Houllier 'Villa Is A Club Eager To Win Things'

Whilst I agree that GH needs more time, I do think that the results put KMac's time in charge in a different perspective. After all, it was he that introduced many of the youngsters to senior level football. And look how many games it took for the moaners to have a go at him!

he likes two strikers.....lets have a go with gabby and the fonz tomorrow....and let downing operate down the left in the same way he did at boro and got himself into the england team... despite the results not being in our favour..we are more exciting to watch and we seem to pass the ball better.....its the last 3rd where we're not finishing and our back four have not been at their best at all...... time....will...tell...

Certainly think we are progressing and our football style is better. Bringing in the likes of Owen, Carrick, Keane I think would poor signings, need an established forward and midfield player in there mid 20's and continue playing the youngsters. The Fonz should be coming on more and more and I'd be pairing him with Gabby at home.

p.avfc i watched every game home, away and europe under MON and we were exciting, so i don't know what you have been watching.GH even with all of the players fit will not finish in the top 10 because he is past it and was hardly in demand until we came along. I didn't see his name back on Liverpools list when they were looking for a manager. Yes MON left at an inopportune time but GH needs to stop talking and start winning.

Madforit....you obviously didn't then in the final 18 months. Or did you just believe the media hype that we were a fast, young, counter attacking team. Truth was we were a 10 behind the ball, park the bus, take an occasional chance upfront job. If you can't see we are playing better football now (albeit the results are crap) then I find that frightening.

Mt Teapot...Houllier never claimed we 'always played' two upfront. He commented that was how he'd like to play and how he'd always play given the chance or are you incapable of reading between the lines or judging media reports for what they are?, Ergo are you forgetting the simple fact of injuries here. Or the ranting fans had when he played Ash and Ireland upfront and so on. Is it truly a case of arguing because it makes you feel better irrespective of the truth.

Oz I'll leave you to it....You're ex Arsenal has been happens to be a truly experienced, gifted world cup winner who may well have a rather good effect on our younger lads.

But it has to be black and white doesn't it...bring back Chris Sutton, Didier Agathe, Zat Knight. Let's ignore it took Petrov 3 years to find some form, where's that genius Maloney gone.....add your own.

I despair sometimes I really do. Not a single proper criticism that would be grounded in fact, just simple tabloid reactionism where anger is written for you in nice easy hooklines. Pathetic.

btw are defense has been a product of our "experienced" back four. except newcastle which was clarkes first game i think. why are the kids even being targeted anyway? Anyone here suggesting that our experienced players are performing over the kids are mad.

Ash is a forward by trade... I'm sure of it. MON picked him up and he started as a forward but MON put on the wing then the magic began. i reckon houllier considers ash a forward and not a midfielder.

Seems like some people are purely results driven. If we aren't winning we are obviously a worse team and the coach must be fired. The mentality seems to be if we are not sitting 6th then obviously our team is worse and we should all dispair! But that is incredibly short sighted! Everyone who believes that Pires is an awful signing should actually think before they comment again! Bannan has less than 10 caps, clark has less than 10 caps, Hogg has less than 5. Albrighton has barely more than 10 caps. This has been the heart of our midfield - together they hold less caps than Pires has earned in 1 season! Do you know what experience and knowledge he can pass on to these kids? But he HAD a great career so since he had a bad game against Arsenal he obviously can't play football anymore... Maybe give the guy a chance? Maybe give GH some credit for bringing in a player who adds value to our team even though he hasn't seen a transfer market yet! But hey we are sitting 16th so obviously Pires is a poor signing... Kick him out - no value obviously! Maybe kick out the youngsters too - Chelsea have been green with envy that our youngsters have been performing far better than their expensively assembled youth team. Man United were shocked by how our teenages dominated their world class internationals. But we are sitting 16th so obviously our youngsters are CRAP - sell them off like MON has with Gardner, Ridgewell and Cahill. Don't need them. Go back to playing hoofball with 10 men behind the ball. Get dominated for 89 minutes and steal the winner. Fans love watching that brand of football! Only thing I am confused about is that MON bought all of these players and managed to come 6th. Then half of those players are out injured and we are still expected to be sitting 6th. So if we ran out without any of regular first 11 would the target still be 6th? If our top 22 players are out - is the target still 6th? Should we be winning every match? As I pointed out before, Chelsea are missing 2 players from their first 11. They can't win a game at the moment. We have been crippled by injuries but its completely unacceptable that we have played as well as most of our opposition and we aren't even in the bottom 4 on current form! Some people need to get some perspective - WE cannot expect to be 6th on the log after selling our best player or hiring a new coach mid season because some tosser quit just before the season started or half our team is out injured! So kick out GH - we are sitting 16th on the log. Unacceptable. Don't need his more intelligent and entertaining football. Don't need his failed signings. Don't care that he has to play uncapped teenagers against United. We aren't winning so OBVIOUSLY that is all there is to it.

Injuries are almost all down to the new fitness regime where players are obviously pushing themselves too hard (at the management's request.) The management has to be commended for bringing on the youth BUT was this not KMac who started this? and is this situation not forced upon us by Lerner's annoyance with some of MON's VERY average buys and reluctance to waste anymore. By the way, all of the youngsters that have come through have looked every bit as good as our much revered currently crocked marathon runner/alleged footballer Reo-Coker.

I'm going to sit on the proverbial fence and say that i agree Houllier does indeed need more time, and certainly some signings to strengthen in the areas he feels we need it. BUT, those people saying he's starting from scratch cant be serious? Agreed we lost Milner, but the rest of the squad are the same squad that finished 6th last year. I'd put it more down to injuries than any squad weakness. It certainly is positive to see us bossing teams a bit more though, and with our squad back up to full strength, we should be competitive again going forward...

Astriel - I'll take your points one by one.

1. I note you say we are not in the bottom four. LOL. Talk about choosing your statistics!

2. Football is, like it or not, a results business.

3. You regard Gardner and Ridgewell as quality players do you?

4. Cahill left because MON wouldn't guarantee him first team football.

5. No-one has suggested getting rid of the youngsters. They have been fantastic.

6. 16th is worse than 6th.

I suggest postponing this discussion until, say, the end of January. Then we will all have a clearer idea of exactly where we stand. My forecast? 15th or worse. What's your's?