a short space of time. At the end of his career so it's not going to affect his future either because he hasn't got one other than moving back to the French FA if they take him. Even if we keep him though I just can't see us going down this season. However bad things look ultimately the players must have to find motivation from either a basic level of pride, ego or self respect if not GH. The players we have are far better than the players in most of teams below us. Surely the professional embarassment of being in a relegated team will eventually get these players putting in at least the minimal effort required to survive, regardless of the manager. Looking at the fixture list for the next six games we could win every one - a year ago I'd have said should. With the exception of Everton we still have a better team on paper than the others. I don't see GH ever being a long term success at Villa. We might as well cut our losses now or certainly at the end of the season, chalk it all down to experience for the board and move on - hopefully having learned something in the process. |
frem
said:
|
... Bloggert- well you have no chane but bent has came out and said the players are fighting for houllier. wheather or not that is true im not sure but i really hope it is. the rest of the season is going to be interesting. you never know, we might go on a good run but i just cant see us doing it. the everton game is huge. the players wont feel as much pressure as they are away and a win would give them a huge boost going into the newcastle game. if we can win them two we will stay up but i cant see us getting much what so ever out of the next two games. if we dont, well you know what will happen |
kohoutek
said:
 |
... Guys, there's sense in what Matt T is saying. It's simply the fact that none of us wants to see the team go down. And when you're out on the pitch and the stands are full of people urging you on, it can have an impact. That's why it's called home-field advantage. You've got 40,000 people urging you on. It should be a lot of noise, a lot of energy being directed your way and intimidating opponents. I don't really disagree with where a lot of people are coming from. I understand the points of view. For me, I'm as upset with the players as anyone. And no, GH has not gotten everything right. But I do believe the fans can still make a difference. It's not about Houllier, O'Neill, Lerner, Dunne, Collins, or anything else. It's simply about trying to will your team to victory, keep them from hanging their heads, showing defiance and resolve in the face of adversity, showing the team and everyone else we're proud to be Villans and that we believe it's possible, we want them to succeed. |
mon 4-5-1
said:
|
... The Droyd said: ... So what as a manager you move jobs and not try and fix the problem. How is this going to help the company (AVFC) No we do not have a top 8 skill set side Droyd, what we have is a overpaid aging set of prima donnas – why do you think O’Neil walked, it’s not rocket science. gregthevillain said: ... We gave the last one 4 years and 120 million. Current manager has not been given third of that time or money, and were calling for his head. |
The Droyd
said:
|
...So what as a manager you move jobs and not try and fix the problem. How is this going to help the company (AVFC) With the proviso that you added: you do not have the skill set within the team to produce the results, or the backing of the teamThen yes. I would only want to be a manager somewhere where I could make a difference. Job satisfaction is important to me. No we do not have a top 8 skill set side Droyd, what we have is a overpaid aging set of prima donnas – why do you think O’Neil walked, it’s not rocket science. I believe O'Neill walked because of a disagreement about the wage bill. If you look at what I would consider our best XI then I would say that it is easily good enough to be in the top 8: -----------------------------Friedel------------------------------ Walker----------------Cuellar----------Clark---------------Warnock -------------Reo-Coker-------Makoun----------Delph---------------- Young------------------------------------------------------Downing -----------------------------Bent--------------------------------- With the exception of Friedel that is neither ageing or not capable of getting in the top 8. Add Albrighton, Collins, Luke Young, Heskey. We have the players. Just not the manager. |
frem
said:
|
... when we were nearly relagated under DOL a few yeras back, did anyone think we would survive ? |
Bloggert
said:
|
... Frem, I think hes saying that just coz its what we need to hear I suppose. I dont think its true though. I may be wrong but Theres been nothing since Houllier took over to suggest they want to play under him. I dont think we will go down but I can only see 2 more wins from our remaining fixtures |
The Droyd
said:
|
...when we were nearly relagated under DOL a few yeras back, did anyone think we would survive ? Yes because in those days there was always 2 teams that got detached early doors so there was only ever 1 relegation place that was fought over. There are very much 3 places to fight for currently. |
Bloggert
said:
|
... Droyd, the manager wont change from the current system of playing players out of position in the 4 4 1 1 formation. why dont he change it. the formation you got there would be quite nice to see |
frem
said:
|
... something i think would help houllier more is a good assistant. i think chris huton ( spelling) would be a good option or even ray wilkins. both know what they are doing and both will stand on the touch line pushing the players along |
frem
said:
|
...“I didn’t know about the banner, but I don’t have to comment on that. I can talk about the game. I can’t fault the players for the effort they gave.” you have to be f**king joking houllier. the players showed no fight what so ever. if thats the level of fight we are going to show for the rest of the season then we will go down |
Rowley Villan
said:
|
... Comment 161 Kieran that's funny dude Even Port Vale have managed to act swiftly and sack their manager. He got 15 games, won 4, fans not happy and off he pops. They saw it wasn't working and made the change before the rot spread. You don't get time in football management. If you don't get it at Port Vale, you sure as hell don't deserve it at Aston Villa. |
Matt T
said:
 |
... I wrote that piece under the impression that people realise that we as fans have a part when it comes to motivate people. If you were at work, and people were screaming at you telling you that you were useless, that you aren't fit to work for the company - how would you feel? Pretty bad I imagine. Football players are human beings - they respond to criticism just as much as anyone else, and with so many youngsters in the team, they are invariably going to panic due to their lack of real experience. Let's not confuse matters here. What I said in the above post is we need to be united, instead of what it looks like which is squabbling about semantics. The realities are: Houllier is in charge now and it doesn't matter what we think as fans. That is pretty evident. We could go down - anyone who thinks "we are too good" need to forget their daydreaming. My personal view is that the board should actually realise that there is no point being stubborn when you have nobody with knowledge of the sport you are involved with. For the record, I think Houllier has messed up big style. I had reservations when he came due to his heart condition, but I hadn't for a second expected us to be this low down the league. Whether he stays or goes now or at the end of the season, he needs to move. I personally think that he would make a good director of football, and that was where I thought he was supposed to be employed originally. The manager tried to change too much, far too quickly. So yes, he needs to accept responsibility for that (and I think he is doing so) The players are egos. That is the classic case of how footballers are. I remember the first time I was introduced to Gabby and I thought he was a totally self centred bloke. However, after meeting a whole bunch of these people, it seems that the combination of being young and very rich is, for the most part, how they are. In a clash between the manager and the players, there is going to be fallout. Everyone here will have known we had to get rid of Carew, Sidwell, Davies et al, and it had to be done. We also knew that on a grander plan, players like Dunne and Collins were not up to the task. However, anyone with half a brain, and just as much management ability would not walk into their new job, find out they disagree with others, and then say "Oi... you over there... look I know we have to work together while we sort out some redundancies... but I just wanted to know that I don't like you... and frankly you're a tool". It would cause mayhem. We're seeing that mayhem at present. Houllier has made mistakes. The players have made mistakes. Everyone is arguing with one another. If we don't get behind the team, it's going to just be finger pointing and moaning. I don't care if people predicted we'd go down, and then we do. If you have that attitude, then you really are a fool to yourself. I want Villa to stay up. Nothing apart from our support is in our control. So do what you can - and expect every man to play their part. The alternative is keep up the infighting and watch the other teams around us rub their hands with glee about it. Ask yourself for a second - do you think Small Heath are happy we are bickering and moaning at one another? Prove them wrong - we're better than that. |
Rowley Villan
said:
|
... No disrespect to Port Vale btw. They are in league 2 and not in danger of losing league status. They could afford to wait until the summer but why let the wrong man have more time to make more wrong decisions? I wish our board was as decisive. |
John C
said:
 |
... Matt T I was more impressed last night when you called for GH to be pushed upstairs and Allardyce put in as manager til the end of the season. GH has destroyed the team spirit and will get the club relegated. |
Matt T
said:
|
... John C, I was more impressed last night when you called for GH to be pushed upstairs and Allardyce put in as manager til the end of the season. It is definitely an option, but I have no idea if it would work. At the moment we are a coin flip on staying up or going down in my opinion - as mentioned before we could win every game, or lose every one. Houllier is not the solution to our problems, but if we are stuck with him till the end of the season because of the board, then that's what we have to support. |
Matt T
said:
|
... I also would say forget about this idea about KMac coming in. The bloke would not seize the opportunity to take the job when he was offered it before Houllier was installed. He was potentially being offered the chance to coach the team with Houllier above him, but he bottled it. He bottled it, and then our board rushed the alternative of then deciding "OK - Let's put Gerard in as manager". He has no intention of taking the role on, and only took it on as caretaker because he was told he had to do it. He has no ambition, and that is not what I want in charge of the club at this point. |
John C
said:
|
... Matt T There is no chance us winning every game and its not a coin flip. We are in a relegation fight and you need a united team to get through that. There is no chance of that with GH in charge. Unusually this season we may need 42 points to stay up and thats not going to happen |
Matt T
said:
|
... John C, On our day, we can beat any team in the league. We need support now more than ever (Forget about Houllier - we are not the board, and they aren't sacking him) However, we are just going to get lost in in fighting if we just argue about what should happen. The reality is this - we have as much control as a series of young kids who cry and whine when our parents won't do anything that we tell them to do. That is the reality - we do not control the appointment and sacking of personnel. So we should do our best to do what we can, i.e. support the club. |
John C
said:
|
... Matt T The supporters have more power than you think. Just ask any season ticket hloders you know if they will renew next season with GH in charge |
Matt T
said:
|
... John C, Oh I totally agree with you there about how we can impact next season, and the finances that the club have. However, us here who already have this year's ticket... well we can't do anything about it. Can't say this season's ticket has been the best money spent... |
The Droyd
said:
|
... Matt T - Some good stuff as ever. I especially agree with your assessment of MacDonald. Christ, he is the last person we need right now for the reasons you state. I think Houllier would make a very good director of football but I don't think the dynamic would work with many managers in this country. I think he is probably a good guy in sorting out the infrastucture of a club. He has a lot of experience of many top clubs in Europe. He has demonstrated that he is knowledgable in the transfer market. Unfortunately, on the pitch where it matters most, he has been utterly dire. |
Matt T
said:
|
... In reality they've already got our money, and if we don't turn up next year... well they will see a message. On the other side of things, if we do go down and then don't turn up to matches, we'll have less money, and thus have less resources in which to bounce back. I personally just want Houllier moved upstairs. At the moment we need motivation, and it clearly isn't going to work between the manager and the players. Both the manager and players are at fault. I don't care whether people are pro or anti Houllier, or if they hate this and that player. All of them are at fault. However, none of those people have any connection to the club. The difference here is that we all love this club - so we should do what we can to support it. I know it is hard - the football is passing around flair style play. Which would be great if we won matches. However we're not the Harlem Globetrotters. We need wins. Like I mentioned before - if it means winning in the 93rd minute via a goal of Heskey's rear, I don't care. There are no "must win" fixtures. Everything now has to be approached as "must win", and every game needs to be giving us points, as having to worry what other teams do is really evidence of how rubbish it has all got.... |
Matt T
said:
|
... The Droyd, Unfortunately, on the pitch where it matters most, he has been utterly dire. I think anyone who argues this case, or even tries to argue the case, either has glaucoma, or needs to be taken away in a white van. I share your belief that a DoF may not work - maybe he could just be an advisor, or director of scouting. Either way - GH has a good knowledge of football. However due to his health, he can't do what he needs to do. It's a sad situation, but we can't let things go to ruin just because we are trying to be kind to a person who has us so close to the trap door... |
The Droyd
said:
|
... It would be difficult for Houllier to swallow his pride and move upstairs. The admission of failure might see him off! It's easy to say now but director of football would have been the best position for him in the first place. I just can't see a man who clearly hates losing face being persuaded into that now. |
Matt T
said:
|
... The Droyd, As I intimated to a fair while back, the original plan WAS for GH to be further upstairs than he is now, and for KMac to take the first team role. He spluttered, he sighed, and then he decided against it. The board stupidly had him down as wanting the job, and then he didn't. So the shock then came that they had to get GH in for the managers job, and then we had that bloody palaver of to and from from France to get him out. If he would have just been in the original role, it wouldn't have mattered. However, because we put faith that KMac was going to take the job, we were left looking like total clowns. |
The Droyd
said:
|
... I am gutted that I have signed up for next season. Last season I committed for this season and next for a reduced fee. I was happy to sign. Not in my wildest dreams did I expect things to have got so bad. There is no way on earth I would agree to such a deal now. |
Matt T
said:
|
... In short - if the board can't realise the benefit of having a board member there who knows about football, then we are in more dire straits than it even appears now. Faulkner was a great move to get the finance down. However, where's the footballing person to get the football sorted out? After all, this is AVFC, not MBNA! I love the board, and they are good people but my god how naive are they at times! |
Uichis66
said:
 |
... I am behind Villa 100% as I always am, I hope we can limp across the finish line and still be in the prem at the end of it. I am questioning to a degree but I also have massive questions about some of our players, in particular the ones that seem to be not performing because they don't like Houllier's methods or philosophy. IMO that's not good enough. They should be realise what a privaleage it is to be doing what they do for a living and play however the manager wants them to . I hope Houllier can clear out these players in the summer and we can move forward from there. UTV!! |
Calum and Blue
said:
 |
... I think we need to calm down a bit guys. Yes we may be one point of the relegation zone, but there are 9 other teams basically in the same boat. And I can assure you that there will be AT THE VERY LEAST three teams that finish below us this season. Changing the manager at this stage in the season is foolish (unless we were actually lying in the bottom 3, adrift from the rest of the table). Teams have tried it before, and it usually fails. I'd like to remind you of one Alex Ferguson, who had a difficult start to his Man U career and had fans with banners calling for his head (sound familiar?  ). That was after three years in charge, and look where he is now, renowned as one of, if not the, best manager in the world (even if he's a moody, cheating, must-have-chewed-his-weight-in-chewing-gum-by-now old man). Now, I'm not saying Houllier is going to be our Alex Ferguson, but the point that I'm trying to make is that, if the crowd got their wish of getting rid of Fergy, where would they be now? They didn't give him the time to see what he was capable of (unfortunately, their board did ). It took Fergy over 3 years to convince the Man U fans that he should be in the job. We've given Houllier 6 months? We're not going down this season, so can we get off his back and at least give him the chance to show what he is capable of? |
The Droyd
said:
|
...Faulkner was a great move to get the finance down. However, where's the footballing person to get the football sorted out? After all, this is AVFC, not MBNA! As Alan Partridge would say - absobloodyexactly. It does concern me however, that Faulkner's arrival at the club has co-incided with the on field side of things turning to s**t. |
ALDAVFC
said:
 |
... We all want Villa to improve, whether that be on 6th place or to steer clear of relegation. Whether you think sacking Houllier is the solution or not, we are all trying to answer the same question. No writing on internet blogs or forums will stop Houllier from managing Aston Villa for the remaining 8 fixtures this season. In fact, all we can do is get down to Villa Park and show some support for the team! We have 8 games left, 6 of which are crucial. So let's stop comparing statistics and dreaming of what is not, lets show we the team that we are not defeated. |
RonnieBiggsakatheRioVillan
said:
 |
... Another long break, this time with no drunken louts ruining the attempt to galvanize the team. I don't see why the lads can't come back from this break raring to go and surprise everyone with a result at Everton. We have a run of 5 very winnable matches with teams in the same situation as us after the Toffees; if we win 2 and draw 2 that alone should be enough to keep us up but there's no reason why we can't win 3 or more. Have we all forgotten already how good the tactics, the passing and the football was looking against Bolton prior to Mr Ridiculous AYoung missing the pen(I really won't be that upset if he leaves as I prefer Marc anyway); we were ripping them to shreds and they're on the verge of Europe. Come on stop whinging and start singing!!! UTV |
JustRich
said:
 |
... I honestly feel ashamed to be a villa fan with some of the so called "fans" lately. Its a disgrace what some are saying about houllier. Hes made mistakes. We all have. But for christ sake get behind him and the team. Do you WANT us to be relegated? Do you HONESTLY believe that chanting such crap will get the players motivated? If that was me, villa fan or not, id think "f**k you then". How about actually SUPPORTING the team, as thats what we are meant to be afterall, is it not? supporters. |
Alexcropleysleftfoot
said:
|
... Matt, this is the problem having foriegn owners they do not possess the knowledge to run a top class football club unless they suurround themselves with the right people, Randys a good bloke and his heart is in the right place but my he has made some mistakes. I am living down in Bristol and i can tell you now they are chomping at the bit at the prospect of playing the Villa next season, for gods sake lets not let that happen. UTV. |
Villa London
said:
 |
... I think the point of this post is that whether you support Houllier or not, and I surely don't and haven't from the start, that during the game we support Villa and show them that!! If we don't we might be adding to what could be relegation. Even if it's a protest after a match or before a match, or a banner - during it we get behind the players and try and give them some sort of confidence. |
davidc
said:
|
...As I intimated to a fair while back, the original plan WAS for GH to be further upstairs than he is now, and for KMac to take the first team role. So who is going to carry the can for that debacle then? Faulkner is still here. So is Macdonald. So is Houllier. So is Lerner. So is the General. Houllier will inevitably get to carry the can for the footballing side of things. Who will be given their cards for the appointment shambles you describe? Because somebody needs to. You can call it nieve if you like. I call it unbelievably incompetent. Also, as you seems to be connected Matt T (thanks for coming on here btw, it is appreciated) - have we started a search for GH's replacement yet? Please tell me we have. Please. Or are we relying on Kevin Mac having a change of mind all of a sudden??!! |
kuchuk
said:
 |
...But to clear one thing up; i didn't hate the pervious manager, I just thought he had taken us as far as he could. I don't think I was wrong also. I think he knew that to, which is why he walked. He wasn't going to take us higher and he knew it Why would anyone settle for less then? Everyone knows GH won't last , we need a long term solution. Who cares if we played rush and kick football,i would take win over ManU at Old Trafford anyday with that kind of style instead of watching "barca style" with players who are not good enough to play it. |
VillaBoyDanny
said:
|
...Houllier has made mistakes. The players have made mistakes. Everyone is arguing with one another. Now, why I see this & to a large extent agree with this, the fact remains that these guys are professionals on thousands of pounds a week. As Taglor said somewhere above, we're just guys who are spending our hard earned money after a fifty hour week to watch these millionaires stroll around like they couldn't give a toss. Whilst I agree we need to get behind our team, it's also very understandable why so many are seeing red at the moment. Being the twelfth man only works when there are eleven out on the pitch. |
Bosnich13
said:
 |
... great post and couldnt agree more...whatever anyone thinks of Houllier now is not the time for negativity - vent your spleens for all i care at seasons end but our club needs us right now - this isnt about houllier - its about survival, about standing up and being counted and dare i say it about being Supporters of this great club of ours...yes some want houllier out, yes some dont agre with Randy's vision any longer but for christs sake let it be until seasons end the team is nervous enough right now without fearing that every little mistake, every mis-placed pass, every tackle lost is going to be met with a chorus of boo's... in the summer when we have secured survival - that is the time to take stock and make decisions and opine on where we are and what we must do next - right now we are needed in the trenches - our club is touching the void and we are its foundation, without us there wouldnt be an Aston Villa so it is our duty to get behind the team - to support them - to follow and back them in every battle from now until the seasons end |
John Salter
said:
|
... Five live had a debate at lunchtime about who was going to be relegated. I only heard the end of it but all three pundits named Villa! All three said Houllier was the wrong appointment and should go! We all support Villa or we wouldn't log onto sites like this and we can support the team and not the manager. During games that can be made clear, we want the best for our team but Houllier is killing it by a thousand cuts. Those with Rose tinted glasses saying that we should support him are as bad as Houllier himself. We'd be better off with McLaren and his umbrella! It's not a case of 'if' it's 'when' he goes and Randy Lerner realises he made an enormous mistake. He's another Turnip head. If by some miracle we stay in the Premier league this season we'd go down next season with him as manager. I've supported Villa for decades and I can honestly say I've never felt so depressed about my club! |
mickey86
said:
|
... so whens big sam coming then? should of been here yesterday. like pundits said when he got sacked at blckburn, teams dont get relegated when he is in charge. |
fourfoot
said:
 |
... Houllier should never have been appointed to the job from a footballing p.o.v. The Premiership continually evolves, you can't take a managerial break of several years and return as good as you were. Dalglish has had more luck than judgement so far, he wont last the twelvemonth. I really think we'll go down. He's alienated key players, experienced players, and emerging talent alike. He complains about the depth of the squad and sends half of it out on loan. When he finally puts a run together, he picks a team out against Man City in the Cup, a line up that says f**k it, this isnt important to a club like Villa with a tradition like theirs. He's completely screwed us over. If Bannan and Fonz are good enough to play against Tevez and co one week, why are they playing away at Scunny and Doncaster next. Is it to give them the Championship experience we'll need next season? Maybe Randy's watched the Hudsucker Proxy and Houllier's been hired to screw the club deliberately so he can cash in on some insurance scam. I wouldn't be surprised. I saw Phil King beat Inter Milan once. Houliier and McAllister can go and go now. I'll take an Allardyce for now, I'd take a Coleman or even a Keegan. But no more of this b******s. This club should be too big to go down, but it isn't and if Houllier stays, it wont be. |
Matt T
said:
|
... The Droyd, It does concern me however, that Faulkner's arrival at the club has co-incided with the on field side of things turning to s**t. That's just an unfortunate co-incidence really. In reality Houllier has not been limited in what he spends or does during all of his time at the helm. |
The Droyd
said:
|
... John Salter, mickey, four foot. With you all the way. You can't blame Houllier for clinging on, especially if we are paying him what the press lead us to believe. But you can blame our board for having their ignorant heads firmly entrenched in the sand. |
Bosnich13
said:
|
... i cant believe Villa fans calling for Allardyce - yes he doesnt get teams relegated but he hasnt exactly got a record of winning much either and his brand of football is neanderthal to say the least..if Big Sam is the answer its a pretty stupid fecking question Houllier is struggling because he is being badly let down by the senior players at the football club and in the summer he will clear the lot and good riddance to them - they are the cancer on our football club - not Mr.Houllier - these same players finished 6th last season and havent tried a leg since houllier took charge - whatever their arguement with Houllier cant they see the only people they are hurting is us Fans - they will walk away to pastures new if we get relegated but it has been their fault - they have left us in the mire - i would think there will be a massive clearout this summer of those who oppose Houllier and his tenureship and we can build again - Houllier can attract better players - Makoun, Bent are very easy and obvious examples and i would think by end of August (assuming we stay up) there will be genuine grounds for optimism if we do feel a change is needed then the summer is the time to do it - Jol would be first choice for me or even Moyes who would be tempted as we have bigger resources than Everton but certainly ont Allardyce or K-Mac - dont fans calling for him remember the beasting we took at Newcastle????? and its more than that do you honestly think he has the profile to manage our football club - do you think he has the profile to attract quality players - no neither do i |
Matt T
said:
|
... fourfoot, I'll take an Allardyce for now, I'd take a Coleman or even a Keegan Whoa, whoa, whoa. Allardyce sure but Keegan? I wouldn't have him as manager in a million years. If the unthinkable happens, I am of the opinion that we nick Eddie Howe from Burnley. He is good enough to take us back up if it comes to that, and he is definitely one for the 5/10/20 year future. |
.vogra
said:
 |
... This is the perfect opportunity for the players to give up, If we go down we blame the manager and not them, what will they do..Cry?? ...no they'll get a nice pay off and join someone else. If we lose the next game then Learner has to bite the bullet and ditch Houliier now to save the season as all I can see is relegation staring us in the face, who do we get? Thats the million dollar question, A quick fix, someone comes in and we win 3 or 4 games and stay up...thats what we may need, then look at the position in the summer.. |
Matt T
said:
|
... Bosnich13, Houllier can attract better players - Makoun, Bent are very easy and obvious examples Precisely why I would move him upstairs and get in someone who can jump around without fear of making themselves unwell. I don't hate the manager - I just think he has tried to do too much, too soon, and has rubbed players up the wrong way. I think Dunne for example is a total tool for his attitude and behaviour, but by God as a manager I work with what I've got until I have the luxury of being able to change the furniture around. It all smacks of Gerard trying to come back to football in England with a bang. Sadly that bang appears to have blown up right in his face. |
Matt T
said:
|
... PS For those saying "Allardyce's football is rubbish", then read what most of us are saying. We'd have him in to get us through the end of the season. Very few of us would want to keep him as the man to take Villa forward. Why? We all know it would just be poor quality football, and the same ceiling we had with O'Neill. |
Matt T
said:
|
... davidc, Also, as you seems to be connected Matt T (thanks for coming on here btw, it is appreciated) - have we started a search for GH's replacement yet? Please tell me we have. Please. Or are we relying on Kevin Mac having a change of mind all of a sudden??!! The reality is that Houllier will probably be here till the end of the season. After that, he could argue a case that once Dunne/Collins et al are sold, that he could have a better place to start from next year. However, if we go down, I would like to think that the board have some kind of alternative option for getting a man to get us back up. As mentioned before Eddie Howe would do nicely, or Chris Hughton. |
Matt T
said:
|
... If I were the person in charge at the club (and sadly I'm not), I'd be creating an open view of things (which is what I try to imbue to this site) that is not available at present via the General, or any other official outlet. Part of the problem here is that our club is treated like it is some covert military operation (Cheers Charles), but this is football, and it doesn't work the same... |
The Droyd
said:
|
...Whoa, whoa, whoa. Allardyce sure but Keegan? I wouldn't have him as manager in a million years. I'd take Keegan until the end of the season. He can be quite an inspirational character and that is what we need right now. Would much prefer Allardyce but would take Keegan or even Curbishley. I don't think anyone could be ballsing it up any worse than Houllier anyway. |
MonsMom
said:
 |
...gregthevillain said:only 4 years |
The Droyd
said:
|
...i cant believe Villa fans calling for Allardyce - yes he doesnt get teams relegated but he hasnt exactly got a record of winning much either and his brand of football is neanderthal to say the least Look at the clubs he has been with and explain how it is possible to win titles with those clubs. Where has he experienced failure? He has always improved clubs. You could argue that he didn't at Newcastle but he was only there a few months and they were 10th when bizarrely sacked. As for his brand of football, they played some good stuff at Bolton with Djorkaeff, Anelka and Okocha (admittedly mixed with some direct stuff). At Blackburn, they were bottom when he took over and he made them a tough to beat mid table team. Yes his football was ugly at Blackburn but how else could he achieve such improvements with the resources he had available? To suggest at a club like Villa that the football would be awful under Allardyce is a lazy presumption. I can promise you that it would be a hell of a lot better than the garbage we have witnessed this season. |
Matt T
said:
|
... The Droyd, To suggest at a club like Villa that the football would be awful under Allardyce is a lazy presumption. I can promise you that it would be a hell of a lot better than the garbage we have witnessed this season. Here, here. There have been shocking mistakes at our club in terms of people management, and for that reason come the end of the season (if not before) then a whole host of people at the club need sacking. Not just football people either - the people behind the recruitment processes at Villa... A corporate HR trying to find football people who go through CVs with markers looking for titles won, or cups. That kind of attitude means you are invariably more favoured to the older manager with past glory, than anything for the future. It was lazy as anything - I wouldn't be that lazy employing a trainee, let alone the manager of a Premier League club. |
Matt T
said:
|
... Frem, St James Park is a massive ground. Newcastle are a massively supported club. Remind me... wasn't it our fans saying "So long Ant & Dec" when we beat them last game of the season before last. "Too good to go down" is a load of nonsense. Remember Bradford? They were in the Premier League. They are in League 2 now. Not the Championship. League 2. Anyone can go down at any time if things go wrong as badly as I have witnessed this year... |
ChicoHamiltonsPants
said:
 |
... Finally a decent report. None of this Its not his fault, its his fault blah blah........ Nice one Matt maybe you and the Doc can seize control from our Gadaffi like blogtator or DICKtator. "Up the Villa" Villa 4ever" and "Villa till I die" |
Matt T
said:
|
... Would anyone of us have said at the start of the season that 2011/2012 could open with Blues in Europe and Villa in the Championship? If not, you have to ask where the blame lies. To which I say right across the whole club - players, staff, board... the whole lot. Lerner NEEDS to employ a specialist to manage the football side of the boardroom. They don't necessarily have to be an ex-manager, they could be a scout, or any number of different people. Hell even I have 1000x the knowledge of football than the board. If they don't do this, then we are doomed to never get any further on than taking pot luck gambles based purely on a slack HR department... |
frem
said:
|
... matt t, i wasn't saying we wont go down. i was just saying what ian collins said. anyway i read quote that falkner said. he said something like the board do listen to the fans. well about 90 % of villa fans want houllier out but yet you still keep him. villa fans phoning in to TS aren't happy what so ever. they are all worried and all want houllier out |
Matt T
said:
|
... ChicoHamiltonsPants, Thank you. The point I am making is that in the final 8 games, if we don't unite we are screwed. I am sick of the in-fighting here, as regular blog site viewing people will have noticed by my absence. We can assess the problem at the end of the season where I know a lot of people's heads will roll... |
Matt T
said:
|
... Frem, Paul Faulkner is a money man. If we sack Houllier, we have to pay out money. If we go down, we lose money too. Yes logic says sack Houllier now, but I fear due to the money lead management of the club, we will stick with him for now. I could be wrong, but that's my broadest hunch, and then we will deal with him come the end of the season - most probably moving him upstairs to a nice armchair with pre-warmed slippers along with Doug Ellis. |
frem
said:
|
... matt t - i think houllier would be a good director of football but do you think the fans and board would want him there after he nearly sent us down and do you think someone like moyes would be happy to come if houllier was director of football or something? |
bobvillian
said:
|
... houiler aint going nowwhere get in in your heads? we have to put up with him till at leased end of season;all this talk of keegan;martin jol;allardice;total rubbish anyway these aint much better than what we have got now.get behind the team and just hope big time we can survive. |
Matt T
said:
|
... Frem, I don't think that the fans have a problem with his transfer dealings, or his attitude on the club and the need for change. I think they have a problem that he hasn't got the heart to make us fight for what we need to fight for. If he does go upstairs, I wouldn't go for a Moyes type manager, I would go for young and promising like Hughton or Howe. Those kinds of young talents are going to be more willing to work in that format than a manager who is long in the tooth. |
Matt T
said:
|
... Bobvillain, get behind the team and just hope big time we can survive. Precisely why I wrote today's post. If we all end up fighting each other at the moment, it's going to end badly. I'm all for a massive protest on the day after the season ends, but for now I am keeping it tight lipped and getting on with the job of supporting the club I love. |
Jimbo Daventry Villa
said:
 |
... Matt, I like youe article. I have always sung my heart out for the cause and have hardly missed a game home and away all season. However two weeks ago I along with 10 of my mates left work early on a Wednesday afternoon to travel to Man City, what we witnessed there was enough to ruin even the best of fans. Although 9 of my mates slagged off Houllier all the way home I thought of what we had to come - Bolton and Wolves, 6 pionts in them two games and it would have been worth throwing the F.A cup away. We've lost both though, confidence is at rock bottom, both players and fans alike and its clear the manager is struggling. I'll continue to support our beloved club to the very end but they are making it increasingly difficult to do so. |
davidc
said:
|
... Eddie Howe??? Chris Hughton??? Both of those would do a decent job if we get relegated. However, if we do stay up, neither of them should come within 100 miles of VP. I refer to my earlier question about who is going to carry the can for GH's shambolic appointment? Not only did we get the (with hindisght) worse possible candidate, we ended up paying absolute top dollar for the privilege!!! Somebody's head must roll for that within the board surely? |
frem
said:
|
... matt t - id prefer us to go for someone like moyes. i think he would do a great job with the squad we have and he would suit the style of football our players know how to play. but im also sure if we stay up under houllier, i think the board will keep him on as manager |
Matt T
said:
|
... Davidc, I agree - and people's heads will roll come the end of the season in my opinion. As I mentioned before - this corporate HR attitude towards recruitment is not good enough. It only puts more credit against older candidates, and really does not do any justice to the role that is trying to be recruited for. As for Howe and Hughton, I'd say both could easily do a better job than what has happened this year. Look at Howe - taking Bournemouth to what will be back to back promotions, and showing real promise with it. Hughton again did a great job with what he had at his disposal, so I would also rate him highly for the job. What we need is to plan for the future - and we have seen that employing people in a role that originally wasn't for them is far too much of an embarrassment to go unnoticed. Heads can roll - but the fact is that the board need to restructure who they use to employ football personnel, to which the answer should be a football person who sits on the board. |
Matt T
said:
|
... Frem, Yes I rate Moyes very highly, but it all comes down to what happens this year. As you quite rightly say, there is a possibility that GH can say that he wasn't given a proper crack at building the team due to the timing of his appointment. I am totally fine with that excuse, but my concern is that if we beat relegation this year, can the poor bloke's heart stand up to the pressure if we go through a bad patch next year? I personally think that because Houllier is a good bloke underneath it all, that we really should be saying that he needs to take a more sedentary role than trying to manage a Premier League club going forward. |
GGGG
said:
 |
... Good piece Matt - sums it all up really. Switching managers now won't make any difference, so complaining and booing during the games achieves nothing. With 100% support we can shame the underperforming players into earning what they're paid and encourage the honest performers into better efforts. All we can do as fans to keep our club up is give maximum support at the games. If we add to the discontent, we're increasing the chances of relegation. Boo & complain like hell if we actually DO go down, but only if you've done everything you can to help us stay up in the meantime. It's not a foregone conclusion yet. |
frem
said:
|
......the droyd i think even frem would do a better job than houllier is doing. ooh, i dont know. im top of the league with fullham on fifa manager |
Matt T
said:
|
... GGGG, Boo & complain like hell if we actually DO go down, but only if you've done everything you can to help us stay up in the meantime. It's not a foregone conclusion yet. Totally on the money there. If that happens, I will be the first person down at Villa Park asking for heads to roll. Till then, we are in no guarantee that changing manager is going to make much of a difference. We could get Allardyce short term, but neither getting him or not getting him gives us any certainty over the future. All we can do is get behind the club and sing. That's because whatever a mess we might be dragged into, WE are Aston Villa, and we are the mark of what the club really is. The managers and players (and even the board) are just employees - WE are the spirit behind this fine club, as our fathers, and grandfathers were before us, and so our kids will continue the tradition. |
The Droyd
said:
|
...the droyd Not with Stephen Ireland and Robbie Keane in the side! |
Matt T
said:
|
... Frem, ooh, i dont know. im top of the league with fullham on fifa manager O'Neill wouldn't mind you then. He only hates the Football Manager players. Did anyone else find it quite ironic that as he said that we started publicity on Championship Manager? Or have I got too much of an eye for detail. |
Calum and Blue
said:
|
... I think we need to calm down a bit guys. Yes we may be one point of the relegation zone, but there are 9 other teams basically in the same boat. And I can assure you that there will be AT THE VERY LEAST three teams that finish below us this season. Changing the manager at this stage in the season is foolish (unless we were actually lying in the bottom 3, adrift from the rest of the table). Teams have tried it before, and it usually fails. I'd like to remind you of one Alex Ferguson, who had a difficult start to his Man U career and had fans with banners calling for his head (sound familiar? ). That was after three years in charge, and look where he is now, renowned as one of, if not the, best manager in the world (even if he's a moody, cheating, must-have-chewed-his-weight-in-chewing-gum-by-now old man). Now, I'm not saying Houllier is going to be our Alex Ferguson, but the point that I'm trying to make is that, if the crowd got their wish of getting rid of Fergy, where would they be now? They didn't give him the time to see what he was capable of (unfortunately, their board did ). It took Fergy over 3 years to convince the Man U fans that he should be in the job. We've given Houllier 6 months? We're not going down this season, so can we get off his back and at least give him the chance to show what he is capable of? |
Matt T
said:
|
... Mickey86, who have you bought for fulham? kranjkaer, adam and vagner love? Ha ha ha ha - that made my day brighter reading that lol Stephen Ireland is probably assistant manager |
Matt T
said:
|
... Calum and Blue, We're not going down this season, Really? That optimistic? I wouldn't be negative and say we are going down, but I sure as hell won't ignore the fact that we have a good chance of going down if we don't pull our finger out pretty quick.... |
mickey86
said:
|
...Switching managers now won't make any difference could make a hell of alot of difference. new manager syndrom has worked quite well in the past, the only times i can think of not having new manager syndrome is when charlton hired ian dowie and the les reed, portsmouth alan perrin, steve wigley and stuart gray at southampton. oh and gerrard houllier at aston villa. |
ChicoHamiltonsPants
said:
|
... I am not a big GH fan and i don't think i ever will be. When I have spoken to my friends in Liverpool they've all said the same thing his man management skills are limited, barring that I'm behind the team all the way I just hope they can pull their socks up and grab their rocks and be men. PS frem I'm impressed people still listen to you..........maybe you could give Ireland a call i hear hes a good player. |
mickey86
said:
|
... i read it on here but not sure who said it but its a flip of a coin if we stay up or not - thats the best way of summing it up at the moment. but i still feel that we have only 6 games left and the other teams have 8 or 9 games left. |
Matt T
said:
|
... Mickey86, i read it on here but not sure who said it but its a flip of a coin if we stay up or not - thats the best way of summing it up at the moment. That was me. On a motivated day we can beat anyone, however the problem is motivation. As I said before, Houllier had better hope that it doesn't come to the end of the season. I fear his heart wouldn't take it. Could you imagine the scenes if we went down due to the Liverpool result after what happened earlier this year at Anfield? |
frem
said:
|
... i dont really like keane or ireland anymore. ive got to find someone else. farfan is one but im not sure who else. you'll soon find out as its not to long until the summer. i bet you guys cant wait  |
mickey86
said:
|
... we might have a different shopping list in the summer frem - no more farfan and kranjcaer, will be more like kieran dyer on loan and hayden mullins. |
frem
said:
|
...we might have a different shopping list in the summer frem - no more farfan and kranjcaer, will be more like kieran dyer on loan and hayden mullins. unfortunately we might. i wouldn't have a clue where to start if we went down. hopefully enough players would stay so we wouldn't need to buy. but that wont happen. we will stay up |
Matt T
said:
|
... Frem, i wouldn't have a clue where to start if we went down. hopefully enough players would stay so we wouldn't need to buy. Surely Fifa Manager lets you manage teams in the Championship? Then you could find out for us who would do well |
frem
said:
|
...Surely Fifa Manager lets you manage teams in the Championship? Then you could find out for us who would do well lol good idea |
Matt T
said:
|
... Mickey86, It is a computer game... Me personally, I stick to watching lots of football matches. Each to their own |
frem
said:
|
... even if we just stay up, who could we actually attract ? we never thought bent would sign or even makoun really. i suppose they didn't just come here for this season. they came for the future. i still think we could attract good players as long as we obviously stay up and keep the core of our squad together. ( downing, bent, delph, reo, dunne etc ) |
jeremiah
said:
 |
... I've only missed a handful of Villa matches the past five or six seasons - even getting up at 3 am to watch them from China. For the first time in that stretch, I'm not watching any more this year. I'll watch next season, if we're in the Championship, or if somehow we scrape by and stay in the first division. It's amazing how low expectations have dropped on this site after decrying a previous manager who 'couldn't take us to the next level.' Little did I know that when Damian said that, he was talking about taking the team in the opposite direction. I supported Houllier when he first took charge, but after several months, with all the infighting, the terrible play on the pitch, and the utter lack of desire shown by the team, I'll take pretty much anyone to take over the squad. We never would've settled for barely surviving under MON. NEVER. Yet this is where the team is now. There's nothing as pitiful as suggesting it's more important to play beautiful football than it is to actually compete at the highest level. Does anyone think Houllier will stick around if we get relegated? Will Damian be preaching patience when we're playing kick and rush under Sam Allardyce against Leicester and Millwall next year? He better be, if he believes in what he says on this site. As for the supporters not backing the team, I applaud them. Speak with your money. This team is a disaster, and should be treated as such, at least until we get someone to take over the club who knows what they're doing. Until then, I'm not wasting my time. |
runtingz
said:
 |
... Dammo the one who wrote the words on your post would motivate our players more than the current manager. i am not about bashing GH and really want the vision of total football within our club as i believe in the philosophy But my fellow villan there is one thing i have always said about great sides and that is they are always led by great managers and of course i will be willing us to stay up with every thing within me. Harry redknapp took ovewr at spurs when they where bottom but because the players love him .because he has great people skills ..because his backroom staff are of his thinking.. he lifted the club to great hieghts without buying hardly anyone.. all of my above comments are missing from GH i HAVE shut up got behind GH and hoped that he could succeed but i am now fully convienced that he wont. i am sorry if i pee off any fellow villan with my view but GH is never going succeed with us we lost to wolves at home and unless GH changes hi stratagy we will deffo go down...something i thought was impossible at the beginning of the season or even a month ago. i will say again GH would be a great director of football but our situation reminds me of the french manager in the world cup ..when the players dont believe and can not relate to the manager even the best players in the world will fail .. You msy as well call our club aston england with the amount of internationals at our club but yet still wolves make is look like a poor championship side yes lets get behind our team but lets not kid ourselves GH needs to be moved upstairs asap sorry for the rant but as you can understand i am very frustated and upset with the situation |
robm
said:
 |
... I worry that going down will actually suit the board, no big signings on high salaries a year in the Championship with a parachute payment, get more investment in and back to the Premier again at the end of next season, scary I know, hope I am wrong but the board have had ample reason and opportunity to act and have not there must be a reason why. |
runtingz
said:
|
... matt the way you present your words would have me running through brick walls if i was a player get your CV of to randy asap |
frem
said:
|
...You seriously want to keep Dunne? Really? on his day i think hes a brilliant defender. much better than collins and carlos. what worries me is i think houllier will end up shipping out at least 50 % of our squad and we dont need that to happen. we all know dunne, collins, warnock, petrov etc are good players. if they weren't we wouldn't of finished 6th least season. thats why i think moyes needs to be bought in. hed get dunne, collins and warnock back to there best and hed use players like gabby well in the squad. hed work wonders with our squad plus some money |
Matt T
said:
|
... Runtingz, Ha thank you Sadly I lack the Pro License to manage a club that big. Largest team I have managed has been local pub teams, or school football teams. Still - the same premise works. Praise and chastisement can have big impacts on players. People can say earning lots of money should be enough, but I have had times where I have earned thousands in a week and that alone isn't the key to happiness or motivation. Perhaps the underlying fact that I originally trained as a shrink through university (and so I know what makes people tick) has had some positive outcome anyway |
Matt T
said:
|
... I do love football though, and watch enough of it, and know enough people to be able to do something in the football world. I've actually been wanting to find something to do in my spare time - perhaps I should check out how much badges cost. Obviously not with a view to manage a club as grand as ours, but I do like the motivation and management of teams |
Matt T
said:
|
... Petrov is on his last legs. The fact he is contracted till 2013 is beyond me. If I were the manager, I would be practically shipping out all of our defence and keeper, and replacing them with far more suitable people. If only we had got Hangeland and Vermaelen when we were linked. I've always rated Scandinavian/North European defenders in this league as they work very well (We can look at Laursen and Mellberg for further evidence). As for summer targets - I'd be nicking Johan Elmander. Out of contract, and not a bad buy for free... |
runtingz
said:
|
... Frem i totally agree with you in that dunny monster is a top top centre back .. no frills but very very strong and great in a last ditch tackle. its easy to slate him or blame him now but i think we need to look a bit deeper to identify what was gone so drastically wrong at such a fine club as ours |
Matt T
said:
|
... Add to that Reo-Coker is on his way out unless he signed a new contract. With all of those, you are practically talking about gutting the whole team to make an improvement. That in itself shows the task we have in the summer, no matter which league we are in. I'd be looking at a lot of stuff in training if I was there as manager. I'd be asking Downing to fulfill his role as a winger and to stop hogging shots. I'd put Gabby on only as a striker or forward as he has nowhere near the control levels to be a winger (add to that I'd have him on control training with a small ball like I have done with people before - he needs a better first touch). I'd put Ashley Young back on the wing and tell him that if he doesn't start going past players and frightening them with pace then he isn't going to get in the team. Albrighton would be told to focus on how the other wing moves when attacking (and to move in unison),to mature and play the right lines through the formation so that he doesn't have to chase back and tackle from behind like he has before. Add to that I'd tell Dunne and Collins to put their full worth in to the team and I'd promote them heavily in the transfer market if they want to leave come of the end of the season. I'd keep Friedel on as a coach, and move Pires into a coaching role too with the kids. Anyway, I'm getting carried away... I'm not the manager. |
Matt T
said:
|
... Graymo, Be close I think. 41 would probably put it one point above or below the bottom 3. |
kohoutek
said:
|
... If we stay up, I don't think we'll have a problem attracting players in the summer. It's a clean slate, and whether it's GH or someone else, I think there's enough here to work with and build on. |
Matt T
said:
|
... kohoutek, If we stay up, I don't think we'll have a problem attracting players in the summer. It's a clean slate, and whether it's GH or someone else, I think there's enough here to work with and build on. Totally agree. We just need to get to the more pressing matters of putting points on the board in the meantime. To do that we need motivation. Hell, I would do the bloody team talks if it was going to be of assistance to the team. We all want the same thing - for Villa to be successful as a club both locally and further afield. To do that, we need to make sure we put our all into the pursuit of points. It is a very tight table, so if we motivate and start strong we could accelerate to safety pretty quickly. All that depends on motivation though, and I'm looking around to see who has the passion for the club. Gordon Cowans maybe? However after Dunne insulted him, that would probably be quite fractious. |
runtingz
said:
|
... and matt motivation skills can not be underestimated in the skillset that is needed to be a great manager its actually the most important thing examples jose morinho , fergie, redknapp, coyle , moyes and even holloway |
Raz
said:
 |
... I feel very worried about things. Time to put as much s**t on the teams below as possible. Why doesn't houllier take a leaf out of fergies book and start bad mouthing those around us? Really f**k with their heads and put pressure on them. Time to get the witchdoctors out! We ain't good enough but neither are some of the others. My hope is that Blackpool, Wigan and one other??? Fall to pieces. So why not f**k with their heads. Little comments to wind them up. Mick mcarthy did it to us before the wolves game and look what happened. We need to be a bit more c**tish about the game and we need to pick up some points before the last two games of the season as we have the hardest fixtures then. Here's to putting on a solid show at everton and for once this season really upsetting the odds Cmon you villa boys!!!!!!!! |
SCOTT1
said:
 |
... i had us on 41 points surviving by a point.but i had wolves as a win though so we are gonna have to win elsewhere.im not confident whatsoever! |
Matt T
said:
|
... Runtingz, Yes - to me it is about instilling confidence and self belief. It is about teaching players to know they have the capacity to always develop, whilst at the same time rewarding them for developing either with starting positions, or with promotion to other squads at the club. That motivation can make a big difference to a person and their type of application to their job daily, so I can speak from personal experience that creating a positive and non-restrictive environment works wonders. Even if it means a situation like selling Young - if I could get him to put game changing performances in until the end of the season on the basis of being sold, then I'd shake his hand, thank him for his efforts, and let him leave. |
pepsihead
said:
 |
... damo stop slagging off the fans who pay to go to villa park and spend some of your winnings betting on villa to lose with yet another CHEEKY fiver and go down yourself |
kohoutek
said:
|
... Oh, and Matt T: Thanks for the answer on the other thread. Good points, and I think you're right about the players, the egos, and how, with us not parking the bus and playing on the counter, Dunne&Co. have been much more exposed. We've just not had the midfield we need. |
Matt T
said:
|
... All this skills and philosophy stuff is just peripheral if the lads have no self-belief. People criticise Martin for many things, but you couldn't fault some of his motivational skills he put in. Once these guys learn to fight for the badge, then we'd be out of trouble in no time... |
mickey86
said:
|
... Summer - Out - GK - friedel, guzan, marshall = £1m DEF - collins, dunne, beye, walker, warnock = £13m MID - reo-coker, osbourne, ireland, bradley, young, salifou = £18m STR - carew = £0m TOTAL = £32m If GH is in charge in the summer, i can not see any of these being at the club come august 20th whatever league we are in. that leaves us with GK - no-one. DEF - young, cueller, clarke, baker, lichaj MID - petrov, pires, downing, delph, makoun, herd, banan, albrighton ATT - bent, gabby, heskey, delfounso we will need GK x2 = £8m RB x1 = £5m LB x2 = £7m CB x2 = £12m RM x1 = £7m LM x1 = £5m CM x1 = £6m ST 0 = £0m Total = £50m (£50m - £32m = £18m) £18million net spoend in the summer |
frem
said:
|
... maybe we do have to ship out players like dunne, collins and petrov but that will only be because houllier is in charge. as i said, with moyes we wouldn't have to because he would get them back to there best. i really think moyes would come to us if we stay up. hes been at everton alone time and i think he knows hes took them as far as he can. he has done a great job at everton. villa are a similar club but i think he could take us further with the foundation of a good squad and individuals and a decent amount of money. when the final whistle goes against liverpool and we are still in the prem ( pray to god) get on the phone to moyes. im sure he will leave everton this summer and if we dont go for him i will be gutted. we would be so so stupid. hes a very good manager |
Matt T
said:
|
... 4-2-3-1 for me next season. We need two defensive midfielders to cover that defence as it stands, one floating playmaker in front of them, two wingers, and a front man who can get on to the ball and bury it. We have Bent for that role, and we can get Elmander for free if we stay up. I'd be looking to develop both Delph and Bannan for that playmaker role, but I'd probably look to fill it maybe by bringing Downing inside, with Makoun and A N Other behind them in DM positions. That way we'd have a really solid but fast team that can be developed to 4-3-2-1 in time... |
Matt T
said:
|
... Mickey86, Who do you think will take that poisoned chalice then? Mourinho has too much ego to stand in the shadows of Ferguson's achievements. Other than perhaps someone like Coyle or similar, I can't really see to many good people who would both take that immediate comparison, and serve the club for a long while. |
Maindog
said:
 |
... Frem please answer me why you want Moyes? Dont come out with the usual bulls**t you do like ' he gets the players moving' and ' he plays a fast style of football' Thats all b******s!!! What has won at Everton in the last 10 years? You want a manager to leave Villa after not even a season!!!.... |
nix2
said:
 |
... When the 12th man is called upon it must act, but the 12th man as a collective has feelings, I've recently felt humiliation, and that doesn't put me in a singy moode. I wasn't sad to see MON go, but I do fondly remember every interview after a game we'd won emphatically he'd big us up. Always praised the 12th man. Strange, that shout out from our leader (at the time) actually encouraged us. And we responded, roaring hence. Funny that, different management styles. Makes me think of a phrase..... horses for courses. The best managers in the premier league are man managers. They don't manage a team as a whole, they nurture each individual element. They spend their entire time caressing the players ego. MON once compared Young to Messi, and what did we get from Young that season. Amazing performance after performance and he even got an award named after him, the PFA Young Player of the year. I'm not cheering for MON just stating some facts. All of the players under MON had confidence and played as a team. Gabby wasn't always scoring but he was always trying, same with every other player on the pitch. Warnock and L.Young were immense and great attacking options. Dunne and Collins as reliable as needed. The players never looked truly short of confidence until Chelsea beat us. That was the end, the players lost trust in MON and inturn MON's days were numbered. On the flip side, GH doesn't do any of that. I'd be surprised if he knows half the players names yet. On Saturday we had no midfield. Simple. The defenders had nowhere to give the ball. Makoun and NRC nowhere. Early this season we played Man Utd, Bannan and Hogg were everywhere for 70minutes. Makoun & NRC were nowhere for 90mins. GH manages the team, he focuses on tactics and charts. He doesn't communicate with the players. The substitutions show that, not the choice, the fact that they don't encourage the team when they come on. The team that we have rely on man management, the youngsters more than anybody rely on it. GH has to go. I'm gonna throw a few names around now in no particular order: Alex Ferguson | Jose Morinhio | Kenny Dalgliesh | Brian Cluff | Martin Jol | Arene Wenger (i know the spelling is suspect) what have they all got in common. Man management. GH man managed at Liverpool because he built the team. He had the players he wanted, and they wanted him. Problem is right now he hasn't got that. If you are a Villa fan that wants a complete overhaul of the entire team in the summer then stick with this man. If on the other hand you hated MON because youth didn't get a chance, and liked GH initially because he gave youth a chance, then got pissed off cos he sent our youth all out on loan, then we must accept that our promising, passionate, local youth players will be sold to make way for european journeymen. I like players that wear the badge with pride 7 days a week, not players that kiss their badge on a Saturday. I support the team, but the manager must do the honourable thing and stand down. He can take his crack team with him, they clearly aren't working either. Call back all of our loanees and admit there is a crisis. KM is the man for me for the short term, he may have lost it at newcastle but did alright against chelsea. *** Houllier, your taxi is cancelled, see if Bobby will share his. |
Matt T
said:
|
... nix2, KM is the man for me for the short term, he may have lost it at newcastle but did alright against chelsea. KM decided to bottle the chance when he got offered the role earlier in the season. If there's one thing we don't need now it is bottlers. |
Matt T
said:
|
... PS All of the players under MON had confidence and played as a team All of the players he liked. I know for a fact that other fringe players were lucky if they got a word spoken to them. Anyway - yes fair points Martin was a great motivator and we really need that now. However both him and the previous incumbent don't/didn't have what it takes/took to be the future of this club for differing reasons. |
Maindog
said:
|
... runtingz....This isnt about me wanting GH to stay....It about how annoying some of s**t Frem always comes out with and about how some fans on here who cant give a proven winner in England a season yet they want a manager who runs a team with about the same ability as ours, and has won nothing in 10 years of trying!!! As if some of you lot have got that amount of patience!! I actually think we do need to get rid of GH now. Only because a few of the more popular players in the dressing room have fallen out with him and this has got us in a desperate situation. If you gave me the choice of staying up and losing GH then I would obviously take that. I do however think if we do stay up and GH stays. The primadonas at our club will be f**ked off and GH can get on with his job and most probably do something with it. I still think he needs a chance. Answer me this people who want rid of GH and want the likes of Moyes, Coyle and Hughes in... If GH we were safe in 9th position right now. Would you still want GH out of the club? |
runtingz
said:
|
... if we do end up doing the best thing for the club in admitting defeat with GH there are pleanty of managers out there and not just in the UK lots of guys at lesser european clubs doing very well and playing top footy with players not worth anyway as much in the market as our players it would be up to the board to do there research and get one of the many progressive guys out there in |
frem
said:
|
...Frem please answer me why you want Moyes? Dont come out with the usual bulls** well what more do you want ? what did MON ever win ? dont say scottish league, it doesn't count. my gran could win the league with celtic if she was manager what more do you want from a manager ? he works very well on a tight budget ( which would increase at villa so imagine what he could do. he works very well with small squads ( again at villa we have a stronger squad ) he gets the best out of players and turns average ones into very good players. he motivates his team and gets respect from his players. he players a good style of football he would stand more chance of winning things at villa WHAT BLOODY MORE DO YOU WANT MAIN DOG !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! what better will we get then moyes ? actually i can answer that. know one |
word
said:
|
... matt is right-- KM is too humble also- moyes and mon were similar in so many ways-- not great football and some big money (fellaini and yakubu were pushing 30m) and neither could achieve anything really substantial,, you can see why RL gambled and wanted a change in style. we can wait until the end of the season before deciding whether to gamble again, because this is a dark time but the odds are still in favour atm. |
Matt T
said:
|
... Maindog, If GH we were safe in 9th position right now. Would you still want GH out of the club? As the saying goes - if my aunt had boll*cks, she'd be my uncle. Basically it is irrelevant because he isn't 9th at the moment. If we are up with hypotheses, then maybe I should say that if I had my UEFA Pro License, then I could do a better job, but I don't and I'm not the manager either. Other than that I agree with your post though - the main issue with the manager is that he needed/needs Dunne & co to play for the badge till they are sold. Falling out with the players you have at your disposal when you can't buy more is suicidal, and here we are at the edge of it as a result... |
Maindog
said:
|
... I want a manger with a winning mentality and somebody who has done it in England. I want a manager with contacts in world football. Thats why its such a shame this season has turned into a big mess with GH. I honestly believe if we stay up and he has a pre season with us. We will see a difference next season. Its just getting too ass twitchy at the moment with whats going on down there! All im saying is, Moyes doesnt excite me. You say he plays a good style of football? I can honestly say, ive never been wow'd by Everton. They always seem to just 'get a job done'. Like we did under MON. We could have that under GH. We just have a pair of Elephants at the back who want to just hoof the ball around all the time. Hence the big fall outs! |
Matt T
said:
|
... Maindog, We just have a pair of Elephants at the back who want to just hoof the ball around all the time. Hence the big fall outs! Any manager worth their salt manages their resources in order to progress. If you started a job today managing a department, would you go over to people you disagreed with and basically tell them they are not figuring in your plans (when you know you can't replace them just yet and they have to work in your office for the next 12 months)? I don't think so. That is the key problem here. The manager has failed to manage his team. We are seeing the fallout. In the meantime, we need to get behind Aston Villa Football Club because players can walk away, managers can walk away, even the board can walk away, but WE as fans... we're here for good, so we'd better make the most of it... |
frem
said:
|
... maindog- i kind of agree what you say about houllier. i think he could turn us around next season but im not convinced. i dont think he has the enery or fight in him. You say he plays a good style of football? I can honestly say, ive never been wow'd by Everton. They always seem to just 'get a job done'. Like we did under MON. id rather get the job done they go down. they do play decent football |
runtingz
said:
|
... moyles is a decent manager but doesnt excite me either if i was going for a brit mananager i would go for coyle or holloway and try to get GH to be director of football |
runtingz
said:
|
... everton do knock the ball around quite well thou .. they have outplayed us against MON side but we still got the result as we where fully motivate and together and a bit lucky |
frem
said:
|
...We just have a pair of Elephants at the back who want to just hoof the ball around all the time most good teams do. man u, chelsea, liverpool, spurs. ok some of them are slightly better on the ball but at the end of the day you want two solid cb and these teams do, as we do/ did. look at arsenal. they want for two cb that can play football but there very dodgy defenders. |
Maindog
said:
|
... Matt T...I am fully behind the club!!! Thats my whole point. Im not one of the ones who is calling for the managers head in such an aggressive way. How on earth do you know, GH said that to Dunne and Collins? I very much doubt that he did! He isnt stupid! Whatever situation we might be in, do you honestly believe he is that stupid? Its far more than likely that GH and his teams hard and strict training program and new 'more effort' style of football has disagreed with two of the more senior players who want to just do what they do best (stick thier heads in and get the ball away) and come to training and have a laugh. I GH was so against Dunne and Collins, why have they been playing almost every game under him. Even when Carlos was fit and Davies was still here! |
Matt T
said:
|
... Maindog, I know you are a supporter of the club. However, I also know that GH has tried to change far too much, far too quickly. This is why there is so much vented fury against every part of the club from here, but that is creating and perpetuating a fractious situation that is making things worse. It is no secret that the kick and rush tactics of our defence hasn't gone down very well with the management, and thus there's been conflict. Yes Dunne and co were already in trouble after not liking the fitness regime, but it has escalated into an open war of words hence the fine. I am not saying there has been good behaviour on the part of the players, but it has been very disappointing to see such issues approached as a conflict of egos, rather than a discussion of people. If I were manager and I had insubordinate people, I'd just put it in direct terms that if you don't like the way things are going, then play out of your skin for the team, put yourself in the shop window, and I will sell you when I am able to. That way everybody wins. What has happened instead has meant everybody loses. |
Matt T
said:
|
... Davies was never featuring, and Cuellar has had injuries here and there. Thinking about if you took Dunne and Collins out, who do we have to replace them? Clark sure, but then who? Baker at centre back? Another out of position player? |
The Droyd
said:
|
...moyles is a decent manager Runtingz - I am all for getting rid of Houllier but I'm not sure that a fat Radio 1 presenter is the way forwards! |
proxopera
said:
 |
... matt t , I could see someone already at utd being given the chance , for continuity and all that . Otherwise your looking at people like Mourinhio , Van Gaal , etc , with european experience but my money would be on Gus Hiddink. |
The Droyd
said:
|
... Regarding Dunne - I wouldn't have swapped him for John Terry this time last year. He was an immense signing. This year he has been poor. He is a classic example of a player that has it in his locker but just isn't producing it under Houllier. Others: Friedel (might be age but rumours of refusal to relocate), Collins, Warnock, Petrov(legs not manager), Agbonlahor, Young and Carew are other examples. Who is playing better under Houllier? Downing is the only one I can think of. |
proxopera
said:
|
... Droyd , Your favourite villa reject has been up to his old tricks up in geordieland according to the irish press yesterday. |
Maindog
said:
|
... Thats why I said it is probably for the saviour of our club that GH is to leave as what we need now in this test of hearts is a TEAM. With Kmac taking over until the end of the season I think we would see that. Your right GH has tried to change too much too soon. But if he was to say 'ok if you cant do what I want you to do than just work hard for the team' it would exactly set him up as a manager to listen to and take orders from. A manager shouldnt back down to a player. think the fact he has still played Dunne after he was crying because training was too hard id enough!!! At the end of the day this whole mess is down to people not giving GH a chance. He must take alot of the blame too, agreed, the way he changed the team against Man City was hard to take and his performance on camera against Liverpool was a joke. I honestly believe though if people would have given him a chance, it could of been better. Senior players not doing what they are told, the fans calling for his head before Xmas! |
The Droyd
said:
|
... proxopera - That's a pity. I was hoping that he would have a successful time up there so we can sell him. Truly terrible player. |
frem
said:
|
... talk sport odds to go down. we weren't favourites which was nice. the book maker doesn't think we will go down but that doesn't mean anything. houllier has to bring dunne and collins back and get the team fighting |
The Droyd
said:
|
... Just heard that we are 7-1 to get relegated. With no prospect of Houllier being sacked those are incredible odds. If I was a neutral I'd pile into that. I can't do it because it would make me feel dirty. |
proxopera
said:
|
... Droyd ' He's not a bad player as such he's just ...well , a w****r. you know it , I know it and it seems most people know it except MON that is . |
nix2
said:
|
... Matt T I wasn't advocating MON was the man to take us forward, I thought I pointed that out quite clearly. But right now would it not be better to have 11 highly motivated players for the next 8 games than 16 demoralised players. GH doesn't have what it takes to motivate them. KM didnt want the job, fair play to him, but by god he knew how to talk to the players. |
proxopera
said:
|
...I can't do it because it would make me feel dirty. If i had a pound for everytime the mrs said that to me ... |
The Droyd
said:
|
...If i had a pound for everytime the mrs said that to me ... Me too. Especially when I have got a bottle of Johnsons and Johnsons in my hand! But seriously, your wife is fairly broad minded! |
Maindog
said:
|
...oullier has to bring dunne and collins back and get the team fighting They are injured! They were not dropped against Wolves. Dunne has been called up for Ireland and may be back in time for their game so he will be back for Everton. |
frem
said:
|
... the players have to take some blame. i think houllier is hitting his head against a brick wall. he realises villa have good players and that we should be doing alot better then we are but i dont think he realises the players dont like him and because of this are playing crap |
Chiefy
said:
 |
...Aston Villa is not just bricks and mortar, not just a squad, and not just a series of matches. Aston Villa belongs to all of us - and Aston Villa needs us now more than ever. LOVE IT....................KEEP THE FAITH ONWARD AND UPWARD |
proxopera
said:
|
...Me too. Especially when I have got a bottle of Johnsons and Johnsons in my hand ??????????????? Have you being doggin over in Bearwood again , Droyd ? It will all end in tears you know! |
nik986
said:
 |
... I keep hearing if we sack Hou, no one will want the job?! This is Aston Villa, one of the biggest clubs in England. There are lots of decent managers out there who would give their right nut for 8 games as manager with a chance to become the permanent manager. Imagine Allardyce comes in, Suddenly we have a number of players available again and everyone is fighting for things. We tell him we will consider him for job in summer if he keeps us up. |
Maindog
said:
|
... Ive got a horrible feeling if GH leaves then the wally with the brolly will be out next manger. |
nik986
said:
|
... I reckon there are 13-14 managers in the league who would become villa manager. There are many out there! |
Dunny
said:
 |
... I understand what Houllier is trying to do and also feel that the players have to take some of the blame for our current situation. But in this game you are judged by your results and clearly that isn't happening for Houllier. If you were to judge his performance by results he should go , hell if Randy wants to pay me a wedge for being s**te at my job bring it on Randy. |
villarobin
said:
 |
... Not sure how i feel about this post to be honest. I only ever go to away games and our fans are always fantastic , Loud , and never stop singing. The point is though surely, even if Villa Park was silent or there were no fans there at all, those players should be playing their hearts out. They are EXTREMELY lucky individuals who earn a fortune for doing what they love. and even if they earned next to nothing , they are still doing what they love every day. Its their job to play well for their employers who reward them well. Its not their job to sulk , and not give a dam , and not care... ITS GOT *UCK ALL to do with crowd, because even if they make the noise of a jet taking off if the team isnt working due to attitude / tactics or whatever they will loose.. |
frem
said:
|
... in a way houllier was always going to struggle with the players. mon was very close to his favourites, starting 11. you always new dunne, collins, warnock, petrov, young, milner, gabby etc were always going to start because mon loved them and the players loved the fact he loved them. then comes along a manager who probably hardly talks to the players and makes them work harder in traing. the players that mon loved would not of licked this what so ever and it shown on the pitch. warnock, petrov dunne, collins, gabby and young were all playing bellow par. in a way the board are to blame. they let go a man to man manager and bought in someone who isn't. |
villarobin
said:
|
... ive also been in the Holte afew times and to be honest it was rocking... If people really want to make a noise get the rest of the ground singing. Again though this needs to come from above.. You wont achieve it by asking people on a Blog !! The Board should Decide on a Villa anthem by consulting fans. Print flyers with the song lyrics on them and a time that everyone should sing it.. SIMPLES |
nik986
said:
|
... I just dont see why we are persisting. I can understand why they appointed him (not that i was in agreement with the choice) but it just hasnt worked. Why keep going with something that isnt working? You've recently got with a girl. She talks a good game about being happy with you but constantly talks about her previous boyfriend. You go to a wedding and he is there, she spends all night talking to him and dances with him. She gives a half apology and you both agree to move on. A couple of weeks go past and things are ok, but only ok and then for your birthday she takes you away on holiday, and although it looks good on paper because of her it is just not that enjoyable and isnt what it should be despite spending lots of money on it. Since the holiday even though things should improve they get worse and she has fallen out with all of your family and friends. Would you not call an end to it? I would. |
VillaNick
said:
|
...Regarding Dunne - I wouldn't have swapped him for John Terry this time last year. He was an immense signing. This year he has been poor. He is a classic example of a player that has it in his locker but just isn't producing it under Houllier. Nothing to do with that. he is back on the sauce. Paul McGrath he ain't! |
villarobin
said:
|
... we have just spent 24m on a striker , there are a handful of clubs worldwide that spend that kind of money. we also have a V rich history Im sure MANY managers would kill to manage Villa. But please Mclaren or Alladyce !!! Jesus no .... How many chances do these loosers get ?? Someone will say Souness next |
Matt T
said:
|
... Villarobin, those players should be playing their hearts out SHOULD be yes, but they aren't. People think of footballers as people who aren't human beings. It's ridiculous to not say they are affected by the crowd, or that they are motivated because they are "making lots of money" Go have a chat with Stan Collymore when he had depression during Villa and see how motivated things are. Ask young players how they will respond when they are booed by their own fans. A large portion of our team are youngsters. I wouldn't expect young lads to have the worldly ways of someone older than them, or the confidence. I think sometimes we forget that these lads are people - irrespective of whether they are rich or not. If I was doing a job I loved but was being booed all the time, how would I feel? Pretty bad I imagine... |
villarobin
said:
|
... " Aston Villa is not just bricks and mortar, not just a squad, and not just a series of matches. Aston Villa belongs to all of us - and Aston Villa needs us now more than ever. Our next stand comes soon - be ready for battle. For to desert of duty now will only empower our enemies. The infighting stops now - whether you support the personnel or not, support the team, or we are in danger of plunging ourselves into the abyss." YEAH, BUT UNFORTUNATELY ITS NOT US ON THE PITCH KICKING THE BALL AROUND !! |
Matt T
said:
|
... Villarobin, Again though this needs to come from above.. You wont achieve it by asking people on a Blog !! Don't talk nonsense - don't you think most of the people on here are actually season ticket holders, or people who attend? How else am I going to tell others in the stands to wake up? Wait for it to come from the board. I don't care about the board, or players, or the manager. I love THE CLUB, and the club are fans. Here on this blog is the main way I speak to a wide range of these fans. Having the board hand out an anthem to sing? Come to think of it that sounds like the corporate boll*cks that might come out of some PR spun nonsense like we've heard from the General. |
Matt T
said:
|
... Villarobin, How do you explain that fact that clubs have problems when going to places in Turkey where the atmosphere is massively oppressive? Or have you never seen those sort of matches when it's pretty clear that the cauldron atmosphere is going to create a certain forboding issue for the visiting fans. Villa Park hasn't had that attitude in ages. Oh and don't go blaming it on the fact that it is down to the players, or the manager, or whatever. People who say that are no better than Dunne slagging off Cowans, or Houllier falling out with other players, or any other finger pointer that can't shoulder the blame. Fans play an important role - trust me... if people decide next year they're not going to renew their season tickets, then the club will soon know who is really in charge here. |
Matt T
said:
|
... The short version is we are in this together. You can do what you like - it makes no odds to me. However, I will always support this club whether they are in the Premier League or any other league we end up in. THAT is what makes me a fan - I don't care a jot for managers or players or board members. All I care about is that those people entrusted to play for our club do what they can, and we as fans do what we can. Forget the finger pointing - it is a total waste of time. I'd rather be cheering on a spirit, than saying "Oh I told you that we'd go down". It's the joy of the self-fulfilling negative prophecies that people often vent. It's easy to criticise the club, but it takes guts and effort to keep going through the tough times. Good times are easy. In that sense I always thought of Villa as my second "other half". You realise it has it's ups and downs, but you love the club nonetheless, and do your best to support it through your life. |
frem
said:
|
...Anyhow this is of course SPECULATION and he claims that Downing is disaffected and listed him with those that will go and that Dunne could have been fit for Saturday but Houllier never asked him.I am not surprised at all by the Downing story heard some rumours a few weeks ago but the Dunne/Collins one is backed up by strong evidence that they were picked for their respective countries for the weeks fixtures. get houllier out. if we loose young and downing we are f**ked. in 3 years villa would have lost young, downing, milner and barry. thats a top class midfield |
Matt T
said:
|
... Frem, Where has that come from? More to the point, why are you believing it? Have you read the main post on this page? |
frem
said:
|
... the fans can get behind the team but our best players want out. dunne and collns hate our manager. young wants out downing wants out. what chance do we have ? this cant be happening |
frem
said:
|
... matt t- http://astonvilla-views.com/2011/03/21/speculation-downing-wishes-to-leave-avfc/ |
Matt T
said:
|
... Frem, You are speculating on things that you do not know to be true. Stop going on extrapolating things based on hearsay and this and that. We have to win matches - forget about so and so saying this and that is happening. Focus man - focus on the fact that we have 8 games coming up, and spreading a belief that the dressing room is bad is going to do nothing, nothing at all for morale. It's a vicious circle - fans to players to manager and so on and so on. We clearly have an effect - otherwise why would the manager be talking about banners, or booing? When will people realise that if we go all miserable and start in-fighting, all we will do is be sitting there having people saying "I told you so" if we go down. It does nothing for the club we love, and who's going to be miserable? Houllier can find another job, players can move on, WE are the ones stuck with the heartache. Is that what our lives have become? Negative attitudes that create negative responses? As I would say when teaching meditation and other classes for psychology - you create your destiny. If you want to choose to be negative, you will see the negative in life, and thus will attract negative situations. We can be negative or positive about this situation, but there is no changing where we are now. The past is gone, I'm not living there. The future is gone, I'm not living there either in positivity or negativity. We have to deal with the NOW. The NOW is making sure we win matches, and pushing on with supporting the club. |
villarobin
said:
|
... Matt T whether i think the fans singing will make a difference or not What im saying is, if you REALLY want this to happen you wont achieve it by asking people on a blog. I would say 80% of the crowd have never been near a blog, and even then they use different blogs. I know a riotous atmosphere like in Turkey makes a difference , but you need to let everyone know , which in general whether you like it or not has to come through official channels . People are'nt on the terraces anymore where you spread things around easier. |
Matt T
said:
|
... Frem, Key word the is speculation. That is all it is. I could speculate any number of things, however it doesn't mean they are true. I could say to you now that the board have already got a shortlist of replacements, and then tell you a list of names. Would that be true? Well you wouldn't know, same as you wouldn't know about the speculation. We need some calm here - it really is turning into wild panic. Panic won't win us the games we need to win. |
villarobin
said:
|
... Also im sure if Fa turkish side played like we did against Wolves they wouldnt be in top voice ! Thats down to the players and like i said above it doesnt matter if they were earning peanuts they should still be playing their hearts out for the privilege |
villarobin
said:
|
... You could say Its like chicken and egg but its not . Atmosphere / 12th man etc comes from players trying first and foremost. whether they win or loose, most people can tell when the team are trying.. |
frem
said:
|
... matt t- i know the fans can make a difference but by the sounds of it our best players just want to go so why would they bother if we are singing or not ? the person who posted about downing was apparently the only jurno who has spoke to faukner. im going to the everton game and i will sing but i dont want to be singing at players that dont give a f**k. ( downing, young ) |
walls10
said:
 |
... wots this b******s about the 12th man got some of the best away support in the country and we was all up for it sat blame the french graham taylor |
Davidc
said:
|
... So, are we actively searching for GH's replacement now then? Come on, we must be. Surely? Its obvious the best Houllier can hope for is to keep his job until 13th May. After that, he's gone. Regrdless of whether we stay up or go down. I refuse to believe the board can think this season has been anything other than a disaster. And the board will be looking for a sacrifice to save their own skins believe me. We need to start looking now. They'll be a stack of others in the hunt come the summer. At the one end of the scale - Spurs (when 'arry walks out for England), Man City, Chelsea (if Ancelotti doesn't win the CL). At the other, the likes of Blackburn, Blues (if they go down). The board needs to act now. Houllier has shafted us (£3M pa?!). We can have no morals. Sound of the likes of Hughes, Coyle, Moyes now. |
johnnymac
said:
 |
... Can anyone remember the season Forest got relegated-Cloughies last season? Playing football similar to Villa are trying to play. Theres no stopping this now.You have to change the style of play if only as temporary measure,especially against the likes of Stoke,Baggies,Wigan. This guy won't change his methods. He must go this week. I could do a better job. |
Matt T
said:
|
... Villarobin, People are'nt on the terraces anymore where you spread things around easier. Sometimes I wish we were. When it went all seated we lost a lot of the atmosphere immediately at Villa Park... |
toxytag
said:
|
... Im getting sick of this why has Houllier not been sacked yet? Has anyone heard of any board room meetings or is even Lerner in the country I really hope they sort this out this week |
frem
said:
|
...The downing rumour has been around for a while .. in the summer wanted to go due to not settling and personal reasons, then after jan because we refused to sell him to liverpool god help us young and downing, two of our most creative players want to leave. why will they fight to keep us up? |
johnnymac
said:
|
... Thanks for the tip TheDroyd. I've just had a ton on relegation at 7-1. Might take some of the pain away when the inevitable happens. |
Matt T
said:
|
... Frem, why will they fight to keep us up? Players who don't want to play for the club are best off out of here and sold to another team. As far as I am concerned, if the worst happens, we can at least have a good clear out of all the crap and crud we have built up who either aren't good enough, or think they are too good for the club. Every cloud has a silver lining. If we manage to stay up too, well even better |
Matt T
said:
|
... Frem, i know the fans can make a difference but by the sounds of it our best players just want to go so why would they bother if we are singing or not ? Barry wanted to leave. Milner wanted to leave. It isn't an overnight occurrence. There will always be players who think they can play at bigger clubs while we are at the size we are. We're no Barcelona, and therefore it's part of the natural movement between clubs. If players want out, then sell them to the highest bidder. If we do go down, I'd rather have 11 Lions with passion than 11 big headed wantaways who think they are doing US a favour... |
frem
said:
|
... what will bent be thinking though (if we stay up) if he sees young and downing going. a massive factor of him coming would have been them two then all of a sudden they are gone. i dont care about young. hes been s**t for ages now and i hope he goes to man u. on the other hand i hope we do everything to keep downing. hes been very good this season. if we stay up we should build around bent, downing and albrighton. 3 very good players who can take us on next season |
Matt T
said:
|
... There will always be players who want to play for Aston Villa, so the ones who think they are too good for us can move on. We'll get back to where we were, don't you worry. Just because some players or a manager have damaged our club, we'll still be here next season no matter where we end up. However, if we go down... expect massive demonstrations at the club. It is an insult to our club that we are so low down the ladder at this point. We do deserve better, but till the people responsible pull their finger out, this is obviously what we currently deserve based on our level of application up until now... |
Matt T
said:
|
... Frem, Bent will think I am doing ok, earning 65k a week, and am unlikely to be cashed in on. I imagine whatever happens this year, he will get on with playing for the club for as long as we retain his registration. Young hasn't been the player he promised he would for at least two seasons. Downing has done well, but if a player wants out... Let them go. Downing is a player that is replaceable (and in reality we should have signed Adam Johnson when we signed Downing anyway). No player is bigger than the club, so we will be fine Frem. Just focus on our situation a game at a time. That is all we can do. |
Andy D
said:
 |
... Agree totally with the post. We have to forget the other teams and the games they have and just concentrate on supporting the Villa to the rafters for the next three home games. Win two and we should be safe. Then at end of season we can vent our anger and make the correct managerial appointment. Villa Forever whatever division |
lucky4
said:
 |
... Was just watching an old clip of when keegan was in charge of england and after the germany defeat at wembley the fans were calling for his head and he said to the media 'i was thinking about my position anyway,but after the fans have just been voicing their opinion that i should stand down i fear they are right and to be honest thats how it should be'! In other words fans should have the final say and if the fans arent happy then they should be listened to which is something lerner clearly isnt doing! |
Matt T
said:
|
... Andy D, Totally agree buddy. That is what I am trying to convey. No point bitching about why we are here - we are here and that is the reality. The club will invariably stick with the manager barring a severe hammering between now and the end of the season. We have to get on with doing what we always do - supporting the club. |
Andy Rock
said:
 |
... My plan to keep us up: Get some steel in the side to keep us up. We are too nice, too soft. Petrov adds some composure and Reo Coker gives us legs. Both must play every match. Makoun can play occasionally but do not relay on him yet. Heskey was our best player this year - at least he holds the ball up. Play him with Bent and/or Gabby. Two strikers at home is a must. Young is a winger, not a luxury man in the hole. Never ever play him there again. And Downing should take all free kicks. Gabbi stretches team upfront with 20 mins to go, he is not a winger. Use him as a super-sub. Dunne / Collins / Carlos / Clarke / Warnock / Young / Beye are all solid enough to play. Use them!!! Just focus on being solid away from home to collect some draws and beat the likes of Stoke, Wigan and Newcastle at home and that will be enough to keep us up. The fans will support the manager and then team if we see fight. We did not see any fight against Wolves and that is unforgivable. What happens in the summer is irrelevant at this point in time. WE MUST STAY UP!!!!!! |
marmite61
said:
 |
... Good post Matt T Christ it is depressing on here,support your club guys and girls,we the mighty Villa,we ARE good enough and GH will prove it. |
Matt T
said:
|
... We shall not, We shall not be moved, We shall not, We shall not be moved, For we're, The pride, Of Birmingham, We shall not be moved. I would recommend singing that at the end of games to show that WE are the ones in control here, not anybody else. |
toxytag
said:
|
... Keep on checking sky sports news every ten mins waiting for breaking news Houllier has been sacked but I'm still waiting with my fingers crossed am I wasting my time or is it actually going to happen in the next few days? |
Matt T
said:
|
... Toxytag, I wouldn't put money on it no. Wait to see what happens. If we get hammered in the next few games, we might well see a change, but I believe the manager will be here for the rest of the season. |
Elliott
said:
 |
... HOW ABOUT PUTTING YOUR HOULLIER ISSUES ASIDE FOR 8 GAMES AND MAKE SURE WE STAY UP. "HOLTE END 12TH MAN" - EMBARASSING THIS SEASON |
toxytag
said:
|
... Yeah Matt T I think your probably right I'm just getting my hopes up but it's hard to see results change in the next few weeks the players don't want to play for him! |
Matt T
said:
|
... Toxytag, I share your same concerns. Houllier has made a mess of a situation that wasn't going to be great, but has become catastrophic. I just want this club to be strong - it makes me very sad to see our current plight. However, I will support the staff here for as long as they are here. If it were me in charge, things would be a lot different, but it isn't so no time for daydreaming. Whatever happens this season, we need to have a long look at the whole setup during the summer break, and work out who is going to be held responsible. The problems are not just in one area - players, manager, and the board have all contributed to it. If the owner has any sense, he will do what is needed to cut out the deadwood from the club. I for one hope he does, otherwise Randy will have the same accusation levelled at him which is that he is a nice bloke, but he really doesn't know how to run the recruitment process of a football manager. |
Matt T
said:
|
... Houllier isn't a bad bloke either - he knows a lot about football for example - but I think the lack of passion he is showing now shows that his heart problem is clearly something that is affecting his ability to perform as expected for a top class manager. I have a lot of time for the man himself, but the sad fact is that this is a business, and in a win based enterprise, sadly what has been put up so far as evidence just isn't good enough. I hope we give him a director of football role, as I think that he still has a good role to play at the club, just not hands on anymore. |
Stephen Jay Hawkings
said:
 |
... Christ, I've just read the post, it was fantastic, and then I scroll down through the comments! Same old s**te over and over... At this stage it doesn't matter a f**k what anyone thinks of Houllier or Lerner or any of the players or anything else. We as fans can either help or hinder, simple as that, black and f**king white. We can only hope we can get something from Goodison Park but... Newcastle, Sunday, April 10th, Villa Park, live on Sky bloody Sports for the whole world to see, we can do 2 things...carry on like we did on Saturday and most definitely lose the game and send us even nearer to the drop or... SUPPORT THE f**kING TEAM!!!! From the first minute NO MATTER HOW CRAP the football is or how bad we're playing, support the team for the whole 90 minutes, instead of moaning at anything that happens, just get louder and louder with support, because you would have to to be seriously thick to think that it doesn't have an effect on players. It does!!!! and following that, despite what happens away from home there's... Stoke 23rd April Wigan 7th May and Liverpool 22nd May, final day. winning those 4 games, or getting a decent amount of points from them will probably keep us up. Anyone that decides to do anything else than get fully behind the TEAM i.e ASTON VILLA FOOTBALL CLUB is not a fan at all. your just a massive c**t. |
Matt T
said:
|
... Stephen Jay Hawkings, Thank you for the kind words re: the post. Just trying to get some kind of cohesion on here... |
Oswald
said:
 |
... once again i will bang on the houllier drum. if we support him we will stay up and do really well next season. simple as. who can we replace him with? compare allardyce's cv to houlliers. we aren't even in the bottom three and our run in isn't terrible. after 30 games under the previous manager in his first season, we had 1 more point than we do now |
Oswald
said:
|
... all the deluded people calling for his head also believe we can entice moyes, hughes or coyle.... |
VillaNick
said:
|
...once again i will bang on the houllier drum. Well said |
VillaNick
said:
|
... Its a big mistake letting Bannan go out on loan. I would have him in the 1st team right now. |
The Real Frem
said:
|
... frem you are a joke i counted 40 comments on this page alone from you and NOT ONE of them commented on the post. a joke son. |
frem
said:
|
..."What we need now is to quit pointing fingers and everyone look at the Claret and Blue of our kit and the badge they are wearing and go out and kick the c**p out of the next teams we play until the end of the season!" YEEEEEEEEEEES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! get in general krulak |
The RON SAUNDERS STAND
said:
|
... Stephen Jay Hawkings said: (Comment 392, made on March 22, 2011 at 12.58 am) SUPPORT THE f**kING TEAM!!!! From the first minute NO MATTER HOW CRAP the football is or how bad we're playing, support the team for the whole 90 minutes, instead of moaning at anything that happens, just get louder and louder with support, because you would have to to be seriously thick to think that it doesn't have an effect on players. It does!!!! Stephen Jay Hawkings said: (Comment 129, made on March 19, 2011 at 3.48 pm...) f**kin s**te. didn't expect anything less God I love the hypocrisy. |
robm
said:
|
... I am not aa Houllier fan, I am not a Lerner fan unlike managers owners/chairmen I, like the club itself will always be here, as such I want what is best for the club,my club, at the moment that for me is a change of manager late in the season I know but going down is not an option for fans and action is needed now! |
Stephen Jay Hawkings
said:
|
...God I love the hypocrisy Wow The RON SAUNDERS STAND, you actually went out of your way to try and show me up, bravo sir! I said that on Saturday, and meant every word of it, I'm not usually one for moaning (or are you going to go back and look for some more quotes?), but it was hard to take that day. Thing is, I WASN'T AT THE GAME, which is the whole f**king point! Doesn't matter what's said here from 3.00 to 5.00 on a Saturday does it? Hardly going to effect the players is it? Doesn't even matter what you think if you ARE at the game, you can call them all a useless shower of s**te if you want, just say it in your head, and do the opposite with your mouth. Fake it, for the sake of Aston Villa FC. Can anyone even do that much? |
The RON SAUNDERS STAND
said:
|
... Sorry mate couldn't resist, just thought your comment was a little on strong side. I was there Saturday and it was a shower, I appreciate your sentiment but when your watching the tripe we dished up it f**king hard not to boo.(Just for the record I didn't) |
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