jamesbuchanan

And when you've guessed that one, have a go at this one:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6148/5925800427_f907d120c9_o.jpg

Blue = something

Orange = something

White = Blue and Orange combined

Edit: linked for size!

MM on H&V says that he thinks Bent is about to "have a meltdown"......not sure over what or why, but I don't like the sound of that at all...

FFS

Sometimes I think people read what they want to read, rather than what is actually there.

He said that the meltdown that would ensue online etc would be similar to that when Bent was announced, in that it came totally out of leftfield and surprised everybody.

This has nothing to do with Bent being unhappy!

(Sorry, it's not just you that's said that today, there are several others)

Cheers. No idea who Matt Turvey is either?!

I've been away from the internet all day. Can somebody link me to the ITK posts on here or Twitter that started all the excitement today?

Tbh, I've seen plenty of Makoun since Christmas, and I'm fairly confident he has a major role to play over the next season or so. Couldn't say the same about Bradley (and to a lesser extent, Delph). Would much rather see them play a part today. Also, it could be the sort of game where we need some spare midfield battlers on the bench, rather than Makoun, who isn't quite that sort of CM.

So the Man City v Notts County game is on Sunday 20th Feb. If the City v Fulham game on Mon 28th Feb can't be moved, and City get to the last 16 of the Europa League (pretty likely, given their draw) then the earliest date for our fifth round game is quarter final weekend (12-13 March).

Should the fifth round tie then require a replay, the earliest that could happen (due to Europa League (if City reach the quarter finals) and England games) is the weekend of the FA Cup semi-finals.

I haven't gone any further down the fixture list than that, but it's already looking pretty messy....

DB11TT Heading down to birmingham now. Freezing

11:42 AM Jan 5th via ÜberTwitter

But it seems to have been deleted.

The date......

No Torres?

Welcome back Rob Edwards

Bannan and Clark CM

http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2147890,00.html

The Club is pleased to confirm that it has secured the appointment of Gerard Houllier as manager.

Mr. Houllier has been technical director of French football, a position he previously held when instrumental in France winning the World Cup in 1998.

He is a former manager of Lens, Paris St Germain, Liverpool and Lyon and has won three French championships and a unique treble in the League Cup, FA Cup and Uefa Cup in 2001 with Liverpool.

One of the key architects of Clairefontaine, the French national association football centre regarded as one of the finest football academies in the world, his wealth of experience in all aspects of the game and his stature and reputation internationally made him an excellent choice to manage Aston Villa.

"Two of the key qualities which we identified as being of crucial importance in our search for the new manager were experience of managing in the Premier League and a strategy for building on the existing strengths in our current squad, and Gerard Houllier comfortably satisfies these criteria," said Paul Faulkner, chief executive of Aston Villa Football Club.

"In fact, he stands out as a football man who understands the ethos of our Club and shares our core values.

"We look forward to working with Gerard and supporting him and we ask our supporters to get behind the new manager and the team as we look to build on the progress we have made over the past four years in all areas of the Club."

Gerard Houllier said: "I am very happy and proud to join this great and historic club.

"It was a very difficult decision for me to leave the FFF [French Football Federation] but I could not turn down the opportunity to manage a club whose approach, both on and off the pitch, I have long admired.

"Aston Villa is one of England's biggest clubs and has an amazing set of fans. This is a tremendous challenge and one I am very much looking forward to taking on."

The Club will confirm details of a press conference to follow in due course.

Confirmed on OS

Edit: Well there's a massive picture of his face and a headline saying "confirmed", but the story is blank!

Why Houllier is right for Aston Villa

General Charles Krulak called on all his years as a US Marine commander to defend Gerard Houllier - and this was even before the Frenchman walked through the doors at Villa Park as the club's new boss.

Krulak's colourful intervention on behalf of the man he has already christened "Mr H" was, however, a clear indicator that Houllier's expected announcement as Aston Villa manager has not exactly been a cause for rejoicing among the regulars.

And yet Krulak, who revels in his image as a straight shooter in his dealings with Villa supporters as owner Randy Lerner's right-hand man, hit the nail on the head when he said: "Whatever anyone thinks of him, he deserves respect from the fans of this club."

Houllier does not only deserve respect as a person, he has a record in football that also deserves respect - and this is why Lerner is in the process of making a sound choice by attempting to appoint the former Liverpool manager as successor to Martin O'Neill.

Out of those linked with the job, such as Alan Curbishley, Sven-Goran Eriksson, Ronald Koeman and Villa reserve team coach Kevin MacDonald, Houllier's record of success in England, as well as his experience and vast contacts, make him the outstanding candidate from those Lerner has targeted.

I should declare some past history here. I got to know Houllier very well during his time at Liverpool and respected his occasionally complex but always fiercely driven and totally professional approach and personality.

And, with his appointment expected to be officially confirmed on Thursday, it is worth setting the record straight as history is in danger of delivering a flawed judgement on Houllier's time at Liverpool.

In the desire to paint him as a failure at Anfield, it is worth recalling he rebuilt the entire culture and philosophy of the club after the excess - and in a football context pure waste - of the so-called 'Spice Boys' era. How could a team of such natural talents only have a Coca Cola Cup win against Bolton in 1995 to show for their gifts?

This was acknowledged by then chief executive Rick Parry on the day Houllier left Anfield in May 2004, when he said: "Gerard changed things off the pitch as well as on it, bringing back both our pride and self-respect and instilling discipline and professionalism throughout the club.".

Houllier knew a fresh approach was needed and, after the inevitable break-up of his arranged footballing marriage with Roy Evans, he provided it.

Out went those he regarded as having outlived their usefulness, such as Paul Ince, in came a new, more pragmatic approach - and one that brought serious success back to Liverpool. He was accused of building a functional as opposed to flamboyant team but the ends justified his means.

Houllier's transfer record is often criticised and even he would struggle to make a case to defend the failures of players such as El-Hadji Diouf, Salif Diao and Bruno Cheyrou at Liverpool. Indeed, those three players are often paraded as the symbols of the beginning of the end of the Houllier era at Anfield - perhaps with some justification.

But the critics may care to remember masterstrokes, such as the signing of Sami Hyypia, a snip at £2.5m from Willem II (helped by a glowing reference from a Dutch television cameraman on a visit to Anfield), who went on to become one of the finest players and servants of the modern Liverpool era.

Stephane Henchoz was another inspirational addition to the spine of the team Houllier rebuilt. Then there was Didi Hamman, goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek and Gary McAllister.

If Houllier can recapture some of that magic in the market - and his knowledge of players has always been encyclopaedic - then the worries of the Villa faithful might just disappear.

Jamie Carragher's admiration for Houllier was evident in his presence alongside current boss Roy Hodgson on the Liverpool bench for his testimonial against Everton at Anfield on Saturday. Carragher, regarded by most as a manager of the future, revealed he would hope to model his approach on Houllier, such was his influence over his career.

And Steven Gerrard, the man Houllier appointed as Liverpool captain, also spoke glowingly about him while on England duty in Basle on Monday.

Danny Murphy was another who saw a career on the drift revitalised by Houllier to such an extent that he still flourishes for Fulham today. It is too easy to recall Houllier's failures while conveniently forgetting his successes.

Those players will also remember how Houllier fought back from the brink of death and major heart surgery in 2001 to return to Liverpool and resume his duties. How easy it would have been for him to walk away to a quiet life in France. Instead, he accepted he could not live without the game.

On another significant operational note, he also oversaw the complete overhaul of Liverpool's Melwood training base into the ulta-modern complex it is today - even helping design dressing rooms without pillars so no-one could "hide". Houllier was happy to conduct tours personally for journalists, such was his pride in the new home for his "family", as he referred to the club and his players.

And last but not least, he dealt in a currency Liverpool understands very well - success. Liverpool fans, even those who choose not to regard his reign with affection these days, will never forget 2001 and the treble capture of the Worthington Cup against Birmingham City, the FA Cup against Arsenal and the Uefa Cup against Alaves in Dortmund.

Again, Houllier's detractors pointed at "the Lucky Treble" - and admittedly the victory against Arsenal almost ranked as grand larceny when Michael Owen won an FA Cup final dominated overwhelmingly by Arsene Wenger's team - but you do not have success like that on the back of a hot streak of good fortune.

He added the Worthington Cup again in 2003 with Liverpool's win against Manchester United in Cardiff but there was a growing sense his tenure had lost momentum after six years in charge by the time he made an amicable departure from Anfield at the end of the following season.

Houllier had become overburdened by pressure and criticism in his final season. Too many signings, such as Harry Kewell, did not come off and Liverpool were too far adrift of the title challengers for him to survive.

Kewell's free transfer arrival from Leeds United in the face of competition from Manchester United and Arsenal was greeted with the same elation as Joe Cole's recent signing by Roy Hodgson. Instead, the Australian was a desperate failure at Anfield.

This does not mean Houllier himself should be regarded as a failure. Many of the same players won the Champions League against AC Milan the following year, although no-one can deny Rafael Benitez also brilliantly plotted a course through that campaign.

And there is even a case to be made that he left a better side for Benitez than Benitez subsequently left for Hodgson.

Villa fans might show some understandable concern that these achievements were a lifetime ago in Premier League terms but Houllier has hardly been a man with his finger away from football's pulse.

He won the French title twice at Lyon before stepping down in May 2007 and has since travelled all over the world watching the game in his role with the French Football Federation.

Houllier is in good health and his interest in Villa confirms he retains the desire to succeed in club management even though he has just celebrated his 63rd birthday. His great friends Hodgson and England coach Fabio Capello are 63 and 64 respectively and no-one can question their enduring passion for the game.

He will bring meticulous planning and an almost slavish attention to the details of tactics and preparation to Villa Park should he arrive. After once asking Houllier to help with a rundown of teams for the 2002 World Cup in Japan, I arrived at his Melwood office to find him armed with pages of notes detailing his thoughts on the qualities or otherwise of each side in the tournament. Lack of preparation was not an option.

Villa's players will want for nothing in the pursuit of success, although they must buy into Houllier's team ethic and approach or there will be no future for them.

Houllier must also be in full control of football matters. Sitting in the directors' box watching others exert authority in the dugout will not be for him.

He has had plenty of approaches in recent years. He has been linked with jobs at club and international level and remains a hugely respected figure within football's worldwide community. Houllier always wanted a club that could satisfy his ambitions, which are aimed firmly at success, and he clearly believes Villa is a club that can match those aspirations.

An insight into Houllier's approach to football came when he was advised by some to retire from football after his serious illness, responding: "Football is my life and my oxygen and I don't want to live without it."

Now it looks like his next mission will be to breathe fresh life into Aston Villa.

The worst thing about appointing Houllier, and this is an observation rather than an opinion, is that such a move already appears to have divided the fans as opposed to us all cartwheeling with delight around B6 with unbridled joy at such a coup.

I would suggest that had we appointed any of the other currently unemployed managers, or most if not all of the employed managers we have been linked with (perhaps not Moyes or Jol), the reaction would have been the same.

Houllier is better than some we have been linked with but not as good as others. In many cases those better than him are already in employment

Over time I have found myself disagreeing with more and more of your posts, Richard. However, I don't think anyone can argue a great deal with that summary. I might suggest that it is actually "In the large majority of cases" but it doesn't really matter a great deal.

IMO Houllier is a good appointment (assuming he will be confirmed as manager in the next 48hrs). We haven't signed the new Mourinho, but equally we haven't signed the new (or, thank god, current) Phil Brown. We will not be relegated this season, nor will we win the league. There's a fairly good chance that Houllier will be able to maintain MON's league record over the last 3 years. There's also a reasonably good chance he'll be able to maintain or improve on MON's cup record. We appear to have spent some time considering our options, and given all the factors at play (principally the timing), I am fairly happy with how the board have dealt with this issue. There are some lessons to be learnt (more football knowledge on the board being a standout lesson), but I have seen nothing over the last 4 years to suggest that Randy et al will not take these lessons on board.

The sooner that posters accept that Richard's post is an accurate reflection of the situation we found ourselves in, and the decision we have made, the sooner this thread will be vaguely readable again. At the moment, ~90% of the posts in this thread are hysterical over-reactions, adding nothing to the debate.

What odds can you get on Houllier?

Was 10-1 about half an hour ago when I placed my bet at Ladbrokes.

It's 8-1 now though.

Koeman is keen

RONALD Koeman has told Aston Villa he is the man to restore Champions League glory to the 1982 European Cup winners.

Martin O’Neill quit Villa Park on August 9 in a row over lack of investment and under the stewardship of Kevin MacDonald they have been thrashed 6-0 by Newcastle and crashed out of the Europa League to Rapid Vienna this week.

MacDonald is due to meet owner Randy Lerner on Monday to decide his future, but Koeman has been sounded out by Villa officials and last night he revealed his interest in the post.

Koeman said: “In Holland we have always viewed Villa as an important club with a tradition of being powerful in Europe when I was younger, so I would be very interested in managing them if the job was offered to me. Even though the last two results have been painful blows, I also saw them take West Ham apart 3-0 and I enjoyed the playing style.

“One of the things I’d bring to Villa if I was in charge is the idea that winning is important in football, but winning while playing offensive football is the best of all. I love English football because of its brilliant atmosphere, intensity of the competition and the culture of respect that fans and players have for the game.

“I have been holding off and turning down offers simply because I want to coach in England and where better than Villa Park?” Koeman, 47, inspired both Barcelona and PSV Eindhoven to victory in the competition as a player and can point to knocking both Liverpool and Arsenal out of the Champions League as coach of Benfica and PSV in recent seasons as highlights of his highly successful coaching CV.

He now wants to take all he has learned in Holland, Portugal and Spain, where the teams he has managed have won eight trophies, and apply it to fulfilling Villa’s evident potential. He believes he could help Villa emulate Spurs’ achievement of breaking into the European elite.

“Villa have the perfect blend of talented young English players and experienced continental footballer, so I see no reason why they could not qualify for Champions League football next season,” he said. “I’ve coached in Holland, Portugal and Spain and not only won trophies each time, but taken sides to the latter stages of the Champions League.

“I’d like to match that with Villa if the job becomes available.”

On the one hand, his record is average in recent times.

On the other hand, he says some decent things about us there.

Dunno. I suppose we should be grateful that anyone is saying positive things about Villa after this last week

Line Up

Guzan

Cuellar - Collins - Davies - Beye

Petrov - Ireland - Reo Coker

A Young

Agbonlahor - Heskey

Subs: Friedel, Delfouneso, Clark, Lichaj, Bannan, Albrighton, Hogg.

Could that not be 4-2-3-1?

Carlos - Collins - Davies - Beye

-------Petrov - Reo

Gabby - Ireland - Young

----------Heskey-----------

this has been randys first big challenging test since he has come and so far he has failed, and failed badly

Wow. I thought I had seen some utterly ridiculous things written here since MON left, but we've just reached a new low.

Taking over three weeks, or however long to appoint the right man because there are complications ie he is currently employed etc. is absolutely fine. I have no problem with this at all.

Taking over three weeks to employ someone who could have been appointed at any point smells of 'playing the system'. Maybe I just hugely cynical.

What about taking three weeks to employ someone who could have been appointed at any point, but spending the aforementioned three weeks performing an exhaustive yet fruitless* search for a new manager who has more experience / better pedigree / "insert alternative desirable characteristic here"?

*because of lack of availability, contract wrangles etc.

Not a ramble by any stretch of the imagination.

An excellent read in fact.

Probably worth everyone having a read and then taking a moment to think about what you've said, whatever their stance on the various Villa related issues we are all arguing about currently...

Martin O’Neill had a lot of things on his mind when he fielded questions at Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links on Thursday morning ahead of Saturday’s friendly clash with League of Ireland Champions Bohemians at Dalymount Park.

Rumours are rife that his squad will face a big change -- with the interest of Man City in star performer James Milner and Villa's own targets of Aiden McGeady, Robbie Keane and Stephen Ireland -- but O’Neill has promised spectators that Villa’s strongest available squad will feature on Saturday.

“I’ve got most of the senior players here with me and I know how infuriating it can be to be making a lot of changes, particularly in the last minutes of the game for spectators who have come to watch them. So I will make a few changes at half time. But the idea is to give the senior players a half each.”

‘You’ve got 20 players with us at the moment, including two goalkeepers. Richard Dunne obviously will start the game but I would like the senior players to get a half each,” he said.

O’Neill went on to share the view that Irish winger Aiden McGeady could perform well in the Premiership.

“Aiden McGeady, I think he has got the ability to be able to play in the Premiership – without question. I had him when he was a kid at Celtic. I played him without worrying too much about his youth at the time. He played against AC Milan one night at Celtic Park in the Champions League and he was absolutely fantastic.”

However the talk was dominated by rumours about Milner, as a move to Eastlands looks inevitable.

“Obviously there is a question mark over James Milner. I had a conversation with James before the World Cup and he intimated that he would like to go at that time. I haven’t spoken to him since. I know there are conversations between his agent and our chief executive. Man City have made an offer for the player, but our valuation has not been met.”

“I’m sure things may well get resolved. James is due back next week along with the rest of our World Cup players. I would imagine things would get resolved one way or another in the very foreseeable future.”

“Aston Villa are a top quality side and we are linked with players. When Man City are interested […] obviously they are in a different stratosphere but they are building up a squad capable of challenging for the Premiership. So this year is going to be especially difficult.”

“As the chairman mentioned, maybe it is a case of probably having to sell to buy. That is something I’m delving into at the moment,” he said.

Link

I've not long got back from a trip to New Orleans and California. Took hundreds of pictures of which a few are now on flickr if anyone is interested.. Here's a couple of them:

Why was the thread just below this one closed?

Genuine question actually, what did I do wrong?

Milner in for Delph apparently.