TRO

For those that get more joy from watching the game( and the development that goes with it) than just the result.....that will prove to be a very pleasing day.

There were many aspects of this game that were so, so encouraging, for us.

moving forward we do have to learn the art of retaining the ball & being aware of danger looming in order to achieve our dreams.

........John sleeuenhoek & Fred Turnbull

This is utter **** rubbish

Macdonald should not have been put in that seat....get him out of it.

He's contracted to the FFF why is it people cant read or watch his press conference. Its not his choice what is it about this that people cant get into their skulls

Yes we all understand that, however what none of us seem to know (including Houllier and the board) is just when the bloke will be released and when he will be in post - do you find that acceptable?

Houllier himself said he would be over for the Bolton match and then muttered something about the Wolves game ..total shambles.

Surely if we are paying him circa £8m then surely we could have greased the FFF palms to secure his release?

The FFF are just being arsey....let them have their moment of feeling important and they will release him.

no tactical nous.

First half, a very good performance. We didn't turn up for the second half.

Changes were needed, and we didn't get any. We went back to hoofing it for Young/Gabby to run after and that was never going to work.

Richard Dunne far too deep for their first.

I was just thinking how well the referee had done, and he gives such an incredibly daft free kick. It really does make me question if it's worth it, because you can have the best players, best tactics, best anything - and the referee will always seem to decide the game these days.

Hopefully that will put an end to Ashley Young in the centre, too.

Funny how Chelsea get all the good ref's

.. Every appointment is a gamble, there are simply no guarantee's.

quite a lot of criteria has to come together and that is the tricky bit.

I would suggest with his wealth of experience he has as good a chance as any.

Probably the Villa manager with the best cv to date, so i don't know what more we can do.

He just has to get on with it.

Just a question, why does everybody hate Steve Staunton?

....i don't, can't think of a villa player, that i have ever hated....then again i don't do hate.....its a burden.

....Gerrard Houllier has boat loads of experience.... he has knowledge of the continental market which makes him more rounded.

I don't know whether Gerrard Houllier will be a success or not and i don't suppose anyone else does either.....i didn't think Ron Saunders was much of a signing, but that proved to be ok

i think, no i'm sure.

to say he deserves our support is a complete under statement. He has chosen to lead our club....that in itself deserves full backing.

I'm just looking forward to decisions that are logical rather than quirky and easily acceptable rather than trying to work out the enigma and asking myself whether i agree with it or not when in truth i hadn't got a clue what i was asking myself....just feeling duty bound to comply.

no, I'm looking forward to Gerrard, hope it turns out fine for all concerned.

Some of this makes me laugh - talk about contradictions.

You have a load of people on here basically saying "Kevin McDonald is clearly a good coach, but is no way a manager - he should stick to what he does best"

Then, you have a lot of the same people saying "Staunton, gobshite, worst manager in Irish history, did you see his record as manager of Darlington".

Well excuse me, if, and it is IF it is Staunton - hell the hell do you know how good a coach he is !.

There are MANY MANY MANY No.2's, great No.2's who have tried their luck at management and couldn't hack it. From Peter Taylor in the 70's , TONY BARTON in the 80's to Brian Kidd in the 90's to (in England) Steve McClaren in the 2000's.

The guy was the best left back we have had in 30 yrs, he played for us for 10yrs, he loved the Villa and never wanted to leave (FACT, I / my wife ran into him daily in Walmley and chatted most days, even after he had left !).

For god sake lay off him and if it is him, get behind him. Personally, I cannot wait - I loved it when my heroes (Evans, Little etc..) were running the club - it felt like OUR club, and if Staunton brings that back - I for one am happy. If he fails, he fails, he may do - Peter Withe but at least give him the chance first

By the way, I didn't see John "Benson and Hedges" Robertson have the bottle to try his hand at management !

JR was just a pair of eyes.

....at least we will probably know before any season kicks off whether our new players are any good or not.

My mate text me earlier to say that he has been told from a contact in France that Houllier has signed a two year deal and will be unveiled tomorrow.

How true this is I don't know so PLEASE don't shoot the messenger. Not sure my mate's contact is ITK or anything and can't be arsed to ask to be honest. Guess we will soon see tomorrow.

If it is to be GH, which it appears more than likely right now, I will give him my full support and give him the time to settle in and do his thing. We all have to remember that these are MON's signings and may not be to GH's liking so we have to give him time to make his mark on the team and I really hope that the fans, especially those who seem totally against him before it's even been announced, give him a fair chance.

......you can take it as reliable GH is the man

....hell could it be worse than the 2 smokin joe's robertson & walford.

Nothing wrong with Houllier?

You mean other than his previously questionable health, the fact he is 63, has been out the game for a couple of years and out of the Premier league even longer and despite some success at Liverpool spent a lot of money on some utter utter shite.

He may well be the best or one of the better options available but to say there is nothing wrong with his selection or should I say possible selection is staggering.

ash your making out as if we are appointing some like iain dowie! he isnt that bad. yes some poor signings before but our manager martion'o'neill signed alot of duds too, ferguson and wenger ahve too. all managers do.

for me the trophies is whats important. he mad a very good liverpool side and out of the options available id take houllier.

....where do you think trophies come from?

usually signing and developing good players or potentially good players.

Managers usually live or die by their signings.... the other bit of added value is , once you have bought them improve them on the training ground.

If a Manager is good at both i.e Ron Saunders & friends....your usually in for a good time ahead.

top post and exceedingly apt.

Kevin Mcdonald as first team manager will be one monumental mistake...aston villa football club is not a puppy for xmas.

if anyone other than an experienced man is appointed we are in trouble.... you can't listen to the players, its just pointless.

Rare I've said this about one of your posts TRO but you are spot on.

Kev Mac shouldn't even be being considered. He lacks the essential quality we need in a manager at this time - experience.

don't beat yourself up over it mark.... i'm sure there might be something between now a xmas you might warm too.lol

whilst o'neill leaving has been a shock i have a horrible feeling the next appointment will be an even bigger shock.

Kevin Mcdonald as first team manager will be one monumental mistake...aston villa football club is not a puppy for xmas.

if anyone other than an experienced man is appointed we are in trouble.... you can't listen to the players, its just pointless.

we win more than we lose with his involvement

....David Moyes

i just have an inclin

I would be over the **** moon with David Moyes. One of the few managers I would have swapped for O'Neill willingly. But I don't see it happening. Unless we can offer him significant backing for transfers, which it doesn't seem that we can, it's not all that much of a step up, and it would ruin his relationship with the Everton fans.

You have to remember he has been at that club for over 7 years, I think it would take a lot for him to leave.

If we could have offered him the sort of backing we gave to O'Neill then I do think he would come.

the mere points you mention.....he's been there 7 years

did you see the greeting Randy gave to him yesterday when David was alighting some stairs.....that wasn't normal.

director of football fits for me.

He needs to get himslef sharp

he needs to get in to his new surroundings

he needs to have NRC & Petrov behind him so he can relax from any holding duties and link with the wingers and strikers.

.....and he will be fine

he could be the next david platt for us.

....David Moyes

i just have an inclin