All About Emile - The Verdict

Gerard Houllier has hailed yet another match winning performance from Emile of the Heskey as he helped us to all 3 points in todays derby clash.

Hailing Emile's goalscoring exploits is becoming a strange regular event since the Frenchman took the hotseat and it's not something you prepare yourself for really, certainly I never have as writing about Emile and goals is just something nobody does.

But again today he was on fire in the first half, winning headers, holding the ball up and of course, he got himself on the scoresheet again.

It was the highlight of the second half, and a winner in a game that we didn't realise deserve to take all 3 points from. First half yes, we should have been 2-3 up again by halftime but we came out after the break looking to not lose the lead as opposed to increasing it, and as ever, that was our undoing.

But sod the negatives, EMILE SCORED, we won and Dingles everywhere will be ringing the Samaritans.

Speaking to the Official Site after the match Houllie reserved special praise for our in form striker and said simply that Heskey needs confidence, and when he's confident this is what you expect from him.

'After the Carling Cup game I told him this is what you are capable of and there's no reason why you cannot repeat that.

'All players need confidence and he needs to keep believing in himself.'

Self belief was important for the whole team, especially given the change of fortunes in the second half and Houllier was again impressed with the work ethic and determination the lads showed throughout.

'It was tough but good, winning a derby game away from home is always a great performance. I liked my team, the way they responded when they were tired and when they were under pressure. But I like the fact that even when we were in trouble, you could feel the team had the attitude and the spirit to withstand the pressure.'

He also adds that he likes the fact that both goals (lots of facts in this interview) came from good football, good movement and crisp passing. It's definitely how he prefers us to play and how he is going to set us up to play. Long ball becomes an outlet when the time is right as opposed to the norm.

We all know the issues with the squad and what holds us back (yet again it was a game of 2 halves and we only turned up for the one of them) but that can be worked on overtime.

It's another valuable 3 points, bragging rights again and the performance was improved for the most part. Lots of work still to do but it's onto the next game again pretty happily.

Vital Villa on:

Vital Villa on:

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