Rob182

From BBC commentary..

What would he have built this better squad with exactly? we received around 38 mill and spent around 16 mill on three players. I doubt Houllier could have brought in a better keeper for 3 mill and a better winger for 9.5 mill. Its possible he could have spent the 3.5 mill on Hutton better. For him to do what some on here suggest with the money he would have had available would be akin to a story that's been doing the rounds for a while that some bloke once had 2 fish and five loaves and fed 5000 people. Some people are deluded enough to believe any old bollocks I guess. It's my opinion, I'm not deluded. Like I said on the last page, anyone with anything to inpit is shot down (or in this case, accused of being deluded). You even said in your post that he could have spent the Hutton money better. So hoe about we stop with the boring 'deluded' comments? I actually think that Houllier would have been given more money than McLeish has.

C'mon Bicks. A strength is a strength whether it turned out to your satisfaction or not, despite the negative spin you are trying putting on them (some of which are, quite unexpectedly, laughable). The big one for me is him not being British. I'd explain it - but you'd all take offense. Nothing you mention is a strength, some of the things you mention however are totally in the realm of fantasy, the extra fitness training, the use of the youth, the discipline, the scouts abroad, the getting rid of deadwood… none of it ever happened If Houllier was still here, we'd have a much better squad now, I'm almost certain of it. How can you say that 'the use of the youth' never happened???? :? What is the point of this thread, really? Houllier's gone, McLeish is here. Anyone who has a vaguely valid point about Houllier, whether proven in his short time here or not, will just be shot down like you have done to Oz. It's tiresome.

:yawn: What is the point of this thread? The people who disliked Houllier will say why he was shit, the people who liked Houllier will insist that he COULD have done something good. It's like the possible future arguing with the disappointing past. It's pointless and it's boring.

But... imagine what he could have done

Bollocks Trent. It's not visible because it's a long-term plan and most people didn't give it a chance just becuase 'we almost got relegated'... despite the fact that it was the tightest league I've ever seen and we did finish 9th after 2 wins. McLeish is doing OK with our squad because they're his type of players. Houllier's 'plan', if he had one, was to have a footballing-side. Many of our players aren't as comfortable with the ball as he would have liked. He probably did change too much too soon, but I think that if he'd been given another transfer window, and maybe had a defensive coach to help him at the back, I think he would have taken us forward and could have been challenging for Top 6. That said, I don't mind either. McLeish is the safe option; play like we used to under MON, not much chance of getting Top 6 but also not much chance of relegation. Houllier; I liked what he was doing, despite a bunch of PR gaffes, and as someone once put it 'his glass ceiling was higher but also lower, than MONs'.

Being as I have 100% confidence in the fact I never said that or anything remotely like it, I can't see why you'd even mention it. We are talking about Makoun here, a Villa player, bought by the numbskull Houllier. I think your last point is the reason a lot of people didn't want to give Makoun a chance. Pretty pathetic, if true. Makoun was bought by Houllier and therefore is evidence if you like that Houllier is a numbskull. Ever seen me say Darren Bent is rubbish? He was a Houllier purchase, he's been rather good, that doesn't mean Houllier wasn't a numbskull though I didn't accuse you directly Bicks. Even so, everyone knows and knew about Darren Bent so we knew it was a safe purchase. I still think that some people saw us buying a lesser known player from France and thought 'Oh great, Houllier's bought some foreign crap' and use that as their basis to form their opinion without giving him a chance. I admit he's had some below-average games, but I still think he could be a good player in the Prem. If he played with more players around him that could join up his passes and get on his wavelength, I think he would prove some doubters wrong.

Being as I have 100% confidence in the fact I never said that or anything remotely like it, I can't see why you'd even mention it. We are talking about Makoun here, a Villa player, bought by the numbskull Houllier. I think your last point is the reason a lot of people didn't want to give Makoun a chance. Pretty pathetic, if true.

Why does it matter? :? If he's behind Bent, Heskey, Gabby & Delfouneso, he's not going to get much game time with us right now. So we may as well loan him out so that he can get some more experience.

Who knows smetrov, maybe he's seen more than 6 or 7 appearances?

No, you get discussion when people disagree. Everyone agrees Gabby's goal was sublime and that Heskey is doing well. Makoun is a hot topic! Well, I'd say the average football fan likes to talk over, relive, savour, etc,. the good moments of their team's performances, so there should be something to discuss about Gabby's goal (e.g. when can you remember a better one by a forward?) You normally get a page, maybe two at a push, of people going 'Yes, great goal. More please Gabby'... etc But nothing compared to when a player splits opinions. One person says he's good, then you say he's mediocre, then the discussion continues and continues until he is sold and people like you say 'I said he was shit', or he actually contributes to a game and the other people say 'I said he was great'.

I was at the game and also have AVTV, Ireland really was one of our better players on Tuesday. He was buzzing around a lot, linking up well with Makoun & Bannan and if he'd put one of his chances away, would have been a 9/10 performance.

MOAN MOAN MOAN MOAN MOAN MOAN MOAN!!! The Villatalk section. You can't even have a debate about a footballer without someone moaning and going completely off topic and mentioning something doom and gloom about Villa.

Happy Birthday POB!

Heard this at an away game.. To the tune of 'Yellow Submarine' (or if it makes it clearer.. to 'they're coming up, they're going down' sha song) We all dream of a Barry Bannan team, a Barry Bannan team, a Barry Bannan team, We all dream of a Barry Bannan team, a Barry Bannan team, a Barry Bannan team, Number ooooonnneee is Barry Bannan, Number twooooo0000oooo Barry Bannan, Number threeeeeeee is Barry Bannan, Number foooouurrr is Barry Bannan, Number fiiiiivvveeee is Barry Bannan, Number siiiiiixxxxxxx is Barry Bannan, Number sevvveeeennnn is Barry Bannan, Number eeiiigghhhtttt is Barry Bannan, Number niiiiinnnneeee is Barry Bannan, Number tteeennnnnnn is Barry Bannan, Number eelleevveennnn is Barry Bannan, and the manager is Barry Bannan, WE ALL DREAM OF A BARRY BANNAN TEAM, A BARRY BANNAN TEAM, A BARRY BANNAN TEAM! ..repeat..

Villa 2-1 Wolves 37,950

No idea! His shot was pretty central, it looks like the keeper got a foot/leg to it

Villa V Hereford If only the keeper hadnt saved this shot He does seem to get in decent scoring positions.

Ahem...

Wrong tense **** off yer pathetic, support the players on the pitch, you didnt even see it, was a great save by all accounts (i didnt see it either) Looked like a good save to me, I'm at the game

I'd swap Beye for Lichaj. I really do think Beye is dogdirt. I actually think Beye is better than what people give him credit for. He's had one piss poor game for us, playing left back against Rapid Wien. Other than that he's done well, imo, the few times he's been called upon, hell against Liverpool he was many people's MOTM even. I'm afraid I completely disagree. I've seen Beye in most, if not all, of his appearances and I honestly think he is terrible. He has had one or two good or terrible games, but the ones inbetween have been anonymous. He looks lost when he gets the ball, misplaces loads of passes and he seems to freeze when the ball comes to him. I'm glad Herd is playing instead of him.

Well it was in response to someone pointing out that there must be something about him because people on here like him. If you're referring to what I said, it was in response to you saying something like 'it speaks volumes that he was dropped by the manager who bought him and had kids picked before him'... Though no mention from you of the fact that he went back home because his family were in a car crash. Also, we were in a relegation fight. It makes sense to play players that are proven in the Premier League (even if that happens to be youngsters who have had a handful of decent Prem appearances).

But when I first get up, it is the perfect temperature in there. It's only when the sun shines on it for a few hours that I start to cook. Nahhhhh. It's my left hand. lapal_fan did break it though!

I'd swap Beye for Lichaj. I really do think Beye is dogdirt.

One thing that annoys me with my S2 is that you can't turn the camera's shutter sound off! It's not a huge problem, but if, for example, I was on a train or bus and wanted to secretly take a picture of some wierdo... I'd be collared! I've found a few supposed solutions on Samsung Forums (changing a filename in file explorer and then rebooting the phone), but it still makes a sound! Any tips from S2 owners?